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Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Aging Parents, Plan Now To Head Off Problems Later

By Lee Stan

Sooner or later we end up with aging parents. And with that comes an entire array of problems we need to deal with. We'll probably need to provide some type of assistance on a regular basis, whether we live nearby or not. It could be finding them a housekeeper, or making sure they get to doctor appointments on time.

Frequently it gets to the point that much more than temporary and occasional help is necessary. If your parent has a terminal or progressive condition that mandates round the clock care, what options are available? To everyone involved? What if you're an only child, or the only child in the family who can provide this type of help?

Blood might be thicker than water, but not all children are willing or able to step up and provide this level of care. If you're married with your own family, this also needs to be taken into consideration. Your entire family needs to be on board with this idea. Even with one dissenter, there will be serious problems. Yes, it's true: not everyone always wants grandma to move in. Your kids may not want to give up their family room to turn it into a bedroom.

Will the family all have responsibilities? No one can be there all day long. Not everyone wants to readjust their life permanently if it means a major sacrifice.

Besides the major issue of having someone move in, what are some of the other considerations to be aware of and discussed? Is she bedridden? Does she have convulsions, need special medication, special food, or help getting to the bathroom? What if she's incontinent? Who changes her and the sheets?

Everyone needs to be on the same page here. Even though it's your parent, you can't possibly be expected to be there 24 hours a day. You need help. Will your spouse help you? Normally, wives have enough to do. They don't want the additional burden of caring for someone else. When someone gets to the point that they are unable to live by themselves, this is a huge amount of work when they move in. Cooking, cleaning, medications, bathing, and even the additional expense can be more than some families can deal with.

Be proactive. Long before your parents reach old age, have honest discussions about what they expect and how these expectations might be met. They might just assume that their kids will take care of them when the time comes, no matter what. It might be a shock and disappointment to learn that other options might need to be discussed when the time comes. - 23211

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Travel Insurance

By Roc Selly

Travel Insurance today is affordable and reassuring but the one needs to take time to understand the product that they have purchased. Knowing that , just in case you're out of luck, most traumatic events while travelling can be remedied or assisted by the cover you purchase before you leave can make your holiday all the more relaxed and it also outweighs the disappointment of wishing you had spent a little extra on travel insurance.

When you purchase your travel insurance remember that the policy wording can be very involved and specific and underwriters have the right to refuse payment if your policy does not cover even a single aspect of your insurance claim. You need to know to what extent you are covered and rest assured that your policy wording can also be your best friend in times of doubt. Examples of mistakes that might render you unworthy of a claim include having a different name on your travel documents to those on your passport (eg. if you still have your passport in your maiden name and have booked your flight in your married name); not getting a police report to back up your claim; injury incurred while under the influence of alcohol and leaving baggage unattended in a case of theft.

More important than getting your travel insurance is making sure that you purchase a suitable policy and you understand exactly what is and is not covered in your policy. Do not hesitate to voice any queries to your travel insurance broker and always read your policy wording carefully before purchasing your travel insurance. You will find many reviews online written by holiday makers who have lost money because they either didn't have travel insurance or they neglected to familiarise themselves with the fine print on their policy meaning they thought they were covered in certain situations when in fact they were not.

Aside from loss and damage, a very important factor of your travel insurance to remember is the medical insurance that comes with it. Without adequate medical travel insurance you will be liable to pay for any doctor's appointments you have whilst on holiday and in some countries this alone can end up costing hundreds of dollars. If you happen to need further medical care or, as in extreme cases, need repatriation, you are then looking at fronting thousands of dollars if you don't have travel insurance.

Travel insurance is not a luxury but a necessity and if you can't afford it then you can't afford to travel. The travel insurance market is highly competitive and the costs are regularly reviewed and improved. What has always been seen as a burden or unnecessary expense can now be viewed in a pleasant light for the average traveler and holiday maker. The potential risks encountered when travelling or leaving home for a length of time with only a few bags to hold your previous belongings can be daunting especially when you are surrounded by strangers who do not speak your language! - 23211

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The Facts About Minimally Invasive Knee Surgery

By Dr. Stefan Tarlow

For a procedure that provides reduced trauma and pain, shorter hospital stay, and brief rehabilitation, minimally invasive knee surgery is the latest and best option. This method, while quite challenging as a surgical procedure, is a tremendous advance in the field of orthopedic surgery.

Minimally invasive knee surgery reduces trauma by using smaller incisions that expose the joint less. In fact, the incision used in this type of surgery are 50% smaller than those used in traditional total knee replacement surgery. Because of this, the recipient of minimally invasive knee surgery can expect reduced pain, a brief hospital stay, and a speedy rehabilitation period.

This surgery is recommended for the patient who is of an average weight and activity level. The patient should have fairly good ROM (range of motion) and be relatively free of knee deformity. A patient who meets all of these criteria and has a successful procedure will be hospitalized for 3 days or less and will have little or no inpatient rehabilitation process.

It is important to note that, while these findings are generally accepted, they are not universal. Some studies show that pain, hospital stay, and rehabilitation period are similar or the same as those a patient given traditional knee replacement surgery would experience.

It is equally important to note that the risks associated with this type of surgery have not been specifically documented. There is, however, no reason to think that this type of surgery would hold any risks not associated with standard knee replacement surgery. Your orthopedic surgeon will be able to give you the latest information regarding this issue.

Click here for more on minimally invasive surgery .

The Hospital Stay

After your surgery, you will probably have a brief stay in the hospital. You may be experiencing a bit of pain after surgery, but you will be given medications to manage it.

You should talk with your orthopedic surgeon about pain medications before your surgery. In this way, you will not experience any surprises in this important area of your recovery. Also, discuss movement and exercise. Be prepared to begin your rehabilitation almost immediately after surgery.

After any surgery, it is important to keep your lungs clear. Breathe deeply and cough from time to time to avoid lung congestion.

Blood clotting sometimes causes problems after knee surgery. To keep the veins in your legs free of clots, your orthopedic surgeon may prescribe blood thinning medications, compressive stockings, compression boots, and/or elevation.

A machine called CPM or continuous passive motion exercise machine may be used. This machine helps reduce the possibility of blood clots and improve flexibility of the knee by keeping it in continuous, gentle motion while keeping it elevated. - 23211

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How To Tell If Specific Kinds Of Aging Care Are Right For You

By Tim Conlee

As you age, the idea that you may not be able to look after yourself or live independently becomes clearer. The choice to give up your home may be one of the hardest decisions that you will ever make. But did you know that you might not have to give up your home right away? It's true. Knowing what the different aging care choices are can help you make the decision that gets you the right level of care for your stage of life.

You need to understand that if someone suffers from certain medical conditions they may need very specialised care that will make some health care choices unacceptable. They can include Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia, care following a massive stroke or heart attack, or even something like arthritis, where mobility can be profoundly affected.

Do you feel that you are in good health but need assistance with daily chores and tasks? If you are still mentally aware, have good balance and mobility, and are not in an altered mental state, you may be able to remain in your home and simply hire a nurse to come in. This can be great for some health conditions such as diabetes, where some specialised foot care may be needed but overall health is still fairly good.

There are also retirement homes, which may also be called assisted living facilities. These are fantastic if your health is good but you no longer want to live in your home or you want more companionship. One of the biggest problems that many elderly people can face is the feeling of isolation and the depression it can bring. Facilities where you still have your own living quarters but are around other people and can take part in activities may be what you need. Many retirement residences are now installing an alarm system into their residents' rooms so that if there is a medical emergency, staff can be alerted with the press of a button.

Nursing care facilities may be the next step that you will consider. Normally, a person is admitted into a nursing home when they have significant physical or mental impairments that make any level of self-care impossible. They usually have less segregated living arrangements and activities which are less varied or active. People who are suffering from altered mental states due to disease or the after effects of a stroke may require a room in a nursing facility.

Palliative care is not simply for the aging. It provides quality end of life care to those who are expected to pass away imminently. This may include people suffering from cancer or other diseases. This type of facility is often a facility of last resort, when people are too ill even for a nursing home. Often people will pass away in a nursing home rather than in palliative care but if a disease is very advanced, they may be moved either to a separate facility or to a designated area of a nursing facility.

You need to think beyond the immediate situation when determining whether a specific aging care arrangement is right for you. By learning about the aging process and any specific needs you have you can find a facility that will help you grow old gracefully and enjoy any remaining years you may have. - 23211

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The Growth Of Palliative Care In Medicine

By Tim Conlee

The growth of palliative care and medicine has been building steam over the last few decades. It is the kind of care that has as its goal supporting and improving the quality of life of the patient stricken by disease rather than spending time trying to cure that same disease. It can be a way to reduce the severity of the disease or illness through a variety of therapies.

Generally speaking, many different disciplines within the medical field can be brought together and given the goal of the elimination or severe reduction of pain and suffering that is making a patient uncomfortable. Palliative care philosophies are seen extensively in the hospice environment which has as its primary goal helping to make the patient as comfortable as possible while he or she is nearing the end of his or her life.

Instead of trying to cure an incurable disease, for the most part, there are usually two types of care that are associated with relieving pain and suffering rather than curing disease. As above, the primary type of palliative care is that given to those stricken by disease that are nearing their life's end.

Along with that, there are treatment regimes that are non-hospice based and is used for those who may be stricken with chronic pain from disease. The classic term for such a goal is what doctors and other health experts refer to as supportive care. In such a treatment regimen, the improvement of the patient's short and long term quality of life is the goal.

Additionally, resources will be expanded towards that aim and not expended towards the aim of finding some sort of cure at least in the short term. As far as whether or not palliative care can make sense in a given situation, it certainly seems to be sensible especially when a patient has an incurable disease.

It can also make sense when a patient is suffering from chronic pain, though his sort of palliative treatment regimen will be extended from an acute care facility rather than the hospice. Today, palliative care specialties are recognized as a specialty among physicians.

However the hospice and palliative care movements came about, there is little doubt that many doctors and health experts today look at concerted efforts to improve quality of life and relieve suffering and pain as a laudable goal. This is especially so when a patient is suffering from pain due to incurable disease and there seems little logic in expending great amounts of resources that could be better spent on the quality of life therapies, especially in the near-term. - 23211

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