How do I know when help is needed?

Caregivers don't always know when outside help is needed, or know what kind of help to give when they do. While an emergency or accident may be easy to identify, there are other situations that may signal an elder's need for help:

  1. Sudden Weight Loss
  2. Failure to Take Medication
  3. General Forgetfulness
  4. Singed Items or Burns
  5. Suspicious Marks/Bruises
  6. Unusual Behavior
Your next step would be to request a geriatric medical evaluation.
 
A geriatric medical evaluation is a comprehensive assessment that gives a clear picture of an elder's medical and mental condition. The complimentary evaluation is performed by a team of professionals that includes a social worker, internist, psychiatrist, and specialized nurses. The team approach is the best way to help caregivers make informed decisions about their loved one's needs. Appropriate referrals and recommendations can be made following this assessment.
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My wife had a stroke and is in the hospital. We're not sure if she'll be able to come home or if she will need to stay in a nursing home. What should we do?
Our Health Centers are very proud of their rehabilitation services including: physical, occupational, and speech therapies. We also offer unique geriatric Nautilus equipment for strength building and progressive resistance training. Our goal is to assist each resident in returning to the community as soon as possible. However, our skilled nursing centers offer a lovely residential environment and works hard to help residents build relationships and have control over their lifestyle. So, in the event a resident chooses one of our centers to become their home, they can do so with peace of mind. If future plans are unclear, our team of physicians, nurses, therapists, and social workers will work hard to evaluate and support what the individual resident's interests are.
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Are Health Care Centers only for those with long-term needs?
Today’s definition of long-term care is inclusive of many types of services.  Our Health Care Centers provide not only the traditional care which includes chronic or long-term disabilities, but other types of skilled short term services.  Sub Acute Care and Respite Care are two individual programs aimed at helping the caregiver and the patient maintain their independence through short-term support. 
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What is Respite Care?
Respite short-term care is specially designed for the caregiver.  If you care for an older relative or family member and need brief support in order to take a vacation or attend other personal events we can arrange short term care through our program.
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What is a Sub Acute Unit ?
A Sub Acute Care Unit is a comprehensive, highly specialized inpatient program designed for the individual who has had an acute event as a result of an illness, injury, or exacerbation of a disease process. The Sub Acute Unit provides an outcome-focused, interdisciplinary approach using a professional team to deliver complex clinical intervention in the Health Care Center, avoiding unnecessary and frequent hospitalizations. Sub Acute focuses on training each patient how to quickly achieve their independence and readjust to their own home.
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Do your Health Care Centers offer in-house rehabilitation programs?
We provide physical, occupational, speech, and respiratory therapy in accordance with the physicians' orders to maximize physical function and recuperation. We also offer unique geriatric Nautilus Equipment for strength building and progressive resistance training.  A full range of rehabilitative services are available to help the resident become as independent as possible.  The Rehab Therapy Team works hand in hand with the skilled nursing staff, all under the supervision of your own primary care physician, to ensure you receive the very best of care available today! For patients with memory impairments, our rehab and restorative staff are trained in areas of approach, behavior management, and communication. They work at the resident's pace to provide a safer climate and comfortable setting for rehab to take place.
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Phone: (978) 948-7383 | Fax: (978) 948-2718