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You are here: Home / Archives for Difference

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December 17, 2020 By Admin Login

Facts About the COVID-19 Vaccine

Facts About the COVID-19 Vaccine

 

Vaccine Priority for Assisted Living

The CDC is partnering with pharmacies to offer on-site COVID-19 vaccination services for residents in all long-term care settings, including assisted living facilities where most individuals are over 65 years of age.  Once a vaccine is available, the residents and staff at licensed communities, like ours, will have priority through CVS Pharmacy. CVS will bill your insurer, Medicare, or Medicaid for the cost of administering the vaccine.

This means that if you are a resident or have taken financial possession of a room at one of our communities prior to the initial vaccine clinics then you will be included in the first tranche of recipients for the vaccine. As we all know, seniors are affected the most by COVID-19, so this is a crucial opportunity to stay safe and healthy.


Benefits of the Vaccine

The COVID-19 vaccine has been tested through clinical trials over 20,000 times to make sure it is safe and approved for distribution. The test subjects include a diverse range of races, ethnicity, and age – including adults 65 and older. Ultimately, there were no serious safety concerns that outweigh the life-saving capability. The ACIP and CDC have agreed that the benefits of saving lives with the COVID-19 vaccination outweigh the risk of possible side effects.

Possible Side Effects:

  • injection site pain
  • tiredness
  • headache
  • muscle pain
  • chills
  • joint pain
  • fever
  • injection site swelling
  • injection site redness
  • nausea
  • feeling unwell
  • swollen lymph nodes

How it Works

Each recipient of the vaccine will receive two shots of the vaccine into the muscle, spaced out over 3 weeks. If you receive one dose, it is recommended to receive the second dose as well. The duration of the vaccine is currently unknown.

What should you mention to your vaccination provider before you get the Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccine?

Tell the vaccination provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

  • have any allergies
  • have a fever
  • have a bleeding disorder or are on a blood thinner
  • are immunocompromised or are on a medicine that affects your immune system
  • are pregnant or plan to become pregnant
  • are breastfeeding
  • have received another COVID-19 vaccine

Distributing The Vaccine Safely is Top Priority

The FDA has implemented an emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccination and plans to monitor the distribution closely along with the CDC. Using robust systems and specific data systems, the FDA and CDC will be able to quickly and safely track the COVID-19 vaccine. Learn more about COVID-19 vaccine safety monitoring. Additionally, the CDC is working with pharmacies and others who will be distributing the vaccine to help educate long-term care facilities to educate residents and their families.  

FAQ’s from the CDC

FACT: COVID-19 vaccines will not give you COVID-19

None of the COVID-19 vaccines currently in development in the United States use the live virus that causes COVID-19. There are several different types of vaccines in development. However, the goal for each of them is to teach our immune systems how to recognize and fight the virus that causes COVID-19. Sometimes this process can cause symptoms, such as fever. These symptoms are normal and are a sign that the body is building immunity. Learn more about how COVID-19 vaccines work.

It typically takes a few weeks for the body to build immunity after vaccination. That means it’s possible a person could be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 just before or just after vaccination and get sick. This is because the vaccine has not had enough time to provide protection.

FACT: COVID-19 vaccines will not cause you to test positive on COVID-19 viral tests

Vaccines currently in clinical trials in the United States won’t cause you to test positive on viral tests, which are used to see if you have a current infection.

If your body develops an immune response, which is the goal of vaccination, there is a possibility you may test positive on some antibody tests. Antibody tests indicate you had a previous infection and that you may have some level of protection against the virus. Experts are currently looking at how COVID-19 vaccination may affect antibody testing results.

FACT: People who have gotten sick with COVID-19 may still benefit from getting vaccinated

Due to the severe health risks associated with COVID-19 and the fact that re-infection with COVID-19 is possible, people may be advised to get a COVID-19 vaccine even if they have been sick with COVID-19 before.

At this time, experts do not know how long someone is protected from getting sick again after recovering from COVID-19. The immunity someone gains from having an infection, called natural immunity, varies from person to person. Some early evidence suggests natural immunity may not last very long.

We won’t know how long immunity produced by vaccination lasts until we have a vaccine and more data on how well it works.

Both natural immunity and vaccine-induced immunity are important aspects of COVID-19 that experts are trying to learn more about, and CDC will keep the public informed as new evidence becomes available.

FACT: Getting vaccinated can help prevent getting sick with COVID-19

While many people with COVID-19 have only a mild illness, others may get a severe illness or they may even die. There is no way to know how COVID-19 will affect you, even if you are not at increased risk of severe complications. If you get sick, you also may spread the disease to friends, family, and others around you while you are sick. COVID-19 vaccination helps protect you by creating an antibody response without having to experience sickness. Learn more about how COVID-19 vaccines work.

FACT: Receiving an mRNA vaccine will not alter your DNA

mRNA stands for messenger ribonucleic acid and can most easily be described as instructions for how to make a protein or even just a piece of a protein. mRNA is not able to alter or modify a person’s genetic makeup (DNA). The mRNA from a COVID-19 vaccine never enters the nucleus of the cell, which is where our DNA are kept. This means the mRNA does not affect or interact with our DNA in any way. Instead, COVID-19 vaccines that use mRNA work with the body’s natural defenses to safely develop protection (immunity) to disease. Learn more about how COVID-19 mRNA vaccines work. ​

 

For more information, contact one of our Sales Directors today!

 

 

 

Sources:

www.cdc.gov

www.fda.gov

www.mayoclinic.org

www.who.int

Filed Under: Assisted Living, Lifestyle, Uncategorized Tagged With: alzheimer's, Assisted Living, behavior, COVID-19, dementia, Difference, help, Holidays, long-term, long-term care, Memory Care, Moving, parents, pneumonia, Safe, Safety, Senior, Senior Care, senior living, signs, vaccine, Veteran Benefits, Veterans, warning signs

December 10, 2020 By Admin Login

The COVID-19 Vaccine is Now a Reality.

The COVID-19 Vaccine is Now a Reality.

 

Keeping your loved ones safe has been our most important priority during this long pandemic. From the onset, we put into place the necessary safety protocols providing protection and peace of mind for you and your loved ones.  Soon, we will have the long-anticipated COVID-19 vaccine that will help end this virus.  At Surpass Senior Living, we are mindful of every aspect of our resident’s life as we continue to keep them safe and healthy.


Vaccine Priority for Assisted Living

The CDC is partnering with pharmacies to offer on-site COVID-19 vaccination services for residents in all long-term care settings, including assisted living facilities where most individuals are over 65 years of age.  Once a vaccine is available, the residents and staff at licensed communities, like ours, will have priority through CVS Pharmacy. CVS will bill your insurer, Medicare, or Medicaid for the cost of administering the vaccine.

This means that if you are a resident or have taken financial possession of a room at one of our communities prior to the initial vaccine clinics then you will be included in the first tranche of recipients for the vaccine. As we all know, seniors are affected the most by COVID-19, so this is a crucial opportunity to stay safe and healthy.

Timeline

States such as Arizona and Georgia will begin to distribute vaccines starting December 17th and 18th and will prioritize health care workers and assisted living communities. Other states, such as Texas are only a few weeks away from distribution and will also prioritize essential workers and seniors who are affected the most by COVID-19.

Prevention

Outbreaks of preventable infectious diseases occur when many people choose not to get vaccinated.  Those who are not vaccinated are a threat and can spread disease to other people who have medical issues and cannot be vaccinated.  Per the CDC, it is more important than ever to receive the flu vaccine this year and we strongly encourage all of our residents and employees to be vaccinated against the flu and COVID-19.

 

For more information, contact one of our Sales Directors today!

 

Filed Under: Assisted Living, Lifestyle, Uncategorized Tagged With: alzheimer's, Assisted Living, behavior, COVID-19, dementia, Difference, help, Holidays, long-term, long-term care, Memory Care, Moving, parents, pneumonia, Safe, Safety, Senior, Senior Care, senior living, signs, vaccine, Veteran Benefits, Veterans, warning signs

December 3, 2020 By Admin Login

9 Tips on Lifting a Senior’s Spirits During the Holidays

9 Tips on Lifting a Senior’s Spirits During the Holidays

 

 

The holidays have always been a time of year when seniors are more susceptible to depression. The loss of loved ones, combined with health or financial problems, weigh heavily on seniors. Couple that with the isolation that COVID-19 imposes and lifting the spirits of a senior loved one becomes even more important for their health and wellbeing this year.

 Follow these tips on lifting your seniors spirts during the holiday to show them how much you care.


1. Family gatherings

Family gatherings bring additional risks for a senior. However, “gatherings” are still possible via video calls and social media. Also, gatherings with a limited number of guests, wearing masks, social distancing, handwashing, and not attending if a person has tested positive for the virus or been exposed to it can mitigate the risk.  Whatever form the gathering takes, the important thing is that it is a time to share the simple joys of the holiday seasons with each other.

2. Enjoying the Christmas lights and displays

Take your loved one on a tour of neighborhoods to see the Christmas lights. Family members can also take videos of their decorations and of the homes decorated in their neighborhoods and share them over a video. It’s a tradition (with a little modification) that can hearken back to Christmas celebrations of the past.

3. Holidays are made for memories

Call your aging loved one or video chat with them. The holidays are the perfect time to reminisce, sharing stories and fun times together from the past.

4. Music festivities

Music is a fantastic mood booster. And while unfortunately attending a holiday concert is not an option, music can be shared in many ways—via social media, dropping off old records or CDs of your senior’s favorite holiday songs, or just singing to or with them over the phone.

5. Send a holiday card

Nothing beats a good old-fashioned card you pick out just for your loved one, with a handwritten note that you mail to let them know you are thinking about them.

6. Pick up the phone and call

It’s a simple gesture, but sometimes, simple gestures mean the most. Update your loved one on what is happening in your life, share how you are preparing for the holidays, and ask how they are doing.

8. Get out and about

We strongly exercise caution about taking a senior out into public places where people are gathered. However, a change of scenery is refreshing for anyone who has been isolated in their home for months. If you can do it safely, such as an open park then it could provide a nice change of pace. Window Swap offers video and sounds of different scenic window views around the world.

For a change of scenery closer to home, send videos or photos of past holiday celebrations to your seniors. Encourage your loved one to change their mental and emotional scenery by pursuing new hobbies, interests and activities. The key is to mentally or emotionally transport them somewhere else for a time to provide them relief from the isolation they have been enduring.

8. Do an activity together

Games, puzzles, and activities abound that you or other family members can play or participate in with your senior. Other options include learning a craft together or create a family history.

9. Decorate

This tradition is definitely worth keeping. Have the senior share what decorating has been done in his or her home. Family members can also share how they have decorated. Swap some decorations to send to each other. Changing the look of an environment can go a long way to improve the mood of the people living in it.

 

For more information, contact one of our Sales Directors today!

 

 

Source:Michael Barber

Filed Under: Assisted Living, Lifestyle, Uncategorized Tagged With: alzheimer's, Assisted Living, behavior, COVID-19, dementia, Difference, help, Holidays, long-term, long-term care, Memory Care, Moving, parents, pneumonia, Safe, Safety, Senior, Senior Care, senior living, signs, Veteran Benefits, Veterans, warning signs

November 19, 2020 By Admin Login

Visiting Safely During COVID-19 Holidays

Visiting Safely During COVID-19 Holidays

Now that the holidays are here and many COVID-related restrictions have been lifted across the country, many seniors are feeling ready and anxious to visit with their family.

Unfortunately, older adults are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19 than their younger counterparts, which has made it difficult for seniors to safely visit family and grandchildren during the pandemic. Though it may be risky for older adults to spend time with their younger loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic, visits during the holidays can still be made possible if everyone takes the necessary precautions to stay safe and limit their exposure to the virus.

Here are steps your family can take when you’re ready to visit with your loved ones and other older relatives during COVID-19 holidays.


Assess the COVID-19 Risk for the Grandparents

Before arranging any visits with grandparents, assess the possible COVID-19 risk based on age and on whether your relatives have any underlying medical conditions that may further increase their risk for severe illness from COVID-19.

The risk of severe illness from COVID-19 increases with age. The CDC reports that people aged 85 and older face the greatest risk of severe illness from COVID-19 and that 8 in 10 COVID-19-related deaths in the U.S. have been among adults aged 65 and older.

Your older relatives may be at even higher risk of severe illness COVID-19 if they have pre-existing conditions. If your loved ones are over the age of 65 and/or have one or more underlying medical conditions, you may want to reassess whether it’s a good idea to visit in person during the holidays in 2020.

Take COVID-19 Precautions Two Weeks Beforehand

Symptoms of COVID-19 can show up anywhere between 2 and 14 days after exposure, which means that if you’ve been exposed to the virus a few days before visiting your loved one, you may have COVID-19 and not even know it yet—putting your relatives at risk.

Try to limit your exposure to COVID-19 as best you can two weeks before your scheduled visit. Practice social distancing, wear a face mask, and limit outings or social gatherings. If possible, arrange to work from home to reduce the amount of time you spend near people from outside of your household. That way, when it’s time to visit mom and dad, you know that your chances of spreading COVID-19 are minimal and less likely.

Get Tested For COVID-19 Before the Visit

Consider having your family get tested for COVID-19 before visiting your loved one to confirm everyone is healthy. This will give each family member greater peace of mind. Many cities across the U.S. have sites that offer free COVID tests to anyone who wants one, while some cities are restricting COVID testing only to individuals at high risk for severe illness or who have recently been exposed to someone with COVID-19.

Look into local options for getting tested. If COVID testing isn’t available in your local area or you and your family members don’t qualify for testing, assess the infection rates where you live. If you live in a COVID hotspot or in an area where lots of new cases are reported every day, you may want to postpone your visit.

Prepare Your Children

Before visiting their grandparents, talk to your children about how this year’s visit will be different from previous visits in that physical contact will be limited. Your kids may be used to getting lots of hugs, snuggles, and kisses from grandma and grandpa, and may not understand why touching will be limited this year. Educate your kids about COVID-19, and explain the importance of social distancing and wearing face masks to protect their grandparents from the virus.

Travel By Car vs Plane if Possible

Though many airlines are now seating passengers at least 6 feet apart and requiring them to wear face masks, being on an airplane makes it difficult to keep a safe distance from flight attendants and other passengers. If possible, consider traveling by car instead of by plane, which will help limit in-person interactions and close distance with those outside of your household. Pack snacks and meals you can eat on the go (like sandwiches and wraps), and bring gloves and face masks to wear while stopping at restrooms and gas stations.

Make Your Loved One Stay at Home

Some seniors may be feeling antsy after sheltering in place and insist on traveling to visit you instead of letting you travel to them. However, this may be extremely risky for the senior, especially if they need to travel by plane.

Talk to your kids’ grandparents about the potential risks associated with traveling amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and insist that your family visit them. The fewer people your relatives come into contact with and the fewer public places they visit, the lower their risk will be for contracting COVID-19.

Practice Social Distancing and Wear Face Masks

Keep in mind that physical contact with anyone outside of your household should be limited to reduce exposure to COVID-19. Greet one another without touching, and continue to practice social distancing and wear face coverings during the entire visit. If you’re visiting during mealtime, eat outside if weather permits. If not, plan to eat before or after your visit, so that you do not have to remove your mask inside while visiting with your loved one. Some people may feel extremely uncomfortable in regards to avoiding all physical contact with their loved ones, which is completely normal. However, taking these precautions will help keep everyone in your family safe and healthy.

Don’t Share Living Spaces

Staying with your relatives when you visit may be fun, convenient, and inexpensive, but doing so is very risky for both your family and parents. Even if you quarantine for 14 days after arriving in town, experts still recommend staying in a nearby hotel or vacation rental to minimize COVID-19 exposure.

Before leaving home, research your options for hotels near your relatives and call the facilities to ask about their safety and sanitation policies related to COVID-19. Ask if your family can stay in a room that has been unoccupied for a few days, and consider cleaning and tidying up the room yourselves instead of allowing housekeeping services to enter the room. Also, avoid using community amenities during your stay such as the gym, hot tub, and swimming pool, as these amenities may not be sanitized as regularly as needed to reduce your exposure to COVID-19.

Limit Activities and Spend Time Outdoors

Most seniors enjoy treating their grandchildren to fun outings such as going to museums, toy stores, and theme parks, but venturing to any public places can increase their risk for contracting COVID-19. Instead of visiting indoor public places or venues that attract large crowds, suggest that everyone limit activities to outdoor venues that provide plenty of free-roaming space.

Go to local parks, visit the zoo, go on hikes or long walks, or have picnics. You could even suggest that your children’s grandparents sit in their vehicles while they watch their grandchildren play outside. Spend as much time outdoors as possible in places where you can easily practice social distancing and avoid large crowds.

Avoid Sharing Utensils and Other Objects

Given how COVID-19 can spread through saliva and from touching contaminated surfaces, take care to avoid sharing utensils, cups, and other objects with grandparents from which COVID-19 can be easily transmitted. To play it extra safe, use disposable plasticware and cups instead of your grandparents’ silverware and dishes.

Consider a Virtual Visit

Many families around the U.S. have started using video apps to visit and spend time with their loved ones from a safe distance. Instead of having an in-person visit, consider having regular phone calls and video conferences.

Host virtual family meals, movie nights, and game nights by pulling up video conferencing sessions that allow you to see and talk with one another during these family events. Suggest that your grandparents read bedtime stories to their grandchildren over the phone or during video chat sessions. You could also send your relatives photos and videos of their grandchildren via email or text.

Virtual visits are an ideal way to spend quality time with your loved ones during COVID-19 until the U.S. achieves herd immunity or develops a safe, effective vaccine. Keep in mind that although virtual visits may not be your preferred way to spend the holidays with your relatives, this may be the safest option for everyone, and may only be necessary for a short time.

 

For more information, contact one of our Sales Directors today!

 

 

Source:Michael Barber

Filed Under: Assisted Living, Lifestyle, Uncategorized Tagged With: alzheimer's, Assisted Living, behavior, COVID-19, dementia, Difference, help, Holidays, long-term, long-term care, Memory Care, Moving, parents, pneumonia, Safe, Safety, Senior, Senior Care, senior living, signs, Veteran Benefits, Veterans, warning signs

November 12, 2020 By Admin Login

Veterans Benefits: Does the VA Pay for Senior Care?

Veterans Benefits: Does the VA Pay for Senior Care?

Are you or your loved one a U.S. military veteran or military veteran’s spouse? Veterans or their surviving spouses in need of senior care may qualify for extra financial help on top of their basic pension. Here are the highlights of the little-known Aid and Attendance benefit, which can provide financial assistance to senior veterans or their spouses who need long-term care but can’t pay for the full costs on their own.


What is Aid and Attendance?

Aid and Attendance is a pension program provided to veterans through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

The VA helps veterans and their families by providing supplemental income through the Veterans Pension and Survivors Pension benefit programs. Veterans (or their widowed spouses) in good health qualify for the basic pension if they are 65 or older and have a low-income level.

Veterans and survivors who are eligible for a VA pension and who require the aid and attendance of another person (or are housebound) may be eligible for additional monthly payments above the normal pension amount — those additional payments are the Aid and Attendance benefit.

However, to qualify for Aid and Attendance, a veteran or surviving spouse must first qualify for the basic VA pension.

The VA lists many eligibility factors for the basic VA pension:

  • An honorable discharge
  • Age 65 or older (or permanently disabled)
  • Minimum service requirements (at least 90 days of active duty, with one of those days being during active wartime)
  • A monthly income and assets below the limits set by the VA (net worth must not exceed $129,094, as of December 1, 2019)

To qualify for Aid and Assistance, you must meet one of these additional medical requirements:

  • Need the help of another person for everyday tasks like bathing and dressing
  • Are in a nursing home, due to a mental or physical incapacity such as Alzheimer’s disease
  • Are bedridden
  • Have specific eyesight limitations

Depending on the veteran’s care needs and financial status, the Aid and Attendance benefit can provide $2,170 or more per month toward the cost of several types of senior care, including nursing homes, assisted living, memory care, residential care homes, adult day services, and more.

Do VA benefits cover nursing home care?

Aid and Attendance can be used to help pay for a nursing home, although it may not be especially helpful if the applicant is eligible for Medicaid or expects to go onto Medicaid soon. This is because the benefit will not pay more than $90 per month to someone who is eligible for Medicaid — the exception being those who reside in state VA nursing homes, which are exempt from this rule.

The Aid and Attendance program can be helpful for those who are on the cusp of being able to afford a private-pay nursing home. For example, Aid and Attendance could bridge the financial gap for a veteran who makes $6,000 a month but hopes to live in a nursing home that costs $7,000 a month.

Aid and Attendance can also provide additional income for a spouse at home, or if there is a statewide waiting list for Medicaid beds.

Do spouses of veterans get Aid and Attendance?

Yes — surviving spouses of veterans may receive VA benefits, which include both the basic pension as well as Aid and Attendance. Those benefits help pay for nursing home costs.

It’s important to note that you must be a widowed spouse of a veteran to apply for and receive VA benefits on your own. Spouses and other dependents of living veterans may be eligible for other types of benefits, such as education, financial counseling, and basic health care.

However, veterans with a spouse or other dependents may qualify for higher award amounts. This 2020 chart shows the amount of aid for single veterans and for those with spouses and other dependents.

Do VA benefits cover assisted living facilities?

The VA does not differentiate between a nursing home and assisted living community in their definition of “nursing home.” This means that, in most states, residents of assisted living communities often qualify for the benefit.

Assisted living communities have emerged in the last two or three decades as an alternative to nursing homes for those who need some care, but not 24-hour skilled nursing care. Aid and Attendance can help qualified recipients pay for assisted living.

Assisted living communities provide personal care in addition to more basic amenities like meals, housekeeping, and activities. The care they offer usually includes medication management, bathing, dressing, grooming, and toileting, although not all residents require assistance in all of these areas.

The average cost for assisted living is $3,715 per month, but this varies depending on region and other location-related factors, the size of the apartments, and the needed level of care.

If you meet the clinical requirements for Aid and Attendance and the assisted living community is helping with personal care needs, then typically the monthly amount paid to the assisted living community is deducted from your gross income.

How do I apply for VA benefits?

To apply for Aid and Attendance, you need to mail the completed VA forms to your pension management center (PMC), or you can apply in person at the nearest VA regional office.

The application and approval process for Aid and Attendance can be frustratingly slow. It can take weeks for families to gather the necessary documents and complete the paperwork. The approval process itself averages almost nine months, but a complete and accurate application can be processed much more quickly.

If you are 90 or older, you can request an expedited review in a cover letter with your application.

The good news is the benefit pays retroactively upon approval of eligibility. This means the first benefit payment includes a lump sum to cover the months that the application was pending.

Other veterans benefits resources

Here are some other helpful resources for learning about VA benefits:

  • Directory of Veterans Service Organizations (VSO)
  • VSO search by state
  • National Veterans Foundation (free help with VA benefits)
  • The American Legion
  • The Veterans Benefits Administration
  • The Veterans of Foreign Wars

 

For more information on veterans benefits, contact one of our Sales Directors today!

 

 

 

 

 

Source:Danny Szlauderbach

Filed Under: Assisted Living, Lifestyle, Uncategorized Tagged With: alzheimer's, Assisted Living, behavior, dementia, Difference, help, long-term, long-term care, Memory Care, Moving, parents, pneumonia, Safe, Safety, Senior, Senior Care, senior living, signs, Veteran Benefits, Veterans, warning signs

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