What You Can Do to Achieve Long-Term Health
As people age, it’s natural to want to know how they can achieve long-term health and wellness. While good genes can help set the stage for living longer, there are also things people can do to promote lasting health. From eating healthy to exercise, there are numerous ways to achieve healthier lives. Continue reading for Liberty’s top tips to obtain lasting health.
What Can Your Loved One Do to Achieve Long-Term Health?
As more research is done, the medical community has found that 70 percent of the physical differences and 50 percent of the intellectual differences between aging adults that are healthy and those that are not comes down to lifestyle choices. Let’s take a look at some tips that can help your loved one achieve lasting health as they age.
Live With Purpose
Living a meaningful life has a positive impact on one's life, especially as they age. Most people are retired and no longer have children living with them. This can make many older adults feel like they aren’t needed as much. However, by engaging in meaningful activities on a regular basis, this can reduce mortality rates and improve their overall health.
How can older adults live with purpose?
- Volunteer at a local animal shelter, church, or other non-profit organization.
- For those that can’t leave home, consider making homemade crafts or treats for local schools.
- Start a new routine that involves things they love to do, such as gardening, knitting, golfing, or walking a pet.
By living life with a purpose like volunteering, this can reduce the risk for hypertension and physical disabilities, as well as improve cognition and reduce mortality rates. Who knew volunteering had so many benefits for one’s health?
Stay Connected with Others
It’s no surprise that social isolation poses a serious risk to your loved one’s health. The list of health risks include cancer, depression, diabetes, heart disease, and even obesity. Studies have shown that seniors with strong social connections are less likely to show signs of dementia later in life. By staying connected to loved ones on a regular basis, aging adults can achieve long-term health. If your loved one is unable to visit their friends or family in person, they can still connect via video chats, phone calls, and online chat services. Social media is another great way to maintain close bonds with your loved one when in-person visits aren’t always possible.
Keep the Mind Sharp
Research continues to show that a healthy brain is essential for achieving better health. This involves more than just doing puzzles or playing chess. Indeed, a healthy diet, stress management, and regular physical activity all help a person’s brain stay healthy as they age. To keep their memory functioning, seniors can perform tasks that require active engagement and challenges. This includes learning a new skill, such as how to cook a new type of meal or build a birdhouse.
Stay Active
A sedentary lifestyle poses numerous risks for chronic health conditions, such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, and stroke. If possible, it’s beneficial to perform at least 30 minutes of physical activity every day. This will significantly reduce a person’s risk for the serious health conditions mentioned above. Not convinced? Consider that people who live the longest come from cultures that live active lifestyles, including biking, hiking, swimming, and walking. As always, talk to your loved one's doctor about the best types of exercise for their health.
Feed the Soul
Aside from taking care of one's physical body, it’s also essential to feed the soul. Encourage your loved one to find an activity that helps them relax and get in touch with their spirituality. This can include praying, writing in a journal, meditating, painting, or gardening. By nourishing the spirit, it will reduce the risk for serious health risks, such as depression, diabetes, heart disease, and even suicide.
Eat Healthy
A healthy, nutritional diet is essential for long-term health. Unfortunately, many older adults struggle to eat healthy, especially if they live on their own. Common obstacles that prevent them from eating well include challenges with cooking meals, lack of transportation, and a fixed budget. A poor diet can increase a person’s risk for getting sick due to a weakened immune system, falling, and not healing as quickly. The great news is that it’s not too late to make some better eating choices. This will improve their overall health and help them live longer.
We hope this article helped point out some tips to achieve better health. As people age, there are several tips they can follow to improve the quality of their lives, as well as obtain long-term health. No matter how old they are, it’s never too late to establish healthier lifestyle choices. This can also set an example for others around them, such as their children, grandchildren, and perhaps great grandchildren. Contact Liberty HomeCare and Hospice Services today to learn about our expert, compassionate home care, hospice care, and palliative care. We have offices across North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia, so you can receive the care and support you deserve close to home.
What Is Durable Medical Equipment?
When it comes to medical terms, it can be confusing to keep up with all the health care terms. As you age, there is one term that you will likely hear more than once - durable medical equipment or DME. While this may sound self explanatory, DME is a specific medical term used by insurance companies like Medicare and Medicaid. Let’s take a look at what durable medical equipment is and why you may need it at some point.
What Is Durable Medical Equipment (DME)?
Durable medical equipment (DME) refers to a specific medical term used by health insurance companies like Medicare, Medicaid, and private companies. DME is any medical device or supplies that are necessary for a person’s health, which can be used for a long-term basis. In general, seniors that have serious illnesses or mobility challenges need durable medical equipment more than other age groups.
To qualify as DME, the item must be:
- Used mainly for a medical purpose
- Ordered by a health provider
- Used for a long-term basis of at least a few years (not a single use item like a band aid)
- Used in the home
- Only used by patients that have an illness, injury, or disability
What Are Some Examples of Durable Medical Equipment?
Some common examples of durable medical equipment for home use includes:
- Bed equipment (i.e. bili lights or blankets, hospital beds, lift beds, or pressure mattresses)
- Mobility assistive equipment (i.e. canes, crutches, scooters, walkers, and wheelchairs)
- Kidney machines
- Orthotics
- Oxygen concentrators, monitors, and ventilator supplies
- Personal care assistive equipment (i.e. shower chairs, commodes, and dressing aides)
- Prostheses
- Traction equipment
What DME Is Covered by Medicare?
Medicare Part B covers durable medical equipment if your medical provider orders it for home use. This is great news for those that are currently enrolled in Medicare and need DME to continue living at home independently. When requesting DME, it’s vital to make sure that your medical doctor and supplier are both enrolled in Medicare. If your doctor and supplier are enrolled, your equipment will not be covered by Medicare, which can lead to an expensive medical bill.
Examples of DME Covered by Medicare Part B:
- Breathing equipment (i.e. CPAP devices, nebulizers and medications, and oxygen equipment and accessories)
- Commode chairs
- Continuous passive motion devices
- Diabetes supplies (i.e. blood sugar meters and test strips, lacets, and lancing devices)
- Hospital beds
- Infusion pumps and supplies
- Mobility assistive devices (i.e. canes, crutches, patient lifts, walkers, and wheelchairs)
- Pressure-reducing support surfaces
- Suction pumps
- Traction equipment
What DME Is Covered by Medicaid?
Like any government insurance, Medicaid programs and coverage vary by state. If you need DME, it’s recommended that you contact your local Medicaid office to determine what is covered. Medicaid typically covers medical equipment that is both affordable and medically necessary for a patient. Some state Medicaid programs cover all of the cost for durable medical equipment, while others only pay for a portion of it.
If you are enrolled in Medicaid, you may be wondering what the process looks like for requesting DME. While the qualification process varies by state, here is a basic idea of what to expect. You will first receive a letter from your doctor that lists what you need. Then, you will choose a supplier enrolled in Medicaid and take your letter to them. Your supplier will fill out a prior approval (PA) application and send it to your state Medicaid office, who will either approve or deny the request. Any approved request will allow the supplier to send you the DME and bill your insurance. For denied requests, you will be mailed a letter explaining the reason and information for how to appeal the decision.
Aside from government funded insurance, patients also have the option to use private insurance to receive their DME. In general, most private insurance companies will cover some or all of durable medical equipment costs. Other options include the VA for veterans, self-pay, and non-profit assistance from local organizations.
Now that we have discussed durable medical equipment, we hope you will be better informed about what this term means and what you need to know in case you or a loved one require DME to live safely at home. If you are looking for a high-quality home care, hospice care, and palliative care office, contact Liberty HomeCare and Hospice Services today. We offer expert, compassionate care to locations across North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia.