Home Based Primary Care offers primary health care services to Veterans at their place of residence. These Veterans are often diagnosed with chronic medical conditions and emotional health problems making it difficult for them to schedule and attend appointments in one of our facilities. Home health care is provided by members of a multi-disciplinary team including a doctor, nurse practitioner, nurse, social worker, psychologist, dietician, occupational therapist, physical therapist and pharmacist.
Care provided includes skilled medical and nursing care, health education, rehabilitation services, counseling and support, social work services, nutritional counseling and medication review and support. HBPC works closely with patients, family and caregivers, using a coordinated team approach.
HBPC Differs from Visiting Nurse Association
- Open only to Veterans
- HBPC is open Monday – Friday from 8:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
- Visits are once a week at the most
- All Team members make home visits, including the HBPC doctor and nurse
- HBPC provides episodic and longitudinal care
Who is Eligible for HBPC
Veterans who are eligible for VA outpatient care and have an assigned primary care provider (PCP) within the VA Boston Healthcare System
Veterans living within a defined geographical area:
- Within 15 miles or 30 minutes drive from the VA in Jamaica Plain
- Within 30 miles or 30 minutes drive from the VA in Brockton
- Within 30 miles or 30 minutes drive from the VA in Worcester
Veterans who may potentially benefit from long-term, multidisciplinary, home-based health care, that is non-urgent, non-emergent
Veterans who are interested in participating in the HBPC program
Veterans residing in a home environment that is safe for the patient, caregiver and staff
Patient Aligned Care Team
Based on a complete assessment of patient needs and, in conjunction with the patient, family and/or caregiver, HBPC team members will help patients to develop a plan of care that works for them. As part of care, the HBPC Team will assess the care and support needs of any involved caregiver, as well as his or her ability to continue to provide care. Team members will provide education to the patient, family and/or the caregiver, as needed, and coordinate service delivery with other health care providers within and outside the VA.
Examples of Care
Nursing assessment and care for patients with chronic health conditions such as:
- Congestive Heart Failure
- Diabetes
- Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease
- Dementia
- Hypertension
Support and education for patients and family in self-management of these and other chronic health conditions
Teaching and education in achieving and/or maintaining a healthy lifestyle
Monitoring blood pressure, heart and breathing sounds
Assisting with organizing medications
Wound care
Help with social service needs
Psychological support
Nutritional counseling
Coordination of services
If you are interested in learning more about Home Based Primary Care, contact the HBPC office at 857-364-6772 or 774-826-1340.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Health and personal care services
Home care workers are currently excluded from FLSA because they are considered mere “companions,” an outdated ruling that fails to account for the health and personal care services they provide to elders and people with disabilities. “Extending minimum wage and overtime protections to home care workers has been the Direct Care Alliance’s flagship issue since the Supreme Court ruled against Evelyn Coke,” says Leonila Vega, executive director of the Direct Care Alliance (DCA). “We are delighted that the end of this injustice is in sight.”
Evelyn Coke was a home care worker who challenged the companionship exemption in court. Her case went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, which ruled in 2007 that DOL was acting within its authority in upholding the exemption.
Evelyn Coke was a home care worker who challenged the companionship exemption in court. Her case went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, which ruled in 2007 that DOL was acting within its authority in upholding the exemption.
Monday, December 12, 2011
Community Care Program Saves Medicaid Dollars
, Sees Breakthrough in 2011
Alyssa Gerace | December 11, 2011 |
The Money Follows the Person (MFP) movement, which uses federal grant money to save Medicaid dollars by transitioning the program’s beneficiaries out of institutions and back into their homes or communities, saw a turning point in 2011 with nearly 17,000 transitions, reports a December 2011 Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured.
“When asked to compare the cost of serving Medicaid beneficiaries who reside in institutions with MFP participants, the majority of states said MFP per capita costs were lower,” says the Kaiser report, which shows that average monthly costs for seniors was $2,130.
The program can reduce states’ Medicaid budgets, but it usually takes some time to catch on.
“Although it took most MFP states several years to become operational, 2011 marked a turning point for MFP,” said the Kaiser report. “As states embrace rebalancing their long-term services and supports delivery systems, MFP will remain a critical program helping to change the way long-term services and supports are delivered.”
There are now 44 states (including Washington, D.C.) participating in the program, with 13 of those applying and receiving funding in the past year.
Highlights include three states—Ohio, Texas, and Washingotn—making up 46% of the 16,638 MFP transitions, according to Kaiser’s data. The majority of transitions were for people with disabilities (36%) and seniors (33%). The average age of seniors transition home was 71, and they were more likely to transition back to their own homes or a family member’s home, as opposed to a facility in their community.
MFP was enacted into law in 2006 as part of the Deficit Reduction Act before being extended under the Obama Administration’s Affordable Care Act, and offers individual states the opportunity to get their Medicaid funds federally matched for each program beneficiary that transitions back into a community setting. The program’s goal is to “serve individuals with long-term services and supports needs in a safe, more cost-effective setting and one in which individuals can retain independence at freedom.”
Written by Alyssa Gerace
Alyssa Gerace | December 11, 2011 |
The Money Follows the Person (MFP) movement, which uses federal grant money to save Medicaid dollars by transitioning the program’s beneficiaries out of institutions and back into their homes or communities, saw a turning point in 2011 with nearly 17,000 transitions, reports a December 2011 Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured.
“When asked to compare the cost of serving Medicaid beneficiaries who reside in institutions with MFP participants, the majority of states said MFP per capita costs were lower,” says the Kaiser report, which shows that average monthly costs for seniors was $2,130.
The program can reduce states’ Medicaid budgets, but it usually takes some time to catch on.
“Although it took most MFP states several years to become operational, 2011 marked a turning point for MFP,” said the Kaiser report. “As states embrace rebalancing their long-term services and supports delivery systems, MFP will remain a critical program helping to change the way long-term services and supports are delivered.”
There are now 44 states (including Washington, D.C.) participating in the program, with 13 of those applying and receiving funding in the past year.
Highlights include three states—Ohio, Texas, and Washingotn—making up 46% of the 16,638 MFP transitions, according to Kaiser’s data. The majority of transitions were for people with disabilities (36%) and seniors (33%). The average age of seniors transition home was 71, and they were more likely to transition back to their own homes or a family member’s home, as opposed to a facility in their community.
MFP was enacted into law in 2006 as part of the Deficit Reduction Act before being extended under the Obama Administration’s Affordable Care Act, and offers individual states the opportunity to get their Medicaid funds federally matched for each program beneficiary that transitions back into a community setting. The program’s goal is to “serve individuals with long-term services and supports needs in a safe, more cost-effective setting and one in which individuals can retain independence at freedom.”
Written by Alyssa Gerace
Friday, December 2, 2011
Helping our nations Care givers
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MASSSENIOR ACTION METRO NORTH
The job of caring for ailing love ones is often Daunting. An unpaid army of 44.5 million is caring for our ailing adults
Are you prepared to be a care giver? “Boomers are shocked when they find out Medicare won’t pay for any long term care for chronic illness. As “Baby Boomers” age we must design a system we want to grow old in. “Care Manager to walk care givers thru maze of options.”Online Community:” offer array of resources for dealing with the bureaucracy and stress. States looking for new ways to provide support.
1. Tax incentives for care givers
2. Expand family and medical leave benefits
3.Comprehensive paid family leave insurance.
CHANGE MEDICARE “Custodial Service”
Medicaid-intended as a safety net for specific low income population, including disabled children. Will only reimburse people who have DEPLETED their assets.
Answers needed.
1How to relieve the financial burden of Americas 44.5 million family care givers
Tax incentives for elder care like those for child care
Steps government takes so the infirm need not spend down their assets to qualify for Medicaid..
FRIENDS AND ENEMIES
The system in our country is screwed up and that’s not be chance!!!!!
Enemies
There are people who do not want you to live in the most integrated setting
They will fight your efforts to make the state give people real choices about where to live.
WHO ARE YOUR REAL ENEMIES
Friends to watch our for!!
Groups that in theory want us to have choices about where to live but are:
1. Too timid at confronting public officials.
2.concerned about the public image and don’t want to ruffle feathers.
3. Against direct action, demonstrations
4.Disorganized and unable to make decisions.
Friends like these often derail good intentions and programs more effectively than enemies.
MY VIEW Howard McGowan
NURSES STAFFING
A problem to be solved to assure the safety and well being of the patients in Hospitals, Nursing Homes, Home Care, especially the vulnerable Senior population
One the present staffing bill before the legislature.
The nurses Union have their own agenda,UNION MEMBERSHIP
Ido not feel the effort for this bill will benefit Seniors
Massachusetts Health Care Insurance Law.
State wary of firms finding ways around new health law
1.Expand coverage from salaried staff to all full time employees and control costs by halving contributions to share employers contribution only 3 of 27 eligible took insurance
2. Up hours need to work coverage shift low wage worker to state coverage/
3. Split firm into separate corporations to have less than 11 employees in each. Don’t have to offer insurance
45.000 workers gained be employers picking up part of tab.
293.000 newly insured residents
½ way to cover nearly all residents.
EMPLOYERS
Shifting costs to state upsetting the delicate balance of responsibility
STATE TO CLOSE LOOPHOLES!?
For most working class people the health insurance is very expensive. Full time people have done the math and it is cheaper to pay the states penalty than even pay for ½ health insurance premium.
$219 penalty Next year to rise.
The Assault on Medicare
Editorial
No one who has reviewed the changes in
Medicare proposed by the Bush administration
and the Republican leadership in the
Congress any doubt regarding the motivation
behind the legislation. Corporate-tied conservatives
made a commitment to begin the process of privatizing
Medicare and they
are now delivering on that commitment.
Under the guise of creating a prescription
drug benefit, the proponents of the legislation ,
in fact, crafted a scheme designed to enrich
pharmaceutical companies while saddling
seniors with high co-pays and costs that will
continue to make needed medicines
unaffordable for millions of citizens.
Worse yet, the legislation seeks to use
billions of taxpayer dollars to break up
the Medicare program and hand the pieces
over to the same for-profit concerns that
have made the U.S. health care system
one of the costliest and most inefficient in
the world. So corrupt is the legislation that
it actually bans initiatives to lower drug prices.
SENIOR CENTERS SEEKS WAY TO BECOME RELEVANT
Malden Ma Senior Community Center scheduled opening December 2008
Boomers (50-60) Volunteering in Senior programs is a good way to become initially acquainted with the center
Outreach to older seniors, to their families to become involved
Outreach to and by the City Administration
Participation by our elected officials and appointed department heads.
Mayors Office
City councillors
Dept of human Services
All department Heads.
FACTS
“Baby Boomers “don’t like being called Seniors
Senior Centers making changes in programs to draw them in
Need convincing that the older elderly have been active in getting the facilities needed for aging in place and their should be mutual accommodation between recreation and health programs for all ages.
WE need expansion not change.
Calling it “Community Outreach and Resource Center” “Adult Resource Center” Should not change the mission.
Getting Old is nothing to fear
Face reality and face the “curve balls” health wise that may come your way.
Encourage volunteering
1. Tax work off program
2 House other community activities,
Food Pantry
Mentor Programs
Medical Facilities
Issues common ground with our older seniors 18,000 strong in Malden
Metro North MSAC
Goals For The Year
1.
Utilize resources for family care givers.
Expand senior services to under served rural communities
Lead public and private foundations and other nonprofit toward the concept of having elder-ready communities
Be more involved in city, county and community planning processes.
Develop a membership coordination center
As the Baby Boomers continue to enter retirement, the U.S. faces one of the most dramatic demographic shifts in its history. The baby boom ran from 1946 to 1960, during which time the fertility rate in the United States was nearly twice its 20th century average. Because a high proportion -- slightly under a quarter -- of the current population was born in that period, their age has a strong influence on the average of the population. Thus the U.S. is, on average, growing older because of the baby boomers. This shift has strong implications for factors that depend on the age distribution of the population, like per-person productivity, health care costs, the savings rate, and social security funding.
Delete
Cancel
MASSSENIOR ACTION METRO NORTH
The job of caring for ailing love ones is often Daunting. An unpaid army of 44.5 million is caring for our ailing adults
Are you prepared to be a care giver? “Boomers are shocked when they find out Medicare won’t pay for any long term care for chronic illness. As “Baby Boomers” age we must design a system we want to grow old in. “Care Manager to walk care givers thru maze of options.”Online Community:” offer array of resources for dealing with the bureaucracy and stress. States looking for new ways to provide support.
1. Tax incentives for care givers
2. Expand family and medical leave benefits
3.Comprehensive paid family leave insurance.
CHANGE MEDICARE “Custodial Service”
Medicaid-intended as a safety net for specific low income population, including disabled children. Will only reimburse people who have DEPLETED their assets.
Answers needed.
1How to relieve the financial burden of Americas 44.5 million family care givers
Tax incentives for elder care like those for child care
Steps government takes so the infirm need not spend down their assets to qualify for Medicaid..
FRIENDS AND ENEMIES
The system in our country is screwed up and that’s not be chance!!!!!
Enemies
There are people who do not want you to live in the most integrated setting
They will fight your efforts to make the state give people real choices about where to live.
WHO ARE YOUR REAL ENEMIES
Friends to watch our for!!
Groups that in theory want us to have choices about where to live but are:
1. Too timid at confronting public officials.
2.concerned about the public image and don’t want to ruffle feathers.
3. Against direct action, demonstrations
4.Disorganized and unable to make decisions.
Friends like these often derail good intentions and programs more effectively than enemies.
MY VIEW Howard McGowan
NURSES STAFFING
A problem to be solved to assure the safety and well being of the patients in Hospitals, Nursing Homes, Home Care, especially the vulnerable Senior population
One the present staffing bill before the legislature.
The nurses Union have their own agenda,UNION MEMBERSHIP
Ido not feel the effort for this bill will benefit Seniors
Massachusetts Health Care Insurance Law.
State wary of firms finding ways around new health law
1.Expand coverage from salaried staff to all full time employees and control costs by halving contributions to share employers contribution only 3 of 27 eligible took insurance
2. Up hours need to work coverage shift low wage worker to state coverage/
3. Split firm into separate corporations to have less than 11 employees in each. Don’t have to offer insurance
45.000 workers gained be employers picking up part of tab.
293.000 newly insured residents
½ way to cover nearly all residents.
EMPLOYERS
Shifting costs to state upsetting the delicate balance of responsibility
STATE TO CLOSE LOOPHOLES!?
For most working class people the health insurance is very expensive. Full time people have done the math and it is cheaper to pay the states penalty than even pay for ½ health insurance premium.
$219 penalty Next year to rise.
The Assault on Medicare
Editorial
No one who has reviewed the changes in
Medicare proposed by the Bush administration
and the Republican leadership in the
Congress any doubt regarding the motivation
behind the legislation. Corporate-tied conservatives
made a commitment to begin the process of privatizing
Medicare and they
are now delivering on that commitment.
Under the guise of creating a prescription
drug benefit, the proponents of the legislation ,
in fact, crafted a scheme designed to enrich
pharmaceutical companies while saddling
seniors with high co-pays and costs that will
continue to make needed medicines
unaffordable for millions of citizens.
Worse yet, the legislation seeks to use
billions of taxpayer dollars to break up
the Medicare program and hand the pieces
over to the same for-profit concerns that
have made the U.S. health care system
one of the costliest and most inefficient in
the world. So corrupt is the legislation that
it actually bans initiatives to lower drug prices.
SENIOR CENTERS SEEKS WAY TO BECOME RELEVANT
Malden Ma Senior Community Center scheduled opening December 2008
Boomers (50-60) Volunteering in Senior programs is a good way to become initially acquainted with the center
Outreach to older seniors, to their families to become involved
Outreach to and by the City Administration
Participation by our elected officials and appointed department heads.
Mayors Office
City councillors
Dept of human Services
All department Heads.
FACTS
“Baby Boomers “don’t like being called Seniors
Senior Centers making changes in programs to draw them in
Need convincing that the older elderly have been active in getting the facilities needed for aging in place and their should be mutual accommodation between recreation and health programs for all ages.
WE need expansion not change.
Calling it “Community Outreach and Resource Center” “Adult Resource Center” Should not change the mission.
Getting Old is nothing to fear
Face reality and face the “curve balls” health wise that may come your way.
Encourage volunteering
1. Tax work off program
2 House other community activities,
Food Pantry
Mentor Programs
Medical Facilities
Issues common ground with our older seniors 18,000 strong in Malden
Metro North MSAC
Goals For The Year
1.
Utilize resources for family care givers.
Expand senior services to under served rural communities
Lead public and private foundations and other nonprofit toward the concept of having elder-ready communities
Be more involved in city, county and community planning processes.
Develop a membership coordination center
As the Baby Boomers continue to enter retirement, the U.S. faces one of the most dramatic demographic shifts in its history. The baby boom ran from 1946 to 1960, during which time the fertility rate in the United States was nearly twice its 20th century average. Because a high proportion -- slightly under a quarter -- of the current population was born in that period, their age has a strong influence on the average of the population. Thus the U.S. is, on average, growing older because of the baby boomers. This shift has strong implications for factors that depend on the age distribution of the population, like per-person productivity, health care costs, the savings rate, and social security funding.
Delete
Cancel
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Aging in Place
Malden is facing the issue of a rapidly aging population. We are not prepared for in terms of housing and care, prompting a grassroots organization, Mass. Senior Action Metro North to start an initiative that allows seniors
to remain in their communities and age in place.
We would like Malden Business leaders and our legislators to look into starting" An aging in place" along
the lines of the Beacon Hill Village model .
Aging at home set ups are able to fill in the gap where some
traditional services can’t help people, particularly
in non-hospital, community settings.
The village structure gives people access to community information that allows them to stay local.
It’s one number to call for their needs, and it brings that vital peace of not being left alone to do things on your own, When it comes to seniors’ needs that can’t be met by the ordinary community member,
it’s important to have qualified providers available.
People are becoming more aware of the number of people aging. Just because there are so many people, there’s a greater demand on the range of long-term support services.
It’s going to take more than the government to handle that.
Get Involved Malden.
Massachusetts will have to take a look at the "Aging in Place" concept to protect Medicaid and get Seniors to remain independent by determining what they can provide. States are having to look at whatthey can provide, and what they may no longer be able to provide, and how are they are creatively going to come up with different ways of doing things.
We would look to Foundations in the State of Massachusetts to award
grants to villages across the state for senior housing needs.
Beacon Hill Village sprouted up ten years ago, founded by localseniors who preferred staying at home and getting their needs met through their community as they aged, rather than going to alternatives such as nursing homes or assisted living facilities.
In the city of Malden we have over 11,000 Seniors (and growing) over 65 years of age, with the majority Home Owners. So there are many potential Seniors who would benefit from services
In Malden our "village" typically would have at least 100 members and be run as a small non-profit, member driven organization.
Usually run with just a few staff members and a lot of volunteers. ,
A village compiles a list of trusted local service providers according to needs dictated by village members, and members pay entrance fees,
which can average of $350, in order to have access to that list, along with other membership perks, including social events and activities.
Fund villages, because we think they’re a new concept in how people could age in the community, which is people’s number ones desire–to live at home Villages provide a new model for doing that, that involves volunteering, community engages, and is consumer driven.In Malden and surrounding communities the Cities and towns are trying to control health care costs for employees.
Health and wellness and prevention tend to be at the top of the core services provided with managed care plans
There are relationships with home health agencies and health care providers
If a village member needs a higher level of care at home, and is seeking a home care provider or personal aid attendant, they will typically have those types of service providers on their vetted provider list. Right in line with controlling municipal and other health costs Villages typically enter into strategic alliances with businesses, which could range anywhere from contractors and financial
planners to home health agencies and reverse mortgage lenders.
Oftentimes, local businesses will offer their services at a discounted price for village members A model malden seniors aging in the neighborhood alone and with families will encourage shopping locally
Howard C. Mcgowan Malden Senior,,Former Veterans Administration
Voluntary Service officer Marine Corp League, VFW Mass Senior Action
Council Advocate Senior Issues, Member of the Malden Senior Community
Center Advisory Board, Mass Senior action Metro North Chapter Board
of Directors--
Howard McGowan
MaldenSenior
349 Pleasant Street
Malden. Ma 02148
781 324 8076
to remain in their communities and age in place.
We would like Malden Business leaders and our legislators to look into starting" An aging in place" along
the lines of the Beacon Hill Village model .
Aging at home set ups are able to fill in the gap where some
traditional services can’t help people, particularly
in non-hospital, community settings.
The village structure gives people access to community information that allows them to stay local.
It’s one number to call for their needs, and it brings that vital peace of not being left alone to do things on your own, When it comes to seniors’ needs that can’t be met by the ordinary community member,
it’s important to have qualified providers available.
People are becoming more aware of the number of people aging. Just because there are so many people, there’s a greater demand on the range of long-term support services.
It’s going to take more than the government to handle that.
Get Involved Malden.
Massachusetts will have to take a look at the "Aging in Place" concept to protect Medicaid and get Seniors to remain independent by determining what they can provide. States are having to look at whatthey can provide, and what they may no longer be able to provide, and how are they are creatively going to come up with different ways of doing things.
We would look to Foundations in the State of Massachusetts to award
grants to villages across the state for senior housing needs.
Beacon Hill Village sprouted up ten years ago, founded by localseniors who preferred staying at home and getting their needs met through their community as they aged, rather than going to alternatives such as nursing homes or assisted living facilities.
In the city of Malden we have over 11,000 Seniors (and growing) over 65 years of age, with the majority Home Owners. So there are many potential Seniors who would benefit from services
In Malden our "village" typically would have at least 100 members and be run as a small non-profit, member driven organization.
Usually run with just a few staff members and a lot of volunteers. ,
A village compiles a list of trusted local service providers according to needs dictated by village members, and members pay entrance fees,
which can average of $350, in order to have access to that list, along with other membership perks, including social events and activities.
Fund villages, because we think they’re a new concept in how people could age in the community, which is people’s number ones desire–to live at home Villages provide a new model for doing that, that involves volunteering, community engages, and is consumer driven.In Malden and surrounding communities the Cities and towns are trying to control health care costs for employees.
Health and wellness and prevention tend to be at the top of the core services provided with managed care plans
There are relationships with home health agencies and health care providers
If a village member needs a higher level of care at home, and is seeking a home care provider or personal aid attendant, they will typically have those types of service providers on their vetted provider list. Right in line with controlling municipal and other health costs Villages typically enter into strategic alliances with businesses, which could range anywhere from contractors and financial
planners to home health agencies and reverse mortgage lenders.
Oftentimes, local businesses will offer their services at a discounted price for village members A model malden seniors aging in the neighborhood alone and with families will encourage shopping locally
Howard C. Mcgowan Malden Senior,,Former Veterans Administration
Voluntary Service officer Marine Corp League, VFW Mass Senior Action
Council Advocate Senior Issues, Member of the Malden Senior Community
Center Advisory Board, Mass Senior action Metro North Chapter Board
of Directors--
Howard McGowan
MaldenSenior
349 Pleasant Street
Malden. Ma 02148
781 324 8076
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