Ask the Experts
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
about our Care Management services

• My loved one is becoming more forgetful.  Does this mean that they are developing Alzheimer’s disease?

No, not necessarily.  Often a decline or change in mental status is assumed to be a normal result of aging.  This is untrue.  Mental changes can be caused by a variety of things some of which are reversible like medication interactions, a lack of oxygen, a sleep disorder, or a brain injury.  Our Q4 Care Managers are experts at assessing, identifying, and working with physicians to determine cause.  We then put a plan into place to help our clients obtain maximum functioning and enhance their quality of life. 

• My loved one has had a stroke and has lasting effects.  Do they have to go to a Nursing Home?

No, not necessarily.  Nursing Home placement should be a last result for our loved ones.  Often times adaptive equipment and moderate changes to the home can make it safe for a love one to live at home.  Our Care Managers are excellent resources that will evaluate your loved one’s functional abilities and the current home environment.  If it is determined that your loved one isn’t safe at home, they can help you determine what is the safest environment while maintain optimum independence.  We help our client’s maximize their quality of life. 

• I live far away from my parents and I can tell that things are changing.  How would I know if they are safe and healthy?

Q4 Care Managers are often the eyes and ears for families whose loved ones live far away.”  We investigate your concerns by evaluating your loved one to determine their health status, safety risks, existing home environment and communicate the results to you.  We are very respectful of our client’s needs and desires as well as their familie's concerns.  Let us give you peace of mind and maximize your loved ones quality of life.

• What are the differences between a Continuing Care Retirement Community, an Assisted Living Facility, Adult Daycare, Independent Living Facility, and a Nursing Home?

In short, the difference in each of these housing choices is what level of service is provided and what amenities are available.  A brief outline is provided below:

Independent living facilities are most often individual condominiums or apartments that provide a community environment with a great deal of amenities and the most independence.  Amenities offered are high quality and varied.  Personal Care Services, if available are an additional cost. 

Adult Daycare is a great alternative for families who’s loved one needs structure and oversight while the family is at work.  They provide basic personal care, medication management, and activities in a secure environment.  Some of these facilities even offer respite care for short periods of time.    

Assisted living facilities are a perfect blend for a lot of seniors as they age.  They are usually apartment-based communities where each individual has his or her own apartment offering a great deal of independence and yet they provide the personal care services many seniors need.  Meals are often offered in a communal dining room.

Nursing Homes are the most structured of all the environments.  These facilities provide total care for your loved one and this care is overseen by licensed personnel.  They offer security and most nursing homes offer specialized dementia or Alzheimer’s units. 

Continuing Care Retirement Communities offer independent living, assisted living, and nursing home services all under the same environment.  These facilities are often the most costly but offer the most choice and the most amenities. 
Before selecting a living facility for yourself or your loved one a thorough assessments of abilities, needs, and desires should be performed.  Q4 Care Managers can help evaluate which housing choice is right for you and your loved ones.

• Will Medicare pay for my loved one to have a personal attendant come in and help them bathe and dress?

The short answer is it depends.  Medicare will provide a personal attendant to come in and assist your loved one with personal care activities if they also need and qualify for skilled nursing care.  There are specific limitations surrounding these services such as the services must be intermittent, cannot exceed 28 hours a week, and cannot be provided every day.  Even if you qualify, services are provided for a limited time.  A Q4 Care Manager can help you understand and navigate the Medicare and Home Health system.  Just give us a call. 

• I need long-term help, will Medicare or Medicaid pay for it?  What if my loved one makes too much to qualify for Medicaid but not enough to cover medical expenses.  What can we do?

Medicare will pay for skilled nursing services and personal care for a limited time after meeting specific qualifications.  Medicaid is for individuals who have limited assets and limited income which varies from state to state.  If your loved one meets these qualifications, then Medicaid will pay for much of the medical care including nursing home services. 

If your loved one makes too much money to qualify for Medicaid and yet cannot pay for all of their medical expenses, they may qualify for their state’s Spenddown program.  This program allows loved ones to qualify for Medicaid after they have spent a specific amount of their own money on medical expenses.  Our Q4 Care Managers can help you understand these programs.

• How can a care manager keep my love one healthy in their home?

Q4 Care Managers are experts in helping a client stay in their home.  We do this by performing comprehensive assessments to determine your loved ones needs, abilities, and desires.  An assessment of their home environment and nutritional status is performed.  For existing problems or symptoms we identify them, investigate their cause and intervene to stabilize or reverse them.  We provide ongoing monitoring to detect subtle changes in their health status and intervene early to keep them as safe and healthy as possible.  Let us give you peace of mind.

• Will the care manager keep me informed about what is happening with my loved one? 

This will depend on whether your loved one signs a release allowing us to.  HIPAA, a federal law, protects an individual’s right to privacy when it comes to their health care information.  Your loved one can say who we speak to about their health, and they can change their mind if they choose.  If they sign this release, we are happy to keep you informed about their condition and the care they are receiving.  If your loved one refuses to allow us to discuss their health information with you, we cannot inform you even if you pay their bill.  Our Q4 Care Managers work hard on helping our clients see the benefit of working with their health care providers and their families to ensure they get the most comprehensive care.  Let us help your family, call us now.

• My loved one takes so many pills and sees so many doctors.  What can my care manager do to help them?

Our Care Managers are experts in ensuring all health care staff  involved in your loved one’s care are kept up to date on what the other health care providers are doing and the changes they are recommending.  We monitor for changes in symptoms and help evaluate whether the treatment is working.  We also monitor for side effects and changes in your loved one’s health.  We are the safety net that ensures all who care for your loved one are informed and on the same page.  We also work closely with these individuals ensuring your loved one gets optimum care that enhances their quality of life. 

• How can my care manager help me save money?

Our care managers can help your loved one save money in a variety of ways.  Some of them are listed below:

• We save you money by preventing crisis. Chronic conditions like diabetes, heart failure, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s require monitoring to keep your health stable. If symptoms appear or get worse many client’s end up in the hospital. Exasperation of your disease place a burden on your well-being as well as your finances. Consider the example below:
  

• The average cost for the hospitalization for heart failure in 2004 was $10,8001, and this does not include the physician’s bill.  Medicare will require a $1080 deductible for the hospitalization and a $135 plus 20% of the physician’s bill.  This does not include the cost of medications and the cost of follow-up visits to the doctor.  Approximate total cost for this hospitalization is $2,300 out of pocket.

• We decrease your risk of injury by intervening to prevent falls and other accidents.  As we age we lose muscle strength, our vision diminishes, and our bones become brittle.  Arthritis can affect balance.  The result of these changes are if a person falls they are at a high risk for breaking a bone or causing a head injury. 

• In 2004, there were more than 320,000 hospital admissions for hip fractures2
• One in four adults who lived independently before their hip fracture has to stay in a nursing home for at least a year after their injury3
• Almost 1 in 3 (29%) people over 65 who fall and break their hip die within a year4
• The most effective way to prevent fall-related injuries, including hip fractures, is to combine exercise with other fall prevention strategies
  
  

Let our Care Managers keep you healthy and safe.  Give us a call at 888-676-8899, we’re ready and happy to help you and your loved one.

1 Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. 2006
2,3,4,5 CDC Article - Hip Fractures Among Older Adults 2008