What medical and health services are most helpful to seniors as they age?
Regular medical care is a top priority for many seniors, including physicians and specialists, in-home medical care and medical equipment. Senior Estate Concierge can help connect seniors and their families with these valuable medical resources.
In addition to medical professionals and equipment, seniors frequently need help understanding their medical benefits, especially if those benefits are provided through Medicare or the VA. That’s why we also work with Medicare and VA specialists, so our clients can fully access all available benefits.
What medical professionals can Senior Estate Concierge help locate?
Maintaining good health starts with having a team of medical professionals familiar with senior healthcare. That’s why we have partnered with an array of healthcare professionals, including:
Geriatric physicians
Geriatric physicians are primary care providers that are specialized in treating aging patients. There are only about 7,000 geriatric physicians in the U.S., so finding one can be difficult. However, they are experts at detecting and treating a range of conditions, including dementia, diabetes, osteoporosis and arthritis, cancer, vision and hearing loss, heart failure and issues with frailty.
Visiting doctors
Visiting doctors are those that make house calls, whether their patient is living in a private residence or an assisted living facility. Visiting doctors utilize mobile lab and radiology companies if testing is necessary, and can help seniors who don’t have the ability to easily leave their home.
Mental health professionals
Many seniors suffer with anxiety, depression and other serious mental health conditions. It is estimated that roughly 25 percent of seniors suffer from at least one mental health condition. Mental health professionals are skilled at recognizing the signs of mental disorders and know how to treat them using a variety of therapeutic techniques.
Home healthcare providers
Home healthcare providers are also known as home health aides and can provide important aspects of care, including health monitoring, administering medication (including intravenous medication) and providing wound care.
Home healthcare providers have medical training and are credentialed, so their medical skills are proven.
Geriatric care managers
Geriatric care managers provide guidance and oversight in caring for seniors. They are usually social workers or nurses familiar with seniors’ particular medical needs, so they can help organize ongoing medical services.
A geriatric care manager can also help families develop a short-term or long-term care plan for their loved ones, and address any emotional concerns that may come with a change in care. In short, they look at the big picture in determining all of the healthcare resources a senior is likely to require in the future.
Hospice care providers
Hospice care is for seniors who have been diagnosed with a life-limiting disease, so it prioritizes quality of life and the emotional distress that comes with such a diagnosis. Hospice care was once primarily for cancer patients, but it is now helpful for patients with late-stage organ disease (lung, heart, kidney, etc.), dementia and Alzheimer’s.
What can a VA benefits specialist do for senior veterans?
VA benefits include assistance with long-term health care and with other forms of at-home aid. However, to receive these benefits, seniors must qualify and apply. This can be a confusing process, which is why many seniors turn to VA benefit specialists for further assistance. Here are some of the ways a specialist can help:
Review all benefit programs
There are numerous VA benefit programs, and benefit specialists are familiar with what they offer and who could use them. A VA benefit specialist can introduce these programs to their senior clients and provide guidance on which programs are a good fit.
Help determine eligibility
Seniors must be eligible for certain benefits before they can receive them, and a VA benefit specialist can help determine whether the senior qualifies. For example, to qualify for Aid and Attendance (A&A), a senior must be bedridden, live in a nursing home or require help with daily functions, like bathing or eating.
If it’s not clear whether a senior qualifies for programs like these, a VA benefits specialist can help.
Get the application process going
To receive benefits, seniors must apply for them. The paperwork involved can be tedious and often a challenge for seniors to understand, so VA benefit specialists typically provide help in this area so their clients can get their benefits as quickly as possible.
What can a Medicare specialist do for seniors?
Medicare is a critical aspect of healthcare for many seniors, but with so many plans to choose from, it’s difficult to understand and it’s difficult to optimize for a particular beneficiary. That’s where a Medicare specialist comes in, as they are familiar with the many Medicare offerings available to a senior.
With a Medicare specialist, seniors can get help with the following:
- Reviewing available Medicare Advantage plans
- Determining whether a senior’s current plan offers sufficient coverage
- Help with moving from one plan to another
- Help fill coverage gaps with additional coverage
It’s important to find a Medicare specialist that can provide a range of plans from a range of providers, so you have all your options on the table. Senior Estate Concierge can help with this by locating a reputable Medicare specialist for you or your loved one.
What types of medical equipment can Senior Estate Concierge help with?
Many seniors rely on medical equipment to ensure they can age in place comfortably. However, determining the best medical equipment for a senior, locating it and delivering it to the home is something that many seniors aren’t prepared to handle.
We can help with this too, by locating and providing the medical equipment seniors need for healthy living. This equipment may include:
- Wheelchairs
- Hospital beds or adjustable beds
- Mobility scooters and other mobility aids, like walkers
- Oxygen concentrators
- Bathroom modification equipment, like grab bars, toilet seat risers and special shower heads
- Stair lifts and lift chairs for seniors who have trouble rising from a seated position
Whether medical equipment or health services are needed, we can help locate and procure what you need.
Many seniors have long-term health conditions, so access to medical resources and equipment is critical. Senior Estate Concierge can connect seniors with these resources, whether it’s a physician, a piece of equipment or advice with benefits programs.
