Former military members who live far from VA centers often drive miles to get care at those facilities. However, when they need these services in their homes, the distance can seem like an impassable barrier.

Fortunately, there are ways to get home care veteran services even when you live far from any VA center. Here is how to do it and how Wellspring can help.

Would you like to get the home care services you need in your own home? Contact us at WellSpring Home Health to find out how.

Common Challenges of Aging in Place

Aging can bring incredible challenges for many older adults. Physical limitations can make everyday activities difficult or even impossible without assistance. At this time of life, you might need help with personal activities such as bathing, preparing meals, running errands, and getting where you need to go.

In addition, some veterans have disabilities, illnesses, or injuries that require skilled nursing care. If this describes your situation, home care services to help manage daily medical needs may be a must. You may also need disability care, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, or other types of therapeutic services to live well at home.

Yet, even with all these challenges, it is very rare that older adults look forward to living in nursing homes. In fact, according to the AARP, 90% of people over 65 would prefer to stay in their own homes as they get older. The good news is that home care services can help you stay where you want to be – in your home.

How to Get Veteran Home Care Services Where You Are

While you might be aware that home care services exist, you might wonder if they are available to you where you are. As a veteran, you likely know that the VA does provide many services for you at their facilities. But what happens if you don’t live near any VA centers? In that case, getting elder care in your home may seem financially out of reach. Fortunately, there is a program that helps veterans get the personal care and nursing care they need while aging in place.

What Is the VA A&A?

The Veterans Administration offers two programs for older veterans without requiring them to live near a VA center. One is the VA Aid and Attendance (A&A) program, and the other is the Housebound program. Both offer an increase in monthly VA pension amounts to help with daily activities and nursing care.

To qualify for the A&A program, you must be a veteran receiving a pension. You may meet the other criteria if you:

• Need help with daily activities, such as dressing, eating, or bathing.
• Have to stay in bed all or most of the time due to illness.
• Live in a nursing home because of mental or physical disabilities.
• Your corrected vision measures at 5/200 or less, or your visual field is 5 degrees or less.

You may be eligible for the VA Housebound program if you are mostly or completely confined to your home due to a permanent disability.

For either program, you must qualify for a VA pension.

How to Apply for VA A&A

As a veteran, you can apply for these programs to receive an increased pension amount that you can use for home care services. You start by filling out VA Form 21-2680, the Examination for Housebound Status or Permanent Need for Regular Aid and Attendance.

Your doctor can help you fill it out by completing the examination and information section for you. Add any extra information to help make your case, such as details about how you now try to manage your daily activities or the type of illnesses, injuries, or disabilities that interfere with your ability to do them. Then, mail it to your pension management center.

Approval is not automatic, of course, and it can take time to get through the process. The pension management center might ask for additional information or evidence, for example. However, once you have been approved, the benefit is well worth the time and effort.

VA Homemaker and Home Health Aide Care

The VA also has a program for veterans who receive VA Standard Medical Benefits. The program is for veterans who have a documented need for help with daily care activities when they cannot perform them due to medical conditions.

How to Apply for the Homemaker and Home Health Aide Care Program

If you need the services provided by the Homemaker and Home Health Aide Care program, talk to your VA case manager. They can help you with the paperwork and self-assessments required. The VA will evaluate your need for personal care services and decide if you qualify. In some cases, you may need to pay a copay for services, but not all veterans do.

Home-Based Primary Care

Another program offered by the government is the Home-Based Primary Care, or HBPC, program. This program is for all enrolled veterans who have the need for complex home services due to chronic, disabling, progressive medical conditions.

Qualifying for HBPC

To qualify for this program, you must be enrolled to receive VA health services. You also must demonstrate a need for complex care. If you meet the criteria for this program, you receive home care services such as at-home doctor visits, medical social work, rehabilitation services, therapy, nutritional services, and medication. You pay the same copay for these services as you would if you received them at a VA facility.

To apply for the Home-Based Primary Care program, you can speak with your VA case manager or social worker. They can help you complete the Application for Extended Care Benefits, VA Form 10-10EC. When your application is approved, you will be notified of what your copay for services will be, if any.

Types of Services Available for Veteran Home Care

Home care services can include two types of care. The first is provided by skilled professionals, such as registered nurses, specialists in medical social work, and a variety of therapists. They can help you with nursing care and therapy to safeguard your health and improve or maintain your physical and mental abilities. They work with your primary care doctor to ensure all the different services are customized to meet your unique needs and work well together.

The second type of service is offered by all our non-skilled home health providers who assist with nonmedical care. This personal care includes assistance with daily activities such as:

• Bathing and grooming
• Preparing and eating meals
• Running errands
• Housekeeping
• Transportation
• Bowel and/or bladder care

At WellSpring Home Health, we provide these home care services in the Anchorage, Alaska, Wasilla, Washington, and Tacoma areas. Our friendly, helpful staff has the skills, qualifications, and commitment needed to provide a large variety of services for you as a veteran and others seeking to live at home as they age.

Elder care and disability care are our specialties, so we know how to meet your needs for both skilled and non-skilled home care. Our team of providers works together to give you the assistance you need to live your life in the place where you feel most comfortable and at home.

When you rely on Wellspring Home Health for veteran home care services, you can relax and look forward to the time ahead, enjoying the home that means so much to you.  You can remain more independent, connect with your community, and live a life that is more satisfying to you.

Are you a veteran seeking home health services to stay in your home? Reach out to Wellspring to find out how we can help you accomplish your mission!

The post How Veterans Can Get Home Care Without Living Near the VA appeared first on Wellspring Home Health Center.

Speech therapy helps people communicate and overcome feeding and swallowing difficulties. It’s an important part of home care services, especially if you’re experiencing these conditions (traumatic brain injuries, hearing loss, stroke recovery, etc.).

In this blog, we are going to discuss the importance of speech therapy, its benefits, and how to get started.

Interested in speech therapy? Connect with us.

Why Speech Therapy Is Important

If you or your child have a speech impediment or are experiencing issues with eating and swallowing, speech therapy can be a great resource for helping you or your child overcome this. Having a speech impediment can sometimes feel embarrassing because you can’t produce words correctly, you don’t have the ability to carry on a conversation, or maybe you’re having a tough time giving a presentation. Whatever the situation may be, you’ll feel embarrassed and worried about what others may think of you. All these negative thoughts running through your mind may leave you feeling alone and depressed and can lead to an anxiety disorder.

Just because you are unable to formulate words properly does not mean you are any less great than everyone else. Everyone is unique in their own, individual ways, and it’s important we learn to embrace that about ourselves. We are all human beings at the end of the day. We aren’t perfect and if you are trying to overcome a certain disorder, there are tons of tools out there for you to use.

Investing in speech therapy is your first step in the right direction for getting yourself back on track. Every step should be celebrated because you are not only working to improve your speech but you are also doing it to become a better version of yourself. Speech therapy is performed by speech-language pathologists (SLPs), also known as speech therapists. These SLPs can really help you regain the ability to formulate words better and help you feel more confident in the way you speak in front of others.

The Benefits of Speech Therapy

Anyone at any age can develop a speech disorder, but luckily there are ways to fix this. There are many benefits of speech therapy. Check them out.

Better Articulation

If you are looking for a way to improve your or your child’s communication abilities, articulation is key. The more people learn to articulate their words, the better they will sound, the more confidence they will have, and their communication skills will improve drastically. Speech therapists will be able to break down certain words you are having difficulties with and identify the best exercises to correct this problem.

Improved Swallowing

Difficulty swallowing can be another key indicator that you may need speech therapy. People with a speech disorder might have a hard time swallowing, which is the term we use for dysphagia. This might mean you have a challenging time swallowing any type of liquid and solids. Or you may take longer to eat and drink because of the process it takes to get it down your esophagus.

Speech therapy is an excellent way to improve this problem. The speech therapist will be able to perform a variety of techniques and different exercises to improve oral intake and flow of air circulation. Learning to relax the tongue and practicing proper swallowing and biting techniques will help improve this condition almost immediately.

Reduced Stuttering

According to the Stuttering Foundation, more than 70 million people worldwide stutter, which is about one percent of the population. That means over 3 million Americans in the United States are struggling with stuttering. When people stutter, it can sometimes make them lose their train of thought or cause them to feel embarrassed because they keep stuttering and cannot seem to speak fluently.

Speech therapists will be able to give your proper techniques that may work to improve stuttering such as:

• Taking deep breaths before beginning a conversation or engaging with someone else.
• Slow down when you talk. This will give your brain time to process the words before they come out.
• If certain words are giving you major trouble and you just can’t seem to pronounce the word properly, find a different word with similar meaning that is easier for you to process.
• If you are a nervous speaker, try to use your hands more often or pace if needed. This will be able to calm any nerves you may have and work to help relax the tongue, making speech more fluent and easier to understand.

Proper Pronunciation for Second Languages

As mentioned previously, speech therapy can help you formulate your words better and allow you the ability to speak more fluently. However, speech therapy can also be used to either get rid of an accent or helping you gain and learn a new one. The first step is understanding the way you sound. The next step is getting into a speech rhythm. Your speech therapist will be able to assist and guide you through the necessary steps to be successful in achieving this goal.

Increased Confidence

When someone develops a speech disorder, it can really take a toll on their mental health and overall well-being. It’s important to feel confident even if you do have a speech impediment. Take ownership of it; there is nothing to be scared or ashamed about. According to ASHA, about 7 percent of Americans have some form of language impairment while about 5 to 10 percent of Americans have a communication disorder.

If you are feeling alone and down, remember that you aren’t the only one with a speech disorder and that speech therapy can help.  

Reduced Anxiety and Stress

Some speech disorders are worsened by social anxiety. This can stem from their peers ridiculing them laughing at them when struggling to pronounce words. This is a common reason for speech issues with children and teenagers. A speech therapist can help children become more confident in their speech and minimize anxiety when talking around others.

Give Speech Therapy a Try With WellSpring Home Health

WellSpring Home Health is located right in Alaska and works to provides quality home care from reliable professionals. Our goal is to help individuals live a full, healthy life regardless of their health, age, race, color, gender, sexual orientation, or national origin. We treat all of our patients like family and work to improve the quality of life for all. Our environment will make you feel welcome and comfortable.

If you are struggling with a speech disorder, WellSpring Home Health offers skilled home care services which include speech therapy. Our speech therapists here will help you develop language and speech skills or overcome swallowing disorders.

Are you ready to get started? Get in touch with our office.

The post Can I Get Professional Speech Therapy With Home Care? appeared first on Wellspring Home Health Center.

Physical therapy is a vital part of aging well, and it’s available if you’re receiving skilled home care services. Continue reading on why physical therapy is essential for Alaska’s elders, what the benefits are, and how you can get started to feel relieved and rejuvenated.

Interested in receiving physical therapy services? Contact our office.

Why Physical Therapy Is Important for Elders 

As mentioned previously, over time, our bones, joints, and muscles don’t function the way they used to. That is due to putting wear and tear on your body, like performing strenuous activity throughout the years; this includes anything from putting away groceries, lifting heavy items or boxes, or just even using your strength to stand and sit every day.  

If you notice any muscle pain, joint damage or think you are developing arthritis, solutions and treatments can help alleviate the pain you are experiencing. Physical activity and exercise are extremely beneficial to you and your health, which is why so many doctors and nutritionists recommend daily exercise, even if it’s just going for a nice walk around the park.

According to John Hopkins medicine, maintaining physical activity can help the heart and prevent common diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. Just doing a little bit of exercise daily will:

• Lower your blood pressure
• Maintaining a healthy body weight
• Works to reduce inflammation
• Improves blood flow
• Increased amount of oxygen
• Reduces stress
• And more

Physical therapy can even help against injuries. Suppose you injured your back or sprained your ankle. In that case, physical therapy can help alleviate the pain you are having with the assistance of trained professionals who understand which pressure points to hit, exercises that will benefit you the most, and stretches that prevent the pain from coming back.

The Benefits of Physical Therapy 

Physical therapy serves many benefits because it helps you get back on your feet and feel independent again. Why suffer through the pain and worry whether you might not be able to do a particular activity ever again. Tackle your issues and get back to feeling like yourself again.

For example, if someone injured their back and never got the treatment they needed, would they go back and change it? Of course. Once you understand you don’t need to “live with it,” you would do whatever it took to fix it.  

You ever wonder why the elderly talk so much about their past? Who wouldn’t want to go back to their younger days? That’s when they didn’t have to worry about “getting old” and the back and knee pain they have to put up with now. Back then, they knew they didn’t have to worry about any of that stuff because their bones were in the best condition and shape, they could ever be in.

Well, you don’t have to feel like you’re going to suffer forever. That is why physical therapy is here to help your bones stay strong, and you are getting as much exercise as possible. Check out the many benefits of physical therapy.

Physical Therapy Prevents Disease 

That is correct; as we mentioned previously, physical activity and a daily dose of exercise decrease the risk of many common diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. This is because when you work out and exercise, you are improving the blood flow and airflow throughout your body, you’re sweating out toxins, and you’re building muscle.

Boosts Your Mental Health 

Ever hear the saying, “let exercise be your stress reliever”? It’s true. Physical therapy can help reduce anxiety, depression, and stress. But, when you get done with your exercise routine, how do you feel? You leave feeling refreshed, more motivated, and you feel good about the work you just put in. Does it make you feel happy, almost like you’re buzzing from how well you performed? Thank your endorphins. Your brain releases these hormones after you work out or get done with your physical therapy session.

Physical Therapy Decreases Your Risk of Falling 

If you aren’t physically active, the older you get, the more you are prone to falls. This is because when the bones become feeble, it’s often possible for your legs or knees to give out, causing you to fall and severely injure yourself. Physical therapy can be a great outlet to seek help to keep your bones and joints strong and long-lasting. 

How You Can Get Started 

Physical therapy is available for everyone and is easily accessible and is an excellent resource more people should take advantage of. Take on something new or something you’ve never done before that you may have wanted to for a while. Let’s face it, our bodies can never go back to how they were when you were younger, but you can work back to getting as close as possible with the help of physical therapy.

Physical therapy can be full of positivity and a natural mood booster, especially when seeing results. For example, suppose you are having a difficult time bending down to pick something up. It feels like your back may give out at any moment; physical therapy can get you feeling normal within a couple of weeks to a couple of months. In that case, you will be able to bend down without the same pain you were experiencing before.

Getting started is easy. You have to want to do it and once you can get yourself to begin actively going a couple of times a week or even just once is a huge step, and you will be able to see improvements almost immediately.

Want to learn more? Get in touch with us.

Get Going With WellSpring Home Health 

WellSpring Home Health offers quality home care from reliable professionals. Our goal is to help Alaska’s seniors live safely and comfortably in your home. Our team of experts are dedicated to making sure you receive the personalized care you need and with the courtesy and respect, you deserve.

At WellSpring Home Health, we offer physical therapy through our skilled home care services. We have physical therapists who are trained and certified professionals who will be able to develop a plan by, of course, working with your physicians’ orders. Our physical therapists can come right to your home, so you don’t have to worry about transportation. Their work includes:

• Performing a movement and joint motion analysis
• Developing therapeutic exercise programs
• Training to help coordination and balance
• Mobility assistance
• Pain management
• And more.

We also offer many other services such as skilled home care, veteran services, and even pediatric services. So, if you are interested in getting started on your journey to experience greatness again, we have the right tools, resources, and experienced staff members to help you get back on track and feeling good again.

Want to get started? Contact us to set up an assessment.

The post Alaska Home Care Services: Does it Include Physical Therapy? appeared first on Wellspring Home Health Center.

We’ll start with the scope of home care services and breakdown the key services offered by the different types of providers. Then we’ll take you through some practical information about accessing home care, including what you need to qualify and how to work with your insurance provider.

Prefer to talk to a person? Contact WellSpring Home Health today.

What Are Home Care Services?

Home care refers to the services you need to live safely, comfortably, and independently.

This includes skilled home services (also known as medical care), which includes assistance from professionals such as registered nurses, physical therapists, speech therapists, occupational therapists, medical social workers, and certified nurse assistants. These providers work with your primary care physician to ensure you get seamless care you need to live healthily.

Home care also includes unskilled home care services (also known as non-medical care), which is where trusted providers come to your house to help with things such as meal preparation, errands, housekeeping, transportation, and personal hygiene tasks. This service is designed to ensure you can stay safe and enjoy a wonderful quality of life from the comfort of your own home.

There are many reasons why this might be the right solution for you. The most common one is when you start to get older and you find yourself struggling with things like personal care. However, home care services can also assist people who are living with disabilities, people with serious medical conditions, people who are recovering from surgeries, veterans, and many others.

Want to learn more? View our services here.

Skilled Home Care Services

Here’s a list of skilled home care services we provide:

Registered Nurses

• Medication management
• Chronic condition management
• Pain management
• Post-surgical care
• Wound care
• And more.

Physical Therapists

• Movement and joint motion analysis
• Developing therapeutic exercise programs
• Coordination and balance
• Mobility assistance
• Pain management
• Massage therapy
• And more.

Speech Therapists

• Overcoming feeding and swallowing difficulties
• Managing traumatic brain injuries
• Working through hearing loss
• Rehabilitation after a stroke
• Treating learning disabilities
• Managing symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease
• And more.

Occupational Therapists

• Home safety awareness education
• Hazard awareness and injury protection
• Training in the use of mobility assistive devices
• Development of specialized exercise programs
• Motor skills rehabilitation
• Fitting for prosthetics
• Medication management
• Correction of posture
• Pain management
• Balance training
• Fall prevention
• And more.

Medical Social Workers

• Coping with the emotional side of disease or disability
• Helping your family adjust to increasing care needs
• Finding and applying for financial resources
• Accessing community assistance programs
• And more.

Certified Nurse Assistants

• Personal care and hygiene
• Emotional and psychological support
• Meal preparation and planning
• Medication management
• Mobility assistance
• Feeding assistance
• And more.

Are we the right fit for you? Learn about our home care philosophy.

Unskilled Home Care Services

Here’s a list of unskilled home care services we provide:

• Meal preparation
• Feeding assistance
• Housekeeping and laundry
• Running errands
• Grocery shopping
• Mobility assistance
• Transportation
• Bowel and bladder care
• Bathing and showering
• Personal grooming

Can’t find the service you need? Talk to our team to discuss your options.

Organizing Home Care Services in Alaska or Washington

How Do I Qualify for Home Care Services?

Now that you know a little more about home care services, it’s time to talk about eligibility. There are many different factors that determine whether this is the best fit for you.

The first step in organizing skilled home care services is to get a referral from your primary care physician. Once you have this, you can contact our team and we will talk to your doctor to develop a plan of care that will address your concerns. We’ll also come to your home to meet you, learn more about your health care needs, and talk about your skills and unskilled home care requirements.

One of the big questions your doctor will ask is whether you’re “homebound.” This means you’re unable to leave your home without the assistance of another person, or you’re unable to leave without considerable and taxing effort that puts you in danger or otherwise compromises your health. This is important because it gives us an idea of what we’ll need to do to support you.

Your doctor will also consider your health history and whether you have a medical condition that will require skilled nursing care (or any of the other therapies we’ve already mentioned) to improve your quality of life. They will talk this through with you to ensure all of your clinical needs are met.

If you’re looking for unskilled services, however, you can either get a referral from your physician or organize them directly by calling our offices. WellSpring Home Health works in Anchorage, Alaska, Wasilla, Alaska, and Tacoma, Washington. We pride ourselves in treating our clients like family.

Want to make an inquiry? Give our friendly team a call.

How Do I Pay for Home Care Services?

Once you’re clear on what services you need, it’s time to talk to your insurance provider. There are multiple payment options you can use to help cover the cost of home care services.

For example, the WellSpring Home Health team provide services to Medicare, Medicaid, Tri-Care, VA/Tri-West, Workers’ Compensation, and private pay options. It’s important to choose a home care services provider who can help you identify any programs for which you man qualify, because they’ll also be able to help take care of the paper work you’ll need to arrange reimbursement.

The exact amount varies from provider to provider. It’s really important to check your insurance policy to make sure you know exactly what to expect when it comes to co-pays and deductibles. Remember, you can always call our office with any questions about billing for our services.

Once you get the green light, you can access home care services as required around the clock. We also have a local on-call manager available who can answer questions and provide clinical support after hours to ensure you’re getting the help you need and everything is running smoothly.

Still have questions? Try our FAQs.

Finding an Agency in Alaska or Washington

WellSpring Home Health is committed to providing quality home care services to our clients in Wasilla, Anchorage, and Tacoma. Our goal is to help you live safely in the security and comfort of your home. We provide tailored solutions to meet the need of each individual, whether that’s 24-hour complex care or weekly visits to help with things like meals and household errands.

Our work is based on two fundamental philosophies. First, that each person has innate worth, regardless of their health, age, race, color, creed, gender, sexual orientation, or national origin. Second, that each person has entitled to maximize their potential and enjoy quality of life and maximize their potential. That’s why we treat all our patients like our own family.

Ready to take the next step? Call us today to schedule an assessment.

The post What Services Does Home Care Include? appeared first on Wellspring Home Health Center.