Dear Mary,
I am my 77 year old father’s patient advocate and power of attorney. He has been hospitalized for almost two months and is now running into issues with insurance coverage. He has Medicare and recently purchased a new supplemental policy. However, this new policy turns out to be Medicare through a private company, which is not what was explained to him.
I have been overseeing his care, dealing with doctors, handling bills and bank accounts, and am just overwhelmed. Are there places that can help a person like me?
Dear Reader,
Yes, and they’re called support groups. There you will find people dealing with like issues who listen and provide helpful information from personal experience. If you live in Anne Arundel County, call the Dept of Aging and Disabilities Family Caregiver Program (410-222-4464 x 3043) for a list of caregiver support groups. If you live outside the county, call the local Area Agency on Aging in your area. You can find the number by logging onto www.eldercare.gov or calling 1-800-677-1116.
I suggest you contact SHIP (Senior Health Insurance Program) at the Department, too, to discuss the insurance issue. The staff is knowledgeable and willing to help you and, if necessary, advocate for your father.
Dear Mary,
My mother uses a wheelchair and I’m having a problem lifting it in and out of the car. Because it is too heavy for me to lift alone, I have to make appointments according to the availability of someone being able to accompany us. Why do they make them so heavy? Don’t manufacturers take into account that they have to be lifted in and out of a car?
Dear Reader,
I agree that a traditional wheelchair is just too darn heavy to lift. Heaviness is due to its design to bear weight and hold up over time. For car transport I recommend the “transport chair”. The frame is light weight aluminum and the seat and back are made of vinyl or web material. It has four small wheels, folds compactly, and is easily lifted into and out of the trunk of a car. Cost varies but some are as little as $100.00. You can find them at medical equipment stores and even at some pharmacies.
Dear Mary,
A neurologist has diagnosed my mother with normal pressure hydrocephalus. He said that this could be contributing to her memory loss and dementia symptoms as well as urinary incontinence. What is it and is there any treatment?
I am deeply grateful for your assistance.
Dear Reader,
Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH) is a condition resulting from the build up of excess cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricles of the brain. The pressure it produces causes the tell-tale signs of dementia as well as difficulty walking and problems with bladder control. Typically it affects people over age 60. If diagnosed early enough the fluid can be drained and symptoms reversed. If not, any damage done is permanent. The usual treatment is surgical placement of a shunt into the ventricles that drains the fluid into the abdomen where it is absorbed. A spinal tap can also be done to see if there is any temporary improvement in symptoms. It is diagnosed through a complete medical and psychological workup and CAT scan of the brain. For more information please visit the National Institute of Neurological Disorders website at: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/normal_pressure_hydrocephalus/normal_pressure_hydrocephalus.htm.
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