Meet Delilah
Delilah, a widow, is one of more than 13.3 million seniors who is aging with no family living close by. (Source: Next Avenue (PBS), ‘Elder Orphans’ Have a Harder Time Aging in Place, Carol Marak, December 5, 2017). Delilah has three children. However, they are scattered across the country, with her closest child living four hours away. Delilah’s husband passed away several years ago, leaving the upkeep of the home to her. He had always been the handyman; keeping the house in shape, and the yard maintained. When more substantial work was needed, he always found the right person to get the job done.
Delilah’s mobility was declining, and she reached out to Vital Care Partners, primarily for assistance in maintaining her home, and to help her safely age in her own home.
The Assessment
Vital Care Partner’s assessments consist of a comprehensive assessment, designed to uncover the root causes of the challenges an individual is facing, and a life care management assessment, designed to focus on overcoming the immediate safety challenges an individual is facing.
An initial consultation with a Managing Director revealed Delilah was on 12 different medications and seeing a number of providers. The Managing Director worried Delilah might not be following treatment protocols as prescribed by her doctors. Additionally, Delilah told us she needed to add grab bars in the bathroom and was often worried about falling.
The Managing Director recommended an in-depth comprehensive assessment be conducted with an RN Advocate to get a holistic view of Delilah’s situation so we could recommend the best course of action for her.
For seniors like Delilah, our RN Advocates ensured invaluable patient advocacy. They will attend doctor appointments with her and help her understand treatment options and ensure treatment compliance. Attending doctor appointments was just the start of the patient advocacy Vital Care Partners provided for Delilah.
“The CDC estimates that non-adherence to treatment plans causes 30 to 50 percent of all chronic disease treatment failures and 125,000 deaths per year.”
Seniors who don’t follow their medication routine are more likely to be hospitalized. With the average cost of a hospital stay costing $10,400 and lasting 4.5 days (Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality), medical bills can pile up quickly. Remember, original Medicare has a 20% copay, meaning on average a senior will pay more than $2,000 out of pocket for a hospital stay.
“The CDC estimates that non-adherence to treatment plans causes 30 to 50 percent of all chronic disease treatment failures and 125,000 deaths per year.”
Seniors who don’t follow their medication routine are more likely to be hospitalized. With the average cost of a hospital stay costing $10,400 and lasting 4.5 days (Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality), medical bills can pile up quickly. Remember, original Medicare has a 20% copay, meaning on average a senior will pay more than $2,000 out of pocket for a hospital stay.