Most caregivers involved with home care services would be inclined to dialogue with other caregivers in an online forum or social networking site, according to a survey. Furthermore, 91% of caregivers would be likely to conduct research after receiving a provider referral by a professional source.

While 78% would rely on a physician for recommendations, caregivers ultimately make their own decisions on long-term care providers. Websites are generally considered highly credible by caregivers, and are important sources of information for engaged caregivers on sources for long-term care. (Source: 33charts.com)

When I evaluate a new patient, I work to compress data collection and screen time on the front end of the visit so I can free up the remainder of the visit for face-to-face discussion and shared decision making. This intentional visit design is necessary because of the realities of modern clinic schedules. And so the questions I ask and their sequence is important to my understanding as well as the experience of the patient.

In medicine there are clinical interview questions that deliver high impact nuggets at low-cost. This is one of them. This question exposes critical data that, in the background, often drives my initial approach to diagnostics and therapy. If you are a health professional try it and you’ll see. Clearly, there are clinical specialty visits that are more transactional where open-ended questions are not as critical. A good example would be consultation with a surgeon for hernia repair where the task at hand is unequivocal. (Source: 33charts.com)

According to the World Health Organization, over 15 percent of adults over the age of 60 suffer from a mental disorder. A common mental disorder among seniors is depression, occurring in seven percent of the elderly population. Unfortunately, this mental disorder is often underdiagnosed and undertreated.

Older adults account for over 18 percent of suicides deaths in the United States. Because depression can be a side effect of chronic health conditions, managing those conditions help. Additionally, promoting a lifestyle of healthy living such as betterment of living conditions and social support from family, friends or support groups can help treat depression. (Source: vitalrecord.tamhsc.edu)

According to the National Council on Aging, about 92 percent of seniors have at least one chronic disease and 77 percent have at least two. Heart disease, stroke, cancer, and diabetes are among the most common and costly chronic health conditions causing two-thirds of deaths each year.

Cognitive health is focused on a person’s ability to think, learn and remember. The most common cognitive health issue facing the elderly is dementia, the loss of those cognitive functions. Approximately 47.5 million people worldwide have dementia—a number that is predicted to nearly triple in size by 2050. (Source: vitalrecord.tamhsc.edu)

As value-based care initiatives slowly shift the focus of the business of healthcare from “transactions” to sustainable health processes, regulatory bodies have been issuing guidelines at a frenzied pace. Growing research on caregiver influence on patient compliance and legislation have physician and healthcare vendors looking for ways to reach these new stakeholders.

To maximize the impact of care post-discharge, 30 states have elected to take part in the CARE Act (Caregiver Advise, Record, Enable), which requires providers to 1) record the family caregiver’s name on the patient’s medical record, 2) inform the family caregiver when the patient is to be discharged, and 3) provide the family caregiver an education on the medical tasks to be performed on the patient at home. (Source: www.thewellnessnetwork.net)