November is NATIONAL FAMILY CAREGIVER'S MONTH

NATIONAL FAMILY CAREGIVER'S MONTH  is designated as a time every year to thank, support, educate and empower family caregivers. "This year we are encouraging people to speak up during National Family Caregivers Month." said Suzanne Mintz, NFCA president and CEO. "One of the most important attributes on being an advocate for your loved one is the willingness and the ability to speak up and keep your eye on the ultimate goal, protecting not only the health and safety of your loved ones but for yourself as well."

More than 50 million people, provide care for a chronically ill, disabled or aged family member or friend during any given year.

Informal caregiving is the foundation of America’s long-term care system. Each day, in every State and community, family members, friends and neighbors provide extraordinary levels of assistance to persons of all ages with chronic illnesses and disabilities. Caregivers manage tasks ranging from assisting with basic personal care and homemaking to carrying out more complex health-related interventions.

Unpaid caregivers may be found in every community. They come from every walk of life. They contribute an  estimated economic value of about $350 billion each year.

They are male and female, young and old, and may or may not possess adequate financial resources to meet their own daily needs or the needs of those for whom they care.

Through the Looking Glass with Alzheimer's

Life goes on for the caregiver and sufferer through the looking glass.

The dread diagnosis of Alzheimer’s does not mean your life is over. You can still live a happy life, but you will need to make  changes and accept that  some things will be more difficult and very different.

• Try to live a healthy lifestyle with a balanced diet, excersize, and getting enough sleep. This will help your brains to function at their best.

• Look after your emotional well-being by seeing friends and family, a counselor, joining a support group, or starting a journal or blog.

• Both of you will experience a range of  thoughts and emotions as you come to terms with the diagnosis - denial, anger, frustration, depression. It's  important to acknowledge and deal with these emotions.
  

• Speak with your friends and family and neighbors and let them know how they can help. Keep them informed as things progress.  Set up some form of respite.
  

• Try to keep doing activities that you enjoy and make adjustments to changing abilities.  It can help to stick to a predictable routine. Create easy to follow systems.

• Hold on to some sense of humor.
  

Maine's Dirigo Choice Experimental Health Insurance Plan

Maine requires community rating ( all the insured pay the same premium for the same insurance coverage under each policy choice ) and no discimination due to pre existing conditions.  This has driven insurance companies out of the Maine market and increased premiums by those few insurer's willing to cover Maine citizens.

In an attempt to improve the situation the legislature enacted Dirigo Choice which was designed to provide access and subsidies, particularly for small business, the self employed and individuals without any coverage. Due to the instability of the funding mechanism the program has been closed for two years to new subscribers. It is currently managed by Harvard-Pilgrim (a non-profit). The rising costs of medical care have driven up the monthly premiums and increased the amounts to be paid out of pocket.
As members drop out due to age, attrition, inability to pay premiums or return to covered employment, the number of covered members is declining. For those without other healthcare insurance options Dirigo has been a lifesaver.  In the early days of Dirigo Health many potential members were not able to pay the full upfront premium and then wait to be reimbursed for their subsidy amount later.  That system has since been corrected.

As we look at expanding health insurance coverage to more Americans much can be learned by looking at the states that have tried to do just that.
We know that Senators Collins and Snowe will give thoughtful consideration to the plans being formulated in Washington and will throw a life ring to those who need the help of a public option.
Harvard Pilgrim                         Dirigo Health - Maine People's Alliance