- Conservator
A conservator is appointed by the court to manage the financial and legal responsibilities of a person deemed mentally and/or physically unfit to manage their own affairs. A conservator’s duties may include handling real estate and personal property, investing liquid assets, and filing tax returns.
- Continuum of Care
Continuum of care refers to the system of care that tracks patients through various types and levels of health services from birth until the day of death. The four basic components of this system are planning and management, care coordination, case-based financing, and integrated information systems. Continuum of care can sometimes be extended to benefit the homeless, or those travelling internationally.
- Doll Therapy
This type of therapy involves offering dolls to Alzheimer’s or dementia patients to help them feel calm and connected with a “baby.” The act of caring for a baby doll makes patients feel needed, while also bringing back memories of raising their own children, or taking care of grandchildren.
- H.I.P.A.A
H.I.P.A.A stands for Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, and assures privacy and protection for patients’ medical information. There are five major components to the legislation: Privacy, Security, Transactions and Code Sets, Unique Identifiers and Enforcement Rule. H.I.P.P.A was created to enforce patient’s rights to protect the privacy of their medical records.
- I.A.D.L
Instrumental Activities of Daily Living, or I.A.D.L, are activities that enable a senior to live independently within their community, such as cleaning, meal preparation, shopping and paying bills. Such activities are valuable in determining an individual’s ability to care for themselves, and assessing how much they are affected by a particular disease.
- L.T.C.I
Chronically ill or senior patients are eligible to receive Long Term Care Insurance (L.T.C.I.) This insurance helps pay for the costs associated with nursing home care, assisted living and home health care, and covers treatment that is generally not covered by health insurance, Medicare or Medicaid.
- Montessori Method
The Montessori Method is a type of therapy for dementia patients that incorporates sensory stimulation through various activities aimed at bringing out the unique strengths of the individual. A sensory experience, such as listening to music, can transform an otherwise withdrawn, silent patient into one that is lively, engaged and reminded of their love of music.
- Palliative Care
The purpose of palliative care is to ease the physical pain and emotional distress associated with chronic illness. Palliative care helps to improve the quality of life for the patient and their family, and can be provided during any stage of illness.
- Sensory Integration Therapy
People with Sensory Processing Disorder experience difficulty responding to external stimuli, as it relates to their sense of smell, touch, sight, hearing, taste, and bodily movement. It is common among individuals on the autism spectrum, although it is often seen in Alzheimer's disease as well. Sensory Integration Therapy can be very effective for dementia patients, and makes use of activities such as hand massages, cooking, gardening and aromatherapy.
Gallagher Home Care is a Medicare-certified home health agency that serves across 8 Pennsylvania counties. Our dedicated employees are trained to provide exceptional, compassionate care to seniors in a variety of circumstances, including those living with dementia. We provide house-keeping, home safety monitoring, and companion care, and even provide free in-home evaluations for new families. Request an appointment online or call (412) 453-8082 to learn more.
