The CLASS Program…Is It Another Social Security Program?

The following excerpt was from an article in the Huffington Post. It is talking about the CLASS health care plan for long term care services. According to this article they are trying to find a way for Americans to pay a monthly premium to insure care later in life. Who are these premiums paid to? That is my first question. If this is anything like Social Security where people have been paying their premiums since their first job and now are having to worry about getting their checks every month because the government is broke! What gives anyone assurance that this program will not fall to the same fate as social security?

“It was with the hope of giving Americans better choices that Congress included a voluntary long-term care insurance program called CLASS in last year’s health care law.  The idea behind CLASS, which was championed by the late Senator Edward M. Kennedy, is simple: workers could sign up and pay a monthly premium, and in return, they would be eligible after a number of years for a daily benefit administered by our department that could help pay for long-term care services should they become necessary.” …Huffington Post Article by Sec. Kathleen Sebelius. “The CLASS Program

Let us hear your thoughts on this program or any program similar or just leave your thoughts on long term care whether it be a nursing home or a in home care agency.

 

A Story of Encouragement…

The story is told of an overworked nurse who escorted a tired young man to her patient’s bedside. Leaning over and speaking loudly to the elderly patient, she said, “Your son is here.” With great effort the patient’s unfocussed eyes opened, then flickered shut again.

The young man squeezed the aged hand in his and sat beside the bed. Throughout the night he sat there holding the old man’s hand, praying for and with him and whispering words of comfort.
By morning’s light the patient had died. The nurse stepped over to the young man’s side and began to offer sympathy — but he interrupted her.

“Who was that man?” he asked humbly.

The startled nurse replied, “I thought he was
your father!”
“No, he was not my father,” he answered.
“I never saw him before in my life.”
“Then, why didn’t you say something when I
took you to him?”
“I realized he needed his son and his son
wasn’t here,” the man explained. I sensed that he needed me — so I
stayed and prayed for him.”

Ministry is different for everyone. This unknown young man lived the gospel by giving of his time to someone he had never met before and left before anyone could hear his name. I’m sure his ministry to this one man received a standing ovation in heaven while here on earth no one knew.

Are You Disaster Ready?

Hurricane Irene caused 1 million people to be without power for days. A disaster can strike at any time, whether an accidental house fire or a natural disaster.

Be prepared to handle each of these situations?

The best thing you can do to prepare for any disaster, according to the American Public Health Association (APHA), is to have a stockpile stored in an easily accessible place that should remain dry. Use storage containers with lids and label accordingly. A disaster may leave you without electricity, clean water and other necessities for days or longer. The APHA recommends checking your stockpile twice each year when you reset your clocks for daylight savings.

Stockpiles should include:

 Three-day supply of non-perishable food and water (one gallon per person per day)

 

 Emergency supplies such as flashlight, batteries, radio, matches, utility knife, cash, garbage bags, whistle, fire extinguisher, extra keys and IDs, local maps, etc.

 

 First aid kit with common over-the-counter remedies, supplies such as gauze and bandages, and necessary prescription drugs

 

 Food, water and supplies for your pet, if necessary


 Personal items, such as glasses or contact lens supplies, diapers and baby supplies, sleeping bag or blanket for each person, change of clothes for each person, jacket and cold weather items for each person if applicable, moist towelettes and other personal hygiene items

Also, keep important documents, such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, insurance policies, passports, Social Security cards, banking information, prescription information, etc., together in a safe place for fast access.

 

IntegraCare is Honored as a Home Care Elite’s Top Agency

IntegraCare Locations Recognized on HomeCare Elite's Top Agencies
IntegraCare Home Health Locations Honored as one of  HomeCare Elite’s Top Agency.

IntegraCare is honored to have the following locations honored to make Home Care Elite’s top agency list:

IntegraCare Home Health Services, Inc.

Bedford, Parent                      Graham

Bowie                                     Jacksboro

Breckenridge                         Mineral Wells

Bridgeport                              Olney

Corsicana                              Stephenville

Dallas                                    Waxahachie

Denton                                   Weatherford

Gainesville

IntegraCare of Texas, LLC (Cisco)

IntegraCare of Wichita Falls, LLC

The HomeCare Elite™ is the compilation of the most successful home care providers in the United States. This market-leading review names the top 25 percent of agencies in quality of care, quality improvement, and financial performance. We are very honored at this recognition and work hard to maintain quality care for not just our patients but also their families.

 

 

IntegraCare Gainesville joins TEAMS Medical Group for a Fan Drive for the Needy!

As the temperatures continue to stay above 100 in the Dallas/Ft.Worth area. We ask that you keep your fellow residents in mind. That is why IntegraCare in Gainesville has joined up with TEAMS to collect fans for the needy! Below is a list of locations you can drop off a fan for donation. If you cannot drop it off, you may contact Shari Kuykendall in our Gainesville office and she will make arrangements to pick up your donation.

IntegraCare is proud to be a part of this fan drive and to date has collected 75 fans.

You can bring your donations to the following locations:

IntegraCare Home Health, 1019 E California, Gainesville
76240  (940) 612-2255

Gainesville Health and Rehab,  1900 O’Neal,
Gainesville   (940) 665-2826

River Valley Health and Rehab,  1907 Refinery Road
(940) 665-0072

Angels Care Home Health   214 E California,
Gainesville  (940) 665-0944

IntegraCare Opens New Office in Palestine

TX – August 5, 2011 – IntegraCare will host an open house and ribbon cutting ceremony on August 11th to celebrate the opening of its new Home Health office in Palestine, TX located at 800 N. Church St., Ste. C. We are honored to receive the welcome we have from the community and are excited about the opportunity to serve its families. The Palestine Chamber of Commerce will arrive at 11am for the ribbon cutting and refreshments will be served from 11am – 2pm.

This event will allow the community to meet the IntegraCare Palestine Home Health staff:

Connie C. Turner            Account Executive

Vicki Maxwell White       BSN/Clinical Manager

Dawn Freeman               LVN/Scheduling Coordinator

Jennifer Johnson            LVN