The Compassionate Life: Walking the Path of Kindness

"The Compassionate Life: Walking the Path of Kindness" is another book I recommend after attending a lecture by it's author Marc Ian Barasch at the NAPGCM conference in Seattle.  The following is an excerpt from his website www.compassionatelife.com:

With a keen balance of hope and skepticism, Marc Barasch sets out on a journey to the heart of compassion, discovering its power to change who we are and the society we have become. ... With unfailing curiosity, Barasch poses vital questions: What can we learn from exceptionally empathetic people? Can we increase our compassion quotient with practice? ... What if the great driving force of our evolution were actually "survival of the kindest"?  Click here to read more.

A Bitter Pill: How the Medical System is Failing the Elderly

I recently heard John Sloan, MD speak at the NAPGCM conference in Seattle.  I highly recommend his book "A Bitter Pill: How the Medical System is Failing the Elderly".

"The medical system is set up to help people, but it does the opposite for most of the people I look after,” writes Dr. John Sloan, a family physician who restricts his practice to housebound, mainly older frail persons."  Click here to read more at the nih.gov website.

"What’s worse than the failure of the health care system to adequately care for seniors?"  Click here to read the rest of the book description at Amazon.

"Alive Inside": Documentary examines music's positive effect on the elderly

Henry lives in a nursing home, and he sits hunched over in his wheelchair, every day, barely responding to his caretakers. But a new documentary, “Alive Inside,” captures the transformation that takes place when he and other patients are handed iPods loaded with music from their youth: They become animated
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The Medicare Appeal process.

This determination of “outpatient status” has greater implications for those insured by Medicare, especially if you should need subacute rehabilitation after your hospital stay. Medicare requires a 3 day INpatient hospital stay before they will cover a stay in a sub acute rehabilitation facility.
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Medicare: Inpatient or Outpatient?

Some Medicare beneficiaries who visit the hospital are getting surprised by big bills because their stays weren't considered inpatient services.The issue arises when a Medicare beneficiary who comes to a hospital is placed in a status called "observation care." Read more.

Are you a Hospital Inpatient or Outpatient? If you have Medicare- ASK!

Did you know that even if you stay in the hospital overnight, you might still be considered an “outpatient”? Your hospital status (whether the hospital considers you an “inpatient” or “outpatient”) affects how much you pay for hospital services.

Medicare Part A. Medicare Part B. Know the Difference.

Being an inpatient or an outpatient affects what you pay and whether you'll qualify for Part A coverage in a skilled nursing facility. Always ask if you’re an inpatient or outpatient.