I believe love is the most powerful force in the universe. It is incomprehensible and illusive, yet understood and always within reach. You can find it in the most unlikely places, from the most unlikely people. Here's a look at how it has inspired some.

Amanda M. is celebrating 4 years with our team this month. Amanda is a consummate professional and dedicated caregiver. Her clients have nothing but good things to say about her work ethic and personality. Thank you for all your hard work Amanda!

Mary Ann C. joined the Golden Horizons team in November 2018. In her time with us, she has shown great compassion and provided excellent care to her clients; they have repeatedly thanked us for sending her to them. Thank you for all you do Mary Ann!

​

On August 28, 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, gave his famous "I Have A Dream Speech" to a crowd of 250,000 people who joined the March on Washington. 

His words have resounded through history; a call rightness, a call to honor, a call to freedom. Let us be thankful for forebears like Dr. King, who made exceptional contributions to move our country forward. Let us all contribute to that dream!

There will be rock salt / ice melt available to our caregivers at the office over the course of the winter. It is important to keep some on hand, safely stored in the car, in case of emergency. 

GHECS family to yours! May 2020 bring you health, joy and many blessings! ~ Lisa Gradzewicz ​

There are many holidays around the end of the year. Many involve candles and lights in some capacity. In honor of the light, and the theme of good triumphing, we encourage you to shine bright this holiday season. Be a beacon of hope and love. Happy Holidays!

What a fantastic Holiday Open House we had today at Golden Horizons! It was great seeing so many smiling faces and kindred spirits. We will be continuing Tuesday between 9am and 1pm. Come visit us! Meanwhile, here is a smattering of images to tell our holiday story. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa... whatever you celebrate, we wish you a bright, healthy, blessed holiday season, from our family to yours!

the backbone of Golden Horizons. Your compassion and dedication to our clients are the reason we exist. I am thankful for you all. May this season and coming year bring you abundance and joy. Happy Holidays! ~ Lisa Gradzewicz, President of Golden Horizons  ​

According to the National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC), there are over 40 million unpaid caregivers in the United States. Of that 40-plus million, nearly 80% care for a senior who likely has Medicare.
For all the caregivers do, it’s astonishing that most are unpaid. According to the AARP Public Policy Institute, unpaid caregivers had a value of $470 billion in 2013 alone.

The average caregiver cares for a loved one for 4 years, according to the NAC. However, nearly 40% of caregivers provide care for more than 5 years.

Although caring for a loved one can be very rewarding, it can also cause a lot of stress, especially for unpaid caregivers who rarely take time off. Thankfully, Medicare has slightly upped its game in the respite care field.

What is respite careMedicare defines respite care as “temporary care provided in a nursing home, hospice inpatient facility, or hospital so that a caregiver can rest or take some time off.” In short, respite care is a caregiver’s vacation.

When Original Medicare Covers Respite CareOriginal Medicare consists of two parts, Part A and Part B. Part A is your in-patient hospital stay benefits, while Part B is your outpatient benefits. Part A covers respite care for its beneficiaries’ caregivers if the beneficiary is officially on hospice care.

To be on hospice care, the beneficiary must be certified as terminally ill with less than 6 months to live, accept care solely for comfort, and sign an official document stating he or she is choosing hospice care over trying to cure illness.

Once hospice care has started, caregivers can request respite care whenever they need time away. Part A allows up to 5 consecutive days of respite care at a time, and only on an occasional basis. The beneficiary can get respite care in the hospital, in a hospice facility, or in a nursing home.

If the beneficiary doesn’t have a Medigap plan that covers the Part A coinsurance, then there may be a 5% coinsurance charge for each respite care stay. Many Medigap plans cover the Part A hospice coinsurance.

When Part C covers respite careMedicare Part C, also known as Medicare Advantage, is a part of Medicare that combines your Part A, Part B, and usually, Part D benefits into one plan. These plans are sold by private insurance carriers, such as United Healthcare, Cigna, and Aetna.

Part C plans are required to offer the same benefits as Original Medicare at a minimum. However, that doesn’t mean they can’t offer better coverage. Also, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) allow Part C plans to offer a few additional benefits that Original Medicare doesn’t offer.

For example, Original Medicare doesn’t cover respite care unless the beneficiary is on hospice care. As of 2019, Medicare Advantage plans are allowed to offer respite care under their own rules. Your loved one may be able to get respite care without being under hospice care.

Each Medicare Advantage plan has its own set of rules and pricing for services. Because of this, you need to read plan brochures carefully to see what’s covered. If your loved one wants a Medicare Advantage plan offering respite care coverage, compare plans in your area prior to the Annual Election Period that runs from October 15th until December 7th.
​
Alternatively, you can look into short term respite care at facilities such as adult daycares, nursing homes, and in-home care. You may have to pay for these services yourself, but check with your local Area Agency on Aging to see if help is available.