The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/883023
C-10 Health And Wellness Wednesday, October 4, 2017 The Press-Dispatch SOMETHING NEWSWORTHY? Give us a call – 812-354-8500. Want Convenient & Compassionate Care? Centered Around You. Meet some of your neighbors. Just like a neighbor, the healthcare providers at Gibson General Hospital are close and here to help! ey know that you want to be treated with support and compassion, welcomed by warm and friendly faces, and be able to visit when you need access to timely healthcare. Kwabena Owusu-Dekyi, MD Family Medicine 1808 Sherman Drive, Suite 2209 Princeton, Indiana 812-385-9420 William Wells, MD Family Medicine 510 N. Main Street Princeton, Indiana 812-386-7001 Angela Turner-Brown, RN, MSN, FNP-BC Family Medicine 7851 S. Professional Drive Fort Branch, Indiana 812-615-5071 Phillip Rosett, MD, FACS General Surgery 1808 Sherman Drive, Suite 2209 Princeton, Indiana 812-385-9420 R. Michael Clark, DO Family Medicine 510 N. Main Street Princeton, Indiana 812-386-7001 ASK SHIP Medicare didn't pay for my last treatment Q: Medicare didn't pay for my last medical treatment. It has paid for this same treatment before, so I think there may be a mistake. What should I do? A: You should be able to file an ap- peal if you feel there was an error made in your billing to Medicare. You may file an appeal when: • A health care service, supply, or prescription that you think you should get was denied. • A payment for health care servic- es or supplies or a prescription drug you already got was denied. • A change to the amount you must pay for a prescription drug was denied. • A plan stops providing or paying for all or part of an item or service you think you still need. How you file an appeal depends on the kind of Medicare coverage you have. ORIGINAL MEDICARE If you have Original Medicare and want to file an appeal, get the Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) that shows the item or service that was denied. You must file the appeal within 120 days of receiving the MSN. To file your appeal, follow the in- structions on the back of the MSN, or fill out the Redetermination Request Form. MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLAN Your plan sends you materials each year that should explain how to file a complaint, grievence, or appeal. Fol- low the instructions specific to your plan. MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG PLAN With a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan, you have the right to: • Get a written explanation of the coverage made by your plan called a "coverage determination." • Ask for an exception to a drug if you or your prescribing doctor be- lieve you need a drug that isn't on your plan's formulary. • Ask for an exception to a cover- age rule. • Ask for an exception if you think you should pay less for a higher tier drug because your doctor believes it is the best option for you. To do any of these things, you or your doctor must contact your plan by phone or in writing. SERVICES ENDING If you feel coverage of your services with a hospital, skilled nursing facili- ty, home health agency, comprehen- sive outpatient rehab facility, or hos- pice are ending too soon, you may ask for an expedited appeal to speed up the appeals process. You should call 1-800 -Medicare. If you have questions about the An- nual Enrollment Period or any other questions about Medicare, call SHIP at 1-800 -452-4800, 866 -846 -0139 TDD or online at www.medicare.in.gov. Daylight saving time comes to an end each fall, at a time when the hours of avail- able sunlight already are beginning to de- cline. Some people are more accustomed to darkness than others. Norwegians, Swedes and people living in Alaska and the upper reaches of Canada near or above the Arctic Circle may go through a period when win- ters can be especially dark. Fairbanks, Alas- ka, gets just three hours and 42 minutes of sunlight on the winter solstice. Those in Barrow, Alaska, will endure a period of 67 days of darkness, according to Alaska.org. Residents of Seattle, which is even further north than cities such as Fargo, North Da- kota, or Portland, Maine, deal with more darkness than those living outside the city may know. Although much of the rest of North Amer- ica doesn't experience such profound peri- ods of darkness, when the darkness of fall and winter arrives, it can be difficult to main- tain a positive outlook. Borrowing some of the coping mechanisms relied on in north- ern latitudes can help many people to see the dark in a different light. • Be aware of SAD. Seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, is defined by the Mayo Clinic as a type of depression that's related to changes in seasons, beginning and end- ing at about the same times each year. Symp- toms tend to start in the fall and continue in- to the winter, sapping energy and making a person feel moody. As with other types of de- pression, SAD can get worse and lead to se- vere problems if left untreated. Light treat- ment, talk therapy and medication can help people who are susceptible to SAD. • Make daylight hours count. Spend time outdoors while the sun is bright in the sky. Make an effort to switch your sched- ule if work interferes with getting outdoors, even if all that can be managed is an outdoor walk at lunch. Sit by a bright window and soak up rays whenever possible. • Celebrate winter activities. Go ski- ing, snowboarding, outdoor ice skating, or snowshoeing. Look forward to winter for what can be done, rather than what can't. • Socialize more often. Instead of hol- ing up indoors alone, frequent the places that become indoor gathering spots for lo- cals. These can include coffee houses, brew- eries, restaurants, or even the local church. Plan more social occasions with friends and families so everyone can collectively shoo away the winter blues. • Exercise more. Use the darker hours as an excuse to exercise more, be it at the gym or outside. The Mayo Clinic says that exercise and other types of physical activi- ty can relieve anxiety and depression, lift- ing an individual's mood as a result. • Light a fire. Set the kindling ablaze in a fire pit, fireplace or woodburning stove, or just light a handful of candles. Flames can be soothing and less harsh on the eyes than artificial light. Fall and winter darkness does not have to send a person into the doldrums if he or she embraces the right attitude. Coping with fewer hours of daylight Caregivers are unpaid individuals, typ- ically a spouse, child, neighbor, or friend, who assist with activities of daily living and medical tasks. These informal caregivers of- ten fill in gaps between medical profession- als or paid aides to meet the needs of inca- pacitated individuals. The National Alliance for Caregiving and A ARP indicate that approximately 43.5 mil- lion caregivers have provided unpaid care to an adult or child in the last 12 months. Roughly 15.7 million adult family caregivers in the United States care for someone who has Alzheimer's disease or another form of dementia, states the Alzheimer's Associa- tion. Though both men and women serve as caregivers, females are the largest seg- ment of unpaid caregivers, handling some of the most difficult tasks, such as bathing and dressing. Many caregivers selflessly give back by providing assistance to a friend or family member, and view this type of service as a form of charitable giving. Others see it as simply being a good friend or family mem- ber. Although it can be rewarding to care for another person, caregiving also can be a stressful job that takes both a physical and emotional toll on caregivers. Caregiv- er stress is a very real side effect. It is important for caregivers to recognize that offering medical care and support can leave them vulnerable to a wide range of con- sequences. These can include anxiety, de- pression, fatigue, and even increased expo- sure to illness. It can be particularly sad to witness a loved one's health gradually de- teriorate. The Office on Women's Health says that anyone is susceptible to caregiver stress, but more women caregivers say they have stress and other health problems than male caregivers. Women who are caregivers of spouses are more likely to experience high cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabe- tes than men. Depression is quite common among caregivers who spend a lot of time assisting those with various dementias be- cause of the constant care such people re- quire. To remain as healthy as possible, care- givers should take steps to recognize symp- toms of caregiver stress and avoid burnout. Here are some signs to keep in mind: • Feelings of being overwhelmed • Feeling alone or deserted by others • Social withdrawal from friends or activ- ities that used to make you feel good • Exhaustion that makes it challenging to complete necessary tasks • Sleeplessness or sleeping more than normal • Lack of concentration that impacts dai- ly tasks • Overreaction to minor nuisances • Cutting back on leisure activities • Neglecting things at home or other peo- ple who are well • An immune system that is run down, leading to constant illness The Alzheimer's Association says it is im- portant for caregivers to find time for them- selves apart from caregiving tasks. Respite care or relying on others to fill in can free up time for a caregiver to relax and recharge. It is also important to prevent caregiving from becoming a person's whole existence. Investing time in other things that provide meaning and purpose can help caregivers find balance. Also, focusing on the things that can be controlled and small victories can make a difference. Regain hope and strength while caregiving ASSISTED LIVING AND SO MUCH MORE :(&28/':5,7($'6$// '$