It seems I've caught from my lovely wife the cold that keeps on giving. Breathing is not an issue, not its all about coughing and sore throats; then when I thought I was getting over it, bam and it's back to another round of sore throat with more pain from eating and coughing. As if that is not enough, my ears are hurting, my hearing is muffled, and now ringing. Only good thing is unlike most colds I get, I can actually breath. Realize that I do not get sick very often, maybe once a year. This year I'm setting an all time record of 4 colds/flu like illness in just 3 months. Washing hands, using sanitizer, and avoiding known sick people just does not seem to be working well this year.
On the business front, seems our local home health companies are now in full recession mode. Many have seen a downturn in new client admissions. In survival mode for the next several months until the recession is declared over and the public seeks help again. Sad part is, my services are covered by Medicare and most insurances at no cost to the patient. If someone needs help, there is no reason to put off getting help and delaying health care until later. The usual result is worsening health and expensive hospitalization. A friend of mine tried to refer someone he knows to us, they have a insurance policy to cover our services and Medicare to cover nursing; but are afraid to use it up. Strange when someone who has worked hard all their life puts off needed healthcare because they think they will use up all their benefits or because the system is going broke. What our system needs is more competition, not insurance companies dictating what we will be paid on a take it or leave it basis. Consumers need to be more involved, our current system encourages non-involvement; who really cares what a test or service will cost in total, all that is important is the co-pay or out of pocket cost.
For those looking for homecare please stay with Traditional Medicare. Many advantage plans work well, but there are several in East Texas who limit benefits and do not pay providers like us after getting service approval and not paying. Two companies to avoid are Care Improvement Plus and Texas Community Care. Both are terrible at paying for homecare, we have had to wait months to get paid for services after many lost claims or returned claims with no errors.
Pain relief.....nothing is more fun than playing with Emily and spending time with Tricha. Emily is the dare devil, she went head first down the slide today. Then figured out how to slow down with her hands so she does not fly off the end too fast. It is amazing her understanding of language. She understands us when we tell her things, still learning to vocalize slowly, but her understanding is much greater. I love it when she sees me and says Daddy!! and gives me a big smile. When we water plants she likes to put her hands in the water, by the time we are finished watering she is soaking wet. She also loves to help. Always wanting to get in my lap to help out. She is now taking an interest in coloring and scribbling with a pen on paper. I like to watch her carry a little tablet and a fat pen, sit down and scribble away. Emily holds the pen like a big girl, at an angle, not with her fist. Oh joy she is, the best way to end my day is rocking her to sleep in my lap listening to her musical tunes.
Gotta go, time for bed.
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