Articles and Information from GA Foods

Many of your members are being cared for in their homes by family or other in-home caregivers.  Studies show that being a caregiver to someone with swallowing difficulties or dysphagia can be stressful. As a case manager, you are often the one they turn to for advice and support. The good news is there are ways to help!

Many homebound older adults do not receive adequate balanced meals, which are essential for managing chronic conditions such as diabetes and are vital for disease prevention. Unfortunately, proper nutrition and diet sometimes take a backseat to other steps in disease management. The body needs to receive the right balance of calories, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, fats, and proteins from food to function well. Food as medicine is not a new concept, but a good diet should be taken seriously and be a top goal to help ensure a better quality of life.

Open enrollment for 2022 Medicare Advantage (MA) is almost here. Major payers have shared their benefit offerings for the new year.  Many of the benefits are related to social determinants of health, such as food insecurity and isolation.  

As a Case Manager, you focus on achieving quality outcomes for your members by assessing their care needs. Your goal is to keep your members healthy and living in their homes. One area that tends to get overlooked in care plans is malnutrition. It is estimated that 1 out of 2 older adults is at risk for malnutrition. Malnutrition in older adults leads to more complications, falls, and hospital readmissions. Plus, it can increase healthcare costs by 300%.

Pictured is Maureen and her children with her mother, Alice. (And by the way, it was Maureen's 43rd birthday!)

My Back StoryIn recognition of National Caregiver Month, we are reposting this blog from 2016. 

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States. Diabetes occurs when blood glucose levels are above normal. With diabetes, the body may not make enough insulin, use the insulin in the right way, or both, causing blood sugar levels to be too high.

Retirement is supposed to be one of the most celebrated stages of life. However, today, older adults are facing more challenges than opportunities when it comes to finances, companionship, health and, ultimately, quality of life – and this is especially true for women. From lower earnings and savings to higher debt, financial challenges are turning into housing challenges that are only expected to grow. 

National Nutrition Month^® is a nutrition education, and information campaign celebrated every March by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. The campaign focuses attention on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits. You can make a significant impact on your overall health by making small changes in your eating and physical activity routine.

Best known as conditions in the places where people live, learn, work, and play, that affect a wide range of outcomes, Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) are categorized around five key areas; economic stability, education, health and healthcare, neighborhood and built environment, and social and community context. And among these areas, are a number of issues that make up the underlying causes surrounding SDOH. From employment and education status to quality of housing, our health today is greatly influenced by these factors with one of the most prevalent being limited access to healthy food.

Loneliness might mean something different to everyone, but one thing has become clear: it doesn’t just mean living alone. In fact, recent studies show loneliness is linked to social isolation and an experience of not fitting in or belonging. So while some people can live alone and feel completely fulfilled, others can live with or around many people and still feel isolated – and this is especially true for seniors.