Archive for May 2026
Nursing Home Red Flags: How to Tell if Your Loved One is Getting Good Care
When someone you love lives in a nursing home or long-term care facility, you cannot be there every hour of every day. That is one of the hardest parts of being a family caregiver. Here is the good news. Care leaves clues. This article explores the top nursing home red flags. We asked three patient…
Read MoreCase Study: A Safe Rehab Discharge After Falls
Getting mom home safely after rehab discharge Often when loved ones are in rehab, a family will get a call out of the blue ‘She’s being discharged tomorrow.’ No warning. No instructions. They wonder, what do I need do to prepare for a rehab discharge? That is when the panic sets in. Who will care…
Read MoreMeet Dr. Mari Pantoja-Smith, DHSc, RN, CGNC
Dr. Mari Pantoja-Smith is a doctorate-prepared registered nurse and patient advocate with Umbra Health Advocacy. Over more than 15 years, she has supported individuals and families navigating complex medical conditions, and her background spans clinical care, digital health strategy, and care coordination. As a result, she brings both clinical depth and a systems-level view to…
Read MoreWhat do Assisted Living Costs Include?
Understanding Base Rates, Levels of Care, and Hidden Costs When families start looking at assisted living for a loved one, the monthly price tag can seem manageable. But many discover that the number on the brochure is just the starting point. The services they assumed were included often cost extra. We talked with Lori Maloney,…
Read MorePatient Advocate Profile: Meet Yvette Lyles
Yvette Lyles is a patient advocate and senior care consultant with Umbra Health Advocacy. She brings a blended background in healthcare advocacy and a deep dedication to supporting older adults, their caregivers, and families. Yvette Lyles’s story “My work is rooted in personal experience. I became an advocate long before I made it my profession.…
Read MoreDoes Medicare pay for nursing homes?
The Truth About What Is (and Is Not) Covered One of the most common and costly misunderstandings about senior care is that Medicare pays for nursing home stays. Many families assume that after a lifetime of paying into Medicare, it will cover long-term care when they need it. This is not true. Understanding what Medicare…
Read MoreMeet Patient Advocate: Manny Hill
Manny Hill is a Board-Certified Patient Advocate with Umbra Health Advocacy who specializes in complex and rare diseases, including cancer and genetic conditions. She brings a rare combination of deep technical training and real healthcare system leadership to families who are facing some of the most overwhelming moments in care. Manny Hill’s background Manny holds…
Read MoreSenior Loneliness Is a Health Crisis
This Mental Health Awareness Month, Let’s Treat It Like One. May is Mental Health Awareness Month. It’s a good time to talk about something many older adults are quietly struggling with: senior loneliness. Loneliness might sound like just a feeling. It’s actually a serious health risk for seniors. It can hurt the brain, the heart,…
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