National Care Givers Appreciation Month

November is National Family Caregivers Month and is a time to recognize and honor family caregivers across the country.

Celebrating the family and friends who care for elderly and disabled loved ones enables all of us to raise awareness of caregiver issues, recognize their dedication, and increase support and resources for family caregivers .

At Sage Infusion, we know how valuable caring for a loved one can be, and we know how difficult it is to focus on yourself while caring for someone with a chronic condition. Here are ten tips for caregivers.
1. Seek support from other caregivers. You are not alone!
2. Take care of your own health so that you can be strong enough to take care of your loved one.
3. Accept offers of help and suggest specific things people can do to help you.
4. Learn how to communicate effectively with doctors.
5. Caregiving is hard work so take respite breaks often.
6. Watch out for signs of depression and don’t delay getting professional help when you need it.
7. Be open to new technologies that can help you care for your loved one.
8. Organize medical information so it’s up-to-date and easy to find.
9. Make sure legal documents are in order.
10. Give yourself credit for doing the best you can in one of the toughest jobs there is!

One of the toughest jobs a caregiver must complete is to navigate the health insurance options and financial decisions for their loved one. Choosing a health plan and benefits can be a scary decision. Infusion drugs can be the biggest medical expenditure for the year for some patients. At Sage Infusion, we have a team of financial coordinators and intake specialists to help you make those decisions. We can walk you through the cost options when choosing a Medicare Advantage or Medicare Supplement plan based on the cost of the specific drug your doctor prescribes. There is also a COST CALCULATOR on our website.

Sage Infusion provides financial transparency to help patients and caregivers make informed choices about their healthcare. We show you a cost estimate in black and white of what your co-pay for your infusion drug will be with various healthcare plans. This allows the patient and caregiver to shop for the best drug price. The cost of the exact same drug can vary greatly between different providers (Medicare, Medicare Advantage and private insurance). You want to shop for the lowest price drug option so that your responsibility (co-pay) will be lower. You also want to make sure the health coverage you choose covers the infusion drug your doctor prescribes and know what percentage is covered.

Where your infusion is given may also change the price a healthcare policy is willing to cover. At Sage Infusion, we will be upfront and honest about the price of your chosen drug, your co-pay, and if we can service your infusions at one of our locations. Sage Infusion prides itself on helping patients and caregivers make the best financial choices while also offering the best team of, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and support staff to service your infusions in our relaxing, comfortable environment. At Sage Infusion, not only do our patients get the very best care during their treatments, we also provide respite for caregivers during this time as well with a space specifically dedicated for them with wi-fi, refreshments, and comfy chairs.

At Sage Infusion, we provide expert patient-centered infusion care in a contemporary boutique environment. Sage Infusion eases your medical burden by handling the care coordination process, including insurance authorization and patient progress updates. Our flexible scheduling meets our patient and caregiver’s needs with extended hours. Day, night, and weekend appointments are available. Our physician assistants and nurse practitioners follow the National Infusion Center Association guidelines and our proprietary clinical protocols. Sage Infusion offers a variety of comforting amenities and patients can choose to receive treatment in the open lounge or a semi-private room.

Sage Infusions has treatment options for these conditions and more:
. Rheumatoid Arthritis
. Crohn’s Disease
. Asthma
. Thyroid Eye Disease
. Osteoporosis
. Migraines
. Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
. Anemia
. Gout
. Alzheimer’s Disease
. Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (ASCVD)
. Postherpetic Neuralgia (PHN)
. Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA)
. Ulcerative Colitis (UC)
. Plaque Psoriasis (Ps)
. Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP)
. Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy (DPN)
. Heterozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia
. Type I Gaucher Disease
. Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD)
. Myasthenia Gravis (MG)
. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

With locations in Fort Myers, Clearwater, Orlando, Sarasota, Tampa, and The Villages (coming early 2023), Sage Infusion offers the best patient care, caregiver experience and infusion and injection administration facilities in the Sunshine State. At Sage Infusion, we’ve reimagined patient care. From a quick start to upfront pricing and financial assistance, to compassionate care by our clinical experts in a serene environment, you will experience infusion therapy like never before. Sage Infusion accepts most insurance making it as easy as possible for patients and caregivers to get the care and support needed to maintain the best health possible.

Sage Infusion
(239) 533-5962 | sageinfusion.com
8880 Gladiolus Drive, Suite C-200
Fort Myers, FL 33908