As pioneers in the healthcare industry, we feel it is important to help guide our clients and the elderly in the community on the process of obtaining a medical marijuana card. We are here to provide the correct information, access to the most trusted physicians in Florida, provide a step-by-step guide that assures legitimacy, and helps reduce the anxiety about the process itself. With the ability to publish information online, folks have become targets and are highly susceptible to exposure to mis-information, thus should rely heavily on the network provided to them by their already trusted caregivers/companion care takers.

Make sure you are working with diligent professionals and have information to make the right decisions.

Quality Health Care Concierge clients may be referred to an internal and highly rated physician network. Our companion staff may accompany people to their initial assessment visit to their physician of choice. Once that physician provides a comprehensive assessment with a diagnosis for their patient, they then write a prescription-like recommendation that provides details of the product, route, frequency, and potential adverse effects. The following steps include being registered on the Florida Medical Marijuana Use Registry online where the Department of Health requires a yearly payment of $75, prompting obtaining a Medical Marijuanna Card within 10 business days. Florida qualifies ten chronic conditions that deem to be debilitating and allowing for prescription of Medical Marijuana. These conditions include the following: ALS, MS, AIDS, HIV, Glaucoma, Cancer, Epilepsy, Parkinson’s Disease, Crohn’s Disease, PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder), and many similar conditions.

Quality Health Care Concierge then suggests that their caregivers and/or companions accompany clients to a dispensary of choice in order to have vetted professionals find the right product for each individual. Let’s make this process as simple as possible to facilitate the right decision in speaking with professionals. Our team will be there to provide personalized care to assist in reduction of anxiety in the processes from the initial discussion, research, and most significant: how to obtain a medical marijuana card in Florida.

What is holistic care for the elderly? This question is often discussed amongst elderly and their caregivers or medical providers. Elderly often wonder how a holistic plan can be one that is both beneficial and effective while providing the results that can be measured. In evaluating the effects of a holistic approach, the individual must assess their needs as a whole person. Rather than just focusing on one specific diagnosis or ailment that has become chronic, a person might consider their entire way of life as a blank slate in painting a healthier lifestyle. Holistically, a whole person has many facets that contribute to their overall well-being such as mind, body, and soul. Quite often, specific needs of the elderly are overlooked such as spiritual needs, loneliness and social isolation, and independence in self-care. 

How can these important factors of well-being for the elderly affect their overall health? Let’s consider one of the holistic markers of care: independence in self-care. When elderly remain feeling independent in their self-care, they show signs of improvement to cognitive functioning and memory, lower feelings of anxiety/depression, potential less feelings of social isolation, and other organic factors that contribute to a better overall well-being, such as better sleep. Oftentimes, it takes a team of professionals to contribute to a holistic health approach for wellness. Quality Health Care Concierge provides personalized private companion care and allows for all of their clients to have access to a wide-range of holistic care practitioners in the state of Florida. Many of our partners provide support services to help our clients remain independent, on the right track, supported, and monitored holistically! Some of our favorite services include those of Geriatric Care Management Senior Options Enrichment Program that provides evidence-based strategies for senior mental health during the pandemic.

Flyer for more information: Senior Options Enrichment Program

Although we don’t have much say when it comes to getting older, we do have some say when it comes to how we age. According to a study published by CNN Health, an online resource that provides information on a wide range of health topics, the average American can expect to live 78.6 years. That said, the best way for seniors to achieve or even surpass this life expectancy is by exercising regularly and eating a healthy, well-balanced diet. After all, eating right and staying physically active has been shown to help fend off chronic diseases, not to mention many of the aches and pain that come with getting older.

Exercising
Studies show that 18 million seniors are struggling with limited mobility as a byproduct of aging. Physical activity has been shown to help prevent or minimize the effects of arthritis, improve bone health, and strengthen muscles, all of which can improve mobility while reducing the risk of falls. Regular exercise can also improve stamina and lower the risk of developing chronic diseases, some of which include colon cancer, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. And the benefits do not end there; according to a study published by the National Institute on Aging, aerobic exercises, for example, can help improve memory. The study found that exercising increases the size of an individual’s hippocampus, which is the part of the brain responsible for short and long-term memory.

Despite the numerous health benefits associated with regular exercise, some seniors believe that engaging in any form of physical activity will increase their chances of falling and being severely injured. Many also believe that they are too out of shape to exercise. If any of this resonates with you, you will be happy to know that there are plenty of low-impact aerobic exercises that you can do without worrying about falling. We would, however, recommend doing these exercises with someone close to you or a companion so that you feel at ease. And best of all, these exercises are not overly taxing on the body. According to Silver Sneakers, a program that encourages older adults to participate in physical activities, some of the best exercises for seniors include:

• Bodyweight exercises
• Pilates
• Yoga
• Swimming
• It is worth noting that walking is also a great aerobic exercise for seniors. However, to reduce the risk of falling, it may be a good idea to walk with a cane or walking stick.

Dieting
While eating a healthy, well-balanced diet is always a good idea, it becomes increasingly important as we get older. For this reason, most dieticians and nutritionists will encourage individuals over the age of 65 to eat the following foods for good overall health:

Fiber – Along with keeping you regular, eating whole grains, legumes, and other fiber-rich foods can help reduce high cholesterol, inflammation, and even high blood pressure.

Fatty Fish – For seniors, one of the best ways to go about improving joint health and mobility is by consuming fatty fish, such as mackerel, salmon, and sardines. These types of fish are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which have been shown to help reduce the intensity of numerous joint symptoms, some of which include stiffness, tenderness, and swelling.

Blueberries – Along with being delicious, blueberries are chock-full of antioxidants as well as vitamins C and E, all of which can help the body fight off illnesses while keeping cells healthy.

Tomatoes – Like blueberries, tomatoes are rich in antioxidants, which can help fight off many of the free radicals that contribute to illnesses. However, they also contain lycopene, a compound that has been shown to protect against prostate and lung cancer.

Yogurt – Given that bone loss is common among older adults, primarily due to diseases like osteoporosis and osteomalacia, it would be a good idea to consume more yogurt. After all, this delicious dairy product is an excellent source of vitamin D, which the body uses to absorb the calcium, a mineral that supports strong bones and teeth.

All in all, there are many things that seniors can do to improve their chances of living a longer and healthier life. But please start with small changes first before going all-in on any new food or exercise routine, and have a friend, relative, or companion by your side.

Disease prevalence rates (proportion of people alive diagnosed with a certain disease) for cancer, epilepsy, HIV, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s, and PTSD to determine the number of eligible patients with the conditions specified in the proposed ballot initiative. There were an estimated 2,038,131 patients alive in 2017 that have been diagnosed with the specified conditions during their lifetime. These patients represent the pool of eligible patients for the medical use of marijuana. These people are those that may not have had appropriate guidance, support, or personal care to assist with an appropriate approach towards living with a debilitating disorder and being supported in the community for their holistic care approach to disease management.

Although Medical Marijuana is available in the state of Florida, it does however, remain illegal under Federal Law.

MEDICAL CANNABIS FACTS:

1. Cannabis has shown to reduce Opioid Deaths by 25%. The Medical Association’s JAMA Internal Medicine published that“States with medical cannabis laws had a 24.8% lower mean annual opioid overdose mortality rate…compared with states without medical cannabis laws.”
   1. Source: Weedmaps. “Weedmaps Analysis of California Municipal and County Regulations.” Irvine, CA Jan 2019. Bachhuber MA, Saloner B. Cunningham CO, Barry CL. Medical Cannabis Laws and Opioid Analgesic Overdose Mortality in the United States, 1999-2010. JAMA Intern Med 2014; 174(10) 1668-1673;doi:10.1001/jamaintermed.2014.4005

• States that legalized medical cannabis saw an average reduction of 3.7 Million daily doses of Opioids per year. Medical cannabis laws have provided people with an alternative to opioids for conditions as varied as chronic pain. Palliative Care has begun to see a significant change in approach in the community setting and is vastly changing quality of life for many people across the United States. American Medical Association’s JAMA Internal Medicine, “prescriptions filled for all opioids decreased by 2.11 million daily doses per year…when a state instituted any medical cannabis law” and “prescriptions for all opioids decreased by 3.742 million daily doses per year when medical cannabis dispensaries opened.”
  1. Source: Bradford, Ashley C., et al. “Association Between US State Medical Cannabis Laws and Opioid Prescribing in the Medicare Part D Population.” JAMA Intern Med., vol. 178, no. 5, May 2018, pp. 667–672.