Care Coordination

March 30th, 2013

Often times when establishing a care program for your loved one, a number of issues and resources need to be evaluated in setting up the proper program.   The following is a brief summary of the many resources to assist in this process.

Web Resources:

Click the links below to access resource websites to find out more about care coordination.

CareCalendar

This Web-based system is useful for long-term situations, including homebound and caregiver respite care needs.

Geriatric Assessment & Care Management

Helpguide.org offers an informative overview of geriatric assessments for developing a care plan.

Questions to Ask When Looking for a Professional Geriatric Care Manager

Helpful information from the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers.

Adult Day Care Centers

A guide to options and selecting the best center for your needs.

Aging-In-Place Design Checklist

A checklist of exterior and interior design elements to consider when building or remodeling homes for seniors.

National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Inc.

NAELA site assists lawyers, bar organizations, and others who work with older clients and their families.

Social Work and Long-Term Care Services

Downloadable report available from the National Association of Social Workers details effects of social work in long-term care and aging.

National Association of Personal Financial Advisors

NAPFA is the nation’s leading organization dedicated to the advancement of fee-only comprehensive financial planning.

Personal Emergency Response Systems

FAQs provided by Caregiver.com offer valuable information concerning emergency response systems.

Money & Legal Matters

An array of useful information about money and legal matters associated with eldercare.

BenefitsCheckup

Useful tool with information about programs and services designed for assisting in eldercare, available from the National Council on Aging.

A Primer on Home Care

March 25th, 2013

Web Resources:

Click the links below to access resource websites to learn more about the basics of home care.

Compare cost of home care with other long-term care options

US News and World Report reports on the seventh annual cost of care survey by GenWorth Financial, a major seller of long-term care insurance.

When is home care appropriate?

This site provides an informational article plus links to other articles on helping one determine when home care is appropriate.

Explaining Medicare home health care

This is the official US Government booklet about Medicare home health care benefits for people with original Medicare.

What’s the difference between home care and home health care?

A simple comparison chart shows how home health care and home care differ.

Information to help determine which type of home care is most appropriate

Although this downloadable PDF is about Michigan specifically, it is a good explanation of the differences in home care and home health care and gives some good examples of how to determine which one is appropriate for care needs.

Differences between full service home care agencies, private hires and referral agencies

Within the scope of care when paying for services, this article gives a good explanation of the differences in hiring an agency and using independent contractors or referral/registries.

 

Warning Signs That Care at Home May Be Needed

March 16th, 2013

Web Resources:
Click the links below to access resource Web sites to find out more about the warning signs that care at home may be needed.

Recognizing Health Warning Signs in the Elderly
These tips can help monitor some key health areas that are often missed when working with the elderly.

10 Early Signs and Symptoms of Alzheimer’s
The 10 warning signs of Alzheimer’s, along with the differences between Alzheimer’s and typical age-related changes, are outlined here, courtesy of Alzheimer’s Association.

Preventing Elder Abuse
The National Center on Elder Abuse (a division of the Administration on Aging) Web site offers downloadable fact sheets, resources, answers to questions related to elder abuse, and more.

Compulsive Hoarding 
National Public Radio’s “Fresh Air” interviewed Randy Frost and Gail Steketee, the writers of “Stuff: Compulsive Hoarding and the Meaning of Things”. This link allows you to listen to the informative interview.

Just Say NO to Senior Scams   
Consumer Action offers some tips on guarding against elder financial abuse. A great list of resources and additional links are also included here.

How to Reduce Junk Mail
41Pounds is a non-profit organization that helps reduce junk mail by contacting several direct mail companies on the consumer’s behalf. Especially useful for cutting down on sweepstakes entry forms or mail scams. Note there is a small charge for this service- $41 for 5 years of coverage, plus they donate $15 to a non-profit selected by the person signing up.

National Do Not Call Registry
Anyone who wishes to reduce unwanted telemarketing calls can register their phone number with this Web site.

Fraud Center Resources
The National Consumer League’s Fraud Center provides information on fraud targeted directly to the elderly.

Top Frauds of 2009
Learn about the top 10 scams of 2009 in this report provided by the National Consumers League.

 

What Does “Healthy Eating” Mean?

February 16th, 2013

Most of us know that staying healthy includes making smart food choices and being physically active. But we’re not always sure what healthy eating really means.

“I have good intentions to eat right, I really do,” says Ben, 59, “but sometimes I’m just not sure what that means exactly.” Ben isn’t alone in trying to figure out a healthy diet, but healthy eating doesn’t have to be complicated or hard to follow.

According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, a healthy diet:

• Emphasizes vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and fat-free or low-fat milk products
• Includes lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs, and nuts
• Is low in saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, salt, and added sugars
• Balances the calories you take in from food and beverages with the calories burned through physical activity to maintain a healthy weight

Consider these simple tips to help you make healthier eating choices:

• Eat fruits and vegetables of different colors to give your body a wide range of valuable nutrients.
• Include foods that contain fiber, such as fruits, vegetables, beans, and whole grains.
• Eat lean cuts of meat and poultry. Trim away excess fat and remove skin from poultry before cooking.
• Pay attention to portion sizes, especially at restaurants. Smaller portions equal fewer calories.
• Season your food with lemon juice, herbs, and spices, rather than butter and salt.
• Choose foods that are baked, broiled, braised, grilled, steamed, sautéed, or boiled, rather than fried.
• When eating out, select a dish from the menu, rather than getting your money’s worth at the all-you-can-eat buffet.

To find out more about how you can stay healthy and be more active, visit the Go4Life website. Go4Life is an exercise and physical activity campaign from the National Institute on Aging at NIH. It has exercises, success stories, and free materials to help you get ready, start exercising, and keep going.

Managing Arthritis in the Winter

November 30th, 2012

What is arthritis? Is pain in the joints caused by inflammation, or break down of cartilage (the tissue between joints that absorbs impact), lack of fluid in the joints or an auto-immune disease (rheumatoid arthritis.) Though conclusive evidence as to the link between cold weather and pain does not seem to exit, ask anyone who suffers from arthritis when their symptoms are the worst and they will probably all answer “in the winter.”         

Though many of us—especially the elderly—choose to stay indoors during winter, this sedentary lifestyle might actually make us feel worse. It is important to stay active year round to decrease arthritis symptoms and to maintain overall health.

One challenge the elderly face in the winter months is where to exercise? If you don’t belong to a local organization such as The YMCA, do a little research into the fitness classes for seniors. There are also community centers that offer fitness classes such as Tai-Chi. Clubs and classes not in your budget or still feeling like leaving your home to exercise is too much of a hassle? Pop in an exercise video (that can be borrowed from your local library) and work-out in the comfort and privacy of your own home.

According to Joe Feinglass, a research professor of medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, “The federal guidelines recommend that adults with arthritis participate in 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity, low-impact activity. That amounts to an average of slightly more than 20 minutes per day. ”  Dr. Feinglass is also the author of “The Effects of Daily Weather on Accelerometer-Measure Physical Activity”, a study that was funded by the Nations Institute of Arthritis Musculoskeletal and Skin Activity.

Not only is it important to stay active in the winter to promote good health, but exercise is the only way to cleanse the joints of waste build up since there is no blood flow to cartilage. If we become sedentary, the joints’ natural lubricant and cleanser (synovial fluid) can’t do its job, and this leads to increased pain and joint inflammation.

According to “Arthritis Management in Winter” (Rehabit.com), arthritis sufferers tend to make their condition worse by not exercising but the greatest challenge seems to be motivating ourselves to get moving when it’s cold and we are feeling achy. Range of motion exercises are recommended to maintain or increase flexibility of the joints, as well as strengthening. Consult your physician or physical therapist on a safe home exercise regimen. And if you are adventurous and choose to continue your outdoor exercises throughout the colder months, dress warmly!

Exercise increases blood flood, strengthens our hearts, lungs, and muscles and can even help keep those winter blues at bay. Exercise helps our bodies feel younger longer. So don’t let those cold temperatures get your down. Get up and get moving! Your body will thank you.

 

Resources:

Dead of Winter is Tough on Arthritis Sufferers. Erin White November 3, 2011. Northwestern University News Center.http://www.northwestern.edu/newscenter/stories/2011/11/chicago-weather-physical-activity.html

Arthritis Management in Winter. Rehabit Your Life, 2011. http://www.rehabit.com.au/home/arthritis/arthritismmt/

Ten Signs of Alzheimer’s

November 13th, 2012

1. Memory loss that disrupts daily life
One of the most common signs of Alzheimer’s is memory loss, especially forgetting recently learned information. Others include forgetting important dates or events; asking for the same information over and over; relying on memory aides (e.g. reminder notes or electronic devices) or family members for things they used to handle on their own.

What’s a typical age-related change? Sometimes forgetting names or appointments, but remembering them later.

2. Challenges in planning or solving problems
Some people may experience changes in their ability to develop and follow a plan or work with numbers. They may have trouble following a familiar recipe or keeping track of monthly bills. They may have difficulty concentrating and take much longer to do things than they did before.

What’s a typical age-related change? Making occasional errors when balancing a checkbook.

Read More…

Preparing for Winter Weather

October 23rd, 2012

In the event of severe winter weather, it is crucial to have storm plan in place. Here are some steps to keep you and your loved ones safe.

  • Stay indoors. Tune into the radio or your favorite TV news station for all of the latest weather updates.
  • Always implement fire safety. Be mindful of electric appliances, heating vents, outlets and cords. Always use fireplaces and wood stoves in well ventilated area, and be careful or flames or having objects near the fireplace that could catch fire. Always have a fire extinguisher handy and know how to use it.
  • Layers! Wear layers of loose fitting clothes to preserve body heat, and remove a layer if you start feeling too warm. Wear socks to prevent heat loss, cover up with a blanket, and even wear a cap if you are feeling cold.  Remove any clothing that becomes wet and replace it with dry clothing.
  • Stay hydrated and eat regularly. Your body needs food and water for energy and to help you stay warm.
  • Talk to your doctor about all of the medications you are currently taking and follow his/her instructions regarding dosing.
  • The elderly do not tolerate cold conditions as well as younger individuals so keep your home no cooler than 68 degrees to avoid hypothermia.
  • Know where and how to shut off water valves. It is common for pipes to burst in severely cold temperatures.

The first step to staying safe in a winter storm is to stay inside. But, if you must go outside, use caution and protect yourself from frostbite.

  • More layers! This means coats, hats, scarves and gloves. Do not remain in the cold more than 30 minutes. Take a break, go inside and warm up before go back out again.
  • Don’t break a leg! Avoid any icy or slippery surfaces. Apply rock salt to walkways to melt ice and avoid slip and fall injuries.
  • If you suspect frostbite, contact your physician immediately as it could develop into a life threatening situation.
  • If you must travel, do not travel alone, and let someone know where you are going and the route you plan to take.

In times of crisis, it’s always best to have a plan. It’s also smart to have a disaster kit to help you through the storm. Here is FEMA’s complete List of Items for a Winter Storm Preparedness Kit: http://www.ready.gov/winter-weather

We hope that all of these things will help you remain safe in the winter months.

Resource:

FEMA: Before Winter Storms and Extreme Cold.  http://www.ready.gov/winter-weather

Recognizing the Differences Between Depression and Dementia in the Elderly

October 7th, 2012

The elderly are at risk for depression and in America, some 6 million seniors will be diagnosed. Risk factors include lack of social support, living alone, and illness- long term or terminal. Commonly those suffering from Alzheimer’s related dementia are more likely to develop depression, as well as those suffering from Parkinson’s, heart disease, cancer or stroke. At Regency Home Care, a large percentage of our client base are individuals suffering from Alzheimer’s and dementia. We are constantly working to provide the highest possible level of care for our clients. One way we do this is by providing useful tips and information to our clients, caregivers and family members.

Research shows that there is a link between Alzheimer’s and depression, though we still do not fully understand all the ways in which these two issues are related.  While 40-50% of those suffering from Alzheimer’s will exhibit symptoms of depression, some of these symptoms are similar to those of dementia. When attempting to ascertain if a senior is suffering depression or dementia, experts in geriatric psychiatry observe five distinct areas when making a determination.

Memory: A common symptom of depression is inability to concentrate and occasional forgetfulness which often further aggravates the person’s mood while those with Alzheimer’s are consistently unable to store new information (Short Term Memory Loss) due to loss of brain cells.

Orientation: Someone who is depressed is generally alert to his/her surroundings, with whom they are speaking, time and place; those with dementia are often confused about any or all of these things.

Use of Language: Someone who is depressed, though lethargic sounding at times, still has command of their language skills. Someone with Alzheimer’s will often display “word finding” struggles or use “word substitution” when searching for the name of a once familiar object.

Familiar Objects: Someone with depression, though they may appear withdrawn or disinterested, still recalls the names of everyday objects and how to use them where the Alzheimer’s patient will often find difficulty in performing a certain task such as operating the microwave oven or tying their shoes. The term for this is apraxia- difficulty remembering how to perform a previously learned tasks or performing the steps in the wrong order.

Negativity: Depressed people often behave or react negatively to things, predict the outcome of an event will be bad, or will display a sense of failure over events. Conversely, someone with Alzheimer’s may attempt to make excuses for how something turned out, creating excuses for their lapses in memory or word loss.

If someone you love is suffering from depression, or Alzheimer’s related dementia, please contact your health care provider for treatment options. At Regency Home Care, our CNAs provide kind and caring support for your loved ones that not only benefits our clients by improving their quality of life but also affords family members a much needed breather from the challenges of caring for a loved one with a long-term health problem.

October 7, 2012

Resources:

http://www.health.com/health/condition-article/0,,20188947,00.html

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0004944/

http://www.medicinenet.com/depression_in_the_elderly/article.htm

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001521.htm

Six Subtle Signs Indicating More Care at Home May Be Needed

September 13th, 2012

As eyesight diminishes, mobility falters or memory fades it’s not easy to admit you may need help, and when it comes to personal care needs, it can become even more difficult. Couple this with a fear of losing your independence and it isn’t hard to imagine why many seniors keep their needs to themselves. This is why watching for signs that could indicate extra assistance is needed oftentimes falls on family, friends, or advisers. If there is a frail senior in your life that you suspect may be hiding a home care need, take note of the following:

1. Has there been a noticeable weight loss?
2. Has personal hygiene and general appearance been deteriorating?
3. Is the home no longer being neatly maintained?
4. Does the senior seem safe in the home and in good spirits?
5. Is the senior having increased difficulty getting around?
6. Has the senior been exhibiting forgetfulness or inappropriate behavior?

Changes Related to Aging

August 11th, 2012

Contrary to popular belief, most American seniors live independently while maintaining strong relationships with family and friends. Their personalities remain relatively stable throughout their lives. Depression occurs less in un-institutionalized seniors than among young adults.

Normal age related changes do occur. These may include:

  • Hearing impairment
  • Failing vision
  • Osteoporosis
  • Increased likelihood of arthritis, diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension

Mental process changes:

  • The speed at which information is processed
  • Speed of responding to changes in the environment
  • Long term memory decline
  • Articulation (word-finding ability) declines

Read More…