Today I received a call from Carol in East Brunswick, NJ asking about Nursing home care for her 86 year old Mom who lives alone in a two story home in Camden County NJ. Her Mother has Parkinson’s disease, needs assistance with medications and due to a recent fall and hospitalization, some help with dressing and bathing. Carol was pleased to learn that there were several excellent assisted living communities near her in Cherry Hill, NJ that provide not only that type of care, but that assisted living cost is nearly half that of nursing homes care.
Assited living is ideal for people needing help throughout the day, but don’t require the intensive supervision and skilled nursing care that nursing homes provide. Residents in assisted living are encouraged to do as much as possible on their own and are surrounded by others who are still fairly independent so residents in assisted living tend to remain healthier, more involved and active than seniors who enter long term care facilities prematurely.
Alzheimer’s is a disease that destroys brain cells and causes problems with thinking, language and behavior. It is a progressive disease and is the 6th leading cause of death in the United States. There is no known cure for Alzheimer’s but promising new treatments are on the horizon. Until a cure is found,families across the world are dealing with and seeking care for parents with Alzheimer’s. Some senior assistance is provided in the home whole many are also provided in assisted living facilities.
September 21st is World Alzheimer’s Day. This is a day when the Alzheimer’s Association and other organizations around the world unite efforts to spread awareness about Alzheimer’s and its effect on Alzheimer’s sufferers and their families, and to raise funds. The first World Alzheimer’s Day was on September 21, 1994.
There are several things each of us can do this year on World Alzheimer’s Day. The Alzheimer’s Association is suggesting one or more of the following ideas:
1. Write Congress-your voice matters. Tell lawmakers to increase research funding.
2. Casual for a Cause-Employers can encourage employees to dress down on World Alzheimer’s Day for a small donation(usually $50 to the Alzheimer’s Association. Free kits are available to employers through the Alzheimer’s Association.
3. Tailgate to Tackle Alzheimer’s-You and your friends can tailgate to support your team and collect donations for the Alzheimer’s Association. You can tailgate at a stadium, local sports bar, or even in your own living room. Get a free Tailgate to Tackle kit from the Alzheimer’s Association.
4. Shop for the Cause-Visit the Alheimer’s Association website and shop online for apparel and other Alzheimer’s related products to show your support and raise funds for research programs and Alzheimer’s care.
5. Memory Walk-Join or create a team in your area for the annual Memory Walk to raise funds for Alzheimer’s research. This year’s goal is to form 30,000 teams. There are currently 21,155 teams formed. Visit the Alheimer’s website for more information on joining or creating your own team.
The term hospice is rooted in the idea of offering “hospitality” such as shelter and a place to rest, to sick and weary travelers. It became a term applied to specialized care for dying patients in 1967 by Dame Cicely Saunders at St. Christopher’s Hospice in London.
The philosophy of hospice to accept death as the final stage of life. Hospice care today offers help to people during the last phases of an incurable disease so that they can live as comfortably as possible.
Hospice care treats the patient, not the disease and focuses on quality of life rather than quantity. In addition to caring for the patient, hospice involves the family members, providing support and involvement in making decisions.
The services of hospice are provided through a team approach. The hospice team consists of professionals and volunteers. Core services provided include medical, nursing, counseling and social services. In addition, necessary medication and medical equipment are provided. The medical staff provides direct care to the patient and they teach the family to care for the patient between visits if care is provided in the patient’s home. Home health services provide the bathing, toileting and household chores related to the patient. The role of the social worker is to provide the emotional support needed by the patient and the family. Clergy provide spiritual services. Hospice volunteers are available to provide companionship to the patient and give the family support, while others volunteer their time in the office or for fundraising.
The overwhelming majority of hospice patients receive personal care in their homes. Other patients may use a hospital-based hospice service. Some hospitals have a designated hospice unit while others have hospice caregivers visit and care for the patient on any of the nursing units within the hospital , long term care facility, or assisted living facility.
The biggest myth about hospice is that people believe hospice is for people who haven given up or that there’s no hope. By believing these myths, people are depriving themselves of the care and support that improves the quality of life with hospice. Many family members that provide care for parent orcare for a loved one on hospice view their efforts as one final gift to their loved one.
Finding elderly in home care can be very stress full not only for the senior in need of care, but also for their familiy. Caregivers are expected to be strong and healthy, but what happens if the caregiver gets sick? As the the director of a business that assists families to find care for their loved ones, I can always tell when a caregiver who is calling is at a breaking point and in desperate need of senior in home care. Their voices are very stressed and they are almost in a panic. Often, as they describe their situation, I can hear the tears welling up inside of them. Unfortunately, some people wait too long and the stress of being a caregiver has already taken its toll, but it does not have to be that way.
If you are the primary caregiver of a person with Alzheimer’s,dementia,or other serious illness, you need to be very careful not to let the situation overwhelm you. While this sounds easier said than done, there are steps you can take to prevent burnout. Here are a few points that can help.
1.Look for help. Allow others to help and don’t feel that you have to be the one to do everything. There are numerous ways to get help for your loved one depending on your needs,location and financial situation. Here are a few:
a. Contact the Office on Aging and ask about respite programs. Most counties have programs that will pay for a limited number of hours of home care services, free of charge. These types of programs are designed to give you a break and allow you to get out of the house.
b. If your loved one qualifies for Medicaid, there may be programs available which would pay for either home care or adult day care services.
c. If your loved one has a serious illness, consider using hospice. You don’t have to wait until the illness is at the ends stages to get help.
d.Ask relative or close friends to help you out.
2.Get some exercise. Exercise can help you reduce stress, keep your body strong, strengthen your immune system and simply make you feel good. Some of the best exercises are walking or biking. These are easy to do, get your heart rate into the aerobic zone, burn calories and give you a chance to clear your head. Some excellent mind/body exercises include yoga, tai chi and Qi gong. Make time to exercise and you will reap the rewards.
3.Eat well.Like exercise, eating a well balanced diet helps you feel good, helps avoid being sick and gives you the energy you need to be a caregiver.
4.Learn relaxation techniques.Deep breathing, meditation and some of the mind/body exercises mentioned above can be tremendously helpful. An easy breathing technique is to inhale through your nose for a count of four,filling your belly with air, not your chest.Hold your breath for a count of seven and then exhale through your mouth for a count of eight.This can really help calm the nerves when practiced regularly.
5.Get an adequate amount of sleep.The fastest way to get run down is never getting enough sleep. If you find you are caring for your loved one at night, try to hire a person for overnight if this is possible. If you have siblings, ask them to chip in financially if they are not able to share some of the actual hands-on care.
While it can be very difficult to do many of the suggestions listed above, you must understant that if you get run down and sick, the problem is greatly magnified. You must be firm in demanding time to care for yourself and most importantly, you must not feel guilty. You are doing a great and honorable thing by being a caregiver, but it must not completely take over your life.
If you don’t know where to turn, consider hiring a professional geriatric care manager. While they can be a bit costly, it is often money well spent, as their years of experience are focused on helping seniors and their families when in need.
The elderly receiving senior at home care need to take extra caution when dealing with high temperatures of summer. The fact that a senior is receiving care at home means they need a little extra attention. The National Institute on Aging (NIA), part of the National Institutes of Health, has some advice for helping older people avoid heat-related illnesses, known collectively as hyperthermia, during the summer months. Hyperthermia can include heat stroke, heat fatigue, heat syncope (sudden dizziness after exercising in the heat), heat cramps and heat exhaustion. The risk for hyperthermia is a combination of the outside temperature along with the general health and lifestyle of the individual.
Health-related factors that may increase risk include:
• Age-related changes to the skin such as poor blood circulation and inefficient sweat glands.
• Heart, lung and kidney diseases, as well as any illness that causes general weakness or fever.
• High blood pressure or other conditions that require changes in diet. For example, people on salt-restricted diets may increase their risk. However, salt pills should not be used without first consulting a doctor.
• The inability to perspire caused by medications such as diuretics, sedatives, tranquilizers and certain heart and blood pressure drugs.
• Taking several drugs for various conditions. It is important, however, to continue to take prescribed medication and discuss possible problems with a physician.
• Being substantially overweight or underweight.
• Drinking alcoholic beverages.
• Being dehydrated
Heat stroke is an advanced form of hyperthermia that occurs when the body is overwhelmed by heat and unable to control its temperature. Someone with a body temperature above 104 degrees is likely suffering from heat stroke and may have symptoms of confusion, combativeness, strong rapid pulse, lack of sweating, dry flushed skin, faintness, staggering, possible delirium or coma. Because seniors receiving at home care may already have some of these symptoms, it can be difficult to determine that heat is affecting them. Seek immediate medical attention for a person with any of these symptoms, especially an older adult.
If you suspect that someone is suffering from a heat-related illness:
• Get the person out of the sun and into an air-conditioned or other cool place.
• Offer fluids such as water, fruit and vegetable juices, but avoid alcohol and caffeine.
• Encourage the individual to shower, bathe or sponge off with cool water.
• Apply a cold, wet cloth to the wrists, neck, armpits, and/or groin, places where blood passes close to the surface and the cold cloths can help cool the blood.
• Urge the person to lie down and rest, preferably in a cool place.
Seniors are especially prone to complications related to exposure to excessive heat. Now that we are in the midst of our summer weather, seniors and their family and friends should be aware of the risks to older citizens during excessively hot weather. You may hear that a “heat advisory” or “excessive heat advisory” has been issued by the national weather service. But exactly what does that means?
A Heat Advisory is issued when there is a heat index of 105 degrees Fahrenheit but less than 115 degrees Fahrenheit for less than 3 hours per day or nighttime lows above 80 degrees Fahrenheit. An Excessive Heat Warning is issued when the heat index is at least 105 degrees Fahrenheit for more than 3 hours per day for 2 consecutive days, or when the heat index is more than 115 degrees Fahrenheit for any period of time.
General symptoms of heat-induced illness include:
• increased body temperature
• extremely hot and dry skin
• strong, rapid pulse rate
• throbbing headache
• dizziness
• vomiting
• nausea
Additionally, seniors should be aware of the symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Heat Exhaustion symptoms include:
• heavy sweating
• weakness
• skin cold, pale and clammy
• weak and shallow pulse
• vomiting and fainting possible
The following are symptoms of Heat Stroke:
• high body temperature (106 degrees or higher)
• skin hot and dry
• rapid and strong pulse
• possible unconsciousness
*Heat Stroke is a Severe Medical Emergency* Seek help immediately.
Older people don’t adjust well to extreme heat. This is due to increased heat production and a lessened ability to dissipate heat. Medications can also cause an older adult to have trouble tolerating heat, therefore causing the heart to become overworked in its efforts to assist in the body’s cooling system. It’s a good idea for friends, neighbors, and relatives to check in on seniors during extreme temperatures.
Here are some tips for seniors dealing with the heat.
• Drink plenty of water. Drink 2-4 cups of fluid per hour. If you are going out, take a water bottle with you. Avoid caffeine and alcohol.
• Eat smaller, lighter meals
• Keep your home cool with air conditioning or a fan. If you don’t have air conditioning or a fan, go to a place that does such as your local senior center, mall, library, movie theater, or place of worship.
• Wear loose fitting, lightweight clothing. When outside, wear a hat and sunscreen
• Avoid exercise or exertion, especially during the hottest parts of the day.
• Be aware that some of your medications may cause greater sun sensitivity. Consult your doctor about your medications and the heat
I know very few things I’d take seriously anymore.
I would take more chances, I would take more trips.
I would scale more mountains, I would swim more rivers.
And I would watch more sunsets.
I would eat more ice cream and fewer beans.
I would have more actual troubles and fewer imaginary ones.
You see… I was one of those people who lived prophylactically and sensibly and sanely, hour after hour and day after day. Oh, I’ve had my moments, and if I had to do it all over again, I’d have many more of them. In fact, I’d try not to have anything else, just moments, one after another, instead of living so many years ahead of my day. I’ve been one of those people who never went anywhere without a thermometer, a hot water bottle, a gargle, a raincoat and a parachute. If I had it to do all over again, I’d travel lighter, much lighter than I have. I would start barefoot earlier in the spring, and stay that way later in the fall. And I would ride more merry-go-rounds, and catch more gold rings, and greet more people, and pick more flowers, and dance more often….. If I had it to do all over again, But you see, I don’t.
From the Journal of Humanistic Psychology.
By an 82-year-old man dying and accepting death.
When assisted living is the best option for the care of a parent, identifying local communities as well as the actual assisted living costs are the first steps. If your parent needs dementia care, include only those assited livings that have specialized programs and activities for residents with dementia. While most facilities will accommodate dementia and Alzheimer’s, places that have a special unit just for those residents are often better equipped to manage that population. Caregivers should have specialized training in order to provide the best care for your parent with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia diagnoses.
Once you have chosen at least four assisted living communities, call ahead and make an appointment for a tour. Allow at least 1 hour for a tour of each assisted living residence. Now narrow your choice to 2 assisted living communities that you feel can provide the best care for your parent. The accurate cost of assisted living is determined by the rent and cost of the level of care your mother or father will require. The true cost also depends on additional charges for laundry, cable and telephone. Additionally, there is an upfront fee called a community fee that can be up to one month’s rent. (Try to negotiate if possible.) The cost will vary at each assisted living community.
After you have narrowed your search, it’s time to bring your parents. Allowing them to make the decision will help in the transition to their new home in assisted living. Taking tours and understanding real assisted living costs are the beginning steps to making a good choice. CareGrade also provides free advisers to further assist you in this process. If you are not local or just need an expert resource, we are here to help.
Senior long term care options have increased exponentially as the baby boomers continue to age. This is a wonderful thing as it creates more options for seniors as they grow older. Assisted living is one area that provides senior care services and has grown in popularity. While the increased senior care options are nice, they also create a problem. How do you know which facilities provide the best care for parents?
One answer is Assisted Living Reviews. There are a few companies and individuals that perform reviews for senior long term care facilities. Geriatric care managers often do this service for their clients and often do an excellent job. The only draw back is that it can be rather expensive. CareGrade offers free assistance along with assisted living reviews for their clients to help them make an informed decision when choosing care.
If you are looking for long term care for seniors, you should consider researching the facilities and including reviews.
Caring for your aging parent can be a difficult responsibility. Knowing if and when your parent needs care is not always clear. Parenting care is not any easy process but the following list of warning signs can help you determine if it’s time for some help.
Poor grooming/hygiene- clothing soiled or changed less often, bathes less frequently.
Changes in judgment and concentration
Changes in memory-more forgetful or confused
Decrease socialization with friends and family
Loss of interest in activities that were once enjoyed
Decrease in home maintenance-poor housekeeping
Decrease in energy level/increase in fatigue
Changes to personality-withdrawn, sudden mood changes or irritability
Mishandled finances-past due bills, unopened mail
10. Changes in eating habits or a loss of appetite-outdated food in refrigerator
11. Changes to mobility-recent falls, unsteady, difficulty walking
12. Decrease in driving skills-recent accidents/near accidents
If you notice these or other significant changes to your aging parent’s status, it may be time to seek assistance. Care Grade can help you find senior care in your local area. Care Grade advisors investigate and review eldercare options such as home care, assisted living, and adult day care. They pass their findings on to you, at no cost. For more information about Care Grade, go to www.caregrade.com
