Home-Based Intervention Seems to Provide Some Benefit to Dementia Patients, Caregivers
But, did not find statistically significant differences for any outcome measure between COPE group and control group at 9 months
Aug. 31, 2010 – A program designed to improve the quality of life for home-bound dementia patients and their caregivers found some success, although caregivers perceived the greater benefits, according to a study in the September 1 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).
Among the more than 5 million persons in the United States with dementia, most live at home, and are cared for by family members. With disease progression, families increasingly provide hands-on physical assistance with activities of daily living (ADL), with this often resulting in heightened caregiver distress.
"Trials of anti-dementia medications show few if any benefits for physical function or caregiver burden and have substantial adverse effects," the authors write. "Optimal treatment to postpone functional decline in patients with dementia is not established."
The Care of Persons with Dementia in their Environments (COPE) trial was designed by Laura N. Gitlin, Ph.D., of Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, and colleagues to test a non-pharmacologic, bio-behavioral approach to support physical function and quality of life for patients with dementia and the well-being of their caregivers.
"The COPE program targeted modifiable environmental stressors to decrease sensorial, physical, and cognitive demands and align with patient capabilities and also ruled out underlying medical conditions that could lead to reduced patient functioning. The intervention sought to re-engage patients in daily activities and increase functionality, thereby alleviating caregiver burden," the researchers write.
The trial included patients with dementia and family caregivers (community-living dyads [two individuals regarded as a pair, such as a husband and wife]) who were recruited from March 2006 through June 2008. Of 284 couples screened, 270 (95 percent) were eligible and 237 (88 percent) randomized.
Data were collected from 209 couples (88 percent) at 4 months and 173 (73 percent) at 9 months.
The intervention consisted of up to 12 home or telephone contacts over 4 months by health professionals who assessed patient capabilities and deficits; obtained blood and urine samples; and trained families in home safety, simplifying tasks and stress reduction. Control group caregivers received 3 telephone calls and educational materials.
The researchers found that there were statistically significant improvements in functional dependence for COPE patients at 4 months compared with control group patients. Improvement occurred mostly for instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), and COPE patients improved slightly more in ADL functioning than controls, but this was not statistically significant. There were also small but statistically significant improvements in engagement for COPE compared with control patients.
COPE caregivers, compared with control group caregivers, reported improvement in well-being and enhanced confidence using activities. Of 112 caregivers (53.8 percent) reporting 1 or more caregiver-identified problems eliminated by 4 months, 64 (62.7 percent) were COPE caregivers and 48 (44.9 percent) were control group caregivers.
The researchers did not find statistically significant differences between the COPE group and the control group participants at 9 months for any outcome measure.
"However, COPE compared with control caregivers reported a 'great deal' of improvement in their lives overall, disease understanding, confidence managing behaviors, made life easier, ability to care for patients, patients' quality of life, and ability to keep patients home."
"Because most patients live at home with functional decline, a nonpharmacologic, biopsychosocial-environmental intervention may positively contribute to disease management. Future research needs to examine effects of underlying medical conditions, ways to boost treatment effects, cost-effectiveness, COPE in combination with pharmacologic treatments, and translational potential," the authors conclude.
http://seniorjournal.com/NEWS/Eldercare/2010/20100831-Home-BasedIntervention.htm
Friday, September 10, 2010
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Homecare After Hip Surgery in Seniors Increases Survival Rate, Study Finds
Homecare After Hip Surgery in Seniors Increases Survival Rate, Study Finds
ScienceDaily (Aug. 16, 2010) — Seniors who received home care after discharge from hospital for partial hip surgery (hemiarthroplasty) were 43% less likely to die in the three months following the procedure, found a study published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal). However, less than 16% of elderly patients discharged home after partial hip surgery in the study group received home care.
The study looked at 11,326 men and women aged 65 and older in Quebec who had partial hip surgery between 1997 and 2004. Those who were discharged with home care support were younger, more likely to have been treated in a teaching hospital and lower volume hospitals, and to have stayed more than 7 days in hospital. They were also more likely to have a trial fibrillation and acute renal failure. Men were at higher risk of death compared to women and those who stayed longer in hospital had increased survival rates.
"Comorbidity, with the exception of a trial fibrillation and acute renal failure, did not seem to influence the likelihood of receiving home care after discharge," writes Dr. Elham Rahme, researcher in epidemiology at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre with coauthors. "This indicates perhaps that receiving this care may depend on availability, rather than need of the service."
A report published by the Canadian Institute for Health Information shows that Quebec is the Canadian province that spends the least on home services but has the highest number of home care requests.
The authors conclude that their findings that homecare affects survival rates "has significant public health implications and requires further investigation."
Story Source:
The above story is reprinted (with editorial adaptations by ScienceDaily staff) from materials provided by Canadian Medical Association Journal, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.
________________
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/08/100816122134.htm
ScienceDaily (Aug. 16, 2010) — Seniors who received home care after discharge from hospital for partial hip surgery (hemiarthroplasty) were 43% less likely to die in the three months following the procedure, found a study published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal). However, less than 16% of elderly patients discharged home after partial hip surgery in the study group received home care.
The study looked at 11,326 men and women aged 65 and older in Quebec who had partial hip surgery between 1997 and 2004. Those who were discharged with home care support were younger, more likely to have been treated in a teaching hospital and lower volume hospitals, and to have stayed more than 7 days in hospital. They were also more likely to have a trial fibrillation and acute renal failure. Men were at higher risk of death compared to women and those who stayed longer in hospital had increased survival rates.
"Comorbidity, with the exception of a trial fibrillation and acute renal failure, did not seem to influence the likelihood of receiving home care after discharge," writes Dr. Elham Rahme, researcher in epidemiology at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre with coauthors. "This indicates perhaps that receiving this care may depend on availability, rather than need of the service."
A report published by the Canadian Institute for Health Information shows that Quebec is the Canadian province that spends the least on home services but has the highest number of home care requests.
The authors conclude that their findings that homecare affects survival rates "has significant public health implications and requires further investigation."
Story Source:
The above story is reprinted (with editorial adaptations by ScienceDaily staff) from materials provided by Canadian Medical Association Journal, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.
________________
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/08/100816122134.htm
Friday, August 13, 2010
Caregivers: Making the transition from hospital to home easier
By (ARA)
(ARA) - Coming home from the hospital or other care setting after an illness or surgery can be worrisome for both patients and the friends and family members who care for them. Planning ahead can make the process much easier. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has advice that is useful to the millions of Americans who are actively involved in caregiving. Through its caregiver initiative, Ask Medicare, CMS recommends the following steps to prepare for a transition:
* Plan ahead: You can - and should - start thinking about the discharge process well in advance, even as early as at the time of admission. CMS has a helpful checklist of key points in its "Planning for Your Discharge" guide, available at the "Medicare Basics" link on the home page of the Ask Medicare website at www.medicare.gov/caregivers. This checklist will help you prepare for the next steps in care.
* Get ready for new responsibilities: Talk to hospital staff about what you will need to do at home, who will show you how to properly carry out any new tasks you will be taking on, such as administering medication, using medical equipment, changing bandages or giving shots.
* Make needed changes to your home: You might need to rearrange your home to have room for items such as a hospital bed, walker or a wheelchair. You might need to consider installing a ramp in place of stairs - be sure to ask the hospital staff what will be needed. You should also remove area rugs and other items that may cause falls and group electrical cords together with ties or clips to keep them clear of high-traffic areas.
* Prepare for extra costs: The person you are caring for may need new medical services or medicines after coming home. Medicare may cover some of these costs, but not all. You can learn about services and care that are covered by Medicare at the "Help With Billing" and "Is It Covered?" links at the Ask Medicare home page.
* Keep a list of key contacts: Put contact information for doctors, pharmacists, home care agency staff and others involved in the care process where you can easily find them.
* Don't be afraid to ask for help: If you're overwhelmed, don't hesitate to ask a friend or family member to lend a hand. If paid home health services are needed, you can learn more about home health services in the "Medicare and Home Health Care" booklet, which is also accessible at the Ask Medicare home page.
It's also important to keep a file of resources on hand and to bookmark useful web sites, including Ask Medicare, the United Hospital Fund's "Next Step in Care" initiative at www.nextstepincare.org and AARP's caregiving site at www.aarp.org/caregivers. More information can be accessed through www.healthcare.gov, a new web portal offered by the Department of Health and Human Services.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
"Learn About Senior In Home Health Care in Tarpon Springs and New Port Richey Florida
Senior Helpers Provides Many services in The Tarpon Springs and New Port Richey Florida area. We provide a full array of Home Care services for seniors and the elderly living in the beautiful Suncoast area. Our Home Care Services are provided by bonded and insured employees and all employees pass a National Background check.
If you need Home Care services in Tarpon Springs, New Port Richey, Hudson, Holiday, Spring Hill, East Lake and the surrounding areas we are an excellent choice with impeccable references. Home Health Care for your elderly loved ones is never an easy choice but we can promise we will do our best to make it as painless as possible. From our family to yours we sincerely thank you for considering Senior Helpers of Tarpon Springs Home Health Care Company. "
(ARA) - Coming home from the hospital or other care setting after an illness or surgery can be worrisome for both patients and the friends and family members who care for them. Planning ahead can make the process much easier. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has advice that is useful to the millions of Americans who are actively involved in caregiving. Through its caregiver initiative, Ask Medicare, CMS recommends the following steps to prepare for a transition:
* Plan ahead: You can - and should - start thinking about the discharge process well in advance, even as early as at the time of admission. CMS has a helpful checklist of key points in its "Planning for Your Discharge" guide, available at the "Medicare Basics" link on the home page of the Ask Medicare website at www.medicare.gov/caregivers. This checklist will help you prepare for the next steps in care.
* Get ready for new responsibilities: Talk to hospital staff about what you will need to do at home, who will show you how to properly carry out any new tasks you will be taking on, such as administering medication, using medical equipment, changing bandages or giving shots.
* Make needed changes to your home: You might need to rearrange your home to have room for items such as a hospital bed, walker or a wheelchair. You might need to consider installing a ramp in place of stairs - be sure to ask the hospital staff what will be needed. You should also remove area rugs and other items that may cause falls and group electrical cords together with ties or clips to keep them clear of high-traffic areas.
* Prepare for extra costs: The person you are caring for may need new medical services or medicines after coming home. Medicare may cover some of these costs, but not all. You can learn about services and care that are covered by Medicare at the "Help With Billing" and "Is It Covered?" links at the Ask Medicare home page.
* Keep a list of key contacts: Put contact information for doctors, pharmacists, home care agency staff and others involved in the care process where you can easily find them.
* Don't be afraid to ask for help: If you're overwhelmed, don't hesitate to ask a friend or family member to lend a hand. If paid home health services are needed, you can learn more about home health services in the "Medicare and Home Health Care" booklet, which is also accessible at the Ask Medicare home page.
It's also important to keep a file of resources on hand and to bookmark useful web sites, including Ask Medicare, the United Hospital Fund's "Next Step in Care" initiative at www.nextstepincare.org and AARP's caregiving site at www.aarp.org/caregivers. More information can be accessed through www.healthcare.gov, a new web portal offered by the Department of Health and Human Services.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
"Learn About Senior In Home Health Care in Tarpon Springs and New Port Richey Florida
Senior Helpers Provides Many services in The Tarpon Springs and New Port Richey Florida area. We provide a full array of Home Care services for seniors and the elderly living in the beautiful Suncoast area. Our Home Care Services are provided by bonded and insured employees and all employees pass a National Background check.
If you need Home Care services in Tarpon Springs, New Port Richey, Hudson, Holiday, Spring Hill, East Lake and the surrounding areas we are an excellent choice with impeccable references. Home Health Care for your elderly loved ones is never an easy choice but we can promise we will do our best to make it as painless as possible. From our family to yours we sincerely thank you for considering Senior Helpers of Tarpon Springs Home Health Care Company. "
Friday, July 30, 2010
Cuts in Home Care Put Elderly and Disabled at Risk
Cuts in Home Care Put Elderly and Disabled at Risk
Leah Nash for The New York Times
In Portland, Ore., Ken Poe, above, says he could not afford to pay his home aides on his Social Security income. More Photos »
By JOHN LELAND
Published: July 16, 2010
HILLSBORO, Ore. — As states face severe budget shortfalls, many have cut home-care services for the elderly or the disabled, programs that have been shown to save states money in the long run because they keep people out of nursing homes.
Since the start of the recession, at least 25 states and the District of Columbia have curtailed programs that include meal deliveries, housekeeping aid and assistance for family caregivers, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a research organization. That threatens to reverse a long-term trend of enabling people to stay in their homes longer.
For Afton England, who lives in a trailer home here, the news came in a letter last week: Oregon, facing a $577 million deficit, was cutting home aides to more than 4,500 low-income residents, including her. Ms. England, 65, has diabetes, spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease, arthritis and other health problems that prevent her from walking or standing for more than a few minutes at a time.
Through a state program, she has received 45 hours of assistance a month to help her bathe, prepare meals, clean her house and shop. The program had helped make Oregon a model for helping older and disabled people remain in their homes.
But state legislators say home care is a service the state can no longer afford. Cuts affecting an additional 10,500 people are scheduled for Oct. 1.
“They yanked the rug out from underneath us,” said Ms. England, who lives on $802 a month from Social Security. “I’m scared. I’m petrified. I can’t function on my own. I took care of my husband for eight years. Already I’ve given up many of my freedoms. Now they’ve taken our dignity. I’d like them to try living in my body for a week.”
Her case manager, Brandi Lemke, shook her head. “This is not saving any money,” she said.
Ms. Lemke said she feared that Ms. England would “end up in the hospital because of the diabetes” and be in assisted living by the end of the year. “If she takes a fall,” Ms. Lemke said, “she may require more than assisted living can handle.”
Nursing homes here cost the state an average of $5,900 a month; home and community-based services cost $1,500 a month.
Other states have made similar cuts:
¶Florida placed 69,000 people on waiting lists for home or community services last year, and more than 5,700 of them ended up in Medicaid nursing homes.
¶Alabama cut housekeeping services — useful for people who can no longer do some cleaning tasks — for more than 1,000 elderly residents.
¶Arizona sliced independent living supports and respite programs for family caregivers.
¶Kansas, with a $131 million shortfall, will cut independent-living services for 2,800 people with disabilities in the next year.
In Illinois, providers of Meals on Wheels have stopped adding clients because the state was not reimbursing them.
“I’m not getting a cost-of-living adjustment, and now I’m not getting food,” said Joyce Plennert, 83, who is on a waiting list for Meals on Wheels in Palatine, Ill. “Now I’m worried my home services will be cut. Without that, I’d be in a nursing home, if I could find one with room.”
Colorado, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New York and Texas have all made cuts or frozen spending at a time when the elderly population — and the need for services — is growing.
In California, which faces a budget shortfall of $19.1 billion for the 2010-11 fiscal year, Gov.Arnold Schwarzenegger’s office proposed eliminating adult day health care centers that serve 45,000 people and in-home supportive services that help more than 400,000 elderly, disabled or blind residents. The Legislature rejected these cuts but has not yet produced an alternative budget. The state already cut Alzheimer’s day care centers and assistance for caregivers.
Because Medicaid regulations require states to provide nursing home care to receive federal Medicaid money, legislators often have more leeway to cut from home services. Advocates for the elderly and the disabled worry that these cuts are just the beginning, because state ledgers tend to recover more slowly than the national economy.
“The situation is grim, and it’s safe to say that present trends are expected to continue,” said JoAnn Lamphere, the director of state government relations for health and long-term care for AARP. “Nearly every state has proposed cuts of some sort to Medicaid. Some might seem small, but it’s death by a thousand slashes.”
The cuts in Oregon have been particularly painful to people who work with the elderly, because for more than three decades the state has been a leader in rebalancing long-term care away from nursing facilities and toward the home. The cuts here indicate how fragile these services can be against states’ needs to reduce spending.
“I’m seeing in a matter of months 30 years of work go down the drain,” said Donald Bruland, the director of senior and disability services for the Rogue Valley Council of Governments.
The state spends more than half its Medicaid long-term-care dollars on home care and has a separate $13 million program for people who do not qualify for Medicaid; on average, states spend just 25 percent of their long-term-care budgets on home and community-based care.
Bruce Goldberg, director of the Oregon Department of Human Services, said the agency did not have an estimate for how many of the people losing home care would end up in assisted-living facilities or in nursing homes — or, if they did, how the state would pay for them.
“We’re in new territory,” Dr. Goldberg said. “Long-term care is a cobbled-together system with many holes, and they just got deeper.”
Last week, the Oregon legislature’s emergency board scheduled a session for Thursday to reconsider some of the cuts.
In Portland, Ken Poe, 66, requires assistance because of polio, which he got when he was 9. He has little muscle strength and requires oxygen constantly. The state provides 20 hours of care a month in his home.
Mr. Poe, a former pilot and flight instructor, lives as independently as he can, he said — he still drives, though he needs help getting to and from his car — but said he could not afford to pay his aides on the $1,300 a month he gets from Social Security. He often borrows money from a home credit line at the end of the month. Because of severe osteoporosis, he worries about falling in the shower without an aide.
“There are times when I’m struggling to get to the kitchen when I wonder how much longer I can do this,” he said. “But this is my comfort zone. It may look like a mess” — he gestured to cardboard boxes filling the living room — “but the boxes are my system for getting around. Moving to an assisted-living facility would bring on a depression.”
For states, having to cut the Medicaid programs is a double loss, because they come with matching dollars from the federal government. This creates state jobs and much-needed revenue.
Without these, said James A. Davis, a gerontologist at Marylhurst University and executive director of United Seniors of Oregon, “it really is a death spiral.”
“So often the programs to go are the early interventions that save money and keep people healthy,” Professor Davis said. “That comes back to bite you.”
Leah Nash for The New York Times
In Portland, Ore., Ken Poe, above, says he could not afford to pay his home aides on his Social Security income. More Photos »
By JOHN LELAND
Published: July 16, 2010
HILLSBORO, Ore. — As states face severe budget shortfalls, many have cut home-care services for the elderly or the disabled, programs that have been shown to save states money in the long run because they keep people out of nursing homes.
Since the start of the recession, at least 25 states and the District of Columbia have curtailed programs that include meal deliveries, housekeeping aid and assistance for family caregivers, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a research organization. That threatens to reverse a long-term trend of enabling people to stay in their homes longer.
For Afton England, who lives in a trailer home here, the news came in a letter last week: Oregon, facing a $577 million deficit, was cutting home aides to more than 4,500 low-income residents, including her. Ms. England, 65, has diabetes, spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease, arthritis and other health problems that prevent her from walking or standing for more than a few minutes at a time.
Through a state program, she has received 45 hours of assistance a month to help her bathe, prepare meals, clean her house and shop. The program had helped make Oregon a model for helping older and disabled people remain in their homes.
But state legislators say home care is a service the state can no longer afford. Cuts affecting an additional 10,500 people are scheduled for Oct. 1.
“They yanked the rug out from underneath us,” said Ms. England, who lives on $802 a month from Social Security. “I’m scared. I’m petrified. I can’t function on my own. I took care of my husband for eight years. Already I’ve given up many of my freedoms. Now they’ve taken our dignity. I’d like them to try living in my body for a week.”
Her case manager, Brandi Lemke, shook her head. “This is not saving any money,” she said.
Ms. Lemke said she feared that Ms. England would “end up in the hospital because of the diabetes” and be in assisted living by the end of the year. “If she takes a fall,” Ms. Lemke said, “she may require more than assisted living can handle.”
Nursing homes here cost the state an average of $5,900 a month; home and community-based services cost $1,500 a month.
Other states have made similar cuts:
¶Florida placed 69,000 people on waiting lists for home or community services last year, and more than 5,700 of them ended up in Medicaid nursing homes.
¶Alabama cut housekeeping services — useful for people who can no longer do some cleaning tasks — for more than 1,000 elderly residents.
¶Arizona sliced independent living supports and respite programs for family caregivers.
¶Kansas, with a $131 million shortfall, will cut independent-living services for 2,800 people with disabilities in the next year.
In Illinois, providers of Meals on Wheels have stopped adding clients because the state was not reimbursing them.
“I’m not getting a cost-of-living adjustment, and now I’m not getting food,” said Joyce Plennert, 83, who is on a waiting list for Meals on Wheels in Palatine, Ill. “Now I’m worried my home services will be cut. Without that, I’d be in a nursing home, if I could find one with room.”
Colorado, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New York and Texas have all made cuts or frozen spending at a time when the elderly population — and the need for services — is growing.
In California, which faces a budget shortfall of $19.1 billion for the 2010-11 fiscal year, Gov.Arnold Schwarzenegger’s office proposed eliminating adult day health care centers that serve 45,000 people and in-home supportive services that help more than 400,000 elderly, disabled or blind residents. The Legislature rejected these cuts but has not yet produced an alternative budget. The state already cut Alzheimer’s day care centers and assistance for caregivers.
Because Medicaid regulations require states to provide nursing home care to receive federal Medicaid money, legislators often have more leeway to cut from home services. Advocates for the elderly and the disabled worry that these cuts are just the beginning, because state ledgers tend to recover more slowly than the national economy.
“The situation is grim, and it’s safe to say that present trends are expected to continue,” said JoAnn Lamphere, the director of state government relations for health and long-term care for AARP. “Nearly every state has proposed cuts of some sort to Medicaid. Some might seem small, but it’s death by a thousand slashes.”
The cuts in Oregon have been particularly painful to people who work with the elderly, because for more than three decades the state has been a leader in rebalancing long-term care away from nursing facilities and toward the home. The cuts here indicate how fragile these services can be against states’ needs to reduce spending.
“I’m seeing in a matter of months 30 years of work go down the drain,” said Donald Bruland, the director of senior and disability services for the Rogue Valley Council of Governments.
The state spends more than half its Medicaid long-term-care dollars on home care and has a separate $13 million program for people who do not qualify for Medicaid; on average, states spend just 25 percent of their long-term-care budgets on home and community-based care.
Bruce Goldberg, director of the Oregon Department of Human Services, said the agency did not have an estimate for how many of the people losing home care would end up in assisted-living facilities or in nursing homes — or, if they did, how the state would pay for them.
“We’re in new territory,” Dr. Goldberg said. “Long-term care is a cobbled-together system with many holes, and they just got deeper.”
Last week, the Oregon legislature’s emergency board scheduled a session for Thursday to reconsider some of the cuts.
In Portland, Ken Poe, 66, requires assistance because of polio, which he got when he was 9. He has little muscle strength and requires oxygen constantly. The state provides 20 hours of care a month in his home.
Mr. Poe, a former pilot and flight instructor, lives as independently as he can, he said — he still drives, though he needs help getting to and from his car — but said he could not afford to pay his aides on the $1,300 a month he gets from Social Security. He often borrows money from a home credit line at the end of the month. Because of severe osteoporosis, he worries about falling in the shower without an aide.
“There are times when I’m struggling to get to the kitchen when I wonder how much longer I can do this,” he said. “But this is my comfort zone. It may look like a mess” — he gestured to cardboard boxes filling the living room — “but the boxes are my system for getting around. Moving to an assisted-living facility would bring on a depression.”
For states, having to cut the Medicaid programs is a double loss, because they come with matching dollars from the federal government. This creates state jobs and much-needed revenue.
Without these, said James A. Davis, a gerontologist at Marylhurst University and executive director of United Seniors of Oregon, “it really is a death spiral.”
“So often the programs to go are the early interventions that save money and keep people healthy,” Professor Davis said. “That comes back to bite you.”
Friday, July 23, 2010
Emergency Checklist for Seniors and Their Caregivers
How to be prepared for a crisis
Ronnie Friedland
Care.com editor
We hope we'll never need the information, but if there is an emergency with your elderly parent or relative, having this checklist readily available will make your life easier.
Health emergencies with our elders can often become complicated by the sheer number of medications, doctors, insurance coverage and degree of chronic or acute illness(es) involved. Below is a comprehensive list of information and documents to keep on hand, so you'll be prepared.
Senior Care Emergency Checklist
* Doctors' names, their specialties and phone numbers.
* List of all medications being taken and what the prescriptions are for (be sure to keep the information updated -- as the medications may change frequently).
* Medical insurance and prescription plans and identification numbers.
* Social security number -- many insurance companies won't talk to anyone without the patient's social security number.
* Durable power of attorney -- a legal document that gives someone the authority to handle legal and financial issues if your parent or elderly relative becomes incapacitated.
* Health care proxy -- a legal document that gives someone the authority to make medical decisions for your parent or elderly relative.
* Specification of your elderly parent's or relative's wishes about resuscitation orders. Do you know their wishes? Knowing this information before a crisis can be crucial to the way in which you handle the crisis.
* Basic financial records -- a list of assets, account numbers, names and contact information for financial advisors or bank representative.
* Names and addresses of people to notify in case of an emergency -- such as children, grandchildren, close friends and neighbors who might be able to help out.
* Names and contact information for local clergy, if your parent or elderly relative has a preferred religious affiliation.
This information should be placed in the home in an easy-to-find location, such as near the phone in the kitchen, or in another commonly used area, as well as given to another family member or friend who agrees to keep a copy of the information for you.
http://www.care.com/senior-care-emergency-checklist-for-seniors-and-their-caregivers-p1017-q14552.html
"Learn About Senior In Home Health Care in Tarpon Springs and New Port Richey Florida
Senior Helpers Provides Many services in The Tarpon Springs and New Port Richey Florida area. We provide a full array of Home Care services for seniors and the elderly living in the beautiful Suncoast area. Our Home Care Services are provided by bonded and insured employees and all employees pass a National Background check.
If you need Home Care services in Tarpon Springs, New Port Richey, Hudson, Holiday, Spring Hill, East Lake and the surrounding areas we are an excellent choice with impeccable references. Home Health Care for your elderly loved ones is never an easy choice but we can promise we will do our best to make it as painless as possible. From our family to yours we sincerely thank you for considering Senior Helpers of Tarpon Springs Home Health Care Company."
Ronnie Friedland
Care.com editor
We hope we'll never need the information, but if there is an emergency with your elderly parent or relative, having this checklist readily available will make your life easier.
Health emergencies with our elders can often become complicated by the sheer number of medications, doctors, insurance coverage and degree of chronic or acute illness(es) involved. Below is a comprehensive list of information and documents to keep on hand, so you'll be prepared.
Senior Care Emergency Checklist
* Doctors' names, their specialties and phone numbers.
* List of all medications being taken and what the prescriptions are for (be sure to keep the information updated -- as the medications may change frequently).
* Medical insurance and prescription plans and identification numbers.
* Social security number -- many insurance companies won't talk to anyone without the patient's social security number.
* Durable power of attorney -- a legal document that gives someone the authority to handle legal and financial issues if your parent or elderly relative becomes incapacitated.
* Health care proxy -- a legal document that gives someone the authority to make medical decisions for your parent or elderly relative.
* Specification of your elderly parent's or relative's wishes about resuscitation orders. Do you know their wishes? Knowing this information before a crisis can be crucial to the way in which you handle the crisis.
* Basic financial records -- a list of assets, account numbers, names and contact information for financial advisors or bank representative.
* Names and addresses of people to notify in case of an emergency -- such as children, grandchildren, close friends and neighbors who might be able to help out.
* Names and contact information for local clergy, if your parent or elderly relative has a preferred religious affiliation.
This information should be placed in the home in an easy-to-find location, such as near the phone in the kitchen, or in another commonly used area, as well as given to another family member or friend who agrees to keep a copy of the information for you.
http://www.care.com/senior-care-emergency-checklist-for-seniors-and-their-caregivers-p1017-q14552.html
"Learn About Senior In Home Health Care in Tarpon Springs and New Port Richey Florida
Senior Helpers Provides Many services in The Tarpon Springs and New Port Richey Florida area. We provide a full array of Home Care services for seniors and the elderly living in the beautiful Suncoast area. Our Home Care Services are provided by bonded and insured employees and all employees pass a National Background check.
If you need Home Care services in Tarpon Springs, New Port Richey, Hudson, Holiday, Spring Hill, East Lake and the surrounding areas we are an excellent choice with impeccable references. Home Health Care for your elderly loved ones is never an easy choice but we can promise we will do our best to make it as painless as possible. From our family to yours we sincerely thank you for considering Senior Helpers of Tarpon Springs Home Health Care Company."
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Beat the Heat
Record Heat Has Families Making ‘Summer Survival Kits’ for Seniors
Senior care experts advise families to protect elderly from summer health dangers
(July 6, 2010) – For most of us, record summer heat means little more than higher cooling bills and more time at the pool – but for aging seniors living on their own, the consequences are far more serious. The summer heat is already taking its toll, and this is just the start of the season.
That’s why the senior care experts from Senior Helpers, the nation’s fastest growing in-home senior care provider, are advising families to protect aging relatives by putting together a simple Senior Summer Survival Kit. These kits are an easy, inexpensive way to make sure elderly loved ones have what they need to stay safe and comfortable during hot summer days – especially when family members may be off on vacation.
“Whether seniors are traveling themselves or staying on their own while the rest of the family is out of town, it’s absolutely vital that aging family members have the resources to be safe, happy and healthy,” says Peter Ross, CEO and co-founder of Senior Helpers. “Seniors are far more susceptible to health problems related to summer heat than any other demographic. Taking the time to prepare one of these kits to make sure loved ones have the essentials they need can make all the difference in preventing a serious situation.”
Quick Facts – Why is Heat Dangerous for Seniors?
The amount of water retained by the body decreases substantially with age.
As a result, seniors are at far greater risk of heat-related health problems such as heat stroke, heat exhaustion, severe sunburn and dehydration.
What’s in the ‘Senior Summer Survival Kit?’
Reusable water bottle to maintain hydration
Copies of all prescriptions and health insurance cards
Phone numbers of health care providers and information concerning chronic health problems
Sunscreen, at least SPF 30, to prevent serious burns
Multivitamins to keep the immune systems strong
Battery operated/hand-held fan in case of power outages and extreme heat
The Senior Summer Survival Kit can be easily purchased and assembled for under $25 in less than 15 minutes.
Most heat-related issues for seniors can be avoided through simple planning and precaution. When it’s unbearably hot outside for you and your kids, it’s downright dangerous for seniors. Take a few minutes and make sure that mom, dad and any other senior family members have everything they need to be safe this summer. A few minutes of planning and a quick trip to the drug store can make all the difference.
About Senior Helpers:
Senior Helpers connects professional caregivers with seniors who wish to live at home as opposed to a nursing or assisted living facility. The company has 300 franchises in 42 states and one in Canada offering a wide range of personal and companion care services to assist seniors living independently with a strong focus on quality of life for the client and peace of mind for their families. Senior Helpers strives to be the leading companion and personal care provider that offers dependable, consistent and affordable home care. For more information, please visit www.seniorhelpers.com.
Senior Helpers Vancouver, 135-555 W. 12th Ave, Vancouver BC. 604-568-7086
Senior care experts advise families to protect elderly from summer health dangers
(July 6, 2010) – For most of us, record summer heat means little more than higher cooling bills and more time at the pool – but for aging seniors living on their own, the consequences are far more serious. The summer heat is already taking its toll, and this is just the start of the season.
That’s why the senior care experts from Senior Helpers, the nation’s fastest growing in-home senior care provider, are advising families to protect aging relatives by putting together a simple Senior Summer Survival Kit. These kits are an easy, inexpensive way to make sure elderly loved ones have what they need to stay safe and comfortable during hot summer days – especially when family members may be off on vacation.
“Whether seniors are traveling themselves or staying on their own while the rest of the family is out of town, it’s absolutely vital that aging family members have the resources to be safe, happy and healthy,” says Peter Ross, CEO and co-founder of Senior Helpers. “Seniors are far more susceptible to health problems related to summer heat than any other demographic. Taking the time to prepare one of these kits to make sure loved ones have the essentials they need can make all the difference in preventing a serious situation.”
Quick Facts – Why is Heat Dangerous for Seniors?
The amount of water retained by the body decreases substantially with age.
As a result, seniors are at far greater risk of heat-related health problems such as heat stroke, heat exhaustion, severe sunburn and dehydration.
What’s in the ‘Senior Summer Survival Kit?’
Reusable water bottle to maintain hydration
Copies of all prescriptions and health insurance cards
Phone numbers of health care providers and information concerning chronic health problems
Sunscreen, at least SPF 30, to prevent serious burns
Multivitamins to keep the immune systems strong
Battery operated/hand-held fan in case of power outages and extreme heat
The Senior Summer Survival Kit can be easily purchased and assembled for under $25 in less than 15 minutes.
Most heat-related issues for seniors can be avoided through simple planning and precaution. When it’s unbearably hot outside for you and your kids, it’s downright dangerous for seniors. Take a few minutes and make sure that mom, dad and any other senior family members have everything they need to be safe this summer. A few minutes of planning and a quick trip to the drug store can make all the difference.
About Senior Helpers:
Senior Helpers connects professional caregivers with seniors who wish to live at home as opposed to a nursing or assisted living facility. The company has 300 franchises in 42 states and one in Canada offering a wide range of personal and companion care services to assist seniors living independently with a strong focus on quality of life for the client and peace of mind for their families. Senior Helpers strives to be the leading companion and personal care provider that offers dependable, consistent and affordable home care. For more information, please visit www.seniorhelpers.com.
Senior Helpers Vancouver, 135-555 W. 12th Ave, Vancouver BC. 604-568-7086
Friday, July 2, 2010
What Is Alzheimers Disease?
What Is Alzheimers Disease?
What Is Alzheimers Disease?
Alzheimers Disease is one of the saddest and frightening diseases. Over the course of several years, it progresses through stages similar to a child growing up...only in reverse. We start as adults, able to think and remember. Then, it becomes more difficult to remember recent things or to calculate even simple things. As Alzheimer's progresses, we become less able to run simple machines (like TV's, Cars, Cameras) or to find our way around...we even tend to forget who are our children or friends. Over time, we forget how to dress, brush our teeth, shower. In the final stages, we forget how to feed ourselves or to control our bowel and bladder. Here are some top-selling books to help you understand what Alzheimer's Disease is and how to manage it.
Note: After caring for my mother who had Alzheimers disease, I can tell you there is a redeeming quality of the disease. As near as I could tell, once she was in the mid-stage of the disease, it didn't seem to bother her at all. It's as if she "forgot" anything was wrong. This seemed common to most of the people in the Alzheimers care facility where she lived the last few years. They all seemed happy and well adjusted.
Alzheimers Disease Signs And Symptoms:
If you take a look at the early stages above, you'll see the common signs. If you suspect Alzheimer's see a doctor and ask him to do a blood test for Vitamin B-12 deficiency. If there is no deficiency, get a referral to a Neurologist, who can test your thinking ability. Don't just assume because you've had some memory lapses, it's Alzheimers disease.
Alzheimers Disease Treatment:
If you catch it in the early stages, there are drugs that can slow the disease, but no cures. At some point, Alzheimers disease will make it necessary to have professional residential care. It's best to plan things in advance during the early stages and find a quality facility acceptable to both the patient and the one who will be making the health care decisions.
Alzheimers Disease Self Help:
Follow a low fat, high protein diet with lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. Get plenty of aerobic activity and exercise. Make sure you're drinking enough water. Supplement your diet with natural Multi-Vitamins and Multi-Minerals, along with extra doses of the following to strengthen your blood flow, mental ability and immune system:
Antioxidants; including Beta Carotene, Flavonoids, Lycopene, Vitamin A, Zinc, Vitamin E, Vitamin C and CoQ10.
Organic Germanium; 300-450mg divided into 3 doses a day.
Fiber; 12-15 grams extra from vegetable sources or supplements.
Garlic; 3 cloves per day.
Omega 3; 3 per day, 1 at beginning of each meal.
Lecithin; taken with the Omega 3.
Selenium
Lipoic Acid; at least 200mg daily, split into 2-3 doses.
Vitamin B Complex
Gingko Biloba; about 240mg daily, split into 2-3 doses.
Always check with your doctor before making changes in your nutritional or exercise habits.
Complete Healing:
We both know there are no guaranteed cures, whether in medicine, nutrition, herbs or anything else. Complete healing...including mind, body and spirit...is possible, from God. If you want God's help with your health problem, go to Help From God.
Physical Health Issues Forum - Support group for people suffering from physical illness, whether acute, chronic or life-threatening...we're here for each other.
What Is Alzheimers Disease?
Alzheimers Disease is one of the saddest and frightening diseases. Over the course of several years, it progresses through stages similar to a child growing up...only in reverse. We start as adults, able to think and remember. Then, it becomes more difficult to remember recent things or to calculate even simple things. As Alzheimer's progresses, we become less able to run simple machines (like TV's, Cars, Cameras) or to find our way around...we even tend to forget who are our children or friends. Over time, we forget how to dress, brush our teeth, shower. In the final stages, we forget how to feed ourselves or to control our bowel and bladder. Here are some top-selling books to help you understand what Alzheimer's Disease is and how to manage it.
Note: After caring for my mother who had Alzheimers disease, I can tell you there is a redeeming quality of the disease. As near as I could tell, once she was in the mid-stage of the disease, it didn't seem to bother her at all. It's as if she "forgot" anything was wrong. This seemed common to most of the people in the Alzheimers care facility where she lived the last few years. They all seemed happy and well adjusted.
Alzheimers Disease Signs And Symptoms:
If you take a look at the early stages above, you'll see the common signs. If you suspect Alzheimer's see a doctor and ask him to do a blood test for Vitamin B-12 deficiency. If there is no deficiency, get a referral to a Neurologist, who can test your thinking ability. Don't just assume because you've had some memory lapses, it's Alzheimers disease.
Alzheimers Disease Treatment:
If you catch it in the early stages, there are drugs that can slow the disease, but no cures. At some point, Alzheimers disease will make it necessary to have professional residential care. It's best to plan things in advance during the early stages and find a quality facility acceptable to both the patient and the one who will be making the health care decisions.
Alzheimers Disease Self Help:
Follow a low fat, high protein diet with lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. Get plenty of aerobic activity and exercise. Make sure you're drinking enough water. Supplement your diet with natural Multi-Vitamins and Multi-Minerals, along with extra doses of the following to strengthen your blood flow, mental ability and immune system:
Antioxidants; including Beta Carotene, Flavonoids, Lycopene, Vitamin A, Zinc, Vitamin E, Vitamin C and CoQ10.
Organic Germanium; 300-450mg divided into 3 doses a day.
Fiber; 12-15 grams extra from vegetable sources or supplements.
Garlic; 3 cloves per day.
Omega 3; 3 per day, 1 at beginning of each meal.
Lecithin; taken with the Omega 3.
Selenium
Lipoic Acid; at least 200mg daily, split into 2-3 doses.
Vitamin B Complex
Gingko Biloba; about 240mg daily, split into 2-3 doses.
Always check with your doctor before making changes in your nutritional or exercise habits.
Complete Healing:
We both know there are no guaranteed cures, whether in medicine, nutrition, herbs or anything else. Complete healing...including mind, body and spirit...is possible, from God. If you want God's help with your health problem, go to Help From God.
Physical Health Issues Forum - Support group for people suffering from physical illness, whether acute, chronic or life-threatening...we're here for each other.
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