Posted on Thu, Sep 02, 2010 @ 04:09 PM
One of the biggest issues Baby boomers face as they grow older is what’s going to happen as they slowly but surely get to the stage where they need help with day-to-day living. With the costs of nursing homes expected to continually increase in order to meet the demands of this large segment of the population, many seniors will need alternatives. Fortunately, they have several.
How in-home help is different
In home help is one such option. With this type of arrangement, you’re able to continue living in your own home and the help that you need comes to you. With more and more companies specializing in home care, it’s much easier than it was to find a home companion capable of meeting your exact needs.
For example, if you need around-the-clock in home care, that’s available. If right now all you need is a hand with household chores and errands, it’s easy to find a home companion who can assist you a few days every week. If you cannot prepare your own meals, get in and out of chairs, dress or bathe, or handle other personal matters without assistance, you can arrange to have a home companion stay with you during the daytime but not overnight.
Changes as your needs change
In addition to providing you with one-on-one assistance, in home help offers another advantage, that of flexibility. So as your needs change, it’s easy to vary the amount and type of in home help you’re provided. Even if your health declines, in home help allows you to comfortably live out the rest of your life right in your own home, if that’s what you choose.
With a home companion assisting you as needed, you’ll be relieved from doing those time-consuming daily tasks that need to get done and you’ll have more time available to use as you choose.
Unlike an assisted living facility where you’re limited to participating only in scheduled activities, with in home help, you’re free to set your own schedule. You won’t be limited to grocery shopping once a week on Tuesday mornings. If it’s Friday and you’re in the mood for a treat, you can have your home companion run to the grocery store to get you what you want.
A trivial example perhaps, but it’s that type of freedom that’s fueling the growing trend towards in home care. With in home help, you choose the activities in which you want to participate. With so much going on at senior centers, wellness centers, and right in your own community, your days can be as busy or as carefree as you choose.
With someone helping you around your home, you’ll have more time to volunteer, visit with friends and family, see a movie, work out, sunbathe, shop, whatever. Unlike assisted living with prearranged meals and eating times, you can eat what you want, when you want.
If the freedom to continue living the life you want appeals to you, then take time to find out why so many seniors and their families are choosing in home help to help meet their elderly care needs!
Original article may be found at: http://www.thehomecaredirectory.com/home_health_care/related_articles/independence_day_for_the_elderly/11/
Posted on Mon, Aug 30, 2010 @ 09:47 AM
If you look good, you generally feel good, too. Few things raise the spirit like newly coiffed hair and a freshly laundered shirt. However, when people are depressed, personal hygiene and grooming are often the first daily activities to fall by the wayside. This can lead to a vicious circle in which the depressed person sinks even lower due to a negative self-image, which robs her of the impetus to bathe and dress neatly.
As aging fingers lose their flexibility, and as arthritis or other aging-related ailments rob us of our former strength, the simple act of dressing and grooming can prove more and more difficult. Helping your elder look and smell fresh everyday can be a great boost to her self-esteem. However, when an elder is totally dependent on someone else to keep her clean and well-dressed, she can experience a deep loss of independence, so be sure to offer assistance for as long as possible, rather than taking over the work for her.
The comments above also apply to caregivers. While you are busy taking care of your elder's physical needs, don't forget about yourself. To keep up your own spirits, it's important that you take the time to pamper yourself. Book a day of respite care and treat yourself to a spa, or simply lounge in a bubble bath and listen to your favorite radio station.
Bathing
It may not be necessary for your elder to bathe everyday, but try to encourage her to wash her face, underarms and genital area daily. She may have a personal preference for a bath or a shower, and be sure to respect her wishes here; there are ways you can assist with either activity. People suffering from Alzheimer's often lose their depth perception, and may fear drowning in a bathtub. If this is the case, only fill up the tub half way or, if you can, find a brightly colored slip mat for the bottom. Install handrails next to the bath to make it easier for your elder to lower herself in and out, and avoid any oil-based bath lotions which can make feet and hands slippery. Be sure to give your elder the privacy she wants while bathing, but don't stray too far in case she needs your assistance.
Grooming: The following grooming tips will help you keep your elder looking and feeling her best.
Keep her hair in an easy-to-manage style. Be sure to respect her wishes in this. For example, if she's always had long hair and will share in the duties of caring for it, don't force her to have it cut. If going to the hair salon was an important part of her former routine, continue taking her, or if this becomes difficult, talk to the salon about home visits. A number of residential nursing homes offer this service, and it may be something you want to bear in mind when selecting a care facility, if the need arises.
It's not easy to shave someone else, so work with your father to help him shave himself. You may both find that an electric razor is the best way to go.
If you notice any stray facial hairs on your mother, help her pluck them out or, if this is too painful, shave gently and apply some moisturizing cream once you're finished.
A woman who has always used make-up will feel better about herself if she continues to use it. (Broken facial veins can be disguised with a light pancake make-up.) Make sure your elder has a supply of her everyday make-up.
Don't forget teeth and oral hygiene. Encourage brushing twice a day. Most importantly, encourage your elder to visit the dentist twice a year. An electric toothbrush is sometimes easier to use, but have your dentist or dental hygienist show your mother the best way to use it. If your elder has dentures, encourage continued care and regular check ups as ill-fitting dentures can cause mouth sores.
Dressing
Clothing for elders should be easy to put on, wear and remove. Just because your elderly father may not leave the house very often, it is still important to his self-esteem that he look his best. Keep clothing up-to-date, clean, color-coordinated and neat. If you as a caregiver do the shopping, opt for comfortable fabrics such as cotton rather than wool, which can often be "scratchy" on sensitive skin. The ideal clothing is non-restrictive, wrinkle-proof and machine washable. If your mother likes to wear the same clothes every day, consider getting several pieces of an item so she can at least wear clean clothes.
Encourage your elder to devote just a few minutes of everyday taking care of her physical appearance - you'll find it does wonders for her self-esteem.
Original article may be found at: http://www.thehomecaredirectory.com/home_health_care/related_articles/looking_good_means_feeling_good/156/
Posted on Thu, Aug 26, 2010 @ 08:08 AM
A major problem with medical treatment for the elderly is the large number of prescription medications the average older person is taking. Many older patients continue prescriptions with a number of doctors and specialists and no one doctor, not even the primary care physician, often knows the number or extent of medications being taken.
On average, a person over age 75 has five prescription drug medications and is using at least two over-the-counter medications as well as taking herbal supplements. Over-the-counter medications and herbal preparations are not entirely harmless. Adverse reactions can occur between various preparations of non-prescription drugs and often do occur between certain prescription drugs.
It is also surprising to some people that herbal supplements can cause drug interaction as well and in some cases might even result in death when used improperly with other medications.
Here is a list of herbal supplements that may interact or interfere with prescription drugs but this is not all-inclusive and there may be problems with other preparations as well.
- Ginkgo Biloba
- St. John's Wort
- Saw Palmetto
- Ginseng
- Yohimbine
- Senna Or Cascara
Doctors and pharmacists are generally careful about overdosing or using harmful mixtures of drugs, but other than amounts based on body weight, most prescription drugs do not have recommended dosages for older people. Often the doctor must experiment to find the right dosage and the problem is that many older people or their families fail to recognize drug reactions or they fail to report any problems to the doctor.
The elderly person or a responsible family member should always consult with the doctor and ask that doctor if a preparation and the amount being recommended is safe for an older person or what side effects are involved. It is not inappropriate to challenge a physician about medications. If prescription drugs are bought through a trusted pharmacist, the pharmacist may also be willing to consult on the safety of dosages for an older person.
Without the proper feedback, under-dosage or over-dosage might occur and effective treatment of the condition is not possible. The cruel reality is improper dosage may cause more severe problems than the condition being treated.
Posted on Tue, Aug 24, 2010 @ 01:48 PM
There is currently little incentive to encourage established doctors or students in medical school to specialize in geriatric medicine. Even though it is a recognized specialty, according to the American Geriatrics Society, there are only about 9,000 M.D. Geriatricians and several hundred osteopathic physicians (DO) certified in geriatrics, as well as some 2,400 board-certified geropsychiatrists in the United States. (A geropsychiatrists it is a psychiatrist trained to deal with the mental health needs and specific syndromes faced by older adults).
Out of 145 medical schools in the United States only five have geriatric care departments. Many more medical schools offer elective courses in geriatrics but only 3% of all medical students ever enroll for such classes.
According to the statistical abstract of the United States there are approximately 770,000 practicing doctors of medicine in the United States. This means there is roughly 1 doctor, including specialists, for every 300 persons in the United States. Based on the number of available geriatricians, there is only about 1 Geriatrician for every 3,000 elderly persons in this country. Because there are so few of them, it may be impossible to find a physician specializing in geriatric care in some areas of the country.
Helping elderly people who are nearing the end of their lives and who suffer from multiple, incurable and chronic disorders is often not an appealing prospect to family doctors or to young medical students. Besides, geriatric care typically does not produce as much income as other specialties.
Most doctors who treat the elderly are reimbursed either through Medicare or sometimes through Medicaid or sometimes a combination of both. These government programs have become more stingy over the years. Many doctors who in the past have accepted Medicare find that they have better paying opportunities treating younger patients and as a result they will no longer accept new Medicare patients. And as long as those younger patients are available for treatment, few doctors are going to go out of their way to seek out Medicare or Medicaid reimbursement.
Fortunately, there are family physicians or internists -- non-geriatricians -- who specialize in treating older people and from experience they have probably learned many of the issues associated with treating the elderly, but many of these practitioners could probably benefit from more specialized geriatric training if it were available.
Many doctors, geriatric nurse practitioners or physicians' assistants derive satisfaction from working with older people. They are likely taking a cut in pay by doing this. An older person or his or her family should seek to find these geriatric care specialists or if that is not possible, an effort should be made to locate a geriatric clinic in the area. Geriatric clinics are becoming more popular and they are likely to be well aware of the problems associated with treating elderly people. Many geriatric clinics include a team of specialists to help older people.
Posted on Fri, Aug 20, 2010 @ 08:58 AM
At some point, every one of us will reach the age where we need help with day-to-day living. Loved ones and family members will do what they can but even their help will run out. Death and separation by distance are the two most common reasons why family members can no longer provide others with the assistance they need. Before that day arrives, and it will, it is important that you make your preferences known to the individuals who will be making those life-changing decisions for you or with you.
The decision that is going to drive all other quality of life decisions is going to be whether or not a person will be able to continue living in his/her own home or whether that person will be moved to an Assisted Living Facility, also known as an ALF.
An ALF is a full-service living environment. Residents live in separate units that are set up to resemble small apartments. Residents are allowed to bring in many of their personal belongings, sometimes even their pets, in an effort to make them as comfortable as possible during their stays. Residents pay a monthly fee that generally will cover full meal service, around-the-clock certified nursing assistance, transportation to and from shopping and medical appointments, and scheduled events held both on- and off-site. In addition to individual living quarters, many ALFs also include common spaces such as a sun room, music room, library, pool, and game room. The actual services that are provided will vary based on the individual ALF.
This type of living arrangement works well for those who can afford it and for those fortunate enough to be part of a caring environment. Residents can be as involved as they choose and many benefit from the companionship, activities and care that is part of ALF living. Once part of an ALF environment, residents typically remain there until they pass away. Family is always welcome and visitation is highly encouraged.
In home care providers handle many of these same tasks with the difference being that the services are provided right at a person’s home. The person in need of care is still physically able to live in the home; he or she is just having difficulty handling some of the everyday tasks such as meal preparation, housekeeping, mail sorting, personal care and grooming, transportation, transferring from bed to chair to toilet, and other such tasks. In home care does not typically include the provision of medical care.
In home care is a great option for those who have recently lost a companion because this type of service can definitely help fill a void. Companionship is one of the biggest benefits of hiring in home help.
There are pros and cons involved with both types of living arrangements. That is why the decision as to whether living in an ALF or living independently with the help of an in home care provider should be discussed long before the need arises.
Original article may be found at: http://www.thehomecaredirectory.com/home_health_care/related_articles/assisted_living_vs_in_home_care/33/
Posted on Mon, Aug 16, 2010 @ 01:33 PM
Some caregivers, willingly or unwillingly, fail to provide the level of care necessary to nurture loved ones at home. Here are some of the problems that derive from unprepared or overloaded caregivers.
Caregiver Neglect
If the caregiver can spend only minimal time in the morning and evening and will be absent the rest of the day, those receiving care quite often become imprisoned by their environment. They receive little or no social stimulus and may spend day after day just sleeping or watching television. They typically get no exercise other than moving to or from the bathroom and often they suffer from poor nutrition and dehydration due to lack of adequate food and fluid intake.
Drinking and eating are deliberately avoided to lessen trips to the bathroom or to avoid soiling a diaper. Malnutrition and dehydration often result in poor mental reasoning or stupor, thus contributing to the daily routine of only sitting, sleeping and enduring the TV.
Self-Neglect
Self-neglect is where the care recipient is not interested enough or is incapable of taking care of his or her own needs. This may mean not eating or drinking enough or not attending to personal hygiene. It may mean allowing garbage to accumulate in the home.
There may be a caregiver involved but for whatever reason the caregiver is not stimulating that person receiving care to take care of him or herself or the home environment. And for whatever reason the caregiver is not providing needed help. Self-neglect with or without a caregiver is actually a form of elder abuse and in some states it is required by law that its existence be reported.
Failure to Bring in Help
This is probably the biggest mistake caregivers make. Perhaps, in order to save money to use when the loved one is gone or because they think they are "tough" many caregivers will not ask for help. Or it is common for caregivers to become so involved with their loved one that they isolate themselves from others. This isolation makes them reluctant to contact those who can help. Or a child may try to provide care from a long distance away and find it difficult or impossible to do. Regardless of the cause, failure to ask for help or to hire help can have dire consequences on the welfare of the care recipient and the caregiver.
Posted on Thu, Aug 12, 2010 @ 08:03 AM
Sometimes life goes more smoothly when you’ve got a companion. Not only does a home helper give you someone to talk to, a companion can help ease your burden, no matter what that burden is. Sometimes as we age we lose our companions and when that happens, life can seem lonely and even unbearable. But it doesn’t have to be that way because nowadays, a home companion is someone you can hire.
Building a relationship
There are many advantages of having someone you can count on provide in home care and building a relationship is one of them. As with any type of relationship, your first experiences may seem a bit awkward and perhaps uncomfortable. After all, you’re total strangers and you’ll need time to get to know one another. You’ve probably got a routine and the in-home carer needs to learn it.
But soon enough you’ll hopefully be very comfortable with your home companion. And if you’re not, there’s a good chance you can talk with someone – a family member or the provider of your in home care – to see about finding another with whom you might get along better. After all, this person is coming in your home to help you so it’s important that you’re able to work together.
With the same individual coming to your home regularly, you can’t help but develop a relationship with that person. It won’t take long before you’re friends, chatting about nothing, going out to eat or to the movies, and helping you to cope with whatever life delivers.
Remain in familiar surroundings
The fact that this person is coming into your home is perhaps one of the biggest advantages of in home care. Rather than being uprooted, you get to remain in your home, a familiar place that’s filled with your all your belongings and all your memories. That actually can help the relationship with your home companion grow. Your photographs, your decorating style, your pets and the like can tell a lot about the person you are. Knowing more about who you are is what’s going to help your home companion understand you better.
By understanding you and your individual needs better, you’ll have someone on whom you can rely to give you the personal attention you need on a daily or regular basis. That personal attention might involve matters of personal hygiene, or housekeeping, or errand running, or help with daily tasks, or friendship or all of the above. The ability to pick and choose the type of assistance you need most and that you want is another of the advantages of individual in home care.
There are other advantages, too. Family can relax knowing that you’re getting the care and attention that they aren’t able to provide, alleviating their guilt and their worry. In home care is also an affordable option and if you contract the services of a company that’s reputable, licensed and bonded, there’s little chance you or your home will be victimized in any way.
Original article may be found at: http://www.thehomecaredirectory.com/home_health_care/related_articles/personal_touch:_advantages_of_individual_help/6/
Posted on Mon, Aug 09, 2010 @ 10:37 AM
So many new terms sneak into our language that, unless you’re “in the know” it’s difficult to keep track of what all these new terms and acronyms mean. This is especially true in the areas of new technology and aging care.
Two of the latest acronyms generating a buzz in the aging care industry are IADLs and ADLs. The National Center for Health Statistics defines IADLs as “Instrumental Activities of Daily Living” and ADLs as “Activities of Daily Living.”
What is IADL?
Put more simply, an IADL is any daily activity or task that is performed in the course of normal, everyday, independent living. It encompasses the duties we have performed so frequently all through our lives that we do them almost without thought. Keeping the home tidy by vacuuming and dusting, buying the groceries that are needed to prepare daily meals, opening and sorting the mail, paying the bills that come in that mail, making sure there’s money in the bank to cover those expenses, shopping for other necessities such as clothing and prescriptions, and even participating in social activities such as dining out and going to the theater.
What is ADL?
Now an ADL, as described above, is any daily activity not considered instrumental. Again, a simpler definition of an ADL is an activity that promotes personal care. Basically, Activities of Daily Living include such personal care tasks as bathing, brushing teeth, and shaving, and even such things as going to the toilet, putting on clothes, repositioning the body, and moving around, especially when physical conditions add to the difficulty of these tasks.
When we’re children, our parents or caregivers are the ones who see to it that these IADLs and ADLs are taken care of. Then, as healthy responsible adults, we take care of these daily living activities on our own. But as we begin to age, our ability to handle these seemingly simple tasks begins to decline. The vacuum cleaner that once was pulled effortlessly around the home begins to feel heavier and more cumbersome. The blank spaces on the checks are difficult to focus on. And getting in and out of the bathtub somehow starts to become a challenge.
Many aging people have spouses, other family members or a companion to whom they can turn for assistance with these daily tasks. But for one reason or another, at some point, those individuals are no longer able to offer this type of assistance. These elderly people need help, but they don’t need yet to be uprooted from their homes. And this is the type of scenario in which an In-Home Care provider can make all the difference. These businesses specialize in offering personal assistance to those who need a little extra help around the home.
Original article may be found at: http://www.thehomecaredirectory.com/home_health_care/related_articles/understanding_home_care_terms/29/
Posted on Thu, Aug 05, 2010 @ 08:11 AM
If communication skills are supposed to improve with age, then why is it that communicating with your elderly parent is such an anxiety-filled and oftentimes frustrating event? A family’s past is one of the factors that makes talking about the future so difficult. And so is an aging parent’s level of coherence as well as the parent’s overall state of physical and mental health.
As parents get older, roles begin to reverse. Their adult children, many of whom have their own families to care for, slowly or suddenly find themselves playing the role of primary caregivers for their aging parents. The fact that children start becoming the ones to offer opinions and make decisions about how their parents should live is a bit unnerving. Since all involved generally feel a good deal of discomfort, conversations that need to take place frequently end up being avoided all together.
Although it may seem easier to avoid talking about the issues, discussing these issues is a wise decision. The time for communicating with your elderly parents is while they’re still healthy and capable of telling you of their wants, needs and preferences. When adult children wait to communicate until a significant life-altering event takes place, they often find themselves making decisions that may or may not coincide with what their parents would have wanted.
Here are a few tips for communicating with your elderly parent. Following this advice will relieve stress and may help you get the outcome you’re looking for:
Treat Adults as Adults
Even though you may be the one caring for an aging parent, that person still is an adult, not a child. That parent still deserves respect, and should never be made to feel inadequate. Don’t issue orders to your parent; ask politely and remember your manners. Always be sure your parent is an active participant in the conversation. And be sure to listen when it’s appropriate.
Set the Scene
If it’s possible, talk somewhere you both feel comfortable, preferably on mutual ground. Before initiating conversation, make eye contact. This is important because your aging parent may be lying down or in a wheelchair while communicating. Get close enough to your parent (without invading his or her personal space), make sure you have your parent’s attention, and then speak directly to your parent. Closeness helps build trust, but just as importantly, being close helps you keep your tone at an even level. The greater the distance, the more likely you are to have to shout so your words can be heard. Shouting never makes for effective communication, especially if your parent is frail or suffers some sort of mental disorder.
Don’t Rush Things
Your aging parent needs more time to do everything from getting out of a chair to retrieving the right word from memory. Make sure you have plenty of time available. If you try to rush the conversation or try to rush your parent off to an appointment, it’s only going to cause a lot of stress and frustration.
Original article may be found at:
http://www.thehomecaredirectory.com/home_health_care/related_articles/communicating
Posted on Mon, Aug 02, 2010 @ 09:15 AM
What should an older adult know about nutrition as they age? Nutrition, eating and body weight all have a significant impact on a senior's overall health. Many chronic health conditions are closely connected to one's eating habits earlier in life as well as during their older years. Find out about the specific health risks for an elder with poor nutrition and learn what you can do to help.
Why does nutrition matter for seniors?
Poor nutrition is a problem for people at any age. Because many chronic diseases develop late in life, older adults are at an increased risk of health problems. Nutritional habits influence one's overall health and well-being.
Poor nutrition can lead to chronic medical conditions, such as osteoporosis, diabetes or heart disease. It can also exacerbate or worsen these or other health conditions that your elder has already been diagnosed with. Furthermore, elders may experience difficulty recovering from an illness if they are concurrently not eating enough foods or nutritious foods.
What contributes to poor nutrition?
Medical complications - Symptoms of medical conditions such as nausea often cause elders to eat less. Also, people who have food restrictions due to medical conditions (such as diabetes or kidney disease) may eat less in general and be at risk of poor nutrition.
Lack of appetite - Causes of a poor appetite include the side effects of some medications and depression.
Medications - Some medications alter taste buds or suppress appetite.
Live alone and/or eat alone
Don't know how to cook - Many elders eat less after the "cooking spouse" passes away.
Low income
Physical problems - Some conditions such as arthritis and paralysis may prevent cooking.
Bad dentures or missing teeth - When an elder has difficulty chewing, he may avoid important foods such as fresh fruit.
Original article may be found at: http://www.thehomecaredirectory.com/home_health_care/related_articles/nutrition_for_the_elderly/157/