Choosing a Long-Term Care Facility

Submitted by administrator on Wed, 02/15/2012 - 2:25pm

Dementia Care Garden Ridge Texas

The process of transitioning from living at home to living in a long term care facility is not a simple one.  Just reaching the decision that the time has come to make the move is a challenge. Once that decision has been made, how does one go about figuring out what to do next? What if you (or your loved one) needs a place that offers Alzheimer's Care or specialized memory care?

The key to choosing a long-term care facility is to approach the process with organization and clear thinking. Here are key questions to ask:

Finances. How much does the facility cost? Does the facility accept Medicaid or private insurance? How much can your family afford in regard to long-term care?

Location. Is the facility close to a variety of family and friends so that visits will be more feasible and frequent?

 

Choosing the best long-term care facility for your loved one may be difficult, but it is possible to approach the task with confidence if you know the right questions to ask as you make your decision.

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Alzheimer's Videos: A Quick Look

Submitted by administrator on Wed, 02/15/2012 - 1:59pm

Dementia Care Cuero Texas

I'm always grateful when quality sources are gracious to share their information.  Sharing information about Alzheimer's and educating the public is vitally important to improve patient care, funding and research.  Three cheers to David Shenk, Jossie Malis, and David Hyde Pierce for their series of five "pocket" films that provide basic information in an understandable and highly visual format.

Topics covered are:

  1. What is Alzheimer's Disease?
  2. An Urgent Epidemic
  3. The Race to the Cure
  4. A Message for Patients and their Families
  5. The Genetics of Alzheimer's

The videos are in animated format and can be viewed in 14 different languages.

View the videos here

 

Don't Overlook Bone Tests

Submitted by administrator on Tue, 02/07/2012 - 2:42pm

Graceland Assisted Living San Antonio Texas

 

Osteoperosis affects so many. It is one of the most common ailments of aging women. It is very important to get bone density exams, but they are not as often provided as other routine examinations for againg populations. Unfortunatley, many people don't know they suffer osteoperosis until it has greatly depleted bone density. These could be prevented with adequate preventative care and more widespread bone mass measurement.

How few? A 2008 study using a 5 percent sample of all Medicare beneficiaries revealed that from 1999 to 2005 only 30 percent of women turning 65 (and 4 percent of men) had bone density tests. About two-thirds, by contrast, had gotten recent mammograms, even though an older woman’s risk of osteoporosis is higher than her risk of breast cancer. One reason that only a minority of older women get bone density testing is that osteoporosis is asymptomatic: People often don’t know they’re at risk until they break a bone, said Jeffrey Curtis, a rheumatologist at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, who was lead author of that study.

The dangers of falling are almost exclusivley due to bone loss. It creates brittle bones, and a small stumble can quickly become very serious. Osteoperosis should, ideally, not be seen as a normal part of the aging process. It doesn't have to be. Preventative care is available, and hopefully will become more widely utilized.

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Bolstering Brain Health with Foods & Spices

Submitted by administrator on Tue, 02/07/2012 - 1:59pm

 

Dementia Care Garden Ridge Texas

Nutrition is not just a part of taking care of our bodies. It is crucial to our mental health and emotional wellness. What we eat fuels us, body and mind. Proper nutrition can be excellent preventative care for Alzheimer's Disease as well.  Vitamins and nutrients are powerhouses of nourishment, and eating foods rich in these pays off in many ways.

"Besides healthy brain foods, spices and herbs can protect our brain cells as well. In addition to adding color and flavoring to our foods, they add potential health benefits from their antioxidant and other effects. For example, consuming garlic lowers cholesterol levels and blood pressure. Ginger may lessen pain in patients with arthritis, and several herbs and spices are believed to have cancer-fighting properties. Because of their strong antioxidant properties, herbs and spices may help protect our brain cells from the wear and tear of the aging process. Examples of some of the more potent spices include oregano, vanilla, cinnamon, parsley, basil, and pepper."

Fortunately, the foods that benefit us the most are often very rich in flavor. Many seasonings possess antioxidants. Coupling these things with a healthy diet in lean meats, unsaturated fats, nuts, fruit, and veggies is ideal. A healthy and varied diet can reduce your risk of cognitive decline, especially when paired with frequent physical and mental excersize. 

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Healthcare Decisions for the Aging Parent

Submitted by administrator on Tue, 02/07/2012 - 1:48pm

Assisted Living Cuero Texas

 

While caring for aging adults in our lives, there are often a lot of medical decisions to be made. Medical providers usually present multiple options, the right choice is not always obvious. The decision making process is a combination of factors, many of them personal. Is the procedure being looked at necessary? Will it be hard on the patient? There are usually pros and cons to any suggested procedure or decision.  

My mom was 84 years old and got a small spot of skin cancer on her face. Her gerontologist and I talked it over and decided to have it checked. When the dermatologist saw it, she immediately said “That has to be treated!”. I had done some research and assumed Moh’s surgery would be the plan, and that was what the doctor suggested. This surgery is very effective with a high cure rate. It is usually an outpatient procedure with a local anesthetic. But Moh’s can take several hours and I knew mom was not aware enough to understand what was happening to her. My decision was not only one of outcome, but of need. As she was unable to decide for herself, it was up to me.

Ultimately, a caregiver has to develop a sense of trust in their ability to make the right decision. This trust needs to be coupled with good medical care and a thorough understanding of a loved one's medical and personal circumstance. It can be quite difficult to make a healthcare related decision for another person, especially when that person does not have the capacity to assist in guiding the person left to make the decision.

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Affect of Eldercare on Job Performance

Submitted by administrator on Tue, 02/07/2012 - 1:40pm

Assisted Living Cuero Texas

 

Caring for the elderly, and caregiving in general, can take it's toll on the caregiver. It is a demanding job. It requires much patience, emotional energy, and time. While we know that caregiving affects the caregiver, how does caring for the elderly affect job performance? It has been demonstrated that people who are satisfied with the care that they provide, do not have negative personal or jobspace effects. Taking pride in your work produces better work. This is true with caregiving as well.
 
"Zacher suggests that organizations begin to implement interventions and programs designed to help employees increase their awareness of the eldercare-work dynamic. She said, “One possibility to do so may be to offer advice, services, and practical activities that provide meaning to the caregiving role and, in turn, may raise satisfaction with eldercare tasks.” This will result in better mental health and higher productivity on the job and will also make the organization a more attractive employer to job seekers."
 
It is important to remember the relevance of a caregiver's situation. It is important for caregivers to take care of themslves, and for the people that surround them to provide encouragement, support and/or respite. Caregiving is a demanding and important job that deserved our respect and support.
 
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Flex Work Schedule: Option for Caregivers

Submitted by administrator on Thu, 02/02/2012 - 4:01pm

Dementia Care Cuero Texas

More and more people are needing to step up and take on the role of providing care for familiy members who have developed Alzheimer's Disease or other forms of dementia. These same people are often still employed and need to remain employed in order to earn a living, keep their health insurance or any of a number of other reasons.

Today, I came across lifemeetswork.com, a website that provides information to employers and empoyees to assist in embracing flexible work.  Since many family caregivers struggle trying to balance work and commitment to their caregiving roles, it seemed appropriate to share this great resource.  

Take a look at this short video which presents the case for Flex work.  You may find it helpful if you need to negotiate with an employer in order to be BOTH an contributing employee AND a devoted caregiver.

 

 

Flexible Work Video
View more videos from Kyra Cavanaugh

Adjusting to Life as an Alzheimer's Caregiver

Submitted by administrator on Thu, 02/02/2012 - 3:01pm

Alzheimer's San Antonio Texas

Linda Born is a caregiver of her mother who suffers with Alzheimer's Disease.  Linda is a blogger who shares her personal experience and her spiritual insights into Alzheimer's Disease.  Her blog, God, Mom, Alzheimer's, and Me,  is a inspirational and informational resource.  She recently posted a piece about the most challenging phase of caring for her mother that I believe offers some thoughts that would be helpful for most people in the situation of dealing with a new diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease.  

I have written about our relative easy caregiver/patient relationship in this blog, but perhaps I do not share that initial time of struggle often enough.  This difficult transition to the role of caregiver and patient is the subject of the devotions in my book, and I'm in a different place in my caregiving journey now. 


I want people who are coping with that transition to understand that your challenges are not unique.  Mom felt so angry and resentful toward me, and I was so hurt.  I was horrified by her cognitive decline and overwhelmed by terrible love for her along with intensive grief as I lost the mother who had once been my firmest supporter and confidante.  It was awful!

Read more here.  You can read her helpful PowerPoint presentation, "When a loved on ia disagnosied with dementia" here.

Music and Alzheimer's Disease

Submitted by administrator on Thu, 02/02/2012 - 2:39pm

Alzheimer's Garden Ridge Texas

 

 

Music has a very special relationship to memory. Alzheimer’s patients who can’t remember familiar faces or how to care for themselves, can often perfectly recall music and lyrics. This connection to familiar music can provide some small sense of stability and it also can bring happiness. Music and art are increasingly recognized for their role as important therapeutic tools.

Live music, often considered the most therapeutic musical activity for those with dementia, can be provided in several ways. Patients in the early stages of dementia may be taken out to concerts of the type of music they like. You could also have a musician or very small group of performers come to your home to play for your loved one. If you’re bringing in an artist to play for someone who is a former musician it can be quite effective to hire a person who plays the same instrument the patient used to play. 

Play music that your loved one likes, introduce them to new music in that genre, and play old favorites. Live music is especially beneficial, providing a social setting and a visual experience as well. Calm background music can help regulate mood, but make a point to avoid sad music. That can have a very direct effect on the listener, and if it’s familiar it may connect them to sad memories.

Read more here.

Alzheimer's Epidemic: Closing the Gap

Submitted by administrator on Thu, 02/02/2012 - 2:38pm

Alzheimer's Cuero Texas

For months now, we've read many articles indicating that the future is grim due to the increasing prevalence of Alzheimer's Disease. In light of all the discouraging information, it's easy to feel helpless and hopeless about this insidious disease. Rather than panic or give in to despair, it's time to be strong and "close the gap." Closing the gap in the Alzheimer’s field could yield tremendous benefits. It will take some effort, but we can achieve such a goal through pure effort and public will. Compared to solutions based on the hope of new scientific discoveries, this has the appeal of greater certainty. To close the clinical gap, we must address three key areas where “common practices” are significantly lagging behind “best practices.” The threat of Alzheimer's is real, but widespread education, early diagnosis, preventative steps, and advanced in disease treatment can all make a tremendous difference. Read more here