RetirementHomes.com - senior care

How to Know When it is Time for Home Care

aadmin — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 08:22:49 +0000

The baby boomer generation is aging, and with that comes concerns from their adult children. How do you know when your parents need some help? Here are some signs that might mean it's time to consider a home care service for your parent(s). If you see any of these signs, you'll also want to speak to your parent's physician, as some of them can indicate depression, dementia, or other health problems that need to be addressed.

Decline in Housekeeping

If your parents have always kept their home clean and neat, and you begin to see piles of newspapers, dirty laundry scattered around, signs of pest infestation, or just usual clutter, it could mean he/she is having trouble getting housework done and could use some help with everyday chores.

Decline in Grooming

Wearing dirty clothes, not washing hair, unbrushed teeth or other declines in personal grooming are a warning sign you should pay attention to. Many older adults are afraid of falling in the tub, others may be suffering from pain that makes daily self-care difficult, and still others may not be able to see or smell well enough to recognize poor grooming. All can indicate they may need some help.

You're Worried About Safety

Worrying about your parent's ability to perform everyday tasks safely is a major indicator that some help at home might be needed. Whether you're worried about slips and falls, safety while driving, ability to prepare meals without starting a fire, or ability to read prescription medication bottles, if you're at all worried about your mom or dad's safety, get in touch with a home care agency and your parent's physician.

Change in Diet

Old age can bring changes in diet, and those are not nessasirly a problem. If, however, you have a parent who has always prepared his or her own home-cooked meals and suddenly starts living off TV dinners or takeout, you'll want to find out why. It could be related to fears of forgetting something on the stove, age-related loss of taste and smell, or even depression. Some help with cooking can help ensure your mom and/or dad gets the nutrition they need.

Other Signs of Trouble

Finally, you'll want to watch for other signs of trouble. Scorched pots and pans, for example, could mean forgetting things on the stove. Loss of interest in previously-enjoyed activities can signal depression or other health problems, items piled around the home present fall risks, and "wall walking" or moving from one piece of furniture to another while walking could mean your parent feels unstable on his or her feet and might need an assistive device.

Final Thoughts

Talking to your parents about home care may not be easy, but these services can prevent severe injuries or even death due to falls or other easily-avoided issues. If you or a loved one needs help please give us a call. We would love to come and talk to your parents about our in-home care services that can help them maintain their independence and quality of life.

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Everything You Ever Needed to Know About Sundowner's Syndrome

aadmin — Fri, 07 Feb 2014 11:52:53 +0000

When patients experience periods of extreme agitation and confusion between the late afternoon hours and into the evening it is often referred to as 'sundowning' or Sundowners Syndrome. The patient affected will appear confused and agitated, restless. Irritability is often directed towards caregivers or nursing staff. Your patient may also have difficulty sleeping or staying asleep. Scientists are not entirely sure what causes the flare up of symptoms in the evening hours, but since it follows such a predictable pattern, caregivers can take steps to alleviate some of the stress and aggravation connected with this syndrome.

Triggers for Sundowners Episodes

Patients most commonly affected by Sundowners Syndrome are those afflicted with Alzheimer's or dementia, though the symptoms can also appear with other conditions such as degenerative eye conditions. Some medical experts believe Sundowners is closely linked to the natural day and night cycle of the human body and the changing lighting conditions of later afternoon and early evening are often cited as a trigger. Staff shift changes at the nursing home or even simply dinner time can become triggers for an episode during these hours of heightened agitation.

It can be heartbreaking to see your patient suddenly feel the urge to get up and wander, or engage in erratic behavior such as removing all of their clothes in public. Often it is difficult to persuade them from following their course of action. This is when the patient tends to get irritated and at times even violent. Shouting and even lashing out physically is not uncommon in patients afflicted with sundowning. Confusion and memory loss only increase stress on the patient and those that care for them. It is important to remember that unfortunately they seem to have no control over their actions at these times.

Possible Solutions for Sundowners Syndrome

While there is no known cure for Sundowners Syndrome, treating the illness that causes it can go a long way towards alleviating the symptoms. You can observe the patient and find out what will most likely trigger an episode, then work on a solution. If it’s a change in lighting, for example, perhaps an additional lamp will help. If a lot of commotion at certain times of the day, which may occur during a shift change, try to keep it as far from the patient as possible. Since the disorder is linked to sleep disorders as well, a mild sedative may be prescribed to help the patient through these challenging hours. Changes in diet and routine to keep stimulus such as exercise and caffeine intake restricted to the morning hours only can also make a difference.

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One doesn't live to eat, but eats to live.

aadmin — Fri, 19 Jul 2013 09:11:36 +0000

“Freedom from Want” Norman Rockwell’s 1943 painting is the Iconic American Dinner with Family centered around an abundance of food in a typical American dining room with smiles, engagement and life.

For most seniors this is what dinner is supposed to be. Moving to assisted living changes everything with family missing & being replaced by strangers, the dining room turned into the restaurant and food that is meant for nourishment versus to be enjoyed.

By definition Food means a substance that can be ingested in order to maintain life and grow. By this definition this could be anything that helps keep you alive but adds no value to your life.

Eating by definition means to take into the body by mouth or absorption. The act of eating in itself does not offer pleasure, connection or satisfaction.

In order to understand the smiles in the Norman Rockwell painting you need to feel the warmth of the setting, hear the conversations and smell the turkey and pie. “Freedom from Want” the title of the painting is what senior living supply’s at a minimum but I believe the title misleads us into thinking that having food equates to the happiness in the painting. I propose that the Italians understand the concept better and we would be wise to follow their lead.

There are several Italian sayings that apply to the idea of eating and happiness:

Chi mangia e non invita, possa strozzarsi con ogni mollica. (He who eats alone and invites no one, will choke with every crumb.)

Chi mangia solo crepa solo. (He who eats alone dies alone.)

But the best is:

Non si vive per mangiare ma si mangia per vivere.
One doesn't live to eat, but eats to live.

The play on words is critical. It is about living life to its fullest not sustaining oneself.

Connection is critical to the Italian meal. If you happen to be sitting alone at a table in Italy it won’t be too long before you are asked to join another table.

While eating is seen differently in most cultures, everyone agrees when you break bread with others it creates a bond that is otherwise difficult to create.

Couple these facts with the understanding that today’s seniors were not part of the fast food generation. Per Harvard Magazine May-June 2013 The Way We Eat Now by Craig Lambert “The 1950s were also an era in which the kitchen—not the television room—was the heart of the home.”

Careful consideration needs to be taken in providing multiple dining options as the Breakfast nook or table was different for most seniors than the dinner table. Lunch could mean either place depending on the formality and who was invited. Yet most senior living still offers one space for dining that looks more like a restaurant than a home.

Couple the change in environment for meals with the change in menu per environment and add fantastic food that you would want to eat at daily and we transform “Freedom from want” into “One doesn't live to eat, but eats to live.”

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Senior Living Professionals

Science versus the Environment in Aging Hearing Loss

aadmin — Mon, 15 Jul 2013 10:12:45 +0000

Nearly two-thirds of the population over the age 70 experience some degree of hearing loss.

Robert Gardner, Au.D, an audiologist at The Hearing Clinic in Denver, CO, is representative of the scientific view of age related hearing loss.

Over time, the nerve endings of the inner ear deteriorate leading to hearing deficiencies. According to Gardner, “The most common neural hearing loss is due to prolonged damage to nerve endings in the inner ear.”

Gardner, who also manages retirement villages clinics in the Denver area, outlined the area in the inner ear that is commonly damaged in hearing loss in the elderly - the cochlea.

It is lined with approximately 20,000 tiny hairs – cilia – that act as nerve endings for the hearing nerve (vestibulocochlear nerve).

Cilia deteriorate due to aging, disease, noise exposure and a combination of these factors. Hearing loss cannot be regenerated and can only be replaced or repaired by medical science. “The only way to treat this type of hearing impairment is with hearing aids,” said Gardner.

Cochlear Implants for Extensive Hearing Loss

Ninety percent of people with nerve hearing loss are successfully treated with hearing aids. Severe deafness, due to extensive deterioration of the cilia, requires a cochlear implant.

Cochlear implants feed electrical signals to the hearing nerve but only possess a maximum of 32 electrodes as opposed to 20,000 nerve endings of the normal ear, said Gardner. Sound discrimination, such as higher pitches remains extremely poor, enough to understand speech, but not notes in a melody.

“A cochlear implant is a superb solution for the profoundly hard of hearing, allowing them to carry on telephone conversations and other practical behaviors.”

A Different Approach to Hearing Loss

Gail Gudmundsen, Au.D. and Managing Director, of the audiology division of Etymotic Research, in Elk Grove Village, IL, advocates an environmental approach to hearing loss in the aging community.

She points to new research designating the major cause of deafness to be the cumulative effect of lifetime noise exposure. Cilia deteriorate, but early prevention can ward off many problems in the elderly.

“Early exposure to noise sets up hearing loss in later life,” said Gudmundsen. “Age-related hearing loss can be traced back to prolonged noise exposure.”

Gudmundsen pointed to key culprits – including recreational ones – riding motorcycles, snowmobiling, car races, parades, and the subway. “It all adds up,” she noted.

A Growing Alternative to Hearing Aids

According to Gudmundsen, and other hearing specialists, many older people are unwilling to seek out hearing help and procrastinate. To bridge the gap, a new hearing category – PSAPs (Personal Sound Amplification Product) – is on the rise.

PSAPs are accessible and affordable and serve as a starter device for sufferers of mild hearing loss, said Gudmundsen. PSAPs are non-medical devices and are not regulated by the FDA. They don’t correct hearing loss and are not intended for that purpose.

“They are often called reading glasses for the ears,” said Gudmundsen.

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Science or the Environment? Older people need to be aware of hearing loss alternatives, do their research, and be open to diverse avenues.

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LeadingAge Florida 50th Annual Convention and Exposition

aadmin — Mon, 08 Jul 2013 07:52:33 +0000

LeadingAge Florida's Golden Anniversary Celebration Convention will take place from Sunday, July 14, 2013 to Thursday, July 18, 2013 at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort in Orlando, FL.

The conference theme is: Expanding Possibilities for Aging - 50 Years and Beyond. Join in on the 50th Anniversary Celebration Gala on Tuesday night at Epcot®.

Keynote Speaker Scott O’Grady, Air Force Captain (Ret.) will describe his incredible true-life struggle to survive in the hostile territory of war-torn Bosnia.

The conference will feature 77 concurrent sessions on a wide variety of subjects and over 25 hours of continuing education credits.

Don't miss out on the the Exposition, presenting 100+ exhibits of the latest products and innovations.

LeadingAge Florida 50th Annual Convention and Exposition

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April Raises Awareness of Parkinson's Disease

aadmin — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 17:57:20 +0000

April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month. The month focuses on educating the public about a disease that strikes 1 in every 100 North Americans, commonly people over the age of 50.

Parkinson’s is a progressive neurological disease linked to a deficiency of brain cells that generate dopamine, a neurotransmitter. The lack of dopamine leads to the tremors, movement difficulties, and other problems associated with Parkinson’s.

There are early signs that can tip off a person with Parkinson’s and slow down its progressive nature.

Linda Pituch, Patient Services Manager of the Parkinson's Disease Foundation, offers a comprehensive list of prominent symptoms.

Non-motor symptoms

Initial symptoms that usually go undiagnosed:

. loss of sense of smell
. depression
. constipation
. sleep disturbance

Motor symptoms

Progressive symptoms where a person and their physician will become concerned:

. Tremor in a finger
. Slow movement (Bradykinesia)
. Problems with falling
. Loss of balance

The diagnosis of Parkinson’s can pose problems. Heather Gray, the Scientific and Medical Affairs Assistant of the American Parkinson Disease Association, said that it can be confused with other conditions, like Parkinsonism, also called Parkinson’s syndrome, which can strike young people. She also mentioned that Multiple Sclerosis can be misdiagnosed as Parkinson’s.

Gray said that Parkinson’s can be mistaken for a mild stroke because a stroke controls the area of the brain that controls movement – Substantia nigra – the sector affecting Parkinson’s.

"An MRI – Magnetic Resonance Imaging – will differentiate between a stroke and Parkinson's," said Gray. "That determination is a long road, and not easy on the patient, but is necessary." Gray added: “It's very complex. There are a lot of factors in this disease."

Margaret Stern, the Chair and CEO of the Michael Stern Parkinson's Research Foundation agreed. “The warning signs vary enormously from person to person.” A valuable tip from Stern is that between five to ten per cent of Parkinson’s cases are genetic. “If they know about it, they must tell their physician."

Pituch said that some medical doctors don’t know enough about Parkinson’s to make a diagnosis. “The patient needs to bring up the problem by highlighting the symptoms,” she said, “then request a session with a movement disorder specialist, a neurological specialist focusing on Parkinson’s.”

As the disease progresses, the Parkinson’s patient will need to rely more on a caregiver or care partner to maintain the schedule with the movement disorder specialist. The care person should attend the patient’s appointments to hear the doctor’s recommendations. Caregivers will need to encourage physical activity and obtain advice on specific types of therapy for their dependant.

Medication plays a big part in keeping Parkinson’s in check. Heather Gray provided three medication classifications:

. Dopamine replacements
. Dopamine preservers
. Dopamine mimics

Is there hope for a cure? Gray feels the big breakthrough may be preventative-based, finding the earliest symptoms of Parkinson’s before it progresses.

Spirits are high in April as everyone in the Parkinson’s community pulls together to spread awareness.

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Helping the elderly in Israel

aadmin — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 17:39:11 +0000

Volunteers are the life blood of Senior Centers. Without them, these meeting places for older adults to interact and receive much-needed services, could not exist. This situation is true in the USA and around the world.

In a recent story, The Jerusalem Post reported that the city possesses more than 66,000 people over the age of 65. The Jerusalem Center for Senior Health and Life Enrichment in Israel is a much-needed helping site. It offers a morning seniors’ program, an in-house senior day-care center, meals on wheels, and distribution of dry-food packages for underprivileged seniors, and many other services.

The organization was founded 36 years ago by executive director and long-time educator Naomi Sharabi with her 106-year-old grandfather. In its earliest days the center was a soup kitchen to help older adults gain a sense of independence in their later years.

More than 100 volunteers are responsible for the mass food preparation and delivery for elderly residents all over Jerusalem who rely for sustenance according to according to Ms. Sharabi.

The center offers well-organized activities to Jerusalem's aging population. The senior daycare is open to residents across the city from 9 a.m. to noon, provides breakfast, an exercise program, art and cultural activities, and a hot lunch.

The center is making plans to expand. A piece of property has been purchased for construction of a six-story building, set to open in 2014. A full-day care program will be offered six days a week and will include a fitness center, a beauty salon, medical and dental services, dance studios, a concert auditorium and a swimming pool.

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Severe Flu Strain Hits Elderly the Hardest

aadmin — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 19:01:54 +0000

The flu has hit America with full force. Major cities, like Boston, have declared a public health emergency. Pennsylvania's The Patriot-News reported that a flu strain has descended on the central Harrisburg area, with older people affected especially hard.

H3N2 - The Most Prevalent Strain

Health specialist have urged people to get a flu shot. The most prevalent strain, H3N2, is one that is associated with severe flu seasons and also tends to cause severe illness in older people. However, the strain is among those covered by this year's batch of flu vaccine.

Within two weeks 3,193 confirmed flu cases have been reported by the Pennsylvania Department of Health, representing nearly 1,000 more than the prior week. "That is a lot more flu than what is reported at this time in past seasons," the health department noted.

30 States Face Flu Outbreak

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported widespread flu outbreaks in Pennsylvania and 30 other states since December 22. 10 % of doctor visits during the week have been related to the flu or flu-like illness, about four times as many as normal.

Assisted Living and Continuing Care Residences have many successful measures in place to prevent the outbreak of the flu.

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Stress increases risk for Alzheimer's

aadmin — Fri, 27 May 2011 12:04:03 +0000

Researchers from the University of Minho in Portugal and Germany recently concluded that adverse life events, such as stress, can increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease by releasing hormones that accelerate the growth of some biochemical and behavioral effects.

They also found that stress can trigger a surge in beta-amyloid proteins, which have been linked to the neurological disorder as well. The hormones released by the emotion in part have a severe impact on tau proteins that can lead to physiological and mental changes.

"Our findings show that stress hormones and stress can cause changes in the tau protein like those that arise in Alzheimer's disease," said researcher Osborne Almeida.

"Viewing stress as a trigger of Alzheimer's disease offers exciting new research possibilities aimed at preventing and delaying this severe disease."

The Alzheimer's Association estimates that there are currently 5.4 million Americans suffering from Alzheimer's disease.

Healthy retirement living means reducing stress levels as much as possible. While it may not be possible to control the events in life, it's possible to control the reaction to them. Retirees should seek ways to cope with stress so that their golden years can be healthy and happy.

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Young and old are next door in NJ communities

aadmin — Thu, 26 May 2011 12:04:03 +0000

It's not uncommon to see a new mother walking down the sidewalk with a stroller full of children in Lakewood, New Jersey, one of the fastest-growing towns in the entire state, according to The Asbury Park Press. Just like it's no surprise to see an enormous softball team of players age 65 and over competing against one another in Manchester township.

It is a strange contrast. On one hand, Lakewood is the town with the highest percentage of residents under the age of 5 in New Jersey, while the median age of Manchester is 65.1.

In part, Manchester's aged populace is due to the propensity of local retirement homes. There are 16 senior living communities in the area. Lakewood itself also has a high percentage of older adults, with 21 percent of the population aged 65 and over.

Ceil Rubino, 72, has lived in Manchester with his wife since 1994. He regularly plays softball for Crestwood Village's league, competing against other communities in the area.

Those who are looking at retirement living options may want to start with an internet search. This can be an easy way to compare the different housing areas available, as well as look at different prices and amenities.

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