Senior Home Care Ohio

Cleveland Ohio Elder Care

Caregivers Help Seniors Battle Holiday Blues!

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by Kevin K. Johnson, Certified Senior Advisor (CSA)®

The end of another year has arrived. I’d like to reference you to my post from one year ago, December 2012, titled Home for the Holidays! The focus of that post was indicators that you might look for during a visit with your aging loved ones. The information posted there remains relevant and I plan to reference it as appropriate going forward.

iStock_DepresseAtChristmas_PMFor many, the holidays are the best time of the year filled with family get-togethers, feasts and fun traditions; but for seniors, this can be the most depressing of all seasons as they pine for lost loved ones. And in a lot of cases, with family hundreds of miles away, seniors struggle to decorate, shop, prepare a meal and start to feel sad that they can’t move around like they did when they were younger.

Here at Visiting Angels, we offer families the vital service of hiring senior loved ones a holiday companion. Don’t know what to get Grandma or Grandpa for Christmas? How about a friend or better yet an angel — a Visiting Angel that is! A holiday companion is also a priceless gift that adult children can give themselves this year. Visiting Angels can provide them with an angel to tend to their senior loved ones’ every need as they prepare for a house full of guests or holiday event.

According to 2005 research from the University of Michigan, roughly 1 in 4 seniors (age 65 or older) suffers from depression. More than 70 percent of older Americans feel isolated and lonely. And per the Administration on Aging (2010 data) nearly one-third of all non-institutionalized older Americans live alone. “The holidays can be tough on seniors because many have lost people they loved. Plus, they aren’t as mobile to visit friends and family or even decorate or shop,” says Larry Meigs, CEO of Visiting Angels. “Our caregivers socialize with seniors, take them visiting and keep them engaged instead of sitting at home feeling isolated and depressed. Plus, our caregivers give families the heads up about their senior’s state-of-mind, to differentiate between the holiday blues and full blown depression.”

We wish you and your family peace and happiness throughout the holiday season. The safety and well-being of our loved-ones is always a concern for all of us – regardless of what time of year! If we can be of assistance in answering questions or providing caregiving services, please don’t hesitate to contact us via the web link on the right panel of this page, or give our office a call at 216.231.6400.

I do hope that 2013 has been a great year for you. As for Visiting Angels, 2013 was another good year of helping the aging seniors age-in-place with as much independence and grace as possible. We thank our clients for the opportunity to serve and help so many seniors with their activities of daily living and providing them with companionship to help them at any time and especially at this time of the year.

 

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Alzheimer’s — Early Symptoms!

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by Kevin K. Johnson, Certified Senior Advisor (CSA)®

November is National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month and also National Caregiver Month.  In the United States, there are more than 15 million Alzheimer’s and dementia  caregivers. I’ve posted a number of blogs on this subject over the past few years regarding dementiaEnd ALZ and specifically Alzheimer’s, the most frequently diagnosed type of dementia. You can perform a ‘search’ of this site and find perhaps five or six topic related postings. Often from personal experience, we know how bad Alzheimer’s disease is for the individual that suffers from it and from the perspective of the caregivers involved in patient care. But do you know what the early symptoms are? With the arrival of baby boomers to retirement age, there is increasing investments in Alzheimer’s research for a cure. There are more and more medicines making their way to the market that slow the progression of the disease. Early detection is becoming more important to the successfully managing Alzheimer’s dementia. Keep these 10 warning signs of Alzheimer’s in mind.

  1. Memory Loss That Disrupts Daily Life — One of the most common signs of Alzheimer’s, observe whether an individual is repeatedly asking for the same information.
  2. Challenges in Planning of Solving Problems — You may observe that an individual is having difficulty concentrating and may take much longer to do things than they did in the past.
  3. Difficulty Completing Familiar Tasks at Home, at Work, or at Leisure — Suddenly, people may have trouble driving to a familiar location, or remembering rules to a familiar process or even a game.
  4. Confusion with Time or Place — An individual may forget where they are or how they got there.
  5. Trouble Understanding Visual Images and Spatial Relationships — For some, reading, judging distances, or color contrast may become prevalent.
  6. New Problems with Words in Speaking or Writing — An individual may have trouble following or joining a conversation. They may stop in the middle of a conversation and have no idea how to continue or they may repeat themselves. They may struggle with vocabulary, have problems finding the right word or call things by the wrong name.
  7. Misplacing Things and Losing the Ability to Retrace Steps — Look for a pattern of placing things in unusual places. They may lose things and be unable to go back over their steps to find the again. They may also accuse others of stealing.
  8. Decreased or Poor Judgment — Look for negative changes in grooming or keeping themselves clean. You may also see changes or just poor judgment when dealing with money and with sales people either over the phone or face-to-face.
  9. Withdrawal from Work or Social Activities — They understand that something is changing and may begin to avoid being social. They may start to pull back from hobbies, or social activities.
  10.  Changes in Mood and Personality — They may become confused, suspicious, depressed, fearful or anxious. They be easily upset at home, at work, with friends or in places where they are out of their comfort zone.

Now make sure to compare and contrast the Alzheimer’s Dementia early warning signs above with the following signs that most of us experience. These signs are simply typical of age-related changes.

  1. Sometimes forgetting names or appointments, but remembering them later.
  2. Making occasional errors when balancing a checkbook.
  3. Occasionally needing help to use the settings on a microwave or to record a television show.
  4. Getting confused about the day of the week but figuring it out later.
  5. Vision changes related to cataracts.
  6. Sometimes having trouble finding the right word.
  7. Misplacing things from time-to-time and retracing steps to find them.
  8. Making a bad decision once in a while.
  9. Sometime feeling weary of work, family and social obligations.
  10.  Developing very specific ways of doing things and becoming irritable when a routine is disrupted.

Source: Alzheimer’s Organization, www.alz.org

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October — Flu Season & Seniors

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by Kevin K. Johnson, Certified Senior Advisor (CSA)®

Everyone needs to be as healthy as possible. It’s a no-brainer right! Well it’s especially true for seniors particularly as it relates to influenza, or simply, “flu”. October usually means a change to colder weather in many locations. With the change in temperature, from the warm of summer to the chill of autumn comes the onset of flu season.

So just why is it that seniors aiStock_Ill Senior_PMre at higher risk during this time of the year? Because their immune system weakens as they age, adults age 65 years and older are more susceptible to the flu. For this reason, it is recommended that all seniors get the flu vaccine.

You have two options for vaccination—the regular dose flu shot and the higher-dose flu shot designed specifically for people 65 and older. Both vaccines protect against the same three flu viruses.

 

 

The 2012-2013 flu vaccine was available in 3 types:

  • Regular, for people 6 months and older
  • High-dose, for people 65 and older. This type contains a higher dose vaccine, which may lead to greater protection against the flu.
  • Intradermal, for people 18-64. This type of shot is given with a needle 90% smaller than a regular flu shot and injected in your skin.

The higher-dose vaccine should result in a stronger immune response. Talk to your health care provider about which vaccine is right for you. Getting the flu vaccine protects you and prevents you from spreading the flu to your spouse, children, or grandchildren.

If you have flu-like symptoms such as those below, contact your health care provider immediately.

  • A 100oF or higher fever or feeling feverish (not everyone with the flu has a fever)
  • A cough and/or sore throat
  • A runny or stuffy nose
  • Headaches and/or body aches
  • Chills
  • Fatigue

Since seniors are at high risk for flu-related complications, a doctor may prescribe antiviral medications if they get the flu. Antiviral medications include:

  • Antiviral medications are prescription pills, liquids, or inhalers used to prevent or treat flu viruses. They are approved for adults and children one year and older. There are four antiviral drugs approved for treating the flu in the United States—oseltamivir (Tamiflu), zanamivir (Relenza), amantadine (generic), and rimantadine (Flumadine).

In addition to getting the flu vaccine, we should all follow our everyday steps to keep yourself healthy this flu season. These are not senior specific. The everyday steps include:

  • Wash your hands often with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub. Often should be at lease 5-times per day.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs spread this way.
  • Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
  • Practice good health habits. Get plenty of sleep and exercise, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat healthy food.
  • Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
  • If you are sick with flu-like illness, stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone without the use of fever-reducing medicine.

Approximately 5% to 20% of U.S. residents get the flu each year. Flu season typically starts in the fall and peaks in January or February or about a 6-month cycle.

Because seniors are at an increased risk of getting pneumonia, a complication of the flu, talk to your health care provider about the pneumococcal vaccine. The pneumococcal vaccine protects seniors against pneumonia.

I certainly hope this information helps all of us avoid becoming ill with the flu over the next 5-months. Good Luck!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Reference: Flu.gov

Be Aware — Falls are Especially Detrimental to Older Adults!

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by Kevin K. Johnson, Certified Senior Advisor (CSA)®

Do you know that September 22nd is ‘officially’ recognized as Falls Prevention Awareness Day?

Now is a good time to remind all caregivers that falls are a significant cause of severe health trauma for seniors. Did you know that every 15 seconds, an older adult is seen in an emergency department for a fall-related injury! That is an alarming statistic. So what can we do to address fall prevention in older adults?

WHY FOCUS ON FALLS?

Falls remain the leading cause of injury death for older Americans. Falls threaten seniors’ safety and independence and generateiStock_000022381833Small_PM enormous economic and personal costs. CDC’s Injury Center monitors falls, fall-related injuries, and associated costs, reporting:

  • In 2009, more than 20,400 older Americans died from injuries related to unintentional falls.
  • In 2010, over 2.3 million older Americans were treated in emergency departments for nonfatal injuries from falls and more than 662,000 were hospitalized.  CDC reports the death rate from falls among older adults has increased by 42% from 2000 to 2006.
  • The total cost of fall injuries for older Americans was estimated to be $30 billion (in 2010 dollars).  By 2020, the annual direct and indirect cost of fall injuries is expected to reach $54.9 billion.

In addition to pain and suffering, and the high cost of rehabilitation, falls with or without injury also carry a heavy quality of life impact. A growing number of older adults fear falling and, as a result, often self-limit activities and social engagements. Resulting limitations can result in further physical decline, depression, social isolation, and feelings of helplessness.

This potentially bleak future for aging Americans is not inevitable; evidence-based interventions that target individual risk factors for falling have been shown to reduce falls and promote falls self-efficacy.

Consider these 6-steps to fall prevention that an older adult might undertake.

  1. Find a Good Balance and Exercise Program. For example, Fairhill Partners, a non-profit organization in Cleveland, Ohio offers a program designed specifically for older adults titled “Matter of Balance”. The program emphasizes practical strategies to manage falls. Participants learn to:
    1. View falls and fear of falling as controllable
    2. Set realistic goals to increase activity
    3. change their environment to reduce fall risks factors
    4. exercise to increase strength and balance
  2. Talk to Your Health Care Provider. Ask for an assessment of your risk of falling. Share your history of recent falls.
  3. Regularly Review Your Medications with Your Doctor and/or Pharmacist. Make sure side effects are not increasing your risk of falling. Take medications only as prescribed.
  4. Get Your Vision and Hearing Checked Annually and Update Your Eyeglasses Perscription. Your eyes and ears are key to keeping you on your feet.
  5. Keep Your Home Safe. Remove tripping hazrds, increase lighting, make stairs safe, and install grab bars in key areas.
  6. Talk to your Family Members. Enlist their support in taking simple steps to stay safe. Falls are not just a seniors’ issue.

 Source: National Council on Aging

Role Reversal — A Granddaughter’s Perspective!

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by Morgan Abercrombie

Your parents are getting older and can no longer take care of themselves without assistance. The roles are reversed as if the parent is now the child, and the child is now the parent. This is definitely difficult to handle at times and can even become extremely overwhelming. One must divide the responsibility between siblings which may cause unwanted stress among everyone. It calls into question relationships that have developed over decades between siblings and between the parent and the their children.

Beautiful teen girl and her loving grandmother smiling at eachother.In my family, the roles have definitely been reversed between my mother and grandmother. My grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Dementia, which has caused her to become quite dependent over time. My mother has 3 siblings; two of which, live in a different city. As you might imagine, the bulk of the assistance given to my grandmother is provided by my mother and my aunt that live close by. They alternate weekends and can still spend time with their own families.

To accommodate their jobs and their respective family life , all four siblings also agreed to hire an agency that can provide professional caregivers for my grandmother. Also, my aunt and uncle that live out of the city, come in town and take shifts that enable the primary caregiving siblings to have a break and also to take vacations. As a granddaughter, I’ve seen my aunts and my uncle work together for my grandmother’s well-being. Taking care of a senior citizen who needs assistance is not impossible. However it definitely requires the same qualities your parents possessed when they took care of you, love, communicaiton and sacrifice.

Here‘s an article from “Focus on the Family” that addresses role reversal and multiple solutions to this situation:

CARING FOR ILL AGING PARENTS

By Carol Heffernan

Caring for an aging parent is a responsibility few people ever expect or envision. We avoid thinking about our parents falling ill or growing weak. We don’t feel equipped to handle the welfare of those who raised us. Confusion, sadness, helplessness jar us during this unsettling transition.

As baby boomers live longer, healthier lives, any assistance that is required typically becomes the children’s responsibility. For many families, the discussion about who will take care of Mom and Dad comes on the heels of crisis. As a result, most families find themselves unprepared to handle their parents’ increase dependency.

Still, with the increase in number of older adults comes the increase of adult children caring for their parents. More than 20 million in the U.S. alone provide care for an aging parent or in-law. What’s more, families rather than institutions provide 80 percent of long-term care.

So how can adult children, siblings and parents deal with the inevitable challenges that accompany this life transition?

Begin by openly discussing each person’s role and responsibilities within the family structure. While caregiving can be extremely stressful, sharing duties is a guaranteed way to ease the tension. Whatever distance family members live from one another, devise a care plan so everyone can be involved.

Addressing the sensitive topic of finances is also a must, as is compiling important personal and financial documents. Finally, takes the time to evaluate how to build unity among siblings-in spite of the high potential for tension.

There’s no question that many caregivers only find frustration and exhaustion. But with solid support and communication, caring for an aging parent can bring a renewed sense of love, compassion, and tenderness into any family.