Making Personal Care Easier for Those with Alzheimer’s disease – and their CaregiversPosted on | February 29, 2012  For most of us, personal care is a very personal and private activity. For those with Alzheimer’s disease, it is an activity they eventually will not be able to manage on their own. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, bathing and grooming are often the most difficult personal care activity caregivers will face. Because it is such a private and intimate experience, people with dementia may perceive assistance as unpleasant or threatening. They may feel afraid. There are ways, however, to reduce their fears and anxieties while helping to make the experience a pleasant time for both the person with Alzheimer’s disease and their care partner. The senior advocacy website www.seniorcarehomes.org suggests following the person’s lifelong grooming habits such as showering in the morning or before going to bed. Preparation is also important. The Alzheimer’s Association recommends gathering supplies for bathing in advance. That way the focus remains simply on bathing. It is also important to make the bathroom safe. Install grab bars, non-slip mats and a tub chair to minimize the risk of falls. Be aware of temperature control and never leave a person with Alzheimer’s disease alone in the bathroom. When people feel good about how they look, they feel better. Helping people with Alzheimer’s perform grooming tasks like brushing their teeth, shaving or putting on makeup helps them feel more like themselves. The Alzheimer’s Association encourages caregivers to perform grooming tasks alongside the person they are assisting. Go step-by-step: pick up the toothpaste, take the top off, put the toothpaste on the toothbrush, then brush. Comb hair and encourage the person with Alzheimer’s disease to copy motions. To protect dignity and to help the person with Alzheimer’s disease feel more in control, allow him or her to do as much as possible on his or her own. About the Author: Bridges® by EPOCH is the evolution of EPOCH Senior Living’s renowned memory care program BRIDGES®. Recognizing that a free-standing community devoted entirely to caring for those with memory challenges can provide more focused care, an enhanced lifestyle and a more fulfilling environment, Bridges® by EPOCH is the realization of EPOCH’s commitment to improving the lives of all those touched by Alzheimer’s disease and memory loss. EOEA Certification Application Pending. With nearly 20 years of experience in the senior living industry, Alicia is committed to making a difference in the lives of seniors. Prior to joining the Bridges® by EPOCH team, Alicia held various positions at senior living communities in Florida and Massachusetts, including Executive Director of Hearthstone Alzheimer Care and Memory Care Program Director at Emeritus Senior Living. Through her extensive experience, Alicia gained valuable knowledge and expertise that will allow her to truly make a difference in the lives of residents at Bridges® by EPOCH at Hingham. Additionally, Alicia is certified by the National Institute on Aging as a Memory Impairment Specialist and is certified in both Massachusetts and Florida as a State Certified Alzheimer’s and Related Dementia Trainer. Alicia is excited to be part of an organization that is as dedicated to providing high quality, individualized care to seniors as she is. Alicia currently lives in South Shore with her husband and two daughters. Category: Alzheimer's/Dementia Care, Home Care
Tags: alzheimers assisted living > Bingham MA alzheimer's assisted living > Bridges by Epoch Memory care > dementia care Hingham MA > Senior Retirement Communities Dealing with an Aging Parent and CaregivingPosted on | February 29, 2012  As people age, some of the simple tasks like writing, telephoning and just verbally communicating can be a real challenge. These folks need to feel useful and anything you can do to help them feel more alive, is of benefit. As Caregivers, we have a special opportunity to be of service in small ways that can mean a great deal to our loved one. I consider it a privilege and a blessing to be able to help my Mom today. If Care giving is your profession then, you might find this article helpful in relating to all of your patients. 1.) Ask questions about their lives. Engaging people in conversation is one excellent way to keep them interested in living. Keeping in mind that with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, a person forgets the most recent thing they’ve learned; ask them about events in their lives that happened long ago. With the goal of raising their spirits (and you should know enough about them to be able to do this) ask how they met their spouse, how they felt at the birth of their first child, what was one of their favorite vacations? Once they begin sharing, they will likely look forward to these special moments to ‘stroll down memory lane.’ Ask questions, and then listen. 2.) Open up their photo albums and let them tell you who’s who, what they were doing, where they were. If they have a lot of loose pictures buy some photo albums as this would be an excellent project to help them work on. Again, help them participate in life vs. being a spectator. 3.) Help them write “thinking of you” notes to their family and friends. You can buy inexpensive note card sets with short verses already inside. Add a couple of sentences – often just a recap of recent visitors they’ve had or people planning to visit. Or, if they ate at a great restaurant or saw a movie on TV they enjoyed. If possible, ask the recipient a question about their family. Try to be positive and lighthearted and steer clear of the latest aches and pains and doctor visits-if you can. Include your loved one or patient in the process- reading what you’ve written or proposing what you’ll write prior to doing so. Then, have them add their own closing and signature. My Mom is known by her formal name, Lucille and a nickname. I’ll often help her by saying, how about “Love and Prayers…” or she knows you as Doddie, Mom. Then, later, she is delighted to receive mail from the people she wrote. Help them to find enjoyment in life despite illness and hardship. Smell the roses, you know? About the Author: Terry Lynne Hale has over 30 years of sales, marketing, writing, research and training experience in a variety of industries. Terry thrives on sharing information and credits many authors with being instrumental in developing the person she is today. Passions include family, the Internet, pets, the planet, the Internet, writing, the Internet, publishing, the Internet, marketing, and the Internet. Her never-ending quest for learning led her to explore WWW after buying her first computer in 1995. Naturally, she wanted to share her enthusiasm for the internet with others. Her training and writing background fueled the passion that led her to write and publish her first eBook, Ageless Internet -Internet BASICS for Boomers and Seniors. It’s a simplified guide to the World Wide Web and is available for immediate download through Amazon or in all formats on Ageless Internet. Terry’s experience sourcing and locating independent and assisted living for her parents was the beginning of her exploration into care giving and elder care issues. Subsequent assistance finding housing for loved ones of friends and family has cemented her interest in Boomer and Senior care. Terryis committed to getting the word out that it is possible – even preferable, to begin a search for this kind of housing via the Internet, thus her new position as Boomer Care Adviser for SilverCensus. With an invaluable resource like SilverCensus offering Free Placement Assistance for Home Care and Assisted Living, your efforts are streamlined, and you save time and money. SilverCensus is an unbiased senior living and health services resource where consumers are educated on options, facilities & rights. Our services are completely free for seniors and their caregivers as well as Hospital Case Managers & Social Workers who are committed to proper discharge. Clients includeassisted living residences, rehabilitation facilities, skilled nursing homes, home health care agencies, HUD senior housing & independent living communities. We also provide VA Aid & Attendance assistance for qualified Veterans and their spouses. Our Care Managers are available at 888-776-1311 or through the web at: http://www.SilverCensus.com. What You Need to Know about Estate PlanningPosted on | February 29, 2012 Estate Planning consists of managing and distributing the estate in a manner consistent with owner’s objectives. Preparing for Incapacity should also included in every estate plan. If you become ill or injured, decide who will take care of your finances, make decisions about your health care, and how it will be paid for. The Estate includes the home, other real estate, certificates of deposit, checking and savings accounts, life insurance, retirement accounts, stocks, bonds, etc. In other words, if one were to die today what would be the entire value to be divided? Estate Planning Objectives consists of the following three goals: 1. Maintain Control Three major obstacles that prevent the estate planning objectives from being accomplished are: 1. Probate Choices in Estate Distribution 1. Probate – An expensive court proceeding that distributes a deceased person’s estate. 2. Operation of Law – Assets are transferred automatically to someone without regard to the terms of the will or any contrary desires of the descendent. Joint tenancy, in which the assets are transferred to the surviving spouse, is a common example of Operation of Law. 3. Living Trust – A legal entity created to own, manage, and distribute assets in accordance with an individual’s desire. The administrations of the assets are not interrupted by probate nor a guardianship since the Trust does not die and does not become incompetent. Obstacles in Estate Planning Probate – probate is that it is an expensive court proceeding, which distributes a deceased person’s estate. Guardianship – Guardianship is a court proceeding similar to probate.the difference is that Guardianship occurs while the person is still alive however, physically incapacitated or mentally incompetent. For Further Questions Stephen Wolfe, CSA Choosing the BEST Independent or Assisted Living Community for Your Loved OnesPosted on | February 28, 2012  As difficult as it’s likely be to persuade your loved ones that living in the family home is no longer in their best interest, the process will be much smoother if you can present an appealing alternative. The following questionnaire will help you record your impressions and observations when you tour potential facilities. (You could alter this slightly for use in the initial screening of a community long distance and then refer back to it when the time comes to physically visit the community.)
10. What meal choices are available and what are the dining hours? Do residents from independent living and assisted living share a dining room or are they separated? 11. Are meals included in the monthly rent and if so, how many? If a resident can’t come to the dining room to eat can they have a meal delivered to their room? Is there a charge for this? 12. What are the options for laundry service? Does the resident (or their family) handle personal laundry and the facility handle linens? What is the cost and what is the procedure? 13. Safety is always an important consideration. Once you’ve settled on the housing configuration- a studio, one or two bedroom, for example, is the bathroom senior friendly? Are there grab bars for support conveniently situated, emergency pulls to alert management in case of an accident? From a safety standpoint, how does the community manage emergency preparedness and or evacuation procedures? What about the outdoor areas? Is there room to enjoy time outside; is gardening an available activity for the residents? Are the grounds secured? 14. Continuity is critical for your parents’ peace of mind. What is the procedure to transition from independent to assisted living if need be? Evaluate costs. How long has this facility been operating at the present site? Who is the parent company and are they for profit or non-profit? What other communities do they manage? How dedicated are they to the senior market – will they be here “tomorrow?” 15. As you are touring each community and making the recommended observations, look beyond the attractive gardens or architecture, to get a genuine feel for the place. Look hard at how the residents live and their level of interaction with the staff. Does it seem like they feel cared for and respected? Will your parents enjoy the amenities provided? Can you imagine your folks happy living here? In the end, it comes down to finding the very best community they can afford that will accommodate their changing needs. Trust yourself and your good intentions. About the Author: Terry Lynne Hale has over 30 years of sales, marketing, writing, research and training experience in a variety of industries. Terry thrives on sharing information and credits many authors with being instrumental in developing the person she is today. Passions include family, the Internet, pets, the planet, the Internet, writing, the Internet, publishing, the Internet, marketing, and the Internet. Her never-ending quest for learning led her to explore WWW after buying her first computer in 1995. Naturally, she wanted to share her enthusiasm for the internet with others. Her training and writing background fueled the passion that led her to write and publish her first eBook, Ageless Internet - Internet BASICS for Boomers and Seniors. It’s a simplified guide to the World Wide Web and is available for immediate download through Amazon or in all formats on Ageless Internet. Terry’s experience sourcing and locating independent and assisted living for her parents was the beginning of her exploration into care giving and elder care issues. Subsequent assistance finding housing for loved ones of friends and family has cemented her interest in Boomer and Senior care. Terry is committed to getting the word out that it is possible – even preferable, to begin a search for this kind of housing via the Internet, thus her new position as Boomer Care Adviser for SilverCensus. With an invaluable resource like SilverCensus offering Free Placement Assistance for Home Care and Assisted Living, your efforts are streamlined, and you save time and money. SilverCensus is an unbiased senior living and health services resource where consumers are educated on options, facilities & rights. Our services are completely free for seniors and their caregivers as well as Hospital Case Managers & Social Workers who are committed to proper discharge. Clients includeassisted living residences, rehabilitation facilities, skilled nursing homes, home health care agencies, HUD senior housing & independent living communities. We also provide VA Aid & Attendance assistance for qualified Veterans and their spouses. Our Care Managers are available at 888-776-1311 or through the web at: http://www.SilverCensus.com. Category: Assisted Living, Caring for an aging parent, Healthy Living, Senior Home Care, Senior Living
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