Alzheimer's & Children

The following is courtesy of Home Helpers of Lake Norman & Central NC. Visit our website at www.lknhomecare.com , or call us at 704.909.7958

We continue with our ongoing Alzheimer’s educational series this month…

 When a loved one has Alzheimer’s, it affects everyone in the family including children and grandchildren.  It’s important to talk to them about what is happening.  How much info you share depends on the child’s age and their relationship with the sufferer.  Below are some suggestions for helping children to understand what is happening:

·         Answer questions simply and honestly.  For instance, you might tell a child “Grandma has an illness that makes it hard for her to remember things”.

·         Understand that their feelings of sadness or anger are normal.

·         Provide comfort by telling them they didn’t cause the disease.  Young children may think they did something to hurt their grandparent.

·         Don’t expect a child to help with care, and don’t ask them to babysit.

·         Spend time with the child so they don’t feel all of the attention is given to the sufferer.

 Often, a young child will observe how you interact with someone, and then mimic that.  Make sure that interactions are pleasant for both the child and the sufferer and you’ll likely see the child initiate the same type of behavior.  Above all, do not force a child of any age to spend time with the Alzheimer’s patient.  Doing so could make them resent the person.

There's no place like home - Tips

The following is courtesy of Home Helpers of Lake Norman & Central NC. Visit our website at www.lknhomecare.com , or call us at 704.909.7958

"The stairs are getting hard to climb."

"Since my wife passed, I just open a can of soup for dinner."

  These are just two common statements you may hear as someone ages.  What to do?  Planning ahead is hard, you never know how your needs might change.  Perhaps you don’t need help but know someone who does.  The first step is to think about what kind of help you would want. 

  So what’s available for in-home care?  Here’s a quick breakdown:

   Personal Care – This covers hygiene assistance such as bathing, washing hair, dressing, etc.

   Homemaking – Assistance with chores like housecleaning, grocery shopping, and laundry.

   Meals – Eating out is one option, but can be expensive.  Home delivered meals are another choice.  Assistance with in-home meal preparation is generally most popular.

   Health Care – This may cover anything from assistance for someone just released from medical treatment, transport to a Doctor’s appointment, to helping manage medicines.  There are also electronic devices designed to dispense your medicines.  Check out www.abledata.com for a great listing of assistive devices.

  Where to find help?  Obviously, if you’re reading this, you’ve made a good start.  Your Doctor or friends that have had the same experience can also be invaluable, as well as local Senior Centers or Council On Aging offices.

  Once you’ve chosen your services, check out www.govbenefits.gov or http://www.benefitscheckup.org/ to find out about any local benefits that may be available.  Finally, if you are a veteran, call our office to find out how certain benefits may offset your home care costs.

  The final tip!  Don’t wait until you have to make a choice.  Do a little planning in advance.  If you have questions, call us!

5 Important Points For Estate Planning

The following is courtesy of Home Helpers of Lake Norman & Central NC. Visit our website at www.lknhomecare.com , or call us at 704.909.7958

 Many people believe that a personal will is all they need to plan their estate.  In reality, there are 5 areas that need to be addressed.  Having your affairs in order takes away the burden that would fall upon family during an already difficult time.  The 5 areas that should be addressed are:

1. Will.  A will is a legally-binding statement directing who will receive your property at your death. If you do not have a will, the state will determine how your property is distributed.

2. Trust.  A trust is a legal arrangement through which one person (or an institution, such as a bank or law firm), holds legal title to property for another person, called a "beneficiary." Trusts have one set of beneficiaries during those beneficiaries' lives and another set -- often their children -- who begin to benefit only after the first group has died. There are several different reasons for setting up a trust. The most common reason is to avoid probate. If you establish a revocable living trust that terminates when you die, any property in the trust passes immediately to the beneficiaries. This can save time and money for the beneficiaries.

3. Power of Attorney.  A power of attorney allows a person you appoint, your "attorney-in-fact", to act in your place for financial purposes when and if you ever become incapacitated. In that case, the person you choose will be able to step in and take care of your financial affairs.

4. Medical Directive.  A medical directive may encompass a number of different documents, including a health care proxy, a durable power of attorney for health care, a living will, and medical instructions. The exact document or documents will depend on your state's laws and the choices you make.

5. Beneficiary Designations.  Although not necessarily a part of your estate plan, at the same time you create an estate plan, you should make sure your retirement plan beneficiary designations are up to date. If you don't name a beneficiary, the distribution of benefits may be controlled by state or federal law or according to your particular retirement plan.

Holiday Blues

The following is courtesy of Home Helpers of Lake Norman & Central NC. Visit our website at www.lknhomecare.com , or call us at 704.909.7958

 The holiday season is upon us!  During this time of year, you may notice a change in a loved one's mood.  It's not the actual holiday that can cause depression.  Most likely it's due to recollection of early, perhaps happier times from the past.  Memories of a lost friend, spouse, or family member, a move, or health related changes all tend to contribute.

  Some common symptoms of depression to be aware of are: irritable mood; sadness; feeling of worthlessness; anxiety; loss of appetite; and failing to maintain hygiene.  Once the cause of depression is identified, it becomes easier to address.  In severe cases, an anti-depressant may be prescribed.  More frequently, treatment may be as simple as relieving loneliness with visitations, outings, conversation, or involvement in some activities.

  Whatever the cause, it should not be ignored hoping that it will pass with the season.  Be proactive and supportive.  And as always, should the symptoms persist, contact a physician for advice.
  As always, if you or a someone you know needs care-giving assistance, call us.  We've been helping to Make Life Easier for over a decade.  It's our passion.

Holiday visits

The following is courtesy of Home Helpers of Lake Norman & Central NC. Visit our website at www.lknhomecare.com , or call us at 704.909.7958

 Each year as we visit families for the holidays, it's common to notice a loved one that seems to have "slowed down", or who may be having more challenges with their daily activities.  Being away for some time, and then paying a visit tends to make this observation all the more obvious.  This year, if you notice someone that seems to be struggling, consider the In-Home Care options that are available.  We can help structure a plan that works with your needs, from a couple of "check up" visits per week to 24 hour care.  Also, our Direct Link electronic products are perfect for those persons that don't require an in home aide, but who need a little something to help out and provide peace of mind.

  Visit our website and watch our videos to learn more about our services.  Then call us at 704-909-7958.

  Above all else, we'd like to wish you and yours a very Happy Thanksgiving.

What is the VA Aid & Attendance Benefit??

The following is courtesy of Home Helpers of Lake Norman & Central NC. Visit our website at www.lknhomecare.com , or call us at 704.909.7958

 We get lots of requests for information on what the VA Aid & Attendance Benefit is, and how to apply.  Here's a quick summary...

• Aid and Attendance (A&A) is a benefit paid in addition to monthly pension.    A veteran may be eligible for A&A when:
  1. The veteran requires the aid of another person in order to perform personal functions required in everyday living, such as bathing, feeding, dressing, attending to the wants of nature, adjusting prosthetic devices, or protecting himself/herself from the hazards of his/her daily environment, OR,
  2. The veteran is bedridden, in that his/her disability or disabilities requires that he/she remain in bed apart from any prescribed course of convalescence or treatment, OR,
  3. The veteran is a patient in a nursing home due to mental or physical incapacity, OR,
  4. The veteran is blind, or so nearly blind as to have corrected visual acuity of 5/200 or less, in both eyes, or concentric contraction of the visual field to 5 degrees or less.
• Housebound is paid in addition to monthly pension.    Like A&A, Housebound benefits may not be paid without eligibility to pension.   A veteran may be eligible for Housebound benefits when:
  1. The veteran has a single permanent disability evaluated as 100-percent disabling AND, due to such disability, he/she is permanently and substantially confined to his/her immediate premises, OR,
  2. The veteran has a single permanent disability evaluated as 100-percent disabling AND, another disability, or disabilities, evaluated as 60 percent or more disabling.

How to Apply for Aid and Attendance and Housebound Benefits:

• You may apply for Aid and Attendance or Housebound benefits by writing to your local VA office.  Click here for the N.C. regional office website.
• You should include copies of any evidence, preferably a report from an attending physician validating the need for Aid and Attendance or Housebound type care.
• The report should be in sufficient detail to determine whether there is disease or injury producing physical or mental impairment, loss of coordination, or conditions affecting the ability to dress and undress, to feed oneself, to attend to sanitary needs, and to keep oneself ordinarily clean and presentable.
• In addition, it is necessary to determine whether the claimant is confined to the home or immediate premises.

Eldercare costs

The following is courtesy of Home Helpers of Lake Norman & Central NC. Visit our website at www.lknhomecare.com , or call us at 704.909.7958

  Long term care facilities costs continue to climb.  According to the MetLife 2011 Marketing Survey, private room nursing home rates rose %4.4 to an average of  $239/day, and assisted living jumped %5 to an average of $3477/month.  After holding steady for a year, adult day care service costs saw a %4.5 increase.  Fortunately, the average cost of Home Health Aide and Companion services held steady.

  In-Home health services continue to provide the biggest bang for the healthcare buck.  No other service can offer the one-on-one caregiver to patient ratio for the same costs.  A quick glance at this chart gives a good breakdown of how the costs per service compare.

  As always, we encourage you to investigate all options when researching care needs.  You can then make a choice that best suits your needs.  If you have questions, feel free to call us today at 704-909-7958 or visit our website by clicking here.  We'll be glad to assist you in any way possible. 

VA benefit gets cost of living increase...

The following is courtesy of Home Helpers of Lake Norman & Central NC. Visit our website at www.lknhomecare.com , or call us at 704.909.7958

 After several years with no annual increases, Congress recently passed a bill to raise the pension for eligible veterans and surviving spouses for the VA Aide & Attendance benefit.  Beginning January 2012, the 3.6% increase results in new monthly pension amounts of: 

1. Married Veteran- $2,020  
2. Single Veteran- $1,704 
3. Surviving Spouse - $1,094

 There are 3 key elegibility requirements for A&A benefits.  These are:
 (1)  The veteran must have served in active military for 90 or more consecutive days, with 1 day during a period of wartime as defined by the Veterans Administration.
 (2)  The veteran must have been discharged under anything other than dishonorable conditions.
 (3)  The veteran must be over the age of 65 or disabled.

The application can be daunting, but this is a benefit that every veteran should take advantage of. If you're eligible for this benefit, or just have questions about how to get started, feel free to call our office.  We'll be glad to help get you started.

Care for the caregiver...

The following is courtesy of Home Helpers of Lake Norman & Central NC. Visit our website at www.lknhomecare.com , or call us at 704.909.7958

 Despite the best of intentions, family care-giving can quickly become a difficult and overwhelming task. Known as the “Sandwich Generation,” millions of Americans are understandably feeling the strain of caring for aging parents and raising families, all while managing demanding careers and tending to household duties.
 Although it may seem selfish at first, your top priority as a family caregiver should always be yourself! You must be at your best in order to provide your loved ones the quality care and attention they deserve. The good news is there are several resources and support groups available to provide respite care and relieve much of this undue stress, including:
• http://www.caregiving.org/ : Connects you with other family caregivers and provides access to support groups and organizations.
• http://www.lknhomecare.com/ : Provides easy access to caregiver tips and resources, pertinent information and a national network of compassionate, qualified caregivers.
  We know from personal experience that family caregiving can be a much more enjoyable experience once you recognize and accept there are limits to what you can accomplish alone. Our own families have cared for at least two parents who were facing terminal illnesses. While we had quite a bit of family to help provide support, we hired supplemental care as well. As a result, we were less stressed and able to enjoy precious time with our loved ones.
 When all is said and done, you want to cherish fond memories of spending quality time with your loved ones, not the strain and tension it caused.
 Remember, it’s okay to ask for help. In fact, it’s encouraged.

Alzheimer's awareness: 2011 Sobering Facts and Figures

The following is courtesy of Home Helpers of Lake Norman & Central NC. Visit our website at www.lknhomecare.com , or call us at 704.909.7958


 When it comes to Alzheimer's Disease, it's not just the person with the disease that suffers.  It's also their caregivers:

- In 2010, 14.9 million families or friends provided over 17 billion hours of unpaid care to Alzheimer's patients.
- The estimated cost of the unpaid care totaled over $202.6 billion in 2010.
- Over 60% of those caregivers report symptoms of stress or depression resulting from caring for an Alzheimer's sufferer.


 An item that is often forgotten about Alzheimer's:  It more than just memory loss.  It kills.
- Alzheimer's is the 6th leading cause of death in the US, and the 5th leading cause of death for those 65 and older.
- There is no know way at this time to prevent or cure Alzheimer's.
- Deaths from Alzheimer's increased 66% between 2000 & 2008.  Deaths from other major diseases (ie: breast cancer, stroke, prostate cancer, HIV), including heart disease decreased.


 The good news is that for 2011, there was over $12.8 million in funding granted to more than 70 investigative groups.  New information on the disease is forthcoming on a daily basis.  We'll continue to post information as it's available, so check back often.  Also, visit www.alz.org for more information.

Easy Access to Free Information

The following is courtesy of Home Helpers of Lake Norman & Central NC. Visit our website at www.lknhomecare.com , or call us at 704.909.7958

  There are numerous agencies, programs and organizations that provide assistance and support for seniors and families. Each agency has a particular focus of interest and resources to support its clients.  The U.S. Administration on Aging maintains the Eldercare Locator, a national directory that helps people locate aging services in every community throughout the United States. You can find the Eldercare Locator at www.eldercare.gov .  This is a free web service that can direct you to local contacts in your area.  Give it a try!

Alzheimer's Awareness: New Research Results for Treatment

The following is courtesy of Home Helpers of Lake Norman & Central NC. Visit our website at www.homehelpers.cc/lkn58445 , or call us at 704.909.7958

 The amount of effort that goes into Alzheimer's treatment is impressive.  Just this week, researchers reported that insulin may have a very positive impact on Alzheimer's sufferers.  While this is all preliminary information, it highlights some of the continuing research which seeks to find a way to control or prevent this disease.  This short video gives a summary report of this new development...

  Home Helpers of LKN and Central NC will continue to keep you up to date on news and developments surrounding Alzheimer's.  If you have questions about caring for someone with Alzheimer's, call our office today.

Alzheimer's Caregiver Tips - Continuing Awareness Series

The following is courtesy of Home Helpers of Lake Norman & Central NC. Visit our website at www.homehelpers.cc/lkn58445 , or call us at 704.909.7958 

 Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's disease can be one of the most difficult challenges a person will ever encounter.  The following tips can help smooth the experience:

1. Don't argue with the sufferer -- agree with them even if it seems completely silly, and live in the reality of their moment.
2. Don't use logic or reason -- Alzheimer's suffers rarely respond well to logic.  Find a diversion, or distraction, and focus on something they like.
3. Don't try to force -- Offer suggestions and rewards.
4. Don't command -- Ask them to help, and compliment their performance when they comply.
5. Don't say, "remember" -- Asking an Alzheimer's patient to "remember" often creates frustration.  Simply reminisce about the old days.  For instance, talk about how much fun you had on a trip.
6. Don't say, "I told you!" -- Expect to repeat the answer to a question several times.  Often you can turn it around and ask them the same question. For instance: "What time does my TV show come on?"  Respond with "I'm not sure, what time does it usually come on?"
7. Don't let hurtful comments upset you -- These are going to happen.  Just calmly change the subject.
8. Don't be condescending -- Encourage, praise, and reward.  The smallest actions should be recognized.
9. Don't be negative -- Be positive and reassure them of your love, your continued support and their safety.
10. Don't focus on the decline -- Live in the moment, savor the time and the life that is still there.

Alzheimer's Awareness: Early Symptoms Other Than Memory Loss

The following is courtesy of Home Helpers of Lake Norman & Central NC. Visit our website at www.homehelpers.cc/lkn58445 , or call us at 704.909.7958

  Memory loss is the symptom everybody worried about Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia seems to focus on.  However, there are common symptoms that can begin before memory loss sets in.  Let's look at five:

 1. Personality Change - a loved one may seem to morph into a bit of a grouch, at first occasionally, and then increasingly, or they may begin cursing regularly.  This change commonly predates memory loss.

 2. Executive Functions - difficulty carrying out basic, familiar tasks. 

 3. Vision Problems - depth perception or visual-spatial coordination issues.  The person may have trouble driving or even walking well.

 4. Communication - Word retrieval and getting out the right words.  This may be more apparent to friends and non-family members as they notice a change between visits.

 5. Social Withdrawal - The person is often well aware that something is amiss, even if he or she isn't exactly sure why.  Often the person isn't even aware that they seem to be losing interest in friends and family, because they concentrate so hard on just getting through the day.

  Should you notice any of these symptoms, it's important to have them checked out by a doctor.  Early detection improves the chances that advancement of the disease can be better managed.

 The following is courtesy of Home Helpers of Lake Norman & Central NC. Visit our website at www.homehelpers.cc/lkn58445 , or call us at 704.909.7958

Join us at Churchill Senior Living

“Positive Aging Series”

 The last Tuesday of each month Churchill Senior Living hosts a series of workshops and seminars covering a wide variety of topics for seniors and their families.

 This month's program is titled 

 “Aging is Not For Wimps” 

Presented by Home Helpers of Central NC

Many people go through life without giving consideration to what they will do should they have a major change in health or living status.  When it does occur, they are usually forced to make uneducated decisions.  This lively presentation will provide information that will help you make the best decision in spite of what life may have to offer.

Churchill’s Positive Aging series is open to the general public and there is no cost to attend. If you have any questions or would like to attend please contact Churchill’s Community Relations Director Stuart Madow at 704-658-1200.

This month’s program “Aging is Not for Wimps” takes place on Tuesday August 30^th with two presentations scheduled (1pm and 6pm). Each session will last about an hour.

Churchill Senior Living is located at 140 Carriage Club Drive in Mooresville (behind the Target shopping center near I-77 exit 36)

Good news about aging!

 The following is courtesy of Home Helpers of Lake Norman & Central NC. Visit our website at www.homehelpers.cc/lkn58445 , or call us at 704.909.7958

  Here's some upbeat news:  Studies indicate that wisdom and happiness increase with age.  That's refreshing, isn't it?!!  This time of life is frequently referred to as "emotional and cognitive stability".  It's something of a paradox, since an older person finds the brain wanting to "go go go" while the body wants to go "slow slow slow".  Entering one's 70s and 80s also brings an abundance of social and emotional knowledge, qualities generally defined as wisdom. 

  According to Fredda Blanchard-Fields of the Georgia Institute of Technology, seniors acquire a feel, an enhanced sense of knowing right from wrong, and therefore a way to make sound life decisions. So what’s the recipe for wisdom? Researchers note that life experience is necessary: raising a family, navigating a career and experiencing love, loss, success and failure. Happy or sad as life can be, it educates people.

 In summary, wisdom comes from life experiences, which may explain why some of the people we look to for guidance are rarely youngsters!   Knowing that one has successfully navigated a plethora of life experiences is very satisfying.  And not something you'll learn from a book.

A caregiving choice...

The following is courtesy of Home Helpers of Lake Norman & Central NC. Visit our website at www.homehelpers.cc/lkn58445 , or call us at 704.909.7958

 We frequently get calls from families that are trying to choose between hiring a caregiver directly or going through an agency.  There are advantages and disadvantages to either choice, and we always try to work with our clients to help them make an educated decision.
 Towards that end, we've summarized the information you should be aware of into a couple of brief paragraphs below...

Hiring directly: When you hire a caregiver directly, consider all the tax and liability issues. As an employer, you are responsible for filing payroll taxes, tax forms, and verifying that the employee can legally work in the United States. You will need to withhold and pay Social Security, Medicare, and unemployment taxes for aides that you hire.  If the caregiver becomes ill or unable to work for any reason, it is up to you to find a suitable fill in.  In addition, a private caregiver may not carry his or her own liability insurance or workers' compensation. If an accident occurs on the job, you could be responsible.  The benefit of hiring a caregiver directly is that you have more control over who you hire and usually costs less.

The agency route: When you hire through a home health agency, the agency is the employer, so you don't need to worry about tax and liability issues. The agency takes care of screening the employees, doing background checks, and providing insurance. In addition a licensed home care agency must provide ongoing supervision to its employees. It can help the employees deal with difficult family situations or changing needs. The agency may also be able to provide back-up if a regular caregiver is not available.  The downside of going through an agency is not having as much input into the selection of the caregiver. In addition, caregivers may change or alternate, but coverage is generally assured.

 It's important that you make decisions such as this in an informed and educated manner.  Never hesitate to ask questions and gather facts as it will help you in the long run.  As always, our office is happy to provide facts that will help you make the proper choice.  Feel free to call.

Our population is getting older

 Watch this video for some food for thought about what it means when someone says our population is aging...

Alzheimer's detection research

The following is courtesy of Home Helpers of Lake Norman & Central NC. Visit our website at www.homehelpers.cc/lkn58445 , or call us at 704.909.7958

 According to a report in the Associated Press, scientists in Australia and the US are getting encouraging results from initial eye tests for early Alzheimer's detection.  Although still in it's early stages, the results are encouraging.  The basis behind the tests is that Alzheimer's causes changes in the eyes as well as the brain.  In addition, it's noted that persons with the disease are 5 times more likely to suffer a fall than someone without it.  Both of these results were topics for discussion at the Alzheimer's International Conference in France recently.
 Early detection is critical to managing the disease and reducing it's impact to the sufferer.  For more information, or to read the entire article, visit the posting in Yahoo News by clicking here.

A call for help!

The following is courtesy of Home Helpers of Lake Norman & Central NC. Visit our website at www.homehelpers.cc/lkn58445 , or call us at 704.909.7958

 We received a call recently from a young woman who had been caring for her mother & father, was using vacation time from work for it, and was exhausted.  The parents were content, but she admitted she could not continue this way and needed our help.

 Out of curiosity, we did some quick research for studies that might summarize the impact on providing this type of care.  What we found was surprising.  Here are some interesting statistics:

• The proportion of adult children providing personal care for parents has more than tripled in the last 15 years.
• Females are more likely to provide basic care, and males are more likely to provide financial assistance.
• In the U.S., the total aggregate cost of caregivers to parents in lost wages, benefits, etc., is over $3 trillion annually (yes, TRILLION).
• Adult children who work and provide care to parents are more likely to have health issues.
• Over the total time estimate that a female caregiver is tending to her parents, the cost in lost wages, benefits, added expense, etc., is over $320,000!

 These statistics have implications for individuals, employers, government, planners, Insurance Providers, etc.  As an individual, you owe it to yourself to closely consider your health and welfare when considering how to provide family care.  Emotions and feelings of commitment are usually strong in these situations, but making a decision that is good for everyone is always the best choice.  

 For more information, click here to visit the MetLife Caregiving Study.