New commercials from our office...

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

 Our office has just completed the recording of several commercials, and two are now posted on the web!
 It was amazing how many people simply DID NOT want to be on screen during this project.  Stage fright, mike fright?  We may never know.  Naturally, we hope you like them!!  Let us know what you think.  Click here for your viewing pleasure!
 

Dementia? Alzheimer's? What's the difference??? Our continuing 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

 A frequently asked question about Alzheimer's disease is "What's the difference between Dementia and Alzheimer's?".  Let's try to look at this in terms we are all familiar with.  When a person becomes ill, they may have a fever.  The fever is not the illness that they are suffering from, but rather it's a symptom.  The cause of the fever could range from anything as simple as a cold to something more complex like peritonitis.  In this case, it's easy to see that a prompt and proper diagnosis is crucial in order to properly treat the illness, or cause of the fever.

 We can think of Dementia like a fever, it's not the disease, but rather a symptom, and is not necessarily a normal part of aging.  There are many causes of Dementia, some of which are reversible.  Unfortunately, more than 70% are attributed to Alzheimer's.  Whenever Dementia presents itself, the person showing it's signs should be checked out thoroughly.  The significance of a correct and prompt diagnosis could make all the difference in putting the patient on the proper track.

 For more information on Alzheimer's, visit www.alz.org .

Alzheimer's patients and Social Security

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 Social Security Administration has recently added early-onset/young-onset Alzheimer's to the list of conditions under it's Compassionate Allowance Initiative.  This gives those that suffer from the disease expedited access to Social Security Disability Insurance and Social Security Income.

 Frequently, sufferers in this category are initially denied coverage from SSDI/SSI, and are forced to file an appeal while simultaneously facing the challenges of dealing with this disease.  By adding Alzheimer's to their list of  "Compassionate Allowance" conditions, the benefits application process will be streamlined.  This will hopefully result in receiving SSDI/SSI benefits in an expedited manner.
 For more information on this recent update, visit the Social Security Online website by clicking here.

Diabetes - Understanding & reducing your risk.

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

 Diabetes is a chronic medical condition, meaning there is no known cure, but it can be treated. With proper care, most people with diabetes can live normal and independent lives.
 More than 25 million people in the United States have been diagnosed with diabetes. In its most basic terms, diabetes has to do with the body’s ability to convert and use blood sugar to produce energy. With Type 1 diabetes, the body does not produce sufficient insulin. With Type 2, the insulin the body produces tends to be ineffective. According to the 2011 National Diabetes Fact Sheet, an estimated 79 million people have what is considered prediabetes, which refers to higher than normal blood sugar levels.

Did You Know?
 Diabetes is a leading cause of blindness and kidney disease. Problems with the blood can damage the heart and lead to circulatory challenges as blood flows through the heart to the veins and arteries. As a result, people with diabetes have a significantly increased risk of high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke.
 Furthermore, because circulation is compromised, complications may arise, including numbness and difficulty healing wounds, primarily in the feet, which can lead to the loss of a limb in extreme cases. In order to identify and treat issues before they become significant problems, regular check-ups and health screenings are critical for people with diabetes.

 Prevention.
The following are a few tips and recommendations that can benefit everyone:
1.      Manage your intake. The sugar or glucose in the blood comes from food and beverage people consume. Make sure you understand nutrition labels and carefully monitor your intake. Phrases like “non-fat” and “sugar-free” can be quite misleading. “Non-fat” typically means high in sugar, and “sugar-free” typically means high in fat. Also, don’t assume certain foods are better than others. For example, the dressing you put on a salad may contain more fat and calories than a cheeseburger. To learn more about Nutritional Facts Labels, visit www.fda.gov/food/labelingnutrition/consumerinformation/ucm078889.htm 
2.      Maintaining a healthy weight is one of the best defenses against diabetes because your body functions at its best at its optimal weight.  For more information, visit www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/assessing/bmi/adult_bmi/english_bmi_calculator/bmi_calculator.html 
3.      Participating in a regular exercise regimen and practicing healthy living habits, such as not smoking, leads to wellness. One’s risk for complications with diabetes increases dramatically for people who smoke. For recommended activity levels, visit www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/everyone/guidelines/index.html 
4.      Know the symptoms of diabetes, which include increased thirst and urination, blurred vision and fatigue. Also, take time to learn more about diabetes. The following websites offer a diabetes risk test, tips on healthy eating and lifestyles and lots of other helpful information:
·         American Diabetes Association – www.diabetes.org
·         MedLinePlus – www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/diabetes.html
·         National Diabetes Education Program – www.ndep.nih.gov

Alzheimer's: Caregiving - our ongoing 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

 As Alzheimers progresses, the abilities of the affected person will change, and no two people experience it the same way.  Creativity and flexibility are key to providing care in this case.  Daily activities can enhance dignity and give purpose.  With this in mind, keep in mind the patient's past skills and abilities.  These will tend to remain in place.  In particular, pay attention if they start an activity without being guided.  The focus should be on what is enjoyed, and not on what is accomplished.  When you find an activity that is enjoyable, don't be surprised if the sufferer wants to repeat it over and over.  When planning the day, think about:

- What activities worked best.  Remember to focus on accomplishment.

- Where there spontaneous activities that could be repeated?

- Were there times when the person seemed overwhelmed?

- If the person seems bored or distracted, try a new activity.

 Remember to focus on what the person enjoys and is drawn to, then adapt a daily routine to support this.

 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

  Most everyone knows that senior care costs can be daunting, but few people ever attempt to leverage all options that are available to them. Genworth Financial recently posted the results from their research comparing Annual Long Term Care Costs on a state-by-state basis for 2010.  For North Carolina, a breakdown summary is as follows:  
 

  Nursing Home Private Room:            $71,175/yr
  Nursing Home Semi-Private Room:    $65,700/yr
  In Home Health Aide:                     $41,184/yr

 The above list is for total expected cost during a 1 year period.  While In-Home care is listed here as the most affordable option, there is another important differentiator:  Value.  In-Home care is the only service that provides for full time, 1-on-1 personalized care and service in the home.  Whether it's only 3 hours or 24 hours each day, a trained caregiver is assigned to the recipient in their home, not shared with others.  In addition, our office frequently bundles services with care plans to improve the value even more, thus improving the return on your costs.
  If you'd like more information, give us a call.  We're always glad to discuss ways to help your personal care dollars go further, and we work hard to help you find ways to cut those costs. To view the details of Genworth's reports for most any state, click here to visit their website.