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.

Veterans Affairs Department announces added benefits...

 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

 

 If you are caring for a Post 9/11 veteran, or know someone who is, there are recent developments from the Department of Veterans Affairs that you should be aware of.  President Obama has signed an act which provides a wide range of new services to support caregivers of these vets.  In addition, the VA will also begin providing enhanced benefits to veterans of all eras that are enrolled in VA care. This includes:

 - Access to the VA's Caregiver Support Line: 855-260-3274

 - Expanded education & training on providing care.

 - Support services such as counseling & support groups.

 - Enhanced caregiver website.

 To find out if you may qualify for additional services as a Caregiver, or to get more information, visit the DVA's website at http://www.caregiver.va.gov/ .

Alzheimer’s: Understanding and Prevention

 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 we continue our series on understanding Alzheimer's disease, it's important to note that, while there is no cure, there are accepted ways to help slow the disease.  The most widely known are:

 1. Omega 3 fatty acids and antioxidant consumption. Omega 3 fatty acids help cure brain synapses and help prevent damage from the disease.  Add foods such as salmon, tuna, grapes, apples, or just about any green vegetable to your diet.

 2. Reduce Stress.  Stress increases the production of tangles in your brain which increases your likelihood of developing Alzheimer's.

 3. Exercise-Physical and Mental.  Walking, along with mind-body exercises such as meditation or yoga, along with most all mental and physical activities are good.  In addition, this helps to relieve stress.

  If your family has a history of Alzheimer's, you should begin preventative measures as early in life as possible.  If you or a loved one is already a sufferer, don't give up.  Doctors are working to find a cure daily.  Hopefully, with continued advances, there will one day be a cure.

  For more information on Alzheimer's, enter the word Alzheimer's in the search box on this page, or visit www.alz.org .

A healthy heart: Eat you veggies!

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

Kermit the Frog wasn't quite correct when he lamented "it's not easy being green".  And if you are what you eat, he couldn't have been farther from the truth.  Study after study has confirmed the benefits of vegetables, directly linking them to:

  Heart Health: Did you know a salad a day may help keep cardiovascular disease away?
  Cancer prevention: Veggies may be linked to preventing breast cancer, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and bladder cancer to name a few.
  Mental health: Adults who eat their greens may be less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease.
  Cell & Gene health: The compounds in greens seem to prevent or potentially reverse the cancer causing changes brought about by hazards in our environments.
  Calcium & other nutrients: These build stronger skeletons and help prevent bone loss.

Hearth Health Month

 So how to get more greens in your diet?  Salads are the obvious answer.  But don't forget about steaming or sauteing.  Mix them in with soups, stews, pasta dishes, omelets, or stir fry recipes.  You can even pile them onto a pizza!  Check out these suggestions from The Learning Channel.  The more you experiment, the more you'll find out what you really enjoy.   And your heart will appreciate it!

   

Do you get enough exercise???

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

 Cardiovascular diseases, including stroke, are our nation's No. 1 killer. To urge Americans to join the battle against these diseases, since 1963 Congress has required the president to proclaim February "American Heart Month."  One of the best ways to keep your heart healthy?  Exercise!  What sort and how much?  Keep reading...

  Everyone seems to dwell on how much exercise is enough.  To help Make Life Easier for you, we will refer you to the Center for Disease Control & Prevention.  They've come up with a neat web page that gives it to you in simple terms, and with recommendations that are easy to follow!  Give it a try by clicking here.  Now go out and help your heart!