Drug Management

According to the CDC, more Boomers died of overdoses in 2013 than from car accidents, the flu, and pneumonia combined.  The Wall Street Journal reported  recently that this death statistic is expected to worsen as Boomers bring drug-using habits into old age with them to cope with everything from pain to declining functional ability.  Old habits and new challenges tend to not mix well in this situation.

As the article tells us, this group is in the midst of a perfect storm - the collision of the first generation with a predilection of mind-altering substances and record high rates of opiod painkiller abuse.

We find ourselves frequently working with families who are coping with a loved one with some sort of substance abuse, or with complex drug needs that are difficult to manage.  One solution for drug management is our electronic dispenser that provides the proper dose at the correct time.  Since it's a monitored solution, if the dosage isn't taken, the unit notifies us so that we can follow up with a phone call.  This allows us to confirm if the client is ok and they simply missed the alert, or if there's a problem that needs attention.  It's an affordable solution to an issue that can be challenging.  For more information, feel free to call our office.

Bringing useful news to educate our clients is one more way that Home Helpers has been making life easier for over a decade.  Call us today at 704-909-7958.  And as always, you can find us on our website,  Facebook and Google+!

Elder Abuse

  Every year, more than half a million American elders are abused or neglected according to Centers for Disease Control. The frequency of elder abuse may be greater as so many are afraid or simply unable to speak out about what is happening to them. In some cases, the abuse is limited to financial exploitation. In other cases, it may encompass neglect and physical cruelty.  Different varieties of elder abuse have different signals, some less obvious than others.  Here are some examples:

1- Neglect. This is commonly defined as withholding or failing to supply necessities of daily living to an elder, from food, water and appropriate clothing to necessary hygiene and medicines.
2- Abandonment. This occurs when a caregiver or responsible party simply deserts an elder – dropping them off at a nursing home, a hospital, or even a bus or train station with no plans to return. Hopefully, the elder has the presence of mind to call for help, but if not, a tragic situation will quickly worsen.
3- Physical abuse. Bruises and lacerations are evident signals, but other indicators are less evident: sprains and dislocations, cracked eyeglass lenses, impressions on the arms or legs from restraints, too much or too little medication, etc.
4- Emotional or psychological abuse. How do you know if an elder has been verbally degraded, tormented, or threatened in your absence, or left in isolation? If they aren't  willing or able to let you know about such wrongdoing, watch for signals such as withdrawal from conversation or communication, agitation or distress, and repetitive or obsessive-compulsive actions linked to dementia such as rocking, biting or sucking.
5- Financial abuse. When a relative, friend or other party uses an elder's funds, property, or assets illegally or dishonestly, this is financial exploitation. This may vary from withdrawing savings with an ATM card to forgery to improperly assuming power of attorney.

  Some people aim to exploit senior citizens. Others simply don’t recognize or respect the responsibilities that come with eldercare. Whether the abuse is intentional or not, the emotional, physical or financial harm done can be reprehensible. If you suspect abuse, but aren't sure where to turn, call us.  We'll be glad refer you to the correct resources.

Bringing useful news to educate our clients is one more way that Home Helpers has been making life easier for over a decade.  Call us today at 704-909-7958.  And as always, you can find us on our website,  Facebook and Google+!

A Final Grammy Award

 If you're a regular follower of our posts, or a fan of Glen Campbell, you'll recall our article about his struggles with Alzheimer's and the making of his last album. You can read it again and view the video clip by clicking on this link.  It's both a sad and heartwarming story, and well worth reading.

  A song from that album has earned Glen Campbell what is likely to be his final Grammy Award.  "I'm Not Gonna Miss You," is a bittersweet tune which he co-wrote with Julian Raymond for the 2014 documentary Glen Campbell: I'll Be Me.  That documentary outlined the affects Alzheimer's has had on both himself and his family.  You can read more about this recent award online in this Rolling Stone article. 
  As the inevitable progress of Alzheimer's cannot be stopped, Glen is now forced to reside in a memory care facility.  The Grammy Award is a fitting tribute to a very talented entertainer.
  If you have a friend or loved one that is struggling with this disease, and would like to know more about unique in-home care in this situation, give us a call.  We provide specialized staff training to make dealing with Alzheimer's as easy as possible.  We can be reached at 704-909-7958, or visit our website at www.LKNHomeCare.com.

Bringing useful news to educate our clients is one more way that Home Helpers has been making life easier for over a decade.  Call us today at 704-909-7958.  And as always, you can find us on our website,  Facebook and Google+!
 

Changes, and actions to take...

Many of us traveled home for the holidays to visit Mom and Dad. This time spent together comes once a year and is a special time, filled with holiday excitement and cheer. But, did you notice signs that something may be slightly off?

Here's a starting point for evaluating what you're seeing:

-    Changed eating habits, resulting in losing weight, having no appetite, or missing meals.
-    Neglected personal hygiene, including wearing dirty clothes and having body odor, bad breath, neglected nails and teeth, or sores on the skin.
-    Neglected their home, with a noticeable change in cleanliness and sanitation.
-    Exhibited inappropriate behavior, such as being unusually loud, quiet, paranoid, or agitated, or making phone calls at all hours.
-    Changed relationship patterns, causing friends and neighbors to express concerns.
-    Decreased or stopped participating in activities that were once important to them, such as bridge or a book club, dining with friends, or attending religious services.
-    Exhibited forgetfulness, resulting in unopened mail, piling of newspapers, not filling their prescriptions, or missing appointments.
-    Mishandled finances, such as not paying bills, losing money, paying bills twice or more, or hiding money. Made unusual purchases, such as buying more than one subscription to the same magazine, entering an unusually large number of contests, or increasing purchases from television advertisements.

Now What?
  We all want our parents to remain in their home for as long as possible, and most people feel this way.  In fact, 89% of seniors say the ability to age in place – or live independently and remain in one’s home – is very important, but more than half of those surveyed (53%) are concerned with their ability to do so.
  If a large distance separates you from your aging loved one, or if you don’t have the chance to spend time with them as often as you’d like, hiring an in-home caregiver can ensure that they receive the daily care they need. A little extra help with housework, cooking and errands may be all that the senior in your life needs, or they could need a more intensive care plan that includes personal care.  Whatever the needs, Home Helpers can provide solutions to keeping your loved one happy, healthy and at home.  Call us today.  We'll be happy to talk work with you through these challenges.

Bringing useful news to educate our clients is one more way that Home Helpers has been making life easier for over a decade.  Call us today at 704-909-7958.  And as always, you can find us on our website,  Facebook and Google+!

Beneficial activities for the Alzheimer's sufferer

Coming up with daily activities for an Alzheimer's sufferer may feel like an uphill battle. One of the biggest stumbling blocks people have is avoiding over-stimulating actions that can frustrate the individual too much. There are numerous benefits to get a patient with Alzheimer’s to use their mind more frequently. Playing strategic games such as chess can be incredibly beneficial. Below are additional suggestions that should be considered:

1: Reminiscing:  Another great activity for Alzheimer’s patients is reminiscing. Talk about things that you did in your past and begin asking questions of the Alzheimer’s patient. They may not be able to remember certain things, and sometimes their memories may clouded, but that’s okay. Redirect them to memories they can recall. That can actually open the door to things they haven’t thought about, memories they haven’t held onto in many years.

2: Arts & Crafts:  Putting together scrapbooks can be a fun pastime that forces the individual to use their brain, concentrate, and even inspire memories to come to the surface. Quilting or painting can be incredibly beneficial. Reading aloud or even talking about books that they read together can be a great way to spend some time.

3: Music:  Encouraging the Alzheimer’s patient to sing, regardless of whether they can hold a note or not, is good because it brings oxygen to the brain. You can also look to incorporate dance routines when coming up with certain types of music.  You may also want to sit down and suggest writing songs.

Bringing useful news to educate our clients is one more way that Home Helpers has been making life easier for over a decade.  Call us today at 704-909-7958.  And as always, you can find us on our website,  Facebook and Google+!

New Developments in the Treatment of Alzheimer's

After years of setbacks, Alzheimer's researchers are sounding optimistic again. The reason: a brain protein called tau. At this year's Society for Neuroscience meeting in Washington, D.C., there are more than 100 papers on tau, which is responsible for the tangles that form in the brains of people with Alzheimer's. In the past, tau has received less attention than another protein called amyloid beta, which causes the sticky plaques associated with Alzheimer's.

This toxic tau, known as a tau oligomer, occurs not only in Alzheimer's patients but also in people with traumatic brain injury.  New research suggests that treating Alzheimer's will require drugs that affect both tau and amyloid, and perhaps other factors that are less well understood.  It's because of this new research that new tools for treating alzheimer's are coming available.

We'll keep you posted as news of these developments unfold.

Bringing useful news to educate our clients is one more way that Home Helpers has been making life easier for over a decade.  Call us today at 704-909-7958.  And as always, you can find us on our website,  Facebook and Google+!