Outbursts From Dementia Sufferers

We frequently see families caring for a loved one that is suffering from dementia and struggling with outbursts of anger. This is particularly true of those who are in the more advanced stages. Knowing what triggered the behavior, and how to react in the moment of a verbal outburst can help you cope. Finding the trigger to the outburst is not always easy. Remember that someone with advanced stages of dementia may be unable to recognize or communicate their needs easily. Also, they may have difficulty understanding what behavior is acceptable.

Most often the cause of the outburst will fall into one of three categories:
1. Physical:  Issues such as discomfort, pain, illness, improper medication or difficulty hearing. Consult with a physician and ask if they can help determine which of these may be ruled out.
2. Social:  Unfamiliar surroundings, boredom, loneliness, crowds, or embarrassment from having someone repeatedly pointing out they you have already answered a question.  Though not all of these scenarios can be controlled, if you understand the issue you can address the behavior in a more knowledgeable way.
3. Psychological: Challenges such as memory loss, fear, anxiety, or losing touch with reality.  All of these can lead to misunderstandings, misconceptions and difficulty communicating. Again, knowing the cause can help you take command and alleviate the problem.

What should you do when your loved one has an outburst? First, take a deep breath and remain calm. Raising one's voice or arguing will only elevate the situation.  Always reply in a calm, reassuring voice, maintain eye contact, and do not show any anger or alarm. Acknowledging the sufferer's feelings will tend to diffuse any anger they may be feeling. Finally, redirection to something that the dementia sufferer enjoys is very effective.  Things like music, laundry folding, watering plants, games, or any activity that makes them feel productive and happy will tend to move their disposition towards a more upbeat mood.

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 Scam Circulating

Our office has seen several instances of a new telephone scam that has surfaced recently.  Here's how it works...

A caller indicates that they are with a large sweepstakes company (IE: Publishers Clearing House, Readers Digest, etc.) and that you have won the grand prize.  They typically continue to describe the amount of money won, and ask questions about how you would like to recieve your winnings.  In addition, the caller may ask that you provide some personal information to prove who you are and to verify that you are indeed the winner.  Once the information is provided, a discussion will commence on the tax burden which is associated with your prize.  At this point, the caller offers methods of how you can pay the taxes so that the winnings can be delivered.  In one case we know of, the caller managed to get someone to pay over $40,000 "for taxes" up front.  Once the payment has been made, the victim never hears from the caller again.

Scammers have become very good with their presentations, and may even offer a website that can be visited to verify their validity.  The website is of course bogus.  The bottom line is, you should never pay money or give personal information to a stranger that calls.  No matter how convincing or knowledgeable the call sounds, requests for money prior to receiving a prize or service is a scam!

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+!

Protecting Seniors from Financial Abuse

 In broad terms, Senior Financial Abuse can be defined as the illegal or improper use of property or assets of anyone over the age of 60. 

 Some examples of this type of abuse can include identity theft, credit card fraud, abuse of Power of Attorney, deed theft, or using influence to receive cash or assets.  While we usually think of strangers committing this sort of abuse, it can also come from friends or family members.  Seniors are frequent targets primarily due to their lack of awareness of scams, or because they become more withdrawn and depend on another person that they see as trustworthy.  It's the latter reason that results in abuse stemming from family or other acquaintances.  This sort of abuse typically goes unreported owing to fear of the perpetrator, or due to embarrassment that they were taken advantage of.

How can you tell if someone you know is being financially abused?  The following are common warning signs to look for:
- Changes in typical spending habits.  Do you see account balances declining suddenly?
- Transferring assets to 'help a friend'.
- Checks made out to 'Cash', strange payments, or unfamiliar signatures.
- Large or unexplained withdrawals or transfers.
- Bills suddenly stacking up and not being paid.
- Unable to produce statements from financial institutes.
- A friend or family member that tries to isolate a senior from others. 

 Since financial abuse often correlates to isolation, it's important to make sure that regular social interaction with varying acquaintances occur on a regular basis.  Also, offer to accompany a senior to visit any professional advisers to make certain they understand any advice or changes that are planned. If you suspect financial abuse, but don't know what to do, visit the National Adult Protective Services Agency website.  This site can direct you to local agencies throughout the US that can assist you in finding the help you need.

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 Change of Seasons

 The arrival of fall signals colorful leaves, shorter days, and the approach of cooler weather.  If you have senior family members or friends, you may have noticed when you visit that the home usually feels warm to you.  It's normal as we age to prefer warmer living quarters. But what can be done to keep a loved one comfortable and at the same time safe?
  First,  you’ll want to arrange to have the home furnace and heating system serviced by a professional.  They should confirm that a unit which has been dormant for a while will operate normally and at at peak efficiency. If possible, have them inspect heating ducts and registers, as well as humidifiers, to make sure the air circulating in your home is clean.  This is an excellent time to get all filters changed out also.
 If there is a fireplace, it’s important to clean and inspect it before using it again, as well as confirm the chimney is in operational condition.  For fireplaces with gas logs, most gas utilities will be able to provide this service and verify proper operation.
  Electric blankets and heated rugs or mats are also popular.  Prior to turning these on, take a moment to give a close inspection.  Frayed cords, worn areas, loose or damaged switches, etc., are all reasons to have the item replaced.
  Finally, small space heaters are popular with seniors as they provide local and directed warmth.  They are also one of the number one causes of house fires.  If space heaters are in use, make certain they are in good condition, that all built in safety devices are working (ie: tip-over cutoffs, carbon monoxide sensor, etc.), and that they are not close to drapes.  If unsure, have it checked by a professional or simply replaced.
  A few moments of attention to these small details can provide a wealth of improved safety and comfort for friends and loved ones.

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+!

The Sandwich Generation

Have you ever heard of the term "Sandwich Generation" and wondered what it meant?  Or do you find yourself dealing with some very real challenges as a result of being a member of this group?   Mediastorm has recently released a video that documents one family's challenges of being a member of the Sandwich Generation.  Their movie trailer on this topic is well made and heart touching.  Take a few minutes to view it.  If you, or someone you know is struggling to deal with the same issues you'll see in the video, give us a call.  We'll be happy to help...


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+!

Finding care for the Dementia or Alzheimer's sufferer

An Alzheimer’s or dementia diagnosis is a scary proposition.  Moving into a memory care center creates more stress for someone who is slowly losing themselves.  A loving and less stressful alternative is seeking out skilled Alzheimer’s home care.
  When a senior with dementia begins to lose their ability to organize their finances, keep their home clean, cook meals, or is not caring for their personal appearance, having a skilled home care provider can not only help an elderly loved one perform these tasks, but they can also brighten their day.  Alzheimer’s home care is actually a continuum of services provided by home care agencies.  Personal care agencies can help with companion services, dressing, bathing, light house work, shopping, eating and assist in reminding Alzheimer’s patients to take their medication.  As the disease progresses, home health care agencies can provide therapeutic care and activities as directed by the patient’s doctor.
  Prior to hiring a home care provider, there are steps follow to assure the needs of the sufferer are met:

•     Make a list of needs.  Be specific in both the needs and what the expectations are for how those needs will be met.  If the family expects breakfast and lunch to be prepared, light housework, medication reminders and assistance with bathing, they must outline these needs and how they expect them to be carried out.

•     Always screen the agency by phone first.  This not only ensures that the agency provides the type of  home care needed, but allows the family a first look at the customer service of the agency. How helpful are they over the phone?  Do they completely answer questions or provide vague responses?  First contact can be indicative of the overall attitude of the agency.

•     The majority of home care agencies will come to the patient’s home to do an on-site assessment at no charge.  Review the list of needs with the agency.  Families may want to have a few members present during the assessment so they can review the assessment afterward to see if the agency is a good fit for their loved one.

•   Make a list of routines. While this may seem trivial, we take for granted how we go through our daily activities, and we typically follow a daily pattern.  For a memory sufferer, having a consistent routine can be comforting.  Writing it down will help the incoming caregiver to continue this routine and put the sufferer at ease.

  Once a home health agency has been hired, be sure to share the loved one’s memories.  This allows the agency’s caregivers to form a bond with the patient.  The stronger the bond becomes with the senior, the happier they will be.  Sharing personal preferences, photos and accomplishments will aid in the bonding process as well.

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+!