Elder Care - Getting to the Bottom of the Memory Problem

When you approach your medical professional regarding memory issues, what should you expect during the diagnosis period? There are several things that you should expect to be included in a good medical workup when there is memory loss.
A complete physical with medical history - Did you know that only 30% of physicians will do a complete medical workup on patients with presenting dementia symptoms after the age of 75? This is inexcusable when so many easily treatable conditions can cause memory issues.
A neurological workup- This should include brain scans such as an MRI, PET Scan, or Cat Scan. Often the physician will refer the patient to a neurologist who specializes in geriatric patients.
A complete history from the family of what is going on-Do not expect the patient to be able to give a good picture. The patient is having memory issues. They will not be able to give a good picture of the symptoms.
A thorough medication review- Medication interactions are a common cause of dementia symptoms. Once corrected, the symptoms may disappear. Even many over the counter medications may cause memory problems.
Neuropsychological Testing-This may include things such as the MMSE, the Alz Self-Test, or other screens. The value of these tests is that we get a picture of where the person is now cognitively, as well as establishing a baseline for later exams.
Follow-up- You should expect good follow-up from the physician. There will be test results to review, medications to monitor, as well as support to offer.
Referrals as needed- Your physician may refer you to a clinic in your area that specializes in dementia care and treatment. He may also refer you to a Geriatric Care Manager who will offer guidance and expertise for your area resources, along this very difficult road. This is also the time to seek an Elder Care Attorney to make sure your documents are in order. Your Geriatric Care Manager will help you find a reputable Elder Care Attorney.

Do not let your doctor ignore your symptoms. If you feel that you are not getting the care you deserve, please take the time to look for another doctor. Ask your network of friends, or look for a community expert such as a in your area. Insisting on a thorough medical workup may mean a huge difference in the rest of your life.

What Is In Home Elder Care Companionship?

Elder care is recommended to those individuals who prefer to stay in their homes but need a constant care which their family members cannot easily provide. With elder care, seniors can live on their own as long as possible, receiving as much help as possible from the outside. The services given to seniors depend mostly on every individual's condition. Elder care may either involve giving limited health care services to seniors with minimal health concerns or more complete health care services to a recuperating, disabled, or terminal ill senior. Ordinarily, these adults are placed in a nursing home environment and not in a hospital setting. In particular, family members of patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease and other similar diseases feel it is much better for them to remain in their home environment through the help of a home elder caregiver.

Elder care services may be acquired either through an in home care agency or by hiring a caregiver directly. Direct hires are more common for companionship services and for home health services when seniors' conditions are likely to remain the same for an extended period. Senior caregivers may provide their services on a live-in basis or they may live out. In general, those who provide companionship services are stay-in workers while home health aides come and go on a pre-determined timetable.

Elder care companionship services are mainly provided to elderly adults who are physically healthy but need some help in their Activities of Daily Living or ADLs. Its main thrust is to allow them to live independently in their own homes for as long as possible. The assistance given is usually non-medical. In general, an elder care companion does not provide the more detailed aspects of senior care.

Although a companion has similarities with a home health aide, such as having an experience with patient care and absent training, a companion has a less physically demanding job than a health aide. The reason for this is that with this job the senior client is normally more mobile and physically fit. Towards him, a companion is more of a friend and a confidant than a health worker. His duties are more on providing satisfaction to an adult who is living in solitude and assure concerned family members of the senior's over-all well-being.

An elder care companion is able to transform regular care giving duties into great opportunities for enjoyable conversations and activities that can enhance the senior's lives. Companionship services may include strolling around the neighborhood, discussing current news or personal interests, talking about the past while viewing old pictures, and working on puzzles, playing scrabbles, going to church and attending senior center activities. Through these different kinds of activities seniors are given the emotional support that they badly need and some kind of assistance that can keep them mentally alert. These activities also ensure that they remain physically active.

For their services to be highly effective, elder companions tailor them according to the personality, interests, and skills of every senior client. Research studies prove that these elder companion practices can help seniors live longer and have a healthier and more meaningful life.

Senior Helpers in home care Philadelphia are designed with the individual needs of your family in mind. Our services include Dementia and Alzheimer's Care as well as companionship services

Aging Parents and Elder Care

Any caregiver, either a professional or a close relative can face many challenges when faced with taking care of an elderly person, or parent. This can be especially difficult if a crisis develops with the person.

Maybe your mother has fallen and broken a bone, and requires urgent hospital attention, followed by rehabilitation in a nursing home. Maybe you are the only member of your family in a position to help, or have been ‘elected’ by your family as the best suited person to carry out the caring role.

If this kind of situation develops, then decisions have to be made quickly in relation to the elderly person being cared for .in terms of what to do next. Following the necessary hospital treatment, what kind of after care does the person need? Is physical therapy required? What types of medicine will need to be administered?

It is important for the caregiver to be fully acquainted with the medical condition of the senior person on leaving hospital. It is better to discuss such matters with the doctor or obtain information relevant to the condition from the internet. There are many books available which will help the caregiver, and equally many organizations which will happily give advice and help with the caring situation.

At this stage it is advisable for the prime caregiver to meet with the rest of the family, try to get as many other members involved as possible. This will ensure that the entire family is agreeable to any decisions which have been made by you.

All families have people with different personalities and values. It is essential that everyone is in agreement with the plans and decisions made by the prime caregiver in relation to his or her mental well being, and the welfare of the aged person.

If the condition of the person being cared for is serious, then the care giver, in conjunction with the family, should ensure that all of the personal documents belonging to the person are up to date, and safely secured.

The questions need to be answered in terms of a last will and testament, which will clearly define the disposal of the assets of the aged person. Has a person been positively named who will ensure that the wishes of the person will be carried out? Has the elderly person expressed his or her desires as to just how an end of life situation should be dealt with?

The matters relating to the health insurance of the elderly should be investigated, and that powers of attorney have been correctly designated for the administration of on going finances, and health care procedures.

Sadly, in many families, quarrels develop over money matters, and it is vital for both the comfort of the caregiver, and the well being of the aged person that all such matters are clearly defined and settled in every ones mind.? If there is any confusion with regard to these matters then it is often best to consult an Attorney who specializes in elderly care law.

Tags: Care, Caregiver, Challenges, Crisis, Decisions, Elder4ly Person, Family, Hospital, Money, Need, Parent, Personal Documents, Personalities, Relative, Testament, Treatment

A Missed Opportunity to Recruit Specialists in Elder Care (NY Times - New Old Age blog)

June 20, 2011

File under: Another Smart Idea That’s Not Happening (Yet).

We face a shortage of all kinds of health care professionals with expertise in treating older patients: geriatricians, nurse-practitioners, social workers, geriatric psychiatrists. Well, scratch that — we already have such a shortage, as a report from the Institute of Medicine made clear back in 2008. Indeed, most counties in the United States have no geriatricians practicing within their borders.

The real challenge, according to Nancy Lundebjerg, chief operating officer of the American Geriatrics Society and co-organizer of a coalition called the Eldercare Workforce Alliance: “Can we keep the shortage of people with this training from getting any worse?”

Read full blog

Elder Care: Tips For Keeping Seniors Safe At Home

As people age, living in care becomes extremely important to consider. They sometimes need to make some adjustments in their home to insure their own safety. Here are some tips to help your aging loved ones stay safe inside their homes:

1. Remove all items that may cause a senior to slip and fall It is always a good idea to take a look around the home and identify possible trouble spots that need to be addressed. Throw rugs, loose electrical cords, other loose wires that may get in someone's way as they try to walk around the house. Waxed floors that tend to cause slippage would also fit into this category. Depending on what you find, you may need to do some changes to the flooring, like replacing throw rugs or slippery floors with a tacked down carpet.

2. Make sure there are stable handrails on all stairs If your loved ones live in a multi-level structure with stairs, it is critical that they are able to climb these stairs safely. First of all, make sure that all sets of stairs (even just 2 or 3 steps) have accompanying handrails. For stairs that already have handrails, make sure they are not loose or shaky. If you're not able to yourself, hire someone to come over and stabilize all shaky handrails.

3. Secure the bathrooms Make sure all the bathtubs and showers are slip-proof by putting in bathmats. Also install handrails in the bathtubs and showers to help them get in and out easier.

4. As a Senior Caregiver ensure that all the necessary and regularly used items are just around the corner. Avoid putting them on top shelves because seniors have a greater tendency to lose their balance when reaching high spots. In case a step stool will be needed for places that are hard to reach, acquire one that has firm footing.

5. Make sure that there is adequate lightning in hallways and other frequently visited areas within and outside the house. If your senior parents have cataracts and diabetes, understanding that poor lighting makes these already troublesome diseases worse can be a source of great relief. You can solve this problem by cleaning the overhead light fixtures and replacing defective bulbs. Also, furniture should be placed very near the outlets to make sure that electric cords are out of the way. If necessary, install an additional wiring to cut down the distance between the outlet and the appliance. Another great option is to install an occupancy sensor light switch, an electrical device that automatically turns on the light anytime it senses a movement such as the opening of a kitchen door.

6. Beware of heating system hazards. Because seniors tend to spend more of their time inside the house, they are highly vulnerable to gas leaks and carbon monoxide poisoning. For their safety, make it a habit to have your heating systems professionally serviced every year. Monitor the carbon monoxide level within the house. According to statistics, carbon monoxide has been the primary reason for accidental poisoning deaths. Having a carbon monoxide detector inside the house, especially near the bedroom can help. This is the best way to detect if the carbon monoxide level is becoming too dangerous for their health.

7. Ensure that all your furniture is firm and safe. Unstable furniture, such as a chair that has a broken leg is dangerous. It is best to repair or replace them as soon as possible. Beds that have an elevated platform are also not advisable for seniors because not only will they have a hard time getting into it, they might also accidentally fall from it. Provide them with beds that are high and comfortable enough for them.

8. Put food products and toxic products in different storage areas. People with a blurred vision can easily confuse a cleaning product for a condiment, especially when they don't have their glasses on.

9. Install grab bars in high traffic areas inside the house. Grab bars can give extra security to seniors who are prone to light-headedness or dizziness. Installing grab bars can make moving around the house much easier and safer for them.

We are a cutting edge provider of live in care in Hazlet NJ and throughout Southern and Central New Jersey. Our professional In Home Healthcare Englishtown NJ Area understand the needs of our local community.

Building An Elder Care Financial Plan

Caregivers are often overwhelmed when making in home care decisions for their senior loved one because these decisions are often life-changing plus the choices are usually very expensive. Hence, it not only wise, but also practical to develop a financial plan as early as possible for the future care giving needs of seniors in the family. Family members, for instance, can start making decisions on how to sell a house or whether to secure a long term care insurance or not.

Knowing and understanding all your needs and resources are important prior to making some major financial decisions. Such financial decisions should not only be based on one's current condition, rather it should include their future situation. Otherwise, such a decision, based on limited factors, might bring about damaging side effects to you and to your family. Likewise, when making this decision, bear in mind that the needs and resources of every senior and caregiver is different and unique to his/her own particular situation.

In addition, financial planning should not be limited to your senior loved ones. As a senior caregiver, you should also plan for your own future needs. Most caregivers are fast approaching or even beyond the age of 60, and so their capacity to deliver care for another person, perhaps even including financial help, may hang on doing some adjustments to their own financial strategy.

The following information must be included in a financial plan: A monthly budget that specifies the income and expenses to clearly show your expected cash flow. An assessment of your health insurance plan detailing everything that it covers. An evaluation of all your properties and liabilities so that you can clearly see your net worth. The name of a specific person on whom you designate your finances and decision-making should the time come that you become unable.

Speaking with a professional financial planner, a geriatric care specialist or an elder-law attorney might be the best way to start thinking about these complicated financial and legal issues. You can look for such providers from your local Aging Service Access Point (ASAP). This can give you some helpful advice as well as referrals to some expert financial planners.

When developing your financial plan or arranging a talk with a financial planner, the very first thing you should do for yourself or the elder under your care is to analyze your cash flow. The way to do it is to calculate current income and expenditures, which includes insurance payments. You also need to compute your total net worth by taking away the total amount of your debts from the present value of all your properties. For this, you should know the current value, at least of your major assets such as your house. To begin with this process, you must be able to locate all your financial and legal records and papers.

After evaluating your financial resources, the next thing you should do is to approximate the senior care that would be much needed in the future. Of course, this estimation cannot be exact, because it is difficult to know the type of care that would be needed and the expenses that would be incurred. To determine whether an elder is qualified for free services or for those with income based fees, some caregivers do a quick benefits checkup online. This online service is usually free and confidential. It gives a comprehensive list of benefits and available programs for seniors (those who are 55 years old and beyond) from the federal and state government, as well as from some local and public institutions. There are elders and caregivers who are not qualified for subsidized elder care services, but whose budget is so constricted that they cannot afford senior care services out of their own pocket. Most resort to selling their house (usually their largest asset) in order to cover all the senior care expenses. However, this is something many are unwilling to do. Some families resort to a reverse mortgage, which is a special type of home loan that allows a homeowner to exchange a portion of his home's equity into cash. But unlike the more common home equity loan, you will not be asked to repay it until you no longer use your house as your main residence.

If the senior under your care is 65 years old or above, he qualifies for Medicare. This is the federal health insurance program that provides health care benefits to senior citizens as well as some younger people who are disabled or those with permanent kidney problems who needs either a dialysis or a kidney transplant.

Senior Helpers Elder Care Agency Cinnaminson NJ has been built with the individual daily living needs of your aging family members in mind. Our senior caregivers Delran NJ are waiting to serve you.