High dose vitamin D could prevent fractures in elderly
According to nearly a dozen studies, a high dose of vitamin D can reduce the risk of hip fractures by 30 percent and other bone breaks by 14 percent. These results were achieved by taking a dose of 800 (IU), but a lower dose had no affect.
The findings were published in the New England Journal of Medicine and also suggested that it was possible that more than 1,000 milligrams a day of calcium could reduce the benefits of high dose vitamin D. 
One of the researchers, Dr. Heike Bischoff-Ferrari of the University Hospital Zurich, told Reuters, “These hip fractures cost a lot and are a really serious event. They are usually the end of independent life for a senior person; 50 percent do not regain their mobility. Reducing the risk by 30 percent with just a vitamin supplement would be an enormous public health opportunity.”
Dr. Robert Heaney of Creighton University Medical Center said that the problem with prior conflicting studies concerning vitamin D might have been because the study participants’ vitamin D levels before the studies weren’t taken into account. Giving a vitamin D supplement to someone who already has enough or not administering enough to those with very low levels would show no benefit, Heaney suggested.
“In this regard, as in several other respects, nutrients are unlike drugs. Once an adequate concentration has been achieved, additional intake has no effect,” Heaney said.
The new analysis regarding vitamin D is based on 11 trials testing various regimens of oral vitamin D in people 65 and older against a placebo. Most of the study participants were women and some of the trials included calcium.
The results were 4,881 hip and other fractures among a sampling of more than 31,000 people. Vitamin D was not shown to cut hip fracture significantly across the board, but when the results for those taking the highest doses of vitamin D the benefits were seen.
Researchers said that the highest benefits were seen in nursing home settings where study participants were reminded by nurses to take their supplement daily.
Physicians Choice Private Duty currently serving Omaha, Eastern Nebraska and Western Iowa provides seniors and their families a complete understanding of the available care options and helps families maneuver through the challenges of the system. All Physicians Choice Private Duty services are directed by registered nurses or social workers with no long-term contracts. Contact us today for help with your senior care needs.
“Physicians Choice Private Duty solves the problems families face in finding home health care providers they can trust. Providers who will focus on strategies that keep parents in their homes. To learn more about our health care services, visit https://private-duty.pchhc.com/services/.“
Real Stories: Being home safe is the greatest relief
Real Stories: Being home safe is the greatest relief
Josh and Lana
Sometimes caregivers need relief, and that’s exactly what Physicians Choice Private Duty provided for Josh and wife Lana. Josh was a younger gentleman suffering from a brain injury and cancer. Lana, his wife was his primary caregiver but was getting burned out from the 24-7 car Josh required. She contacted Physicians Choice Private Duty for help. We provided limited respite care at their house so Lana could leave and not have to worry about Josh’s well-being.
Juan and Lydia
Juan was a former business owner with MS whose physical limitations did not allow him to perform necessary everyday tasks such as bathing himself. With the help of Physicians Choice Private Duty, in-home care provided Juan with a bath a few times a week. He was able to remain at home with his wife acting as his primary caregiver.
Mary
As a 60-year-old poorly controlled schizophrenic living independently, Mary was having problems properly taking care of herself. After seeking the help of Physicians Choice Private Duty, we recommended a medication reminder system, assisted with keeping her apartment clean and provided medical oversight for her other health concerns as well as transportation to doctor’s appointments. She was able to regain control, remaining at home independent and safe.
Eileen and Brent
Eileen was an elderly woman suffering from significant heart disease living with her husband Brent in an apartment. Physicians Choice Private Duty completed an assessment and set up a plan to manage Eileen’s medication and provide basic in-home services to limit her physical exertion during the day, helping her conserve her energy. She was able to remain at home with her husband, independent and safe.
Physicians Choice Private Duty currently serving Omaha, Eastern Nebraska and Western Iowa provides seniors and their families a complete understanding of the available care options and helps families maneuver through the challenges of the system. All Physicians Choice Private Duty services are directed by registered nurses or social workers with no long-term contracts. Contact us today for help with your senior care needs.
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“Physicians Choice Private Duty solves the problems families face in finding home health care providers they can trust. Providers who will focus on strategies that keep parents in their homes. To learn more about our health care services, visit https://private-duty.pchhc.com/services/.”
Medication reminder systems help seniors stay at home
Medication reminder systems help seniors stay at home
There are many important tasks that go into the care of an elderly parent or loved one in a day. Some of these — such as taking medication at the right times — is critical. The SageMinder System makes it easier to automate reminders for your loved one. A sticky note might be effective, if it is noticed, but SageMinder makes a more immediate call to the attention.
The system works with the telephone and places a call to your loved one at predetermined times. The call is even interactive and will ask if everything is all right and if they’ve taken their medications. Your elderly parent responds to the questions by pressing a button on a home or cell phone. Then the caregiver receives a notification by text message or email that the phone was answered and if everything is okay.
SageMinder and similar systems help with one of the largest preventable causes of poor health management: failure to take prescribed medications. These solutions can take some of the worry away from children whose elderly parents are living independently.
Another way to automate systems to help seniors living at home is with automatic pill dispensers. These dispensers hold medications and only allow a predetermined amount of medication to be released at a predetermined time. Often they come with alarms to remind patients when to take their medication. Medication dispensers also make it less likely that someone will forget that they took medications and take a double dose. They also often lock to prevent taking medications at any other time than the one predetermined.
Physicians Choice Private Duty currently serving Omaha, Eastern Nebraska and Western Iowa provides seniors and their families a complete understanding of the available care options and helps families maneuver through the challenges of the system.All Physicians Choice Private Duty services are directed by registered nurses or social workers with no long-term contracts. Contact us today for help with your senior care needs.
“Physicians Choice Private Duty solves the problems families face in finding home health care providers they can trust. Providers who will focus on strategies that keep parents in their homes. To learn more about our health care services, visit https://private-duty.pchhc.com/services/“
#eldercarechat – November 7, 2012
#eldercarechat – November 7, 2012
Chats like this one are a great place for professional caregivers from across the world to gather and discuss the issues currently facing our industry, and with Thanksgiving in two weeks, now is the perfect time to start planning for the care of loved ones during the holiday season. As usual, with so many people sharing their insights and personal experience, yesterday’s chat was a great resource to draw from, helping us all to make the services we provide better and better.
Below is a recap of yesterday’s #eldercarechat, which we put together via Storify.
http://storify.com/EncompassSenior/elder-care-chat-november-7-2012
“Physicians Choice Private Duty solves the problems families face in finding home health care providers they can trust. Providers who will focus on strategies that keep parents in their homes. To learn more about our health care services, visit https://private-duty.pchhc.com/services/.“
Study shows acupuncture effective for chronic pain
Study shows acupuncture effective for chronic pain
Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese healing therapy in which tiny needles are inserted into specific points in the skin.
Andrew Vickers, a researcher at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York, who led the multinational study told AARP Magazine: “What this study provides is fairly strong evidence that acupuncture is an effective treatment for chronic pain.”
About three million Americans use acupuncture each year. According to AARP Magazine, during the course of the study, which involved nearly 18,000 patients, some patients were given actual acupuncture while others were given treatments where needles were randomly placed in the skin or where the needles retracted into the handle.
There’s still no clear scientific explanation for why acupuncture works. However, there are several theories. One is that acupuncture triggers endorphins to be released and another is that the treatment affects the chemical messengers that cause brain cells to interpret pain.
Acupuncture has been used to treat a variety of ailments from pain to nausea. According to studies, acupuncture has been found to be relatively safe with the only side effects being occasional bruising or minor bleeding. Acupuncture needles are thin and not inserted very far into the skin, so most patients do not experience these minor problems.
For those looking for an acupuncturist, the American Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine website provides a location-based search of practices.
Physicians Choice Private Duty currently serving Omaha, Eastern Nebraska and Western Iowa provides seniors and their families a complete understanding of the available care options and helps families maneuver through the challenges of the system. All Physicians Choice Private Duty services are directed by registered nurses or social workers with no long-term contracts. Contact us today for help with your senior care needs.
“Physicians Choice Private Duty solves the problems families face in finding home health care providers they can trust. Providers who will focus on strategies that keep parents in their homes. To learn more about our health care services, visit https://private-duty.pchhc.com/services/.”
A new possible treatment for high blood pressure
In renal denervation a radio frequency catheter is used to create lesions in the renal arteries in order to disrupt the nerve pathways that lead into and out of the kidneys. The procedure only takes about 40 minutes and has been shown to reduce blood pressure in those with drug resistant hypertension.
Paul A. Sobotka, MD, Ohio State University said initially, not everyone responded favorably to renal denervation. But the study showed that the percentage of those who responded favorably to the treatment increased over time. After one month, 69 percent of 143 patients responded; at 12 months 79 percent of 130 patients; at two years, 90 percent of 59 patients; and at three years, 100 percent of 24 patients who were followed for 36 months responded to the treatment.
To qualify for the trial patients had to be on three or more drugs to manage blood pressure. Researchers reported that there were no significant safety issues associated with renal denervation such as decline in kidney function or late vascular complications.
There were no significant safety issues associated with renal denervation, including no decline in kidney function or late vascular complications, Esler reported. Sobotka said patients responded to the treatment the same if they were older than 65 or younger, and there were no mortalities due to the treatment.
The SIMPLICITY HTN-1 renal denervation system used in the trial is not currently approved by the FDA for use in the U.S., but another trial of the system is underway and it may be approved in the future.
Physicians Choice Private Duty currently serving Omaha, Eastern Nebraska and Western Iowa provides seniors and their families a complete understanding of the available care options and helps families maneuver through the challenges of the system. All Physicians Choice Private Duty services are directed by registered nurses or social workers with no long-term contracts. Contact us today for help with your senior care needs.
“Physicians Choice Private Duty solves the problems families face in finding home health care providers they can trust. Providers who will focus on strategies that keep parents in their homes. To learn more about our health care services, visit https://private-duty.pchhc.com/services/“
Real Stories: When staying home means the world
Real Stories: When staying home means the world
Bob and Terri
Chris and Linda
With stage four brain cancer, Chris’ ability to care for himself was very limited. Still, he very much preferred staying at home versus the alternative of moving into a skilled care facility. His wife Linda, Chris’ primary caregiver, tried her best but couldn’t provide the comprehensive care he required. After contacting Physicians Choice Private Duty, a safety assessment of Chris’ situation was conducted, resulting in the modification of his home to make it safe. Additional caregivers were also sent in as needed. Relieved, Chris was able at safely remain home for his remaining days.
Harry and Janice
Harry received Medicare certified skilled care in the home. His wife, Janice, wan’t satisfied with Harry’s overall progress so she asked Physicians Choice Private Duty if there was more therapy that could be provided after the skilled care was completed. There was. Physicians Choice Private Duty staff continued his physical therapy. Within two months Harry was able to walk a short distance with his walker. His previous Medicare certified home care simply discharged him when he was able to use wheelchair.
Physicians Choice Private Duty currently serving Omaha, Eastern Nebraska and Western Iowa provides seniors and their families a complete understanding of the available care options and helps families maneuver through the challenges of the system.All Physicians Choice Private Duty services are directed by registered nurses or social workers with no long-term contracts. Contact us today for help with your senior care needs.
“Physicians Choice Private Duty solves the problems families face in finding home health care providers they can trust. Providers who will focus on strategies that keep parents in their homes. To learn more about our health care services, visit https://private-duty.pchhc.com/services/“
High dose vitamin D could prevent fractures in elderly
High dose vitamin D could prevent fractures in elderly
The findings were published in the New England Journal of Medicine and also suggested that it was possible that more than 1,000 milligrams a day of calcium could reduce the benefits of high dose vitamin D.
One of the researchers, Dr. Heike Bischoff-Ferrari of the University Hospital Zurich, told Reuters, “These hip fractures cost a lot and are a really serious event. They are usually the end of independent life for a senior person; 50 percent do not regain their mobility. Reducing the risk by 30 percent with just a vitamin supplement would be an enormous public health opportunity.”
Dr. Robert Heaney of Creighton University Medical Center said that the problem with prior conflicting studies concerning vitamin D might have been because the study participants’ vitamin D levels before the studies weren’t taken into account. Giving a vitamin D supplement to someone who already has enough or not administering enough to those with very low levels would show no benefit, Heaney suggested.
“In this regard, as in several other respects, nutrients are unlike drugs. Once an adequate concentration has been achieved, additional intake has no effect,” Heaney said.
The new analysis regarding vitamin D is based on 11 trials testing various regimens of oral vitamin D in people 65 and older against a placebo. Most of the study participants were women and some of the trials included calcium.
The results were 4,881 hip and other fractures among a sampling of more than 31,000 people. Vitamin D was not shown to cut hip fracture significantly across the board, but when the results for those taking the highest doses of vitamin D the benefits were seen.
Researchers said that the highest benefits were seen in nursing home settings where study participants were reminded by nurses to take their supplement daily.
Physicians Choice Private Duty currently serving Omaha, Eastern Nebraska and Western Iowa provides seniors and their families a complete understanding of the available care options and helps families maneuver through the challenges of the system. All Physicians Choice Private Duty services are directed by registered nurses or social workers with no long-term contracts. Contact us today for help with your senior care needs.
“Physicians Choice Private Duty solves the problems families face in finding home health care providers they can trust. Providers who will focus on strategies that keep parents in their homes. To learn more about our health care services, visit https://private-duty.pchhc.com/services/.“
Soda drinkers at higher risk for stroke
Soda drinkers at higher risk for stroke
Could this really be true?
The study, mentioned in AARP The Magazine, was conducted by scientists at the Cleveland Clinic’s Wellness Institute and Harvard University. The scientists looked at the diet and health status of 84,085 women who were enrolled in a long-running Nurses’ Health Study. It also involved 43,371 men who were involved in the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study. Taken into account were numerous risk factors for stroke, which include hypertension, obesity, smoking and family history of heart disease.
The findings showed that adults who drank one soda or more a day were on average 16 percent more likely to suffer a stroke, and that women in this group were slightly more at risk than men. However, drinking coffee instead of soda seemed to cut stroke risk by nearly 10 percent.
The lead author of the study speculated that additives in soda assumed to be safe may not be. He noted that there had been some suggestion that caramel coloring — found in sodas — could lead to inflammation, which could trigger some types of diseases.
Also mentioned by the researchers was the incredible amount of sugar-sweetened sodas consumed by the population. According to their count it equals 45 gallons of soda per person per year.
The average American drinks massive amounts of sugary beverages, Bernstein says, with sugar-sweetened sodas accounting for most of it. “The numbers are staggering — upwards of 45 gallons per person per year,” he says. “That’s nearly a gallon per week per person.”
Part of the reason that coffee might be beneficial is that it contains chlorogenic acids, lignans and magnesium, which act as antioxidants and also help to regulate blood sugar.
Physicians Choice Private Duty currently serving Omaha, Eastern Nebraska and Western Iowa provides seniors and their families a complete understanding of the available care options and helps families maneuver through the challenges of the system. All Physicians Choice Private Duty services are directed by registered nurses or social workers with no long-term contracts. Contact us today for help with your senior care needs.
“Physicians Choice Private Duty solves the problems families face in finding home health care providers they can trust. Providers who will focus on strategies that keep parents in their homes. To learn more about our health care services, visit https://private-duty.pchhc.com/services/.”
Monitoring your elderly parent for malnutrition and how to combat it
At A Place For Mom they advise caregivers to “WATCH” for the following:
Combating malnutrition in seniors
The Mayo Clinic offers five helpful suggestions for combating malnutrition in seniors:
1. Encourage a nutritious and palatable diet. Foods such as chopped nuts, nut butters, wheat germ, egg whites and cheese can be added to meals for an additional nutritional boost. Herbs and seasonings can improve the taste of food for seniors, as well.
2. Snacks! Plan snacks for between meals.
3. Socialize mealtimes. Visit your loved one at mealtimes or encourage them to eat with friends at senior centers.
4. Exercise can improve appetite. Help seniors get regular exercise to improve their eating.
5. Provide tips and assistance with ways to save money on food. Seniors can split the cost of food in bulk with friends and family and can also seek out outlets that offer senior discounts.
Physicians Choice Private Duty currently serving Omaha, Eastern Nebraska and Western Iowa provides seniors and their families a complete understanding of the available care options and helps families maneuver through the challenges of the system. All Physicians Choice Private Duty services are directed by registered nurses or social workers with no long-term contracts. Contact us today for help with your senior care needs.
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“Physicians Choice Private Duty solves the problems families face in finding home health care providers they can trust. Providers who will focus on strategies that keep parents in their homes. To learn more about our health care services, visit https://private-duty.pchhc.com/services/.”
How to avoid hospital readmission for your elderly parent
How to avoid hospital readmission for your elderly parent
Even worse, 67 percent of patients that had been discharged with medical conditions and roughly 50 percent of patients that had been discharged after surgical procedures were either re-hospitalized or died within the first year after discharge.
As reported by Science Daily, one reason for the high number of readmissions is because hospitals “tend to transfer patients to less costly settings once their condition is stable.” Getting follow-up care at a skilled nursing facility or in the home is a good option, but needs to be carefully managed to assure that medical tests and appointments are completed. Sometimes the reason for these readmissions has been as simple as the patient was unable to get to their follow-up appointments and their condition declined leading to a return trip to the hospital.
Several projects have been launched at hospitals around the country that have yielded information for patients to keep them healthier and out of the hospital following an initial discharge. Project Red (Re-engineered Discharge), for example, seeks to educate patients while they’re in the hospital. It stresses that patients make appointments for needed follow-ups, makes sure that patients understand how to take medicines, and even calls patients two or three days after they leave the hospital in case there are any problems.
In addition, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) created a downloadable guide for patients to keep track of their care, appointments and medications when they leave the hospital. The guide is a great resource for keeping all care information in one organized place and can benefit the elderly patient, hopefully helping keep their follow-up care consistent and preventing them from a return trip to the hospital.
Physicians Choice Private Duty currently serving Omaha, Eastern Nebraska and Western Iowa provides seniors and their families a complete understanding of the available options and help families maneuver through the challenges of the system. All Physicians Choice Private Duty services are directed by registered nurses or social workers with no long-term contracts. Contact us today for help with your senior care needs.
“Physicians Choice Private Duty solves the problems families face in finding home health care providers they can trust. Providers who will focus on strategies that keep parents in their homes. To learn more about our health care services, visit https://private-duty.pchhc.com/services/“