Seniors For Living

#ELDERCARECHAT RECAP: OCTOBER 3RD, 2012

Elder Care Chat is a bi-monthly Twitter chat hosted by Seniors For Living and Denise M. Brown. Physicians Choice Private Duty, providing elder care solutions for the greater Omaha area, once again joined in on the conversation, which focused on the quality of life for caregivers, their families and the seniors they are caring for.

We’ve found chats like this one are a great online gathering place for professional caregivers from across the world to discuss the issues currently facing our industry. With so many people sharing their insights, it’s also a great resource to learn 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/encompass-senior-solutions-elder-care-chat-october

“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 drama about caregiving for aging parents on YouTube

A drama about caregiving for aging parents on YouTube

	 A drama about caregiving for aging parents on YouTube“Ruth and Erica,” a new drama showing only on YouTube, gives those caring for their aging parents something to relate to. The show stars veteran actors Lois Smith and Philip Baker Hall as Ruth and Harry Rappaport, a couple who resist the suggestions of Erica (Maura Tierney), their only child, that they move to a retirement community following Harry’s decline into dementia. And with Michael C. Hall involved behind the cameras, it’s safe to say that the series has some star power and the production is of professional quality.

Each episode of the 13-part series will run approximately eight minutes. “Ruth and Erica” follows the characters over the course of a year as they grapple with the decisions forced on them by aging.

Amy Lippman created the series and directed all 13 episodes. Lippman told the New York Times, I decided to write about something I was experiencing, and all my friends were experiencing — parents who’d been independent and self-sufficient, but were beginning to need more support and guidance. It seems to have come as a shock to all of us.

In the show, Erica struggles to balance the long-distance care of her aging parents with the events in her own life. Erica must also face what will become of her in old-age as, she has no children of her own.

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/

Music aids with transition to dying

Music aids with transition to dying

Music aids with transition to dyingAs Growthouse.org points out in a recent article, for most people music as a comfort starts with a lullaby when they are still just babies. Thus, for a very long time, the healing power of music is believed to be real.

Aristotle and Plato wrote about their beliefs in the healing power of music, and during medieval times, a monastic chant for the sick developed. In fact, the Benedictine Order supported their sick or dying members with formal musical rituals.

In 1944, Michigan State University offered the first actual college degree in music therapy.

Creativity in Healthcare points out some benefits to patients who listen to music:

  • Significant decrease in pain.
  • Improvement in mood and anxiety, and decrease in discomforts.
  • Increase spiritual well-being. Many times people with end-of-life conditions request spiritual or religious music.  One study measured spirituality with the 18-item Spiritual Well-Being Scale (SWBS), completed by patients after each music therapy session. Analysis showed a significant increase in SWBS scores on the days music therapy was provided.
  • Enhanced quality of life. Interestingly, the more music therapy sessions patients received, higher quality of life is experienced even as their physical condition declined. The quality-of-life tool used in this study was the Hospice Quality-of-Life Index-Revised (HQOLI), a 29 point questionnaire completed by patients.
  • Cass Jendzurski, a therapeutic harpist, offers some advice on providing music for the sick or dying:
  • Music at the deathbed should not be constant. Silence is also needed for those who are dying and for those processing the death of their loved one.
  • It helps to know the patient’s musical preferences. When possible, Jendurksi suggests that activity directors complete a music questionnaire with residents. Studies on therapeutic music not surprisingly show the benefits of using music preferred by the patient.
  • Both familiar and unfamiliar music should be used. Unfamiliar music is defined by Jendurski as instrumental, wordless and relaxing, but not recognized as a familiar song. This type of music is proposed as good for pain, restlessness and agitation for those who are dying. Familiar music is also good for those who are dying when we know it is appropriate. Familiar music is believed to help with fear of the unknown and can act as a security blanket.
  • Deathbed music should have the four Ss. Meaning it should be soft in volume, soothing in pitch/range (low, not high), slow, and have spaces in it (arrhythmic, not rhythmic).

The end of life journey is different for each individual. As difficult as it may be, try talking with your loved one, as well as their caregivers, you can ensure that they are as comfortable and happy as possible.

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/

Physicians Choice Private Duty

Real Stories

Physicians Choice Private DutyTodays post features real-life stories of how Physicians Choice Private Duty helped an elderly person and their loved ones through a tough decision-making process that ensured each persons individual care needs were met. Names have been changed to respect privacy.

Lucille

Although not fully recovered from a recent accident, Lucille’s early discharge from the hospital was imminent. Her family brought in Physicians Choice Private Duty to work with the hospital to delay the discharge until an acceptable rehab facility could be found, as Lucille was not yet able to return home safely.

Bud

Physicians Choice Private Duty was asked to come in and assess a patient, an elderly man named Bud, suffering from dementia. While initially it was thought Bud might need respite hours, it became clear, very quickly, that he was near the end of his life. Our staff was able to make a recommendation for hospice and the gentlemen passed away within a week — peacefully and safely.

Kenneth

Kenneth, a morbidly obese patient, temporarily lost his primary caregiver due to a sudden illness. Since Kenneth needed assistance with daily living, Physicians Choice Private Duty was contacted for help. After an assessment, we appointed our professional staff to provide quality daily care for Kenneth while his primary caregiver recovered. After two weeks, his caregiver returned, happy to find him safe and well-taken care of.

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/

Mayo Clinic identifies enzyme that may combat Alzheimer’s

Mayo Clinic identifies enzyme that may combat Alzheimer’s

Mayo Clinic identifies enzyme that may combat Alzheimer’sAccording to the Mayo Clinic, its researchers at the Florida Mayo Clinic have identified an enzyme that shows promise in combating Alzheimer’s disease. The enzyme — BACE2 — destroys a toxic protein fragment known as beta-amyloid that is prevalent in the brains of patients with Alzheimer’s.

Earlier this month the findings were printed in the journal Molecular Neurodegeneration. The fact that BACE2 was the enzyme that researchers were looking for is of interest, because it’s closely related to BACE1, an enzyme involved in producing beta-amyloid.

The research team led by Malcolm A. Leissring made the discovery during a process of testing hundreds of enzymes for their ability to lower beta-amyloid levels. Of the proteins tested, BACE2 was discovered to lower the levels of beta-amyloid more effectively than all others.

The paper explained just how BACE2 destroys beta-amyloid. Beta-amyloid is only a fragment of a larger protein known as APP, which is produced by enzymes that cut APP in two places. So, BACE1 is responsible for making the first cut that generates beta-amyloid. The Mayo Clinic research showed that BACE2 has the ability to cut beta-amyloid into smallers pieces, which effectively and efficiently destroys it.

In fact, the protection that BACE2 offers is two-fold. A previous study found that BACE2 can also lower beta-amyloid levels in a second way. By cutting APP at a different spot than BACE1 — in the middle of the beta-amyloid portion — it further prevents beta-amyloid production.

In a statement released by the Mayo Clinic, first author Samer Abdul-Hay said, “The fact that BACE2 can lower beta-amyloid by two distinct mechanisms makes this enzyme an especially attractive candidate for gene therapy to treat Alzheimer’s disease.

The potential of BACE2 suggests that impairments of the enzyme could increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. This is a significant finding because certain prescriptions, like antiviral drugs used to treat HIV, work by inhibiting enzymes that are similar to BACE2.

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/

medications

AAA helps elderly drivers navigate medications with Roadwise Rx

What are the early signs of elderly kidney failureAs reported by the Senior Journal, more than 80 percent of drivers 65 and older regularly take medications, but only half of these have talked to a doctor about the possible safety issues related to driving associated with their medications. According to the article, AAA has started promoting Roadwise Rx, a program to help older Americans understand how medications may affect their ability to safely drive a vehicle.

The program, developed by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, is an online tool detailing common side effects of prescription and over-the-counter medications.

We’ve written about methods to help the elderly avoid dangerous driving with a contract and by other methods in the past.

AAA’s President & CEO Robert Darbelnet told Senior Journal, “Roadwise Rx lets users move beyond the old-fashioned “brown bag” review with an easy way to virtually pool together their pill bottles and talk to their doctor.”

Certain types of medication, such as antidepressants, have been shown to increase crash risk by as much as 41 percent, according to Senior Journal. In addition, ingredients commonly found in over-the-counter cold and allergy medicines, like Diphenhydramine, can have a similar effect as being above the legal limit for blood alcohol levels.

AAA Foundation President and CEO Peter Kissinger also told Senior Journal that research conducted by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that nearly one out of five older drivers use five or more prescription medications. The interactions of different prescriptions with each other can also pose a potential risk to safe driving.

Roadwise Rx is available at no cost. More information on AAA’s free resources for senior drivers and their families is available at SeniorDrivingAAA.com.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ohzFux9D0PQ

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 challenges families face in caring for aging parents, with a focus on strategies that keep them in their homes. To learn more about our solutions, visit us today..

hidden_costs_keeping parent at home

Study finds 80% of family caregivers are happy

hidden_costs_keeping parent at homeExpanding on a 2007 study that revealed around 80 percent of caregivers found the experience emotionally rewarding (despite initially having a negative perception of caregiving), Caregiving Today CEO Victor Imbimbo wrote an article for the Huffington Post last week about the conditions that influence the emotional well-being of family caregivers.

As the Encompass blog has touched on before, caregiver stress is a real concern for the 55 million Americans who have provided elder care in the last five years. Consequently, Imbimbo found the happiness factor among family caregivers interesting.

In the 2007 study, 60 percent of respondents said they “felt very positive about their role as a family caregiver.” The most common emotional benefits the happy caregivers experienced included a strengthened relationship with their loved one as well as the feeling that they were returning the love they had received all their lives, according to Imbimbo.

The article revealed that these happy family caregivers naturally are:

  • Better prepared for the caregiver role
  • Able to make a concerted effort to take care of themselves, including eating properly, sleeping enough, maintaining work schedules, et al.
  • More focused on being optimistic and happy

So what makes a caregiver happy? It’s the exact same thing that makes any person happy in general — those who already believe that achieving happiness in their daily lives is a realistic goal. “When [happiness] becomes a way of life I guarantee it will significantly improve your ability to handle the many twists and turns you experience as a family caregiver,” Imbimbo concludes.

Whether or not a person is happy in playing the role of Family Caregiver, there will undoubtedly be times of stress and grief along the way. That’s when the services of a senior care provider, such as Physicians Choice Private Duty in Omaha, can help offer solutions to ensure the continued quality care of an aging loved one.

All Encompass services are directed by registered nurses or social workers with no long-term contracts. Contact us today.

“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/

Breakthrough device helps Alzheimer’s patients regain cognition

Breakthrough device helps Alzheimer’s patients regain cognition

Breakthrough device helps Alzheimer’s patients regain cognitionA new device is in the preliminary stages of testing in the U.S., and is showing great promise for treating Alzheimer’s.

The first U.S. trials for the NeuroAD device were conducted at the Berenson-Allen Center for Noninvasive Brain Stimulation at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. The medical center is a teaching hospital associated with Harvard Medical School.

The device, which was originally developed and successfully tested in Israel, combines electromagnetic stimulation of the brain with cognitive training. The stimulation and the training both target specific regions of the brain affected by the disease.

The findings of these early studies are somewhat remarkable. Alvaro Pascual-Leone directed the trial at the Harvard Medical School where he is a Professor of Neurology. He told Dementia Today, “Tests have shown significant improvement of the cognitive functions, and we’ve seen increased connectivity in the brain in functional MRI scans. As a result, patients’ daily activities such as taking care of themselves, speaking, and even recognizing their loved ones have improved dramatically.”

The treatment is pain free and, according to Dementia Today, it “not only stopped patients from deteriorating, it actually improved patients’ cognitive performance to a greater extent than what is currently available with approved medications.”

The device is not a cure for Alzheimer’s. Medications to relieve some of its symptoms generally show diminished benefits within six to nine months of treatment. The NeuroAD can be used in conjunction with drug therapeis and has shown a more significant impact with long-term results, according to Dementia Today.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tdt4_14tkNE&noredirect=1

Hopefully, these suggestions are a step in the right direction, helping prevent falls for your elderly loved one.

Physicians Choice Private Duty can help

Physicians Choice Private Duty currently serving Omaha, Eastern Nebraska and Western Iowa ” provides seniors and their families a complete understanding of the available options for someone living with Alzheimer’s. All Physicians Choice Private Duty services are directed by registered nurses or social workers with no long-term contracts. Contact us today with your senior care needs.

“Physicians Choice Private Duty solves the challenges families face in caring for aging parents, with a focus on strategies that keep them in their homes. To learn more about our solutions, visit us today..

Real Stories: Home safe and happy

Real Stories: Home safe and happy

Real Stories: Home safe and happyTodays post features real-life stories of how Physicians Choice Private Duty helped an elderly person and their loved ones through a tough decision-making process that ensured each persons individual care needs were met. Names have been changed to respect privacy.

Rhonda

Rhonda is an early onset aggressive Alzheimer’s patient who was sent out of the doctor’s office with a prescription for “24-hour care.” By working with her son (who became her guardian) Physicians Choice Private Duty was able to honor her wishes of staying in her own home by setting up the prescribed 24-hour care and allowing her to continue all the activities she participated in before her devastating diagnosis. As her disease progresses, long term care plans will be made to find her suitable memory care placement — but for now, she is at home and safe.

Mona

An elderly woman fell down a flight of stairs and was brought to the ER. The hospital would not admit her but told her family she needed 24-hour care for the next several weeks. Physicians Choice Private Duty was able to develop a schedule that allowed for professional health workers to fill in the hours where the family could not provide care to the patient. In three weeks she was back to her old self and living independently.

Terri

A middle-aged woman with significant progressive illness wish to continue to stay at home, but found this difficult as she was beginning to have safety issues in the home. After contacting Physicians Choice Private Duty, recommendations were made to make her home safe and handicapped accessible, also fitting her for an electric wheelchair. Today, she remains at home safely with assistance from family and friends.

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/.”

Facebook app simulates Alzheimer’s by erasing your timeline

Facebook app simulates Alzheimer’s by erasing your timeline

	 Facebook app simulates Alzheimer’s by erasing your timelineSeptember 21st is National Alzheimer’s Action Day and there’s an unexpected way that you can show support for the nearly 35 million people and their families affected by Alzheimer’s worldwide.

Mashable reports that an awareness campaign for Alzheimer’s Disease International is asking people on Facebook to download an app that will symbolically allow them to experience the loss of a lifetime worth of memories for a day.

The app will remain inactive until Friday when it wipes a user’s timeline — pictures, status, videos, friends — and replaces it with a message that reads: “Imagine your life without memories. For 36 million people living with Alzheimer’s disease, this is a reality.”

The information will be returned to your timeline the following day, and it’s a great way to show your support and raise awareness. People can also show support for the cause via Twitter and Google+.

For more information about Alzheimer’s Disease International, visit their website.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=iit9IAn35mM

Do you have a family member suffering from Alzheimer’s? Physicians Choice Private Duty currently serving Omaha, Eastern Nebraska and Western Iowa ” provides a complete understanding of the available options for your loved one. All Physicians Choice Private Duty services are directed by registered nurses or social workers with no long-term contracts. Contact us today with your senior care needs.

“Physicians Choice Private Duty solves the challenges families face in caring for aging parents, with a focus on strategies that keep them in their homes. To learn more about our solutions, visit us today..”