CAREGIVER TIP FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE, 2008:

Want to know how walkable your neighborhood or prospective neighborhood is?  WalkScore.com is a website that rates a community's walkability.  The score is based on the number of businesses, services and other destinations within walking distance of a given address.  Ratings range from zero (driving only) to 100 (walker's paradise"). The site is adding Google Street View tools that will allow users to actually see the streets they would stroll in certain communities.

CAREGIVER TIP FOR THE MONTH OF MAY, 2008:

AARP members can bring a friend or relative to the AARP Driver Safety Program and take the classroom course together for just $10--a 50% saving--from May 1 to June 15.  You must show your AARP card to get the discount.  Some insurance companies give discounts to people who take the course.  To locate a class in your area, call 1-888-227-7669 toll free or go online to www.aarp.org/drive.

CAREGIVER TIP FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL, 2008:

A Mediterranean diet is the best choice for healthy aging and disease prevention.  It is rich in colorful fruits and vegetables, olive oil, fish, whole grains with few processed, packaged or refined foods.  Research shows that it reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease more effectively than other diets, including low-fat diets.

CAREGIVER TIPS FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH, 2008:

More and more people are getting targeting with new lures in an attempt to get their Social Security, bank or credit card information.  Crooks are using phony sweepstakes or retail offers.  They're also targeting new customers with incomes of more than $100,000. Don't open any e-mails from businesses you don't know; call your bank or credit card company if you receive e-mails asking you to update your account with online information and don't make online purchases with your primary e-mail account

CAREGIVER TIPS FOR THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY, 2008:

Since this is the "heart" month, let's talk about yours and mine:

1.  Eat at least one serving of fruit at breakfast, another as a snack between meals, then pair more fruit with cheese or yogurt for dessert.

2.  Instead of one or two veggies, try a salad of mixed greens or a soup that blends many vegetables and beans.

3.  Minimize red meat.  Substitute fish or chicken whenever you can, and when you do eat beef, mix it with whole grains and veggies in stews, stuffed tomatoes, and other dishes.

4.  Use olive oil in place of other oils and fats at every opportunity.

 

CAREGIVER TIP FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY, 2008:

Here are 20 things you can do to help those who face a serious illness:

1.  Be the same friend you have been.

2.  Touch.

3.  Bring food.

4.  Watch their children.

5.  Show emotion.  Cry when they cry and laugh when they laugh.

6.  Take them out for a pleasure drive.

7.  Go shopping.

8.  Always call before you stop by.

9.  Help celebrate holidays.

10. Give their family a break by staying with them.

11. Take a book of thoughts, taped music, a poster or cookies.

12. Talk to them.

13. You don't always have to talk.

14. Provide transportation.

15. Tell them how you would like to help and then if it's o.k., do it.

16. Include them in the family decisions.

17. Be positive.

18. Help with the shopping.

19. Send them a card.

20. Share the news!  Verbal reports help them feel that the world is not passing them by.

 

Obviously, not all of these will work for every patient, but these are suggestions that you can use when appropriate.

 

 

CAREGIVER TIP FOR THE WEEK OF DEC. 17TH:

Don't worry, be happy!  To feel better, eat food rich in B vitamins.  It can help stoke your feel good fires, making it less likely that you'll be moody, irritable, impatient or depressed.  For B1, take wheat germ, peas, long-grain brown rice, lentils, pork and whole wheat bread.  For B2, fortified cereals, milk, almonds and broccoli.  For B3, tuna, chicken, salmon and peanuts.  For B5, yogurt, avocadoes, sweet potatoes and chicken.  For B6, bananas and spinach.  For B12, chicken, turkey, milk and eggs.  For folate, lentils, garbanzo beans, and orange juice. 

CAREGIVER TIP FOR NOVEMBER:

Each daily cup of green or black tea helps beat the risk of ovarian cancer.  Two or more cups per day helps to cut the risk almost in half.  Researchers think that powerful polyphenols or antioxidants may prevent cancer cell growth, hinder blood supply to the tumor or cause the cells to commit suicide. So, here's to a great cup of tea!

CAREGIVER TIP FOR THE WEEK OF OCT. 22nd:

Do you, as I have often done lately, feel as if you're losing your mind?  Well, here are some ways to help promote mind health:

Get enough sleep.

Play mind games.  Try a crossword puzzle, Sudoku, jigsaw puzzles or dance lessons

Exercise.  Working up a sweat means that brain essentials such as blood, nutrients and oxygen get where they are needed the most.

Stay social.  Studies from the University of Montreal show that people with strong relationships stay healthier.  Try joining a club, taking a class, or just getting together with friends.

Zap stress.  Try relaxation remedies such as deep breathing or meditating.

 

 

CAREGIVER TIP FOR WEEK OF OCT. 1ST:

Check on those fake checks!  Many people, especially the elderly, are getting scammed with phony checks.  You will know that a scam is in the making anytime you receive an unsolicited check or an overpayment from an online auction sale or a new business venture, with instructions to forward money.  I actually received on of these myself, and it was awfully tempting!  The deposited check may be credited to your account right away, but it could take your bank up to two weeks to authenticate the deposited check.  If the check turns out to be counterfeit, you can be held liable for the wired funds and face criminal fraud and counterfeiting charges. 

Remember...if it looks too good to be true, it probably is!

 

 

WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 6th

Well, I knew that I was unbalanced, and here's the proof.  A new study says that if you stand with one of your feet 12 inches off the ground, you should be able to balance between 24 and 28 seconds if you are between 20 and 49 yrs.of age; if you're between 50 and 59, 21 seconds is average; if you're between 70 and 79, 4 seconds is average.  I'm not going to tell you how long I stood before I almost toppled over, but it wasn't pretty.

Here are some balance exercises to help with this problem.  Do these for 10 to 15 minutes three times a week:

1.  Squat sit:  With a chair behind you, squat as if you were about to sit.  Just before your bottom makes contact with the chair, stand back up. 

2.  Heel-to-toe walk:  Stand up straight with your arms out to the side.  Place one foot in front of the other with the heel of your front foot touching the toes of your back foot.  Practice walking backward and forward in an imaginary straight line.

3.  One-leg stand:  Balance on one leg while doing everyday tasks, such as brushing your teeth, watching TV, or standing in line.

WEEK OF JULY 30:

This week we're going to talk about heat related illness.  This is a major issue during the months of July and August.  There are three types of heat illness:

1.  Heat cramps occur after strenuous exercise or outdoor activity.  Symptoms include severe pain and cramps in the legs and abdomen, faintness or dizziness, weakness, and profuse sweating.

2.  Heat exhaustion occurs when a person is exposed to heat for a prolonged period of time.  Symptoms include nausea, dizziness, weakness, headache, pale and moist skin, weak pulse, and disorientation.

3.  Heat stroke is the much more serious form of heat illness.  It strikes suddenly and with little warning.  It can be life threatening.  Signs of heat stroke include high body temperature, hot, dry skin, fast pulse, confusion and possible loss of consciousness.

So, be careful in these hot, hot summer days.  Take care of yourself and your loved ones!

 

 

WEEK OF JUNE 11:

Here is what I am doing for the first week of August

What are analgesics?  Simply put, these are drugs used to relieve pain.  These work either by blocking pain signals going to the brain or by interfering with the brain's interpretation of the signals, without producing anesthesia or loss of consciousness.  There are two kinds:  non-narcotic and narcotic.  Acetominophen is the most common of the non-narcotic variety.  There are two kinds of narcotic analgesics: the opiates and the opiods.  Opiods are used in medicine to relieve severe chronic pain.  Interestingly, there is no limit for the dosage but it must be increased gradually.  These are often used for chronic arthritis.  Opiates are the alkaloids found in opium.

 

WEEK OF MAY 28:

Many times, caregivers are called upon to prepare food for their family members.

If you are one of those people, you might be interested to know that fresh herbs can add extra cell protecting phenols to boost nutrition.  Sage, rosemary, marjoram and thyme are the best. In a recent study, these herbs added the most antioxidants to a salad, and marjoram leaves more than doubled the antioxidant count.  For spices, cumin was first, followed by fresh ginger.  The veggies that packed the biggest health punch were artichokes, beetroot, broccoli, garlic and radish and spinach, too.  As to the dressings, try olive oil and low-fat apple or wine vinegars.

Bon Appetite!

 

WEEK OF MAY 14:

Does your loved one understand the Dr.'s instructions on their medication?

According to a recent issue of AARP Bulletin, many patients may know that they

are supposed to take two pills twice daily, but they can't decipher how many

pills that would be in total.  There are many reasons for this problem.  There

are often language barriers, vision problems or poorly written instructions

that are simply difficult to read.  It's a good idea to ask your doctor or pharmacist

for more specific information, just to be sure you understand, and then have the

doctor repeat it again.

 

 

 

 

WEEK OF APRIL 30:  In the April 2007 issue of the AARP Bulletin, there was a report

concerning MinuteClinics that are being set up in the back of local pharmacies.  These clinics are tucked inside pharmacies, discount stores and supermarkets, including CVS, Walgreens, Target, Wal-Mart and Kroger, as well as locally owned grocery and drug stores.  Today, some 300 of these dot the retail landscape, but they will grow by 700 this year and mushroom to 4,000 in the next four years.  And the cost is much more affordable.  In the MinuteClinic, the patient's cost is $59 compared to $328 in ER, $130 in Urgent Care and $100-132 in Primary Care.

 
WEEK OF APRIL 15:  An interesting article in the April, 2007 issue of AARP said that

New Seasons Market in Portland and many others like it are now elder friendly. 

They have easy-to-read signs, wide aisles and real people to answer the phone.

Since Elders in Action made the program available to other communities, 1

    organizations in 9 states have replicated it.  This is great news for caregivers and the

people they help every day.

 

 

 

WEEK OF MARCH 26:


  61.  Special low-income Medicare beneficiary (SLMB):  Program for eligible individuals who cannot afford the Medicare Part B premium.

62.  Telephone reassurance program:  A program, available in some communities, in which frail, ill, or housebound people are called on a regular basis to check on their safety and to provide personal contact.

63.  Visiting nurse:  A trained professional nurse who visits patients in their homes to monitor vital signs and physical condition and carry out a physician's treatment orders.

64.  Will:  A legal document that sets forth a person's wishes for disposing of assets after death.

THAT'S ALL FOLKS!  NEXT TIME WE WILL DO SOMETHING OTHER THAN VOCABULARY TERMS.  HOPE THIS HELPS YOU TO CARE FOR SOMEONE YOU LOVE!

CAREGIVER TIP OF THE WEEK!

WEEK OF MARCH 12:

56.  Respite care:  A service that provides temporary care for and older person.  The purpose of the care is to allow the family caregiver some short-term relief.

57.  Senility:  A term used to refer to the mental and physical deterioration of old age.

58.  Senior centers:  Neighborhood or community centers that offer a range of services and social, health, nutritional, educational, and recreational activities.  These are for the healthy elderly.

59.  Shared housing:  A program available in some communities that matches individuals for the purpose of living together in one house.

60.  Skilled nursing facility (SNF):  A licensed facility that provides 24 hour medical services by registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and nurses aides for seriously ill or severely disturbed people who do not require hospitalization.

 

WEEK OF FEB. 26: 

51.  Physical therapist:  A licensed professional who treats impaired motion or disease through exercise, massage, hydro-therapy, or mechanical devices to improve physical mobility.

52.  Power of attorney:  A legal document in which an individual gives another person the authority to act on his or her behalf.

53.  Primary caregiver:  The individual who has the main responsibility for helping an older person.  The individual usually is the one who makes decisions and organizes care and services.

54.  Primary care physician:  The doctor who is consulted first when a health problem occurs and on whom the patient relies for advice, referrals and ongoing care.

55.  Qualified Medicare beneficiary (QMB) program:  Program for eligible individuals who cannot afford a Medigap (supplemental) insurance policy.

WEEK OF FEB. 12:

46. Nursing home: A licensed nursing facility that provides a full

range of care and medical services to those recovering from

hospitalization or suffering from chronic illness, dementia or other

factors that make it impossible for them to live at home.

47. Occupational therapist: A licensed professional therapist

who helps a person relearn activities of daily living (ADL'S)

through rehabilitation and modifications and devices for the

home environment.

48. Ombudsman services: Programs that advocate and protect the

rights of residents in long-term care facilities by investigating

complaints, mediating and resolving disputes, and initiating

corrective actions.

49. Personal care facilities: Residential facilities for those who

need help with activities of daily living within an environment

that helps the person remain as independent as possible.

50. Personal emergency response system: Equipment that monitors

the safety of older people in their homes through signals

electronically transmitted over the telephone and received at

an emergency monitoring center.

CAREGIVING VOCABULARY CONT'D:

WEEK OF JAN. 29:

41. Meals on wheels: Meals delivered on a regular schedule to

housebound elderly or elderly people unable to cope with meal

preparation at little or no cost.

42. Medicaid: The health insurance program financed by the

federal and state governments for eligible low-income people

65 and older. Needy older people can have Medicare

deductibles and co-payments paid by Medicaid. It may also pay

for nursing home care.

43. Medical directive: Also called a living will, advance medical

directive, and health care proxy. This legal document enables a

person to give instructions about future medical care.

44. Medicare: The national health insurance program for eligible

people 65 and older and some disabled individuals. Part A covers

hospital costs. Part B covers doctor bills and other medical costs.

Patients must pay deductibles and co-payments.

45. Medigap insurance: Private health insurance policies intended

to cover medical costs not fully covered by Medicare. Also known

as supplemental insurance.

WEEK OF JAN. 15:

31. Homemaker service: Service providing trained person for household

cleaning, cooking, grocery shopping, laundry,

transportation and personal care for an elderly

person. Doesn't include nursing care.

32. Hospice: Usually a combination of at-home and hospital care of the

terminally ill that combines medical and social services.

It emphasizes pain control, symptom management and emotional

support.

33. Incontinence: The loss of voluntary control over bladder or bowel

functions.

34. Instrumental activities of daily living (ADLs): Tasks over and above

ADLs necessary for everyday living, such as grocery shopping, bill

paying, transportation to doctor's appointments, etc..

35. Intermediate care facility (ICF): A nursing facility that provides help

with personal or social care and a minimum of medical supervision.

Often, this is a section of the nursing home or personal care home.

WEEK OF JAN. 22:

36. Living trust: A trust created during the life of the grantor.

An irrevocable living trust is often used in estate and

tax planning. All assets become the property of the trust,

and generally, the trust is liable for income tax payable

on amounts earned by those assets.

37. Living will: A legal expression of an individual's wishes about future medical

treatment, at a time when they have become incompetent or

cannot communicate due to illness.

38. Long-term care: A general term that describes a range of medical, nursing,

custodial, social, and community services designed to help

people with chronic health impairments or forms of dementia.

39. Long-term care insurance: Insurance policies issued by private companies to

defray the costs of long-term care in nursing

facilities as well as home care services.

40. Matched housing: A private arrangement in which an individual

or couple remains in their home and rents a room to a person in

exchange for help.

WEEK OF JAN. 8:

26. Geriatrician: A medical doctor with special education and training in the

diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disabilities in older

people.

27. Gerontologist: A professional with special expertise and training in the study

of human aging.

28. Guardian: An individual appointed by a court of law to manage a person's

financial and/or personal affairs because the court has found

that the person is not competent to manage his or her affairs.

29. Home health agency: A public or private organization with a staff of skilled

nurses, homemakers, home health aides, and

therapists that provide services to homebound patients.

30. home health care service: Service performed in the home for an elderly

person by someone with special medical training.

WEEK OF JAN. 1ST:

21. Estate planning: A plan for what will happen to an individual's or couple's assets and liabilities after death.

22. Executor: The person named in a will to carry out the distribution of an estate.

23: Geriatric assessment: An evaluation of an older person's physical, psychological, and social condition by a professional team of specialists. This team makes recommendations to the older person, family, and primary care doctor. Geriatric assessments are offered in geriatric evaluation centers and are generally associated with hospitals.

24. Geriatric Psychologist: A psychologist who specializes in the mental and behavioral characteristics of aging.

25. Geriatric social worker: A licensed professional who assists the elderly and their families in understanding and coping with the social, emotional, and psychological aspects of aging. The social worker coordinates, directs, and instructs in the accessing of services.

UPDATE FOR THE WEEK OF DEC. 18:

16. Discharge Planner: A professional staff member of a hospital or

nursing home who develops a plan for the future care of a patient

prior to discharge.

17. Domiciliary Home Care: A living arrangement for ambulatory

and independent adults who require minimum supervision.

18. Durable Power of Attorney: A power of attorney that remains

valid and enforceable despite the incompetence or incapacity

of the principal.

19. Elder Law Attorney: An attorney who specializes in the laws

that deal with the rights and issues of the health, finances, and

well-being of the elderly and the power of other individuals and

the government to control them.

20. Estate: The term used to represent all of an individual's or

couple's personal assets.

Update for the Week of Dec. 11:

11. Continuing Care Retirement Community: Also known as CCRC,

or life care community. Residences that offer care to individuals

and couples for the remainder of their lives. Most require an

entrance fee and a monthly maintenance fee.

12. Custodial Care: Help and supervision with daily living activities-

dressing, eating, personal hygiene, etc...

13. Dementia: A clinical term used to describe a group of brain

disorders that disrupt and impair cognitive functions (thinking,

memory, judgment, personality, mood and social functioning).

14. Dependent Care Tax Credit: Federal income tax credits for

certain home care services and adult daycare services for

adults who are dependent upon you.

15. Diagnostic Related Groups (DRGs): A method of grouping

illnesses that is used to calculate Medicare Part A reimbur-

sements to hospitals and nursing homes. They are based on

the patient's diagnosis rather than the length of hospital stay.

UPDATES FOR WEEK OF DEC. 4:

6. Caregiver Support Group: Group led by a professional or volunteer

that allows family caregivers to meet in a supportive atmosphere to

express their feelings, share coping skills, and learn about aging

issues.

7. Care management: Assessing, arranging, and overseeing an

individual's health care routine by a trained professional.

8. Chore service: Help with repairs and chores inside or outside a

home or apartment, provided through the local Area Agency on

Aging, volunteer or youth groups.

9. Chronic illness: A physical or mental disability that continues or

recurs frequently over a long period of time.

10. Congregate housing: Apartments or rooms in a multi-unit building

or garden complex, planned and designed for the elderly.

CAREGIVER TIP FOR THE WEEK OF NOV. 27:

I am going to begin this week a list of most commonly used terms in the caregiving industry. This list is alphabetical and is quite long, so it will cover several weeks. I think it is important, however, and you may be surprised at the number of them you did not know!

1. Accessory apartment: A separate, self-contained living unit created

within, or attached to, an existing single-family home.

2. Activities of daily living (ADLs): Tasks necessary for daily life, such as

bathing, dressing, grooming, eating, toileting, taking meds and other

personal care activities.

3. Acute illness: A serious illness such as a heart attack or stroke that

develops rapidly with pronounced symptoms.

4. Adult daycare: A daycare center that offers health-related and

rehab services, social involvement and activities to meet the needs of

physically or mentally impaired elderly patients on a daily, weekly or

part-time basis.

5. Area Agency on Aging (AAA or Triple A): Also known as the County

Office on Aging, usually a nonprofit agency or unit of local

government with the responsibility for planning and coordinating

services for people over 60 in a designated geographical area. They

also provide services for caregivers caring for anyone over 60.

CAREGIVER TIP FOR THE WEEK OF NOV. 20:

Did you know that regular exercise before a hip or knee replacement can reduce postoperative pain and the need for rehabilitation, according to a report in the October issue of Arthritis and Rheumatism.

In a study of 78 patients at Boston's New England Baptist Hospital, 65 per cent of the exercisers went home after their joint replacements compared to 44 per cent who didn't participate in the pre-surgery exercise program of three sessions a week for six weeks.

The exercisers also had more physical function and less pain at eight and twenty six weeks after surgery.

So, be sure that those you love get the proper amount of exercise before their surgery. You may need to do the same!

Caregiving Tip for the Week of Nov. 13:

Here's some updated information from the Nov. AARP Bulletin concerning Medicare Drug Coverage.

Medicare Part D's coverage levels unfold during the year according to how high your drug costs rise. The cycle begins again each calendar year. If on Dec. 31, 2006, you have a plan with an annual deductible, then on Jan. 1, 2007, if you still have a deductible, you pay 100% for your drugs until your deductible is met. Then coverage resumes.

If, on Dec.31, 2006, you are in the coverage gap and paying 100% for your drugs, coverage will start one year after your deductible (if any) is met. Out-of-pocket expenses accrued toward getting out of the gap in 2006 do not carry over to 2007.

If, on Dec. 31, 2006, you are receiving catastrophic coverage and paying $2 to $5 for each prescription, then on Jan. 1, 2007, you resume paying your plan's regular copayments after paying the deductible (if any). If you are receiving extra help this year, then if you are still elligible, your low-cost coverage will continue, though some people may have to change to a different plan.

Hopefully this information will be helpful to you as you help someone else!

Caregiving Tips for the Week of Nov. 6:

From the National Caregivers Association, here is a list of ways to take care of yourself while you are taking care of someone else:

1. Remember that caregiving is a job and reward yourself

with respite breaks often.

2. Watch out for signs of depression, and don't delay in

getting professional help when you need it.

3. When people offer to help, accept the offer and suggest

specific things that they can do.

4. Educate yourself about your loved one's condition and

how to communicate effectively with doctors.

5. There's a difference between caring and doing. Be open

to technologies and ideas that promote your loved one's

independence.

6. Trust your instincts. Most of the time they'll lead you in

the right direction.

7. Caregivers often do a lot of lifting, pushing, and pulling.

Be good to your back.

8. Grieve for your losses, and then allow yourself to dream

new dreams.

9. Seek support from other caregivers. There is great

strength in knowing you are not alone.

10. Stand up for your rights as a caregiver and a citizen. h

CAREGIVER TIP FOR THE WEEK OF OCT. 30

A study from the University of Wisconsin suggests that the yellow pigments found in vegetables such as corn and yellow squash can protect women from developing age related vision loss. Researchers suggest that everyone eat a diet rich in carotenoids to help protect their eyesight as they age. Foods rich in these nutrients incluce corn, squash, egg yolks, broccoil, peas and leafy green vegetables.

Be sure that those you care for get plenty of vegetables, and don't forget the yellow ones!

CAREGIVER TIP FOR THE WEEK OF OCT. 23:

According to a study conducted by the Fire Protection Research Foundation, a high pitched smoke alarm sound is not the best signal for an older person. Researchers found that adults over age 65 woke more successfully when a mixed frequency alarm was used. They also found that increasing the volume of the alarm was also necessary for successful wakening.

CAREGIVER TIP FOR THE WEEK OF OCT. 16:

Ten Ways To Volunteer With a Hospice Patient:

1. send a card
2. hold their hand
3. paint their nails
4. back massage
5. read a book together
6. eat dinner with them
7. sit outside and enjoy nature
8. ask them about their favorite vacation
9. take them a milkshake
10. rub their feet

Ten Ways To Volunteer With a Hospice Patient:

1. send a card
2. hold their hand
3. paint their nails
4. back massage
5. read a book together
6. eat dinner with them
7. sit outside and enjoy nature
8. ask them about their favorite vacation
9. take them a milkshake
10. rub their feet

CAREGIVER TIP FOR THE WEEK OF OCT. 23

 

According to a study conducted by the Fire Protection Research Foundation, a high pitched smoke alarm sound is not the best signal for an older person.  Researchers found that adults over age 65 woke more successfully when a mixed frequency alarm was used.  They also found that increasing the volume of the alarm was also necessary for successful wakening.   http://seniorhealth.about.com       http://seniorhealth.about.com

 

 
 
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