As with just about everything in life, moderation is key.
Television and magazine ads, the Internet and public health warnings have possibly scared Americans into over protecting themselves from the sun’s harmful rays, if not avoiding them altogether.
It is true that over exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet B rays can cause many forms of skin cancer, but studies show that our bodies need the nutrient, vitamin D to stay healthy. When the sun's UV-B rays hit the skin, a reaction takes place that enables skin cells to manufacture vitamin D. Read about vitamin D atHospice Van Nuys for more information
Residents in independent and assisted living environments are encouraged to take short walks and spend time outdoors sitting in the warm, wonderful sun for short periods each day. The staff members know the importance of outdoor activities in relation to both the physical and emotional well being of their residents.
Given all the benefits of basking at least briefly in the summer sun, many experts now worry that the public health warnings about skin cancer have gone overboard in getting people to cover up and seek the shade.
U.S.News got in touch with Robyn Lucas, an epidemiologist at Australian National University who led a study published in the February issue of the International Journal of Epidemiology. Her finding: Far more lives are lost to diseases caused by a lack of sunlight than to those caused by too much.
Scientists now recognize that some sun exposure is important for health, at the very least, to maintain healthful vitamin D levels. Sunscreen blocks out nearly all UV radiation. Taking this into account, the Cancer Council of Australia has eased its sun protection message a little over the last few years and now recommends that if you're out in the sun for relatively short periods, with a UV index of less than 3, then sunscreen and other sun protection such as hats and protective clothing are not required. Beyond this, it is believed that we all need a little unprotected time in the sun during the middle hours of the day when the sun is at its highest and UV-B rays can penetrate the atmosphere.
Research, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, shows that those with the lowest vitamin D levels have more than double the risk of dying from heart disease and other causes over an eight year period compared with those with the highest vitamin D levels. The researchers cite "decreased outdoor activity" as one reason that people may become deficient in vitamin D.
In the future, Vitamin D deficiency in the elderly may become a strategy to prevent the development of depressive mood in the elderly and avoid its harmful consequences on health," the researchers wrote. "In addition, normalization of vitamin D levels may be part of any depression treatment plans in older patients."
The U.S. government's dietary recommendations are 200 IUs a day up to age 50, 400 IUs to age 70, and 600 IUs over 70. Many experts believe that these recommendations are far too low to maintain healthful vitamin D levels. They advocate for supplementation in the winter of about 2,000 IUs per day and a dose of daily sunshine in the summer.
Beyond bones. Vitamin D is best known for promoting bone health. It was first added to the milk supply in the 1930s to prevent the bone deforming disease rickets, and it defends against osteoporosis by triggering the absorption of calcium into bone cells. New evidence indicates that many people suffering symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia actually have a painful softening of the bones that is caused by a D deficiency.
The sunshine vitamin may protect against a host of diseases, including osteoporosis, heart disease, and cancers of the breast, prostate, and colon. Getting the proper exposure to sunlight has other hidden benefits such as protecting against insomnia and an overactive immune system.
Having too little Vitamin D also appears to cause the immune system to weaken. An immune system link might explain why the flu seems to strike only during the winter. A review of more than 100 studies on vitamin D and respiratory diseases, published in the current Epidemiology and Infection, found that low levels probably allow the viruses to penetrate the immune system. "It's the first comprehensive theory set forth to explain the seasonality of influenza," says vitamin D expert and lead author John Cannell, president of the Vitamin D Council and staff psychiatrist at Atascadero State Hospital in California. What's now needed, he says, is a trial to see if those exposed to flu viruses are less likely to come down with an infection if they take supplements.
Check out Hospice Thousand Oaks for more information
Showing posts with label Assisted living. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Assisted living. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Driving and other activities in Assisted Living Facilities
Many seniors burrow in and say they want to stay in their own homes until they die, but unless they’re involved in activities outside their home, they often find themselves isolated and lonely. Watching TV and watering plants all day can grow old. Depression can set in and lack of stamina can make the idea of moving unthinkable.
The time might come however, when they realize they need some assistance with daily activities such as bathing, grooming and dressing. Seniors could hire someone to come to their home a few days per week to assist, but if full time care is needed, that may not be enough. In addition to the assistive services offered for those 55+ years old, assisted living facilities provide the much-needed opportunity for socializing, so important for healthy aging.
What makes assisted living so appealing is that residents have as much independence as they want with the knowledge that support services are available if needed. Some states allow the facilities to offer medication assistance and if additional health care services are needed, they frequently contract with in-home agencies.
Depending on the facility, some assisted living residents still own cars and can come and go as they please. One attractive aspect of assisted living is the variety of forms these centers take.
Some are in residential homes with a few residents and others, large centers offering a multitude of services and amenities.
Larger assisted living facilities often resemble swank retirement centers. In fact, many retirement centers have assisted living facilities as part of their compounds. Some have gourmet chefs for community meals, nice kitchens for home cooking, gyms and spas for health, physical fitness and comfort and garages for cars, as well as buses for group transportation.
Assisted living facilities are not regulated by the same laws governing nursing homes and they have much more leeway in determining the services they offer.
Be sure to research what the facility offers and ask what services are included in the contract and if there are any add-on charges for additional services.
Assisted Living Marketing services are provided by 800Seniors.com, a leading referral system in the assisted living industry. We provide the perfect match between seniors searching for a facility and assisted living facilities nationwide and take the confusion and hassle out of the search. For more information, call 1-800-768-8221 or visit Assisted Living Eugene
The time might come however, when they realize they need some assistance with daily activities such as bathing, grooming and dressing. Seniors could hire someone to come to their home a few days per week to assist, but if full time care is needed, that may not be enough. In addition to the assistive services offered for those 55+ years old, assisted living facilities provide the much-needed opportunity for socializing, so important for healthy aging.
What makes assisted living so appealing is that residents have as much independence as they want with the knowledge that support services are available if needed. Some states allow the facilities to offer medication assistance and if additional health care services are needed, they frequently contract with in-home agencies.
Depending on the facility, some assisted living residents still own cars and can come and go as they please. One attractive aspect of assisted living is the variety of forms these centers take.
Some are in residential homes with a few residents and others, large centers offering a multitude of services and amenities.
Larger assisted living facilities often resemble swank retirement centers. In fact, many retirement centers have assisted living facilities as part of their compounds. Some have gourmet chefs for community meals, nice kitchens for home cooking, gyms and spas for health, physical fitness and comfort and garages for cars, as well as buses for group transportation.
Assisted living facilities are not regulated by the same laws governing nursing homes and they have much more leeway in determining the services they offer.
Be sure to research what the facility offers and ask what services are included in the contract and if there are any add-on charges for additional services.
Assisted Living Marketing services are provided by 800Seniors.com, a leading referral system in the assisted living industry. We provide the perfect match between seniors searching for a facility and assisted living facilities nationwide and take the confusion and hassle out of the search. For more information, call 1-800-768-8221 or visit Assisted Living Eugene
Friday, August 13, 2010
How to Protect Seniors from Money & Telemarketing Scams
Anyone with a computer, an address, a telephone or a doorbell is a potential victim of some unknown entity attempting to swindle us out of our identity and money.
Telemarketing scams seem more likely to target older Americans. A 1995 AARP study found half of the consumers targeted for such scams were 50 or older (an age group that comprises about 40% of the adult U.S. population), while a more recent report by the National Fraud Information Center showed 34% of those victimized were over 60 (an age group that comprises 23% of the adult population).
An AARP study of a phone-based lottery scam where victims were induced to pay a fee to get supposed winnings found the vast majority of victims (71%) were 75 or older.
Although not an elite group when it comes to the subject, seniors are particularly vulnerable to scams for a number of reasons.
• They may become victims of telemarketing schemes simply because their likelihood of being home during the day to answer the phone is greater. This also applies to senior citizens in Assisted Living environments who have their own phone lines.
• Many seniors are isolated or lonely and may respond more favorably to a friendly voice on the other end of the line that comes across as familiar or some pleasantly dressed, polite person calling at their front door.
• They may also simply have the in-bred notion that hanging up on people while they’re still taking is just downright rude.
• An elderly person may, out of the kindness of their heart, grant desperate requests for financial help by a perpetrator.
Ways to help protect and prevent your elderly family member from becoming a victim should include the following:
• Warn them that any solicitor pressing them for a quick decision citing an impending deadline to “cash in” on whatever they’re promising is a scam.
• Become aware that some callers may identify themselves as calling from a well-known company or bank, hoping to “snag” them into providing information such as account or credit card numbers
• Some telemarketers actually start the process by sending unsolicited literature through the mail that includes a phone number to call for an “instant” solution to a problem.
• When discussing these points with an elderly person, avoid the temptation to “preach”, which can quickly turn into your advice being tuned out.
• Report phone fraud to the FTC, providing important information to help law enforcement officials bring scammers to justice.
• Register their phone number on the National Do Not Call Registry. Registering can help limit the number of telemarketing calls you receive, so you can be more alert to calls you do get.
Assisted Living Marketing services are provided by 800seniors.com, a leading referral system in the assisted living industry. We provide the perfect match between seniors searching for a facility and assisted living facilities nationwide and take the confusion and hassle out of the search. For more information, call 1-800-768-8221 or visit Assisted Living Pennsville.
Telemarketing scams seem more likely to target older Americans. A 1995 AARP study found half of the consumers targeted for such scams were 50 or older (an age group that comprises about 40% of the adult U.S. population), while a more recent report by the National Fraud Information Center showed 34% of those victimized were over 60 (an age group that comprises 23% of the adult population).
An AARP study of a phone-based lottery scam where victims were induced to pay a fee to get supposed winnings found the vast majority of victims (71%) were 75 or older.
Although not an elite group when it comes to the subject, seniors are particularly vulnerable to scams for a number of reasons.
• They may become victims of telemarketing schemes simply because their likelihood of being home during the day to answer the phone is greater. This also applies to senior citizens in Assisted Living environments who have their own phone lines.
• Many seniors are isolated or lonely and may respond more favorably to a friendly voice on the other end of the line that comes across as familiar or some pleasantly dressed, polite person calling at their front door.
• They may also simply have the in-bred notion that hanging up on people while they’re still taking is just downright rude.
• An elderly person may, out of the kindness of their heart, grant desperate requests for financial help by a perpetrator.
Ways to help protect and prevent your elderly family member from becoming a victim should include the following:
• Warn them that any solicitor pressing them for a quick decision citing an impending deadline to “cash in” on whatever they’re promising is a scam.
• Become aware that some callers may identify themselves as calling from a well-known company or bank, hoping to “snag” them into providing information such as account or credit card numbers
• Some telemarketers actually start the process by sending unsolicited literature through the mail that includes a phone number to call for an “instant” solution to a problem.
• When discussing these points with an elderly person, avoid the temptation to “preach”, which can quickly turn into your advice being tuned out.
• Report phone fraud to the FTC, providing important information to help law enforcement officials bring scammers to justice.
• Register their phone number on the National Do Not Call Registry. Registering can help limit the number of telemarketing calls you receive, so you can be more alert to calls you do get.
Assisted Living Marketing services are provided by 800seniors.com, a leading referral system in the assisted living industry. We provide the perfect match between seniors searching for a facility and assisted living facilities nationwide and take the confusion and hassle out of the search. For more information, call 1-800-768-8221 or visit Assisted Living Pennsville.
Deep Throat, or the Deep Pockets of British Petroleum: Mounting Health Issues
It turns out oil spills and the resulting cleanup efforts are affecting more than the environment, the economy, and the very lively hoods of those who live in the vast areas they cover.
In the BP oil spill, health concerns because of exposure to toxic chemicals are coming to the attention the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals. Symptoms include upset stomach, vomiting, and diarrhea. According to the Centers for Disease Control, long-term exposure to dispersants, however, can cause central nervous system problems or do damage to blood, kidneys or livers. One worker on a crew burning oil, has purported that planes were spraying dispersant chemicals in the middle of the night. Although workers are provided with protective gear, criticism is mounting that it lacks the critical use of respirators.
These harsh realities stretch beyond the actual workers and into the communities in the spill area. Although very few documented long term studies have been done on the results of health-impacted issues in the Valdez incident, one 1993 study on the mental health fallout of the spill on workers and communities was published in the American Journal of Psychiatry. It concluded that people living in Alaska communities touched by the spill were more likely to suffer generalized anxiety disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.
One such victim, Gary Stubblefield, spent four months lifting workers in a crane for 18 hours a day as they sprayed the oil-slicked beaches with hot water, which created an oily mist. Even though he had to wipe clean his windshield twice a day, Stubblefield said it never occurred to him that the mixture might be harming his lungs.
Within weeks, he and others, who wore little to no protective gear, were coughing and experiencing other symptoms that were eventually, nicknamed Valdez crud. Now 60, Stubblefield cannot get through a short conversation without coughing and gasping for breath like a drowning man. He sometimes needs the help of a breathing machine and inhalers, and has to be careful not to choke when he drinks and eats and requires assisted living services.
Court records show more than 6,700 workers involved in the Exxon Valdez clean up suffered respiratory problems, which the company attributed to a viral illness, not chemical, poisoning.
Assisted living marketing services are provided by 800seniors.com, a leading referral system in the assisted living industry. We provide the perfect match between seniors searching for a facility and assisted living facilities nationwide and take the confusion and hassle out of the search. For more information, call 1-800-768-8221 or visit Assisted Living Moscow.
In the BP oil spill, health concerns because of exposure to toxic chemicals are coming to the attention the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals. Symptoms include upset stomach, vomiting, and diarrhea. According to the Centers for Disease Control, long-term exposure to dispersants, however, can cause central nervous system problems or do damage to blood, kidneys or livers. One worker on a crew burning oil, has purported that planes were spraying dispersant chemicals in the middle of the night. Although workers are provided with protective gear, criticism is mounting that it lacks the critical use of respirators.
These harsh realities stretch beyond the actual workers and into the communities in the spill area. Although very few documented long term studies have been done on the results of health-impacted issues in the Valdez incident, one 1993 study on the mental health fallout of the spill on workers and communities was published in the American Journal of Psychiatry. It concluded that people living in Alaska communities touched by the spill were more likely to suffer generalized anxiety disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.
One such victim, Gary Stubblefield, spent four months lifting workers in a crane for 18 hours a day as they sprayed the oil-slicked beaches with hot water, which created an oily mist. Even though he had to wipe clean his windshield twice a day, Stubblefield said it never occurred to him that the mixture might be harming his lungs.
Within weeks, he and others, who wore little to no protective gear, were coughing and experiencing other symptoms that were eventually, nicknamed Valdez crud. Now 60, Stubblefield cannot get through a short conversation without coughing and gasping for breath like a drowning man. He sometimes needs the help of a breathing machine and inhalers, and has to be careful not to choke when he drinks and eats and requires assisted living services.
Court records show more than 6,700 workers involved in the Exxon Valdez clean up suffered respiratory problems, which the company attributed to a viral illness, not chemical, poisoning.
Assisted living marketing services are provided by 800seniors.com, a leading referral system in the assisted living industry. We provide the perfect match between seniors searching for a facility and assisted living facilities nationwide and take the confusion and hassle out of the search. For more information, call 1-800-768-8221 or visit Assisted Living Moscow.
71.5 Million “Meals on Wheels” per Day! Is the country ready to deliver?
In response to the “graying of America” phenomena, SeniorSmart announced today the inception of 800seniors.com, an online tool that provides the perfect match between families and seniors actively looking for assisted living and quality assisted living facilities nationwide.
The senior population, in this country and around the world, is growing and changing. For example, it’s expected that in the next 40 years the senior population in this country is expected to grow by 147 percent.
They preceded General “X”: the baby boomers, those born in the US between 1946 and 1964, are approaching retirement age. The oldest baby boomers turned 60 in 2006, and when the trend peaks in 2030, the number of people over age 65 will soar to 71.5 million -- one in every five Americans.
Obviously not all of these seniors will require home delivered meals, but are we ready to address the multitude of services needed to provide this group of consumers adequately?
A recent study by the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a) and funded by the MetLife Foundation reports the following:
• Health Care – In one third of the U.S. communities surveyed, older adults do not have access to a range of needed preventive health care services such as health education, community-based health screenings, and counseling about prescription drug programs.
• Nutrition – 80 percent of U.S. communities have programs providing home-delivered meals for older adults, but only 25 percent provide nutrition education for seniors.
• Exercise & Wellness – More than one-third of communities do not have fitness programs for older adults, although 86 percent report having biking or walking trails.
• Transportation – Many communities are not addressing the mobility needs of an aging population. For example, only 56 percent reported having “dial a ride” or door-to-door transportation services, and only 40 percent reported having road signage that meets the needs of older drivers.
• Public Safety/Emergency Services – More than 33 percent of communities do not have a system to locate older adults who become ill or wander due to Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia. And 70 percent do not have prevention programs for elder abuse and neglect.
• Housing – Only half of the communities reported having home modification programs helping older adults adapt existing homes for physical limitations. The study says this is important because a vast majority of older adults prefer to remain in their own homes as they age.
• Taxation/Finance – More than a third of communities do not provide tax relief for older adults living on limited incomes.
• Workforce Development – Over 40 percent of U.S. communities do not offer formal job training and retraining programs to help older adults remain in the workforce, however 45 percent reported that discounts were provided at local colleges and universities for older adults who are interested in taking classes.
• Financial Planning and Retirement
• Aging/End of Life/Human Services – Many communities do not offer a single point of entry for information and access to all aging services, even though it is expected that aging baby boomers will demand it.
Contact Info:
SeniorSmart , 800seniors.com , the online tool that provides the perfect match between families and seniors actively looking for assisted living and quality assisted living facilities nationwide. For prompt replies, contact us online or call 1-800-768-8221 or visit Assisted Living Johns Town.
The senior population, in this country and around the world, is growing and changing. For example, it’s expected that in the next 40 years the senior population in this country is expected to grow by 147 percent.
They preceded General “X”: the baby boomers, those born in the US between 1946 and 1964, are approaching retirement age. The oldest baby boomers turned 60 in 2006, and when the trend peaks in 2030, the number of people over age 65 will soar to 71.5 million -- one in every five Americans.
Obviously not all of these seniors will require home delivered meals, but are we ready to address the multitude of services needed to provide this group of consumers adequately?
A recent study by the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a) and funded by the MetLife Foundation reports the following:
• Health Care – In one third of the U.S. communities surveyed, older adults do not have access to a range of needed preventive health care services such as health education, community-based health screenings, and counseling about prescription drug programs.
• Nutrition – 80 percent of U.S. communities have programs providing home-delivered meals for older adults, but only 25 percent provide nutrition education for seniors.
• Exercise & Wellness – More than one-third of communities do not have fitness programs for older adults, although 86 percent report having biking or walking trails.
• Transportation – Many communities are not addressing the mobility needs of an aging population. For example, only 56 percent reported having “dial a ride” or door-to-door transportation services, and only 40 percent reported having road signage that meets the needs of older drivers.
• Public Safety/Emergency Services – More than 33 percent of communities do not have a system to locate older adults who become ill or wander due to Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia. And 70 percent do not have prevention programs for elder abuse and neglect.
• Housing – Only half of the communities reported having home modification programs helping older adults adapt existing homes for physical limitations. The study says this is important because a vast majority of older adults prefer to remain in their own homes as they age.
• Taxation/Finance – More than a third of communities do not provide tax relief for older adults living on limited incomes.
• Workforce Development – Over 40 percent of U.S. communities do not offer formal job training and retraining programs to help older adults remain in the workforce, however 45 percent reported that discounts were provided at local colleges and universities for older adults who are interested in taking classes.
• Financial Planning and Retirement
• Aging/End of Life/Human Services – Many communities do not offer a single point of entry for information and access to all aging services, even though it is expected that aging baby boomers will demand it.
Contact Info:
SeniorSmart , 800seniors.com , the online tool that provides the perfect match between families and seniors actively looking for assisted living and quality assisted living facilities nationwide. For prompt replies, contact us online or call 1-800-768-8221 or visit Assisted Living Johns Town.
Seniors and Golf – Drive Yourself to Fitness
Seniors know that keeping active is important, but sometimes it takes a little extra effort to continue participating in an activity you enjoy because your stamina just isn’t what it used to be. Any activity to keep the blood pumping is a good thing and will not only increase your chances of remaining physically healthy, but will keep you engaged and mentally fit.
Just as the distinction for what makes someone a “senior” varies in many circles, in terms of the sport of golf it looks to be around 50 years of age. I doubt however, that too many people who have reached this milestone really feel that to be true, there are a fews things to consider that can keep your game going.
The popularity of senior golfers has gained notoriety due to the Champions Tour, a golf tour run by the PGA. It hosts a series of annual events in the US and UK for golfers 50 years of age and older. Many of the PGA Tour's most successful golfers have gone on to play on the Champions Tour.
Great players from the past and today compete on a regular basis for some big dollars on T.V. If you haven't seen them on the tube or live in your area you should watch. These golfers play some great games along with being some of the best characters personality wise you'll find anywhere. It's very entertaining to watch.
Senior Golf Equipment
Manufacturers are on your side. Many of the larger ones are wisely stepping up to this growing market by providing clubs and other equipment constructed specifically for the older generation.
This can include drivers, iron sets, putters, fairway woods, balls, bags, shoes, and the most popular hybrid clubs. All this type of equipment can be custom fit for you just like the regular equipment. There are a number of things done to the senior line of equipment to help you keep up and even hit better and further than the your younger counterparts.
Exercises
Mike Pedersen is one of the top golf trainers in the country. He is also the author of the widely acclaimed Ultimate Golf Fitness Guide and founder of several cutting-edge online golf fitness sites.
He recommends the Lying Leg Crossover, which is just one of dozens of simple golf exercises you can do with minimal or no equipment that will quickly and dramatically transform your game for years to come:
• Lie on back with legs extended
• Raise one leg and bend at knee to 90 degrees in knee and hip
• Cross that leg over extended leg, while opposite shoulder stays on ground
• Go until slight pull in the buttocks and lower back
• Hold and repeat once more
• Switch legs and do opposite side
Assisted Living Marketing services are provided by 800Seniors.com, a leading referral system in the assisted living industry. We provide the perfect match between seniors searching for a facility and Assisted Living facilities nationwide and take the confusion and hassle out of the search. For more information, call 1-800-768-8221 or visit Assisted Living Ferndale
Just as the distinction for what makes someone a “senior” varies in many circles, in terms of the sport of golf it looks to be around 50 years of age. I doubt however, that too many people who have reached this milestone really feel that to be true, there are a fews things to consider that can keep your game going.
The popularity of senior golfers has gained notoriety due to the Champions Tour, a golf tour run by the PGA. It hosts a series of annual events in the US and UK for golfers 50 years of age and older. Many of the PGA Tour's most successful golfers have gone on to play on the Champions Tour.
Great players from the past and today compete on a regular basis for some big dollars on T.V. If you haven't seen them on the tube or live in your area you should watch. These golfers play some great games along with being some of the best characters personality wise you'll find anywhere. It's very entertaining to watch.
Senior Golf Equipment
Manufacturers are on your side. Many of the larger ones are wisely stepping up to this growing market by providing clubs and other equipment constructed specifically for the older generation.
This can include drivers, iron sets, putters, fairway woods, balls, bags, shoes, and the most popular hybrid clubs. All this type of equipment can be custom fit for you just like the regular equipment. There are a number of things done to the senior line of equipment to help you keep up and even hit better and further than the your younger counterparts.
Exercises
Mike Pedersen is one of the top golf trainers in the country. He is also the author of the widely acclaimed Ultimate Golf Fitness Guide and founder of several cutting-edge online golf fitness sites.
He recommends the Lying Leg Crossover, which is just one of dozens of simple golf exercises you can do with minimal or no equipment that will quickly and dramatically transform your game for years to come:
• Lie on back with legs extended
• Raise one leg and bend at knee to 90 degrees in knee and hip
• Cross that leg over extended leg, while opposite shoulder stays on ground
• Go until slight pull in the buttocks and lower back
• Hold and repeat once more
• Switch legs and do opposite side
Assisted Living Marketing services are provided by 800Seniors.com, a leading referral system in the assisted living industry. We provide the perfect match between seniors searching for a facility and Assisted Living facilities nationwide and take the confusion and hassle out of the search. For more information, call 1-800-768-8221 or visit Assisted Living Ferndale
The Alzheimer’s Whisperer………a softer side in dealing symptoms
All week I had been reading the daily emails from my sister who is caring for our elderly mother in her declining physical and emotional state. She has become the “Club Sandwich generation” caretaker since the rest of us siblings live either out of state, or a couple of hundred miles away from them.
My sister keeps a daily log, which she emails to us of the events, incidents, and problems surrounding my mother’s health and behavior. In addition to the details, I had started noticing her frustration with the responsibility and her growing concern that our mother was purposely playing games with her by lying and not cooperating with her efforts to assist her.
Since my job description is writing articles on senior-related issues, I was given a copy of a magazine that included a wonderful article on a new approach in dealing with just such negative behaviors.
Dr. Verna Benner Carson, an expert on mental health in nursing, is also the creator of the”Alzheimer’s Whisperer” program. Most of us either have heard of or watched the popular show “The Dog Whisperer” on the National Geographic Channel. Cesar Millan, the show’s host is known for his amazing rehabilitations of difficult, aggressive, scared, lazy, compulsive, and jealous dogs by using “out of the box” techniques and calm-assertive guidance.
Although my mother has not been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, she is definitely displaying signs of dementia. Dr. Carson’s program provided insight into positive and more constructive ways of dealing.
Most importantly, the program stresses that understanding the physical changes in the brain that take place is critical. According to the program, one might think, “they should know better than that.” And they did, BEFORE they were cognitively impaired.
The first area of the brain that is changed is the hippocampus, the part that processes experiences and stores short-term memory, while the last area is the frontal lobe, which stores long-term memory. The point is that in the early stages of the disease, patients “hold onto their old stories, but don’t remember what they had for breakfast.” Once the patient gets to the middle stage of the disease, they will have only about five minutes of short-term memory, so they are not going to be able to hold a small talk conversation. By realizing and accepting the fact that it’s not going to happen, will alleviate frustration.
People dealing with patients suffering dementia will have more success and less frustration by shedding the belief that arguing and reasoning are going to produce positive results. Sometimes patient’s are not always telling the truth, but it doesn’t mean they’re lying either. A good example Dr. Carson provided was that while visiting a patient, the woman asked her what she had for breakfast, and after she told her, the woman said, “Isn’t that funny, we had the exact same thing.” Knowing that wasn’t true because the patient didn’t remember what she had for breakfast, but she didn’Dr. Carson had provided her with that information.
With knowledge and perspective, it becomes easier to deal with patients in a more loving and understand way.
Assisted living marketing services are provided by 800Seniors.com, a leading referral
system in the assisted living industry. We provide the perfect match between seniors
searching for a facility and assisted living facilities nationwide and take the confusion and
hassle out of the search. For more information, call 1-800-768-8221 or visit Assisted Living CA.
All week I had been reading the daily emails from my sister who is caring for our elderly mother in her declining physical and emotional state. She has become the “Club Sandwich generation” caretaker since the rest of us siblings live either out of state, or a couple of hundred miles away from them.
My sister keeps a daily log, which she emails to us of the events, incidents, and problems surrounding my mother’s health and behavior. In addition to the details, I had started noticing her frustration with the responsibility and her growing concern that our mother was purposely playing games with her by lying and not cooperating with her efforts to assist her.
Since my job description is writing articles on senior-related issues, I was given a copy of a magazine that included a wonderful article on a new approach in dealing with just such negative behaviors.
Dr. Verna Benner Carson, an expert on mental health in nursing, is also the creator of the”Alzheimer’s Whisperer” program. Most of us either have heard of or watched the popular show “The Dog Whisperer” on the National Geographic Channel. Cesar Millan, the show’s host is known for his amazing rehabilitations of difficult, aggressive, scared, lazy, compulsive, and jealous dogs by using “out of the box” techniques and calm-assertive guidance.
Although my mother has not been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, she is definitely displaying signs of dementia. Dr. Carson’s program provided insight into positive and more constructive ways of dealing.
Most importantly, the program stresses that understanding the physical changes in the brain that take place is critical. According to the program, one might think, “they should know better than that.” And they did, BEFORE they were cognitively impaired.
The first area of the brain that is changed is the hippocampus, the part that processes experiences and stores short-term memory, while the last area is the frontal lobe, which stores long-term memory. The point is that in the early stages of the disease, patients “hold onto their old stories, but don’t remember what they had for breakfast.” Once the patient gets to the middle stage of the disease, they will have only about five minutes of short-term memory, so they are not going to be able to hold a small talk conversation. By realizing and accepting the fact that it’s not going to happen, will alleviate frustration.
People dealing with patients suffering dementia will have more success and less frustration by shedding the belief that arguing and reasoning are going to produce positive results. Sometimes patient’s are not always telling the truth, but it doesn’t mean they’re lying either. A good example Dr. Carson provided was that while visiting a patient, the woman asked her what she had for breakfast, and after she told her, the woman said, “Isn’t that funny, we had the exact same thing.” Knowing that wasn’t true because the patient didn’t remember what she had for breakfast, but she didn’Dr. Carson had provided her with that information.
With knowledge and perspective, it becomes easier to deal with patients in a more loving and understand way.
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