Senior Home Care- Dementia- The Day Dad Stopped Driving

It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon in May. My father drove to the store for my mom. Seven hours later he came home. Our family was extremely worried. We did not know what could have happened. When my father walked in, he told my mom that he decided to go for a leisurely ride. Later on, we learned that he got lost and forget his way home. That night we took his keys away. Since my parents live on their own, we did not see any changes in his behavior. When he seemed a little forgetful, we though the forgetfulness came with age. I felt so guilty that we should have known what was going on. Immediately, I decided that he needed to see his doctor. The doctor send him to a neurologist. Sure enough he was diagnosed with Dementia. How could our family not see the signs? That day changed our family and our lives forever. My mother, who has always relied on her husband was angry and went into denial. My father seemed to be in his own world, far from us. They became like children that both now seem to need care. My father did not believe the doctors diagnosis and stated that the doctor was lying. That day it seemed like our lives had stopped. Dementia not only took over my father's mind, but our lives as well. Dementia does not effect one person. It affects everyone in the family. A person who has Dementia has a tendency to live in his or her own world. They only believe what they think. It's almost like a comfort zone for them. Changes in memory or thinking is not normal at any age, so be aware when you start to notice abnormal behavior. Immediately have your parent visit their family doctor. Make sure that your parent's physician takes the time to properly diagnose your loved one. Ask for a referral to a neurologist if necessary. Your parent needs help and it's up to you to enlist a plan of care as soon as your parent is diagnosed with Dementia. Educate yourself about the resources that are available. Be realistic about the situation. Weigh all of your options and know your limitation. Don't make any decisions out of the guilt you may be feeling. Learn to manage your stress as a care provider. Stress can jeopardize your health, relationships as well as cause depression. The following may be some of the sign that your parent may be affected by Dementia.

1. Memory Loss

2. Problem with expressing themselves

3. Difficulty with performing tasks

4. Neglectful of their hygiene

5. Misplacing things

6. Asking the same question over and over

7. Not remembering names of friends or family members

8. Disorientation of time and place

9. Changes in their mood/personality

10.Not having any interest in the world around them

11. Problems with thinking

12. Loss of appetite

Most often, people with Dementia often try to hide the fact that they may be ill. They will not discuss it or want to deal with it. It is up to you to try to make them aware that there is a problem and that you will be there for them and help them through it. Encouraging their independence at any level and supporting them is very important. This is the time when parents need to be around their family the most, and not feel isolated. Your parent still needs to feel connected and loved by you and their grandchildren. If you are are care provider and need to get additional assistance with the care of your parent, in-home care eases the burden for families. Families then can feel free to spend quality time and not stressful time with their parent on a different level and enjoy each other. In-home care assistance can help stabilize family relationships removing the guilt, responsibility and stress. Since the responsibility of care provider can produce enormous feelings of anger, guilt and tension in families, adult children can get back to their own lives, families or jobs while still providing care for their parent without guilt or anger. Share your story with us. we would love to hear from you. If you or someone you know needs additional assistance with the care of a loved one please visit http://www.heartsofgoldcare.com/

Senior Care-When the Choice is a Nursing Facility

Sometimes, even though families may want to continue caring for their loved one at home, it may be necessary to place them in a nursing facility. Since this decision most of the time is made because of a crisis situation and not a planned effort here are helpful tips to help you in assessing the facilities that you visit. First, ask your doctor for a list of nursing facilities in the area of interest. Also talk to your neighbors and friends to see if they already have a loved one in a nursing home. Bring a list of question to ask. Take notes so that you can remember the differences. First call each facility. How was your phone call answered? Was the person kind and considerate? Did they take their time with you, or were you rushed? Schedule an appointment for each facility. Try to make the appointment toward the afternoon. The residents should by then be well into their day. You can tell by the way they look the quality of care they are receiving. FIRST IMPRESSIONS COUNT! Forget the pretty wallpaper and decor. Do the residents look well groomed? Do their clothes look clean? Is there any odor in the air. If there is an odor present, the staff is not taking proper care of the residents. It is not the housekeeping. As you walk through each facility, take notice and count the people that work there. They should all be wearing uniforms and name tags so you will be able to spot them easily.. Write it down on your list. Do the staff member look happy to be there? Are they sitting around or attending to residents? Do they look tired? This might clue you in if there is adequate staff provided. Do the residents look happy? Does the facility look warm and inviting, reminding you of a home like setting or a hospital? Use the bathroom. Is there an odor? Does it look clean? Are there paper towels, soap and toilet paper? Do you feel rushed by the representative showing you the facility? Can they answer your questions easily? Change from home to a nursing home will be a difficult thing for mom or dad. How will the nursing home help in the transition of your loved one to life in a nursing home. Make a note of the answer, since this is important. This may be your loved one's home. How a nursing home helps in the transition will tell you how they may care for your loved one's emotional well-being. All nursing homes have a basic charge. Basic charges only cover room and board. Ask what those charges are and what services are extra? What about special needs? What if mom or dad has Alzheimer's Disease or Dementia? Most nursing home charge more in these cases. So make sure you find out the cost. What about the cost of a private room, or semi-private? Are personal hygiene products provided or is this an added expense? What about payment sources. Always ask for an itemized list of ALL charges. How often is the facility inspected? Ask to see the inspection report, that is your right. Are they licensed? Is the administrator licensed? What is the policy of the facility in regards to using restraints? Are all the staff members background screened, trained and qualified? Is the staff respectful, warm and caring towards the residents? Are they warm and respectful towards you? Are they willing to answer your questions? Do they say hello as you pass by? Is there enough privacy for your loved one? Is it a home like setting and can mom or dad decorate their room with personal belongings? How do they ensure safety of your loved one's belongings? Changing a person's routine can make things more difficult. If mom or dad is used to a certain routine, can they keep that routine to ensure an easy transition? If mom or dad likes milk and cookies before bed, can they still have that? What about hygiene? How often will mom or dad be able to shower or bathe? Does your loved one have to go outside the facility for grooming ( haircuts or salon visits) or is there a hair salon on- site? Being well-groomed helps the self-confidence and well-being of your loved one. How often does a doctor make visits? Don't assume a doctor visits regularly. Will assistance be provided by the same caregiver daily, or does the facility rotate the caregivers. This can also be difficult for your loved one. How are emergencies handled? Will you be notified immediately? Does the nursing facility provide dental check-ups? How many assistance are there for each resident? How many are there at night? What is the policy of moving residents to new rooms? Will you be consulted? How do they provide continuous stimulus for their residents? What activities are offered? What does the nursing home do to improve the quality of care for their residents? When you narrow down your list, make a second unscheduled visit to the nursing facility at different times. Once in the morning and once in the evening. The staff in the day may be different than at night. You will be able to notice if any staff are there in the evening as well as daytime meaning they are working double shifts. This may mean that the facility is understaffed. Participate. Have lunch or dinner. This will allow you to sample the food. Talk to other residents. Ask how they like the facility. Ask the residents if they receive enough portions. And what about if they would like more food, can they have a second helping? What about snacks? Are they provided and when? Ask the residents if the activities provided by the facility meet their interest. Can you or your family visit at anytime or only during designated visiting hours? What about laundry? If the facility provides laundry service is there an extra charge? Do the clothes smell fresh and clean? Are they free from wrinkles and stains? Always TAKE YOUR TIME and observe. You have that right. You have the right to ask any and as many questions to put your mind at ease. You have the right to visit more than once before making a decision. Always think as you walk through each facility, would I want to live here? Is this comparable to my loved one's home atmosphere? Can they provide the care that my loved one may need? Remember, you are representing the interest of your mom or dad. How do you think they would feel about the facility? Is this the facility that mom or dad would have chosen if they would have planned ahead? This is a very difficult decision so choose wisely. This may be your loved one's home. If you need any support, guidance or information visit us at http://www.heartsofgoldhomecare.com we will be more than happy to help.

Senior Home Care- Coping With Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's Disease is a disease of the brain that affects the memory. It is also the leading cause of dementia. Dementia may affects individuals with following directions, remembering, thinking and being able to perform daily activities. Everyone is affected differently by dementia. But the people who are most affected by the disease are the families that will have to provide the care and make the decisions for their loved one. Sometimes, the subtle changes are difficult to recognize. When trying to discuss the issue with mom or dad, they may pretend that nothing is wrong. That is why it is very important when families feel something may not be right with their loved one, to enlist the help of your doctor. An early diagnosis may provide benefits from treatments that are available today. One day mom or dad may have a loss of appetite, mood swings, difficulty in making decisions, slight forgetfulness, loss of interest in activities, loss of interest for proper hygiene, wearing the same clothes, not opening mail, confusion, personality changes and sometimes problems with communicating with others. These may be some signs that something is not right. The onset of Alzheimer's/dementia may be subtle so an early diagnosis is very important as the disease will progress.
When dealing with a loved one that has been diagnosed with this disease, try to allow them to be as independent for as long as possible. Provide a safe, quiet environment. Communicate with the individual as an adult, not as a child. Set up a daily routine so that your loved one will know what to expect. Do not allow too many choices to prevent more confusion. Always be patient. Allow them their dignity at all times. Always praise the individual for the things they can do. Be patient. Since changes or new places often confuse the person more, so try to minimize any changes in their routine or activities. Allow them the benefit of the doubt and let them try to do things on their own, and always offer praise for a job well done. When undesired behavior may occur, redirect the behavior promptly by changing the conversation, or tone. Controlling the behavior may be worse than redirecting it. Play soft music. Offer a snack. Suggest an activity, reminisce. By gently distracting the individual the behavior may stop. Since people feed off of each other, individuals with Alzheimer's/Dementia may be more sensitive to the stress and anxiety that they see you may be feeling. So always try to be patient and loving when dealing with the individual. When speaking use a mild voice and always make sure you are speaking directly to the person. If possible, allow your loved one be stay involved in daily activities like folding laundry, helping you prepare meals if possible, engaging them in conversation about things they like, making cookies, gardening, doing simple crafts. Give direction and encouragement. This will make your loved one feel useful. Always match the activity to their interest and ability. Allow them the time to perform the activity at their own pace, and always offer praise for what they still can accomplish. Being a care provider for an individual with Dementia is emotionally and physically draining and overwhelming. Especially when the care provider may have their own children, or job. This can compound the daily responsibilities and stress of everyday life. Care providers need to take care of themselves at all times. First, understand the disease. Contact your local Alzheimer's Association. Try to join a support group. Eat healthy meals. Get enough rest. Take time out for you and the things you enjoy. Do not feel guilty and let other family members know when you are feeling overwhelmed. Enlist a schedule with family members for care options, so that you are able to get that much needed break. Taking care of yourself will allow you to take better care of your loved one. Remember, your life is just as important. Don't loose your spirit. Your emotional well-being is just as important as your loved one's. Take it one day at a time. If you or someone you know may be in need of respite or any assistance providing in-home care for a loved one please feel free to visit us at http://www.heartsofgoldhomecare.com/

Staying Healthy Means Staying Active and Social for Seniors

As we age, we have a tendency to slow down. As we age we need to increase our activities to be able to stay healthy and strong. This is very important in our retirement years. Simple stretches and mild exercise with permission from your physician can help you live a longer healthier life. Staying socially in touch with our peers is also very important. For seniors, there are numerous seniors centers in every town to help you stay social, make new friends, and have fun. Senior centers provide a great deal of planned activities for the aging adult. Being involved with your peers and activities can help alleviate depression. The cost to join is as little as ten dollars a year and can provide you with exercise programs that fit your pace, interesting speakers, bingo and other games and special outings. You can always enjoy a great lunch with the friends that you will meet. Once you become a member, you will receive a monthly calendar listing the different activities for each day that are offered at the center. To ease in, you can pick and choose according to the schedule things that are of interest to you. Start by going once a week. For a bingo game for example. Maybe you will enjoy it. You can win prizes as well. If you choose not to drive, or cannot drive you can arrange to carpool with one of your friends that happens to be a member and have them pick you up on the way. There is always a member there that may be going your way. There is always something of interest going on at the senior center. Families should strongly encourage their loved ones to participate and join. Maybe your loved one is reluctant to go on their own for the first time. To make it easier, take your mom or dad and visit a senior center in your area for a few hours to see what it's like. You can observe and take a tour. This may help them overcome any fear or anxiety they may have. Staying social is just as important to aging adults as staying physically healthy. It is extremely important to the emotional well-being of aging adults. When you feel better emotional, you stay healthier. Hearts of Gold Home Care participates at the Grayslake Senior Center in Grayslake, Il and at the Libertyville Senior Center in Libertyville, Il. Every second Tuesday of the month we are at the bingo game in Grayslake, Il. Stop by and say hello, we would love to see you there. Check out the pictures of the wonderful Christmas party we enjoyed with all the members at the Grayslake Senior Center this Christmas. The entertainment was wonderful. The dinner was delicious and every member received a goody bag with a gift. Barbara Medel who is in charge of the center did an excellent job at putting the whole event together. You can contact the Grayslake Senior Center at 847-543-1041 for more information. The Grayslake Senior Center is located in Grayslake at 50 Library Lane. Please stop in and say hello! If you or someone you know may be in need of assistance visit us at http://www.heartsofgoldhomecare.com/