As our loved ones grow older, we must sometimes face the difficult task of deciding when they cannot manage on their own. It is a heartbreaking decision that can cause conflicts with our elder family member who wishes to remain independent and is afraid of becoming a burden. There may be disagreements among children concerning when a parent needs help and what level of assistance that parent needs. But there comes a time when everyone must sit down and reach a consensus as to what steps should be taken.

Ask Important Questions to Decide The Right Actions

When a parent or other elderly or disabled family member suffers from a physical ailment, it may not be too difficult to determine the point at which they need assistance. Making those decisions about a loved one suffering from a mental disability may be more complicated. You will need to ask important questions to decide what actions to take. Is my loved one able to take proper care of himself? Does she remember to take her medications as prescribed? Should he fall or have some other accident, will he be able to call for assistance?

Defining Home Care Stages

Home care is the providing of assistance to people who need it while maintaining their ability to stay in their own home. There are many levels of home care ranging from occasional in-home visits by family members to 24-hour care by a nursing staff and even hospice service for the terminally ill. Home care can be temporary or permanent, possibly escalating from one stage to another over time. One of the primary goals of home care is to help the person receive the necessary assistance while giving up as little freedom and privacy as possible.

Early Stages

In the early stages of someone losing the ability to be fully independent, you will probably just want to check on the person more often. You may find it is important to stop by on the way to work to be sure they have gotten out of bed, showered, had breakfast and taken any morning medications. Perhaps you will decide to also check on the way home to make sure they have taken care of their chores, ate healthy meals and not missed any doses of medication. During this time you will be able to monitor their activity and determine if other steps need to be taken.

Difficulty With Daily Routines

Once your loved one begins having difficulty with daily routines, you will need to consider the options. If there are no medical issues, the solution may be as simple as bringing in a maid service or hiring someone just to spend time with your senior during the day or perhaps stay overnight. Unfortunately, this can become an expensive situation. Even if a family member chooses to be the caregiver, there can still be expenses in the form of lost wages. Medicare will only cover home care when it is deemed medically necessary by a doctor. Things such as assistance with bathing and cooking meals are not considered medical issues.

Care Around the Clock

The next stage in home care may be when the elderly or disabled person needs someone with them around the clock. If a family member will be the caregiver a decision will have to be made whether that person will go live with the person in need or will the person needing assistance be brought to the home of the caregiver. If the caregiver’s home will be used, an in-law suite may be the best option. An in-law suite is a small apartment set up at the residence of a family member where an elderly or disabled person can live while maintaining independence and some level of privacy. This can be a more affordable solution but may need a special design to set up the independent living space or may even require an addition built on the caregiver’s house.

Doctors Orders

If things have progressed to the point where medical assistance is ordered by a doctor, a nurse or nursing staff will be needed. Depending on the medical condition, the elderly person may need constant care. This can be expensive, but fortunately Medicare will likely cover a large part of the expense. Check with your state agency on aging to see what options may be available in your area. If the medical condition is not too severe, it may be possible to only have nursing staff on duty part-time, especially if the loved one is living in an in-law suite or has a family member who can be with them most of the time.

Special Needs for Dementia and Alzheimer’s

Some conditions, like dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, may cause a family member to have special needs that will need special arrangements. For instance, a person with dementia may be physically healthy. While it may be necessary to have a nurse on staff part-time, most care can be administered by a family member. Adjustments can be made such as securing exits and making sure power is off to appliances at night to avoid things like the loved one wandering off or turning on the stove and forgetting it is on. Each situation is different and a plan of action will depend on the specifics of the case.

Tips on Hiring  Care Givers

If the decision is made to hire a caregiver, you will need to consider carefully who you choose.

If you hire privately:

• Be sure to insist on at least three references and do not hesitate to verify them.
• Ask about the quality of care given but also inquire about the person’s demeanor and ability to handle stressful situations.
• It would also be a good idea to do a criminal background check. If the person you hire is through a home care agency, be sure they are bonded and that the agency performs thorough background checks.

Making One of The Toughest Decisions

One of the toughest decisions that may have to be made involves what to do as a terminally ill loved one’s health continues to decline. Knowing that death is approaching can in and of itself be a heavy burden to bear. At this point, it may be necessary to seek the assistance of a hospice service. A hospice service will focus on areas other than medical treatment, such as the comfort, dignity and peace of mind of the individual.

What Does a  Hospice Team Consist Of ?

The hospice care team may include nurses and health care aides, social workers and spiritual counselors. There will also be team members who specialize in helping the family cope with the difficult task of helping one they love pass. The team works with the patient’s physician to ensure everything that can done to make the patient more comfortable is done. Hospice has been around for centuries but has become more commonplace in recent years.

Making The Right Decisions For The Loved Ones Well Being

Determining the home care needs of your elderly or disabled family member can be a daunting task. However, it is also one of the most important decisions you ever will face. Maintaining a loved one’s quality of life while assisting them with the consequences of aging or living with a disability is a juggling act that can require constant adjustment. But so long as the patient’s well-being remains the focus of your decisions, the choices made will be the right ones.

With the cost of healthcare insurance and nursing homes skyrocketing for those with Alzheimer’s Disease and other disabilities, how can you provide the best quality of life for your loved one?

Aging-In-Place Home Solutions is a division of Myra L. Katz & Associates, Inc., a provider of quality interior design services for healthcare and senior living facilities.  After 25 years in business, Myra Katz launched Aging-In-Place Home Solutions in response to changes in the economy and the growing demand for healthcare applications in the home.

“It seems like I’ve come full circle. My parents felt strongly that elders should never feel displaced and we always had grandparents living with us as I was growing up.  My dad, Lester Katz, was a long time builder of multi-family developments in the county. So way before there were senior living communities, his properties were created for seniors living independently.  There were party rooms, pools and guest apartments for visiting family members.  One high rise property even had a popular restaurant onsite and has since been converted to an upscale senior living facility.   Designing healthcare and senior living facilities, along with starting Aging-In-Place Home Solutions, is my way of making a difference.  It’s like a calling.”

Here are some of the latest findings, simply put:

• By the year 2030 there will be 70 million baby boomers over the age of 65, more than all age groups put together.
• In preparation for the largest number of seniors ever, an Aging-In-Place Initiative is expanding in cities across the country with plans for communities to become more “senior friendly”.  This issue has reached a global level.
• Due to stressed economic conditions, there is a trend for extended families to once again live under one roof to save on expenses and to care for the elderly.
• The need for more senior living options, including Aging-In-Place, is increasing for those with dementia-related illnesses as well.
• Waiting lists continue to grow for Alzheimer’s facilities, with the illness now affecting and killing those in their 40’s.

Katz says, “Our service is not design as we think of it.  Instead, we are applying our healthcare and senior living design experience to the residences of seniors, those with disabilities and dementia-related illnesses, allowing them to be safer and more independent in the supportive environment of their own home ….for as long as possible.”  Falls are the #1 cause of death for seniors, but in addition to the many safety concerns, solutions will be recommend for the following issues:

• Memory Impairment
• Mental & Visual Perception
• ADL (Activities of Daily Living)
• Incontinence
• Loss of Motor Skills
• Wandering

A representative of Aging-In-Place Home Solutions will visit with the family and loved one(s) to provide a confidential in-home assessment. Solutions will be recommended to address current needs.  “What sets us apart from similar businesses is that, in healthcare design, we approach the challenges from a different perspective.  And rather than leave it up to your family to get the job done, we will work with you to implement the modifications desired.”   These recommendations can range from the simplest safety and security devices, lighting and finish changes to addressing accessibility issues or preparing drawings for a first floor addition.
“When dealing with Alzheimer’s, it’s important for the family and caregiver to always stay a step ahead of the disease”, Katz says.  “So as the condition progresses, we will be there for your family and loved one again….to address your new needs and suggest additional solutions to lengthen your loved one’s golden years at home.”

Currently Aging-In-Place Home Solutions is a resource to St. Louis Chapters of the Alzheimer’s Association, Jewish Family & Children Services, Lutheran Family & Children Services, and Lutheran Senior Services.  Licensed and Insured.

For a confidential in-home assessment:     
Phone: 314.395.9558
Email: Myra@AgingInPlaceHomeSolutions.com
Web:AgingInPlaceHomeSolutions.com

Solutions to lengthen your loved ones golden years at home.

Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by disturbances in reasoning and impairment of memory. Those afflicted with this disease regress mentally until they eventually reach a point at which their behavior becomes similar to that of a helpless infant. Numerous doctors and scientists believe that Alzheimer’s disease results from increased accumulation or production of the protein beta-amyloid, which leads to brain cell death.

Alzheimer’s disease is not a normal factor in the aging process, and should not be regarded as something that is sure to happen if one reaches a certain age. Many individuals live to be 100 years old and do not develop Alzheimer’s disease.

The Medical World’s Consensus

Medical institutions such as the National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health promote conventional treatments such as the use of cholinesterase inhibitors, anti-anxiety and mood stabilizing medications, and even antidepressants. Additionally, in patient’s who exhibit severe symptoms, psychotropic or anti-psychotic medications may be used.

One will notice that when these medications are recommended by a doctor or other health care practitioner, he or she will state that the goal is to slow the progression of the disease, but little or nothing is said with regard to stopping or reversing its progression. The majority of those in the medical community adhere to a belief that Alzheimer’s disease is irreversible and absolute, and even if medications help to alleviate the symptoms of the disease, nothing will stop or reverse its progression. In recent years, many people have begun to question this belief system, and wonder if perhaps a home remedy for Alzheimer exists.

Another Viewpoint

What if a remedy for Alzheimer exists that can prevent, stop, or even reverse the progression of the disease? If an Alzheimer treatment is available through which this could be achieved, those whose lives have been touched by Alzheimer’s disease owe it to themselves to explore this possibility. Although the medical community is typically rigid with beliefs about Alzheimer, if one searches on Google for Alzheimer’s natural cures, he or she will find possible light at the end of the tunnel.

There are many alternative non-drug treatments that are simply not being acknowledged for the benefits they are able to offer Alzheimer’s patients. These Alzheimer remedies can be used to decrease the emotional disturbances, mental incapacitation, and nomadic behavior typically seen in those with the disease.

There are several kinds of Alzheimer’s natural treatments, but most fall into one of two categories.

1. Alzheimer prevention remedies to help prevent the disease without traditional medicines.
2. Alzheimer treatment that focuses on stopping, or even reversing the progression of the disease.

As previously mentioned, most medications used in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease attempt to slow the disease down, but never mention improvement or reversal. However, there is hope for improvement or reversal of the disease through the use of Alzheimer’s natural cures.

Everything from making changes in one’s diet and exercise program to the use of certain high potency vitamins can help to prevent the development of Alzheimer’s disease later in life. It is possible if one makes certain adjustments at a young age, he or she will never be in need of an Alzheimer cure. Those who are currently suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and wish to try a remedy for Alzheimer that is natural, will be happy to know that many such remedies exist. If one conducts the aforementioned Google search, he or she will find a wealth of such treatments from which to choose.

Exposing the Myth

Individuals suffering from this debilitating disease, as well as their families, owe it to themselves to obtain a thorough education on each natural remedy for Alzheimer. There are many possible cures out there, and one will never know their potential unless he or she takes action and breaks through the barrier of myths surrounding this dreaded disease. It just may not be as hopeless as patients are lead to believe. It may be that an effective Alzheimer remedy is right under the noses of many in the medical profession who have simply failed to acknowledge its possibilities. This is why individuals must take action themselves!

A new product that is being introduced for the first time in the nation presents an affordable alternative to the traditional nursing home. While it’s not a panacea, it can very well be of significant benefit to thousands of families faced with the prospect of caring for an elderly or disabled member. Moreover, this new product can also be a major positive factor from the standpoint of third-party payers of healthcare benefits since it can facilitate a dramatic reduction in the cost of health care services provided to beneficiaries of Medicaid and other federal and state-sponsored programs (including those supporting disabled veterans).

Modular Mother In Law Suites

The Rockfall Company, LLC, a Connecticut-based modular builder and home remodeler, has developed and is currently introducing a modular home addition that can significantly affect the lives of thousands. Their specially-trained staff of Certified Aging-in-Place Specialists (“CAPS”, a designation awarded by the National Association of Home Builders in cooperation with AARP) has been focused on the goal of keeping the elderly and handicapped out of institutions, and they may have indeed taken a major step forward. A visit to the company’s website, www.palsbuilt.com will present a more complete description of their “Practical Assisted Living Structures”(PALS) modules.

These units are modular home additions designed to quickly (e.g. in a matter of days following delivery) and inexpensively modify virtually any home to provide the homeowner with a specially-adapted bathroom, bedroom and living space for use by an elderly or handicapped family member in need of such accommodations. Rockfall recently installed the first of these units in the home of a disabled veteran in West Haven, Connecticut and a second in the home of another disabled vet in Bristol, CT. Both installations are highlighted on the website, and more are in the works, including one being considered by a family living with MS and another with an elderly (94-year old) mother. These pre-manufactured modules, when coupled with the home-delivered skilled and custodial services provided by home care agencies and medical equipment suppliers, offer very low-cost alternatives to nursing homes and other institutional providers. While the basic module offers complete bedroom, living room and bath accommodations, the possibilities for expansion are practically limitless including specially-adapted kitchen facilities, patient transfer accommodations, 24-hour patient monitoring capabilities, caregiver accommodations, etc.

Essentially, PALS modules can:

1. Save millions in state-supported payments to institutional healthcare providers for Title XIX (Medicaid) and other programs (e.g., In Connecticut alone, where the average cost of a year’s stay in a nursing home is approximately $135,000, annual payments to institutions for long-term care exceeded $1.5 Billion in 2008. Moving only 10% to a PALS unit could save this one state in excess of $100 Million!);
2. Bring thousands of people home to the safety and care of their loved ones and families;
3. Be funded, in whole or in part, through federal programs such as the DHHS “Money Follows the Person” (MFP) demonstration currently in progress and through other state and federal programs yet to be developed;
4. Create new jobs resulting from an expanded demand for homecare services as well as for services involving building, transporting, installing and maintaining the modules; and
5. Reduce the demand for 24-hour institutional care replacing it with less-expensive intermittent home-delivered healthcare related services.

Cost Comparison

The relatively low cost of these units, amounting to a fraction of the cost of institutional care, even when you include home-delivered caregiver and equipment costs, will make PALS modules a very attractive option for many thousands of users, to scores of third-party healthcare payers and governmental programs, and to organizations supporting people with disabilities (e.g. DAV, National MS Society, MDA, ALS Association, etc.). Additionally, the raw cost of a PALS module is significantly lower than the cost of conventional building modification. For example, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recently announced the granting of awards under its Assisted Living Conversion Program in four states to modify existing housing units to accommodate residents needing assisted living amenities. Conversion costs per unit in those awarded projects ranged from $102,000 to $362,000. Basic PALS units, including shipping and installation with exterior siding to match the host home, would cost the homeowner or supportive program less than $60,000 each!

Article by:
John P. Ruocco, Director
Resource Development and Government Liaison
The Rockfall Company, LLC

What are your thoughts about modular mother in law suite additions? Leave a comment below!

Technology has been gradually adding convenience to life for years. Now, with the assistance of robots, seniors will soon be aging in place with a degree of security never before dreamed possible.

Robot aging in place is a unique concept that is revolutionizing eldercare. With millions of baby boomers approaching their golden years but still valuing the high degree of independence by which their lives have been characterized, robotic technologies are being developed to enable the elderly to receive the assistance they need while allowing them to still live at home.

Robots For Aging In Place

Tokyo is at the heart of these innovations. With 22 percent of their population already over the age of 65, they are actively searching for ways to improve the quality of life for seniors. In 2007, Secom Co. introduced a new caregiving innovation called My Spoon. A feeding robot, it assists the elderly and disabled with eating by feeding them with a fork and spoon that is controlled by a joystick.


For those struggling with the need to use a wheelchair, Fujitsu, Ltd. and Aisin Selki Co. has introduced the TAO Aicle intelligent wheelchair. The wheelchair is programmable to travel to preset locations and uses sensors to respond to obstacles, red lights, and other daily travel issues. Another, from Japan’s National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology responds to basic commands, making it possible for the wheelchair-bound to get around without overexerting themselves directing the chair manually.

At MIT, researches recently created Domo, who is designed to assist in daily household chores. Built with a motion-tracking system and spring-loaded actuators, which make it possible for Domo to lift, carry, and place items. Domo is able to determine the size of individual items and uses those measurements to enable it to pick up each item appropriately and put it away efficiently in the pantry, refrigerator, or medicine cabinet.

Even cars are being designed to accommodate the elderly. Doors are being modified and supports added to assist those who are wheelchair bound or have difficulty walking in getting into or out of the car.

In an effort to generate better quality of life for seniors, other technological solutions are being developed, such as the use of lifestyle monitoring sensors (LSM), which follow a person’s daily routine to learn what the person needs. The robots equipped with LSM, it is hoped, will become companions for the humans who own them. Essentially, the robotic companion and human would begin to communicate and understand one another. Over time, the robotic companion would be able to generate cognitive activities for the person to engage in and to assist or even complete household chores. The companion would be able to remind the person when to take medications, provide a constant link to family and friends outside the home, and would have enough knowledge of a person’s routine to understand that deviations in that routine could indicate a problem with an individual’s physical or mental health and alert the proper relatives or services. To make the companion seem less like a technological innovation and more like a trusted member of the family, technology is being developed to provide the robot with facial expressions and body language for the person to read, just as the robot learns to read theirs.

A recent study in Spain revealed that 80 percent of those over 65 prefer to stay in their own homes as they age. These results are similar across the globe, but with children moving further afield and family members becoming more distant, the possibility of a relative serving as caregiver is diminishing. These technical innovations are allowing more elderly individuals to live at home for longer periods, making aging in place a possibility that just ten years ago seemed far more distant.

Share your thoughts on Robot Aging in Place, Would this really be helpful for elder home care?

Providing care for senior adults who need help has become a growth industry in recent years as the population ages. The baby boom generation will be taxing the extended family’s ability to cope, creating greater demand for professional adult home care services to relieve the burden on working children.

Whether a family is looking for a home providing twenty-four hour care for an elder family member or an entrepreneur sees an opportunity to start a business helping people, it is vital that everyone understand the requirements to operate a home health care business. Taking advantage of free samples of home health care business plans during start up will eliminate costly mistakes and lead to a well run home care business.

Residents

Most states have a limit, usually around six or seven individuals, on the number of non-related adults to be housed in a resident care home. These adults are comprised of seniors needing help as they age or individuals disabled physically or developmentally.

Adults who are loud, abusive or disruptive may have difficulty finding a home since the idea is to retain a comfortable and friendly environment for the residents.

Level of Care

Potential residents may need to be screened based on the care they require versus the level of care the home is designed and qualified to provide. For adults requiring more acute care, some homes are staffed with twenty-four hour professional nursing. The care provided by home care facilities will vary but typically the basics are room, board, daily living and personal needs, laundry services, and some social activities.

Home Health Care Licensing

As part of the licensing process, states mandate providers submit to inspections of their facilities by state social services or health department professionals as well as fire department or building inspectors. These inspections are conducted to ensure cleanliness, adequate facilities for the requested number of residents, and a sufficient number of qualified staff.

The qualifications and the time provided to meet them will vary by state. State Health departments should be able to provide step by step guidelines to meet licensing requirements and the associated fees. Don’t forget about obtaining a local business license.

Employees

Background checks will need to be run on all employees prior to hiring and these records are subject to inspection by the state. Most states will require licensing for individual providers working in the home.

Personnel records of employees need to be maintained and there are some excellent home health care programs available. These programs include modules for scheduling, payroll, and taxes.

Payment

Invoicing requirements for insurance companies can seem onerous but once again, there are software programs available to help ensure timely payment of invoices. In many cases, insurance companies will be supplementing medicare and/or medicaid payments from the federal or state governments. Since cash flow is the life blood of any business, creating and maintaining accurate billing records will be of paramount importance to the financial health of the home.

Home Health Care Scheduling Software

Keeping track of everything from medications, physical therapy, lab tests, doctor visits, diets, and billing can be overwhelming. Home health care scheduling software is designed to provide individualized schedules for each resident as well as automated billing processes, allowing the staff to focus their energies on the residents.

The cost and quality of home health care can vary dramatically. Take time to investigate several facilities before making a life changing decision for a senior family member. This will likely be their last home and the goal should be to make this final chapter of their life as enjoyable as possible.

As the baby boomer generation begins to age, there will be an increase need for more home health care businesses nationwide. Moreover, it is a statistical fact that people are living longer and will require home health care assistance on a daily basis. Therefore, people who are entrepreneurial minded, caring, and trust-worthy have the skills needed to build a successful home health care business for the senior population.

In order to be successful in the senior care business, individuals need to take the appropriate steps in building a solid home health care system. If you are looking to start your health care business from scratch, you should follow the steps listed below:

1.Target Location

You should conduct research on the senior population surrounding your area in order to target a densely populated area of individuals who are 65 or older. You can start by checking local housing communities who are specifically leasing to the senior population. Generally these housing units are located near retirement communities, which will give you a good indication as to where you can market your services. Moreover, you can check the census profiles in your local area, which will provide hard statistical data.

2.Get Licensed

Each state has it’s own rules and licensing regulations, therefore you must research your particular state’s guidelines. Your state will assist you in getting the proper license in order to operate a senior care business within your home.

3.Hire Help

Once you become licensed and certified to perform home health care services in your home, you will need additional help. Therefore you will need to hire employees to aid in providing care and assistance to your clients on a daily basis. You may want to hire part-time employees or hire on an as-needed-basis, just until you build enough clientele for some of them to work full time.

4.Conduct Background Checks

You will need to conduct thorough background checks on all employees before they can begin working for you. There are many great companies that can provide you detailed background reports such as HireRight.com, USSearch.com, or Intelius.com. These companies check for criminal records, employment verification, and motor vehicle checks. This information will be extremely useful to you because they will also be responsible for the lives of your patients.

5.Apply For Medicare and Medicaid Acceptance

In order to be able to accept Medicare and Medicaid insurance, home health care businesses need to obtain additional licensing and certification. However the first step that you must do to get accepted is to apply with your state’s Medicare agency. Then you will have to get a surety bond from a surety company. Next, the state will come out to your home and inspect it to verify whether it is up to health and safety standards. However, in order to be accepted, make sure you have at least 7 clients, 3 months of operating capital, and steady in-coming revenue.

6.Apply For Private Insurance Acceptance

Private insurance has their own rules, so you will have to go to them directly. Some of the major private insurance companies are companies such as Blue Cross, Blue Shield, and Aetna. You can call the health insurance companies to get a list of health and safety codes so that you can make sure that you meet their specified standards.

If you are interested in more information on how to start a home health care business, or how to build a senior care franchise, you may visit these additional resources.

Own a Home Care Franchise
www.HomeCareSeminar.com

Billing For Home Care
www.HAS-Software.com

Home Health Care Manuals
www.HomeHealthManuals.com

Starting A Home Health Care Business
www.ATouchOfBusiness.com

3 Products to help you care for your elderly parent at Home

There are so many products out there today for elder care at home that I though it might be helpful to share some of my favorites with you, my readers. These three elder home care products have proven to be really helpful for us, when my wife and I were giving care to our aging parent in our mother in law suite. I hope they will be of help to you and your family too.

1) Airgo Navigator Rollator and Transport Chair

Click Image For More Info

Mobility is a major priority in helping your aging parent to be as independent as possible and enjoy a high quality of life. With so many walkers, rollators transport chairs and other products out there, it can be a challenge to find the right one. We chose the Airgo Navigator because it is really light weight at only 21lbs and folds to a very small size for easy transport. Its ability to convert to a transport chair is a real benefit in case your loved on needs to take a rest while you are out with them. It also has a convenient place to sit down in case they need to take a break when moving around in the home and your not around.

2)Sliding Seat Transfer Bench

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The bathroom is the most dangerous place in the home for an elderly person. More injuries occur there than any other room of the house. When it come time to help your loved one into or out of the shower it can be extremely difficult and dangerous for both of you. This transfer bench has a sliding seat function that make this potentially hazardous activity much easier and safer for both the aging parent and the caregiver. It’s light and easy to install too.

3) Bed Wedge or Acid Reflux Pillow

Click Image For More Info

This may seem like an odd thing to have on the list for elderly home care products but its actually really useful. Not only does it help to ease acid reflux symptoms also know as GERD but it is really great for reading in bed, watching TV, or any other activity that would be better in a comfortable raised position. They come in several different heights to suit your needs, though you may want more than one. You will definitely want to grab one for yourself too, I did and I use mine every night to help with acid reflux and have totally stopped taking my acid reflux medication.(always consult your physician before making changes to your medications) My daughter even used a wedge pillow throughout the last few months of her pregnancy and it helped her too.

So that’s my top three products for elder care at home. They are simple and low tech, but very helpful and practical. If you have some products that you think should be on the list or other suggestions please leave us a comment below.

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Pet Therapy for Seniors: Puppy Love for Caregivers and Patients

For loved ones suffering from Alzheimer’s and dementia, studies show that pet therapy offers emotional, cognitive and social benefits. Pet therapy is a proven, practical and alternative way to relieve depression, calm anxieties, and contribute to an enhanced fullness of life.

Many with Alzheimer’s, especially those who lived life as animal lovers, feel a sense of calmness and peace when petting an animal. Dogs are the most commonly used animals for this type of work, but some outlets do feature cats and rabbits. Professionals say the breed isn’t as important as the individual disposition of the animal.

Animal Assisted Therapy For Home Care

Companies and volunteer groups featuring pet therapy, sometimes called animal assisted therapy, are cropping up all over the country. These resources provide trainers and docile, people-orientated animals available to come to your home and provide therapy right in your in-law suite.

Unfortunately, depression and anxiety often go hand and hand with Alzheimer’s. It’s an emotionally devastating fact that caregivers battle. Adding a pet to an environment can lighten the mood for a patient and settle restlessness. This is especially helpful during the early evening hours where restlessness tends to peak. Stroking and comforting an animal also gives the patient a feeling of “giving back” and self worth. The pets revel in the added love and attention. Witnessing these moments are often a nice reminder to family caregivers of the parent or grandparent they remember.

Pet therapy can also alleviate confusion, inspire clarity and open windows of memory. Spending time with an animal may take these seniors back to times in their life spent nurturing animals or remind them of long-forgotten pets. The tactile feeling of the soft fur or innate nature of petting a dog can be powerful triggers.

Socially, this alternative therapy can be an ideal way to draw your loved one into social settings with other loved ones and grandchildren. With the animal as a common bond, the therapy session provides an activity and topic of conversation to be shared. This is a great way for youngsters and teenagers to interact with Grandma or Grandpa in a natural, enjoyable setting. Interacting with the pets can bring seniors out of their shell, into the present, eliciting smiles, laughter and a twinkle in the eye.

Getting Started With Pet Therapy

If you have a loved family pet, a well trained dog or cat, you’re more than halfway there. Encourage your loved one to spend more time with your furry family member. Create more opportunities for these interactions and make them a regular part of the caregiving routine. This is an ideal assignment to delegate younger family members or visiting family and friends looking for a way to contribute.
For those without pets, research the pet therapy resources in your area. You may need to introduce the senior to a few different animals to find the proper connection. Once a match is made, your family may find a whole new way to relate to one another.

RESOURCES:

SNAP for Seniors Thesis:Pet Therapy and Dementia Study by Grant Milne

Neurology Now March/April 2007

Photo Credits ; Cat-Enid Yu, Dog-mikebaird

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Adult Day Care; How to Find the Best Adult Day Care Center for You
Adult day care involves specialized programs that are designed to enhance the social, mental and physical care…

Depression is experienced by more than six million Americans over the age of 65. Quite often, disabilities and various illnesses can occur at the same time as the depression, and the depression itself may go untreated in all but 10% of all people. At that age, people will feel their world drastically changing as friends, siblings and spouses die, and their support systems appear to crumble around them. They no longer feel as productive as before, and any sense of joy in their lives, seem like a distant memory. The proper care of the elderly suffering from depression is delayed in many cases because family members, and even the elderly’s doctor may not be aware that the slowing down the elderly is experiencing, may not be due to natural aging, but in fact to their suffering from depression. Depression is not normally an aspect of growing old, as many elderly people are able to enjoy their advancing years, even while managing the challenges of aging.

The Elderly and Depression

The loneliness, depression and sadness that the elderly feel, are often brought about by loss of someone close, or by the chronic changes of aging that include the loss of mobility and personal freedom, the need to depend more on others for daily personal necessities, the stiffness and pain in the joints and the need to take medication. These changes in the lives of the elderly may leave them feeling demoralized when once they were vibrant, healthy and independent individuals. This can produce a helpless, discouraging feeling that is not easily communicated to family members and even personal doctors. Doctors may not recognize the depression because they may be more focused on the physical symptoms of disease in the patient. Because the elderly may be alone, or even isolated because family and friends move away, they become even lonelier and it takes a longer period of time before the depression is spotted and treated. The depression may remain undetected for a long while because the elderly remain isolated, are reluctant to discuss their feelings, and because it is all too often assumed that the feelings and some of the symptoms seen are a natural consequence of the aging process. The cost of this oversight is quite high, as the untreated depression could result in prescription medication abuse, alcohol abuse, illness, high death rate and quite often suicide. But with the proper diagnosis of the condition, readily available treatment and support, the elderly will soon begin to feel much better about themselves and their lives.

Causes of Elderly Depression

Many circumstances in the lives of the elderly will cause onset of depression – such as illness, family history, lack of a support system and abuse of alcohol and drugs. Other factors include:

• Uncertainty and fear – Their inability to survive on Social Security benefits, the scare of increasing health issues, and also the fear of dying
• Debilitating health issues – Persistent chronic pain and physical disability and illness
• Losing a loved one – Losing a spouse and close friends or treasured household pets
• Loneliness – Lack of social interaction with others, and inability to be independently mobile because they can no longer drive themselves or are too ill to get out
• Medicines – Many medications cause depression the side effect
• Loss of drive – Loss of identity because of inability to be more active and participate socially, and the feelings of a lack of purpose in their lives

Elderly Depression Signs and Symptoms

The person suffering from depression is ill and this produces a bad effect on the quality of his life. The sign and the depression symptoms are as following:

• Fatigue – due to the inability to get well rested sleep
• Illness
• Alcohol and Drug abuse
• Inability to sleep and sleeping too much – are due to mental fatigue brought on by great sadness and even though a person may sleep a lot, they are not well rested
• Persistent sadness – a common feeling in depression, and the affected person cannot cry
• Persistent thoughts of death and dying and even suicide
• Loss of self-esteem and self-worth
• Loss or gain in weight – appetite changes may occur and the depressed person may either lose or gain weight
• Lack of social interaction, and reluctance to leave the home
• Irritability and moodiness – the depressed person will distance themselves from those that are close to them, and may suffer from mood swings for no apparent reason
• Feeling hopeless – the depressed person may feel that nothing will get better and there is  no point to living

How to Help Elderly People Suffering With Depression

Since the depressed person is unable to express their feelings adequately or even ask for assistance, it is critical that family and friends realize the suffering and seek medical treatment promptly, or the depression could develop into physical illness or may aggravate any illnesses the depressed person is currently suffering from. The following are ways anyone close to a depressed person can help.

• Seek medical attention for the depressed person – to rule out any other physical/medical conditions that may mask themselves as depression or cause a depression side effect
• Get your depressed loved one out of the home or his or her usual environment on a regular basis. You can take your loved one somewhere he or she previously enjoyed. Rent or borrow a wheel chair to make getting around easier
• Plan group activities with other individuals of the same age; they may be community members, friends or family
• Take an active interest in the person’s eating habits. Help in the planning and preparation of healthy meals with them
• Be alert to the suicide warning signs, and if your loved one may be contemplating such a course of action, be sure to get immediate medical attention.
• Ensure that the depressed person is taking all medications as and how instructed often a depressed person can take steps to help themselves through their depression. Acknowledging the sad feelings, discouragement and depression is a good start and there is no shame in owning those feeling any more than there is in owning the feelings associated with any other illness.

Ways to Alleviate Depression

One of the key ways a depressed person can help themselves out of the depression, if they are able to, is to make a conscious effort to become and remain active on as many different levels as possibly, physically, socially and mentally. This will lift the spirits and will help ease the depression.

A Few Ways to Deal with Depression:

• Make plans to be among other people. Volunteering in hospitals or nursing facilities where you may read aloud to occupants, could be an avenue to pursue.
• Becoming involved in the daily activities of a senior center will foster social interaction and the development of various skills such as arts and crafts that may be taught there. It may even be possible to qualify for special free or reduced cost transportation to get to the center.
• Attend your favorite church on a weekly basis, especially if you can arrange to receive transportation. Some churches will have special activities for seniors and also support groups for assistance.
• Indulge in new hobbies and other activities you are physically able to manage. Look into different types of music that will lift you spirits.
• Visit the public library and get into the regular habit of reading, or listening to tapes or CDs. These activities will help you stay mentally active.
• Look for information regarding your circumstances from your local agency for aging issues, and read any good resources they provide.
• Keep open communication with your doctor, and inform him of any difficulty you are experiencing with the prescribed medication. Even difficulty with affording the medication, can be helped through you doctor and the patient assistant programs of many pharmaceutical companies. You may be able to receive medications either free or at a substantially reduced cost.
• Look after a pet if you are an animal lover. They will provide good company.
• Prepare healthy meals as directed by your doctor.
• Exercise regularly, and as appropriate for your physical condition – there are exercises available for everyone regardless of physical condition. You may even exercise from a wheelchair.

Profession Help for Depression

Professional medical help is also available for the treatment of depression in seniors in addition to self-help and the help of the support given by friends and family. A depressed senior’s condition may be caused as a result of the his or her medication , by the medical condition he or she suffers from or even by the physiological changes he or she undergoes as a result of an aging body. Because of these factors, and before medical treatment can be administered to treat depression, the possible impact of these causes must first be ruled out. The doctor should know all the medications a patient is taking when he or she makes an appointment for a medical diagnosis of depression.
The effect of some medications to cause the side effect of depression, or aggravate the depression, is well documented for patients who are prescribed one or more medications to treat the following conditions:

• High bold pressure and heart disease medications
• Painkillers
• Medication for arthritis
• Hormonal treatments
• Cancer medications
• Steroids
• Tranquilizers

Additionally, because of the crippling, life-threatening and painful nature of some medical conditions, depression may often be suffered by those patients living with those illnesses.
These are a few that may lead elderly depression:

• Diabetes
• Stroke
• Multiple sclerosis
• Parkinson’s disease
• Cancer
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Heart attack and heart disease

The emotional health and mood of a person can be affected by certain chemical imbalances in the body. These factors will need to be eliminated, prior to diagnosing a patient with depression. Included are:

• Nutritional deficiency of Vitamin B12 and nutritional deficiencies
• Thyroid irregularities
• Hormonal irregularities
• Electrolyte irregularities
• Dehydration

After testing these possible causes for depression, and ruling out all as contributing to the depression, the choices left for treatment are counseling and therapy and the use of anti-depressant drugs. When treating a depressed senior, consideration has to be given to certain conditions that may be present at the same time as the depression, and may prevent effective treatment of the depression. These are usually health issues that are common among many elderly persons. One example of this is chronic pain. Chronic pain will contribute to depression and must be addressed as the patient is being treated for depression.

Treatment with Antidepressants

Antidepressant may take a long time to be an effective treatment of depression for the elderly, and there is concern that they may either refuse to take the antidepressant or forget to take it at all. There are serious side effects of taking antidepressants, such as fast bone loss caused by certain ingredients in some antidepressants, which then contributes to bone fractures and falls. Also antidepressants will not be an effective treatment of depression in those patients whose depression is caused by poor health and loneliness.

Treatment through Counseling and Therapy

Therapy has been found to be particularly effective in treating depression, has none of the adverse side effects of using antidepressants, and can be used to discover the true causes the patient’s depression.

• The Cognitive-Behavioral approach helps patients look at their thinking patterns through exercises and discussions and it attempts to find out why they behave the way they do in different situations.
• Group Therapy-meetings are held with a trained therapist and a group in which the members all suffer with the same issues. Through the group discussions, solutions may be found and support is given to others as they grow together and share similar experiences.
• Support groups – these groups may provide social interaction for the depressed person, helping to reduce the loneliness and despair they feel because of the depression.
• Psychotherapy counseling works to help depressed people understand and come to terms with the losses and changes they are experiencing in their lives.

Elderly depression is a treatable condition, but its symptoms should be recognized early and promptly treated professionally, so that the quality of your loved one’s live can be quickly restored to normal. There is a lot of help available; check with care providers like your medicare advantage. No one needs to suffer the pain and isolation of depression.

Elderly Depression Resources:

Guide to Elderly Depression – National Institute of Mental Health and the National Institute on Aging.

Understanding Geriatric Depression – ElderCare Online – Understanding signs and symptoms of depression in the elderly as well as a chart on distinguishing Depression from Dementia.

Overcoming Geriatric Depression -How You Can Help – Guide on how to talk to and meet the needs of an elderly person suffering from depression.

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