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Warning Signs Your Aging Parent Needs Home Care

admin — Wed, 04 Dec 2013 20:32:47 +0000

Families must recognize when an aging parent needs help at home

By Chris Berry

Is your mom or dads unopened mail piling up? Is your dad, who previously took great pride in his wardrobe, wearing dirty clothes and paying little attention to his appearance? Are there bruises or cuts on your aging parent’s arms that they cannot explain or remember? When you ask your aging parent these questions do they dismiss you and ensure that everything is alright?

(Related: 2014 Pension Rates)

It is difficult for aging parents to admit that they need help because that is to admit that they are no longer able to take care of themselves. “Denial is the unrealistic hope that a problem is not really happening and will go away by itself. Admitting they need help and accepting assistance is not easy for people as they age. It represents a loss of independence. Denial plays a major role – and signs get ignored,” says Paul Hogan, Founder and Chairman of Home Instead Senior Care.

As a result, it is the family’s duty to identify the warning signs that an aging parent may need assistance with day-to-day living tasks. Recognizing these signs doesn’t necessarily mean that your parent needs to be put in assisted living or a nursing home, but it likely means that they some help in their home. Here are are some signs that will allow you to recognize is your elderly parent needs some help at home:

Rotten food sitting around
Failure to attend important appointments
Bruises that cannot be explained
Difficulty getting up when seated
Trouble with walking, balance and mobility
Difficulty completing tasks that were once easy
A tendency to forget
Body odor
Poor hygiene
Intense urine smell in the house
Obvious decline in grooming habits and personal care

Extreme clutter and dirty laundry piling up
Piles of unopened mail or an overflowing mailbox
Notices of late payments, bounced checks and calls from bill collectors
Declining diet or weight loss
Disinterest in hobbies and activities
Extreme mood swings
Failure to take medications – or taking more than the prescribed dosage
Diagnosis of dementia or early onset Alzheimer’s
Unexplained dents and scratches on a car

Christopher J. Berry is an elder law lawyer in Michigan Dedicated to helping seniors, veterans and their families navigate the long-term care maze. To learn more visit http://www.theeldercarefirm.com/ or call 248.481.4000

The post Warning Signs Your Aging Parent Needs Home Care first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.

Late-Stage Alzheimer’s and Caregiver Expectations

admin — Tue, 03 Dec 2013 01:10:19 +0000

Comfort is ultimately the most important factor during late-stage Alzheimer’s

By Chris Berry

During the late-stages of Alzheimer’s communication becomes a major issue. Even when you talk slowly and calmly, it is common for the person suffering from late-stage Alzheimer’s to not understand what you are saying. Despite not understanding what you say, they will be able to “feel” sentimental acts like a massage, brushing their hair, a hug, or other pleasurable touching.

Be attentive to expressions like a frown, or grimace or groan because they can still feel pain. Many months of caregiving will enable you to better sense when they feel pain, and how to best avoid it.

Eating also becomes extremely difficult during late-stage Alzheimer’s. Believe it or not, people in these stages can eventually forget how to swallow. Knowing this, try softer, pureed foods. Milkshakes and smoothies are a great solution. Always allow them to take their time to ensure that they don’t choke while eating.

Another common characteristic of those suffering from late-stage Alzheimer’s, is to be bedridden. If they are unable to turn themselves over, it is critical to turn them over frequently to avoid bed sores and comfort them.

It is likely that they will also need to be bathed and fed during this stage of Alzheimer’s. Due to their inability to communicate, it is imperative that this type of care is administered without request.

Alzheimer’s is a slippery slope, as a result, comfort becomes the most important factor during this stage of Alzheimer’s. Music is often soothing. Soft, fluffy pillows and blankets can comfort, while warming socks can help ensure sound sleep.

Lastly, be sure to encourage friends and family to visit frequently and in small numbers to deter loneliness.

Christopher J. Berry is a Michigan Alzheimer’s Planning planning lawyer and Medicaid planning attorney dedicated to helping seniors, veterans and their families navigate the long-term care maze. To learn more visit http://www.theeldercarefirm.com/ or call 248.481.4000

The post Late-Stage Alzheimer’s and Caregiver Expectations first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.

Majority of Americans Don’t Want to Live to 120, Pew Study Reveals

admin — Thu, 29 Aug 2013 11:11:10 +0000

The U.S. population is aging rapidly as a result of falling birthrates and rising life expectancies. According to the U.S. Census Bureau projections, by 2050, one-in-five Americans will be 65 or older, and at least 400,000 will be 100 or older.

There are some futurists that believe even more dramatic changes are coming, including medical treatments that could slow, stop, or reverse the aging process and allow humans to remain healthy and productive to the age 120 or more.

The likelihood of extraordinary life spans is becoming increasingly possible. For example, a recent issue of National Geographic magazine carried a picture of a baby on its cover with the headline: “This Baby Will Live to Be 120.”

With that said, many Americans are not optimistic about the possibility of living longer lives. According to a new survey by the Pew Research Center, they see peril as well as promise in biomedical advances, and more believe it would be a bad thing for society if people lived decades longer than today.

When asked whether they, personally, would choose to undergo medical treatments to slow the aging process and live to be 120 or more, a majority of U.S. adults (56 percent) say “no.” However, close to two-thirds (68 percent) think that most other people would. And last, they expect that dramatically longer life spans would strain the country’s natural resources and be available only to the wealthy.

Alzheimer’s Patient Kept Alive Against Her Will

admin — Mon, 12 Aug 2013 13:33:27 +0000

Eighty-two-year-old Margaret Bentley is an Alzheimer’s patient at a Fraser Health nursing home (Maplewood House) that is spoon-feeding her against the former nurses wishes, expressed in her living will long before she became ill.

Her family has filed a lawsuit alleging the feeding violates the patient’s rights and constitutes. The Supreme Court of BC lawsuit is anticipated to set precedent as it should clarify end of life rights of patients and the obligations of health providers.

Bentley’s daughter, Katherine Hammond, said her mom would have never wanted to become a right to die “test case”.

“I feel terrible that this part of her life has been made public, but on the other hand, my mom would want to see this issue addressed. So my hope is that we can move from a place of sadness to one of a lasting legacy,” Hammond said, adding:

“End of life care directives are obviously in a grey zone if health providers are misinterpreting or misapplying laws. So yes, this will be precedent setting,” Hammond said.

While she hopes the case is heard this year, the family will advocate for the issue regardless.

“We don’t want others to have to go through we’ve experienced. I feel like this involves many more people than just my mom, “ said Hammond, who noted that Vancouver lawyer Kieran Bridge has accepted the case on a pro bono basis.

Bentley was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 1999 at age 68. She had witnessed the advanced stages of Alzheimer’s and dementia and told those close to her that she wished to be allowed to die if she ever reached such a state.

She was institutionalized in 2005 and in a “vegetative” state for the last three years.

Amassing over 100 pages, the lawsuit describes how messy the case has become as even Fraser health has directed the nursing home staff to call the police if family members attempt to move Bentley from the premises.

The plaintiffs are asking the court for a declaration that the feeding is akin to battery and that the facility is violating her Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The suit relies on 18 additional rules, regulations and statutes in an effort to prove that Bentley’s rights are being violated.

The suit requests that the court recognize Bentley’s 19991 “Statement of Wishes” as a valid and enforceable advance directed under the Health Care Consent Act. In that signed documents, Bentley specifically said she did not wish to be fed “nourishment or liquids” of she ever developed an incurable medical condition involving mental or physical disability. She said she wanted to be allowed to died.

Hammond, who was also a nurse before she went into another career in health care, said every day in BC, health providers respect patient’s wishes if they want to die.

“I think this case is somewhat of an anomaly and I still don’t know why an unknown third party prevented us from enacting my mother’s wishes. We have had fairly amicable relations with the care home until recently, when we found out that we were perceived as a threat.”

Hammond said she doesn’t visit her mom very often these days.

“This is a family tragedy. I said goodbye to my mom a long time ago,” she said, explaining that it hurts too much to see her mom in a completely unresponsive state.

The post Alzheimer’s Patient Kept Alive Against Her Will first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.

Don’t be Afraid to Travel with Alzheimer’s

admin — Sat, 11 May 2013 19:13:21 +0000

If you have Alzheimer’s disease don’t be afraid to live life to the fullest, travel, and hope for a cure!

Barb and her husband planned a trip to San Francisco as a birthday gift for Barb to traverse down memory lane where her parents started their lives together. They were wed in San Francisco and made many friends.

Her dad was stationed at an army base there, but when they tried to find it they discovered it no longer existed. Barb’s mother worked at a bank in Carmel. They ended up leaving due to their family ties in Milwaukee, but their hearts never left the bay. Years ago she had been there while her husband was training for his job at Fireman’s Fund. Now, her brother-in-law lives there so they decided to visit him and discover the places Barb’s parents had always talked about.

The first thing she packed was her meds, including the ones she takes for Alzheimer’s disease to amplify memory and clarvescence. She packed light so she handle her own suitcase and not overwhelmed with too many articles of clothing. The tennis shoes she packed were too small, in-fact, she had intended to give them to her daughter. As a result, she purchased a new pair in Carmel, which turned out to be splendid.

After his time in the service, her dad hoped to open a drug store. His buddy from the army was a pharmacist and wanted a business partner. Her dad’s role was to be in retail and advertising — he was a commercial artist. Both Barb’s husband and brother-in-law surprised her by finding her parent’s favorite coffee shop in Carmel. They had an old photo of her mother standing in front of it. They asked her if she recognized it before showing Barb the original picture, and taking a photo with her now in front of it.

Barb’s mother also had Alzheimer’s. Now, her sister is living with it — she is 90 years old. And at age 66, Barb too, has Alzheimer’s. Her advice is to live to your potential and in the moment. Don’t be afraid to travel with caregivers and your meds. Enjoy each and every day and hope for a cure.

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