SiVa Home care

As I grow older, I begin to better acknowledge and deeply appreciate the cycle of life. I’m fully aware that one moment you’re playing in a swing with your clique of 4 and the next moment your staring at an old picture of that 4 between wrinkled hands and sitting alone in an old people’s home. The journey between both worlds is laced with dreams, expectations, and many in-betweens. No wonder deep respect and care is paid to the veterans.

I have a grandma who holds worlds of wisdom in her eyes. She suffers from ulcer but is still a vibrant and driven woman at 82. Though my culture admonishes us to care for our elders, I made a choice to care for her whenever I was around. Many people would argue that it’s best to check them into a facility; others would prefer caring for them at home. Whichever the case, the most important thing is that they receive as much care and attention as they can get. After all, we all hope to grow old and be treated nicely too. Here are a few tips that help me in taking care of my grandma.

- Prepare the home- In case you choose to take care of your elder parent or loved one in your home, you’ll need to make a few adjustments. Ensure his/her room is on the ground floor and won’t have any need to climb stairs. We always make sure grandma has all she needs in her flat downstairs. Remove b***y straps and if you can, employ an assistant to look in whenever you’re away. Notably, most elderly people like to live out their later years without being a bother to others. However, if an assisted living facility is a better choice for you, be sure to check that they meet all laid out standards. These facilities are meant to serve as comfortable alternatives, not cause more troubles.

- Always Visit- Though elderly people are quick to say they can take care of themselves; it always warms their heart to see you check in on them from time to time. It gives them the impression that they are still deeply valued and appreciated. You also get firsthand knowledge on their mental and physical wellbeing. Whether they’re in a home for elders or in a private home, make time out to pay them a visit.

- Be friends with the pharmacist- Medications are very common among elderly people. However, most of them could have really poor medication management. Be their eyes and ears and get exact information from the pharmacists. Help them manage their medications until you’re comfortable they can take it up themselves.

- Keep them connected- Especially when they have lost their other halves, life becomes increasingly lonely. The best way to move on is to move on to someone or people who make them feel the need to live again. Keep them socially connected with others around. Encourage them to share their wealth of experience with younger people as well.

Taking care of the elder ones in our midst doesn’t have to be a chore. It could be another opportunity to share love and gain wisdom.

When the best teams in any sport take the field, the spectators often have no idea just how much training has gone on before the games. Sure, people are fully aware that these athletes trained for many years, but the specifics of that training are often unnoticed. The same can be said for home care aides and other professional and home care providers, especially when they are supporting seniors who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or some other form of dementia.

It’s no secret that adequate training will improve the quality and breadth of support that a person receives. When it comes to helping those with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia, adequate training is not always available, especially to home care aides who may not receive much more than minimum wage.

Some agencies, though, are beginning to truly understand the benefits of proper training in all aspects of in-home care. That includes providing support to those diagnosed and dealing with Alzheimer’s.

As reported in the WickedLocal blog, ABC Home Healthcare staff receive Alzheimer’s support training:

“In the home health care field, agencies like ABC Home Healthcare Professionals providing care for people with Alzheimer’s require their Home Health Aides undergo specialized training in this area.
ABC has announced that nine more Home Health Aides recently complete the Alzheimer’s Supportive Home Care Aide training, bringing their total to over 60 home health aides on staff trained to work with clients living with this disease. The two-day intensive training was provided by Mystic Valley Elder Services, a nonprofit agency which partners with elders, adults living with disabilities and caregivers residing in Chelsea, Everett, Malden, Medford, Melrose, North Reading, Reading, Revere, Stoneham, Wakefield and Winthrop. Mystic Valley Elder Services provided this training opportunity to home health aides to support the growing need in the local communities.”
It’s important for other agencies across country to recognize the benefits in providing adequate training, not just to new caregivers who will begin working with elderly and disabled clients, but those who may specialize in providing Alzheimer’s care and support.

There are strategies that can be beneficial, not just at the moment or immediate future, but several years down the road, especially when clients realize the benefits of hiring home care support services early in the disease’s progression. The more training a person receives, the better and higher quality support they will likely be able to offer those who need it most.

Thank you all for a wonderful 2016. Now let's get ready for an even more prosperous 2017. Thank you all again for considering and being part of our family.

Some change in memory is normal as we grow older, but the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease are more than simple lapses in memory.

People with Alzheimer's experience difficulties communicating, learning, thinking and reasoning - problems severe enough to have an impact on an individual's work, social activities and family life.

The Alzheimer's Association has developed a checklist of common symptoms to help you recognize the difference between normal age-related memory changes and possible warning signs of Alzheimer's disease.

There's no clear-cut line between normal changes and warning signs. It's always a good idea to check with a doctor if a person's level of function seems to be changing. The Alzheimer's Association believes that it is critical for people diagnosed with dementia and their families to receive information, care and support as early as possible.

EARLY WARNING SIGNS

1)Memory Loss
Forgetting new information is one of the most common early signs of dementia. General memory loss and forgetting important events and asking for the same information over and over are also common symptoms of early stage Alzheimer's disease. What's typical? Forgetting names or appointments occasionally and remembering them later.

2) Difficulty Performing Familiar Tasks
People with dementia often find it hard to plan or complete everyday tasks. Individuals may lose track of the steps involved in preparing a meal, placing a telephone call or playing a game. What's typical? Occasionally forgetting why you came into a room or what you planned to say.

3) New Problems with Writing or Speaking
People with Alzheimer's disease often forget simple words or substitute unusual words, making their speech or writing hard to understand. They may be unable to find the toothbrush, for example, and instead ask for "that thing for my mouth." What's typical? Sometimes having trouble finding the right word.

4) Confusion with Time and Place
People with Alzheimer's disease can become lost in their own neighborhood, forget where they are and how they got there, and not know how to get back home. What's typical? Forgetting the day of the week or where you were going.

5) Poor or Decreased Judgment
Those with Alzheimer's may dress inappropriately, wearing several layers on a warm day or little clothing in the cold. They may show poor judgment, like giving away large sums of money to telemarketers. What's typical? Making a questionable or debatable decision from time to time.

6) Problems with Abstract Thinking
Someone with Alzheimer's disease may have unusual difficulty performing complex mental tasks, like forgetting what numbers are for and how they should be used. What's typical? Finding it challenging to balance a checkbook.

7) Misplacing Things and Losing the Ability to Retrace Steps
A person with Alzheimer's disease may put things in unusual places: an iron in the freezer or a wristwatch in the sugar bowl. What's typical? Misplacing keys or a wallet, but being able to retrace steps to find it later.

8) Changes in Mood or Behavior
Someone with Alzheimer's disease may show rapid mood swings - from calm to tears to anger and aggression - for no apparent reason. They may become extremely confused, anxious, suspicious or dependent on a family member. What's typical?

9) Occasionally feeling sad or moody.
Trouble Understanding Visual Images and Spatial Relationships
For some people, a change in visual processing may be a sign of early Alzheimer's disease. They may have difficulty reading, judging distance and determining color or contrast, which may cause problems with driving. What's typical? Vision changes related to cataracts.

10) Withdrawing from Social Activities
A person with early stage Alzheimer's disease may avoid being social because of the changes they've experienced. They may remove themselves from sports, social events and hobbies. They may become passive, sitting in front of the TV for hours, sleeping more than usual or not want to perform daily living activities. What's typical? Sometimes feeling weary of work or social obligations.

We hope we'll never need the information, but if there is an emergency with your elderly parent or relative, having this checklist readily available will make your life easier.

Health emergencies with our elders can often become complicated by the sheer number of medications, doctors, insurance coverage and degree of chronic or acute illness(es) involved. Below is a comprehensive list of information and documents to keep on hand, so you'll be prepared.

Senior Care Emergency Checklist

-Doctors' names, their specialties and phone numbers.
List of all medications being taken and what the prescriptions are for (be sure to keep the information updated -- as the medications may change frequently).

-Medical insurance and prescription plans and identification numbers.

-Social security number -- many insurance companies won't talk to anyone without the patient's social security number.

-Durable power of attorney -- a legal document that gives someone the authority to handle legal and financial issues if your parent or elderly relative becomes incapacitated.

-Health care proxy -- a legal document that gives someone the authority to make medical decisions for your parent or elderly relative.

-Specification?of your elderly parent's or relative's wishes about resuscitation orders. Do you know their wishes? Knowing this information before a crisis can be crucial to the way in which you handle the crisis.

-Basic financial records -- a list of assets, account numbers, names and contact information for financial advisors or bank representative.

-Names and addresses of people to notify in case of an emergency -- such as children, grandchildren, close friends and neighbors who might be able to help out.

-Names and contact information for local clergy, if your parent or elderly relative has a preferred religious affiliation.

This information should be placed in the home in an easy-to-find location, such as near the phone in the kitchen, or in another commonly used area, as well as given to another family member or friend who agrees to keep a copy of the information for you.

As I grow older, I begin to better acknowledge and deeply appreciate the cycle of life. I’m fully aware that one moment you’re playing in a swing with your clique of 4 and the next moment your staring at an old picture of that 4 between wrinkled hands and sitting alone in an old people’s home. The journey between both worlds is laced with dreams, expectations, and many in-betweens. No wonder deep respect and care is paid to the veterans.

I have a grandma who holds worlds of wisdom in her eyes. She suffers from ulcer but is still a vibrant and driven woman at 82. Though my culture admonishes us to care for our elders, I made a choice to care for her whenever I was around. Many people would argue that it’s best to check them into a facility; others would prefer caring for them at home. Whichever the case, the most important thing is that they receive as much care and attention as they can get. After all, we all hope to grow old and be treated nicely too. Here are a few tips that help me in taking care of my grandma.

- Prepare the home- In case you choose to take care of your elder parent or loved one in your home, you’ll need to make a few adjustments. Ensure his/her room is on the ground floor and won’t have any need to climb stairs. We always make sure grandma has all she needs in her flat downstairs. Remove b***y straps and if you can, employ an assistant to look in whenever you’re away. Notably, most elderly people like to live out their later years without being a bother to others. However, if an assisted living facility is a better choice for you, be sure to check that they meet all laid out standards. These facilities are meant to serve as comfortable alternatives, not cause more troubles.

- Always Visit- Though elderly people are quick to say they can take care of themselves; it always warms their heart to see you check in on them from time to time. It gives them the impression that they are still deeply valued and appreciated. You also get firsthand knowledge on their mental and physical wellbeing. Whether they’re in a home for elders or in a private home, make time out to pay them a visit.

- Be friends with the pharmacist- Medications are very common among elderly people. However, most of them could have really poor medication management. Be their eyes and ears and get exact information from the pharmacists. Help them manage their medications until you’re comfortable they can take it up themselves.

- Keep them connected- Especially when they have lost their other halves, life becomes increasingly lonely. The best way to move on is to move on to someone or people who make them feel the need to live again. Keep them socially connected with others around. Encourage them to share their wealth of experience with younger people as well.

Taking care of the elder ones in our midst doesn’t have to be a chore. It could be another opportunity to share love and gain wisdom.

- Ursula Sebastine