Siblings Turned Caregivers – How To Handle Your New Role

As an adult child of an older parent in need of extra care, the stress of becoming a caregiver can be overwhelming. Oftentimes, large families with many siblings have to find ways to share the responsibility of caring for aging parents.

In a very interesting article by Lindsay Lyon as published by US News & World Report, Lyon’s discusses the growing transition of adult child to caregiver with longtime journalist and author Francine Russo. The following is an excerpt of the article.

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Francine Russo on Caring for Your Aging Parents

By Lindsay Lyon

Anyone with siblings whose parents are getting older should check out a new book by longtime journalist and author Francine Russo, They’re Your Parents, Too! How Siblings Can Survive Their Parents’ Aging Without Driving Each Other Crazy (Bantam, 2010). In it, she floods light on an underdiscussed, highly emotional life stage that can strain even the strongest of sibling bonds: what she calls the “twilight transition,” when brothers and sisters who long ago left the families in which they were raised—and in some cases haven’t spoken in years—are hurled back together as adults to grapple with their parents’ aging, illness, and death. “It’s the new life crisis of our original family,” she writes. And it can get ugly. U.S. News chatted with Russo, and here are edited excerpts:

Why did you write this book?

This is one of those intersections of the personal and the professional. While I was a journalist on the boomer beat, I was covering caregiving, aging—many boomer issues—and I also had a column [and] people wrote to me. Many had issues with their siblings. At the same time, my parents were aging, and my sister was in my hometown taking care of them. I was pretty clueless about what was expected of me. Nobody actually asked me to do anything, but tensions ran really high. We just kept doing what we had always done. I called on Sundays and went to visit every few months for an afternoon—that’s what I always did. At my mother’s funeral, I saw my father and my sister holding each other up and weeping. I was shattered. I was ashamed because I finally got it—what they’d been through without my help—and I began looking for answers as a journalist, interviewing experts and siblings. I really was interested in the psychology because I’m not really a bad person and I’m not usually psychologically clueless, and yet I got it all wrong. So I started looking for answers.

Why do you say that the “twilight transition” is new in our time?

The average person is living 30 years longer than in 1900—30 years! People used to die of heart attacks, they used to die of diabetes, they died of cancer, but there weren’t treatments that kept these people alive for 10 or 15 years with these ailments. Our parents are living for much longer times and longer with chronic illnesses, which means they need help. That’s new. That’s totally new.

If you look at the latest caregiving stats from the AARP, there are 43 million people taking care of a parent or elderly relative, and 91 percent of them say they do not share the responsibilities equally with anybody; 51 percent—more than half—say they do it alone. Now, you have got to figure at least 80 percent of those people have siblings, and there’s got to be a huge story in that.

Are most people prepared to deal with this period?

Nobody is really prepared to deal with it. We think of our parents as eternal. This stage of life, for everybody in the family, evokes very old and very deep feelings. Everybody is going to react and overreact based on things that are not about what’s going on right now. They’re not about whether Mom moves to this assisted living versus that assisted living. They’re really about old things. Without realizing it, we get caught up in sibling rivalry again. So we’re arguing about whether she should eat health food or go to the major cancer clinic. But the ferocity of the feelings we have comes from somewhere else. People [should] just remember one thing: that they’re not the only person losing their parent; [everyone] is going through it. Cut each other a little slack. Give each other the benefit of the doubt. Have a little compassion—even if somebody isn’t behaving well according to your standards.

What if siblings can’t seem to do that?

There’s a whole new field of professionals who can help: geriatric care managers. I’m a big fan of geriatric care managers. Their client is the old person, but they can help all the siblings communicate. For example, let’s say your brother lives in California and you’re in New York, and whatever you tell him about Mom he doesn’t believe because he doesn’t want to. Then he gets a call from the geriatric care manager, and she very factually lays out your mother’s condition. What’s going to come up in the future. What her needs are now, so your brother doesn’t have a chance to say, “Oh, that’s just my sister being hysterical or complaining.” The manager can also say, “Listen, this is too much work for one person. Let’s have a meeting or a conference call and talk about assigning responsibilities.” If siblings really can’t stand each other, they don’t even have to talk to each other. The person in the middle, the professional, can help coordinate. There are also social workers.

To read the entire article click here.

At Comfort Keepers we seek to be a resource to you because we are Comfort Keepers caregivers and we are here to help! Comfort Keepers provides in-home care to seniors and the elderly living in Ocala, Gainesville, and The Villages Florida. We provide superior in-home care to seniors and the elderly throughout Central Florida so they can live enriched independent lifestyles! Call us today at 866-333-4737.

Men Are Caregivers, Too Comfort Keepers® Provides Tips, Shows Support for Male Caregivers

In a role traditionally taken on by women, a growing number of men are charting unfamiliar territory and becoming primary caregivers for their wives or elderly parents.  According to a comprehensive study conducted for AARP and the National Alliance for Caregiving in 2004, 39 percent of an estimated 44.4 million caregivers are males.

Whether an ill spouse has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, arthritis, or a stroke, male caregivers often find their new role to be overwhelming and all-consuming.  Most men have grown up in a household, and certainly a culture, in which females have been perceived as the primary family nurturers.  Yet often by necessity, more men than ever are rolling up their sleeves and helping their family members with day-to-day tasks such as preparing meals, cleaning the house, bathing, and managing medications.

To compound the stress in their lives, baby-boomer men may find themselves sandwiched between elder care and child care, and as they juggle work, family, and the needs of an aging parent, their frustration can often turn into despair, exhaustion, and burnout.  But with the right support and encouragement, men can find caregiving to be a rewarding and admirable experience.

Below is one of four physical and emotional tips to support the male caregiver:

1)    Recognize the emotions you are feeling –Being thrown into the role of a caregiver for the first time can be overwhelming and stressful.  Perhaps you feel guilty because you think you aren’t doing enough, and you’re frustrated that you can’t do more.  The stress you feel is not only the result of your caregiving situation but also the result of your perception of it.  It is important to remember that you are not alone.

Steps to take:

• Identify the source of your stress.  Ask yourself, what is causing the stress for me?  Sources of stress might be too much to do, family disagreements, feelings of inadequacy, and the inability to say no.
• Talk with a supportive, understanding person about your feelings.  This might be a friend, family member, or local support group.
• Use your sense of humor.  It’s a great way to relieve tension and break barriers.  Laughing is good for you physically and helps everyone around feel better.
• Learn and use stress-reduction techniques.  Stress reducers can be simple activities such as walking, gardening, or having a cup of coffee with a friend.

Stay tuned to our next post  for three more steps you can take to be the best male caregiver. At Comfort Keepers we seek to be a resource to you because we are Comfort Keepers caregivers and we are here to help! Comfort Keepers provides in-home care to seniors and the elderly living in Ocala, Gainesville, and The Villages Florida. We provide superior in-home care to seniors and the elderly throughout Central Florida so they can live enriched independent lifestyles! Call us today at 866-333-4737.

Senior Care for Veterans in Ocala, Florida | Gainesville, Florida | The Villages, Florida

If you are a veteran, or the surviving spouse of a veteran, requiring in-home care, you may be eligible to receive pension

Ocala Veterans

benefits through the Veterans Non-Service Connected (NSC) Improved Pension Benefit Program.  Comfort Keepers® of Ocala, Gainesville, and The Villages can help.

For aging veterans, one of their most important benefit programs is the Veterans Non-Service Connected Improved Pension Benefit Program. Established to assist qualified veterans, and/or their surviving spouses and family, the Veterans NSC Improved Pension Benefit Program provides financial support that enables veterans to live independently while receiving the quality of care they deserve.  In particular, funds are available for aging veterans who need assistance with medical and non-medical care both in the home and in qualified facilities.

In many cases, veterans, along with their spouses and family, are unaware that this program exists. According to VA analysis, only 27 percent of veterans and 14 percent of widow(er)s who are likely eligible, actually receive any money from the program.

To qualify for the Veterans NSC Improved Pension Benefit Programs, a veteran must have 90 days or more of active duty with at least one of those days served during a US-declared war. The benefits are designed for those who meet specific financial criteria and demonstrate a physical need for healthcare.

The Department of Veterans Affairs determines active duty as full-time service, other than active duty for training, as a member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, or as a commissioned officer of the Public Health Service, Environmental Science Services Administration or National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or its predecessor, the Coast and Geodetic Survey.

Other qualifications and considerations:

•             Discharge for any reason other than dishonorable conditions

•             Over the age of 65 or disabled

•             Total financial assets

•             Physical condition

•             Current marital status (if you are the surviving spouse of a veteran)

•             Total gross income versus medical deduction

Comfort Keepers can provide professional guidance while the applicant is completing the necessary paperwork and being assessed for eligibility for the Veterans Improved Pension Benefit Program. Once approved, Comfort Keepers can be the solution for quality in-home care.

We provide Personal Care Services such as bathing, mobility assistance, transfer, and incontinence care along with other services like cooking, light housekeeping, transportation to a doctor appointment, or simply the companionship of a caring person.  By providing these services, Comfort Keepers® of Ocala, Gainesville, and The Villages has helped hundreds of people stay in their own home.

The Veterans NSC Improved Pension Benefit Program may cover the cost of these care services and we will be happy to assist you in accessing the information necessary to evaluate your eligibility for the program.

We are honored to help provide you, and other veterans you may know, the information you need to fully understand the benefits for which you may qualify.   Call Comfort Keepers at 866-333-4737 today and see how we can provide loving in-home care for you or your loved one.

Aging and Your Senses: Caregiver Tips and Info for the Elderly

As people get older:

They have problems with their vision due to changes in the eye muscles.

These problems include:

• Trouble reading small print without reading glasses.

• Difficulty seeing objects off to the side.

• Problems seeing in dim light or at night.

• Trouble seeing certain colors. (Blues, greens and purples all tend to look alike.)

Also recognize that your elderly loved ones produce fewer tears causing dry eyes. In addition, cataracts and eye infections are common. Some gradual hearing loss is also normal. Typically, elderly seniors complain of difficulty in hearing higher-pitched sounds.

The inner ear stiffens causing it to distort sound or cause ringing in the ears. This can also affect a person’s balance. As we age, the tongue has fewer taste buds, especially for sweet and salt. As such, help your elderly loved ones avoid using too much salt or sugar to their food because it may cause them to lose their appetite. Seniors also experience a lessened sense of smell so they may have trouble identifying common odors.

To Help Your Elderly Loved Ones With Sensory Problems, You Should:

• Be sure to get their attention first before speaking to them. If they have some hearing loss, they’ll have a better chance of understanding you if they look at you while you speak.

• Speak in short, simple sentences. In addition, lower the tone of your voice

(since high-pitched sounds are harder to hear).

Encourage your senior loved ones to use their hearing aids and /or glasses. If they don’t seem to want to use them, try to find out why. For example, are the hearing aids uncomfortable? Perhaps they can be adjusted. Are the glasses the right prescription? Maybe the client needs to see an eye doctor.

Avoid moving furniture and/or personal items because this will help your loved one with vision problems know their environment.  Make sure they have good lighting, especially if they are trying to read or write. In addition, use a night light near the bed and/or in the bathroom.

Guard against falls…especially if you notice your loved one has a problem with balance.

Remember…Watch For & Report:

• Any new vision problems

• Any new hearing loss

• Problems with hearing aids or eyeglasses

• Problems with balance

At Comfort Keepers we seek to be a resource to you because we are Comfort Keepers caregivers and we are here to help! Comfort Keepers provides in-home care to seniors and the elderly living in Ocala, Gainesville, and The Villages Florida. We provide superior in-home care to seniors and the elderly throughout Central Florida so they can live enriched independent lifestyles! Call us today at 866-333-4737.

How to Select In-home Care for Seniors

In today’s mobile society families don’t always live close to one another. More and more, the adult children of seniors find themselves concerned about their parents living alone or getting the extra help they may need. Sometimes assisted living facilities or nursing homes can be a solution, but ask most seniors where they would prefer to age, and the majority will say they want to stay in their own home.

No one understands this better than Comfort Keepers caregiver and registered nurse Donna Purpura. “I work with seniors every day and I see how important it is to them to maintain an independent lifestyle,” said Purpura.  But, not all in-home care is the same. With so many options, it can be difficult to know which in-home care provider will be best for you or your loved ones.

Mother-daughter team and Comfort Keepers owners Lynn Domenech and Jocelyn Holt realize the importance of selecting a qualified caregiver. “Bringing someone into your home is a decision that should be made carefully, and understanding your options is the key to making the right choice,” said Domenech. “Unfortunately, most people don’t know the difference between the options available to them…and there are significant differences,” she added.

Among the many in-home care options for seniors and other adults there are:  independents, nurse registries, and employment based agencies. Each type of provider differs in how they staff caregivers, charge for services, and assume the liabilities of being an employer.

Independents are typically individuals that are not part of a larger organizational structure providing in-home care. Generally, independent caregivers also charge less than a nurse registry or an employment based agency. This may seem like a cost effective solution for your needs, but if you secure an independent to provide in-home care, you are responsible for all employment taxes and deductions, Workers’ Compensation insurance, and general liability insurance in the event the caregiver is injured or causes property damage. When you hire an independent caregiver you are responsible for protecting yourself from any risk that may lead to additional expenses, security or safety concerns.

Nurse registries are another common in-home provider. Caregivers provided through nurse registries are usually independent contractors, and many of the same concerns you face in hiring an independent caregiver also apply to caregivers provided by nurse registries. Basically, nurse registries act as a “match maker,” to help clients find independent caregivers.

Employment based agencies, like Comfort Keepers, are the most comprehensive option for in-home care. One of the many benefits to hiring a caregiver like Comfort Keepers is that you are not liable for “employer” related responsibilities. Comfort Keepers is a turnkey care solution, so you are never burdened with liabilities of an employer.

Most importantly, Comfort Keepers ensures that all caregivers have undergone rigorous background checks, are covered by Workers’ Compensation, general liability, and bonding insurance. “Our caregivers are trained prior to being placed in your home to ensure you receive the highest quality care,” said Domenech.

In-home care is a win-win solution for those seniors and other adults who want to maintain an independent lifestyle. Who wouldn’t prefer to stay in the privacy of their own home, surrounded by cherished belongings and memories?  “Families just need to ask the right questions,” said Domenech.  “If you are seeking a care solution for yourself or someone you love, take control of the situation and leverage the information that is available to you.  Ask good questions and stay involved!”

A Different Kind of Senior Care – Ocala, Florida | Gainesville, Florida | The Villages, Florida

Comfort Keepers® of Ocala, Gainesville and The Villages approach to senior in-home care is centered on a concept called Interactive Caregiving ^TM.  Study after study demonstrates how the principles behind this active approach to in-home care can help seniors maintain their independence, enhance their wellbeing, maintain their mental and emotional vitality, and help them enjoy a better quality of life at home.

Physical activity keeps seniors active and healthy, contributing to a better state of wellbeing.

• The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute reports that dancing can lower blood pressure, strengthen bones, lower risk of heart disease and help manage weight. As a social activity, dancing also stimulates the mind and reduces the risk of dementia, according to a study in the New England Journal of Medicine.

• Exercise makes seniors stronger and less likely to fall, says the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. A study published in 2002 in the British Medical Journal found that exercise is more effective than home hazard modifications and vision correction in preventing seniors’ at-home falls.

• A long with keeping seniors healthier, exercise helps reduce the severity of illness. A Denmark study published in the October 21, 2008, edition of Neurology says that stroke patients who were the most physically active before their illness were two and half times more likely to have a less severe stroke than the least active patients – and had a better chance for long-term recovery.

• Researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign reported in a 2005 study that seniors who are physically active in leisure, occupational or home activities, such as house cleaning and gardening, report a greater feeling of self-esteem and quality of life.

The Heart and Science Behind Interactive Caregiving™

Our approach to in-home care is called Interactive Caregiving. It is integral to how we care for seniors and other adults so they can live the highest possible quality of life in the comfort of their own homes. Research indicates that keeping seniors mentally, physically, emotionally and socially engaged helps them to enjoy a higher quality of life, retain better cognitive function, stay healthier and live independently longer.

Social activity keeps seniors and the elderly connected with friends and involved in events and interests.

• A 1999 study published in the British Medical Journal involving more than 2,700 seniors, showed that social and productive activities, like gardening, shopping and preparing meals, were just as beneficial to the subjects’ health and quality of life as physical fitness activities. It also indicated that the less physically active a senior was, the greater the health benefit he reaped from being socially engaged.

• A Harvard School of Public Health study, reported in the July 2008 issue of the American Journal of Public Health, found that the most socially active seniors had the slowest rate of memory decline from over a six-year period. Memory loss among the most socially engaged seniors was less than half that of the least engaged.

Mental stimulation ensures senior and elderly minds are active and vital, contributing to better mental and emotional functioning.

• A 2003 study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that elderly people who did crossword puzzles four times a week had a risk of dementia 47% lower than those who did the puzzles once a week.

• The Memory and Aging Project at Rush University Medical Center – a study published in 2007 in Neurology, the journal of the American Academy of Neurology – found that a cognitively-active senior was 2.6 times less likely to develop dementia than a cognitively-inactive senior.

Emotional vitality helps seniors maintain a positive outlook on life and optimistic view to the future.

• Studying a group of 884 older adults, University of Michigan psychologists found that the seniors who scored higher on perceived control of important aspects of their lives – community involvement, hobbies or family connections, for instance – were more likely to be alive at the study’s six- and seven year follow-ups.

• A study by the Washington University School of Medicine reported in the August 2001 edition of The Annals of Behavioral Medicine that seniors who exercised scored higher on an emotional health scale. And even though nearly 65 percent of the study’s 1,733 participants had arthritis, overall they reported no increase in pain from the exercise.

• Exercise has been recognized for preventing falls. And the Australian National University Centre for Mental Health Research (CMHR) found that those in a 787-member study group who scored higher in emotional well being were less likely to fall. The risk rose for those who experienced increased depressive symptoms or lower morale as the study progressed.

At Comfort Keepers we seek to be a resource to you because we are Comfort Keepers caregivers and we are here to help! Comfort Keepers provides in-home care to seniors and the elderly living in Ocala, Gainesville, and The Villages Florida. We provide superior in-home care to seniors and the elderly throughout Central Florida so they can live enriched independent lifestyles! Call us today at 866-333-4737.

Aging & the Skin: What Central Florida Seniors Should Know

As people get older their skin gets thinner and loses its ability to stretch. This makes it easier to injure. Once injured, the skin is less able to fight off infection and takes longer to heal.

Seniors also have fewer sweat glands, so they may find it difficult to keep their body temperature stable. Do you find yourself or your loved ones complaining about being cold all the time – especially their hands and feet? Fewer sweat glands attributes to this feeling.

Seniors also lose fat under their skin, so you may notice that certain bones stick out more including elbows, knees, shoulder blades and hips. Because senior’s skin produces less oil their skin often feels dry and itchy. Adequate moisturizing of the skin is required to combat this common skin condition. Aged skin also becomes wrinkled and develops brown “age spots” and moles. As a result, older people are also more sensitive to the sun.

Lastly, seniors fingernails are prone to becoming dry, ridged and brittle. This makes them break easily, and conversely toenails become thick and hard, making them difficult to trim. It’s is critically important that senior caregivers pay attention to these little details to ensure the ultimate care and comfort of their senior and elderly loved ones.

To Help Your Elderly and Senior Loved Ones Prevent Skin Problems, You Should:

• Keep their skin clean and dry, but don’t use too much soap. Soap dries the skin and will make any problem with itching or flaking even worse. Apply moisturizing lotion to any areas of dry skin after bathing.

• Encourage them to change position frequently to prevent skin breakdown. If your loved ones can’t change position by themselves, help them do so.

• Help your elderly loved ones dress appropriately for the weather. Dressing in layers is a good idea. Then, they can put on or remove a layer depending on how they feel. In addition, help them avoid getting sunburned. In Central Florida the sun is strong. Be sure senior and elderly loved ones wear plenty of sunscreen or wear uv protective clothing.

• Be very careful during client transfers. For example, it’s very easy to tear skin when transferring elderly people from a bed to a wheelchair. Take your time during the transfer procedure and make sure your client is wearing socks and shoes.

Remember…Watch For & Report:

• Signs of skin breakdown like pressure sores and skin tears
• Bruises or “black & blue” areas
• Signs of infection (like redness, swelling, drainage and skin that is warn to the touch)
• Rashes

At Comfort Keepers we seek to be a resource to you because we are Comfort Keepers caregivers and we are here to help! Comfort Keepers provides in-home care to seniors and the elderly living in Ocala, Gainesville, and The Villages Florida. We provide superior in-home care to seniors and the elderly throughout Central Florida so they can live enriched independent lifestyles! Call us today at 866-333-4737.

An international network of independently owned and operated offices.  2009 CK Franchising, Inc.

NOTE: The information presented in this article is provided for educational purposes only. It is not intended

as a substitute for medical advice or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other medical

professional if you have any questions about any medical condition, diagnosis, or treatment.

Seniors, The Elderly, and Technology: Improving lives every day-Part IV

Welcome to our four part series entitled: Seniors, The Elderly, and Technology: Improving lives every day.

Part IV – Technology improves quality of life for seniors with Alzheimer’s or dementia.

As people age and their care needs change, monitoring systems have the flexibility to change with them. For example, additional devices can be connected to a personal emergency response system so that the same people who monitor emergency situations can continually monitor other activities.

When a person develops Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia-related condition, for instance, motion detectors, pressure-sensitive mats and window and door sensors can be installed.

These detect the individual’s wanderings and alert caregivers with alarms that sound in the home, as well as at a central monitoring station. In addition, global positioning system devices can be used to find loved ones in a timely manner if they wander away.

In partnership with a professional caregiver, families can customize their use of technology to facilitate the care plan for their loved ones and complement the personal caregiving they receive.

As in every facet of our lives, technology is here to stay and will take on a growing role in caregiving. Preparing for the coming wave of aging, tech-savvy baby boomers, and building on the success of current technology, research into new in-home caregiving devices continues.

Intel, for instance, is looking for opportunities to develop technology that better serves the rapidly growing population of older adults while reducing health care costs. It is approaching this goal from three fronts:

• A shift from treatment to prevention

• A shift from expensive clinical settings to the home

• A shift of some responsibility for care from formal providers to individuals and their family and friends.

These efforts affirm seniors’ desire to age in place and maintain greater independence, as well as the proven benefits of current technologies that complement in-home caregiving.

In partnership with the University of Washington, researchers at Intel Research Seattle are developing technology to track a person’s ability to perform activities of daily living (ADLs). Another proposed system would deliver medication reminders by cell phone, TV, or whatever

device a senior would prefer. Other innovations in the making include wearable, wireless sensors that would alert caregivers to a senior’s fall and sensors placed in a senior’s footwear to monitor gait for irregularity to prevent falls and costly hospital stays or nursing home placements.

Research also is being conducted in artificial intelligence to help persons with Alzheimer’s disease complete activities of daily living to reduce their dependence on caregivers.

More technologies also are becoming available to remotely monitor chronic senior health conditions, such as hypertension. This capability will make more efficient and effective use of the skills of professional caregivers whose ranks are hard pressed to keep up with the rapidly growing senior population.

Technology Is A Smart Choice For Secure, Independent Living

With more promising advances under development, technology already has proven its place in extending services of professional and family caregivers around-the-clock. They provide family members assurance that help is available when they can’t be with their loved one. And as a cost effective alternative to assisted living or nursing home placement, they promote better health outcomes and quality of life for seniors who desire to “age in place” and live independently in their home for as long as possible.

PERSONAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE SYSTEM

This wireless, house-wide monitoring system offers hands-free, two-way voice connection in the event of an emergency. Press the HELP button on the console, or the neck or wrist pendant, to contact the monitoring station. Seven days a week, 24 hours a day, someone is always available when you need help.

MEDICINE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

The automated medication management system ensures seniors take the proper medicines at appropriate times throughout the day. Especially helpful for those taking multiple medications or those who may be at risk to under, or over, medicate.

PORTABLE PERS WITH GPS TECHNOLOGY

The Portable PERS with GPS technology is an ideal solution for individuals concerned with safety away from home. Individuals can be instantly located with the press of a button.

SMOKE & CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS

Monitors the presence of dangerous levels of carbon monoxide, smoke, or fire in the home. These systems alert the central monitoring station who then alerts families and dispatches the local fire department.

DOOR & WINDOW CONTACTS

Especially helpful for those that may have a tendency to “wander,” these sensors send an alert if someone is leaving the home, or, trying to enter the home.

PRESSURE MATS

Ideal for seniors that may be a fall-risk or may wander at night, these mats will alert others in the household as well as the monitoring station when detecting pressure on the mat.

At Comfort Keepers, we support our caregiving services with our Safety Choice devices to ensure that all of our clients have the security they need to stay in their own home. Comfort Keepers is located in Ocala, Gainesville and The Villages, Florida and we strive to provide the highest quality senior care and elderly assistance in Central Florida.  Call us today 866-333-4737!

Seniors, The Elderly, and Technology: Improving lives every day-Part III.

Welcome to our four part series entitled: Seniors, The Elderly, and Technology: Improving lives every day.

Senior Protection Device Ocala

Part III – How Does Monitoring Technology Impact Family Caregiving?

In a 2007 study entitled “What’s Mom Doing Now? Impact of Monitoring Technology in Family Caregiving,” the Scripps Gerontology Center at Miami University in Ohio had monitoring systems and other assistive devices installed in test subjects’ homes for 24 weeks.

At the end of the study nearly all the families responded that the technology “made life easier (provided peace-of mind, reduced vigilance)” and that it gave them more free time.

The study also found that regardless of previous experience, the caregivers learned to use the new technologies and said the advantages of them outweighed the disadvantages. One advantage the study noted:

-          the cost of the technology was modest compared to nursing care or

-          nursing home placement.

The study concluded that technologies can play a significant role in supporting in-home care and the partnership of the individual being cared for, the family and professional service providers.

Used in tandem with caregiving, technology enables individuals to maintain as independent a lifestyle as possible, while providing family caregivers peace-of-mind that they can take breaks from the stress and responsibility of caregiving—knowing their loved one is still being watched over. Current technologies help in various situations:

• Reminding individuals to take medicine as prescribed
• Providing individuals a quick way to get help when they are alone
• Enabling long-distance family members to have a greater role in caregiving
• Monitoring persons who wander due to Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia-related conditions

Technology has been proven to help enhance health outcomes of seniors. For instance, electronic medication management systems promote optimal health by automatically dispensing pills and reminding seniors to take them.

The failure to follow prescriptions properly is one of the leading reasons seniors need additional, and more expensive, health care.

Inability to follow prescriptions is attributed to:

• 10 percent of hospital admissions
• 23 percent of nursing home admissions

Emergency response systems also help improve health outcomes for seniors. With the push of a button on a pendant or wrist band that they wear, users can quickly summon help if they fall, become ill, or encounter other emergencies.

Falls are one of the greatest concerns of the elderly. The Centers for Disease Control reports that more than one third of American adults 65 and older fall each year — and falls are the leading cause of death by injury for seniors. But when a fall takes place, if the response time to the emergency can be shortened, it helps reduce the complications that may result. The shortened wait time usually results in quicker and fuller recovery—a much better outcome and improved chance of returning to independent living.

Other technologies are being developed to protect seniors from the initial fall. Monitoring systems, the use of pressure-sensitive mats and sensors can detect changes in a senior’s ambulation, alerting caregivers that the senior is becoming more at risk for falls and may need assistive devices or changes in the home environment.

Web-based video monitoring systems also can help family caregivers — even distant ones — look in on and visit with their loved ones to make sure everything is alright. In an August 19, 2007, article, The Dallas Morning News quoted a woman who uses such a system in caring for her 86-year-old mother 800 miles away: “I can see in an instant how she’s feeling. One evening I noticed she was limping around her place, and I asked her why. If I had simply called her, she might not have mentioned she had fallen.”

An often-stated concern about monitoring systems is their intrusion on privacy; however, the woman’s mother said, “The fact that my family can see me and how I’m doing gives me a sense of security.”

Technology provides away-from-home safety and security when a professional caregiver or family caregiver isn’t present. Through the Internet, family caregivers can look in when they can’t be with their loved one. And technology providers have their own professional staff who continually monitor the devices. Through this technology, seniors have constant protection.

At Comfort Keepers, we support our caregiving services with our Safety Choice devices to ensure that all of our clients have the security they need to stay in their own home. Comfort Keepers is located in Ocala, Gainesville and The Villages, Florida and we strive to provide the highest quality senior care and elderly assistance in Central Florida.  Call us today 866-333-4737!

Seniors, The Elderly, and Technology: Improving lives every day. Part II

Welcome to our four part series entitled: Seniors, The Elderly, and Technology: Improving lives every day.

Part II – How Will America Meet the Need for In-home Care When Caregiver Availability is Declining?

Now at nearly 40 million, the 65+ group will more than double by 2050. This growth will be fueled by 76 million baby boomers, the first of whom will turn 65 in 2011. Consequently, current systems for elderly care are being stretched. And as more and more seniors choose “home sweet home” over institutional care, demand for in-home caregivers — professional and family — will increase.

But the supply of caregivers — professional and family — will decrease, as the ratio of working age adults to older care recipients is expected to decrease 40 percent between 2010 and 2030.

Families and our economy already feel the strain:

• Caregiving in the United States, released in 2004 by the National Alliance for Caregiving, reported that 44 million Americans—21 percent of all U.S. households—provide care for an adult family member or friend.

• MetLife reported in a study that about 60 percent of employed caregivers have had to make some work-related adjustments to accommodate caregiving. The study added that the total estimated cost to employers for full-time employees with intense caregiving responsibilities is $17.1 billion per year.

• The cost is personal, too. Stephen McConnell, Senior Vice President of Advocacy and Public Policy for the Alzheimer’s Association, testified before the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging that one in eight Alzheimer’s caregivers becomes ill or injured as a result of caregiving. One in three uses medications for problems related to caregiving.

• Another factor: Families today have fewer children (meaning fewer potential caregivers), and they are geographically spread further apart. The Family Caregiver Alliance estimates that 5.1 to 7 million Americans care for an older family member from a distance.

In the midst of these trends, technology stands out to many organizations and leaders in health care as a solution — not as a replacement for the human touch — but as a beneficial complement to the care provided by professionals and family members. Monitoring and assistive technologies offer relief for family caregivers, providing the peace-of-mind knowing that their loved one is still being watched over. And the technology even gives distant family members the opportunity to be involved.

In a recently released report, Retooling for an Aging America: Building the Health Care Workforce, the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies recommends a variety of strategies to better serve America’s growing population of elderly. One of these is a recommendation that federal agencies support development and use of technologies that enhance caregivers’ capacity to effectively and efficiently care for the elderly, given the caregiver shortage.

McConnell added that technology holds promise to alleviate some of the fatigue experienced by those who care for loved ones. He explained that assistive devices will help persons with cognitive impairments live with less dependence on their caregivers.

Some skeptics question how readily elders and caregivers may be to adopt technology. But studies are showing that older adults are discovering that technology can support their desire to age in place, and family caregivers are learning how assistive devices can ease the demands of caregiving.

At Comfort Keepers, we support our caregiving services with our Safety Choice devices to ensure that all of our clients have the security they need to stay in their own home. Comfort Keepers is located in Ocala, Gainesville and The Villages, Florida and we strive to provide the highest quality senior care and elderly assistance in Central Florida.  Call us today 866-333-4737!