Columbia Aged Care

Choosing the right nursing home can be difficult and overwhelming for many carers. You want to ensure that the nursing home you choose will provide the best care for your loved one. However, with so many nursing homes available, how do you compare them to ensure you make the right choice?

The first step to finding the right nursing home is to start searching for homes in your area. Once you have a list of potential nursing homes you should then visit each home to assess them.

The Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing has put together a Nursing Home checklist that will help you to compare each nursing home by asking the right questions.

Some of the questions on the Nursing home checklist are:

Staff

• What was the attitude of the staff assisting you?
• What training do the care staff have?
• How many staff members provide overnight care?
• What type of care or services cannot be provided?

Rooms

• Are single rooms available or will your loved one have to share?
• What arrangements are there to ensure privacy for residents?
• What furnishings and personal items can your loved one bring and what is supplied?

Food

• What are the meal arrangements?
• Is there easy access to well-maintained outdoor areas?

Other

• How can family and friends be involved in your loved one’s care?
• What transport is accessible for visiting shops and family?
• Can the nursing home meet your loved one’s medical and special needs?
• Do you or your loved one understand the costs associated with care?

You can also prepare your own specific questions to add to the checklist and remember to take a new checklist to every nursing home you visit.

Feel free to conduct second or third visits to each nursing home to ensure you make the right choice.

Hopefully with a little bit of preparation and by asking the right questions you can find the best nursing home for your loved one.

Read the full checklist here.

Strength training helps elderly people build muscle, improve balance and can also prevent the loss of bone mass. LiveStrong.com has provided some helpful exercise routines that help build muscle mass but go easy on joints and problem areas.

Squats:
Squats are one of the most effective exercise routines for building muscle in the legs. This type of exercise will help with balance as well as endurance. More muscle means your body has more support and better stability.

Leg press:
Some elderly people may find squats difficult if they have trouble with their joints. If any pain is felt during a squat, a leg press machine can offer more support while still working the muscles in the legs and providing the same benefits as squats.

Bench Press:
This exercise is one of the best muscle building activities. It works most of the upper body muscles and is a fantastic exercise for seniors who find they may have trouble completing general  tasks such as putting the washing on the line or carrying groceries.

Although it may seem like a lot of work, these exercises can help improve an elderly person’s quality of life. It can help them stay independent and also help with general day to day activities such as walking, cleaning or gardening. However, it is important to consult a doctor before trying any exercise routine.

Read the full article here.

Your loved one can derive many benefits from children and young people visiting them. Whether it is their own grandchildren or children from a local school, your loved one will enjoy the companionship and it will help them to develop a feeling of purpose in life.

eHow has provided a few benefits your loved one may gain from having children pay them a visit from time to time.

Companionship:
Whether it is a day trip to the park, shops or library, playing board games or cards, these activities allow the children and your loved one to bond as well as breaking your loved one out of their daily routine.

Your loved one may also have the chance to tutor or share a bit of their knowledge with a child on a particular school project. This will not only help with bonding but it will also provide your loved one with a sense of purpose and self worth.

Bringing gifts:
Having a child bring your loved one a gift – whether it be slippers, a book, a blanket etc. allows your loved one to not only feel the joy of receiving a surprise gift but it also provides them with the feeling of being loved, valued and remembered.

Making sure your loved one feels valued and remembered is important, especially if they live alone, in a nursing home or live far away.

Sharing experiences:
Your loved one will have so many experiences and stories to tell children. Having your loved one sit with a child or a group of children and share their knowledge or a story about something they experienced (e.g. historical events) is a fantastic way to not only teach the children or child something new but also give your loved one a sense of pride and importance.

Having a child or group of children visit your loved one is a great opportunity to break up your loved one’s daily routine – especially if they do not get regular visitors. If your loved one lives alone, creating a sense of self worth and making sure your loved one knows you care is extremely important.

Read the full article here.

When your loved one is moved into a nursing home it is important that they don’t feel abandoned and that their close relationships continue.

However, many people can become uncomfortable or distressed when visiting a nursing home. Aged Carer has given some helpful tips to create a more enjoyable and comfortable environment for when you visit your loved one.

• If your loved one is immobile or cannot communicate, holding their hand, stroking their forehead or quietly talking to them will let them know you care.
• Share a meal with your loved one in the dining room or order take away.
• Bring a family pet to visit, go for a walk around the garden and show off the pet to other residents.
• Bring a grandchild to visit. If they have a favourite book have them read it out loud to your loved one or if they play a musical instrument bring it along and put on a mini concert.

A short visit can break up your loved one’s daily routine and for many residents in an aged care facility a family visit is the highlight of their week. Making your loved one feel important and a part of the family is the best way to ensure your loved one is happy and content.

To read the full article, click here.

Creating a safe and comfortable home is a simple way to help reduce stress on you and your loved one. Not only will this improve their quality of life, it will also reduce the chances of your loved one becoming injured, anxious or confused. 

Caregiver.com has provided some simple tips to ensure that your loved one feels secure, comfortable and content.

Buy a small lightweight jug
Store the jug in a convenient place and keep it filled at all times. Reminding your loved one to keep hydrated can ward off a number of problems associated with dehydration such as headaches and sleepiness and is great for health and wellbeing.

Avoid lots of mirrors
Your loved one’s memory may start to become affected, and if this happens you may need to prevent your loved one from seeing their reflection. Mirrors can be confusing as your loved one might not recognise their own reflection.

Use large dials or number pads
If your loved one enjoys watching television, ensure the remote has large buttons to make it much easier to use. Installing digital clocks might make it easier for your loved one to read the time if analogue clocks are confusing or frustrating for your loved one.

Clothing
If you buy your loved one’s clothing, keep it simple and basic, this will make it easier for them to pick out their outfits. Organise their wardrobe into sections i.e. skirts, pants, shirts and dresses. This will make it easier for your loved one to find a certain garment they might be looking for.

Read the full article here.

Aged Care Connect have provided helpful guidelines to aid you in the difficult and stressful search of finding an aged care facility for a parent, spouse or friend. There are a few rules that you should follow to make the process simpler.

Location
No single factor is more important to quality of care and quality of life of a resident than visits by family members.  Visits can be the high point of the day or week for the resident. So, make it as easy as possible for family members and friends to visit.

Get references
Ask the facility to provide the names of family members of residents so you can ask them about the care provided in the facility and the staff's responsiveness when the resident or relatives raise concerns.

Talk to the nursing home administrator or nursing staff
Ask staff how care plans are developed for residents and how they respond to concerns expressed by family members. 

Tour the facilityTry not to be impressed by a fancy lobby or depressed by an older, more rundown facility. What matters most is the quality of care and the interactions between staff and residents. See what you pick up about how well residents are attended to and whether they are treated with respect. Investigate the quality of the food service. Eating is both a necessity and a pleasure that continues even when we're unable to enjoy much else.

How do families choose between aged care homes?
Most families begin the process of finding the right aged care home after they have the copy of the aged care assessment from the ACAT. The selection of the aged care home is important and will have a major impact upon your relative and upon the families peace of mind.

Final word of warning - Stories from well meaning friends and neighbours
Be wary of stories from friends and neighbours who have good intentions, but may not  fully understand the current status of the aged care home.

Care Giver Stress have  offered some simple signs to help you identify if spousal caregiving is becoming too risky for you.

In sickness and in health…that was the vow you took with your spouse on your wedding day. So, you wouldn't think twice about caring for your partner now that they are in a situation where there's a growing need for your assistance. Whether it is a chronic health problem, issues with mobility or decreased cognitive function (e.g., dementia/Alzheimer's disease), your support will likely be necessary.

While this is a natural reaction in a loving situation, it is important to note that spousal caregiving often leads to significant changes in your marital relationship and it can sometimes leave the family caregiver feeling overwhelmed and stressed. This can be compounded if the caregiver is also taking over responsibilities that were once handled solely by their ailing spouse, from cooking and doing laundry, to balancing the checkbook and heading up the financial decisions.

There can also be a sense of loss, especially if your spouse suffers from dementia or Alzheimer's disease. Or, if activities that once provided pleasure and deepened a sense of connection may no longer be possible. As a caregiving spouse, you may begin to feel very isolated from friends and feel tremendous guilt about your own unmet needs.

Subsequently, you take on this "labor of love" and let your own positive health habits drop off to the side, putting your own health at risk.

In fact, the Journal of American Medical Association reports that if you are a spousal caregiver between the ages of 66 and 96, and are experiencing ongoing mental or emotional strain as a result of your caregiving duties, there's a 63% increased risk of dying over those people in the same age group who are not caring for a spouse.

The combination of loss, prolonged stress, the physical demands of caregiving and the health vulnerabilities that simply come with age place an older spousal caregiver in a danger zone.

Signs that Spousal Caregiving May Be Becoming Too Risky for You:
 Missing or delaying your own doctor appointments
 Ignoring your own health problems or symptoms
 Not eating a healthy diet for lack of time
 Overusing tobacco and alcohol when you feel stressed
 Giving up exercise habits for lack of time
 Losing sleep
 Losing connections with friends for lack of time to socialize
 Bottling up feelings of anger and frustration and then being surprised by angry, even violent, outbursts at your spouse, other family members, co-workers - even strangers
 Feeling sad, down, depressed or hopeless  Loss of energy
 Lacking interest in things that used to give you (and your spouse) pleasure
 Feeling resentful toward your spouse
 Blaming your spouse for the situation
 Feeling that people ask more of you than they should
 Feeling like caregiving has affected family relationships in a negative way
 Feeling annoyed by other family members who don't help out or who criticize your care All caregivers who experience elevated levels of stress are at an increased risk for physical and emotional issues, so it important to get support.

Sometimes even the most resourceful person needs to ask for help from other family members or outside professionals or sources, such as a friend, physician, priest, etc. The hardest part for many is knowing when to ask, since, to some, asking for help is a sign they aren't handling the situation well.

The truth…your spouse/partner will be in better hands if you, yourself, are healthy. It is important to take care of yourself, while taking care of someone else.

Here are some simple strategies to put the spring back in your caregiving step by Caring Today.

1. Have the right bite for breakfast
If you start your day on an empty stomach, you'll be in a slump before lunch. But the wrong breakfast also can sabotage your stamina.

Sweet cereals, doughnuts, white toast and other simple carbohydrates all offer a quick jolt of energy. Yet, that fast high can lead to a sudden low as your blood sugar spikes and then plummets, explains RD, assistant professor of clinical nutrition at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Lona Sandon.

For a steady supply of energy, your meals should be a mix of fiber-rich complex carbohydrates (whole grains, vegetables, fruit), protein (eggs, meat, low-fat dairy) and a little healthy fat (olive or nut oil). This will slow the absorption of carbs into your bloodstream. One good morning meal: whole-grain cereal with milk and fruit. More fiber may mean more energy, suggests a recent Welsh study. Subjects who ate high-fiber cereal every morning felt less tired than those who ate a low-fiber cereal.

2. Eat more often
A large meal will make you feel lethargic. So, what's your best bet for all-day invigoration? Eat smaller-portion meals or snacks about every four hours to keep your blood sugar—and energy—on an even keel, advises Sandon. And limit your snacks to about 200 calories so you do not overeat.

3. Fill your tank
If you're low on H2O, you'll likely feel fatigued.

"Getting the equivalent of about six to 10 cups of water a day is essential for energy," says Sandon, "since water helps us digest and metabolize our food." But you don't have to drink plain water to stay hydrated. "Juicy foods"—fruits and vegetables such as watermelon, cucumber, celery, tomatoes and apples—which are over 90 percent water, can help you meet your fluid quota. And broth-based soups, milk, 100 percent fruit juices, coffee and tea all contain large amounts of water.

Tip: If your urine is the color of pale lemonade, you're getting enough fluid. Darker, apple-juice colored urine indicates you're dehydrated.  

4. Get more of the vitality vitamin
About 30 percent of us have lower-than-optimal blood levels of vitamin C, and one of the earliest signs of this shortfall is feeling tired or listless, says nutrition researcher Carol Johnston, PhD, of Arizona State University. Her research shows that upping intake of vitamin C improves the body's ability to oxidize fat.

"The reduced ability to oxidize fat creates fatigue," Dr. Johnston explains. For extra oomph, she recommends getting about 100 milligrams of vitamin C from food (1 cup of strawberries contains 85 mg; 1 cup of orange juice has 80 mg; 1 kiwi, 70 mg; 1 mango, 57 mg). Stressed-out caregivers may benefit from extra C. According to a recent German study, people who have high blood levels of vitamin C don't show the expected mental and physical signs of stress when subjected to psychological challenges.

"For folks who want to supplement, I would recommend 250 to 500 milligrams daily," says Dr. Johnston. However, don't take vitamin-C supplements if you have a history of kidney stones or genetic anemia, such as thalassemia.

5. Rev up with exercise
When you're pooped, the last thing you want to do is jog or hit the gym. But a workout can recharge your batteries by releasing feel-good brain chemicals and pumping energizing oxygen to your brain, says Patrick O'Connor, co-director of the University of Georgia-Athens exercise psychology laboratory.

In fact, a UGA analysis of 70 studies found that sedentary people who start exercising regularly have about 20 percent more energy and feel less fatigue than couch potatoes. To help you power through the day, try a lunchtime workout. A recent British survey found that, regardless of the type, duration and intensity of the activity, people who worked out at lunchtime were less likely to experience an afternoon slump.

6. Lighten the overload
A schedule that leaves no room for R&R is guaranteed to wipe you out, says Mary Ann Bauman, MD, author of Fight Fatigue. Her advice: On weekends, pare down your to-do list to high-priority activities and ask for help, if necessary, so you don't spend all your time tending to others and doing chores that steal your stamina.

"To replenish your energy reserves, you need to take at least two hours on Saturday and again on Sunday to do something just for you—whether it's exercising, reading or gardening," says Dr. Bauman.

7. Soak up some sun
Evidence suggests that early-morning exposure to bright light increases energy and that working under sunlight-intensity artificial light in the afternoon can keep you alert and productive when you're short on sleep. "Sunlight increases your level of serotonin, a hormone that helps elevate mood and decrease fatigue," says Bruce S. Rabin, MD, medical director of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center's Healthy Lifestyle Program.

More than half (52%) of family members presently caring for an older relative started doing so because the senior had an injury, illness or medical condition that left him or her less able to function independently. However, there are other issues, such as depression, poor nutrition, death of a spouse, isolation or loneliness that can further compromise the older relative's physical and mental health in a short period of time.

Sometimes, the older person just needs company - someone to talk to or with whom to share their day. Below, the Home Instead Senior Care Advisory Board offers 10 signs that you're older relative may need assistance or additional companionship:

1. Household bills piling up
Seniors can feel overwhelmed by the simple task of opening and responding to daily mail, as well as balancing a checkbook, particularly if eye sight is deteriorating or if this was once the responsibility of a now-deceased spouse. This can result in overdue bills, bounced checks, utilities being turned off due to lack of payment and other creditor issues.

2. Reluctance to leave the house
Rather than ask for help, seniors who are having trouble, e.g. walking, remembering directions, seeing, or hearing, will slowly pull away from their community/friends and isolate themselves. This isolation can lead to loneliness and depression, as well as malnutrition and other health concerns, if left unresolved.

3. Losing interest in preparing/eating meals
Seniors who suddenly find themselves alone (after the death of a spouse/partner), who become lonely over time or are easily overwhelmed by cooking tend not to eat properly. One sign that poor eating habits are forming is improper selection of food in the house (not well-balanced), expired or rotten food in the refrigerator or signs of excessive weight loss (clothes much looser).

An aging person may eat enough calories to get by, but may suffer nutritionally, including increasing cholesterol and lowering vitamin intake. Studies have found that poor diet can increase the risk of dementia in seniors and weaken the immune system.

4. Declining personal hygiene
Changes in appearance are the most obvious sign that some assistance is needed. These signs can range from unkempt hair and body odor, to unshaven faces and wearing clothing that is unclean, unchanged for days or inappropriate for the weather. These changes may occur because doing the laundry or getting in an out of the tub has become too physically challenging. Many who live alone also fear slipping and falling in a shower or bathtub with no one to help him or her get up.

5. Decline in driving skills
Look for evidence of parking or speeding tickets, fender-benders, dents and scratches on the senior's car as signs that driving skills may be deteriorating. Decreased ability to see, poor sense of direction, inability to merge into traffic, driving way under the speed limit and slow reaction time is a recipe for disaster with senior driving.

6. Signs of scorched pots and pans
This may be a sign of short-term memory loss or even the onset of Alzheimer's, as pots used in cooking are forgotten on the open flame of the stove and burn. Besides the danger of falls, this is probably one of the greatest safety concerns (fire) that families of older relatives face.

7. Symptoms of depression
Depression causes marked changes in behavior and one's daily routine over time. Many seniors feel isolated, like prisoners in their own home, particularly if a health condition or the deaths of close friends or a spouse keeps them from going to the places they once enjoyed. Feelings of hopelessness or despair, increased listlessness, and not wanting to get dressed can all be indications of a problem. Other signs include decreased visits with family members and friends, change in sleeping patterns (sleeping long periods or not sleeping at all) and lack of interest in usual hobbies and activities.

8. Missed doctors' appointments and social engagements
While this can be a symptom of increased forgetfulness, it is often simply a result of not having transportation and not knowing how to access transportation options on their own.

9. Unkempt house
Changes in housekeeping may occur simply because it is too difficult or tiring. This is especially troubling if a parent used to keep the house neat and orderly or if a recently-deceased spouse was responsible for these duties. From dirty laundry to dirty dishes, these everyday tasks become too much to handle on their own.

10. Losing track of medications
Missed doses and medication mistakes (overdosing and running out of pills before the next prescription can be refilled) can lead to very serious medical complications. Older people often take multiple prescriptions for various health conditions, which can be overwhelming without assistance and reminders.

It is crucial that family members keep an eye out for their older loved ones and know how and when to assist them, even if the senior doesn't reach out and ask for the help directly. Source: http://www.caregiverstress.com/extrainfo.html

Most family caregivers struggle to balance care for an aging parent or relative with other major responsibilities, including jobs and caring for children. This often means that there is little time to care for themselves, which can result in poor health and high levels of stress.

In fact, according to a new Home Instead Senior Care survey, 55 percent of the family caregivers who utilize their professional caregiving services appear to have average or significant levels of stress.

Below are some tips for avoiding and managing caregiver stress from the experts on the Home Instead Senior Care Advisory Board:

Work out:
Exercise and enjoy something you like to do (walking, dancing, biking, running, swimming, etc.) for a minimum of 20 minutes at least three times per week. Consider learning a stress-management exercise such as yoga or tai-chi, which teach inner balance and relaxation.

Meditate:
Sit still and breathe deeply with your mind as "quiet" as possible whenever things feel like they are moving too quickly or you are feeling overwhelmed by your responsibilities as a caregiver. Many times you will feel like you don't even have a minute to yourself, but it's important to walk away and to take that minute.

Ask for help:
According to a national survey by Home Instead Senior Care of adults who are currently providing care for an aging loved one, 72 percent do so without any outside help. To avoid burnout and stress, you can enlist the help of other family members, friends, and/or consider hiring a professional non-medical caregiver for assistance. There is no need to feel guilty for reaching out. Click here for a complete list of helpful resources.

Take a break:
Make arrangements for any necessary fill-in help (family, friends, volunteers or professional caregivers). Take single days or even a week's vacation, just make sure you line up your support system so you can be confident that your loved one is safe and happy. And when you're away, stay away. Talk about different things, read that book you haven't been able to get to, etc.

- there is no excuse not to.

Eat well:
Eat plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables, proteins, including nuts and beans, and whole grains. Indulging in caffeine, fast food and sugar as quick "pick-me-ups" also produce a quick "let-down."

Take care of yourself:
Just like you make sure your loved one gets to the doctor regularly, make sure you get your annual check-up. Being a caregiver provides many excuses for skipping your necessary check-ups, but don't do it. Indulge: Treat yourself to a foot massage, manicure, nice dinner out or a concert to take yourself away from the situation and to reward yourself for the wonderful care you are providing to your aging relative. You shouldn't feel guilty about wanting to feel good.

Support:
Find a local caregiver support group that will help you understand what you are feeling/experiencing is normal for someone in your position.

This is a place to get practical advice from people who are in your situation and to bounce off those feelings of stress, since everyone is likely to be in the same situation and can empathize. Click here for a complete list of helpful resources.

If you don't take care of yourself, you will never be able to continue taking care of your loved one. This means eating right, getting adequate rest, building exercise into your schedule, and keeping up with your own medical appointments.

Source: http://www.caregiverstress.com/avoidcgs.html