Columbia Aged Care

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.

The Alzheimer's Association in the US have provided 10 signs to help you recognise that Alzheimer's Disease might becoming a problem for an elderly person in your care.

1. Memory loss that disrupts daily life
One of the most common signs of Alzheimer's is memory loss, especially forgetting recently learned information. Others include forgetting important dates or events; asking for the same information over and over; relying on memory aides or family members for things they used to handle on their own.

2. Challenges in planning or solving problems
Some people may experience changes in their ability to develop and follow a plan or work with numbers. They may have trouble following a familiar recipe or keeping track of monthly bills. They may have difficulty concentrating and take much longer to do things than they did before.

3. Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, at work or at leisure
People with Alzheimer's often find it hard to complete daily tasks. Sometimes, people may have trouble driving to a familiar location, managing a budget at work or remembering the rules of a favorite game.

4. Confusion with time or place
People with Alzheimer's can lose track of dates, seasons and the passage of time. They may have trouble understanding something if it is not happening immediately. Sometimes they may forget forget where they are or how they got there.

5. Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships
For some people, having vision problems is a sign of Alzheimer's. They may have difficulty reading, judging distance and determining colour or contrast.

6. New problems with words in speaking or writing
People with Alzheimer's may have trouble following or joining a conversation. They may stop in the middle of a conversation and have no idea how to continue or they may repeat themselves. They may struggle with vocabulary, have problems finding the right word or call things by the wrong name.

7. Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps
A person with Alzheimer's disease may put things in unusual places. They may lose things and be unable to go back over their steps to find them again. Sometimes, they may accuse others of stealing. This may occur more frequently over time.

8. Decreased or poor judgment
People with Alzheimer's may experience changes in judgment or decision-making. For example, they may use poor judgment when dealing with money, giving large amounts to telemarketers. They may pay less attention to grooming or keeping themselves clean.

9. Withdrawal from work or social activities
A person with Alzheimer's may start to remove themselves from hobbies, social activities, work projects or sports. They may have trouble keeping up with a favourite sports team or remembering how to complete a favourite hobby. They may also avoid being social because of the changes they have experienced.

10. Changes in mood and personality
The mood and personalities of people with Alzheimer's can change. They can become confused, suspicious, depressed, fearful or anxious. They may be easily upset at home, at work, with friends or in places where they are out of their comfort zone.

Aged Carer has written an article to help you understand who will be responsible for looking after elderly patients in a nursing home.

Many health care professionals will be involved in the care of a resident in a nursing home. Understanding how the aged care home operates, who provides care and who to go to when you have a problem are important in ensuring your relative gets quality care.

Aged care homes are classified as low- level care or high- level care. The nursing staff employed in an aged care home will have various levels of nursing experience. In some low- level aged care homes a registered nurse will be 'on call' in case of an emergency. Always ask the aged care home how many qualified nursing staff actually work on the floor as opposed to being 'on call'.

Personal care workers who work in low-level care need easy access to qualified nursing staff either an endorsed enrolled nurse or preferably a registered nurse at all times. Keeping up to date on your loved one's health will be much easier if you understand the roles and experience of key nursing home staff.

Personal care workers
Out of all care staff Personal Care Workers (PCW's) or Assistants in Nursing (AIN's) spend the most time with your loved one. Nursing home staff should preferably have their Certificate III in Aged Care Work. PCW's assist your loved one on a daily basis with personal hygiene, mobility, meals and social interaction.

In some nursing homes PCW's can assist older people with self medication (Taking medication from a Webster Pack). PCW's can vary in nursing experience and skills. A good aged care home will organise its staff into nursing teams taking into account every staff member's knowledge and capabilities. On occasions nursing home staff will be replaced by agency nurses.

Don't expect agency nurses to know a great deal about your loved one's care routine or medical history. If a nursing home is having to rely on agency staff on a regular basis it is generally not a good indicator of continuation of care. 

Registered nurses (RN)
Registered nurses (RN's) working in residential care are generally university trained with special skills in geriatric, palliative and dementia care. The number of registered nurses on duty at any time in an aged care home can vary.

A registered nurse will direct and supervise PCW's and ensure a resident is receiving proper care according to their nursing care plan. On a daily basis a registered nurse will assess your family member's health, provide physical and technical nursing care and manage medications.

The registered nurse will make sure your loved one receives treatment as prescribed by a doctor. They may also organise other health care professionals to be involved in the care of your family member. If you are concerned about your family member's health or you have a problem with nursing home staff, the registered nurse in charge is the person to speak to.

Family should be kept up to date regularly by the registered nurse and informed of any changes in a family member's health. This includes information such as changes to medication, problems with mobility, nutrition and any recent falls or skin tears.

Director of Nursing (DON)
The Director of Nursing or DON is in charge of the day to day management and administration of a residential care facility. All aged care homes must be accredited in order to receive government funding.

The DON ensures the aged care home meets a set of 44 expected outcomes relating to the care provided to its residents. You can ask a DON about the aged care homes current accreditation status.

An aged care home with three years accreditation shows compliance with the 44 expected standards aged care homes are expected to meet. An aged care home that focuses on quality assurance and a culture of continuous improvement will be more responsive to the care needs of its residents and more likely to deliver a quality service.

The DON largely drives this culture and will strive to deliver quality care to its residents on an ongoing basis. When choosing an aged care home ensure you arrange a meeting with the DON.

Is the DON approachable? How does the DON interact with residents and staff? Ask the DON about the nursing homes current accreditation status and how the aged care home handles complaints. Is the DON open to discussing your concerns? Question the DON about staff turnover. How does the aged care home look after the needs of its staff? What levels of experience do they have? Do you provide opportunities for ongoing education and promotion? How do you reward your staff?

If you are choosing an aged care home take the time to observe the nursing care staff. Nursing staff that are happy and respected will work hard to ensure your family member receives the care they deserve.

Evidence is mounting that older adults are cutting everyday expenses to keep up with the economic downturn. In a report released in May by AARP titled "The Economic Slowdown's Impact on Middle-Aged and Older Americans", 59 percent of seniors 65 and older surveyed said they'd found it more difficult to pay for essential items such as food, gas and medicine.
 
Local senior-care experts warn families to be on alert to make sure seniors aren't cutting too deeply. Warning signs include skipping medications, pulling the plug on air conditioning and canceling social outings.

Omaha, NE (PRWEB) July 15, 2008
Evidence is mounting that older adults are cutting everyday expenses to keep up with the economic downturn. Local senior-care experts warn families to be on alert to make sure seniors aren't cutting too deeply. Warning signs include skipping medications, pulling the plug on air conditioning and canceling social outings.

In a report released in May by AARP titled "The Economic Slowdown's Impact on Middle-Aged and Older Americans," 59 percent of seniors 65 and older surveyed said they'd found it more difficult to pay for essential items such as food, gas and medicine. Nearly half (47 percent) said they found it more difficult to pay for utilities such as heating, cooling or phone service. Forty-six percent have reduced the number of times they eat out and 45 percent cut back spending on entertainment.1.

 "Cuts of essential items such as food and medication should be of immediate concern to seniors' families," said Paul Hogan, Co-Founder and CEO of Home Instead Senior Care.

"Other reductions in spending can lead to less obvious issues. One of the biggest problems that we see is senior isolation, which has been magnified during this troubled time in our economy with the high price of gas," Hogan added.

"When seniors' families live a distance from their loved ones, or when Boomer children are busy trying to make ends meet themselves, an older adult can get in trouble very quickly. That's why it's so important that someone look out for the well-being of seniors to ensure they are safe in their homes and eating properly, taking their medications and able to maintain their appointments and social life," Hogan said.

Falling interest rates, fixed incomes and seniors' fears of past hardships can influence how they react to the current economic slowdown, according to Sheryl Garrett, CFP®, author of Personal Finance Workbook For Dummies® and several other books on financial planning. "Some seniors may be running short on money but, for others, there's always that fear of running out because they lived through the Depression. They know how ugly it can get.

"It's important also for seniors to guard against fraud and too-good-to-be-true offers", Garrett advises. "Seniors want to get the best that they can from their investments without falling for scams or overselling tactics," she said. "Older adults also should beware of CDs and fixed annuities that can promise higher interest rates, but force seniors to lock in their money for longer time periods or otherwise put their investments at risk", Garrett noted. "Always get a second opinion", Garrett advises.

"Seniors at all income levels may be facing choices they haven't had to make in the past," Hogan said."They should know where to go for help before they put themselves or their health at risk. Area Agencies on Aging, for instance, offer both food and gas assistance, so seniors should contact their local offices if they can't make ends meet. And companies such as Home Instead Senior Care can provide transportation assistance and help around the home, and serve as a second set of eyes for seniors' families."

Families also can play an important role monitoring seniors who have decided to scale back because of the economy.Even seemingly innocent decisions, like cutting back a little on groceries or air conditioning, can have a damaging impact.1.

10 Cost-Cutting Warning Signs Following, from Home Instead Senior Care and the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging, are ways that a downturn in the economy could impact seniors.If you're a family caregiver, ask yourself the following questions.If you're an older adult experiencing difficulties because of the economy, contact your local Area Agency on Aging or Home Instead Senior Care office.Or, if you have a financial issue, contact the Garrett Planning Network.

1. Is your senior's home too warm in the summer and too cold in the winter?
2. Is the lawn not getting mowed nor is the sidewalk getting cleaned in inclement weather?
3. Is your loved one complaining about not being able to afford medications?
4. Are home repairs not getting made?
5. Is there a shortage of food in the house?
6. Is your senior skipping doctor's appointments?
7. Is your older adult staying home more and becoming isolated?
8. Is your senior cutting out entertainment?
9. Does your loved one eat out less?
10. Did your senior cancel a vacation?

For more information about the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging, log on to www.n4a.org or contact the organization's CEO Sandy Markwood at smarkwood@n4a.org.For more information about the Garrett Planning Network, visit www.garrettplanningnetwork.com or contact Sheryl Garrett at Sheryl@garrettplanning.com.

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