Columbia Aged Care

If your loved one has experienced a traumatic or painful event they can suffer from the side effects for a long time.

Traumatic events are usually a frightening or distressing experience that can leave the person feeling numb or disconnected.

As a carer, it’s natural to want to help your loved one feel better and to assist them through this difficult time. You can’t take their pain away but you can help them to accept what has happened by providing essential support and advice.

Better Health Channel has provided some tips on how you can support your loved one:

• Tell them you are sorry about what has happened and make it clear that you want to help them get through it.
• Spend time with your loved one and keep them company.
• Your loved one may experience emotional outbursts, which is a common side effect of a traumatic experience. Don’t take their outbursts to heart because they usually don’t mean what they say or do.
• Offer practical support such as cooking dinner or going grocery shopping for them.
• Help them return to their normal routine (when they are ready).
• Talk about what happened and listen to them.
• Try not to get upset.
• Be patient and don’t pressure them to talk about the event if they are not ready.
• Help them to relax and have fun again.
• Help your loved one participate in physical activity, such as walking in the park. Exercise can help take their mind off the experience and help them to get a better night’s sleep.
• Find appropriate ways to help them laugh.

Here are some reactions to avoid when helping your loved one through a traumatic experience:

• Don’t ignore the event and don’t avoid talking about it.
• Don’t judge their feelings or thoughts.
• Don’t be impatient and expect them to get over the event quickly.
• Don’t insist they need professional help straight away – not everyone who has experienced a traumatic event needs professional treatment. Give them time to deal with the trauma themselves but if you feel like things just aren’t getting better after a few days or weeks then consult a professional.

Your loved one may take a long time to recover from a traumatic event, but by supporting them and listening you can help them through the recovery process.

Read the full article here.

Are you worried about having your hearing tested? Would you like to know what all the technical language and scientific tests mean? The HearingCenterOnline.com has provided some easy to understand information so that you will know what will happen when you get your hearing tested.

The Audiologist
An audiologist is a healthcare professional who is trained to identify and measure hearing impairments and related disorders. The audiologist will test your hearing in a number of different ways to determine where the hearing problem is located. At the end of your hearing test they will explain and interpret the results for you.

Your History
The audiologist will ask you some questions about your medical history to help them determine the best way to assist you with your hearing loss. They may ask you if any physical damage has ever occurred to your ears, if you have had past illnesses or if you have been exposed to damaging levels of noise.

The pure tone tests
The pure tone test helps the audiologist determine the degree at which you can hear different frequencies. For this test you will be required to sit in a quiet room with a set of headphones over your ears or with earplugs inserted into your ears. The audiologist will play a series of “pure tones” that vary in tone and volume. You will then be asked to raise your hand or push a button if you hear the tone.

Speech tests
For the speech test you will be required to sit in a quiet room and listen to a series of words. The words should have two syllables and will become quieter during the test. You will be required to repeat each word. This test allows the audiologist to determine the level at which you can detect and understand speech.

The audiologist may need to perform other tests on your ears to help them determine the extent of your hearing loss. At the end of all the tests your results will be displayed on a chart. The audiologist should then explain your results and what the next steps will be in treating your hearing. Remember don’t be afraid to ask questions or have them explain something you don’t understand.

Read the full article here.

Many caregivers struggle with the role of providing care to their elderly parent, spouse, family member or friend. Common complaints are that there is not enough time in the day, or they feel frustrated with the difficulties of elderly care.

Aging Care has provided some tips to help you care for your loved one.

Remember the person inside: the process of aging changes people’s personalities – conditions such as deafness can cause anger and Alzheimer's affects memory. Keep in mind the person that you have always loved whenever you feel frustrated.

Arm yourself with knowledge: If your loved one has a medical condition, learn all you can about their ailments, symptoms and treatments. This will guide you and instil confidence, and will also help your loved one relax in your care.

Have humility: Don’t underestimate your loved one’s intelligence and knowledge. Embrace all you can learn from their experiences and don’t disregard their opinions. Respond to your loved one as the person they were before they became ‘the patient’.

Remember that it is natural to feel frustrated and overworked at times, but use these tips to make your role easier.

Read the full article here.

Pets can become great companions for elderly people and come with many benefits.

A pet such as a dog or a cat can provide love, laughter and companionship. They can offer a sense of encouragement and well being, especially if they have just lost a loved one.

Before buying or adopting a pet, elderly people should understand that having a pet means lots of dedication – both physically and financially. This is not a bad thing as this new responsibility for a life can add new meaning to an elderly person’s way of living.

Caring for and providing for a pet can help an elderly person:

• Stay active through feeding, grooming and exercising their pet
• Get out of the house and into fresh air and sunshine
• Meet new people to socialise with while taking the pet out for a walk

Studies have also indicated a link between dog ownership and an increased survival rate in people with heart issues as a pet can reduce stress levels and create a happy and relaxed environment.

Lastly, in cases where elderly people live alone, have little contact with family or friends or their family lives far away, having a companion there can help with the emotional yearning that many people feel when they are lonely or feel isolated.

Read the full article here.

It is difficult to assess whether your aging parent, spouse or family member needs help at home. Factors such as declining health or periods of illness can dramatically change the ability to look after themselves.
 
In addition to personal caregivers, there are various types and levels of help available for elderly people both in the home and in aged care facilities. The need for services depends on how independent a person is when coping with activities of daily living. Aged Carer has provided a useful checklist to help you identify the level of care a person may require. This includes:
 
Mobility: Can they safely transfer in and out of bed, on and off the toilet, up and down stairs? Are they unsteady on their feet and prone to falls, slips and trips?
 
Driving and Transport: Are they capable of driving safely or using public transport? Can they get to the shops and to medical appointments?
 
Finances: Are bills being paid? Can they manage their bank account and organise their finances?
 
Social contact: Are they isolated in the home? Do they have regular contact with friends and family? Do they engage in social activities or hobbies?
 
Care needs should be regularly re-assessed, particularly in times of illness or stress. Staying with the person for a few days can help you quickly determine whether they need assistance.

If you feel someone needs more care than you can provide, call in professional help.
 
Read the full article HERE.

Webscribe has written an article on eHow about How to help your loved one as Dementia closes in;

Webscribe discusses how Alzheimer's and related dementias have afflicted hundreds of confused, frightened Alzheimer's residents and their anguished, caring families in facilities. The author of this article is a former nursing home administrator and recreation director.

With Dementia now closing in on a loved one in her own immediate family she offers instructions on how to help yourself and your own loved one experiencing the oncoming’s of Alzheimer’s.

Instructions

Step One:
First stage of Dimentia
This stage takes 2 to 4 years leading up to diagnosis.The person begins to exhibit symptoms of confusion and agitation (can also be caused by accidental drug interactions urinary tract infection).This is the stage when thorough testing is performed, to rule out other causes.

People who have had sharp minds become anxious, fearful of their increasing confusion and loss of    control of their memories and actions, and may exhibit personality changes, avoiding people.

Step Two:
Second or mid stage
 This stage's duration is for 2 to 10 years after diagnosis (the longest stage). Activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing and teeth brushing become difficult, because the person develops difficulty remembering the complex series of steps. Orientation to time, person and place deteriorates. "Did you enjoy your visit with Agnes?" "What visit? Agnes never came to see me!"

Symptoms may include increasing memory loss, confusion, and a shorter attention span, with difficulty recognizing close friends and/or family.

Step Three:
Third or end stage
This stage lasts perhaps a few years. The person may become unable to recognize family, communicate with words, or care for him or herself in any way. There may be incontinence, or difficulty swallowing. The person will need complete assistance with bathing, toileting and dressing.

The person will still be acutely aware of your kindness, your ability to understand, help, comfort, and your love

Step Four:
How to comfort
Whether your loved one is in a nursing home or with you at home, let him or her help in whatever way he or she can. If at home, let mom sprinkle sugar on the apples for the pie, or "help" you brush your hair, as she did when you were little. If she is in a care facility, tell her when you are tired or need a hug; let your loved one know you need her to give YOU comfort! You will be amazed at the emotional transformation.

Step Five:
Beyond meeting your loved one's deep need to matter to others, you can provide real comfort by understanding his or her need for routine

Step Six:
How to help you loved one as Dementia closes in
Most of all, those with dementia need to feel that no matter what they do or cannot do, you will be there for them, always. However great their confusion, the most comforting words they can hear are, "I will always love you."

To read full article CLICK HERE