WISHING OUR READERS A SUCCESSFUL NEW YEAR 2009

Caring for Your Aging Parents

As time passes we age. A second leads to a minute to an hour then a day, a week, a year. It just continues on.

We all age and there is absolutely nothing we can do about it, so one way or another we have to come to terms with our own mortality and that of our parents.

Those of us fortunate enough to have parents still living may find that we have them when they are much older and in physical and mental health that is declining, leaving us caring for them.

Having an aging parent in your care can make life interesting for friends and family. It can also make life difficult at times.

This is especially true when it is unexpected, like when a parent has a massive stroke, breaks a hip, or is in an accident.

At times like this you need to know what you as a caregiver can do to get ready in case there is an emergency.

Let's take a look at what information you need to have ready for any emergency involving your parent.

It's real easy to have this information at hand by printing it on a card and laminating it. That way it is there when you need it and can be updated at any time without much cost.

Of course, before your parent becomes ill you should have already worked with them to write down the birth dates, any major medical problems or allergies, any medications that they are taking, any prior surgeries, numbers of physicians and any specialist they see, any advanced directives, religious beliefs and lifestyle choices they may have made, and insurance information.

Being aware of this information will enable you to care for your aging parents when they need to see new doctors or are hospitalized or need emergency care.

It is also a good idea to keep a bag packed just in case there is a hospitalization or emergency. It will definitely lower the stress should the need arise.

Some other things to consider when caring for aging parents are to be attentive to their independence. By being observant you will be able to tell if they are struggling and in need of help.

If you watch how they are doing in their daily lives you will be able to offer help even if it is outside help that will allow them to be able to spend more time at home.

When it comes to making decisions you should make sure that all family members are involved. It is best to have a family conference so that everyone is together at the same time to go over the information.

Just because your parents are older does not mean that they do not have a say, so if they are able to participate in the decision making process, then let them.

Everyone should agree with the decisions made to avoid stress later. When it comes to the time that a parent needs help and care, then the decisions concerning financial situations and where they will be is made and it will be easier for you to bear.

Whenever it is possible you should respect the wishes of your parents.

A lot of times they want to continue living independently until it is impossible.

Let them help to decide where they will be and what kind of outside help they would want or may need.

To everything there is a season, and
a time to every purpose under the heaven.

A time to be born, and
a time to die:

A time to plant, and
a time to pluck up that which is planted:

A time to kill, and
a time to heal:

A time to break down, and
a time to build up:

A time to weep, and
a time to laugh:

A time to mourn and
a time to dance:

A time to cast away stones, and
a time to gather stones together:

A time to embrace and
a time to refrain from embracing:

A time to get and
a time to lose:

A time to keep, and
a time to cast away:

A time to rend, and
a time to sew:

A time of war, and
a time of peace:

Your Elders Deserve the Best

Taking Responsibility For Your Aging Parents

When you were little kids, who gave all the toys,bicycle,food,education just to name a few things,when you were sick, who tend at your Bedside all day long, send you to hospital, pay all the bills.

Pay tribute to your Parents, spare some time for them even though you have a tight business or working on schedules, your kids will be watching you to set as a good example "how to treat their Parents when they are old and feeble".

So, when one gets aged, the next generation follows just like traditions, whether in culture, life or in business.

Do not forget your Elders, treat them well, do not make them feel as if they were a  burden to you, they deserved your attention at all times.

Thanks to the improvement and commendable innovations in the field of health care, people are experiencing better health.

Life expectancy is getting longer compared to the life expectancy of people just a few decades ago.

This should be considered as good news since it involves the improvement and prolonged life. 

However, longer life spans also bring challenges that include issues such as who will care for our elderly.

Many people prefer to take care of their older parents themselves. They give time and support to their parents as well as tender, loving care on a personal basis. 

There are also some people who prefer to leave their parents in the care of homes for the aged.

There is a prevalent notion that people who leave their parents at homes for the aged are not concerned with their parents anymore and that they just want to leave them to the care of others. 

However, that kind of approach is not totally true because some individuals who decide to leave their parents to the care of others are just victims of circumstances. 

By this, it means that even though people have the will and intention to take care of their older parents themselves, they can’t really do it because they are prohibited the constraints of work.  

With an issue as sensitive as this, people should avoid becoming judgmental because in reality, all people have the innate desire to take care of their parents.

Just like everything else, the issue of taking care of your elderly parents has its own set of pros and cons. 

As they say, there are always two sides to every story; that’s why this chapter discusses the advantages and disadvantages and an unbiased view regarding parental care.

You may be asking yourself - what’s the fuss in taking care of older parents when the act of taking care of the elderly has been practiced since time immemorial?  

It became an issue when people started to get too busy and too involved in their work and career in order to prosper and earn money.

The “nuclear” family has arrived.  Rather than parents living with their grown children, we are now all separated. 

Years ago the family unit was comprised of grandparents, grown children and grandchildren all living under one roof. Caring for aging parents was a non-issue.

So now comes the question: have people evolved into selfless and materialistic ogres? 

What happened to the tender, loving care that’s supposed to be given personally and wholeheartedly to older people? 

As mentioned earlier, we really can’t judge someone’s approach to taking care of their older parents because in one way or another, their decision depends on many factors (socio-economical, physical, psychological, etc.). 

Although caring for older people is a very fulfilling thing to do, some people think that they are not capable enough to do the job themselves. 

That is one reason why they prefer to leave their older parents in the care of institutions that they think are more capable of giving essential care. 

Perhaps the greatest advantage of taking care of older parents personally is having a feeling of fulfillment and inner happiness. 

Aside from the fact that older people will feel really happy that their own children are taking care of them personally, they will also feel that they are indeed loved and important.
 
Older people usually go through a stage when they feel that they are unloved and unimportant.

There will be times that they need to be assured that they are loved and that they are not considered as a burden to the family. 

In a way, making your parents happy can bring joy, contentment and peace of mind not only to them but to the one giving care as well.

Whether you choose to take care of your older parents personally or locate them in a home for the elderly, your purpose and your intention are the ones that matter most. 

As long as you aspire to give them the very best care that you can give and as long as your intention is pure and coming from the heart, your elderly parents will surely appreciate what you are doing.

When is the Right Time

When Is The Right Time to Assume Responsibility?

The only thing constant in this world is change. Everything changes, everything either depreciates or improves. Plants wither, seasons change. 

Just like everything else, people also grow old and their health deteriorates.  No matter what preventive measures people take to stop aging, they will get old eventually. 

Remember, those vitamins, creams and treatments that offer anti-aging benefits do not have the power to stop the effects of aging; they just slow it down.

So how will you know that your parents are in the stage where they can no longer function properly on their own? 

Aging can be observed just by looking at an individuals physical appearance.  It can be characterized by graying hair, wrinkled skin, hunched posture, etc.

However, observing only the physical aspect of aging is not enough to come to a conclusion that the person having those characteristics is in the stage of not being able to function properly. 

A lot of people who look old are still very strong and efficient. 

As one saying goes, don’t judge a book by its cover. 

By this, it indicates that for a person to be able to know that someone is on the brink of not being able to function properly, a person should also consider the biological and psychological signs and symptoms rather than just concentrating on the physical aspect.

Here are some clear biomarkers that can help you to see if your parents are near or at the stage of not being able to function properly. 

When someone is getting old, the senses of sight and hearing gradually deteriorate. 

In some cases, the deterioration of the sense of sight and sense of hearing can be prevented by regular trips to the doctor. 

Gadgets can also aid the deterioration of the sense of sight and hearing such as wearing eyeglasses and hearing aids. 

However, there are also cases when the sickness is so severe that it cannot be aided or alleviated by eyeglasses or hearing aids anymore. 

If that is the case, then that will be the time when they cannot really function properly and will need the help of others to get through their daily activities.

Along with the deterioration of important senses in the body, aging can also cause deterioration in mental health. 

The most common problem related to an older persons mental health is dementia or in layman’s term; memory loss. 

Dealing with this kind of sickness can bring a wave of mixed emotions, especially to the immediate family of the person suffering from it. 

Aside from the fact that it’s sad to be erased from the memory of a person, you can also feel disappointed and helpless because it seems that this kind of mental problem is incurable and very unpredictable. 

If not treated right away, dementia may worsen which could lead to signs of other mental disorders such as hallucinations, delusions and paranoia. 

In the end, if things don’t go well, ordinary dementia may lead to senile dementia. 

Dementia is usually called a traitor because its symptoms are subtle yet menacing.  Since the symptoms start slowly, people usually confuse them with normal behavior.

In dealing with this kind of mental problem, the immediate family of older people should be the ones who will actually see if the older person is exhibiting early signs of dementia so that it can be cured or prevented from becoming worse.

All in all, it is much better to bring elderly people to the doctor regularly so that they can be assessed properly. 

Doctors are the ones who know best and they are also the ones who can accurately  diagnose by studying the symptoms exhibited or characterized by the elderly person. 

As mentioned earlier, there is no exact way to stop people from experiencing the sickness or diseases that come with aging. 

All that we can do is to try to live a healthy life while we are still young and able, so that we won’t have serious medical sicknesses when we grow old. 

As for our relatives or immediate family who are already considered seniors, we must keep in mind that they should be given priority and most of all, they should feel that they are loved and important.

The Art Of Intervening

There is always a right time for everything.  Doing the wrong thing at the right time doesn’t mean that things will become right. 

It will still end up being wrong and that’s why people should observe right timing.

In sensitive cases such as dealing with elderly people, practicing the right time of intervening is really important. 

You know why? 

It’s because elderly people are at a stage when they are very sensitive about certain kinds of things, especially when it’s about their abilities and capacities. 

Elderly people reach a stage when they feel insecure and useless because of their current status. 

Come to think of it, it is actually disappointing and frustrating to come to a point when you realize that you cannot do some things that you could do easily when you were younger.

Realistically speaking, it is always good to plan ahead so that when the time comes for important decisions, the family will not have a hard time deciding. 

Even though it is quite uncomfortable to talk about certain kind of things such as what will we do when mom or pop gets old, it is highly suggested that this kind of issue be talked about in advance. 

In addition, it would be best if the whole family talk openly about it.  The parents and grown children should all come to an agreement so that family conflicts don’t arise.

In the process of discussing this kind of elderly issue, tact and delicacy must be observed so that no one will be offended. 

Remember, elderly people tend to be sensitive whenever their capacities and abilities are the focus of the topic.  Try not to emphasize their weaknesses so much.

If needed, try your best to be subtle about it so that their feelings won’t be hurt. 

The best way to handle this kind of situation is to ask the opinion of the elderly first. 

Ask them what they want to happen and let them air their feelings so that you can be able to adjust your decisions with their needs and wants. 

Compromise is the key to handling sensitive situations such as this.

Perhaps the best kind of intervention is the total intervention because this covers almost all situations such as partial intervention, crisis intervention, legal intervention and financial intervention. 

Although choosing to have a professional opinion is one of the most popular choices these days, sometimes it is advisable to have a hearty family opinion prevail rather than a professional one because professional opinions tend to be objective and unbiased. 

Yes, even though professional opinions are preferred due to those two characteristics (unbiased and objective), some families feel that they will be better off if they are the ones who make decisions themselves. 

It doesn’t matter if family opinions are biased and subjective because there are some situations when family opinions are better than professionals.

In the life of elderly people, there will come a time when they will have to stop driving because of the deterioration of their sense of sight and sense of hearing. 

This is one of the times when they will really feel sad, frustrated and vulnerable because they will feel like they have become useless individuals. 

The best way to handle this kind of awkward situation is by talking to them heart to heart and explaining to them that this is the reality and there is no escaping from it. 

Discuss the dangers if they continue driving because they could end up in accidents as well as harming other people. 

Perhaps the only thing that elderly people need is assurance that even though they cannot perform some activities anymore (such as driving), they are still important and they still hold an important role in society and in the family.

Getting old may seem like a lonely journey but it won’t be if there are friends and family that are ready to support and assure elderly people that they are loved and accepted no matter what. 

Practicing the right time of intervening will result in happy and strong family relations, no matter how great the age gap may be.

Long Distance Care Giving

Living a thousand miles away from your elderly loved ones can really be a downer.  Even though you want to take care of them yourself, you just can’t manage to do so because of the distance.

However, long distance care giving is not as bad as it seems.  Even though it may be a bit difficult at first to handle the worries and concerns that come along with long distance care giving, eventually you will get the hang of it and all will run smoothly.

Perhaps the most important part in long distance care giving is the identification of the elderly persons specific needs. 

It is essential to be able to have specific diagnoses of the needs of the elderly person so that the care given will be right on target.

There will be times when you will visit your elderly loved ones, right? 

Well, when you get this opportunity, try to check on how they are getting along with their daily lives by checking that their refrigerator is well-maintained (make sure that the food placed inside is edible and not expired, etc.). 

Ask the elderly person if they are eating their meals regularly; skipping meals is a big no-no especially if it involves elderly people.

Another way to check how they are getting along is by observing the arrangement of the house that they are living in, by checking if their bills are paid regularly and of course, by looking at their personal appearance. 

Healthy elderly people manage and strive to look neat and well-groomed, so if you notice that an elderly person looks drab and shabby, maybe he or she may be needing some help and assistance in getting along with their daily activities.

Establishing a support contact group is also a good way in enabling you to coordinate care even when you are miles away from your elderly family member. 

Neighbors, friends and distant relatives are the primary people to get in contact with when it comes to giving you assistance in giving care from a distance. 

You can ask them to check on your elderly family member every once in a while and to report to you any event concerning the health and well-being of your elderly family member.

Another person that you can coordinate with is the physician of your elderly family member. 

Having an open line of communication with his or her doctor will make you feel at ease knowing that you will be updated with the current health performance.

You can also contact local community organizations in your elderly family members current location. 

By doing so, you can have a list of people or groups which can help or assist whenever they are in need. 

Services such as meal deliveries, free transportation or simply companion services can be right at their fingertips.

Hiring home care services such as health workers and personal caregivers can also give you peace of mind that your elderly family member is getting the right amount of care even if you are far away from him or her. 

Just be sure that the person you choose is someone who is responsible, trustworthy and willing to take care of elderly people wholeheartedly. 

You can also contact people who specialize in geriatric care.  They are the best people to approach when you want to assess and monitor the needs of your elderly family member. 

It is also highly advisable to include elder lawyers or attorneys to work out important documents and papers of your elderly family members especially since you are not always present whenever they need to sign or process important legal documents. 

Elder lawyers or attorneys will also be helpful in assisting your elderly family member to make financial and legal decisions.

What Is The Best Support System?

As the life expectancy in the world continues to rise, there are those that wonder who will take care of all the seniors that will require some assistance, but not necessarily round-the-clock care to monitor them.

Some senior citizens will also hold it against their children if they are sent to a rest home, where they have to reside with other older people.

The stigma associated with this is that they will lead sedentary lives, with senility setting in after a few years because of the monotony of living in the retirement home.

There is also the fear of isolation from the outside world, where they will lose contact with their other friends, and miss living normally. 

There is also the concern that their children will visit infrequently, or worse, forget about them completely.

This situation has made people reconsider putting their seniors in retirement homes, and instead search for viable alternatives that best suit their situations of having a senior citizen that only needsto be looked after during the daytime for their regular activities.

A growing number of people are enrolling their seniors in adult day care programs, which work similarly to day care for toddlers and children.

This not only gives the seniors something to do during the day to keep them entertained and active, this also gives them a prime opportunity to socialize with other seniors and maintain their strength physically and mentally.

Day care centers typically provide transport services to and from the day care site, so people do not have to worry about leaving their seniors for the day and being late in picking them up or forgetting to drop by the center.

This is sort of like a school bus system for adults, only more suited for the seniors. This is also a personalized service that makes the senior feel that he or she is treated well.

The best part about it is that the seniors get to go home to their families after they're done for the day.

This lessens the guilt of the people in charge of their seniors that they put their seniors, perhaps their parents, in an institution, and then visit them sporadically.

Putting them in a home is not only an insult to seniors because they're seen as a liability, but also because it seems that the seniors' children want to forget about them and make them go away.

Those who are enrolled in adult day care programs are mostly very active individuals who need only minor monitoring duties, and they need stimulation, both physical and mental to keep them in their active states.

For the people in charge of taking care of their seniors, the best benefit of this is that they will spend less time monitoring their charges, which can be very stressful in the long run.

Medical support is also typical of the adult day care, so the seniors' health will always be kept in check as well.

Family support for the senior would be best when selecting options for your active senior.

It would be best if you planned this with your senior, so that he or she will not feel neglected, and would rather be part of the consideration process as well.

Enrolling them in an adult day care program is also socially supportive for them, remaining active members of society.

Cost is usually the questions asked by those who will be paying for the day care service.

The cost of adult day care is not covered by Medicare, however Medicaid waiver programs provide support for this. A good idea would be to check your area's rates.

This is a good proposition to give your senior citizen the opportunity to remain on the go, and would be a nice solution for those wishing that the senior citizens in their lives have dignity in growing old.

Enrolling them in this type of care is returning the favor to them for taking care of you for so long.

Now it's your opportunity to provide them the care that they need, and give all of you a win-win situation in terms of services, practicality, convenience, and cost.

Managing Medical Situations

Choosing The Right Medical Care For The Elderly

When people get to senior age, the variety of doctors will be overwhelming at times, and it will be hard to find exactly the type of doctors that you need for the specific treatments required.

Doctors to monitor the heart, lungs, brain, prostate, or whatever body parts that need medical attention usually has a doctor that specializes in that condition, and oftentimes, it gets confusing as to what type of doctor you really need for your senior.

Sometimes the condition may even cover several interrelated parts of the body. Physical and mental health is a growing concern as people age.

Knowing whether you need a specialist for your condition, or a geriatric doctor, is at most an imprecise science for most people.

But don't scrimp on selecting your doctor or doctors, because a few dollars difference might mean the difference between a correct or wrong diagnosis.

For example, one might consider bringing your senior to a geriatric care specialist when he or she shows unusual activity or symptoms that might lead to a more serious problem.

Before making the first trip to the doctor, make sure that you have all the required documents for your senior.

Medicare and Medicaid, as well as HMOs and other health documents should be brought along.

Medical expenses typically aren't cheap, so every dollar that is saved makes bringing these documents worth it.

Insurance policies will also likely provide support for medical expenses, and this helps when going to the doctor.

However, HMO companies, insurance companies, and the like will require that you consult with accredited doctors.

A list of a company's accredited doctors is available at your company's local branch. This is to make sure that only the best care provided by qualified persons is given to their clients.

This is also a fraud prevention tactic, to minimize the chance that you mistakenly visit a quack or unqualified doctor, possibly resulting in a wrong diagnosis.

If you do, then failure to treat your senior properly could result in complications. This goes for routine maintenance medicine, of which some can be harmful when taken incorrectly.

Aside from bringing your health documents, it would also be good to bring along your senior citizen's medical history, which would aid the doctor greatly in prescribing treatment or maintenance medicine properly.

A list of past prescriptions, past medical treatments, along with the current medicines and prescriptions that the patient is currently taking will aid in making the diagnosis as accurate as possible.

Knowing whether to bring your senior to a regular doctor first or to immediately check with a geriatric specialist will likely involve a bit of objective judgment on your part.

If your purpose is to target areas that involve routine work for doctors, then you might be okay with a general practitioner for the check-up first, then moving on to another doctor per your doctor's recommendations.

However, if the treatment you are seeking involves things that occur normally with age, such as bone, brain, and organ systems issues, you might want to go to a geriatrics doctor immediately to save on time, effort, as well as money.

Doctors that specialize in this treat senior patients regularly and are trained to diagnose conditions correctly, and concentrate on senior medicine and treatments.

As well as knowing what to do for your patient, the doctor will also recommend specialist treatment as events warrant.

Sometimes, just going to the doctor for a routine check-up will uncover possible problems, and it would be best if those problems are treated as early as possible to prevent complications.

The immediate family of the elderly should really make it a point to give the very best medical care because with their age their health is very fragile and sensitive. 

Examine your options carefully and don’t be too hasty in making decisions especially if it involves the health and medical services that the elderly will receive.

Understanding Health Insurance

Understanding and Managing Health Benefits and Insurance for your Parents

Deciding on submitting your loved ones, especially your parents, to a senior health care facility or nursing home is very crucial.

You have to deal with finding the right facility that assures you the best care possible for your parents.

Finding the right senior health facility with the most amenable services is one thing to consider. The next is to find the right health benefits.

Below are some helpful information for you to better understand Medicaid and Medicare Insurance Coverage.

What is Medicaid?

Medicaid is a medical program that is funded by the states and the federal government.

This medical program provides a wide option of insurance coverage for people with low incomes and includes families, children, the elderly, and even the disabled. To qualify for a Medicaid insurance program there are income requirements.

Although the states and the federal government provide funding for Medicaid, the states have the general authority in establishing their program rules.

With this, Medicaid services, as well as their eligibility requirements vary from one state to another.

Some of the general coverage under Medicaid includes physician services, hospital services, laboratory and x-rays services, home and health care services, and dental services for children.

Additionally, the Medicaid program, especially in the United States has had very progressive serious funding problems.

Problems like increase in health care costs and a failing economy have qualified more and more individuals for Medicaid coverage. To obtain more information regarding Medicaid, contact your local family and social services program.

What is Medicare?

The nations largest health insurance program. Medicare generally provides coverage that includes people sixty-five years old and above, for disabled persons under sixty-five, and for people with permanent kidney failure.

Medicare insurance generally falls into two different parts: the Part A which is the Hospital Insurance, and Part B, the Medical Insurance.

Part A Medicare Insurance is generally fully-funded to cater to people who are more than sixty-five years old, and that they pay for the services like hospice, nursing facilities, and hospital care.

This specific part of Medicare coverage does not require any premium since the participant or his spouse have worked during their earlier years,

meaning they have paid the fees through Medicare taxes. However, if a Medicare insurance tax was not paid, a person may is obliged to pay for the premium of the Part A insurance.

The Part B insurance is the one that shoulders the Medical services like that of physician fees, outpatient hospital charges, and fees for therapists.

Understanding State High Risk Pools

In the United States, there are thirty states that provide high risk pools, offering insurance coverage to people who have certain health conditions that normally prevent them from getting health coverage through private insurers.

High risk pools, although more expensive than the individual coverage, is helpful for someone who can’t get health insurance coverage in any other way.

Simple Tips for Choosing Individual Health Coverage

Considering individual health coverage is very expensive. The first thing you need to think about is the price.

Shopping for individual health policies is essential because there are a lot of insurance companies that provide different policies.

Also, keep in mind that the rules and regulations regarding individual health insurance policies may vary from one state to another. In order to have the best deal, make comparisons first concerning the pricing.

Finding the right insurance coverage with the proper cost is very challenging but then, it is a necessity.

Take your search a step at a time. Evaluate what your needs are and understand other health insurance options.

In looking for a health insurance policy, as much as possible find those non-cancelable, guaranteed renewable coverage.

This simply means that you cannot be easily cancelled from the policy, provided that you continue paying the premiums.

There are times when insurance companies cancel health insurance policies, especially if the insured becomes sick.

You may also consider health insurance companies that have a ten-day recession period. This will allow you ten days to carefully examine policy documents before deciding whether you want to get the policy or not.

It is important that you understand your options in finding the right health benefits for you and for your parents. Seek professional advice to find the best deals.

What Happens When Serious Illness Occurs

What Happens When Seniors Suffer from Serious Illnesses?

Taking a Closer Look at End-of-Life Care and Medical Treatments

When the time comes that our loved ones suffer from serious illnesses and are observed to be dying, facing decisions about medical treatments, and even end-life care is often too confusing and extremely difficult for members of the family, as well as the caregivers.

Below are some important things you need to know to properly deal with your seniors who have serious illnesses.

It is wise that before you make any informed decisions for your loved ones, you must at least learn some of the basic meanings of the essential terms.

Advance Directive:

This is the general term that describes the many varieties of legal instructions that individuals can sign to let them express their wishes with regard to their future medical treatments.

The directive normally includes a living will, the CPR directive, and a medical durable special power of attorney.

CPR Directive: CPR (Cardiopulmonary resuscitation) directive is the advance order telling emergency medical teams not to use CPR.

In most states, the local Public Health and Environment issues a CPR directive form that a patient can use in purchasing state CPR directive bracelets or necklaces.

Do Not Resuscitate Order

This is a written directive of a doctor on the medical chart of the patient telling the nursing home or the hospital staff not to resuscitate a patient if he/she suffers from cardiac arrest, or when the patient stops breathing.

Comfort Care

This is the treatment that is primarily aimed at relieving emotional, spiritual, and physical distress most often experienced by patients who are dying.

The main goal here is not to cause death but instead permit death to happen as comfortably, gently and as pain-free as possible.

Hospice

This is the care provided to patients who are terminally-ill from an interdisciplinary team that works in cooperation with a certified physician.

What the team aims is to provide comfort care either at nursing facilities, hospice care centers, hospitals, and even at home.

Living Will

This is a signed document that states that a patient is not open to artificial life support the moment he is seriously ill and is not able to communicate.

The living will generally applies only to an artificial life support during a terminal illness. It does not include any other forms of medical treatments. However, it can apply to tube-feeding.

Medical Durable Power of Attorney

This is a document that is signed by the patient appointing someone to serve as the agent in making decisions for medical treatments for the patient if he/she can no longer communicate.

Understanding Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)

The most common form of CPR is mouth to mouth breathing. This works by pressing the chest of the patient to stimulate the heart and the lungs, thus producing oxygen.

Trained personnel administering CPR know how to use airway tubes, electric shocks, fast-acting medications, and advanced cardiac life support.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation is very beneficial for patients suffering from sudden cardiac arrest.

What is Tube Feeding?

Tube feeding is the method of sending nutrients and liquids to patients who can no longer drink and eat by mouth.

Short term tube-feeding uses a lengthy tube normally inserted through the nose and the esophagus of the patients directly into the stomach.

For long-term tube feeding, the tube may be inserted directly through the skin of the patient into the intestines or the stomach.

The tube going into the stomach is called a gastric tube, and or a jejunal tube for the one used into the intestines.

What is Mechanical Ventilation?

Ventilators, also called respirators, are those machines that pump oxygen into and out of the lungs and the airway of a patient.

These are mechanical substitutes for normal breathing. Although these are not a cure, these machines can buy time to observe if patients are capable of breathing naturally or not.

A patient may receive mechanical ventilations in three different ways: through a face mask, through an endotracheal tube, or through a tracheotomy.

Patients using mechanical ventilators should sit in a chair or lie in bed with restricted movements. As with patients with an endotracheal tube, they are not able to speak or swallow properly.

It is important to understand the necessary things needed when serious illness happens to seniors. That way, you will not have to think much about these issues when your loved ones already become terminally ill.

Coping With Alzheimer's Disease

How to Cope with Alzheimer’s Disease

When it comes to Alzheimer’s disease, there is no known cause with regard to this medical condition.

Research regarding its etiology has long been done and focused on particular areas like exogenous toxins, genetics immunology, or viral agents.

However, none of these are mutually exclusive. When determined what will most likely appear to be its cause it will be multi-functional.

Since there is still no proven cure available at present, there is a great need for long-term care as well as management of the problems and the symptoms closely associated with the disease.

How Alzheimer’s Disease Affects People

This disease affects adults of all socio-economic circumstances and ethnicities.

Normally, the disease strikes during the middle years and beyond that although there have been records showing people suffering this problem as early as twenty-eight years old.

The prevalence gradually increases with each year, even reaching to 20% at eight years, starting from no more than 1% at age 65 or before.

Alzheimer’s disease is in fact the forth leading cause of death, which accounts for an annual death of about 120,000 people.

Care and Proper Management with Alzheimer’s Diseases

During the duration of the disease, proper care and management should be provided both for the patient and the members of the family.

This care might include help from professionals from different agencies and disciplines in cooperation with other self-help groups.

There are also a variety of service programs created to aid people suffering from this disease like day care, respite care, home care, family groups, patient groups, dedicated nursing home units, as well as other group living facilities.

The Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Association (ADRDA)

This is a national voluntary help organization that was established in 1979.

This organization is a group of researchers, health professionals, family members, and other concerned groups, banded together to form and promote education, family support, research, and possible eradication of the medical problem.

Additionally, the said organization has become the leading source of educational materials and information because it has continuously helped increase public awareness of the illness, while providing additional research and activities.

The Importance of Joining Support Groups 

There are a lot of reasons why joining support groups dealing with Alzheimer’s is important.

Some people join groups when one of their family members has been diagnosed with this medical problem and they want to understand more about the problem so they seek support groups.

Additionally, others join when they are in crises especially in making important decisions like assuming financial responsibility and obtaining outside help from different care-giving responsibilities.

It is also important to join support groups to lessen the feeling of loneliness and discomfort.

Others join to seek concrete help on how they can manage specific problems like agitation or incontinence.

In fact, others tend to become so insatiable that they attend almost any meeting that deals with Alzheimer’s disease just to understand the problem.

Support groups may be self-help groups if they are led by family members, or even professionals. In most cases, dedicated professionals provide training and consultations for members of the family who run the group.

There are also groups particularly established to help children of people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, while some are for primary caregivers, normally spouses.

Also, there are some groups for mates who have submitted their patients to long-term care institutions.

Group organizations and sizes generally cover broad spectrums that range from informal meetings that are home-based to larger and well-organized chapter sessions.

Informal Home-based Groups

These are small self-help groups that are formed by people who are interested in meeting with other individuals with similar problems.

Groups may comprise of about four or five people who regularly meet informally in each others houses.

However, this type of self-help group may not be affiliated with any other social agencies or with their local chapter of the Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Association.

Instead, members of small help groups normally depend on the generosity of people in providing places for meetings.

Agency-based Groups

These are professionally-led groups that may be a cross between a self-help and an agency-sponsored group.

Also, there are some agencies that provide only their space, while others offer professional supervision for the leaders.

These types of support groups are normally under the auspices of nursing homes, mental health agencies, and community agencies.

Coping with Alzheimer’s Disease can be very difficult and challenging but if you submit yourself or your love one to a support group, enduring the emotional burden may possibly be lessened.

When a Hospital Stay is Necessary:

The Important Things to Prepare

In our day to day lives, there comes a point when the need for staying in a hospital is important.

This may be when you or your loved one is suffering from illnesses that need full medical attention, or when there is a necessity for some other medical consultations that require you to stay in a hospital.

Aside from thinking about what happens inside the hospital, never forget to attend to the things needed when staying in the hospital.

Below are some things that should be taken into consideration upon submitting yourself or your loved to a hospital.

What are the things to prepare when staying in the hospital?

Clothes

Although you cannot identify just yet as to the duration of your stay, bringing two or three sets of underwear, nightwear, cardigans, bed jackets, dressing gowns, and suitable foot wear is necessary.

Also, keep in mind that a medical facility will not do any personal laundry. Asking for a friend or a member of your family to help you with this concern helps a lot.

Toiletries

Be sure to bring shampoo, toothbrush, soap, towel, hairbrush or comb, flannel, facial and paper tissues, and razor (if you need one).

However, there are some medical facilities that provide their own set of toiletries for patients to use but still, bringing personal toiletry items is allowed. For gynecology patients, sanitary towels are essentials.

Medicines

Bring medicines and tablets that your senior is presently taking, whether they are prescribed or over the counter.

But be sure to tell your medical professional of the medications you are currently taking. That way, you can easily avoid any medical complications in the long run.

Money and Valuables

Bring a small amount of money or loose change for making telephone calls, or buying newspapers or stamps.

As much as possible, do not bring large amounts of money or valuable items. But if you have valuables that cannot be left at home, be sure to surrender them to the nursing staff, who in turn, will issue receipts for the valuables.

Generally though, remember that most medical facilities do not accept liabilities for any loss or damage to the things you bring into the hospital.

Aside from understanding what the necessities are when staying in the hospital, it is also important that you are aware of what is not allowed in a medical facility.

Electrical equipments are not allowed unless you have cleared them with the nurse, along with mobile phones and computer games as they can interfere with medical equipment. Cigarettes are also a big no-no.

What Happens when Staying in the Hospital?

On the ward

There are some hospital wards that are mixed sex but the levels of privacy are still strictly maintained by keeping the male and the female patients in different rooms. Each room has its own toilet and bath, as well as washing facilities.

Television and Phone Calls

For private rooms and suites, some hospitals have state of the art entertainment systems by each bed that are primarily designed for patient use.

There are also some medical facilities that allow patients to receive phone calls, watch TV, or even send e-mails. However, all hospitals strictly disallow mobile phones inside the facility.

Spiritual Welfare

Hospitals have in-house chaplains or appropriate advisors that patients can talk to. Patients can also receive Holy Communion or visit the hospital chapel and prayer room.

Also, hospitals have representatives of most religions to help the spiritual welfare of patients.

Treatments

Patients should not be hesitant to approach their attending physicians and nurses since all information with regard to a medical problem is considered strictly confidential.

The information is confided only with the patient and the doctor. If patients are troubled about something regarding their medical condition, they can simply ask the nurses or their physicians.

Also, relatives can inform members of the family regarding the progress of the patient, provided that the patient allows them to.

Keep in mind that when it is necessary to stay in a hospital, you should be aware of what things you should bring and what to expect from a medical facility.

Also, it is helpful if you are able to identify which hospital to go to so that you will have time to check for the important information as well as their services and their facilities.

Detecting Elder Abuse

How to Detect and Deal with Elder Abuse

Not everybody knows that physical and emotional abuse also happens to the elders.

Understanding elder abuse is important so that you can easily detect and deal with it properly.

What is Elder Abuse?

Elder abuse is not only physical and emotional. It can also be psychological and mental.

Elder abuse is mostly committed by a member of the household or by a younger caregiver, or even between two older people who live together.

Normally, elder abuse occurs even if genuine love and affection is evident between the people that are involved.

Different Forms of Elder Abuse

 Hitting and slapping

Withholding of food and medication

Unnecessary use of physical restraints

Yelling and insulting

Threats of violence

Misuse of funds

Theft

Fraud

Abuse is basically obvious neglect or violence. Older people tend to be more fragile and are more prone to accidents.

Because of this fact, it is not that easy to distinguish signs of elder abuse. If you are the one who abuses, then you will know any form of elder abuse although there are times the victims are unaware.

Additionally, because of degenerative diseases even if the elders are aware of any abuse, they are less likely to communicate it. This is indeed one reality that everybody should be aware of.

Elders are similar to babies. They are not able to communicate when something is wrong, or they are unable to care for themselves.

This is primarily because elders start to imagine a lot of things, thus making them worried and forgetful most of the time.

Some Common Elder Abuse Situations

Surprisingly, studies have shown that the main source of elder abusers are the families of the elders themselves.

Some family members act out long term resentments, while some just want money.

Others have addictions and most of the time, family members take out their frustrations on their elders.

To avoid such situations, it is wise that a competent and reliable member of the family should provide proper care, medical decisions, control the finances, and have access to the elders.

However, if the care needs are not possible to be attended by family members, there are some very good Assisted Living facilities that are able to care for your elders even in the most severe situations.

But still, all types of facilities require close monitoring from members of the family.

However, if no monitoring from family members is observed, another common source of elder abuse comes into the picture, this time, abuse from senior living facilities and nursing homes.

It is important then that family members should visit their elders often at different times to meet and to develop relationships with employees from the nursing facility.

Also, family members should involve themselves in matters involving care decisions. But if the facility does not allow this, don’t leave your loved one there.

Keep in mind that the lack of involvement of family members is one of the major causes of home care abuse.

If you are a senior and you are living in a nursing home without any members of your family to monitor you, try to make friends so that when the times comes you are able to get help from your friends.

The Abused Elder

If you are the abused elder, set aside your fears and the feelings of embarrassment. If you feel abused, contact the specific authorities in your area so you and the abuser can both obtain help, otherwise, the abuse will continue.

If the abuser is a family member, then they need immediate help. If they are employees in home or nursing care centers; they could be arrested to avoid any more abuse in the future.

Effects of Elder Abuse

Basically, the first effect of elder abuse is injury. In the long run, the victim starts to feel humiliated, angry, fearful, and powerless.

If the abuser is part of the family, the feeling of betrayal and compassion mixed with concern and compassion for the life of the abuser.

It is important that elders are properly taken care of so that elder abuse is less likely to occur. Understand the different forms of abuse and know what you can do about it.

Hiring a Home Caretaker:

Important Factors to Consider

Determining if your elders are in need for senior care and assistance is easy, whether the assistance is provided by home health care agencies, homecare agencies, or even independent or assisted living organizations.

For example, your senior suffers from a disability, thus requiring him/her additional help following hospitalization, a home caretaker is needed.

However, in some cases, there are seniors that are not immediately determined if they are in need of a home caretaker or not.

How to Tell if Your Seniors Need a Home Caretaker

Family members need proper guidance.

They should follow a series of careful assessments in order to conclude if indeed their seniors require a home caretaker.

Here is a list of inquiries you can consider when trying to determine if your senior needs additional care and assistance.

Pay Attention to their Looks

Carefully observing as to how your senior looks physically can greatly help in determining if they are in need of home care.

If you notice them being limited mentally or physically from completing normal day to day tasks, then that means home care is worth consideration.

Also, try to observe if they are still wearing clean clothing or if they brush their teeth properly or comb their hair neatly. If they are no longer doing these things, then for sure they are in need of special care and attention.

Listen to your Seniors

Listening to how your elders speak may tell a lot with regard to their present mental status.

Never assume that mental changes are just a part of old age and are the main causes of your seniors problems, otherwise, it could further deteriorate their mental state.

If they are no longer up on current events, or do not talk about future goals and plans, and if they have started to miss appointments with their doctors, and forget to take their medicines, these are clear indications that you should hire a home caretaker.

Observe the Surroundings of your Seniors

Take time to observe and look at the food and the medications of your seniors to determine if they are taking the right medicines and eating healthy foods.

Their surroundings should have no unusual amounts of dust, dirt, clutter and garbage, and their pantry should have enough fresh food.

Additionally, their bills should be opened regularly, and their living spaces should have no dirty windows, floors, and bathtubs.

If you notice that your seniors are no longer doing the things mentioned above, then, a home caretaker is very important.

Use your Sense of Smell

Use your nose to help distinguish if your seniors are religiously taking a bath or not. Not being clean with themselves is an indication that they are no longer capable of taking care of themselves, thus requiring a home caretaker.

Why Consider a Home Caretaker?

Home caretakers, as well as home care services generally provide valuable assistance and care for your elders right in the comfort of the home.

Although home care assures you and your seniors the best comfort, the safest security, and the sense of familiarity of your own home, it is also important that you find and hire the proper home care provider and the most efficient home caretaker that generally fits the needs of your elderly.

Because of their decreased age and deteriorating health, seniors are less able to properly take care of themselves.

Additionally, elders may be suffering from certain diagnosed illnesses which requires them to have the right home caretaker and services.

Services from home caretakers vary greatly, depending on the needs of the senior clients.

Most home caretakers are provided by home care services which are coordinated with the doctors of the client.

Home caretakers provided by home care services are mostly certified health care professionals like therapists, nurses, and caregivers, trained to provide utmost care for clients right in the comfort of their homes.

Professional home caretakers provide medical services like physical therapy, occupational therapy, and home dialysis.

Also, there are some home caretakers that do housekeeping, run errands, and even prepare meals.

If the time comes when you need a home caretaker, the best thing to do is to contact your local home care service providers.

This is to assure you that you have the best home caretakers to attend to all the needs of your seniors.

Housing Decisions:

Ten Practical Tips to Help your Elders Move

Your elders are some of the most important people in your life.

When the time comes and they need to be moved to a retirement home, or when you decide to let them move to your home and live with you, remember to take extra care.

Elders tend to get emotional when moving to another place. It is therefore important that you consider the following tips to assist them with their move to make the transition easier.

Be Kind.

Although this may seem like a given, always remember to be kind to your elders, as far as their moving is concerned.

When you help them sort their things and pack their necessary belongings, bear in mind that their being unable to do everything that they were used to doing, plus their poor eyesight, normally results in poor housekeeping habits.

As you pack, offer to clean their things instead of commenting on them.

Also, try to avoid criticizing.

Help Sort.

Like every one else, seniors often tend to keep things that they do not necessarily need or use.

If you wish to get rid of some of the unnecessary possessions, be gentle when you suggest it to your elders.

Ask them gently if they still use the item and that if it is fine with them to just donate those items.

However, if the item is something valuable to them and something that they would like to keep but the new living space can no longer accommodate it; try suggesting that to keep the item in the family do so by passing it to another member of the family.

Remember that most often; it is easier to give away valuable items if they are going to a good home.

Take Pictures Inside their Home.

If possible, take close pictures inside the home of your elders.

Keep track of where they place their items and try to place them in similar ways so that their new living spaces will still feel and even look similar to the old one.

Be as detailed as possible, from the arrangement of the furniture in the bedroom to the placing of valuable items on the bureau.

This can easily make them obtain a homey feeling once they are in their new place.

Prior to transferring, obtain a room layout of the new place.

It is important that you find out how much space the new place has. If your elders are moving from their three-bedroom unit to a single bedroom condominium, it is then important that you decide what will fit in the area, while keeping in mind how much can be kept.

As stated, offer to keep their valuable items they can not move or suggest keeping them in your family if possible.

Start Small.

Take a day off to spend exclusively with your elders to discuss their move and what they should expect.

Give your elders some small tasks like answering the phone or going through the desk drawer. Twenty minutes a day on a single task is enough to make your elders feel useful.

Also, it is helpful to let them decide what they would like to do, while determining what things they find are hard for them to accomplish. By taking smaller steps, your elders can easily get used to the idea of moving into another place.

Choose a room with less sentimental attachments.

Allow your elders to start sorting through places in the house that hold no sentimental attachments to the living room or bedroom.

Plan your Move.

Upon planning a move, give your elders enough time with the thought. Don’t make them feel rushed.

Sorting through a number of years of stuff is very difficult and even emotionally painful. It is therefore important to give them ample time to absorb the changes.

Hire Help from the outside.

If you are having a hard time dealing with the move, emotionally and physically, there are outside parties that can handle this concern.

There are, in fact, companies who specialize in moving seniors, providing comfort both to you and your elders.

Be Patient.

Give your elders enough time to say goodbye. It is normal for them to take a lot of time cleaning out their desk drawers because of pictures that they’ve found. Allow them time to reminisce.

Moving your elders into a new place is very difficult. Consider the above steps for a worry-free and successful new housing decision.

Nursing Home or Assisted Living

How to Select a Nursing or Assisted Living Facility

Knowing where to let your seniors stay is easy. However, it is often too difficult for seniors, as well as members of the family, to choose which nursing or assisted living facility is the one that suits them best.

Finding the Right Senior Living Facility

Consider the different possible living options. The living options for your elders and seniors who need care and assistance keep on growing every year.

The options are high, such as assisted living facilities, independent senior living facilities, family group homes, skilled nursing facilities, and a whole lot more.

This is basically the first part step in careful planning for an alternate living situation. Be sure to be aware of the different options that are available in your area.

Understand the Needs. Different elders have different needs, which explain why nursing facilities have varied services being offered. Understand that living options are greatly dependent upon the needs of the elders.

Research the Type of Facility. This is a very important part in selecting a nursing home for your elders. There are ba