Archive for April, 2010

Understanding Memory Loss

What is memory loss?

Memory loss is something we all experience in life. We forget familiar names, we cannot remember where we left our wallets and purses the previous evening, and we can’t remember everything needed at the grocery store without having a list. This type of memory loss is perfectly normal and as we age, such mild forgetfulness may start happening more and more.

Read more…

Visit us at www.ageadvantageriverside.com for information and assistance with home care available in the Riverside CA area.

Here is a great article for anyone facing eldercare issues.  Visit www.ageadvantageriverside.com for information and assistance with home care for an aging loved one in the Riverside, California area.

Having Family Meetings to Resolve Eldercare Issues

A crisis can bring a family closer together and illustrate strength and love; or it can drive a wedge of resentment between members. Whenever a loved one’s heath, safety or wellbeing becomes a concern, it is important to be proactive and address your loved one’s issues. If the issues come to a point of crisis, families – often spread out across several states – need to call themselves together to discuss the changes which are occurring and will occur in the future.

Read more…

Planning for healthy aging

(ARA) – In just two short years, the first wave of baby boomers will turn 65. For some, this milestone birthday may signal retirement; for others it may not. For all boomers, it should mean an increased focus on health care. Baby boomers can take steps now to help ensure many more healthy years.

A focus on early prevention – including regular tests for certain cancers and heart disease, a healthy diet and exercise – is an important start to staying healthy well into the golden years.

Most baby boomers will count on Medicare to support them in their efforts to stay healthy. In fact, Medicare has long been a source of comfort for those 65 and older who otherwise wouldn’t have health coverage. But as more people older than 65 seek care, they may find it increasingly difficult to get in to see a doctor, or they may find that their choice of doctors is limited because of planned Medicare payment cuts to physicians.

Prevention
“As we age, we have an increasing role to play in our health care to ensure our golden years are healthy ones,” says Dr. J. James Rohack, president of the American Medical Association. “Have regular discussions with your physician about any health problems or concerns you may have and make sure you are up-to-date on preventive exams.”

At age 50, it’s important to start annual exams for colorectal cancer, and men should have a prostate exam. For those boomers who weigh less than 154 pounds, screenings for osteoporosis should start at age 60. It’s also important to start annual exams with a physician before you reach age 65 to:

* Monitor and discuss blood pressure, cholesterol, needed vaccines and tests to monitor or prevent disease.
* Identify activities and goals to address healthy eating, physical activity, tobacco use cessation, moderating alcohol use and attention to stress and mood.
* Discuss screenings needed to prevent and/or monitor degenerative or chronic disorders in vision, hearing, bone density, cancer and obesity.

Access to care, choice of physician
Weighing in with legislators is another way boomers can take charge of their health care, because what happens in Washington in the next couple months, with regards to the health-reform debate, could have a significant impact on their ability to see their doctor of choice.

A recent AMA/AARP poll shows that nearly 90 percent of people 50 and older are concerned that the current Medicare physician payment formula threatens their access to care. Without permanent repeal of the broken Medicare payment system as part of health reform, physicians face steep payment cuts which might force them to limit the number of new Medicare patients they can treat.

“Without health-reform action by Congress, the 21 percent payment cut planned for this January puts many physicians in the difficult position of not being able to treat new Medicare patients and still keep their practice doors open,” says Rohack. “For years, Congress has taken short-term action to stop the cuts and preserve seniors’ access to care, but they can no longer put a Band-Aid on the problem. It’s time for permanent action to preserve the stability and security of Medicare and ensure seniors can keep their choice of physician.”

As the health system reform debate continues, and final legislation approaches, a permanent fix for the broken Medicare physician payment formula must be included to preserve access to care for the millions of baby boomers headed toward Medicare enrollment age. Replacing the physician payment formula with a system that better reflects the costs and practice of 21st century medical care will help improve quality and reduce costs by allowing physicians to increase care coordination, reduce costly hospital admissions and adopt health information technology.

“I encourage all baby boomers to take preventive action now to prepare for a long, healthy life, and to ensure that their physician will still be there for them when they begin relying on Medicare,” says Rohack.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Visit us at www.ageadvantageriverside.com for information and assistance with home care for an aging loved one in the Riverside CA area.

Tips to manage the silent emotional and physical stress of caring for a loved one

(ARA) – More than 34 million people are caring for an aging parent in the United States today. It is estimated one in two of these caregivers are baby boomers, adults in the “sandwich generation,” caught between caring for their aging parents while raising families of their own.

Caring for a loved one puts a great deal of strain on caregivers, taking a toll on everything, including their health, relationships and finances. Balancing caregiving with managing households and busy careers has become a struggle for millions of Americans and is made worse when the loved one has incontinence.

Caring.com, a leading online destination for people caring for aging parents, and TENA, the worldwide leader in the management of bladder control issues, conducted an in-depth survey on the impact of incontinence on caregivers.

The survey revealed that 65 percent of Caring.com members are dealing with incontinence in a parent, grandparent or spouse and three out of four caregivers are tackling two to three extra loads of laundry each week as a result of incontinence. About one third of caregivers find incontinence difficult to handle and 42 percent said dealing with their loved one’s incontinence sometimes leads to depression.

“Incontinence often can be frustrating and overwhelming for a person caring for an aging parent or loved one, but there are steps caregivers can take to meet this challenge,” says Ann Cason, caregiving expert, author and founder and director of Circles of Care. “These include considering all available treatment options, discussing incontinence in a straightforward and factual way, and asking for physical or emotional support if you need it.”

Caregivers should remember they are not alone and can rely on others to help them through difficult times. Some tips to help manage their loved one’s incontinence include:

* Establish a dialogue: It’s important to be able to talk with your loved one about their incontinence. Over time, incontinence symptoms may change or get worse. If you share an open line of communication, you’ll be better equipped to manage these changes by using different products and adjusting your care management plan. Caring.com has a variety of resources with helpful information on how caregivers can talk to their loved one about difficult issues, including who should do the talking, when to have the conversation, where to have it, what to say and how to avoid emotional land mines.

* Create a routine: Having a standard routine helps make it easier for you and your loved one to predict when they may need to use the bathroom. Eating meals around the same time each day, drinking a steady amount of water and keeping a journal of bathroom visits can help in managing incontinence.

* Be prepared: Make sure your loved one has plenty of time to go to the bathroom before you leave the house. Bring a bag with extra incontinence products, wipes and a change of clothes. Being prepared not only helps in the event of an accident, it also helps your loved one to feel more confident and secure.

* Use the right tools: Not all absorbent products are created equal. Absorbent products are designed to meet a variety of different care needs and personal situations. Take the time to research what products are best for your loved one at www.tena.us. Also, www.tena.us provides caregivers with money- and time-saving product tips that help them provide high quality care without breaking the bank.

For caregivers, dealing with your loved one’s incontinence brings added strain to an already stressful situation. Here are some tips for caregivers to deal with the emotional effects of their loved one’s incontinence:

* Unwind: Taking time for yourself will help reduce stress, elevate your mood and, ultimately, help make you a better caregiver. Buy a new book, join a club or go out to dinner and give yourself some time to relax.

* Maintain a healthy lifestyle: It’s easy to fall into unhealthy habits with caregiving responsibilities keeping you busy. Incorporating a nutritious diet and exercise routine into your daily schedule will help give you extra energy and reduce stress. Try simple things like adding a healthy salad to your meal or taking the stairs instead of the elevator.

* Ask for help: Caring for a loved one by yourself can be an overwhelming task. Ask family members to pitch in by picking up supplies or keeping your loved one company while you take a break. Don’t be afraid to call a friend to listen when you’ve had a bad day, or to network with other caregivers who are dealing with similar issues.

* Know your rights: The Federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) grants legal rights to some employed caregivers at organizations with 50 or more employees. FMLA guarantees that employees may take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave a year to care for a seriously ill parent, spouse or child. Ask your human resources department for more information on programs to help you balance your career and caregiving.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Visit www.ageadvantageriverside.com for help with an aging parent in the Riverside CA area.