Why Do This All By Yourself When You Do Not Have To?  

Obviously proper screening is essential, but how does one go about it? Even if a prospective caregiver hands over a stack of references and credentials, how do you know if these items are adequate or authentic? You need to have a thorough verification process in place to make sure the person is legitimate and trustworthy, but in reality, most people are not qualified to do this. Even the most resourceful and intelligent person would need some help, especially if this is the first time he or she has ever had to perform this task. Fortunately, there are agencies in New Jersey who specialize in hiring qualified, experienced care providers so that all you have to do is evaluate the company itself.

Now You Need to Choose the Right Company

When choosing a home health care agency, it is important to scrutinize the company’s history and procedures. A truly exceptional agency will only employ Registered Nurse (RN) supervisors and certified aides who pass thorough background screenings and skill assessments, and they will use standardized procedures to ensure that all employees will provide a consistent level of care. Additionally, the agency will handle all of the business management paperwork like payroll and tax forms and bonding. Most importantly, the best home health agencies provide personalized care that fits the client’s needs. This is especially important with patients who suffer from illnesses such as Alzheimer’s disease or terminal illnesses because the provider’s skill set should include experience with the specific physical, mental, and emotional features of such conditions.

When you are considering a home health agency, be sure to ask up front about the company’s certifications and licenses and its screening procedures. Make sure that the company requires its nurse supervisors to have state licensing (RN) and that home health aides are supervised by them. The company should also make sure that the providers have appropriate insurance and bonding. Rest assured that your loved one will receive the best possible care if you ask the right questions when evaluating New Jersey home health care agencies.

Many members of the so-called “sandwich generation” either share their homes with frail and elderly parents or, if they continue to live alone, make sure they have around-the-clock live-in care.

This begs the question, however, as to whether it is okay during certain times to leave elderly parents home alone, whether it be for a day, half a day or even an hour or two.

There are many things to consider before you leave an elderly loved one home alone for any length of time.  How is their sight, hearing and memory?  Are they depressed or easily confused? Have you discussed their health problems with a doctor? What follows is a brief checklist of questions you should ask yourself and discuss with a doctor before you leave an elderly loved one home alone.  Keep in mind that if you answer no to any of these questions, you have your answer.

• Can they get out of the house on their own in case of an emergency?

• Do they know their address and can they get back inside on their own?

• Can they react properly and promptly to a fire alarm or smoke detector?

• Can they relay emergency information over the phone and call 911?

• Can they take necessary medication on their own and do they have access to it?

• Is their judgment sound with respect to who they should and should not allow into the house?

• Can they cook or prepare food and use electrical appliances?

• Can they manage to use the bathroom by themselves?

• Are they steady enough to avoid falling should they need to get up?

New Jersey’s Expert Home Care provides professional and reliable home health care and companion care for NJ seniors, helping them with their daily living activities since 1984. Please call us toll free at 800-848-2336 when you have elder care related questions or need assistance.

Posted by: Frank Esposito, Vice President of Expert Home Care

Use it or lose it?  Evidence points to exercise as possibly slowing Alzheimer’s.

Exercising the body helps the brain. That’s the conclusion of a new study that reviewed the effects of exercise on brain functioning in humans and animals.

Based on a wide-ranging review of existing studies, researchers found a significant relationship between physical activity and later cognitive function and decreased occurrence of dementia. Better yet, the evidence suggests that the benefits may last several decades.

Studies of persons over age 65 found that those who exercised for at least 15-30 minutes at a time three times a week were less likely to develop Alzheimer’s Disease, even if they were genetically predisposed to the disease.

The exercise doesn’t have to be strenuous. One study of 62- to 70-year-olds who continued to work and retirees who moderately exercised, showed they had higher sustained levels of cerebral blood flow and superior performance on general measures of cognition as compared to the group of inactive retirees.

The review covered 40 years of research.

Is Attitude Everything?

Successful aging in New Jersey is an absence of (or minimum of) disease and disability. A new study of more than 500 persons from age 60 to 98 shows that people who think they are “aging successfully” aren’t necessarily the healthiest individuals. Optimism and effective coping tools, or attitude, were found be essential to successful aging more than traditional measures of health and wellness, according to a study funded by the Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging at the University of California-San Diego.

The study showed that persons who regularly read, write and socialize gave themselves higher scores than those who did not. Surprisingly, volunteer activities, which have long been thought to help persons age successfully, were not found to have the same positive influence. The bottom line is that those things leading to successful aging are well within an individual’s control. The key is adopting personal coping mechanisms and remaining as physically, socially and mentally active as possible.

Roughly, 11.1 million Americans of all ages are receiving formal or informal care at any given time. This represents about 4% of the population and is comprised of about 9.5 million receiving care at home or in the community and another 1.6 million residing in nursing or intermediate care facilities. About 25.8 million family caregivers provide personal assistance to individuals 18 years or older who have a disability or chronic illness. And nearly one out of every four households (22.4 million households) is involved in giving care to persons aged 50 or older. About 43% of those receiving care are under the age of 65 and are evenly spread between ages 18 to 64. Children under 18 and receiving assistance because of disability are often characterized under different criteria of caregiving.

Sometimes human caregivers can be replaced or assisted by mechanical devices. These might include special computer systems for communication, special locomotion equipment, remote vital sign monitoring devices or remote oversight monitoring. Continued technology advances may help relieve the time commitment of human caregivers.

Adverse reactions to Medications- Side effects mimicking dementia are most commonly caused by antiarthritic medications, anihypertensizes, neuroleptics, hypnotics, and sedatives. Make sure your doctor is monitoring all your medications, including over-the-counter.

Emotional Distress- Seniors face a tremendous amount of changes in their lives, sometimes abrupt. Retirement, loss of a loved one or pet, divorce, change in location; all of these can cause depression, anxiety, and can damage physical and mental health. Make sure your physician is informed of these stressors in your life.

Metabolic Disturbances- Electrolyte imbalances, hypoglycemia, hypercalcemia, hepatic diseases, pancreatic disorders, renal failure, or liver failure can also cause confusion and effect sleep, appetite, and emotional balance.

Read the full story.

Exercising the body helps the brain. That’s the conclusion of a new study that reviewed the effects of exercise on brain functioning in humans and animals.

Based on a wide-ranging review of existing studies, researchers found a significant relationship between physical activity and later cognitive function and decreased occurrence of dementia. Better yet, the evidence suggests that the benefits may last several decades.

Studies of persons over age 65 found that those who exercised for at least 15-30 minutes at a time three times a week were less likely to develop Alzheimer’s Disease, even if they were genetically predisposed to the disease.

The exercise doesn’t have to be strenuous. One study of 62- to 70-year-olds who continued to work and retirees who moderately exercised, showed they had higher sustained levels of cerebral blood flow and superior performance on general measures of cognition as compared to the group of inactive retirees.

The review covered 40 years of research.

10 Real Expectations for Quality of LIfe in a Well Managed Long Term Care Facility, by Jill B. Thomas RNC, LNHA is the Vice President and Founder of Advance Care Planning, Inc

Advising Your Client How to Recognize Ten Real Expectations for Quality of Life in a Well Managed Long Term Care Facility

Long term care facilities will become home to millions of “Baby Boomers,” in the coming years. Many people fear the move from their own home to a long term care faciliy.. they just don�t know what to expect. Every person has a right to good care under the 1987 Federal Nursing Home Reform Law. 

The law, which is part of the Social Security Act, states that a long tem care facility must help each resident ‘attain or maintain’ his or her highest level of well being – physically, mentally and emotionally. This report sets the expectations of those needing to address the long term needs of their family members. Through the use of the Advancer Care Plan, a family member can count on these expectations, and more importantly, can be assured that the care is specifically tailored to the loved one’s needs.

Read the full 10 Expectations of Long Term Care

Family Caregiving Skills 

-Educate yourself regarding your loved one’s illness and/or disability.

-Communicate efficiently and succinctly with healthcare professionals.

-Recognize you are a healthcare consumer deserving quality healthcare.

-Embrace your importance as a member of the healthcare team.

-Always provide input and ask as many questions as needed.

-Pick your battles; don’t sweat the small stuff. Identify inconsequential matters and focus your attention elsewhere

-Be an advocate—speak up. The squeaky wheel usually gets the grease.

With a major role change such as the one associated with becoming a family caregiver, emotions can and will run the gamut. There are in fact five stages of grief that are widely accepted in the scientific community to occur as denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and finally acceptance. Living and coping through each of these stages composes the learning framework for us to be able to adjust to witnessing someone we love fall victim to a debilitating illness.

Heart disease is the number one health problem in the U.S. today. It is the number one killer of both men and women.

However, heart disease can actually mean one of several health problems. For instance, there is coronary artery disease, which is what most people think of when they think of heart disease.
There are also other health issues in the heart disease category, including things like abnormal heart rhythms, heart failure, heart valve disease, congenital heart disease and vascular disease.

All of these can be serious health problems if not treated.

One of the things that can be an early symptom of heart disease are the risk factors for people who are more likely to get heart disease. These health risk factors include being male, at an older age, having a family history of heart health problems, being a post-menopausal woman, and being of the African American, Native American or Mexican American race.

If a person has one or several of these risk factors, it can be an early symptom of heart disease or heart health problems.

Other risk factors include smoking, high cholesterol, a sedentary lifestyle, being overweight and having uncontrolled diabetes or stress.

One of the most common signs of heart health issues is angina. This is pain, discomfort, heaviness or aching in the chest, or in the areas of the shoulder, arm or jaw.

Read full article.