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Form a Network of Support when dealing with Alzheimer’s

11/173 Comments

How to Form a Network of Support

When Dealing With Alzheimer’s

When someone you love is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, you’ll most likely face an exhausting and emotionally-taxing road. Between communicating with doctors, providing hours of daily care to the person, and balancing a variety of responsibilities, caregivers can find themselves drowning in stress and isolation.

family-meeting

Fortunately, no one is ever alone when dealing with this widespread disease. According to recent research, there are more than five million Americans living with Alzheimer’s.  It’s one of the leading causes of death in the U.S. and the number of recorded cases seemingly increases every year. As tragic as those statistics may be, it does indicate that there are millions of Americans caring for family members and friends with Alzheimer’s, and as a result, there is an entire network of support at caregiver’s fingertips.

If you or someone you know is struggling to care for an Alzheimer’s patient, reach out for support. There are multiple ways to do so, all of which can ease caregivers’ feelings of guilt, anxiety, and depression.

Locate a Support Group for Caregivers and Attend Regular Meetings

Finding a group to lean on during this difficult time is actually easier than you might think. The Alzheimer’s Association and many other organizations can immediately connect you with others in your area who are fighting similar battles. If you’re not sure which group would best suit your situation, contact a doctor or organization member to discuss your needs.

By exchanging information with a local Alzheimer’s support group, caregivers can work through challenges and access a wide range of resources they might not previously have discovered, such as counseling programs or training services. Groups will also provide updates on the newest forms of treatment and research so you don’t have to constantly keep up with them alone.

group-care

Support groups aim to provide a safe space where people working on the same problems can find understanding, comfort, and a place to share their worries and thoughts. Most groups are local, so you can form relationships with people who live close by and attend meetings without eating up too much of your already busy schedule.

Regardless of whether you join a general support group for caregivers or a group for people specifically handling Alzheimer’s cases, you’ll have the opportunity to establish powerful connections with others while learning about local resources.

Turn to Online Communities

In-person support groups aren’t the only forms of communal support available for caregivers. There are dozens of online forums that can provide just as much information and companionship. Memory People and Family Caregiver Alliance are just two of the online platforms you can turn to, depending on your specific needs or desires. A simple Google search will reveal many options to choose from, including closed Facebook groups and message boards that are open to everyone.

There are several benefits that come with an online support group membership. You’ll have instantaneous access to various forms of communication with others, from email chains to 24/hour chat rooms. If you struggle to find time to attend local support group meetings, then you can use the Internet to craft a schedule that works for you and your disabled loved one. Most online communities are moderated, so you can feel secure while discussing the challenges and rewards of working with a person with Alzheimer’s disease. The social sites also allow members to quickly share websites and free online resources with one another as an additional form of educational support.

Reach for Professional or Monetary Assistance When Necessary

Sometimes, you can’t do everything on your own, and that is extremely important to acknowledge. Becoming a caregiver can be emotionally and physically exhausting, especially when you feel ill-equipped to handle certain situations. That’s when it’s time to seek aid from doctors, nurses, or even professional caregivers.

It may benefit you and your loved one to look into paid help, if you have the financial means. There are many companies you can turn to for specialized in-home care assistance, as well as medical attention, house cleaning, and more. There is no need for one caregiver to take on all the necessary tasks, so if you can afford it, seek the support of other professionals.

If you feel that you are dedicating much of your weekly schedule to caregiving activities and you can’t afford to hire professional aid, it might be time to consider applying for financial assistance. The time you spend caring for the Alzheimer’s patient may impact your ability to work long hours or hold steady employment. In fact, 60 percent of adult children caring for their disabled parents are forced to quit their job in order to devote themselves to the task.

Thankfully, if you are stuck in such a situation, there are ways in which you can receive payment for the care you are giving. You can sign a contract and receive financial assistance from other family members who spend less time with the Alzheimer’s patient, or you can apply for supportive health and financial programs. There is no reason for you to feel shame about asking for money when you are shelling out hours of your time for free, even if you enjoy helping the disabled loved one. Monetary support can help you stay in strong mental and financial shape, which in turn allows you to become a better caregiver.

Author: KRISTEN HELLER – Having previously worked in the healthcare industry, Kristen now enjoys being a freelance writer. She is a mother to a wonderful son, and when free time presents itself you can find her tackling her lifelong goal of learning the piano.

Filed Under: Care Tips, communication, Healthy Aging, The Caregiver

8 Things Can Change How You Approach Caregiving

08/091 Comment

How These 8 Things Will Change the Way You Approach Caregiving

 

Patients who suffer from severe illnesses that are going to stay with them for their remaining lives are the ones who usually rely on others for help. The people providing the patients with assistance and helping them perform tasks regarding everyday work could be anyone from a family member to a paid nurse. Science has continuously worked in making better treatments for these illnesses, but while complete cure of all types of cancers, Alzheimer’s, and diabetes is far-fetched, caregiving has evolved further to provide the patient with better care.

1) Monitoring Health Remotely: 

Remote monitoring is one of the most recent inventions that have been immensely helpful to the patients and the doctors alike. These monitoring systems are used by patients while they are in their own homes and can save the patient trouble to go to the doctors for check-ups. It is a small device that has the capacity to measure some particular issues related to health. Remote centers then analyze the data provided by the monitor and instantly let the patient know if the patient’s health is not normal. This data can provide the caregiver if the doctor’s attention is needed or not.

2) Wireless Home Sensors:

Sensors that have the capacity to alert anyone in charge of the patient can be of great help to the caregiver. Not only would it decrease the need for the caregiver to be present with the patient at all times, but it will be able to let the sufferer be more independent. Sensors can be installed around the house or caregiving centers to alert the caregiver if there is any activity or lack thereof in the area where the affected person is. Laundry room and bathrooms can pass alerts if there is a flood in any of the rooms while an alert can also be issued if any electrical appliance is left on for too long. These tools are specifically helpful for people with Alzheimer and their caretakers.

3) Toilet and Pill Sensors:

These sensors offer readings in the toilet where any person may be concerned about their privacy. The system monitors how many times the patient goes to the toilet and through monitoring the urine. The sensors also can be placed on the pillbox and let the patient know if they have not taken their medicine for the day. All this data can be compiled by the Lively app to be presented to the doctor when need be.

4) Tracking Devices and GPS: 

Devices that can track location are helpful for people who have dementia and tend to wander off. It can alert the caretaker if the wearer of the device wanders outside the house. Or even change their positions from one room to another and let the caretaker track the patient down without performing an extensive search.

5) Medication Alerts: 

Another option for people suffering from dementia and have trouble keeping track of pills is the technology that can help manage your pill intake. It is an automated pill dispenser which beeps and opens itself up reminding the person that it is time for their medication. This can provide some relief to the caretaker when medication intake is concerned.

6) Health Trackers:

Then caring for a patient, things such as doctor’s appointment, health record and insurance for the sufferer matters a lot. It can be hectic to find and compile all the documents every time they are updated. HealthVault has come up with a cloud based system which keeps tracks of all your files and documents that are required for the patient. Caregiver and the doctor can update the data about the patient’s health, appointments and even insurance documentation in the cloud with less hassle.

7) Personal Response System:

A personal emergency response system consists of three components; a small radio transmitter which sends signals to a console connected to your telephone which then connects to an emergency response center. The emergency response center then monitors the calls for the patient and alerts the emergency staff to respond immediately to the point where the distress call is coming from. The small radio transmitter can be either worn around the neck or around the wrist. So any caregiver doesn’t have to be too concerned about the lack of communication as the patient is able to act on their own if the caregiver is not around.

8) Audio Monitors:

Just as audio monitors are used by parents to keep themselves updated about the baby, the same way they can be used to monitor a patient in a different room. Especially when the patient is sleeping, their sleep can be monitored without invading their privacy, and any sign of distress can be picked up instantly by the caregiver.
Caring for your loved is one of the noblest things that you may do in your life, however, it can become tiring. These gadgets although may be small, but they can make drastic changes in the lives of the patients and the caretakers. They have the capacity to give the patient a better chance of being independent while also give the caretaker some time off from the patient.

Author Sherley Alaba: An eagle-eyed wordsmith, a writer, and translator, always interested in ways which can help individuals (especially youth and women) reach their full creative potential. My focus has been on writing, producing and editing stories on business, finance, interesting personalities, entrepreneurs, culture, the environment, gastronomy, lifestyle, and social issues. Currently, she is associated as a blogger with Centra Care Florida, an urgent care center in Tampa and other cities in the vicinity such as Conway, Longwood, Orange Lake and others. You can find her @sherleyalaba

Filed Under: Care Tips, Guest Post, The Caregiver

Sleeping Kitty The Perfect Gift for those with Alzheimer’s

11/06Leave a Comment

Sleeping Kitty the Perfect Gift

for loved ones with Alzheimer’s

Mom lived with me in the later stages of her Alzheimer’s. Finding entertainment to keep her busy during those months was often difficult. It sounds like an unusual complaint. But it isn’t always easy to occupy someone with Alzheimer’s.

Mom loved painting, but would only use one color and would cry when she colored outside the lines. Mom loved Solitaire. A great singles game you might think. Wrong! On the occasion that she didn’t win, she would be furious.

In later Stages, some memories are held for seconds so  you never know what will scare, frighten, dismay, aggravate or simply bore someone with Alzheimer’s.

If you’ve read a few of my articles, you know that Mom would watch Bob Barker 24/7 and talk about him as though he was family. He was one of the last folks she recognized “on-sight.”

Mom always loved baby dolls. While most men like a favorite cat or dog or other pet. Mom would sit her dolls side by side and tuck them in each night. She could spend hours, straightening their clothes, covering and uncovering each one many times..

 Folks with Alzheimer’s love to have something to do. Actually, they may become quite bored and grouchy if they don’t have an assigned activity. The person with dementia can’t always remember nor be able to do the activities of their past.

During the later stages of Alzheimer’s entertainment can be a blessing. During Mom’s later stage she lived in a Group Home with 9 other ladies. After dinner they headed to the living room where each had their very own recliner.

Shortly after the ladies settled in their chairs, baskets filled with laundered towels were brought to the room. You never saw such a scramble as those ladies scrambled to get towels. They loved folding towels. It was something they remembered how to do.  Each woman glowed with pride as she offered her folded towels to be stacked away for tomorrow.

I’m excited to share the new toys I’ve found this year. They are the most lovable things I’ve seen. Perfect for someone with Alzheimer’s looking for something to hold and hug. Last year we had the lovable, realistic babies and I’m just as excited about these pets. I think your loved one will totally love them!

These realistic cats and dogs appear to breathe. They look like real puppies and kitties cuddling in their beds. I hope you have a loved one who adores them like I do!

SLEEPING KITTYS, CAT, PUPPIES AND DOGS

 Breathing Puppy Dog Plush Breathing KItty Cat Perfect Petzzz Orange Tabby SainSmart Jr. Electronic Robot Sleeping Cat Meow Kitten

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Filed Under: Activities, Holidays Tagged With: Holdiay Gifts, Perfect Gift, Sleeping Kitty

How to Choose Fun Gifts for Seniors with Alzheimer’s

11/157 Comments

Fun Gifts for Seniors with Alzheimer’s

Fun Gifts for Seniors

Sometimes it seems impossible to think of appropriate gifts for seniors or even gifts for elderly parents who we know so well. Most often we think of warm socks, a soft robe, or another pair fuzzy bath slippers.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m a senior myself and I love all of those gifts. And I get at least one of each almost every year. But this year , I’m talking about something different!

This year surprise the senior in your life with some new fun gifts!

The best way to do that is to spend some time with the older folks in your life. Have some deep conversations with the senior in your life. Listen when they talk and HEAR what they have to say.

I have a granddaughter (Ashley), who probably knows me better than anyone else in the family. A couple days ago she said my gift was already chosen and wrapped. She also said her mother (my daughter) didn’t think it was a good gift for me. Ashley said, “It will be her favorite gift. I know Nana.”

And she does! I can tell you… I will be head-over-heels for that gift. My granddaughter knows me. She talks to me and she listens when I talk. For any holiday she brings me the most unique gifts that other family members would never dream of giving to a senior. She spends time with me and she knows me better than anyone else.

There is no age-gap for me and Ashley. I have wonderful and adorable and super sweet grandsons and I love them all to pieces. But hey, they’d rather spend time with Papa than Nana.

The Senior in your life is probably not going to tell you what they really want for a Holiday gift.  What they absolutely don’t want is to hurt your feelings.

You have to hear their words and cultivate a relationship with the seniors in your life. Spend time with them, hear them and get acquainted with your senior family members.  Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt, Uncle, etc.

AlzheimersGifts

They might actually be a lot more fun than you think. And if someone in your life has Alzheimer’s or dementia, there is no better time to get to know them than Now. Most folks with dementia can have a normal conversation and they especially love sharing their history with others. Some may not remember everything that was said later, but ohh they will LOVE spending time with someone who is interested in their history.

My MoPurring-Kittym and I use to sit and talk for hours. She told me so many stories from her childhood that I had never heard before.

I learned the history of family members who passed decades before my birth. Learn who you are, where you came from. Believe me, you will carry those memories with you forever.

My Mom loved Baby Dolls and Kitty Cats. She especially loved this “Purring Kitty” from Amazon.

You may learn the kind of music they like, a movie they would enjoy, or a favorite TV series that just happens to show re-runs on Netflix. (Okay, I’m speaking for myself again. But goodness gracious I do like Grace and Frankie on Netflix.)

ROKU Can help to bring those memories into their life. There’s nothing quite as satisfying as watching a loved one rolling in a belly laugh!

A new fad for the younger folks Adult Coloring Books has been a much beloved activity/gift for those with Alzheimer’s for many years. My mom could sit and color for hours. You may enjoy my article about my Mom and her heirloom coloring book along with other fun things seniors like to do.

 Adult Coloring Book: Stress Relief Adult Coloring Book: Butterflies AmazaPens Gel Coloring Pens Melissa & Doug Jenna – 12 Melissa & Doug Primary Lacing Beads Yarn Jamie Mardi Gras Click N’ Play 300-piece Jumbo Checker Rug Game Brunswick Pro Bowling – Nintendo Wii Wii – Play WII Bowling Red Wii Mini Console

These are all ideas. Let your conversations with a senior loved one guide you! And have some fun learning about the senior in your life!

Filed Under: Care Tips, communication, Holidays Tagged With: Communicate with seniors, fun gifts for seniors, gifts for senior, Share with Seniors

Home Tech and Self Care Spotlights National Caregivers Month

11/12Leave a Comment

Home Tech & Self Care in the Spotlight

for National Family Caregivers Month

National Caregivers MonthHome Tech and Self Care is in the Spotlight this National Family Caregivers Month.

As the United States population ages, more and more people will become caregivers.

Currently, 90 million people, or nearly a third of the population, fulfill this challenging role, with 15 million of them providing care services unpaid.

Caregivers primarily provide assistance to the elderly, and the vast majority of seniors want to age comfortably in their own homes. This includes individuals living with Alzheimer’s Disease.

This year’s Conference on Aging called unpaid caregivers the “backbone of long-term services” because nearly two-thirds of seniors depend wholly on caregivers for their needs. Most of the rest depend on a combination of informal caregivers and professional care.

According to the Conference on Aging website, the average caregiver provides about 75 hours of care a month – or over two hours per day. In 2011, they provided care that was worth $234 billion. By contrast, Medicaid paid for $131.4 billion while private organizations covered $24.4 billion. Although Medicare provides medical insurance for 90% of the country’s seniors, it does not cover long-term care. Medicaid does – but there are waiting lists in some states.

Caregivers, however, seldom receive recognition for their services. As their seniors’ conditions worsen, they can lose the ability to communicate and are thus not always able to express their gratitude. Caregivers need to be told that their work matters. They need reassurance and guidance from healthcare professionals to make certain they are doing the right thing.

Most Caregivers are dedicated to the people they help. Yet, too often, Self-care is not an easy matter for them. They need praise and help from friends and family.

In 2012, President Obama proclaimed November to be National Family Caregivers Month. The initiative would honor people who were caring for a disabled or elderly loved one, and it would call attention to the needs of the Caregiver. National Family Caregivers Month always has a different theme each year. This year, it’s “Respite: Care for Caregivers.”

People who care for an elderly or disabled loved one are generally under a great deal of stress and they do not always practice self-care to take care of themselves. This can have a detrimental effect on their health and there have been cases of caregivers dying before their elderly do.

Some organizations and websites do provide help for caregivers. ARCH or Access to Respite Care and Help describes itself as a “resource center and respite network.” It is a database that helps caregivers find support groups and includes information about caring for people with specific disabilities and how-to find funding, in addition to offering webinars and other training resources. The National Alliance for Caregiving is a group of organizations dedicated to easing the lives of caregivers.

They conduct research on the demographics of caregivers and provide information that caregivers can use. AARP, which is generally thought of as being mainly concerned with seniors, also supports caregivers. Last October, the organization launched an initiative called Random Acts of Kindness for Caregivers to encourage the friends and family of caregivers to support them.

There is also an array of technologies to help caregivers in their work. These include wearable devices that contain sensors that monitor items like the patient’s heart rate or body temperature. Many of these also contain trackers that enable a caregiver to keep tabs on their charge’s whereabouts. These devices are often linked to the caregiver’s computer or smartphone and can alert the caregiver if their charge falls or wanders off.

There are smartphones designed for seniors and gadgets to help both caregivers and their charges keep track of medications. Smart security systems monitor seniors and their surroundings and can call for help if need be. These gadgets can make life easier for caregivers and help seniors keep their independence longer.

Author: Beth Kelly is a technology and security blogger, who primarily covers topics pertaining to healthcare tech, energy efficiency, and home security. You can follow her on Twitter at @bkelly_88


Filed Under: Caring for the Caregiver, The Caregiver Tagged With: Caring for the Caregiver, Home Tech and Self Care, Self-Care for Caregivers

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