by Betsy Head on September 27th, 2012
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Home Instead Senior Care is proud to present the September 2012 Making It Personal Award to Sue Nutter, Executive Director with Adult Care Center of Roanoke Valley. Sue has been with the Adult Care Center for eight years and has worked tirelessly to provide the best care possible for its participants, and to bring comfort and security to their caregivers. She is a respected leader in our community, a friend to many, and an unbelievable asset to the senior population. Our hats are off to you, Sue!
by Betsy Head on August 28th, 2012
People with diabetes have the same nutritional needs as everyone else. Eating well balanced meals is the main goal. While a healthy diet and exercise alone can help some with type-2 manage their diabetes, there are many who need medications to help keep blood glucose levels down. Insulin is required for people with type-1, and sometimes necessary for people with type-2 diabetes. With the help of your healthcare team, you can find an insulin routine that will keep your blood glucose levels under control. The good news is: with a proper management plan, you can control your diabetes and feel good.
by Betsy Head on August 27th, 2012
Home Instead Senior Care is proud to present the August 2012 Making It Personal Award to Lori Motley, Activities Coordinator at Valley View Retirement Community in Lynchburg, VA. Lori embodies the concept of the award by selflessly giving of herself to the seniors at Valley View. Lori always plans fun and exciting activities for her residents, but is also always available if one of them is in need. Sometimes it is just to lend an ear. Or it may be to help with a personal problem they may be dealing with. Lori truly gives from the heart in all that she does and not only loves her work, she lives it!
by Betsy Head on August 14th, 2012
Having diabetes increases your risk for developing many serious health problems. But According to the American Diabetes Association, with correct treatment and recommended lifestyle changes, many people with diabetes are able to prevent or delay the onset of complications. The best bet is to manage your diabetes to prevent these problems before they happen.
by Betsy Head on July 31st, 2012
If you are experiencing some of the symptoms of diabetes, or have some risk factors, your doctor may choose to test and monitor you for diabetes or prediabetes, which is the precursor to type-2 diabetes.
If your doctor confirms you have diabetes, you may experience many different emotions and stress. According to the American Diabetes Association, how you perceive this diagnosis will greatly affect how successful your diabetes is managed. When it comes to diabetes, your treatment plan starts with being mentally prepared. You can then go forward with the confidence you need to successfully manage your diabetes.
by Betsy Head on July 17th, 2012
Diabetes often goes undiagnosed, because many of its symptoms seem so harmless. And in many cases, people with type-2 diabetes display no symptoms at all. For both type-1 and type-2 diabetes, there are several symptoms in common. Be sure to pay attention to the signals your body sends, and see your doctor if any of these symptoms start to appear.
by Betsy Head on July 3rd, 2012
Several factors increase your risk of getting diabetes, but diabetes doesn't have to be a given. By incorporating simple preventative measures, you can live a happy, and healthy, life.
by Betsy Head on July 2nd, 2012
Home Instead Senior Care is proud to present the June 2012 "Making It Personal" Award to Michele Daley. Michele has worked with the LOA for fifteen years and, over this time, has proven to be a true champion of the seniors in our community. Some of Michele’s achievements include being the LOA Nutrition Director(which includes being in charge of Meals On Wheels), representing the LOA on the Be A Santa to a Senior committee, and being a member of the Advisory Committee for Volunteer Roanoke Valley. Michele also started “Pets Eat Too”, which involves delivering pet food to Meals On Wheels clients. Michele tirelessly gives her time and effort to make sure our seniors are cared for. Thanks, Michele, for being an inspiration!
by Betsy Head on June 27th, 2012
Keeping track of prescription medications could be a confusing and potentially dangerous task for many seniors. Resources such as the Senior Emergency Kit can help family caregivers stay on top of their loved one’s medications.
Q. My 80-year-old mother, who lives alone, takes a number of medications prescribed by several doctors. What are the risks, and what can I do?
Your mother, like other seniors who take various medications, runs an increased risk of accidental poisoning. According to the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), older patients have complex medication regimens, often involving multiple medications prescribed by several physicians that make them vulnerable to accidental poisonings.
That possibility for error makes communication vital between your mom and all of her doctors. In fact, in 2005, the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations’ (JCAHO) Sentinel Event Database revealed that 63 percent of the reported mediation errors resulting in death or serious injury in hospitals were because of breakdowns in communication. And about half of those could have been avoided through effective medication reconciliation.
Q. My 80-year-old mother, who lives alone, takes a number of medications prescribed by several doctors. What are the risks, and what can I do?
Your mother, like other seniors who take various medications, runs an increased risk of accidental poisoning. According to the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), older patients have complex medication regimens, often involving multiple medications prescribed by several physicians that make them vulnerable to accidental poisonings.
That possibility for error makes communication vital between your mom and all of her doctors. In fact, in 2005, the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations’ (JCAHO) Sentinel Event Database revealed that 63 percent of the reported mediation errors resulting in death or serious injury in hospitals were because of breakdowns in communication. And about half of those could have been avoided through effective medication reconciliation.
Missing dosages presents other problems. An estimated one-third to one-half of all patients in the United States don’t take their medications as prescribed, according to the New England Healthcare Institute (NEHI). Chronic-disease patients who do not consistently take their medications often experience preventable worsening of disease.
Among all patient groups, poor adherence poses an increased risk of hospitalizations, resulting in significant costs. For example, among diabetes patients, those with low levels of adherence have almost twice the annual health-care costs of those with high levels of adherence ($16,498 versus $8,886). According to the NEHI, patients who don’t take their medications properly jeopardize their health as well as put a strain on the health-care system.
Whether accompanying your mother to a doctor’s appointment or in response to a medical crisis, it’s critical to have your loved one's medical information easily and quickly accessible. The Home Instead Senior Care® network worked with Humana Points of Caregiving® to create the Caring for Your Parents: Senior Emergency KitSM, an information management tool and website.
This toolkit and other resources are part of the Answering the Call® program to help you be prepared for these situations. Consider the following tips, from the Answering the Call program, provided by the Home Instead Senior Care network and the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP):
What a Senior Needs to Share With a Doctor:
- Tell your doctor about all the medicines you are already taking. This includes prescription medicines and the medicines you buy without a prescription, such as aspirin, laxatives, vitamin supplements, and home remedies. It’s helpful to take along a written list or go to www.SeniorEmergencyKit.com and fill out a medication tracker form to take along.
- Tell your doctor what is important to you about your medicines. You may want a medicine with fewest side effects, or fewest doses to take each day. If you have trouble swallowing, you may want a liquid form of medicine. You may care most about cost (there may be a generic drug or another lower-cost medicine you can take), or you may want the medicine your doctor believes will work best.
- Tell your doctor if you have any allergies to medications or if you have had any troubling side effects from medicines.
- Tell your doctor if you have any illnesses or problems for which another doctor or health professional is treating you.
- Tell your doctor if you are not taking your medicine as directed. For example, some people may stop taking their medicine, take a lower dose, or skip doses if they are having side effects. Your doctor needs to know about any changes in your treatment plan. Do not let guilty feelings or embarrassment keep you from telling your doctor this important information
Companionship also can be an important safeguard. Medication reminders are one popular and vital service that CAREGiversSM from the local Home Instead Senior Care office provide to seniors. Remind your mom that a second set of eyes can add a measure of security and comfort to her life, and help her maintain her regular routine in her home for as long as possible.
by Betsy Head on June 22nd, 2012
Food poisoning can make people sick at any age, but seniors – many of whom have other conditions or weakened immune systems – are particularly vulnerable. Assisting seniors at home is a good way to ensure an older adult is eating safely.
Q.My 80-year-old father who lives alone got sick the other day and I suspect it could be food poisoning. Are seniors at greater risk for this danger and what can I do to help protect his health?
You'll be interested to know that your question has been posed – and studied – by the medical community as well. Dr. James L. Smith, a microbiologist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, wanted to find out if and why seniors are more at risk for food-borne illness.
So he reviewed data from food-borne outbreaks at nursing homes, and compared the immune and digestive systems of seniors and younger individuals as well as evaluating the overall physical well-being of seniors. What he found is most interesting.
Q.My 80-year-old father who lives alone got sick the other day and I suspect it could be food poisoning. Are seniors at greater risk for this danger and what can I do to help protect his health?
You'll be interested to know that your question has been posed – and studied – by the medical community as well. Dr. James L. Smith, a microbiologist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, wanted to find out if and why seniors are more at risk for food-borne illness.
So he reviewed data from food-borne outbreaks at nursing homes, and compared the immune and digestive systems of seniors and younger individuals as well as evaluating the overall physical well-being of seniors. What he found is most interesting.
Among other things, he discovered that as we age, inflammation of the lining of the stomach increases and a decrease in stomach acid occurs. Because the stomach plays an important role in limiting the number of bacteria that enter the small intestine, a decrease or loss of stomach acidity increases the likelihood of infection if a pathogen is ingested with food or water.
Also adding to the problem is the slow-down of the digestive process, allowing for the rapid growth of pathogens in the gut and the possible formation of toxins.
Seniors' diets and lifestyles also can make them more vulnerable. Malnutrition, for instance, leads to increased incidence of infections, including those that result from food-borne bacteria.
There are many reasons why malnutrition occurs in seniors including a decrease in the pleasure of eating. Medication, digestive disorders, chronic illnesses, physical disabilities or depression may result in a loss of appetite. Good nutrition is an important factor in maintaining a healthy immune system.
Helping seniors buy nutritious food, maintain it properly and cook it safely also are valuable lifestyle factors. Perhaps your father needs assistance. If so, consider discussing with him the option of hiring in-home companionship.
For example, Home Instead Senior Care® employs CAREGiversSM to go into the homes of older adults to assist them with shopping, meal preparation and light housekeeping, tasks that can help ensure that your dad gets a safe and proper diet.
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