Archive for the ‘Elder Abuse’ Category

How to Better Communicate with Someone with Alzheimer’s Disease

Posted on: November 28th, 2011 by aagingbetter

Alzheimer’s disease makes many aspects of life difficult for patients and their family members, but it can make communication a particular point of frustration.  Dementia and Alzheimer’s can make expressing thoughts clearly very difficult, and can cause difficulty understanding others as well. To help communicate clearly with a person with Alzheimer’s, try the following tips:

  • Speak in a “kind” voice – slow, low, and smiling.
  • Always make sure to speak clearly.
  • Orient yourself to the person and call him or her by name.
  • Always approach the person from the front so as not to surprise him or her.
  • Ask one question at a time.
  • Use short words and sentences.
  • Avoid quizzing the person or asking “Do you remember” questions.
  • Focus on the feelings, not the facts. Often, the emotions being expressed are more important.

Know that Alzheimer’s disease can often make communication a negative experience, particularly when the individual cannot recall people or events that were once important.  Remember that this is a side effect of the disease and not something that should be taken personally.  Having worked with many Alzheimer’s patients throughout the years, the caregivers at AAging Better In-Home Care are happy to help you learn better ways to communicate with your loved ones. To learn more about our home care services for Alzheimer’s disease or to schedule a free in-home assessment, contact us or call us at (208) 777-0308 in the Hayden Lake, Coeur d’Alene and Post Falls areas, (208) 263-7889 in the Sandpoint, Bonners Ferry or Priest Lake areas, or (208) 784-1505 in the Kellogg, Pinehurst or Wallace areas.

The subtle signs of elder abuse

Posted on: June 27th, 2011 by aagingbetter

Abuse of a senior is not always physical.  It could also be financial, emotional, sexual or abuse by neglect.  How do you recognize the signs of abuse if a senior is unwilling or unable to report it?  Here are a few of the ways:

Physical: Look for unexplained signs of injury such as bruises, welts, scars, or other signs of being restrained, or things such as broken eyeglasses.  Also be aware of a caregiver’s refusal to allow the senior to be seen alone.

Emotional: Watch for threatening, belittling, or controlling behavior from caregivers that are stressed out or show signs of increasing stress.  Also watch for behavior from the senior that mimics dementia, such as rocking, lip sucking, or mumbling to oneself.

Sexual: Take note of any bruises around the breasts or genitals, unexplained venereal disease or genital infections, unexplained vaginal or anal bleeding and torn, stained, or bloody underclothing.

Neglect: Is the senior experiencing unusual weight loss or dehydration, untreated physical problems, such as bed sores, unsanitary living conditions or being left dirty?

Financial: Warning signs include significant withdrawals from the elder’s accounts, items or cash missing from the senior’s household, suspicious changes in wills, power of attorney, titles, and policies, or addition of names to the senior’s signature card.  Also watch for financial activity the senior couldn’t have done, such as an ATM withdrawal when the account holder is bedridden.

To help protect against any form of elder abuse, we recommend that you utilize the services of a reliable, established private duty agency.  Not only can a private duty agency like AAging Better In-Home Care provide you with a caregiver to offer traditional respite care and other in-home care services, it can also coordinate community services when needed.

For more information about our services or anything relating to elder abuse, contact us or call AAging Better at (208) 777-0308 in the Coeur d’Alene/Post Falls/Hayden areas, (208) 263-7889 in the Sandpoint/Priest River/Bonners Ferry areas, or (208) 784-1505 in the Kellogg/Pinehurst/Wallace areas.

Senior scams to watch out for

Posted on: June 13th, 2011 by aagingbetter

Elder financial abuse costs older Americans more than $2.6 billion per year and comes in a wide variety of guises.  With many financial scams, the biggest red flag warning is being asked to send or give someone money.  Even worse is a request that you provide them with confidential financial information which then allows the scammer to gain access to your credit card or bank account.  If you or your elderly loved ones are ever asked for personal financial information by someone you aren’t familiar with, beware!  It is almost always a scam to get your confidential information which could end up costing you or your loved ones significant grief.  Here are some other things to watch out for:

Whether in mailings or on the phone, be aware of:

• A promise to win money, make money, or borrow money easily;

• A demand to act immediately or else miss out on a great opportunity;

• A refusal to send written information before you agree to buy or donate;

• An attempt to scare you or your loved one into buying something;

• Insistence on wiring money or having a courier pick up a payment; and,

• A refusal to stop calling after being asked not to call again.

Did you know?

• It’s illegal for companies that operate contests or sweepstakes to ask one to pay to enter or claim a prize or even suggest that chances of winning will improve if there is a purchase.

• It’s illegal for telemarketers to ask for a fee upfront to help get a loan if they guarantee or strongly imply that the loan will be made.

• There is no reason to give a credit card number or bank account number to a telemarketer unless a payment is actually being made with that account.

• If payment is required before getting detailed information about the offer, it’s probably a scam.

Here are three easy ways to reduce victimization of seniors:

Ask companies with whom business is done not to share personal information with other marketers.

Use a service such as Tonic Mailstopper (http://mailstopper.tonic.com) to stop junk mail from being delivered.

Know the “Do-Not-Call” rights. Under federal law, a telemarketer can be instructed not to call a number again.  Call 1-888-382-1222 or register online at www.donotcall.gov.

For further information on how to protect against elder abuse (or to obtain respite care or daily in-home care services), please call AAging Better In-Home Care at (208) 777-0308 in the Coeur d’Alene/Post Falls/Hayden areas, (208) 263-7889 in the Sandpoint/Priest River/Bonners Ferry areas or (208) 784-1505 in the Kellogg/Pinehurst/Wallace areas.  Or click on the “Contact Us” tab at the top of the website for an immediate reply via e-mail.

Is Your Loved One Vulnerable to Family Elder Abuse?

Posted on: June 6th, 2011 by aagingbetter

According to a 1998 National Elder Abuse Incidence study funded by the Administration on Aging, in 90 percent of known cases of elder abuse and neglect, the perpetrators were family members, and of those, about 75 percent were adult children or spouses.  The first step to protecting you or your loved ones from elder abuse is to become familiar with the risk factors, many of which are described here:

Dependency: If a senior is dependent on others for care, especially if he or she really likes the person providing the care, they may be reluctant to speak up about or report any abuse because of a feeling of dependency on the abuser.  This is particularly true if the caregiver is a family member. Similarly, if the caregiver is dependent upon the senior for financial assistance, housing or other forms of support, perhaps due to personal issues including mental illness, alcohol or drug abuse, there is a higher risk for elder abuse.

Decreased health and mobility of the senior: This can cause significant strain on a caregiver, especially if there is no break from providing the care.  Essentially, there is no time for the caregiver to “recharge”.  Also, seniors who have dementia may not be capable of verbalizing the abuse to report it, making them especially vulnerable.

Caregiver stress: Few family members are fully prepared for the ongoing, long-term care requirements for an aging loved one.  It is almost always a very demanding job.  Caregiving requirements, pressures from a job and other family demands can lead to caregiver burnout, which often results in frustration, fatigue and frayed tempers.  The end point of all this, although unintentional, can be neglect and abuse of the elderly or disabled individual.

This end point can be prevented by providing the family caregiver with the break he or she needs while ensuring loved ones still receive the attention they deserve.  Giving the caregiver a “respite” from constantly caring for an elderly parent or a disabled child is the key to maintaining healthy relationships–and the health of both caregiver and the one being cared for.  If you are ever in a position where you suspect neglect or abuse, report it immediately to local authorities such as the police or Area Agency on Aging (AAA).  The AAA can be reached at 1-800-786-5536.

AAging Better In-Home Care has trained, professional and compassionate caregivers who can provide much needed “respite” to an overtaxed caregiver.  Contact us or call us today at (208) 777-0308 in the Coeur d’Alene/Post Falls/Hayden areas,  (208) 263-7889 for the Sandpoint/Priest River/Bonners Ferry areas,  or (208) 784-1505 in the Kellogg/Pinehurst/Wallace areas for help or more information on our Respite Service program.

 
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