Archive for the ‘In-Home Care’ Category

Understanding and Fighting Fatigue from MS

Posted on: May 7th, 2012 by aagingbetter

Encouraging medical news came out recently when the results of a three-year study of a new multiple sclerosis (MS) drug found that patients who received the drug early in treatment, and three times a week, were less likely to be diagnosed with definite MS compared to those who received the placebo.  Researchers around the globe are eager to find a medical treatment that cures or better reduces the fatigue and other symptoms of MS.

The exact mechanism of MS fatigue is not known, but studies suggest that changes in the brain caused by MS may require persons with MS to use five times more effort to complete a simple task than a person without MS.  There are steps one can take to fight fatigue and increase energy.

Nutrition

  • Most nutrition should be consumed during the morning and noontime meals.
  • Drink plenty of liquids–at least five 8-oz glasses of water per day, along with other forms of liquids, such as coffee, tea, soda (limit of one, possibly two, cans per day), fruit juices, etc.
  • Eat whole foods such as fresh fruits and veggies and avoid simple carbohydrates.  Eat cereals that are minimally processed and have lower sugar content, whole-grain items like pastas and breads made from whole-wheat, cereals made with whole oats and grains, and avoid white flour products made with highly processed flour, such as donuts and pastries.
  • Eat at least two fish meals per week, 4-6 eggs per week unless there is a history of high cholesterol problems, and add a variety of beans to weekly meals– they’re high in iron and protein and have been known to help fight the fatigue that is so common to MS.

Exercise

  • Maintain a regular exercise program–a 20-30 minute walk at least every other day (maintain a brisk pace, if possible), swimming, bike riding, cross-trainer or other gym equipment, as tolerated.
  • Stay out of the heat, where possible, and consider using a cooling vest if hot weather is unavoidable.  Try activities that keep the body cooler, like swimming or exercising in an air-conditioned environment.

Ask for Help

  • Spend energy on what matters and bring in reinforcements like a family member for tasks that are difficult or over-taxing to accomplish.
  • If family is unavailable, consider a few hours a day of practical assistance from a professional caregiver who is trained in MS care, such as an agency like AAging Better In-Home Care.

Our experienced caregivers are available to help individuals deal with the symptoms of MS.  Keeping up a home can be overwhelming to those with moderate or severe MS and our employees are trained in house cleaning, assisting with bathing or dressing, assisting with medications, where necessary, or helping with the grocery shopping when needed.  Contact us online or call 208-777-0308 for the Post Falls, Coeur d’Alene, Hayden areas; 208-263-7889 for the Sandpoint, Bonners Ferry, or Priest River areas; and 208-784-1505 for the Kellogg, Wallace, Pinehurst areas. We will be happy to outline how our in-home caregivers can help make a person with MS feel more enabled, motivated and connected to others.

*Sources for this Blog: National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Ezine Articles, MS Gateway, Everyday Health

 

[o1]Link to contact page

What sort of training is typical of a geriatric care manager?

Posted on: April 23rd, 2012 by aagingbetter

Knowing the credentials of a geriatric care manager (GCM) or geriatric agency can also help explain how a GCM or agency will advocate on behalf of your loved one.  Geriatric care agencies and managers are trained and experienced in one or more fields related to health and long-term care options, including, but not limited to:

  • Nursing
  • Gerontology (the field of elderly, over 65 year olds)
  • Social work
  • Psychology, with a specialized focus on issues related to aging and elder care

Plus, professional geriatric care managers and agencies have a combined working knowledge of:

  • Human development
  • Health and psychology
  • Family dynamics
  • Public and private resources and funding sources

Besides older adults and their families, geriatric care management services are appropriate for:

  • A company whose employee is losing work time because of caregiving responsibilities
  • An attorney or trust officer who is managing the estate of an older adult and that elderly individual needs in-home care to remain safely and effectively at home
  • A physician who recommends in-home assistance or monitoring
  • A clergy who would like to arrange assistance for an older adult

Care management embraces a comprehensive range of services, and the role of the care manager or home-care agency manager is multifaceted.  To learn more about geriatric care management services from the perspective of an in-home care agency, contact us at 208-777-0308 in the Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls (Main Office) or Hayden Lake areas; at 208-263-7889 in the Sandpoint, Bonners Ferry or Priest River areas; or 208-784-1505 in the Kellogg, Wallace or Pinehurst areas. We serve the greater Coeur d’Alene area and the five northern counties of Idaho.  If you or your loved one needs assistance in the home, we would be privileged to care for them.

 

 

What You Need to Know When Hiring a Geriatric Care Manager

Posted on: April 16th, 2012 by aagingbetter

At AAging Better, we’ve made selecting a geriatric care manager easy—by listing the tough questions you need answers to.  Reputable geriatric care manager agencies should be able to outline and answer the following questions:

  • Which organizations do they belong to?
    • Idaho Association of Home Care Agencies?
    • National Private Duty Association?
    • American Society on Aging?
    • Gerontological Society of America?
    • National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers?
    • National Council on Aging?
    • What are the fees for their services?
      • Do they charge for an initial assessment?
      • Will there be an ongoing hourly fee or a one-time retainer fee?
      • What additional fees will apply, if any?
      • Are there any discounts or reduced fees available?
      • How often will they bill me or my loved ones?
      • Are they available to begin services now?  If not, how long is the waiting list?
      • Are caregivers or management available outside of normal business hours, if needed?
      • Is there a backup caregiver when the initial one is not available?
      • What does the agency consider an emergency or crisis?  When an emergency occurs, what is the company’s procedure to handle it?
      • How are caregivers supervised by management?

Once you have a good sense of the agency’s background and operating style, now you need to ask if this particular agency has the type of skilled caregivers you would like to have take care of you or have in the home with one of your loved ones.  Is the agency and the assigned caregiver a good “fit” for you or your family member.  You might consider the following questions:

  • Does this agency and the assigned caregiver/s appear interested in meeting my needs or the needs of my loved one?
  • Does the agency manager appear knowledgeable about the services available in the area my loved one lives?
  • Did the agency or their care manager return my call/s promptly?
  • Could I work well with this person?
  • Can I trust this person with sensitive and confidential information?

To learn more about geriatric care management services, contact us at 208-777-0308 in the Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls (Main Office) or Hayden Lake areas; at 208-263-7889 in the Sandpoint, Bonners Ferry or Priest River areas; or 208-784-1505 in the Kellogg, Wallace, or Pinehurst areas. We serve the greater Coeur d’Alene area and the five northern counties of Idaho.  Regardless of where you live in North Idaho, we have caregivers living right in your area to care for you or your loved ones.

 

 

Does Hiring a Geriatric Care Manager Make Sense?

Posted on: April 9th, 2012 by aagingbetter

Hiring a geriatric care manager will make your life or the life of your loved one easier, but when does it make the most sense?  When considering whether or not the services of a professional geriatric care manager are needed, consider the following questions:

  1. Are the senior’s issues becoming more numerous and complex than can be comfortably managed by you or another family member?
  2. Are other family needs and responsibilities getting in the way of providing the desired level of supervision and attention to the loved one or frail elderly relative?
  3. Are care responsibilities interfering with your paid employment?
  4. Are you or the current caregiver unable to provide the desired level of care and supervision due to your own health issues or other reasons?
  5. Are you or the current caregiver finding it difficult to coordinate all medical appointments and fulfill all documentation requirements?
  6. Are you or other family caregivers finding it difficult to manage the senior’s finances and/or household chores/responsibilities, such as getting a new roof, maintaining the grounds, keeping the loved one’s care maintained, etc.?
  7. Are care decisions and questions causing conflict and disagreement within the family or among the responsible parties?
  8. Is more knowledge of appropriate and applicable resources desired (community resources, state and federal programs, like Medicaid or Medicare, and alternate living arrangements, etc.)?
  9. Does the senior require services that family and friends do not have the time, skill or inclination to provide?
  10. Does the family live far away from the senior requiring care, say, in another state or across the United States?

If the answers to three or more of the above questions are, “Yes”, a professional geriatric care manager could be very beneficial for the situation.  Federal agencies, such as the Area Agency on Aging for northern Idaho, fulfills some of this type of service for families by providing an “Options Counselor.”  This individual can be reached at 208-667-3179 in Coeur d’Alene, or at 1-800-786-5536 for those calling from outside the area.  She has guided families since 2006 through the maze of options available to North Idaho residents and has helped them find the right resources when needed.

To learn more about geriatric care management services and what AAging Better can offer you or your loved one in staying safely and effectively at home, contact us online or by calling 208-777- -0308 in the Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls (Main Office) or Hayden areas; at 208-263-7889 in the  Sandpoint, Bonners Ferry or Priest River areas; or 208-784-1505 in the Kellogg, Wallace or Pinehurst area.  We serve the greater Coeur d’Alene area and the five northern counties of Idaho.

 

 

Getting to Know: Geriatric Care Managers

Posted on: April 2nd, 2012 by aagingbetter

Are you in charge of your loved one’s care?  Managing finances and hiring new services to make living at home possible for aging or frail elderly relatives can be overwhelming for most family members. Many simply don’t know where to turn to seek advice or find a supportive advocate for their aging loved one.  Professional geriatric care managers (GCMs) are an excellent resource in these situations.  GCMs work with families to design and manage a care plan that suits each senior with services such as:

  • Care planning assessments to identify needs, problems and eligibility for assistance, such as Medicaid or possibly Medicare, if the individual’s physician orders specific Medicare-covered home services.
  • Mediation between siblings or family members who cannot agree on the type of care the loved one needs or should have.  Unfortunately, this type of situation is not uncommon among family members with strong opinions about their parent or loved one.
  • Communication and coordination efforts across all medical and other care providers.  A good example of this would be coordinating appointments between doctor’s offices, physical therapists, nutritionists, occupational therapists, social workers, etc.
  • Act as a liaison for families at a distance, reporting back with any adjustments in care or financial issues.  When a son or daughter is trying to set up home care or other appointments from another state, a GCM can be invaluable in coordinating much of that work for the son or daughter and then reporting the results back to him or her.
  • Client and family education on management of diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, MS, heart disease and diabetes.
  • Information on costs, quality and availability of local resources, connecting to specialists when needed or helping family members make a determination of which agency or resource to use based on ratings, reputation or performance feedback.
  • Screening, arranging and monitoring in-home help or other services.
  • Containing costs by avoiding inappropriate placements in such institutions as Assisted Living Facilities, nursing homes, etc., or duplication of services, and crisis intervention to avoid hospitalizations.

Payment for geriatric care management services is generally out of pocket, invoiced by the hour or by the project.  These types of services are not covered by Medicaid, Medicare or most private health insurance policies.  However, some services may be billable to long-term care insurance if the loved one has such a policy.  In that case, the insurance representative that sold the policy to the parent or loved one would be able to tell the family member exactly what the policy covers and what it doesn’t when it comes to in-home care.  Checking with this individual first before making too many decisions for a parent or frail relative could save the family a lot of money out of their own pockets.  Insurance policies seldom pay after the fact.  All services must be pre-approved by the insurance company before any in-home services are started.

If you are concerned about the care of a loved one, or would just like further information on geriatric care managers in our area, contact us online or call us at 208-777-0308 in the Coeur d’Alene, Hayden or Post Falls (Main Office) area; at 208-263-7889 in the Sandpoint, Bonners Ferry or Priest River area; or 208-784-1505 in the Kellogg, Wallace or Pinehurst area.  We serve the greater Coeur d’Alene area and all five North Idaho counties.

 

AAging Better In-Home Care Supports National Diabetes Awareness

Posted on: March 26th, 2012 by aagingbetter

You may have seen Paula Deen, restaurateur, author and Food Network star known for her Southern cooking in the news recently.  She admitted to her TV audience and fans that she had been diagnosed with diabetes many months ago and since then has helped raise awareness about the disease.  Known as the “Queen of Butter,” Deen, 65, now fits in among the startling findings of a recent study that has found the majority of the diabetic population in the United States to be 65 years or older–and overweight.   This percentage is projected to increase to 53% by 2025 and to 58% by 2050.

Still, diabetes is not always recognized or diagnosed quickly when it comes to elderly patients.  They don’t often recognize the beginning symptoms of diabetes (undue thirst, frequent urination, unexplained weight loss) until these things become significant and they finally seek out medical help for the symptoms.  By then, the elderly individual may have other complications caused by high blood sugar that could significantly impact their quality of life.

For those elderly or frail individuals with recent diagnoses of diabetes who wish to remain in the comfort of their own homes while they begin to manage their disease, home care agencies such as AAging Better can help these patients optimize their health and well-being.  It is one of the most common reasons people call agencies such as ours.  And as hospitals shorten lengths of stay for virtually all patients in an effort to cut their costs, more and more frail diabetic individuals are turning to home care agencies to help them with the chores required to keep a home clean and running properly.

The following are some of the benefits of having an experienced home care agency help with the activities of daily living:

  • Provide diabetes management education and better care compliance by ensuring proper meal preparation, buying the right types of foods for the diabetic and reminding the client to take their medications as directed, on time.
  • Reduce the amount of stress in a client’s life by maintaining a well-kept house, doing the cleaning and the laundry, or driving the client to doctor’s appointments or out for shopping.
  • Save healthcare dollars by keeping clients in their own homes rather than being placed in a nursing home or other facility.
  • Promote ongoing strategies to improve the patient’s quality of life, such as, help find a diabetic support group, oversee physical therapy exercises at home or keep the client engaged with any community resources designed specifically for diabetics.

Further, external environmental stressors can be reduced by having a home care agency coordinate other services as needed, such as those provided by:

  • A physical therapist
  • Social workers
  • Community programs
  • Physician specialists

If this sounds like you or a loved one could use these services to help better maintain good diabetic control, consider AAging Better In-Home Care’s experienced staff and caregivers.  We would be happy to help in any way.  For more information, contact us at (208) 777-0308 in the Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls or Hayden areas; (208) 263-7889 in the Sandpoint, Bonners Ferry or Priest River areas; or (208) 784-1505 in the Kellogg, Wallace or Pinehurst areas.

Home Care is Helpful Care for Those with Diabetes

Posted on: March 19th, 2012 by aagingbetter

Earlier in this month’s blogs, it was pointed out that neglecting to care for your diabetes, or your loved one’s diabetic needs, could lead to serious complications such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetic coma or amputated limbs.  AAging Better In-Home Care provides support, in-home care solutions and ways to remain upbeat and healthy with the proper care and help from well-trained caregivers.

With an AAging Better In-Home Care caregiver at your side or caring for you loved one:

  • Obtain the right information and repeat education on proper diabetic care.  You may have been told about your diabetes when you were first diagnosed but it takes continued education to stay abreast of new developments in diabetic care and learning how to properly care for the disease.
  • Avoid situations that could disrupt a care schedule.  We can’t always predict what each day will bring but certainly planning a day’s activities or chores in advance help keep you on track with medications, diet and exercise.
  • Speaking of exercise, always try to do it with a buddy or a caregiver being present to avoid excuses for not exercising or in the event of an injury.  Someone will be there to assist you if that should occur.
  • Uncover depression or other emotional concerns over having diabetes and the limitations if brings.  Just recognizing that you’re now in a new phase of your life often helps to face the challenges, limitations and changes that happen over time to your body.  Seeking professional counseling or joining a diabetic support group can work wonders in keeping things upbeat and realistic.

As you consider your disease or your loved one’s diagnosis, try and reframe daily care into easily recognizable benefits.  It’s a proven fact that proper care and good diabetic control helps prevent the serious complications of the disease.  But if the threat of significant complications is not enough to stay on track with meds, diet and exercise, you might also consider other benefits that would better influence quality care.  Just one example is that proper care can result in the ability to more easily enjoy hobbies and interests.  And have a longer, healthier lifetime to enjoy your loved ones!

If you or a loved one needs help with diabetic care management, AAging Better’s experienced staff and caregivers are happy to help you carry out the care plan your doctor or nutritionist created for you and assist with all your care needs. From receiving insulin injections by one of our nurses, to assisting with the activities of daily living, our agency is here to help you or your loved one.

For more information, contact us online or by calling (208) 777-0308 in the Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls or Hayden areas; (208) 263-7889 in the Sandpoint, Bonners Ferry or Priest River areas; or (208) 784-1505 in the Kellogg, Wallace or Pinehurst areas.  We’re here to help you 24-hours a day, seven days-a-week.

Diabetes Self-Care Measures Made Easier with an In-Home Caregiver

Posted on: March 12th, 2012 by aagingbetter

Diabetes care requires a high level of mental function, given the need to follow a treatment plan that includes diet, exercise, and medication components as well as blood sugar testing and other self-care measures.  While it may not be intentional, seniors who skip care steps may experience a quick decline in health with additional complications linked to diabetes.

If you are concerned that you or a loved one may need help keeping up with diabetes care, consider getting the services of an in-home care agency that can provide a well-trained caregiver to assist.  Here are a few ways a caregiver can help:

  • A senior with reduced vision may not see a small foot sore that could quickly develop into a major problem.  The agency caregiver can inspect the diabetic’s feet daily, provide proper wound care and can coordinate care with the physician’s office to ensure the client’s feet are kept appropriately healthy.  This is a common condition AAging Better sees in many of its clients and trains its caregivers on the latest information for diabetic foot care.
  • An in-home caregiver can help ensure the client receives proper nutrition through the planning and preparation of tasty, diabetic-appropriate meals.  Again, this is a critical service AAging Better caregivers are well-trained in.
  • An in-home caregiver can assist with a physician-approved or physical therapist approved exercise program.  AAging Better’s caregivers frequently work with doctor’s offices and physical therapists’ instructions to ensure the client appropriately and correctly performs the exercises as outlined by these professionals.
  • A caregiver can provide reminders for glucose testing and can schedule regular physician checkups.  Reminding clients it’s time to test their blood sugar or take their medications is one of the most frequent services in-home care agency caregivers provide and all AAging Better employees must take and successfully pass a course called “Assistance with Medications” before being allowed to work in a home where they will be assisting clients with this function.

A little extra assistance from a compassionate caregiver can provide mental and physical stress relief for diabetic seniors at home.  AAging Better’s experienced staff and caregivers are happy to help you determine the right care plan and assist with your care needs.  For more information, contact us at (208) 777-0308 in the Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls or Hayden areas; (208) 263-7889 in the Sandpoint, Bonners Ferry or Priest River areas; or (208) 784-1505 in the Kellogg, Wallace or Pinehurst areas.

High-Tech Care Coordination for In-Home Care

Posted on: February 20th, 2012 by aagingbetter

If aging in place is part of your senior loved one’s long-term care plan, you want to ensure that he or she can remain at home safely.  Adding newer technology options to your plan can help you coordinate care and maintain a safe environment even when a family or professional caregiver is absent.  There are a number of older and newer devices that can help family members monitor their loved ones at home, such as the following:

  • Web cams & sensor systems like the AttentiveCare and AT&T Remote Monitor systems provide an inside look at the home, so family members or “call center” can watch for any potential accidents an elderly or disabled individual might have at home.  The sensor systems can also send alerts to the appropriate monitoring parties when doors or windows are opened–or even when water is leaking from a faucet in the monitored home.
  • Emergency response pendants like those provided by KMC’s LifeLine program and others give seniors a sense of safety, knowing they can call for help at the push of a button if they fall or otherwise need assistance.  Emergency responders are quick to respond to the call.
  • Telehealth monitors collect readings for a patient’s weight, blood pressure, and other physiological measurements without having to make a doctor’s appointment.  Again, the readings are automatically transmitted to a “call center” that collects the data and forwards the information on to doctor’s offices or other appropriate responders.
  • Automatic pill dispensers remind patients to take their medications by voice message, text, and/or flashing lights, and dispense the right dose at the right time.  Many can even call the family caregiver in the event that the patient misses a dose.

The health care industry has made great strides in technology for in-home care clients over the past decade.  For more information on how to coordinate a loved one’s care at home, contact us or call AAging Better In-Home Care at (208) 777-0308 in the Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls or Hayden areas, (208) 263-7889 in the Sandpoint, Bonners Ferry or Priest River areas, or (208) 784-1505 in the Kellogg, Wallace or Pinehurst areas.

Planning for Long-Term Care: Things to Consider

Posted on: February 13th, 2012 by aagingbetter

As individuals age, the ability to perform certain everyday activities usually begins to falter in the sixth or seventh decades of life, often to the point that extra assistance in maintaining a home or personal needs become essential to remain safely at home.  For family members, understanding the care needs of older loved ones and what is involved with different levels of care is an important first step in coordinating a long-term care plan.   The activities of daily living (ADLs) are often the first items of care that an elderly person will require help with.  Traditionally, these include but are not limited to:

  • Assistance with Bathing
  • Assistance with Dressing
  • Assistance with Grooming or Personal hygiene
  • Exercise
  • Walking, transfers and repositioning
  • Meal planning and preparation
  • Housekeeping–cleaning and laundry

Other non-medical services that may need to be included in a “Plan of Care” for the elderly or disabled individuals are companionship services, as well as respite services that are designed to provide relief and “a break” for a family caregiver who may be caring for a loved one.  In-home care agencies, like AAging Better In-Home Care, are valuable resources for families to consult and discuss what services or accommodations might be needed.  Our agency provides a free in-home assessment to determine the care requirements of each new client and then works closely with the client or family member/s to develop a Plan of Care, provide guidance along the way, and implement and monitor continuing care and services.  As industry experts, in-home care agencies know how to maximize available resources to assure that all needs are met and that the care provided at home ensures a safe, comfortable, and enjoyable environment for the loved one.

At AAging Better, we take pride in helping families coordinate long-term care for their aging loved ones.  To find out more about our services, contact us online or call us at (208) 777-0308 in the Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls or Hayden areas, (208) 263-7889 in the Sandpoint, Bonners Ferry or Priest River areas, or (208) 784-1505 in the Kellogg, Wallace or Pinehurst areas.

 

 

 
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