When my mother started to struggle living independently at home, without too much thought we decided that an assisted living facility would be the best place for her, so she could receive the care that she needs around the clock. Back then, there were few other senior care options, and it was just the thing that was done. Due to early onset Alzheimer’s, my mom was in the assisted living facilty from a young age; and after 20 years of trying to find the best care option for my mom in Phoenix I’ve come to learn that it’s a good thing the care industry has evolved, because some assisted living facilities need extra help caring for their clients.

In the early days at the Phoenix assisted living facility, my mom needed limited assistance; her living arrangement was more with her safety in mind. However, years later, I was shocked when the facility called me to say, essentially, that due to limited resources, my mother’s care had been neglected. When speaking with the Director of the care facility, I learned that as my mother’s needs increased, and she began to need assistance with simple tasks like toileting and bathing; they just weren’t willing or able to get to her frequently enough to help her. Their claim was that with more than a dozen patients assigned to each assisted living care provider, they didn’t have the resources to spend their whole day cleaning up after my mom.

As a result, we were forced to hire a private, professional caregiver to supplement her care so that her needs were always looked after immediately. While the experience with the professional caregiver was fabulous, I should have hired her sooner.

Sources:
1. American Geriatric Society

Greater Phoenix Assisted Living Alternative & Central Phoenix Assisted Living Alternative helps elders and seniors in Phoenix remain at home safely and independently. Call us today at 623-583-5868, 602.265.8228 or 480-991-3959.

Often people turn to assisted living homes in Phoenix, AZ., because they know an elderly loved one needs help but they want to steer clear of traditional nursing homes due to the reputation of abuse and neglect.

Adult children believe that private home care may offer more care for the senior in their life. Unfortunately, as a result of choosing to forgo senior home care in exchange for an assisted living facility, seniors compromise their health and safety, and sometimes their lives due to errors in managing and dispensing medications.

Mistakes can happen, but mistakes with medication have much more serious consequences, which can often lead to death in seniors. According to statistics, 1 in 5 assisted living facilities or nursing homes have been cited due to errors in dispensing incorrect medications, following prescription orders, or ensure that seniors take their medication. Families think they’re paying assisted living facilities for simple services, like overseeing and monitoring medications; but what can occur are health issues.

Help protect your aging parent in an assisted living facility by hiring a private caregiver to make sure that their crucial elements of care do not become neglected. Or opt out a facility and choose in home senior care in Phoenix by hiring a private caregiver. By making this choice, you can ensure your senior will remain happy and healthy.

Sources:
1. MAPharm.com http://www.mapharm.com/med_error_elder.htm
2. USAToday.com http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/health/2004-05-24-assisted-living-cover_x.htm By Kevin McCoy and Barbara Hansen

Greater Phoenix Assisted Living Alternative & Central Phoenix Assisted Living Alternative helps elders and seniors in Phoenix remain at home safely and independently. Call us today at 623-583-5868, 602.265.8228 or 480-991-3959.

Q – My mother recently decided to formalize her will and get her estate in order and has asked me if she can name me as estate executor on her will. I’m open to taking responsibility for her affairs after her death, but I don’t know much about the process. What are the responsibilities of an estate executor in Phoenix?

A – While it’s not uncommon for adult children to be appointed estate executors for their aging parents because there is already a strong element of trust in the relationship; you should first know that it won’t be an easy job. If your mother’s affairs are in good order, the estate executor process itself could go smoothly, but dealing with the emotional repercussions of losing a parent while managing all the responsibility can be a challenge. But, if you are sure you’re up to the job, here is a lists of tasks you may be responsible for carrying out:

• Beginning the probate process – filing the will and petition for probate. Specific probate laws apply for the process in Phoenix and may vary between states.

• Notifying the family – close family members can be notified that their loved one has deceased.

• Obtaining death certificates and EIN (Federal tax number for the estate)

• Determining and collecting the deceased assets (locating documents that verify value of the estate and make an inventory list)

• Letting people know who the executor is – family members and friends with claims will need to get in touch with the estate executor

• Managing the property of the estate – paying bills, taxes and other legalities

• Settle Finances – filing income tax returns on behalf of the deceased

• Distributing assets – distribute assets to those named on the will

• Be removed as executor – once the estate is settled, petition the courts to be removed as executor

Sources:
1. Third Age Alan S. Novik
2. AFSP

Greater Phoenix Assisted Living Alternative & Central Phoenix Assisted Living Alternative helps elders and seniors in Phoenix remain at home safely and independently. Call us today at 623-583-5868, 602.265.8228 or 480-991-3959.

Q – I live in Phoenix and am a huge fan of Dancing with the Stars. I’m in my late 70’s and have thought about ballroom dancing as a fun activity now that I’m retired, but is it safe for people my age?

A – Older Dancing with the Stars contestants like Cloris Leachman have the right idea; not only is ballroom dancing your way through retirement safe, if you’re careful, there are many proven health benefits–including some that you wouldn’t expect. Try to find a safe, supervised environment where you learn how to ballroom dance with the assistance of a dance instructor. In Phoenix, senior centers, community centers, or local dance studios may offer ballroom dancing instruction for people who are retired which take into consideration special health needs of the older demographic. Try to limit ballroom dancing to about 5 minutes of warm up, followed by a 20 minute dance routine.

The benefits you will receive from ballroom dancing as a senior will not only affect your body through better cardiovascular health, weight maintenance, and improved flexibility, but it’s an activity ideal for seniors since there are also benefits to the mind. According to a study by the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, seniors over the age of 75 who ballroom dance also have lower occurances of Alzheimer’s and dementia!

Sources:

1. Senior Advocate
2. SeniorJournal

Greater Phoenix Assisted Living Alternative & Central Phoenix Assisted Living Alternative helps elders and seniors in Phoenix remain at home safely and independently. Call us today at 623-583-5868, 602.265.8228 or 480-991-3959.

Q – I suspect that my elderly grandfather, who has an elder care provider assisting him in his home in Phoenix might be a victim of home care negligence. He doesn’t seem to get along with his caregiver and is reluctant to look her in the eyes. I don’t want to make a big deal out of nothing, so what are the signs I can look for to determine if he’s a victim of negligence?

A – If you believe that your father in Phoenix might be a victim of negligence, or doesn’t get along with his caregiver. Don’t hesitate to talk to the caregiving agency about your suspicions and request another elder care expert to provide home care services. However, if you want to justify your concerns, there are other signs that could indicate your father is being neglected.

• Sudden changes in his behavior, such as becoming more withdrawn, depressed or angry

• Physical injuries like bruises, scrapes, cuts, or even broken bones

• The home care provider not allowing seniors to spend time alone with family members for fear something might be revealed

• Pressure sores or signs that restraints have been used

• Sudden, inexplicable weight loss in the senior

Sources:

1. Care Home Negligence

2. EZine Articles

Greater Phoenix Assisted Living Alternative & Central Phoenix Assisted Living Alternative helps elders and seniors in Phoenix remain at home safely and independently. Call us today at 623-583-5868, 602.265.8228 or 480-991-3959.

Q – I am an elder care provider, and have a care recipient in Phoenix who has a history of strokes in his family. Since his risk of having a stroke is higher, is there anything I can do to help lower the likelihood that he will have stroke?

A – Since naturally there is no way to change your care recipient’s family history, it’s fortunate that simple changes to lifestyle and diet can reduce a senior’s risk of having a stroke. As a caregiver in Phoenix, there are a number of things that you can do to directly impact the likelihood that your senior will have a stroke, and a number of other things you can help with by offering support and encouragement.

How Caregivers Can Help Prevent Strokes:

•    Prepare healthy meals for the senior that are low in salt and saturated fats
•    Plan meals based on their specific healthy living needs – serve lower-cholesterol foods and adjust meals for those who struggle with high cholesterol
•    Engage in activities daily that keep the senior active – go for a walk around the neighborhood or to the park, or try more vigorous exercise if your senior has the physical capabilities
•    Ensure alcohol served with meals is done so in moderation, since excessive drinking can increase the risk of a stroke

Stroke Prevention Through Encouragement:

•    Encourage a senior to understand their health, including stroke risk factors like high cholesterol, diabetes, circulation problems or atrial fibrillation by visiting a doctor
•    Encourage a senior to quit smoking
•    Be on the look out for signs of a stroke!

1.    Healing Daily
2.    BBC Health

Greater Phoenix Assisted Living Alternative & Central Phoenix Assisted Living Alternative helps elders and seniors in Phoenix remain at home safely and independently. Call us today at 623-583-5868, 602.265.8228 or 480-991-3959.

What would you do if you had an elderly parent with an addiction?

No one seems to suspect that senior citizens are at risk for drug addiction, but currently approximately 17% of people over the age of 60 abuse prescription medication, and many have adult children who are wondering: “what do we do?” People have preconceptions about what defines an addict, but age and pharmacueticals don’t discriminate.

The elderly who face depression, illness, and various ailments are more likely to become reliant upon their prescriptions and face withdrawal once they try to stop taking them. Addiction doesn’t mean you needlessly take medications; many seniors legitimately require pain killers to cope with Arthritis or sedatives to deal with the loss of a spouse, but it’s abuse when medications are taken consistently against medical instruction.

What if you had a parent who had a history of alcohol abuse and now uses prescription drugs? It’s a great debate with seniors who abuse prescription drugs, since they need them, is it fair to categorize seniors and label them as addicts as you would label an alcoholic? According to experts, drug abuse is addiction, regardless of medical need. Alcoholics also need to have a drink in order to avoid withdrawal, and that’s addiction too. But would you handle a senior’s prescription drug addiction the same way you’d intervene with an alcoholic?

Sources:
1.    Bio-Medicine
2.    Join Together

Greater Phoenix Assisted Living Alternative & Central Phoenix Assisted Living Alternative helps elders and seniors in Phoenix remain at home safely and independently. Call us today at 623-583-5868, 602.265.8228 or 480-991-3959.

The National Do Not Call Registry is a great way to safeguard seniors in Phoenix from unwanted telemarketing calls. While most telemarketers are from legitimate companies offering real services, seniors face a very tangible risk from talking to telemarketers; they might be won over by the callers charms and make unwanted purchases that can drain their finances.

Registering a senior from Phoenix for the National Do Not Call Registry is quite simple; it can be completed online or by phone by providing a home phone number or cell phone number. Once a phone number has been placed on the Do Not Call list, it requires approximately 30 days to take effect. If a senior continues to receive calls from telemarketers once their name and phone number has been placed on the registry, a complaint can be filed with the Federal Trade Commission. Some telemarketers are exempt from the Do Not Call list, including those from companies that an elderly person already does business with; for example, the financial institution where they have accounts.

Speak to the older adults in your life about registering for the National Do Not Call Registry to save them from hassles and protect them from exploitation.

Sources:
1.    Federal Trade Commission
2.    DoNotCall

Greater Phoenix Assisted Living Alternative & Central Phoenix Assisted Living Alternative helps elders and seniors in Phoenix remain at home safely and independently. Call us today at 623-583-5868, 602.265.8228 or 480-991-3959.

While you may have noticed changes in your cognitive processes, receiving a diagnosis that you have dementia may turn your world upside down. While it may seem like your whole life will become consumed by the grief that comes with the diagnosis, dementia is something that you can manage to cope with so it doesn’t’ take over your life. You need to be aware that dementia may be caused by a variety of different ailments including depression, excessive drinking, stroke and sometimes can be a temporary condition.  Dementia therefore does not always precede Alzheimers and the two are not the same disease.

When you first learn you have dementia, take the opportunity to arm yourself with the knowledge you need to better understand the disease and how you can cope with it. Join a Phoenix support group for senior dementia or Alzheimer’s sufferers if you feel that would be beneficial, read up on dementia online, and talk to your doctor about what to expect. Get your affairs in order, from your finances to a living will and talk to your family about your wishes for the future as the dementia progresses. Since routine tasks may become more challenging with dementia, to reduce stress, choose activities that are less demanding; including career-based responsibilities and even hobbies. Don’t get yourself down if you can’t do things like you used to; instead focus on the contributions that you’re making to your family and your community.

Seniors with dementia will also boost their spirits by maintaining as much independence as possible. Living independently at home with assistance from a Phoenix professional or family caregiver will help you to maintain the lifestyle you’re accustomed to.

Sources:
1.    Alzheimer’s Society UK
2.    DementiaGuide

Greater Phoenix Assisted Living Alternative & Central Phoenix Assisted Living Alternative helps elders and seniors in Phoenix remain at home safely and independently. Call us today at 623-583-5868, 602.265.8228 or 480-991-3959.