It’s worrisome for adult children wondering if parents are taking prescribed meds correctly or if at all!  If you are concerned about your aging parent and they live in Phoenix, please contact us.

Those worries stem from:

• Are they taking the prescribed medications?
• Are they taking them at the time prescribed and with or without food?
• Does my loved one take the right dosage?
• Are my aging parents worried about the costs of the meds?  If so, will they stop because of financial reasons?

A common question we hear is, “when visiting my elderly mom, I see bottles of medication on the kitchen counter, on the bathroom counter and nightstand. It makes me worry about how she is keeping all of her medications organized?

What to ask?

We recommend using good humor and, in this situation, assume that she is keeping them organized and straight.  We suggest taking the innocent until proven guilty approach.  Although you may have very good reasons why some of her prescribed medications are in the kitchen - she’s taking them with food, while others are on the nightstand - she’s taking them before bed.

Pointing to a bottle and asking, “how the world do you keep all these pills straight, Mom?” would be a good conversation starter. If the response includes the reasons you suspected above, then it sounds like things are under control. If she says, “I don’t know. I do my best. I’m not even sure what some of them are,” then the situation needs more attention.

So if she’s having a problem, talk to your mom about a pill organizer, which could help her keep the medications better organized: “Mom, there are organizers that can help you keep all your pills in one place and make it easier for you to keep them straight. Why don’t I check into it?” In addition, one service that Home Instead CAREGivers provide seniors is medication reminders to assist them in managing their daily medications.

Greater Phoenix Assisted Living Alternative & Central Phoenix Assisted Living Alternative helps elders and seniors live safely at home. Call 623.583.5868, 602.265.8228 or 480.991.3959 for Home Care and Independence.

What exactly is Swine Influenza? Learn the facts about the virus that’s catching the
attention of the news media and concerned citizens all over the US from The Center of
Disease Control and Prevention website and share your thoughts.

1.) How should this outbreak be handled?

2.) What can adults and seniors do to prevent exposure?

Please comment below with your opinions!

Image Source:
-New York Times

We provide non-medical senior care in the Phoenix and surrounding communities. You may be thinking.. What is non-medical care?

At Home Instead Senior Care Phoenix, we know that caring for a senior isn’t always easy. Every day, all across the country, people juggle the demands of their busy lives.  Jobs, children, and dozens of other activities all compete for time.  And then mom or dad gets sick or otherwise needs in-home help.

These seniors’ adult children, the ones who typically end up as their caregivers, are referred to as the “sandwich generation,” caught between providing for their own young families and assisting their aging parents.  They’re already stretched to the limit, and the strain shows no sign of easing.  That’s largely because of numbers; by the year 2030, 70 million Americans – 20 percent of the population – will be over the age of 65.

 Here are some global statistics:

• More than 37,000 CAREGivers
• Hundreds of thousands of clients served
• 20 million hours of service delivered annually

Paul and Lori Hogan started Home Instead Senior Care, opening the first office in Omaha principally to assist other local families like theirs.  You see, Paul’s grandmother, Eleanor Manhart, of Omaha, was an active widow and grandmother with a large extended family.  When she was in her 90s, the family – including Lori and Paul – began providing a little extra non-medical assistance to keep her safe and independent.

Home Instead Senior Care was born from the Hogans’ unique idea: to assist seniors on a non-medical basis with their activities of daily living, thus allowing them to stay at home longer – where they want to be – and to do so comfortably, safely and affordably.

Visit us tomorrow when we give you more information about “what in-home non-medical care is all about”.

In the meantime, if you need help with your aging parent or relative, call Home Instead Senior Care Phoenix at the number below.

Greater Phoenix Assisted Living Alternative & Central Phoenix Assisted Living Alternative helps elders and seniors live safely at home. Call 623.583.5868, 602.265.8228 or 480.991.3959 for Home Care and Independence.

Greater Phoenix Assisted Living Alternative & Central Phoenix Assisted Living Alternative helps elders and seniors live safely at home. Call 623.583.5868, 602.265.8228 or 480.991.3959 for Home Care and Independence.

“Turn that music down or you’ll damage your hearing!” is a statement of warning that we’ve all voiced to a teenage or heard ourselves during our youth. While usually uttered in frustration when the speaker can’t seem to hear themselves think, you might be surprised to learn that this isn’t just a mindless threat; it does hold some truth. Talk about empowerment for parents everywhere! Hearing loss isn’t only found in senior citizens, and it can occur outside of the natural process of aging due to noise related damage. Learn more about Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) by reading on and learning just what others want to know in these frequently asked questions.

Q1 – How does noise cause hearing loss?
A1 – When certain sounds are heard at unusually high levels, or that are loud and last a long time sensitive structures in the inner ear called hair cells are damaged and can never grow back; resulting in NIHL.

Q2 – Can NIHL only affect teenagers?
A2 – While there is a stigma that teenagers listen to loud music that can damage their hearing, NIHL can occur is people of any age, including the elderly. Seniors may find NIHL more dramatically affects their hearing loss if they are already suffering from age related changes.

Q3 – How loud does a sound need to be to result in NIHL?
A3 – Sounds are measured in decibels; normal noises may range between 40-80 decibels, but any noise over 85 could result in NIHL if there is prolonged or repeated exposure.

Q4 – Is there anything, besides loud music, that can cause NIHL?
A4 – Any noise above 85 decibels has the potential to cause NIHL; prolonged exposure to sounds of a woodworking shop or extremely loud traffic noises could cause hearing loss. One loud impulse sound, like an explosion can also result in NIHL.

Q5 – What are the symptoms of NIHL?
A5 – Damage from one loud sound can cause immediate symptoms, or prolonged exposure to a loud noise can result in gradual development. People suffering from NIHL may find that sounds become distorted, muffled, or may have problems understanding speech. Others, may experience no symptoms at all, and will discover the damage through a hearing test.

Q6 – Can NIHL be prevented?
A6 – While it’s impossible to avoid exposure to loud noises completely, especially when an unexpected one occurs (like an explosion) basic precautions can be taken, like wearing ear plugs when in an especially noisy environment.

Q7 – How can NIHL be treated?
A7 – Since there is no way for the damage hair cells to re-grow,  treatment methods relate to improve the hearing of affected individuals using hearing aids and assistive listening devices.

Source: http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/hearing/noise.asp

Greater Phoenix Assisted Living Alternative & Central Phoenix Assisted Living Alternative provides Alzheimer’s and dementia care in Phoenix. Call 623.583.5868, 602.265.8228 or 480.991.3959 for Home Care and Independence.

When faced with Alzheimer’s disease, know that the early months or years, individuals with dementia are aware of their mental impairment. Most usually respond to their memory problems in a way that is typical of their personality. Some are passive and resigned to their fate; some are angry and abrasive; but almost all are depressed with low self-esteem. And I seen some people deny it and hide it from the family.

As the disease progresses, individuals with Alzheimer’s become more clinging and dependent and lose the ability to do the things they once enjoyed. As a family caregiver, your loved one’s behavior may shock or bewilder you. You may be anxious and searching for ways to cope. Let me suggest a few tips that are helpful to use with your loved one when daily tasks that were once automatic become difficult and result in frustration, fear, agitation and even aggression.

1. Limit choices – Having fewer options makes deciding easier. Whether it is laying out clothes for dressing or choosing between coffee and tea, it is important to limit choices for easier decision-making. Reducing distractions also helps a person with Alzheimer’s disease focus on one thing at a time.
2. Involve your loved one as much as possible – Set up successful accomplishments each day that allow your loved one to do tasks he or she is still able to do. This may require some cueing, prompting and patience. For example, you can place an electric razor or a hairbrush in your loved one’s hand and use verbal cues such as “shave your face,” or “brush your hair.”
Allow more time – Keep in mind that everything takes more time when your loved one has Alzheimer’s disease. Providing simple one-step instructions and allowing more time to perform a task may be necessary.

Plan your loved one’s schedule wisely – Determine what time of the day your loved one functions the best and is the most agreeable. Schedule the most difficult tasks – such as bathing or doctor’s appointments – during this time period.

1. Establish a routine – Routines make the day less confusing for a person with Alzheimer’s disease. Develop a daily schedule and keep to it.
2. Maintain flexibility – A person’s ability to function and his or her level of independence steadily declines as the disease progresses. As this occurs, it becomes even more important for you to be flexible and adapt daily routines as necessary.
3. Relax your standards – As a family caregiver, you shouldn’t worry about the way things should be done. Allow your loved one to do as much as possible with the least amount of confusion and assistance. For example, if Dad or Mom insists on wearing the same clothing every day, buy a few identical pieces so laundry does not become an issue, and he or she can remain clean and groomed. Bathing every day may not be necessary if it upsets your loved one. Sponge baths between showers or tub baths can eliminate hygiene issues and any added stress.
4. Maintain a safe environment – Alzheimer’s disease impairs good judgment and increases the risk of falls or injury. Make sure you safe-proof your loved one’s home environment.

Greater Phoenix Assisted Living Alternative & Central Phoenix Assisted Living Alternative helps elders and seniors live safely at home. Call 623.583.5868, 602.265.8228 or 480.991.3959 for Home Care and Independence.

Family rifts can be a normal part of life, provided they are handled appropriately and not given the opportunity to escalate. It’s easy for a minor disagreement to turn into family disagreement; instead of focusing upon these arguments and allowing them to tear their relationships apart, families need to focus on mending the fencings and bringing their families back together.

When disagreements occur, it’s easy to point the blame at someone else; but regardless of who’s at fault, both parties need to put aside their ill feelings and apologize for the part that they each played in the conflict.  By sitting down and being sympathetic to both sides being told during an open-minded discussion, families can offer solutions and come to sound agreements about their problems so they are not able to continue on forever.

Mending family estrangement doesn’t just have to be about conflict resolution either. Relationships can be repaired and maintained through simple gestures by family members who make the effort to reach out to one another. Families need to make a point to stay in touch during the year, regardless of any resentment that may be harbored; holidays and birthdays can be a great opportunity to pick up the phone. Families should also keep each other informed on what’s been happening in their lives, pictures or letters with children and pets can go a long way.

Everyone disagrees, but families need to make a point to maintain healthy relationships with one another, because the type of connections formed between families just cannot be found elsewhere.

Love From A Grandmother

We don’t always realize how insightful and profound the lessons of a loved one were until they have passed on. Once that tragedy occurs, we trend to appreciate and reflect upon their words of wisdom and kindness in a whole new light. A grandmother’s love is based on blind faith, and with that in mind we need to reach to meet the goals that lie along the road ahead.

A prime example of a leader in this country attributes his recent successes to the lessons that his grandmother provided him with as a child that shaped him into the man he is today. Unfortunately, recently struck by tragedy, at a time that should have been filled with celebration, our new President, Barak Obama, lost his own grandmother while on the campaign trail.

However, Obama continues to move forward in his grandmother’s memory, withholding the legacy planted by his dearly departed and beginning his own in a hope to pass along the same values to his daughters and future generations that he learned from his grandmother; like faith, daring to dream, and preparing to reach beyond into history.

With the memory of his grandmother and her love, Obama has the strength and motivation to set new standards and teach the United States the lessons of his legacy.

Hypothermia is a dangerous complication that can negatively impact seniors’ lives during the winter season. Any temperature below 65 degrees can lower a senior’s body temperature and put them at risk of hypothermia, which can happen even in the safety of their own home. Greater Phoenix Assisted Living Alternative & Central Phoenix Assisted Living Alternative helps elders and seniors in Phoenix. Call today 623.583.5868, 602.265.8228 or 480.991.3959.

Causes of Hypothermia:

• A senior’s body temperature doesn’t regulate as easily as a younger person’s
• The senior has a medical condition such as hypothyroidism, heart disease, stroke, diabetes and Parkinson’s disease which makes them more susceptible for the cold
• The senior takes medications which can increase the affects of the cold upon their body, such as anti-depressants, nausea medications or over-the-counter cold medicines
• The senior drinks alcohol regularly, which can weaken defenses against the cold
• The senior does not properly dress for the temperature, even if they don’t feel physically cold

Signs of Hypothermia:

• They may demonstrate poor muscle and nerve functioning such as stumbling, mumbling, fumbling and grumbling
• Slow reactions
• Excessive or absence of shivering
• Stiffness of the limbs
• Change in appearance or behavior
• Weak pulse
• Low blood pressure
• Slow or slurred speech
• Shallow breathing
• Sleepiness or fatigue

Treating Hypothermia:

• Take the senior’s temperature to determine if immediate medical treatment is required. If their temperature is below 96 degrees Fahrenheit or doesn’t register on the thermometer then emergency treatment is needed
• Wrap them in a warm blanket
• Hold them close to share body heat
• Avoid rubbing their limbs, this can actually cause more damage
• A hospital may treat a senior with IV fluids to warm the body from the inside out

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.

When my grandpa was in his early 80’s, my family decided to give him a used computer to help him pass the time and stay in touch with international relatives. Now, nearing the age of 90, we know having the computer has changed his life, but we never could have anticipated the number of challenges expanding his use of technology would have created.

In order to get him online, we have him setup with bookmarked sites that he likes to visit, and provided step-by-step instructions to get him through all other required operations; including starting the computer and shutting it down. When computer actions go according to the steps he is familiar with, he is able to complete his tasks with no problem; however, if anything different happens, he feels as though something has gone horribly wrong and that the computer must be broken. When this occurs, it’s almost impossible to rectify the problem because he tries to describe what he’s experiencing over the phone, without knowing and using the appropriate terminology. He also can find it challenging, since he does not have the refined dexterity that can be required to effectively use the mouse without clicking on operations by accident.

Despite the problems, we know that having this computer has increased his quality of life; he has access to more resources and manages to stay in better communication with relatives that is nearly impossible using other technology due to his hearing problems.

Based on the benefits, we all do are part to help him as best we can, while being respectful and patient.

We don’t encourage our clients to involve themselves in clinical trials without first discussing the health implications with their family physician; however, we are aware of the contribution that they make to geriatric medicine.

Clinical trials are research programs that use people to determine the effectiveness of medications, therapy, or lifestyle changes so help diagnose, treat or prevent serious illnesses. Clinical trials may require volunteers who are both healthy, or have the disease or ailment that they’re conducting research into. There are dangers involved since methods used are strictly experimental and could generate serious side effects or other complications.

However, there are also benefits to the seniors participating in these studies; some pay the individuals involved in the trials, and always offer treatment methods free of charge. If the trials are effective, seniors suffering from related medical problems may find relief without acquiring debt or sacrificing their financial standing when seeking medical care.

Anyone looking to join a clinical trial can submit an application to the research study that fits with their specific medical background. To find a clinical trial in Texas, contact Clinical Trials of Texas, Inc or your local Area Agency on Aging. Before making a commitment to any study, consult with a medical professional.

Source: http://seniors-health-edicare.suite101.com/article.cfm/clinical_trials_for_seniors