June is Elder Abuse Awareness Month

June is Elder Abuse Awareness Month.  I have included some statistics below so you can better understand what elder abuse is and the different types of elder abuse.

·         Elder Abuse is an intentional or negligent action that causes harm or creates a serious risk of harm to an older adult. 

·         Accurate estimates of the prevalence of this problem are difficult to obtain, as many older people do not report being abused.

·         The most common form of elder abuse is neglect, followed by physical abuse and financial exploitation. 

·         Other forms of elder abuse include emotional abuse, sexual abuse and abandonment.

·         Most elder abuse victims are female and adult children are the most frequent abusers of older persons.

·         Risk factors for elder abuse include social isolation, dementia in the victim, mental illness of the abuser, alcohol or drug abuse, and mutual dependence between the abuser and the victim.

Different types of Elder Abuse

• Physical Abuse—Inflicting, or threatening to inflict, physical pain or injury on a vulnerable elder, or depriving them of a basic need.
• Emotional Abuse—Inflicting mental pain, anguish, or distress on an elder person through verbal or nonverbal acts.
• Sexual Abuse—Non-consensual sexual contact of any kind, coercing an elder to witness sexual behaviors.
• Exploitation—Illegal taking, misuse, or concealment of funds, property, or assets of a vulnerable elder.
• Neglect—Refusal or failure by those responsible to provide food, shelter, health care or protection for a vulnerable elder.
• Abandonment—The desertion of a vulnerable elder by anyone who has assumed the responsibility for care or custody of that person.

 

Heaven Just Got the Best Caregiver

Touching Hearts Senior Care prides itself on employing “Cream of the Crop” caregivers.  We are sad to say that Valerie Jones, a nine year caregiver for Touching Hearts passed away suddenly on June 2, 2016.  Valerie was the first caregiver hired by Touching Hearts Senior Care when we opened our doors in 2007.  She was loyal, dependable and trustworthy.  Valerie was not only a great caregiver to the clients she served, but she was a kind, true friend to those around her.  She lifted the spirits of those who were down, and encouraged other caregivers with words of experience and wisdom.

Valerie had an incredibly infectious laugh and we all enjoyed her company when she was around.  We will miss Valerie very much.  It’s not every day you come across someone like Valerie.  I guess heaven needed a caregiver and they picked the best one.  God bless you Valerie and your family.

When it comes to doctors, do you need a specialist in aging?

 

You do not need to see a geriatrician just because you reach a certain age, even if it’s 100.  But some problems that become more common when you get older may make it a good idea.  What signs suggest you might benefit from a geriatrician?

Multiple, chronic health problems—People with more than one condition may be dealing with several doctors.  Geriatricians can determine whether drugs are interacting improperly and help individuals navigate the health care system.

A decline in strength, balance or memory—Geriatricians are trained to look at your overall health.  When undiagnosed problems affect an aging patient, geriatric training may provide insights that other doctors sometimes miss.

Certain problems that can be considered geriatric syndromes—Such problems may have more than one cause and may emerge in times of illness or stress, such as during a hospital stay.  Geriatric syndromes may include falls, unexplained weight loss, delirium, sleep problems and bladder incontinence.  Even if the symptoms vanish, a geriatric assessment may be appropriate to look for underlying causes.

You are a caregiver and are feeling overwhelmed—Geriatricians recognize the importance of family caregivers and the impact of their patient’s home environment.  A geriatrician might recommend some local services that could ease your burden, and talk you through a sensible approach to your caregiving responsibilities.

Geriatric expertise can help in different stages of care.  Some offer primary care; others specialize in specific medical fields, such as cardiology, neurology or oncology as well as geriatrics.

Top 10 Health Food Fakes

Toss these 10 Health Food Fakes

You might think these foods are healthy and helpful, but trust me; they are not doing your waistline any favors.  Here are 10 imposters to throw out or donate today:

1.        Baked potato chips—They are lower in fat but are empty calories with little protein and fiber.

2.       Diet Soda—Each daily 12-ounce can is associated with a 41% climb in obesity risk.

3.       Dried Cranberries—Thanks to added sugars, ¼ cup packs an astonishing 30g of sweet stuff.

4.       Green Juice—Some bottles have 50g of sugar and zero fiber.  Hello weight gain.

5.       Yogurt covered pretzels—That “yogurt” coating is mostly sugar.

6.       Veggie Chips—These are usually made of potato starch with a tint of color from vegetable powders.

7.       Twig and Flake Cereals—Even “organic” and “natural” cereals can have up to 20g of sugar per serving.

8.       Light Ice Cream—Some brands have as many calories as regular ice cream but aren’t as filling.

9.       Spinach Wraps—You get a tiny bit of spinach, a lot of refined flour and up to 310 calories.

10.   Rice Cakes—They may be low in calories, but they contain little fiber, protein, and other nutrients.  Flavored versions can also have lots of artificial additives.

I know I have been fooled by so called “healthy food”.  This list is a good indicator that foods that are marketed as healthy are not always what they seem.  Read the labels and do your own research and continue to pursue your own healthy lifestyle.

Touching Hearts Senior Care is the Gold Standard

Why Touching Hearts Senior Care is the “Gold Standard”

There are many factors to consider when choosing a home care company.  Touching Hearts Senior Care is committed to providing the highest quality of care services.  Below is a list of reasons why you should choose Touching Hearts Senior Care as your home care provider.

©      THSC is locally owned and operated and has been in business for almost 9 years serving families of south Alabama.

©      THSC has two Certified Senior Advisors on staff who are knowledgeable about important health, social and financial issues that affect the majority of seniors.

©      THSC is the only home care company in the state of Alabama to have Certified Dementia Caregivers.  In addition to their previous experience and studies in healthcare, our caregivers receive extensive and continuous training with a 12 part series on caring for someone with dementia.

©      The dementia training is provided by the owner, Gina Germany, who is also a Certified Senior Advisor, a Certified Dementia Practitioner and Certified PAC trainer.  (Positive Approach to Care).

©      THSC provides personalized care and service.  When you call the THSC office, you will speak with either the office manager or client care coordinator, both of whom are familiar with your families’ specific plan of care.

©      THSC offers specialized Case Management services.  When you and your family need answers to difficult questions regarding hospital stays, future plans or goals, social services and patient navigation, our Certified Senior Advisors can guide you by providing professional advice and referrals.

©      THSC has a “Safe Discharge Program”.  This service helps avoid readmission to hospitals and rehabilitation centers after discharging from these facilities.

©       THSC offers “POP IN” visits.  Pop In services are scheduled visits in increments of 1, 2, or 3 hours. 

©      THSC offers a “Deep Cleaning Service”.  Many of our clients have benefitted from a one-time or recurring deep cleaning visit.  Our rates for this service are well below the industry average for house cleaning.  We also provide “hoarding assessments.”

©      We serve our Veterans.  We assist veterans and their families by identifying individual qualifications for the Aid and Attendance Benefit from the Veterans Administration.

Caregivers

Definition of a caregiver—A person who provides direct care and gives help and protection to someone.

Some of us don’t really know what it really means to be a caregiver.  To put the needs of someone else before our own.  To be kind, caring and compassionate when our loved ones are in pain and unable to care for themselves.

I believe some people are called to do this kind of work.  Caregivers that are called step forward to provide care and compassion with a generous spirit and a selfless attitude. 

I am fortunate to know many of these talented caregivers who work for Touching Hearts Senior Care and they inspire me everyday knowing that they are out there caring for those in our community who need it most.

Thank a caregiver today.  None of us can know if we might need one tomorrow.

Thoughts on the 2016 Dementia Conference

Last week, Gulf Coast Senior Services, a non-profit, held it's 2nd Annual Dementia Conference.  It was titled "Preparing for the Dementia Tsunami".  The conference was very well attended and those who participated took with them some great information about dementia and the effect it is having on our local families and communities.

Speaker topics include:

Evacuation Measures--Alabama Care Options for the Dementia Stricken
Giving Out the Life Rafts--Protecting Adults When They Can No Longer Protect Themselves
Buried Treasure Under the Rough Seas--Care Specialties per Different Stages of Dementia
When the Lights Go Out--Sleep to Prevent Dementia
Whether-ing the Storm--Alternative Medicine for Dementia
Joining the Emergency Response Team--Careers in Gerontology
Inflate Your Lifeboat--Dealing with Family Chaos
Rolling with the Tide--Therapy for Demented Seniors

The Dementia Conference is important for several reasons.  First, it provides education to healthcare professionals and caregivers who need to learn more about this devastating disease.  Secondly, it brings the experts together to discuss different strategies for providing support for those who are caring for their loved ones.  Thirdly, it gives us hope.  Learning new ways to care for loved one with dementia to improve their quality of life and ours is imperative for our survival.

I am proud and honored to be a part of this organization.  I believe the work they do is important.  Thank you for reading my blog.