It is very common for seniors to have various medications that need to be taken throughout the day. When seniors miss doses or use the medication incorrectly, this could lead to serious health problems in the future. Seniors who are taking different medications should always know what the consequences are if they do not comply with the orders from the doctor. The list below contains additional information on medication adherence.
1. Adherence refers to properly taking a medication, including taking the right dose at the right time.
2. When seniors do not follow medication orders, there are many consequences that could have a negative effect on overall health.
3. Non-adherence includes not filling a prescription, skipping doses, stopping the medication before recommended, taking more of a medication than is prescribed, taking the medication at the wrong time, taking medication with foods or other medications that are prohibited, taking medication that is expired and using medical devises the wrong way.
4. To help patients with managing their medications, patients should be educated on the benefits of the medication as well as the consequences associated with not taking it properly.
5. Making medication regimens simpler can help patients keep track of their medications, making sure they are taken correctly.
6. Seniors should have a daily routine for medications and keep a checklist. An alarm can also be useful when taking multiple prescriptions throughout the day.
Home Instead Senior Care in Rhode Island provides non medical home care services for seniorsand the elderly who choose to live at home instead. Please call us for more information on our in-home care services at 401-667-2923.
When a person is responsible for the care of a senior, there are many factors that will be involved. One of the best ways to help manage and coordinate care is to write down all observations. This will help caregivers collect important information and monitor the health and functioning of the senior.
1. Make sure to note the abilities of the senior. Caregivers should note how they function mentally and physically.
2. Always have a written list of available family members. This can help when the senior needs additional care or the caregiver requires medical information.
3. Make notes about the physical environment in which the senior lives. These notes should include whether the environment is accessible and if it can be adapted at a reasonable cost.
4. Caregivers should also write down their other responsibilities, including at home, work and in their community. This will help them manage their time more effectively.
5. Caregivers also need to keep track of their own health and physical abilities.
6. Financial resources should always be noted, both for the caregiver and the senior receiving the care. This includes available insurance, end-of-life documents and the existence of healthcare.
Many seniors will require a caregiver when they have multiple medical problems. In many cases, this caregiver will be a family member. Since there are usually other family members that are concerned about the care of the senior, family meetings can play an important role. Below is a list that contains some of the benefits associated with family meetings.
1. All members of the immediate family should be present at family conferences. This is where they will be told what is going on in terms of the care the senior is receiving.
2. These meetings can help divvy responsibilities to all family members so one person is not taking care of the majority of the responsibilities. This will also help alleviate misunderstandings.
3. Family conferences should have an impartial moderator present. This could be a care coordinator, a member of the clergy or a trusted family friend.
4. Family meetings are a great way to make sure everyone is informed of the status of the senior. It will also allow family members to feel they are involved in the care.
5. Family caregivers will benefit from these meetings because they will be able to ask for help if they need it. Caring for a senior is a huge responsibility, so it may be necessary for other members of the family to take on some of the responsibilities to assist with care.
Home Instead Senior Care in Rhode Island provides non medical home care services for seniorsand the elderly who choose to live at home instead. Please call us for more information on our in-home care services at 401-667-2923.
With the growing concern of Alzheimer’s disease in America, it is understandable that American citizens are concerned about their strength in memory. Factors such as age, multi-tasking, and distraction can affect one’s memory and how it works. Although people should not worry about minor relapses, it is important to pay attention to the significant signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s and your memory. Alzheimer’s is a degenerative disease that begins in the hippocampus, which is responsible for short term memory.
Below are different types of memory:
• Working Memory – this type of memory is often referred to things that you can hold in your short term memory for later retrieval. Working memory is located in the frontal lobe of the human brain. An example of working memory is memorizing a phone number.
• Short-Term Memory – Short term memory is thought to be located in the hippocampus, and is often associated with the first symptom of Alzheimer’s. These memories are things that people remember for a couple minutes up to a few weeks. For example, your hotel room number or a character’s name in a novel.
• Long Term Memory – Long term memory are things that you can recall and retrieve for the longest period of time. Things like your birth date or your favourite grade school teacher are examples of long term memory. The location of the brain that long term memory is stored in is unknown.
Home Instead Senior Care in Rhode Island provides non medical home care services for seniorsand the elderly who choose to live at home instead. Please call us for more information on our in-home care services at 401-667-2923.
“That 20 minute walk in the fresh air with my best friend was just what I needed.”
“At lunch I turn off my phone and email and shut the door. Then I close my eyes and enjoy the quiet for 15 minutes. It’s wonderful.”
Just 15-20 minutes here and there each day when you can focus on yourself will make a world of difference in managing your caregiver stress. According to a new Home Instead Senior Care survey, 55 percent of the family caregivers that eventually employed their professional caregiving services appeared to have above average or significant levels of stress as they came on board. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
These tips are recommended while taking care of an aging loved one:
Work out: Exercise and enjoy something you like to do (walking, dancing, biking, running, swimming, etc.) for a minimum of 20 minutes at least three times per week. Consider learning a stress-management exercise such as yoga or tai-chi, which teach inner balance and relaxation.
Meditate: Sit still and breathe deeply with your mind as “quiet” as possible whenever things feel like they are moving too quickly or you are feeling overwhelmed by your responsibilities as a caregiver. Many times you will feel like you don’t even have a minute to yourself, but it’s important to walk away and to take that minute.
Ask for help: According to a national survey by Home Instead Senior Care of adults who are currently providing care for an aging loved one, 72 percent do so without any outside help. To avoid burnout and stress, you can enlist the help of other family members and friends, and/or consider hiring a professional non-medical caregiver for assistance. There is no need to feel guilty for reaching out.
Take a break: Make arrangements for any necessary fill-in help (family, friends, volunteers or professional caregivers). Take single days or even a week’s vacation. And when you’re away, stay away. Talk about different things, read that book you haven’t been able to get to, take naps, whatever relaxes you and makes you happy.
Home Instead Senior Care in Rhode Island provides non medical home care services for seniorsand the elderly who choose to live at home instead. Please call us for more information on our in-home care services at 401-667-2923.
It is now possible for seniors who need a caregiver to remain in their home much longer. This is due to new technology that allows caregivers to monitor the senior while they are at home. Though this is an expensive system, it is becoming very popular. More seniors are trying new devices that will allow them to remain in the comfort of their homes as they age.
1. Monitoring patients at home through use of video is a great way for caregivers to keep an eye on patients, especially those who have a chronic illness.
2. The system uses various cameras that are set up in the home. The caregiver can remotely control each camera to view all activity in the home.
3. By using the computer system, caregivers can communicate with patients. They can “join” them for dinner or just have a way to talk about things even when the caregiver cannot physically be present.
4. Telecaregiving does take privacy into consideration and no cameras are installed in bedrooms or bathrooms. However, if a patient is in either of these unmonitored areas for an extended period of time, the caregiver will call the home to make sure the patient is okay.
5. This is an expensive service, but it is beneficial and allows seniors to remain living at home and not have to have an individual providing care for them all day. The telecaregiver can still ensure health and safety from afar.
Home Instead Senior Care in Rhode Island provides non medical home care services for seniorsand the elderly who choose to live at home instead. Please call us for more information on our in-home care services at 401-667-2923.
Caring for a senior requires a lot of planning and coordination. This is why care coordinators play such an important role in the life of a senior. Seniors need to have services that will help them function. The needs of each senior will vary, so it is up to the care coordinator to make sure that the senior is safe and healthy and that they are receiving the services they need. Other responsibilities of the care coordinator are provided below.
1. The gathering of information from all healthcare providers. This means collecting important medical information from each doctor that treats the senior.
2. The care coordinator must be able to effectively assess the home environment as well as the needs of the person receiving care.
3. Coordinators must be able to find private services and resources that will meet the needs of the senior.
4. There must always be ongoing communication between all of the parties involved. This includes the individual receiving care, the caregivers, doctors and family members. It is important to keep all those involved up to date.
5. The care coordinator should also be able to assess daily situations to make sure the senior is in fact receiving all of the services they need to function. If there is something that changes with the senior’s health, changes to the type of care and services they receive may be required.
Home Instead Senior Care in Rhode Island provides non medical home care services for seniorsand the elderly who choose to live at home instead. Please call us for more information on our in-home care services at 401-667-2923.
Red Cross and Home Instead Offer New Training for Family Caregivers
The Rhode Island Chapter of the American Red Cross and Home Instead Senior Care of Rhode Island have announced a partnership to train and educate area families and caregivers in the skills necessary to provide home-based care to seniors. Health and wellness, fall prevention, gentle reminders, nutrition, dealing with depression, and caring for a senior with dementia are among topics covered in this practical yet relevant program offered for the first time in September. Details on the Senior Caregiver Training Program can be found on the Rhode Island Chapter of the American Red Cross web site or the Home Instead Senior Care of Rhode Island web site.
The 2006 U.S. Census estimated that 13.9% of Rhode Islanders were age 65 and over, the sixth highest rate in the nation. By 2030, this percentage is expected to grow by 59% with the biggest initial increase to occur in those 85 and over. Care and support for this growing population, who are living longer with a higher incidence of chronic and co-morbid disease, will continue to be an issue as we struggle to provide quality care in an environment of escalating costs.
Home Instead Senior Care in Rhode Island provides non medical home care services for seniorsand the elderly who choose to live at home instead. Please call us for more information on our in-home care services at 401-667-2923.
