How do you know if it is dementia, depression or both?

Paula Camposano-Robinson, RN

Have you ever had trouble recalling certain words? Do you remember your first grade teacher? Could it just be a “senior moment” or is it something more serious? We all have trouble recalling particular things like these on occasion. We may not remember where we left the car keys, or even why we went into a room; we get there but scratch our heads trying to bring to mind why we went there in the first place. Sound familiar?

These incidences are not normally caused by a mental deterioration but are most likely part of the typical aging process, but what about not knowing your spouse or child? What about changes in your mood, personality or abilities to perform normal living activities, such as cooking, shopping, handling of money, gardening or getting to your weekly bridge or golf game?

Many of us may not recall the answer to the first few questions, but sadly for someone with Alzheimer’s disease, when the loss of memory affects your ability to recall recent events, or you cannot function without assistance and begin to forget your family, it becomes complex. Although Alzheimer’s disease is the most severe form of dementia, there are several other forms of the disease and many of the symptoms can be related.

Dementia is medically defined as the progressive loss of intellectual functions, such as thinking, remembering and reasoning. This brain dysfunction is of sufficient severity that it results in a restriction of a person’s ability to perform daily activities, both of social and occupational functioning.

Although the signs and symptoms may vary from person to person, in general they tend to worsen over time. Often, eventually our loved ones will need assistance with everything that they were capable of doing in the past. The memory cannot recall things in the present or recent past, but does retain information and events that occurred many years ago.

Dementia is not a disease itself but rather a group of symptoms that may manifest diseases or conditions, much like a fever is associated with many illnesses. The disease usually occurs after the age of sixty-five and becomes more prevalent as we grow older. Approximately two percent of adults aged sixty-five to sixty-nine have the disease. Alzheimer’s disease is a form of dementia. Approximately half of all dementia patients have Alzheimer’s disease.

Researchers believe that, most commonly, dementia occurs when nerve cells, or neurons, start to break down or degenerate, and the normal connections in the brain between the nerve cells are interrupted. Except in cases of specific diseases, these disruptions can have many causes, and usually cannot be reversed unless caused by alcohol, drugs, hormone, or vitamin imbalance, or depression.

According to a recent edition of the medical journal, “Neurology,” there are various diseases that can cause dementia. These include Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s, AIDS, Alzheimer’s (which accounts for approximately forty to forty-five percent of all dementias), vascular disease or stroke, (which accounts for twenty percent); and other conditions, including traumatic head injury, alcohol abuse, Pick’s disease, brain abscess, Multiple Sclerosis, vitamin B1 and B12 deficiencies, hypothyroidism, and more than fifty other rare degenerative conditions.

The many symptoms of this is horrific and complicated disease of dementia can mimic depression. Similarly, symptoms of depression can mimic dementia. According to the National Mental Health Association, thirty to fifty percent of older adults with memory loss, or dementia, also suffer from depression and “unfortunately, symptoms of depression are often overlooked and untreated when they coincide with other medical illnesses” or life events that commonly occur as people age.

In the case of dementia, depression can last over a period of months and it can occur anywhere in the disease process. An important aspect to consider is that depression can cause additional stress in the early stages of dementia and later it can trigger behavioral problems, which can be severe.

Some of the symptoms of depression alone can cause dementia-like symptoms such as social withdrawal, lack of interest in previously enjoyed activities, low spirits, feelings of hopelessness, sadness, tearfulness, sleep disturbances, changes in appetite, confusion, forgetfulness, inability to concentrate, irritability, aggression and distrust.

Additional depression symptoms such as apathy, loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities and hobbies, worry, weight loss and isolations can be compounded with dementia. In persons with Alzheimer’s, the depression can lead to wandering, delusions, hallucinations, verbal agitation and aggression towards caregivers during the performance of activities of daily living. For persons with Alzheimer’s, depressive symptoms may come and go, be less severe, not last long or reoccur as often as someone without Alzheimer’s.

It is important to get the right diagnosis. Of considerable interest is a recent report from the Alzheimer’s Association: the US National Institute of Mental Health has proposed a new diagnostic criteria for a specific disorder called “depression of Alzheimer’s disease,” to be used to identify those with the dual diagnoses of Alzheimer’s and depression. Although the criteria are similar to general standards for major depression, they reduce the verbal emphasis and include irritability and social isolation.
To meet these criteria, someone must have, in addition to an Alzheimer’s diagnosis, other changes in functioning characterized by three or more symptom during the same two-week period. These must include at least one of the first two on the list – depressed mood or decreased pleasure in usual activities.

Early recognition and treatment is the key as every seventy-two seconds someone in America develops Alzheimer’s disease according to the National Association.

Paula Camposano Robinson, RN, is co-founder and owner of Sanitasole Senior Health Services. This is an information-only column and is not intended to replace medical advice from a physician. Email meat probinson@sanitasole.net or visit www.sanitasole.net for more information. Phone: 239.394.9931.

Paula Camposano-Robinson, RN

Here is a great article from agingcare.com for anyone who has a friend or family member who may be suffering with Alzheimer’s. It is an interesting perspective from another country and demonstrates that the issues of Alzheimer’s are global. If you have questions, or need help for a senior loved one in the area, visit us at sanitasole.net.

It is an understatement to say that taking care of a loved one who is stricken with Alzheimer’s Disease, also known as ‘AD’, is a tough job.

(AD is an illness which results in the progressive loss of brain nerve cells, leading to a gradual decline of mental functions and is the most common cause of dementia).

AD is considered to be among the most stressful illness a family caregiver can face and one of the most physically and mentally exhausting situations in a person’s life. The demands are so stressful that many studies show that caregiving impairs caregivers’ immune function, escalating the risks of both physical and emotional health problems. Another study indicates that up to 47 per cent of family caregivers experience depression.

As AD progresses in patients, so does the burden of care with a myriad of emotions such as frustration, anxiety, anger and helplessness bottled up among caregivers.

YASMIN’S STORY

Yasmin Azhar, 51, understands this journey too well. At a time when others spent lazy weekends and led normal lives with family and friends, she was struggling to overcome caregiver breakdown. Yasmin is the primary caregiver for her 77-year old mother suffering from AD.

The only child, Yasmin said that her mother’s AD symptoms persisted over the years, but her state deteriorated after Yasmin’s father passed away in 1996. ”My mother was always forgetful and the tell-tale signs of AD were there. I noticed behavioural changes such as how she was very repetitive in her actions, suspicious of others and experienced a lot of confusion about where she was and the people around her.

“It was when she overdosed on her medication (because she forgot she has taken them) and was sent to the hospital that it became apparent that I had to look after her.” Furthermore, Yasmin had to take emergency leave whenever her mother, a well-educated woman and once very independent, got herself lost or missing while out driving.

More sacrifices snowballed as her mother’s AD progresses. ”I am a qualified accountant. I was formerly working as a bank officer, and I really enjoyed my job which required me to go out of the office frequently. ”However, I switched to a desk job at the Human Resources division in my bank so that I can go home early and tend to my mother. It was a very painful decision to make.”

As Yasmin watched her mother’s personality slip away, the emotional toll gradually increased. ”Things were bad in the early years,” she recounted. ”My mother and I kept quarrelling. With AD, she just changed into this person with a different personality. There were constant hurling of every sort of nasty word in the house between us, and she caused certain disputes with her sisters that almost broke up the family.

According to Yasmin, because of the intensity of the caring for her mother, every sort of feeling manifested in her and she became depressed.

COPING WITH CAREGIVER STRESS

Head of Kuala Lumpur Hospital Geriatric Unit, Dr. Lee Fatt Soon, said the impact of AD puts to test the coping skills of even the most patient and understanding of caregivers. ”We mustn’t forget that the victims of AD are the caregivers as well. They are financially, physically and emotionally strained. Depression is a very common problem among them.”

He said that AD patients, apart from their dementia-related behaviors, need help with everyday tasks such as bathing and eating. Due to the demands of looking after AD patients, Dr Lee stressed that the welfare of caregivers should not be neglected, especially for primary caregivers.

Yasmin, who “yo-yo’ed” in and out of depression was also drifting away from family and friends. While learning to cope with the stresses involved, her circle of friends started to shrink and her close friends now comprise of those from the support group she is in. ”I started attending support groups and meetings held by the Alzheimer’s Disease Foundation Malaysia (ADFM). It was comforting to be amongst individuals who were in my shoes. These became my crying out sessions, where I was able to vent out my frustrations and other emotional burden I carried,” Yasmin said.

SUPPORT AND HELP AVAILABLE

One of the six core principles upheld by the Global AD Charter and advocated by Alzheimer’s Disease International is recognising the key role of families and carers. ADFM has long acknowledged this pivotal factor in the better management of AD patients. The foundation runs a secretariat to look into administrative functions and two daycare centres located in Taman Seputeh, Kuala Lumpur and a new one in Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

The daycare centre in Taman Seputeh is the country’s first and started its operations in 2000, with over 30 registered clients and receiving 16 to 20 clients daily. The Petaling Jaya centre opened last year in September and currently has 20 registered clients. Providing non-medical quality care by trained staff, the centre conducts mentally-stimulating activities such as Reality Orientation, ‘Kenang Kembali’ Therapy to manage AD better.

Additionally, the centres help give caregivers a peace of mind, as it offers a safe and conducive environment for people with AD.

ADFM also carries out its Alzheimer’s Support Group program. The program has been successfully started in major towns Kuala Lumpur-Petaling Jaya, Penang and Johor Baharu with an outreach programme being planned to enable ADFM to serve the smaller towns within the country. These self-help groups along with its counselling programmes serve to reach out people who will not normally have access to assistance.

TAKE ONE DAY AT A TIME

Yasmin still on and off sees a psychiatrist when the going gets extra tough. But the steely woman expressed that she has learnt to cope with her caregiving duties over the years and it was important to maintain the dignity of AD patients. ”My mother is in the third stage of Alzheimer’s. But she hasn’t forgotten me yet, and that means a lot to me. Being an AD caregiver has taught me to be more mature and flexible in dealing with my mother’s eccentricities’. I’m thankful I survived and still sane!”

Saying that her priorities have changed, Yasmin said having a strong network of family and friends to share the load helps. Stating that society was complacent about the disease, expecting all old people to have it, she advised other individuals caring for AD patients to read up and learn more about it.

“You definitely need to be positive and take one day at a time. ”And it is my duty and responsibility as a daughter to take care of my mother. I have been through a lot and I think I can cope with everything that life throws at me now. I think my experience has been a blessing in disguise.”

To view the original article, read this.

Paula Camposano Robinson, RN, is co-founder and owner of Sanitasole Senior Health Services. Email meprobinson@sanitasole.net or visit sanitasole.net for more information. Phone: 239.394.9931

Paula Camposano-Robinson, RN

No matter how much stamina they have, caregivers need a reprieve from providing around- the-clock care. If they suffer from exhaustion or become ill, they can no longer fulfill their promises or responsibilities. I can vividly remember telling my parents that, if anything ever happened to them, I would never place them into a nursing home but would take care of them, and I meant it! Have you made this promise to your parent(s) or aging loved one?  Even as a nurse with more than thirty years of training care giving can be an overwhelming task; and although rewarding, it can create countless physical, medical, and financial issues for caregivers.

The desire for family members to keep loved ones at home, or to “age in place” has created the emergence of many related healthcare services: senior care management, home health care, adult day services, and various non-medical and custodial types of care, as opposed to care in an institutional setting. The ultimate goal is to keep our loved ones in the home for as long as safely possible.

According to a study by Met Life Mature Market Institute in conjunction with Life Plans, Inc., in 2008, many baby boomers are seeking quality care for frail or ill parents who are unable to stay at home alone. Some (an adult child, spouse, or sibling) want an option that allows them to go to work. Others live far from their aging loved one and can’t just pick up and travel freely to check in on them. And there are those who are looking for some relief from 24/7 care-giving. Caregivers desire an option that is reliable and stimulating yet affordable, but they cannot navigate the fragmented health-care system alone, especially when they are long-distance caregivers.

This is the time to look for a Senior Care Manager! These are professionals who specialize in assisting older adults and their families to establish short- and long-term care needs. Care management is truly a holistic approach to caring for an aging adult. Care managers are problem solvers who match seniors to the appropriate services needed and they monitor their outcomes.

As an advocate of the client and the family, this service provides a series of steps including developing an initial personalized assessment of, at a minimum, the client’s health, lifestyle and home environment for safety hazards, and a review of medications and the physician orders so they can develop a comprehensive plan of care. Plans may encompass financial planning, bill paying, transportation and other services necessary to lighten the burden on the family.  Most care managers are RNs, social workers, or case managers with experience in geriatric care, but they also have a keen knowledge of the availability of local resources in order to provide the family member the most professional goal-oriented care possible. The care management process improves the quality of life not only for the aging adult, but for all family members involved because the services can save the family both time, money, and stress. The senior-care manager acts as an extension of the family. Most are on call 24/7, year-round, and communicate with family members on a regular basis, allowing the family and the aging adult to make informed and appropriate decisions regarding any long-term needs if and when necessary.

More than 44 million families and other informal care-givers provide the vast majority of the long-term care in this country. Most have limited preparation for the job and receive limited ongoing support, although they contribute more than $350 billion annually in uncompensated care, according to a most recent AARP report.  To meet the goal of keeping the client as independent as possible and autonomous in decision-making, the care manager is the “eyes and ears” for family members.

Home-health-care staff can be hired through an agency or registry, or privately.  Because every state has the authority to license and regulate its home-care agency system, there are often variations, with the exception of Medicare-certified agencies that must comply with federal regulations.  Typically provided by nurses, therapists or specially trained home-health aides under the direction of a physician or nurse, skilled-care services are needed after an acute event, such as a heart attack or stroke, once a patient has been discharged from a hospital and/or requires rehabilitation services.

Paraprofessionals (home-health aides and nursing assistants), custodial or supportive care provides hands-on assistance to people in their homes who need help with activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing, eating, toileting or continence. Homemakers or companions provide services that include light housekeeping, meal preparation, transportation and companionships. This type of care is often appropriate for those with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia, or people who may be physically healthy but require some supervision and interaction.

Don’t feel guilty about hiring a care manager in order to lighten your labor of love in your role as a caregiver! Having a third party who is not a family member can allow for more objectivity and may help seniors see things from a different point of view. Having a professional opinion as opposed to those of family members may make the decisions less burdensome.

Paula Camposano Robinson, RN, is co-founder and owner of Sanitasole Senior Health Services. Email meprobinson@sanitasole.net or visit sanitasole.net for more information. Phone: 239.394.9931

Summer is upon us and so is the heat. Heat can be a problem at any age, but especially for those in their mid-sixties and older. At this age, the body does not adjust to changes in temperature as easily, and people are more likely to have health conditions or be taking medications that further inhibit their ability to regulate body temperature and/or perspire, which is the body’s way of cooling off. Studies have shown the most dangerous kind of heat is not simply a very hot day, but heat that is unrelenting, that persists through the day and night giving no relief, that is responsible for the majority of deaths in the elderly, the very young, and those with illnesses due to heat. If your home is not air conditioned, consider going to an air-conditioned mall or some other air-conditioned location at least part of the day, and take cool showers or baths. The highest number of deaths due to heat in 2009 occurred in permanent homes with little or no air conditioning, with the next highest occurring outside.   Deaths from heat in Florida occur in May through September, with the highest reported in August.

This is the time of year when people are heading to water parks and amusement parks and other outdoor activities, and it’s important to enjoy the summer and the outdoors, but do it safely.  Before heading outside on a hot, sunny day, check the heat index as opposed to just the temperature; remember to take plenty of non-alcoholic beverages (alcoholic drinks act as a diuretics, causing dehydration); and wear lightweight clothing and a wide-brimmed hat to protect from the sun. Take care not to exert yourself, take breaks and rest periodically, seek air-conditioned locations for respite, and know a few danger signs to watch for to protect yourself and loved ones from heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

Heat stroke is by far the most dangerous reaction to the heat and can occur rapidly.  If someone is not able to deal with the heat, their body temperature can rise to 106 degrees and higher within 10-15 minutes. The person’s body loses its ability to sweat and so is unable to cool down and brain death begins to occur quickly, leading to permanent disability or even death if emergency treatment is not provided quickly.

If someone has the following symptoms in the heat, they need immediate treatment and should be taken directly to the hospital:

• An extremely high body temperature (above 103°F)
• Red, hot, and dry skin (no sweating)
• Rapid, strong pulse
• Throbbing headache
• Lethargy or even unconsciousness
• Seizures
• Dizziness
• Confusion
• Nausea

People in this condition need to have their temperature reduced quickly!  It’s best to call 911 (EMS) immediately to have them taken to the hospital. Meanwhile, the use of ice packs can help reduce their temperature, and they need immediate fluids for rehydration.  If EMS takes too long to arrive, call the hospital emergency room for further advice. A few days in the hospital may be needed, as many different body organs can fail in heat stroke.

There are some milder problems due to heat that should be watched for as well, as these problems can lead to serious conditions if left unchecked.  Dehydration is by far, the most common problem of heat, leading to other serious conditions.  Plenty of water is needed throughout the day and frequently while in the heat.  Some of the signs of dehydration are:  thirst, dry mouth, loss of appetite, fatigue or weakness, chills, dizziness, dry skin, and/or dark colored urine. Replenish fluids quickly with water or sports drinks.

Another heat condition is heat exhaustion.  This milder problem of the heat occurs usually after several days of exposure to high temperatures and inadequate fluid intake.  Symptoms can include heavy sweating, tiredness, weakness, paleness, dizziness, headache, nausea or vomiting, fast and shallow breathing, fast and weak pulse, fainting, and a moderately increased temperature (101-102 degrees F).  Getting the person to a cool environment or cooling them down with ice packs, getting them to rest and  giving them plenty of fluids can help, but if exhaustion is severe, the person may need IV fluids.

Heat and dehydration can also cause cramps that occur in the calf muscles that are forceful and painful.  These usually improve with rest, fluids and a cool environment.

If you have elderly relatives or neighbors, you can help them avoid these problems by visiting them at least twice daily and watching them for signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke.  Encourage them to drink plenty of non-alcoholic beverages and drive them to a cool place if they have trouble with transportation.

With care taken, the outdoors can still be enjoyed even in the hot weather! Prepare yourself and your families and be safe this summer!

Paula Camposano-Robinson, RN

Paula Camposano Robinson, RN, is co-founder and owner of Sanitasole Senior Health Services. In healthcare for more than 30 years she and Jason Mark Young, MS, Director of Activities and Mental Health at Sanitasole will be discussing critical issues facing seniors and those who care for them. This is an information-only column and is not intended to replace medical advice from a physician. Email me www.sanitasole.net for more information. Phone: 239.394.9931.

Original content published HERE.

INPEA Announces 5th World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 2010

Mark your calendars!  The International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (INPEA) announces the 5th Annual World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) on Tuesday, June 15, 2010.

Communities and municipalities will make proclamations declaring June 15, 2010 as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) and hold events designed to raise their communities’ awareness of elder abuse.  The first Awareness Day in 2006 involved several hundred organisations and governmental bodies at international, national, regional, local, community and neighbourhood level, in every continent in the world. The day is in support of the United Nations International Plan of Action which recognizes the significance of elder abuse as a public health and human rights issue. Governments, non-governmental organizations, educational institutions, religious groups, professionals in the field of aging, interested individuals as well as older persons themselves will promote a better understanding of abuse and neglect of older persons by organizing activities around the world to raise awareness of the cultural, social, economic and demographic processes affecting elder abuse and neglect.

Throughout the world, abuse and neglect of older persons is largely under-recognized or treated as an unspoken problem.  Unfortunately, no community or country in the world is immune from this costly, public health and human rights crisis.  Research indicates that public education campaigns like World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) are vital for informing people in a growing number of countries about elder abuse and active involvement of the media is central to its success.

All countries, communities, neighborhoods and organizations interested in working to help bring recognition and ultimately an end to elder abuse and neglect are urged to take part in the 5th Annual World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) on June 15, 2010.  Awareness activities may encompass volunteer or educational programs, cultural and art events, use of information technology, or any activity that aims to create awareness of elder abuse and neglect.  Raising awareness of elder abuse and neglect is a challenge and no effort is too small.  To learn more, and to download a free copy of the Community Guide World Day Tool Kit, please visit www.inpea.net/weaad.html.

The International Network for the Prevention for Elder Abuse (INPEA) was founded in 1997 and is dedicated to global dissemination of information as part of its commitment to world-wide prevention of elder abuse.  Acknowledging the diversity of culture, background, and life style of the world population, the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (INPEA) aims to increase society’s ability, through international collaboration, to recognize and respond to the mistreatment of older people in whatever setting it occurs, so that the latter years of life will be free from abuse, neglect and exploitation.  For more information, please see our website at: www.inpea.net.

For help with an aging loved one in the Marco Island FL area, visit http://sanitasole.net.

Thanks to all the nominees and winners for Healthcare Twitizen of the week in May – you make the world a better place through you efforts to inform the public within your particular specialty and we salute you.

Paula Camposano-Robinson, RN

#MedicalMonday is used to give props to healthcare workers tweeting useful information, thus making the conversation better for everyone involved. Hash #MedicalMonday for doctors, physicians assistants, naturopaths, allied health professionals, clinics and hospitals and they might be selected as healthcare Twitizen of the week, helping to draw thousands of eyes to their online efforts. Voting is based on the number of Tweets and Retweets in favor of the nominee or posts on the eyeinfo blog by friends or followers of the nominee. One winner each month will be selected to win a prize.

Courtesy of the Doctors at Shady Grove Eye and Vision Care; Optometrists, Ophthalmologists and Opticians serving the Rockville, Potomac and Gaithersburg Maryland suburbs of Washington DC. For more information visit www.youreyesite.com. Follow us on Twitter @EyeInfo

For help with an aging loved one in the Marco Island FL area, visit http://sanitasole.net.

Paula Camposano-Robinson, RN

What Can You Do to Prevent Falls?

By Paula Robinson

Are you part of the America that is going gray as the Baby Boomers (those born between 1946 and 1964) are moving into their 60s? I must admit, I am. And to think that Americans are now living into their 80s and 90s and are coping with more age-related challenges than ever before. Health care issues continue to emerge as many struggle to care for elders diagnosed with diseases such as Dementia, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s to name a few. However, a critical issue facing older adults today is a fall.

Falls are among the most common and serious problems affecting seniors today. At least 30 percent of adults over age 65 living at home fall at least once per year with 60 percent of these falls being fatal. A gait imbalance is not an inevitable accompaniment of old age though gait disturbances like those in Parkinson’s disease and diseases associated with immobility, falls can markedly impair your quality of life and even cause traumatic brain injury in some individuals.

Have you ever started to lose your balance or feel as though you have a gait issue? What about a slip or even a fall? If it was due to muscle weakness, previous studies have found this to be a major risk factor for fall prediction. Often we may just stumble or trip over an item on the floor or on an outdoor surface, miss a step, or may just not be paying attention or watching what we are doing as we move hurriedly throughout our seemingly busy day. Falls don’t just happen to seniors; I have a personal story for another column – my own falls for no apparent reason; finally a diagnosis of a rare autoimmune disease.

With financial issues becoming increasingly important due to the cost of care for seniors in a volatile economy, and in some instances decreasing insurance coverage and government benefits, fall prevention awareness should be enhanced through an overall increase in observation, reporting, and communication. Concerns about independence should remain in the forefront of our minds as our nation’s seniors struggle to be on their own – in their own homes trying to balance a quality of life that they value. As a first step, be sure to check the following areas in your home for possible hazards:  floors, stairs and steps; the kitchen, bathrooms, bedrooms, and lighting. Many detailed inspection checklists are available to help you to identify environmental issues in your home.

According to the National Council on Aging, nearly 60 percent of falls happen at home and even when injuries are minor, experiencing a fall can have a significant impact on an older adult’s sense of well being, safety and independence.  One out of three seniors in the U.S. experiences a fall each year, and every 18 seconds an elder is treated in an emergency room for a fall. Unintentional falls are the leading cause of injury deaths and nonfatal injuries for those 65 years of age and greater. It has been reported that more than 500,000 of these patients were hospitalized in 2009 with more than $19 billion spent for non-fatal injuries. By 2020, the annual direct and indirect cost of fall injuries is expected to reach a staggering $54.9 billion according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Although the rate of fatality is certainly of critical concern, non-fatal injuries that lead to a hospital stay or even more alarming a nursing home placement, restriction on activities, or decline on functioning or activity level are also significant  If an individual sustains a hip fracture from a fall, about one out of five patients dies within a year of their injury, but up to one in four adults who had lived independently before their hip fracture has to stay in a nursing home for at least a year after their injury. A reduced quality of life and premature death have been documented.

Certain subgroups are at an increased risk for both falls resulting in injury according to recent studies. There is an increase of danger with age and at a higher percentage and seriousness for women. Non-fatal fall-related injuries disproportionately affect older women with injury rates occurring 40-60 percent higher than men of similar age. Accordingly, hospital admission rates for fall- related injuries in older women are 81 percent higher than admission rates for men of the same age.

A fall can certainly happen to any one of us; with some of the most common injuries from falls being of a serious nature— i.e., fractures of the spine, hip, forearm, pelvis and even traumatic brain injuries. We put ourselves at risk by moving too quickly and not being in good physical condition.

Often although many people may have a fall, even those who are not injured can develop a fear of falling. This fear may cause them to limit their engagement in activities. Unfortunately, this often results in loss of strength and a downward cycle of decreasing activity and vitality – which can in itself, lead to increased risk of falling.

The best steps to take in maintaining your independence and reduce the risk of falling is by educating yourself about fall risks and participate in community exercise programs to increase strength and balance. Continually review your medications to reduce side effects and interactions, and check your home to evaluate if you may need modifications to reduce fall hazards (risk factors). The health care community needs to participate in the prevention at the outset by being responsive to the needs of adults in our community, thus helping to provide such services as:

• Individualized health assessments in individual’s homes to identify fall risk factors.
• Educating physicians throughout various communities about fall prevention.
• Reducing risks through such means as monitoring changes in medical conditions, vision testing, medication use, social support, physical functioning and most importantly, facilitate fall prevention efforts through existing medical care and adjusting home environments.

By paying attention to common risk factors, falls can be avoided and injury from falls can be minimized. Please, watch your step!

Paula Camposano Robinson, RN, is co-founder and owner of Sanitasole Senior Health Services. In healthcare for more than 30 years she and Jason Mark Young, MS, Director of Activities and Mental Health at Sanitasole will be discussing critical issues facing seniors and those who care for them. This is an information-only column and is not intended to replace medical advice from a physician. Email me or jyoung@sanitasole.net or visit http://sanitasole.net for more information. Phone: 239.394.9931.

This article originally appeared at http://coastalbreezenews.com/2010/06/03/what-can-you-do-to-prevent-falls/

Paula Camposano-Robinson, RN

Congratulations to Paula Camposano-Robinson, RN, @PaulaRobinsonRN, this weeks recipient of the Healthcare Twitizen of the Week, sponsored by the creators of the #MedicalMonday Hash, @EyeInfo.

Boston native Paula Camposano-Robinson brings a wealth of both clinical and managerial healthcare experience to her role as Vice President of Clinical Services at Sanitasole, Marco Island’s Premier Place for Senior Health. With her husband, Richard, she is co-founder and owner of the Adult Day Health Services Company.

Paula is a registered nurse with over 30 years in the healthcare industry. The depth of such professional exposure enabled her to gain an astute grasp of the ever-changing complexities of the present healthcare system while cultivating an empathic eye to Senior Care in particular. She has witnessed their increasing impact on the population of Southwest Florida and the challenges that have accompanied them.

Following her graduation in 1977 from Lasell College, Newton MA with a degree in Nursing, Paula moved to Marco Island and began her nursing career at Naples Community Hospital (NCH). The hospital was then in its infancy and determined to keep pace with the unprecedented growth occurring throughout the state. The demand for healthcare services of every type –especially for Seniors- was escalating. Such an environment provided the perfect challenge for Paula as she seized every opportunity to gain mastery of the vast array of healthcare services offered in Collier County.

Over the next decade Paula served clinical rotations in critical care, long-term care, ambulatory care -as well as working in home health. Throughout her clinical experiences she maintained a passion for “hands-on” patient care and with it, the dream of owning her own healthcare company began to grow. Although leadership roles in nursing administration became her public trademark, she never stopped nurturing her own entrepreneurial spirit.

When NCH inaugurated its first community affiliate, the Marco Island Urgent Care Center in 1985, Paula was appointed Head Nurse/Manager of the 24/7 ambulatory care center. She steadily advanced to become Executive Director, maintaining ongoing interface with the Board of Trustees, auxiliaries, an extensive network of referral sources and the community at large. After serving on the capital campaign committee to actualize an expansion to bring additional medical services to the Island, Paula spent two years as a Development Officer with the NCH Healthcare Foundation. After 28 years of service with NCH, she made the critical decision in 2004 to resign and pursue her dream.

Paula has continued to strengthen her clinical expertise while keeping a trained eye on the healthcare continuum for seniors. “I see seniors at risk within the present system- but it doesn’t have to be this way,” she asserts. “They can become vulnerable so quickly. They break a hip, have a stroke, suffer a heart attack – or become forgetful. Such events are often clear signals of an overall decline in their physical and emotional health. And so often those needing assistance are alone.”

Camposano-Robinson credits these insights to her belief in a model of Preventive Care that focuses directly on Seniors; a model also endorsed by her husband and partner, Richard Robinson. It has inspired their collaborative vision and compelled them to visit facilities on the cutting edge of such advocacy throughout the nation. “It’s a proactive model that anticipates client needs in a comprehensive manner,” Paula explains. “We designed Sanitasole to create a sense of warmth, wellness and empowerment for all our clients. There’s nothing like it in Southwest Florida -or the state. We aspire to having Sanitasole become a flagship facility.”

Thank you Nurse Camposano-Robinson, for taking the time and energy to disseminate your expertise in the interest of improving public health through Twitter and social media in general.  Don’t forget to Tweet your award proudly and to vote encourage your followers to vote for other health care professionals they feel may be deserving of future awards!  Mays Healthcare Twitizen of the month will be announced Monday. The winner will receive a free pair of Maui Jim sunglasses, courtesy of Shady Grove Eye and Vision Care of Rockville, Maryland.

Read more HERE.

When 100-year-olds make the news, it’s usually in the human-interest pages. Last year Emma Hendrickson, 101, became the oldest person ever to compete in the U.S. Bowling Congress Women’s Championships, when she rolled a 318 series in Reno, Nev. Harriet Ames, 100, of Concord, N.H., earned her bachelor’s degree in January, then died the next day. Providence political operative Frank DiPaolo Jr., 103, still holds down his job as a doorman at the Rhode Island State House.

We’ll likely hear many more such stories in the coming years, because centenarians—people who have reached 100 years of age—are one of the fastest growing groups in the U.S. The number of triple-digit Americans zoomed from about 37,000 in 1990 to more than 84,000 in 2008, and is expected to reach 580,000 by 2040, according to the Census Bureau. But we should learn a lot from these stories too, because when it comes to independence, money and health, centenarians stand apart from younger seniors.

Read more: Why Centenarians Are So Content – Personal Finance – Retirement – SmartMoney.com

For information and assistance with elder care for an aging loved one in the Marco Island FL area, visit us at http://sanitasole.net.

Older Americans Month 2010

Age Strong! Live Long!

May is Older Americans Month—a tradition dating back to 1963 to honor the legacies and ongoing contributions of older Americans and support them as they enter the next stage in life.

This year’s Older Americans Month theme—Age Strong! Live Long!—recognizes the diversity and vitality of today’s older Americans who span three generations. They have lived through wars and hard times, as well as periods of unprecedented prosperity. They pioneered new technologies in medicine, communications, and industry while spearheading a cultural revolution that won equal rights for minorities, women, and disabled Americans.

These remarkable achievements demonstrate the strength and character of older Americans, and underscore the debt of gratitude we owe to the generations that have given our society so much. But the contributions of older Americans are not only in the past.

Older Americans are living longer and are more active than ever before. And with the aging of the baby boomer generation—the largest in our nation’s history—America’s senior population is expected to number 71.5 million by 2030.

While keeping the growing population of older Americans healthy and active will increase the demand for senior services, what is remarkable is the extent to which older Americans themselves are supporting each other. As the new generations of seniors become better educated and more financially secure than their predecessors, they are spending more time making significant contributions in their communities through civic and volunteer opportunities.

In fact, older Americans are a core component of service delivery to seniors—embodying and modeling the drive to Age Strong! Live Long! They volunteer at group meal sites and deliver food to homebound seniors; they act as escorts and provide transportation for older adults who cannot drive; they help seniors with home repair, shopping and errands; and they provide vital counseling, information and referral services. Their energy and commitment reminds all Americans—not just senior citizens and their caregivers—to do their part to enhance the quality of life for older generations.

The annual commemoration of Older Americans Month is our opportunity to recognize the contributions of older citizens and join them in providing services and support that empower the elderly. Americans of all ages and backgrounds can volunteer with programs that improve health literacy, increase access to quality health services, offer food and nutrition services, provide financial and housing counseling, sponsor social activities and community engagement, and more.

Contact your local Area Agency on Aging by visiting http://www.eldercare.gov or calling 1-800-677-1116 to find out what you can do to strengthen services for older Americans, this month and all year round.

For elder care in the Marco Island FL area, visit http://sanitasole.net.