Rosaleen Doherty's Elder Care Blog

Here is an interesting article that I found and wanted to pass on to you.  For more assistance with an aging loved on in your life visit us at http://www.rightathomemass.net/. 

91% of Americans surveyed said they would prefer receiving Long Term Care at home.

Indeed, of those needing care only 5% are in Skilled Nursing Facilities.

12% are in Assisted Living Facilities and more than

80% are receiving Home Care

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Alzheimer’s Foundation of America Applauds Social Security for Speeding Disability Benefits for Early-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease

The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) late last week applauded the Social Security Administration for including early-onset Alzheimer’s disease among the medical conditions that clearly qualify and will be given automatic approval for Social Security and Supplemental Security Income disability benefits, rather than have individuals go through what could be a lengthy qualification process.

The change, announced February 11, folds early-onset Alzheimer’s disease, as well as 37 other medical conditions, into what is known as the  “Compassionate Allowances” category. It takes effect March 1.

    ”Every minute counts for people with Alzheimer’s disease,” said Eric J. Hall, AFA’s president and chief executive officer. “By fast-tracking the process to obtain benefits, the Social Security Administration is assisting countless younger individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and their families whose quality of life depends on this type of support. The Compassionate Allowance will make an enormous difference in enabling affected individuals to move toward managing their diagnosis and planning for the future.”

 Early-onset Alzheimer’s disease is a rarer form of the brain disorder in which symptoms appear prior to age 65, even occurring in individuals in their 30’s and 40’s. More commonly, Alzheimer’s disease affects individuals 65 and older.

  Last September, in a comment letter to the Social Security Administration, AFA had pressed for fast-tracking in light of the significant number of individuals with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease as well as the additional issues they often face due to their younger age. For example, AFA had noted, they are less likely to be diagnosed because healthcare providers generally don’t look for this brain disorder in younger people; and many who are still employed when symptoms emerge are forced to give up work and other responsibilities due to their declining cognitive function.

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Visit our website for more information at http://www.rightathomemass.net/.

Here is a great article that I found and wanted to pass on to you.  For more great information and assistance with an aging loved one in your life visit our website at http://www.rightathomemass.net/. 

What a heart failure diagnosis really means for you

(ARA) – Hearing the words “heart failure” from your doctor is a frightening thing. If that is your diagnosis, you’re not alone – more than 5 million Americans are affected by heart failure. But while it is certainly serious, it is not quite as ominous as it sounds. The good news is that there have been tremendous strides in heart care treatment in recent years, which enables patients with the disease to live full, active, normal lives.

One key thing to remember about heart failure is what it actually means. It’s not a death sentence; it means that your heart muscle has changed. It’s either weakened or it has become stiff, which means that it has to work harder to pump blood throughout your body.

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How to Talk to the Elderly

By Connie Matthiessen

Adult children and their parents often have trouble talking effectively. Small disagreements can be irksome and frustrating; if they simmer and grow, they can poison your last precious months and years together. What causes these misunderstandings? According to David Solie, author of How to Say It to Seniors, they occur in part because the needs and developmental tasks older parents face are starkly different from — and at times even conflict with — those of their middle-aged children.

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Aging in Place Can be Done with Style and Grace

(ARA) – Aging in place – updating one’s home to accommodate changing needs and abilities as one ages – doesn’t have to mean sacrificing a home’s style and decor. From attractive lighting designed to work well for aging eyes to barrier-free shower stalls that compete in beauty and practicality with what you might find in a luxury community for those 55 and older, plenty of home modifications now make it possible to age in place gracefully and stylishly.

“It’s no longer necessary to give up your home’s good looks for a more institutional-looking appearance just to achieve a safer, more usable house,” says Eric Kozak of Premier Care In Bathing, leading makers of walk-in baths. “You can age in place and retain the style that makes living in your home comfortable and safe, and maintain your independence at the same time.”

With more than 78 million baby boomers growing older in the United States, aging in place – and how to do it well – is a hot topic for many homeowners. If you’re planning ahead or thinking it’s now time to update your home to accommodate changing needs, keep a few things in mind:

Kitchens and baths are commonly the most challenging rooms in the house for people, like many seniors, with mobility issues. Updating these rooms can go a long way toward helping you stay in and enjoy your own home for as long as possible. “Bathrooms, in particular, pose safety issues. Falls are one of the leading reasons seniors must go into nursing homes and most home falls occur in the bathroom,” Kozak says.

When renovating your bathroom, focus on the important elements, including low-level entryways, accessible grab bars, easy grip faucets and showers with safety screens. Other elements include safer, slip-resistant flooring; brighter, more flexible lighting; and safe access to the shower or bathtub.

Walk in showers

Stepping in and out of a tub or shower is one of the riskiest times for people with mobility challenges. Appropriately placed grab bars – now available in designer colors and textures – can help improve safety in these high-risk areas. Another option that’s high on safety and style is to replace a current shower or tub with a walk-in shower like those now offered by Premier Care In Bathing, whose walk-in bathtubs have made bathing safer and more convenient for thousands of Americans with mobility issues. The walk-in showers are a good option for wheelchair users or in rooms where a full-size tub is not practical.

Two size options, 48 inches and 60 inches, ensure convenience and luxury. A waist-high, folding screen, designed with proprietary technology, keeps water inside the shower and not on the bathroom floor. From the waist up, you can add your own decorative touch with the shower curtain design of your choice, hung on a gracefully curved rod like the ones found in quality hotel baths. Dual Delta showerheads provide the option of an overhead shower or a hand-held shower, and a safe and relaxing folding seat. Installation can often be done in just a day or two.

Visit www.premier-bathrooms.com or call (800) 578-2899 to learn more.

Flooring

That tile floor that you adored in your 40s can be a slip hazard when you reach your 70s. In fact, any hard bathroom floor surface such as linoleum, vinyl or tile can put you at increased risk of slipping and falling. Carpeting might be a better option, one that is slip resistant and warmer and softer on the feet. Many manufacturers now offer materials that are attractive and able to repel moisture. If installing carpeting isn’t practical for you, use area rugs with sticky backing to help ensure safe footing in high traffic areas, like in front of the commode, sink and bathtub.

Lighting

Aging eyes not only need more light to see, they need better quality light, especially at night. Avoid dim lighting; older eyes need several times more light than younger eyes to see well, experts say. Increase the amount of light in your bathroom and consider using naturally brighter bulbs like compact fluorescent bulbs, which are also energy-efficient.

Be aware of glare, as well. Bright lights bouncing off all-white bathroom surfaces can create glare that makes it difficult to see and navigate for older people, especially at night when they may not be fully awake. If your bath is all white, paint the walls a light color in a finish that will help reduce glare. Use area rugs on white floors to help break up the expanse of white and reduce glare.

“Boomers aging in place will find more options than ever before to do so with style,” Kozak says. “Safety should be your first concern, but you can also enjoy good style and beautiful design as well.”

Courtesy of ARAcontent

For more great information and assistance with an aging loved one in your life visit us at http://www.rightathomemass.net/.