Nursing Home Care Greater Phoenix & Nursing Home Care Central Phoenix gives Phoenix elders and seniors quality care at home. Call today 623.583.5868, 602.265.8228 or 480.991.3959.

Most Support Alzheimer’s Research Based on Family Consent

By the time they have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, many patients’ decision-making ability is so impaired they cannot give informed consent to participate in research studies. Close family members are left with the decision, but there is no clear policy for this “surrogate” consent. Consequently, research is often stalled.

A new study led by the University of Michigan Health System suggests that older Americans are very supportive of family surrogate-based research and would support having their family members enroll them in case of future incapacity.

Lead author Scott Y. H. Kim, M.D., Ph.D., said that some institutions have gone so far as to not allow surrogate consent at all because of uncertainties about federal policy.

The federal policy states that surrogate consent can be provided by legally authorized representatives of adult patients, but the federal government defers to states to define who these representatives are. The lack of a clear definition has caused widespread confusion and uncertainty for three decades, Kim says.

“We wring our hands about this issue in ethics circles,” Kim said, “but people seem to understand that we need to do this kind of research to find ways of treating Alzheimer’s.” He said that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has formed an advisory committee to look at this issue.

Nursing Home Care Greater Phoenix & Nursing Home Care Central Phoenix gives Phoenix elders and seniors quality care at home. Call today 623.583.5868, 602.265.8228 or 480.991.3959.

It’s no secret that many seniors are concerned about the cognitive changes that typically occur with aging; some experience memory problems, have trouble expressing their thoughts, and on the more extreme end, some unfortunately have to live with Alzheimer’s or dementia. While unfortunately there are no cures for those who are forced to live with the more severe conditions, there are things that individuals can do throughout their lives, including during their senior years in order to improve their memories, and even delay the onset of dementia.

It may sound too good to be true, and it will become even more unbelievable when I tell you that exercise is the secret weapon, and even more specifically, walking. This is great news, since walking is a physical activity that is quite easy on the joints of a senior; those who do not suffer from mobility issues would be able to incorporate it into their day-to-day routines.

Modern medicine has always claimed that exercise can be beneficial towards preventing dementia and Alzheimer’s, according to William J. Evans, Director with the Institute for Aging at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. “We know that exercise is the one intervention that has the most powerful and consistent effect on the prevention of dementia and Alzheimer’s.” “So get out there and start walking.”

Nursing Home Care Greater Phoenix & Nursing Home Care Central Phoenix gives Phoenix elders and seniors quality care at home. Call today 623.583.5868, 602.265.8228 or 480.991.3959.

We give familiy caregivers respite when caring for an elder. Home Instead Senior Care gives helpful tips on caring for someone with Alzheimer’s. We would like to hear from you, the family members on this arduous path. Leave us your comment. Add tips you’ve learned along the way when helping someone with memory loss. You can live outside Phoenix to share information, experiences and tips. See comments below to add a tip or experience.

Dementia and memory loss is a confusing disease for families and the person living with Alzheimer’s.

Alzheimer’s disease, especially the earlier months or years of onset, comes on slowly and most are aware of the mental impairment. People stricken with the disease respond in a way that’s typical of their personality. While a few people with Alzheimer’s are passive and resigned to their fate; some are angry and abrasive; and most are depressed with low self-esteem. There are those who deny it and hide it from friends and family.

As Alzheimer’s disease progresses, you will notice they become clinging and dependent. They lose the ability to do favorite activites that once brought joy. Your loved one’s behavior may surprise and bewilder you. Here’s a few tips from Home Instead Senior Care that are helpful when their daily activities become difficult. These tips will help ward off anxiety, depression, and agitation.

• Limit their options – Fewer choices makes deciding easier. Consider laying out clothes for dressing, choosing coffee and tea - limit the number of choices. It reduces distractions and helps focus on one thing at a time.
• Involve them – Set up successful accomplishments each day allowing them to do tasks he/she is able to do. You, the family member or friend, may need to prompt them or give a cue. For example, place a hairbrush in their hand and say ”brush your hair.”
• Give them time – Be patient. Everything takes more time when your loved one has Alzheimer’s disease.

Nursing Home Care Greater Phoenix & Nursing Home Care Central Phoenix gives Phoenix elders and seniors quality care at home. Call today 623.583.5868, 602.265.8228 or 480.991.3959.

Getting a flu shot every year could cut the risk of dying from flu in half for people over age 65, a new study suggests.

A recent New England Journal of Medicine study reports that, even if the vaccine isn’t always a perfect match for the strains circulating in any given year, an annual vaccine decreases by one-third the risk of hospitalization due to flu complications. Researchers studied 10 flu seasons’ worth of data, HealthDay reports.

“Most people feel that influenza is a mild disease and one that doesn’t cause people to become very ill,” said infectious disease specialist Dr. Michael Ison of Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. “But it can cause serious complications, and the majority of hospitalizations and illness is in people older than 65.”

The New England Journal of Medicine study included more than 400,000 people over age 65 who’d been vaccinated and 300,000 seniors who hadn’t been vaccinated. All the study participants lived on their own, not in nursing homes or other long-term care facilities.

Those who received a vaccine were 27 percent less likely to be hospitalized due to flu complications, compared to the unvaccinated. The death rate was 48 percent lower for those who received the annual flu shot, according to the study.

Nursing Home Care Greater Phoenix & Nursing Home Care Central Phoenix gives Phoenix elders and seniors quality care at home. Call today 623.583.5868, 602.265.8228 or 480.991.3959.

Our home care agencies are located in Maricopa County. We give familiy caregivers respite when caring for an elder. Home Instead Senior Care gives helpful tips on caring for someone with Alzheimer’s. We would like to hear from you, the family members on this arduous path. Leave us your comment. Add tips you’ve learned along the way when helping someone with memory loss. You can live outside the Phoenix area to share information, experiences and tips. See comments below to add a tip or experience.

Dementia and memory loss is a confusing disease for families and the person living with Alzheimer’s. If you have a concern or would like to learn more, Home Instead Senior Care Phoenix can help.

Alzheimer’s disease, especially the earlier months or years of onset, comes on slowly and most are aware of the mental impairment. People stricken with the disease respond in a way that’s typical of their personality. While a few people with Alzheimer’s are passive and resigned to their fate; some are angry and abrasive; and most are depressed with low self-esteem. There are those who deny it and hide it from friends and family.

As Alzheimer’s disease progresses, you will notice they become clinging and dependent. They lose the ability to do favorite activites that once brought joy. Your loved one’s behavior may surprise and bewilder you. Here’s a few tips from Home Instead Senior Care that are helpful when their daily activities become difficult. These tips will help ward off anxiety, depression, and agitation.

• Limit their options – Fewer choices makes deciding easier. Consider laying out clothes for dressing, choosing coffee and tea - limit the number of choices. It reduces distractions and helps focus on one thing at a time.
• Involve them – Set up successful accomplishments each day allowing them to do tasks he/she is able to do.
• You, the family member or friend, may need to prompt them or give a cue. For example, place a hairbrush in their hand and say “brush your hair.”
• Give them time – Be patient. Everything takes more time when your loved one has Alzheimer’s disease.

Nursing Home Care Greater Phoenix & Nursing Home Care Central Phoenix gives Phoenix elders and seniors quality care at home. Call today 623.583.5868, 602.265.8228 or 480.991.3959.

If you are among the millions facing this dreadful disease either living with it yourself, or you love or know someone who is, you are not alone and you don’t have to deal with it in a vacuum.

There are about 4.5 million Americans and an estimated 290,000 Canadians living with Alzheimer’s disease.  And by the age 85, the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease reaches nearly 50%.  The number of Americans with Alzheimer’s disease is expected to continue to grow. By 2050, the disease could affect from 11.3 to 16 million people.  It’s a scary number but what is horrifying is knowing what the disease does to individuals and families.  It literally robs them of life and their past.

Home Instead, through research, found that the national direct and indirect annual costs of caring for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease are at least $100 billion.  And about $24.6 billion covers Alzheimer’s health care and $36.5 billion covers costs related to caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer’s, including lost productivity, absenteeism and worker’s replacement.  We were astonished to find 24 million people in the world have dementia which is projected to rise to 81 million by 2040?

Now the question you may be asking is “Who Provides Alzheimer’s Care?”  Let me ask you, “are you?”  If you are the primary provider of someone living with Alzheimer’s, I would like to hear from you.. please tell us your story in the comment box below.  What’s it like for you?  Do you face caregiver stress? If so, how are you dealing with it day to day?  This blog is for family caregivers, like you.  It would be helpful for family members dealing with Alzheimer’s or Dementia to hear how others, wearing similar shoes, get by day to day.

Azheimer’s Care Requires Good Communication to Smooth the Process

The physical, emotional and financial effects of caring for a family member with Alzheimer’s disease can be serious threats to a family caregiver’s welfare, especially as stress and pressures mount.  If you need help or assistance with your loved one living with Alzheimer’s in Phoenix, contact Nursing Home Care Greater Phoenix & Nursing Home Care Central Phoenix. Call today 623.583.5868, 602.265.8228 or 480.991.3959.

When a person has Alzheimer’s disease, the damage to his or her brain can make it difficult to recall or to understand words. Attempting to recall or decipher words can be overwhelming and result in frustration. The person may become agitated or repeat one word or a question over and over – a true test of your patience and understanding.

Individuals with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementia often:

• Lose their train of thought.
• Need more time to comprehend what is being said.
• Curse or use abusive or offensive language.

As a family member, you can enhance communication with your loved one by:

• Avoiding distractions and noise.
• Keeping things simple – using short sentences and plain words.
• Avoiding questions – offering suggestions instead.
• Being patient and not interrupting when your loved one is expressing him or herself.
• Maintaining eye contact and showing interest. Staying near your loved one, so he or she knows someone is listening and trying to understand.
• Not taking it personally. As hurtful as it is, you need to remember it is the disease talking, not your loved one.
• Using props and cues to increase recognition. For example, when taking your loved one to the bathroom, you can point to the toilet and ask, “Do you need to go to the bathroom?”
• Remaining calm – using a normal and relaxed voice. Patience pays off with a smoother day.

Most families know little about Alzheimer’s disease and how best to cope. We have found that when family caregivers are equipped with some practical information and easy-to-apply techniques, they can more effectively care for their loved one and reduce their own level of stress.

Nursing Home Care Greater Phoenix & Nursing Home Care Central Phoenix gives Phoenix elders and seniors quality care at home. Call today 623.583.5868, 602.265.8228 or 480.991.3959.

A new study shows that decrease in vision function is a key factor in older drivers deciding it’s time to stay off the road.

Johns Hopkins University researchers conducted the Salisbury Eye Evaluation and Driving Study, which looked at changes in vision, cognition and the general health of more than 1,200 licensed drivers aged 67 to 87 in Salisbury, MD, a community with limited public transportation.

The results show that, after a year, 1.5 percent of the drivers had given up driving, and another 3.4 percent had restricted their driving, MediLexicon reports.

Older drivers are the fastest growing sector of licensed drivers in the U.S. “The decision to stop or limit driving to one’s own neighborhood has major implications for personal independence, but it is an important way to maintain the safety of older drivers and those who share the road,” said researcher Lisa Keay, Ph.D.

As an increasing number of older persons give up their car keys, the need for services such as those provided by Home Instead Senior Care will increase.

Nursing Home Care Greater Phoenix & Nursing Home Care Central Phoenix gives Phoenix elders and seniors quality care at home. Call today 623.583.5868, 602.265.8228 or 480.991.3959.

A new AARP survey examines the healthcare and prescription drug challenges facing Baby Boomers and older Americans in the weakened economy. The poll of Americans age 45-plus shows positive signs that much of the population is embracing healthy habits and practicing wise use of prescription drugs, but finds they can do more to reduce their healthcare bills and improve their health.

The survey showed significant concern among all age groups about future healthcare bills. More than one in five Americans age 45 to 64 (21 percent) reported being not very or not at all confident that they could afford medical care in 2009.

While those 65 and older were less worried, 70 percent of those surveyed who are enrolled in the Medicare Part D prescription drug program said their current Part D premium was as much as they could afford.

The survey found the impact of rising healthcare costs is already alarming. Fifteen percent of all respondents said they had cut back on medications or not filled a prescription in the past year because they could not afford it. Such behaviors may increase patients’ risk of developing more significant health problems that require drastic and costly healthcare later in life.
 
As concerns about cost increase, the survey shows Americans have adopted habits to improve their health and lower their healthcare costs. A majority of those surveyed are using their medications wisely by having regular assessments of their prescriptions by their doctor (80 percent), asking about generic versions when getting a new prescription (67 percent) and keeping a personal medication record (62 percent). Nearly 60 percent of those 55 to 64 reported asking their doctor about other ways to reduce their medications — like increased physical activity and dietary changes.

While most older Americans surveyed are practicing good health habits, the survey found many are still missing out on easy ways to reduce their healthcare bills and control the growth of health care spending. Only a third of respondents reported seeking out information to compare drug prices. AARP.org has tools available to find safety and cost information, as well as generic alternatives.

Nursing Home Care Greater Phoenix & Nursing Home Care Central Phoenix gives Phoenix elders and seniors quality care at home. Call today 623.583.5868, 602.265.8228 or 480.991.3959.

At least one in 25 older adults takes multiple drugs, including non-prescription medications, in combinations that can produce a harmful drug-drug interaction, University of Chicago Medical Center researchers report.

The number of drugs taken by older people has significantly increased over the last decade. More than half of older adults now take five or more medications or supplements.

“Older adults are the largest consumer of prescription drugs,” said study author Stacy Tessler Lindau, MD, assistant professor of obstetrics, gynecology and medicine. “We find that they commonly combine these prescription medications with over-the-counter medications and dietary supplements, which can increase their vulnerability to medication side effects and drug interactions.”

The study used data collected for the National Social Life, Health and Aging Project, a nationally representative multi-purpose survey of adults ages 57 to 85 administered between July 2005 and March 2006. Sixty-eight percent of the adults who took prescription drugs also used over-the-counter medications or dietary supplements. Men were more likely to take over-the counter medicines, while women were more likely to use supplements, such as vitamins or herbal remedies.

Nearly half of the drug interactions identified could cause bleeding problems. One of the most common was taking Warfarin, a prescription drug designed to prevent blood clots, along with an over-the-counter drug, such as aspirin, that also interferes with clotting.

Physicians and pharmacists should ask patients about the use of non-prescription medications, and patients need to inform their doctors about all medications they use, including non-prescription, Lindau said.

For more information, see the University of Chicago news release.