Posts Tagged ‘elderly care’

Details With Regard To How Ultracet From An Online Drug Store May Successfully Relieve You Of Your Soreness

Tuesday, June 8th, 2010

Ultracet is a medication that uses both Acetaminophen and Tramadol to help relieve the pain that people experience due to surgery or other problems. It is a very effective drug that has a low risk for addiction or side effects. The medication offers a great non-narcotic solution for the temporary discomfort that many people experience.

The medication affects certain regions of the brain causing the sense of pain to be lessened. Unlike other medicines, there is a minimal risk of problems while taking it. Your doctor will explain everything before prescribing it.

Take all prescription medicines as the doctor has prescribed. Abusing them can cause a wide range of health related issues. Some of these problems could be acute.

While on any regime of medications it is important to have some sort of knowledge about the drugs that are being taken. Follow your doctor’s orders precisely and discuss any questions that may come up. Knowing all of these things will be beneficial in the acknowledgment of problems.

People who have allergies to either medication that is contained in the drug should not take it. Anyone who has recently taken any narcotic medications should be advised to stay away from any other prescription drugs for at least a day. Lastly, individuals who are currently being treated for any type of mental illness should talk to their physicians before ever considering another medicine.

Individuals who suffer from liver disease have a long list of health related issues. They should not take anything that has Acetaminophen. Studies have shown it to be toxic and its use can cause a multitude of problems.

As with any medication there are individuals who experiences side effects. Some of them are mild and will not cause any problems. Other issues are severe and can result in further medical treatments.

Ultracet is a very effective drug that can be beneficial to those who are suffering from pain. Be sure to listen to the doctor’s instructions and read any package instructions that come with the medication. This is the way to avoid any potential problems from taking the medication.

Davina Hemker is a medical aficionado and authority. She has worked for above ten years looking into the uses of Ultracet! As a result, Davina is ready to discuss all he has come to know with you! You’re likely to see it is incredibly uncomplicated to achieve the many benefits related to utilizing an Online Canada Pharmacy.

5 Common Mistakes People With Elderly Parents Make

Sunday, April 11th, 2010

1. Avoiding the discussion of alternative living arrangements for your parents.

Being proactive here is so important. When you have these discussions early and often you can be much less confrontational and it will be so much easier for everyone. Having these conversations earlier rather than later, you are able to approach them in a more relaxed, low-key manner.

If you wait until after Mom has fallen and broken her hip, the pressure is on and the emotions are high. At that point you are pressed for time to find answers quickly.

2. Being in the dark about your parents financial situation.

Know whether or not they have a long term care policy. If so, you should know where it is and make sure it’s easily accessible. Also, take some time to read through it so you know what it does and does not cover.

If your parents do not have long term care in place, do you know what other financial resources are available if needed? Perhaps a visit with an attorney to talk about Medicaid eligibility and spend down rules would be worthwhile. And if one of your parents is a Veteran, see if they are eligible to get coverage for certain services.

3. When your parents’ health starts to fail, thinking that a nursing home is the only option.

There are no shortage of options around these days. If your parent is resolute about staying in their own home, it is very possible to arrange for care there.

There are also ways to be very creative about combining several modalities of care. For instance, a family might have their father go to adult day care several times a week during the day, then have a caregiver stay over nights and family members supplement the other times if needed. The possibilities are endless to customize a plan that is just right for your situation.

4. Trying to find help at the last minute

Nothing is more stressful than trying to formulate a plan of care knowing your Mom is coming home tomorrow from the hospital. There is no way to make good, rational decisions that quickly and under that much duress. You will feel overwhelmed.

You’ll want to do your research as early as possible. Identify some facilities or agencies and contact them. See which ones you get a good vibe from and build a relationship with them. Arrange for you and/or your parent(s) to visit or have someone come to the home for an assessment. By starting the process sooner rather than later, you can call on people who are familiar with your situation if an emergency occurs.

5. Only looking at cost when deciding between care options.

This can be a tricky one. If you are looking at nursing homes, understand that there are very expensive ones that have poor track records when it comes to care. Fancy brochures, videos or tours don’t count for much. Try your best to talk with residents and their loved ones to get a better feeling about the quality of care the nursing home offers.

As for home care, be very careful about choosing the “cheapest” hourly rate. Remember that good caregivers demand to be paid more. Good homecare agencies cannot offer the best caregivers AND be the cheapest. Also ask to meet and approve of any caregiver before they start care.

Theanna Zika started Saint Louis home care company, Heavenly Helpers, in 2004. She shares tips, strategies and advice about caring for seniors that she has learned over the years on the blog at her company’s website. The site also features a helpful list of Saint Louis senior resources for seniors and their families in the Saint Louis Metro area.

A Quick Review Of The Stages Of Care For The Elderly

Monday, March 15th, 2010

When you age, the idea that you may not be able to look after yourself or live on your own becomes clearer. The alternative to give up your home may be on the list of hardest decisions you ever make. But were you aware that you might not have to give up your house right away? It’s true. Knowing what the different aging care choices are can help you make the decision that gets you the right level of care for your stage of life.

You’ll need to recognise when someone suffers from certain health conditions they will need very specialised care that’ll make some healthcare choices disagreeable. They can include Alzheimer’s or other kinds of dementia, care following a massive stroke or heart attack, or even similar to arthritis, where mobility can be profoundly affected.

Do you like the idea of staying in your own home? Consider a care provider who will come in and help look after your needs. Think about the specific needs you will want met, and the home itself. If mobility is a problem, someone may need to move to a home with no stairs. If you cannot lift, consider having help with your housework and yard work. You should think carefully about the different things you need to do around the house and make sure that these are taken care of in order to make living at home as successful as possible.

You may look at a retirement residence as a good transition from your home. You want to make sure that the facility you choose has activities you will enjoy and enough privacy and independence that you will feel at home there. Look at this place as somewhere you will want to live for a long time. Health care methods and advances in medical care can keep you around for many years to come.

You may be forced to look at a nursing home in order to take care of your specific health needs. If you are selecting a facility for a loved one, you need to make sure that the residents are healthy and well cared for. The cost of these facilities may be high, and there should be signs that the money is going back to the patients and being used to benefit them, as well as improve the facility. Look for a facility that can accommodate you or your loved one’s specific challenges and needs. Is there in house physiotherapy and routine medical check-ups? These can be important things to consider when picking a facility.

Palliative care just isn’t simply for those who are aging. It provides quality end of life care to those who are likely to pass away imminently. This may include people suffering from cancer or other diseases. This type of facility is often a facility of last resort, when people are too ill even for a nursing home. Often people will pass away in a nursing home rather than in palliative care but if a disease is very advanced, they may be moved either to a separate facility or to a designated area of a nursing facility.

You must think beyond the immediate situation when determining whether a specialized aging care arrangement is best for you. By learning about the aging process and any specific needs you have, you’ll find a facility that may assist you grow old gracefully and enjoy any remaining years you may have.

For more information on how to protect your assets and about long term care insurance visit us today. We represent 20 of the top LTCi providers.

The Beneficial Role Of Fish Oil Supplementation In Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis

Tuesday, March 9th, 2010

The beneficial effects of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids have been widely described in the literature in particular those on cardiovascular system. In the last decade there has been an increased interest in the role of these nutrients in the reduction of articular inflammation as well as in the improvement of clinical symptoms in subjects affected by rheumatic diseases, in particular rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

While the typical diet in the United States has a much greater ratio of omega-6 fatty acids compared with omega-3 fatty acids, research is showing that shifting this ratio-by increased consumption of fatty fish or fish oil supplements-may provide significant health benefits. Reductions in cardiovascular risk, depression, and rheumatoid arthritis symptoms have been correlated with omega-3 fatty acid intake, and there is increased interest in the use of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation for other psychiatric illnesses and prevention of Alzheimer’s disease.

The beneficial properties of fish oil are well known and are related to its fatty acid composition rich in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. A variety of epidemiological and clinical studies have demonstrated the efficacy of fish oil supplementation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The anti-inflammatory effects of fish oil are linked to the production of alternative eicosanoids, to the reduction of proinflammatory cytokines, to the inhibition of the activation of T lymphocytes and of catabolic enzymes. Fish oil supplementation could represent a valuable support to the traditional pharmacological treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

A study by Berbert AA et al (Nutrition Feb 21 (2): 131-6, 2005) evaluated whether supplementation with olive oil could improve clinical and laboratory parameters of disease activity in patients who had rheumatoid arthritis and were using fish oil supplements.

Forty-three patients were investigated in a parallel randomized design. Patients were assigned to one of three groups. In addition to their usual medication, the first group received placebo (soy oil), the second group received fish oil omega-3 fatty acids (3 g/d), and the third group received fish oil omega-3 fatty acids (3 g/d) and 9.6 mL of olive oil.

Disease activity was measured by clinical and laboratory indicators at the beginning of the study and after 12 and 24 wk. Patients’ satisfaction in activities of daily living was also measured. There was a statistically significant improvement in relation to group 1 with respect to joint pain intensity, right and left handgrip strength after 12 and 24 wk, duration of morning stiffness, onset of fatigue, Ritchie’s articular index for pain joints after 24 wk, ability to bend down to pick up clothing from the floor, and getting in and out of a car after 24 wk. Group 3, but not Group 2, in relation to Group 1 showed additional improvements with respect to duration of morning stiffness after 12 wk, patient global assessment after 12 and 24 wk, ability to turn faucets on and off after 24 wk, and rheumatoid factor after 24 wk. In addition, Group 3 showed a significant improvement in patient global assessment in relation to Group 2 after 12 wk.

Ingestion of fish oil omega-3 fatty acids relieved several clinical parameters used in the present study. However, patients showed a more precocious and accentuated improvement when fish oil supplements were used in combination with olive oil.

More convincing data support the efficacy of omega-3 PUFA in reducing pain, number of tender joints, duration of morning stiffness, use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and improving physical performance in RA patients. Kolahi et al (Clin Biochem Dec 23, 2009) from the Biotechnology Research Center in Tabriz University of Medical Sciences conducted a clinical trial to prove that fish oil supplementation decreases serum soluble receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand in female patients with RA.

Soluble receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand (sRANKL) to osteoprotegerin ratio is designated as a bone metabolism equation in many rheumatologic disorders and would be modified with fish oil (FO) supplementation. Eighty-three females with rheumatoid arthritis were divided randomly to 40 and 43 patients treated with (1 g/day) or without FO for 3 months accompanied with conventional drugs, respectively. Osteoprotegerin, sRANKL, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) serum levels were measured before and after treatment. Serum levels of osteoprotegerin increased, although sRANKL, TNFalpha and sRANKL/osteoprotegerin ratio decreased with FO therapy. A significant positive correlation was observed between sRANKL/osteoprotegerin ratio and TNFalpha levels (r=0.327, p=0.040) in the FO-treated group. CONCLUSIONS: FO could decrease the inflammatory response by lowering of serum TNFalpha levels and sRANKL/osteoprotegerin ratio.

In another study, Adam et al ( Rheumatol Intl Jan;(1):27-36) investigated the effects of both dietary measures, alone and in combination, on inflammation, fatty acid composition of erythrocyte lipids, eicosanoids, and cytokine biosynthesis in patients with RA.

Sixty-eight patients with definitive RA were matched into two groups of 34 subjects each. One group was observed for 8 months on a normal western diet (WD) and the other on an anti-inflammatory diet (AID) providing an arachidonic acid intake of less than 90 mg/day. Patients in both groups were allocated to receive placebo or fish oil capsules (30 mg/kg body weight) for 3 months in a double-blind crossover study with a 2-month washout period between treatments.

Clinical examination and routine laboratory findings were evaluated every month, and erythrocyte fatty acids, eicosanoids, and cytokines were evaluated before and after each 3-month experimental period. Sixty patients completed the study. In AID patients, but not in WD patients, the numbers of tender and swollen joints decreased by 14% during placebo treatment. In AID patients, as compared to WD patients, fish oil led to a significant reduction in the numbers of tender (28% vs 11%) and swollen (34% vs 22%) joints Compared to baseline levels, higher enrichment of eicosapentaenoic acid in erythrocyte lipids (244% vs 217%) and lower formation of leukotriene B(4) , 11-dehydro-thromboxane B(2) (15% vs 10%, P less than 0.05), and prostaglandin metabolites (21% vs 16%, P less than 0.003) were found in AID patients, especially when fish oil was given during months 6-8 of the experiment.

A diet low in arachidonic acid ameliorates clinical signs of inflammation in patients with RA and augments the beneficial effect of fish oil supplementation.

Dr. Jack Haddad, MD, MBA is the founder and owner of King of Home Care, an independently owned non-medical In-home care agency. In addition to his compassion and dedication to the home care industry, Dr. Haddad’s expertise and knowledge with hospice care is evident by the clinical research trials that he has conducted over the years.

Reduce Dark Circles Under Eyes by Following a Good Way of life

Monday, March 1st, 2010

If you are suffering from dark circles around your eyes, it’s likely that you are worried about your condition. It’s also likely that folks will ridicule you due to your current position thus they may begin to call you with different terms like panda eyes, charcoal eyes, etc. Fundamentally , if you want to curse why you have them on your eyes then you’ll only be squandering your time because this condition essentially happen due to different reasons. What you must do at the moment is to focus more on how to reduce dark circles under eyes rather than sulking in great distress.

To find the answers to your problem, you might like to be sensitive first about your way of life. Here are just some of the things to think about :

1. In case you are fond of consuming a diet which is very high in salt content then you should know that this is an unhealthy habit because you are allowing the body to retain more water than what it actually needs. The best way to deal with this problem is to consume a greater amount of water. This will allow the body to flush out the sodium through the excessive water you are taking. This way, you can potentially reduce dark circles under eyes.

2. Also, make it a point to shun away from salted foods the most effective way you can. This further suggest the necessity to stop eating on junk food, and taking good to go meals because they’re routinely packed with higher salt content so they can be saved longer.

3. Be sure to have enough sleep per day. Nevertheless, the mere act of making sure that you have 8 hours of sleep per day is not a guarantee because you need to be able to get a peaceful sleep more than anything else.

4.Run away from the habit of smoking and taking alcoholic drinks to reduce dark circles under eyes. Instead, boost your water consumption to great extent.

5. Be sure to live a healthy lifestyle. Try to have an exercise routine and be sure to eat foods rich in vitamins and minerals. Although this thing have no direct effect to reduce dark circles under eyes but they can potentially work really good to prevent the problem from even taking place. After all, prevention is always better than cure.

That is what I can tell you about reduce dark circles under eyes, there is more in-depth knowledge at Best Eye Cream For Dark Circles.

Let’s Learn About Electric Wheelchairs

Wednesday, February 17th, 2010

Perhaps the greatest scientific contribution that Canada has made to the entire world is that of the electric wheelchair. Developed by Dr. George Johann Klein in the 1950s, this has been considered as a wonder invention in the field.

Dr. Klein integrated the opinions of patients, doctors, electronic engineers and scientists, before making this useful invention. His efforts were supported by the National Research Council of Canada, Canadian Paraplegic Association and the state’s Department of Veteran Affairs.

The wheelchair today is found useful not only by the invalids and quadriplegics; but also persons with cardiovascular irregularities. The models now available are meant for both indoors and outdoors. Some models are compact and portable with various features.

The electric wheelchair is controlled by electronic devices operated by computer devices such as joysticks. There are some chairs regulated by puff/sip scanners or chin controls. These devices monitor the speed and direction of the chair as well as make it perform the functional motions and activities including tilting, stretching out, seat elevation and so on and so forth.

The electric powered wheelchair is very much a boon to those whose life has been limited because of their disability. They will no longer need an external help to move around and perform the basic functions. They can be self-reliant to a great extent.

These wheelchairs have some disadvantages too. Repairing an electric wheelchair consumes money and time. Another drawback is its price. It is not affordable for a common man. The price starts from $1000 to $3000 for an ordinary one and can cost around $10,000 for an advanced model.

Are you shopping for an electric power wheelchair? If so, head over to the electric power wheelchairs web site.

Straight forward Strategies For Deciding on An Adequate Dementia or Alzheimer’s Home For Your Aging Loved Ones

Wednesday, February 17th, 2010

Dementia refers to a number of illnesses like Alzheimer’s and other mentally debilitating conditions characterized by disorder of the brain. It is characterized by symptoms like lack of concentration, loss of senses and memory, and problems in interacting with others. Given the symptoms, caring for the patient becomes a very difficult task for the family members and relatives.

This is where well managed dementia care homes can provide you with a safe place for your loved one suffering from such a debilitating mental condition, and assure you that they will be taken care of by experts. However, it is better to take a few things into account before deciding upon a dementia care home.

The primary factor to keep in mind is the level of care that the patient needs. This is based upon the type of disease and how much the patient is affected by it. If personal care is all that a patient needs, it will not be difficult to find a care home to provide that. Though most of the care homes have the basic facilities, if you want some special medical care and attention, you should check if the care home will be able to offer that.

Secondly, you should inquire into the amenities provided at the dementia care home. This includes sanitation, hygiene, the condition of the rooms, quality of food, as well as the expertise of the staff working in the home.

The third factor to be taken into account is the cost. Generally, dementia care homes are quite expensive, and therefore it is advisable to do a comparative analysis of costs of different homes before selecting one.

Finally, a significant proportion of patients are unwilling to stay in a care home as it makes them lonely and they lose touch with their family and friends. Therefore, it is very important that you arrange regular visits for the patient, which is possible only if the home is in your locality.

Was this article useful to you? If so be sure to surf over to dementia residential care homes for similar content.

Natural Options For Dark Circles Under Eyes

Tuesday, February 16th, 2010

It is built in in each human to go looking for something which will let them save their money. In case you are given a free spaghetti sauce but your chum told you to try the latest sauce in the city, you’ll for sure go for the free kind next time you cook. Indeed, nobody want to spend their money on something when they see that they have a choice to save.Now, in case you see yourself afflicted with dark eye circle but you simply do not have the cash to spare then you the products for dark under eye circles that you must try are those “natural” ones.

Some of these products can be found on your cupboard because they are ordinary things that you use inside your home:

1. Castor Oil

The ordinary Castor oil could be an enormous help to clear up your under eye problem. Simply rub a little amount on your eyes before you hit the sack at night and see result after few applications.This is among of the most effective products for dark circles under eyes.

2. Almond Oil

In case you do not have castor oil, you can go for almond oil instead. This is excellent in figuring out skin pigmentation problem. All you’ve got to do is to rub a bit of almond oil on the area affected. Be certain to do this process each night to get the best result. On the other hand, olive oil is another choice to try.

3. Multivitamins

Another option you have among those products for dark circles under eyes is the use of multivitamins. A good one can potentially get rid of pesky dark eye circles. Be sure to have something that contains Vitamin B, E, and something packed with plenty of iron. A lot of people in fact confess that they were able to see a big result after using Vitamin E.

4. Orange

This particular option among the products for dark under eye circles is not merely a good source of vitamin C but this is something that can eradicate troublesome dark eye circles in no time. After all, it is vital for you to uphold a healthy skin at all times.

By this time, you can select which of these natural products you can try and use to aid in dumping aggravating dark eye circles in the swiftest possible time.

If you are interested in products for dark circles under eyes, you will get more information if you learn about hydrolyze under eye treatment.

When Contrasted With The Costs Associated With Nursing Homes, Home Care Is A More Desirable Option

Saturday, February 13th, 2010

Many elders and their families are considering home care as a viable option, as the costs for nursing care facilities rises to astronomical figures. Many elders enjoy the independence of living in their homes, while receiving the required medical care that cannot be furnished from their relatives or friends.

At some point we may need to make decisions for ourselves or our loved ones when living at home alone is no longer possible and more care is needed. But can we afford the elder care costs? How much do the options really cost?

The preponderance of evidence from studies of cost-effectiveness suggests that home health care is less expensive than extended hospitalization from the standpoint of third-party payers, especially when specific patient groups are studied, such as those with incurable cancer requiring parenteral nutrition or individuals requiring intravenous antibiotics.

A prospective clinical assessment by Kramer et al, which was published in the Journal of Health Services Research, reported the following:

Case-mix differences between 653 home health care patients and 650 nursing home patients, and between 455 Medicare home health patients and 447 Medicare nursing home patients were assessed using random samples selected from 20 home health agencies and 46 nursing homes in 12 states.

Home health patients were younger, had shorter lengths of stay, and were less functionally disabled than nursing home patients. Traditional long-term care problems requiring personal care were more common among nursing home patients, whereas problems requiring skilled nursing services were more prevalent among home health patients.

Considering Medicare patients only, nursing home patients were much more likely to be dependent in activities of daily living (ADLs) than home health patients. Medicare nursing home and home health patients were relatively similar in terms of long-term care problems, and differences in medical problems were less pronounced than between all nursing home and all home health patients.

From the standpoint of cost-effectiveness, it would appear that home health care might provide a substitute for acute care hospital use at the end of a hospital stay, and appears to be a more viable option in the care of patients who are not severely disabled and do not have profound functional problems. The Medicare skilled nursing facility, however, is likely to continue to have a crucial role in posthospital care as the treatment modality of choice for individuals who require both highly skilled care and functional assistance.

Moreover, home care appears to be a more viable option in the case of patients who are not severely disabled and who do not have profound functional problems such as mental status impairment or incontinence.

As discussed previously, prospective payment under Medicare is likely to increase the number of elderly patients discharged from the hospital with “subacute” care needs. That said, home health care should be encouraged by public policy as an alternative
for many of these individuals by creating incentives for treating patients with skilled care needs in the home.

Furthermore, there is considerable interest in expanding the scope of home health services to provide a substitute for patients generally treated in nursing homes and covered by Medicaid. Medicaid Waiver Programs (Section 2176) and other demonstration
programs approach this by providing additional services (such as homemakers and adult day care), which assist in compensating for functional disabilities and poor social supports.

In view of the changing demographics of the population, it seems advisable to pursue alternatives to nursing home care for patients in need of long-term care. Onemajor advantage of home health agencies is that they require considerably
less capital to initiate than is required for nursing home construction. On the other hand, it is extremely difficult to provide a range of functional services in the home or community at a cost comparable to nursing home care for patients with heavy care needs in this area. The
cost-effectiveness of the home care option seems to depend in part on the ability to select patients who would otherwise utilize nursing home care but who can be treated in the home at comparable or lower cost.

Jack Haddad, MD, MBA
Portfolio Manager
MD Capital Management

Affiliated Hospitals
Sutter-Roseville Medical Center, Roseville, CA
San Francisco General Hospital, San Francisco, CA
San Jose Orthopedic Medical Group, San Jose, CA
Highland Hospital, Oakland, CA

Dr. Jack Haddad, MD, MBA is the founder and owner of King of Home Care, an independently owned non-medical In-home care agency. In addition to his compassion and dedication to the home care industry, Dr. Haddad’s expertise and knowledge with Home Care is evident by the clinical research trials that he has conducted over the years.

The Role Of Long-Term In-Home Care For Alzheimer’s Patients

Tuesday, February 9th, 2010

Caring for a family member inflicted with symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease is both debilitating and a challenging task. Each day brings new demands as the caregiver copes with the rapid progression of the new patterns of behavior of the Alzheimer’s patient.

In preparing and setting up an effective home care for an Alzheimer’s patient, a compassionate caregiver must make the following changes in a new home environment:

1. As the disease progresses, adjusting your communication style to the patient’s changing needs.

2. Scheduling visitors to avoid surprises and have something to look forward to. Even if the elder with dementia does not recognize those who visit, the contact is nonetheless valuable for them.

3. Establishing routines in activities of daily living. Be accepting of the increasingly limited capabilities of the person with dementia and implement care strategies accordingly. Do your best to be patient, kind, flexible, supportive, and calm. This disease is no one’s fault, although it is very aggravating and disappointing.

By the same token, don’t take problem behaviors (like aggressiveness or wandering) personally. Accept the symptoms of the disease and proceed from there. Remember that the person is not behaving this way on purpose.

Plan activities that the patient is interested in, such as art, cooking, walking, swimming, or gardening. Focus on enjoyment, not achievement. If the person is lucid enough, involve them in making music, doing puzzles or crosswords, or playing memory games, card or board games. Or, the patient may passively enjoy hearing music, contact with pets, or sitting outside in the garden.

Go for walks in the neighborhood, go for a drive, or spend time at a park. Walking is often therapeutic, although the pace may not be as vigorous as you might like. Develop a style of paying more attention to the beauty and novelty of your surroundings as you walk.

4. Maintaining social contacts and fun. During the early stage of the disease, caregivers can promote the patient’s sense of well being by providing emotional support and by helping to maintain familiar activities and social contacts.

Even when Alzheimer’s patients no longer have the cognitive ability to understand your humor, they can still appreciate it. They may still smile or laugh and sharing that laughter can be a relief to both you and your charge. Use the same modes of humor as you always have: teasing, nonsense, clowning. Be even more silly than usual!

To counteract isolation and loneliness, encourage family and friends to stay involved. Take the patient to family gatherings if it’s comfortable to do so. Schedule visitors, to avoid surprises and have something to look forward to. Even if the elder with dementia does not recognize those who visit, the contact is nonetheless valuable for them.

Sometimes the caregiver will want to join the patient in family gatherings or stay in the home when visitors are present. Caregivers can start feeling isolated and lonely themselves as more and more of their time is built around the elder’s needs. If the patient feels safe with the visitors, the caregiver can use the visiting time as an opportunity for relief and respite. Adult day care has similar benefits: social stimulation for the patient and free time for the caregiver.

5. Promote comfort and safety. As problems with memory and judgment increase, the patient becomes more vulnerable to accidents and injuries. There will be times when you’ll want to remind the person that they have Alzheimer’s. At other times it might be better to refer to a “memory problem.” Even if you repeatedly tell the elder that they have Alzheimer’s disease, they may not remember that you told them. Be prepared to patiently repeat the information at times when you’re trying to help the person understand why they can’t do something or why you are taking over a task the person used to do.

Carefully screened and compassionate caregivers regard their responsibility as a way of being involved with their loved one. Their caring is based on unconditional love, and they do not consider it a burden. Dementia patients are able to read body language and to respond to the positive attitudes of the caregiver. Where patient and caregiver have had problems in their past relationship, it can be especially challenging to empathize and be kind, so a support system for the caregiver is most important.

6. Communicate with an Alzheimer’s patient. A good home care service trains caregivers to acknowledge requests and respond to these patients. Don’t argue or try to change the person’s mind, even if you believe the request is irrational. Be affectionate with the patient, if this feels natural. Try not to set up a cycle of paying attention only when the person displays problem behaviors. Break this negative cycle by being supportive of positive behavior.

Jack Haddad, MD, MBA
Portfolio Manager
MD Capital Management
Affiliated Hospitals
Sutter-Roseville Medical Center, Roseville, CA
San Francisco General Hospital, San Francisco, CA
San Jose Orthopedic Medical Group, San Jose, CA
Highland Hospital, Oakland, CA

Dr. Jack Haddad, MD, MBA is the founder and owner of King of Home Care, an independently owned non-medical In-home care agency. In addition to his compassion and dedication to the home care industry, Dr. Haddad’s expertise and knowledge with In-Home Care is evident by the clinical research trials that he has conducted over the years.


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