Discovering Alcohol Use In A Senior

The following is a guest post by Melissa, Public Relations Coordinator for St. Jude Retreats – a non 12 step alternative to conventional alcohol and drug rehab.

"If you are currently responsible for the care of a senior citizen whom you believe has a problem with alcohol, things can become tense quickly. First, it's important to know the person's history with alcohol. If you know the person has struggled with alcohol for most of their life, they may be dealing with a deep-seated sense of hopelessness. This feeling of no hope can lead to extreme depression, causing them to drink even more. Warning signs such as outbursts, avoiding social interaction, dilated pupils, and the smell of alcohol are key as well.

"You may be wondering how someone could access alcohol, especially if they do not drive anymore. Well, very simply, alcohol isn’t always needed. The drunk effect can be felt from house hold items such as vanilla extract, mouth wash, or even hand sanitizer. The best practice is to check the trash for empty bottles. 

"There are many reasons why an elderly person may struggle with an alcohol use problem. Many times after their family has grown up and left the house, the loneliness is hard to deal with. These emotions may be an excuse for a person to begin drinking. Another reason may simply be they feel as if they no longer have purpose in life. At this point, drinking brings a comfort to them and a quick sense of relief.

"Even though a senior may think they have nothing left to achieve, they can overcome alcohol use. It is never too late for a senior to seek help or change their habits. It may take some time but there are programs that can help them to find a new sense of purpose. This is something as a caregiver you can work on with them every day. There are home programs for alcohol use that can fit perfectly into a senior’s routine, in turn giving them something new to look forward to.

"Never give up on a senior with a substance use problems. It is never too late for them to change and become the person they want to be. Goals and achievements may be different than 20 years ago, but they can still feel satisfaction and happiness in the later years of life."

If the above post resonates with you and you would like further information about the St. Jude Program, I recommend going to their website:  http://www.soberforever.net/alcohol-treatment.cfm. It's packed with helpful features for your review and consideration.

Robert Tell, Author

Dementia Diary, A Caregiver's Journal

Why Singing is Great Therapy For Dementia Patients

There's been a ton of stuff written lately about the positive role of music for people with dementia. If you are a caregiver, perhaps you've noticed that your loved one can sing songs from the past almost perfectly even when speaking just a few words is difficult to impossible. Why is this?

Well, I'm no expert, but Speech Pathologists tell me that singing is handled by a different part of the brain than speech. Whatever, just pay attention next time you are in a group setting at an assisted living facility or nursing home. You'll probably see a lot of smiling faces as you hear the residents singing songs from their youth.

For more information, check out the article, "The Power of Music" in the March 2013 issue of the AARP Bulletin. Another great source is Robbin Rio's book, "Connecting Through Music With People With Dementia (http://www.jkp.com/catalogue/book/9781843109051).

Then try a singalong with your loved one. You'll be glad you did.

Robert Tell, Author

Dementia Diary, A Caregiver's Journal

What should Seniors Know About Heart Disease?

The following is a guest post by Stephanie Warren,  a writer for Griswold Home Care .

"Griswold Home Care provides non-medical home care services to seniors and adults in over 150 locations nationwide. Their professional services are available from just a few hours a week to 24-7 care.

"As a home care provider, heart disease is a critical issue not just for the seniors we care for but for seniors everywhere.  Heart disease is the biggest mass murderer in America, killing more than 600,000 Americans each year. In fact, 84 percent of people age 65 and older die from heart disease. But according to the World Health Organization, an astounding 80 percent of premature heart disease and stroke is preventable. Though the risk of heart disease increases with age, it doesn’t have to be an inevitable part of growing older.

Know the Symptoms of Heart Disease

"Often, the warning signs of heart disease don’t appear until they cause a heart attack. Being prepared for a heart attack is essential: early treatment is essential for successful healing. Despite that, the majority of heart attack victims don’t seek help for two hours after symptoms begin. Protect yourself and your loved ones by knowing the signs of a heart attack:

* Pressure, fullness or squeezing pain in your chest that lasts more than a few minutes

* Pain that extends from your chest to your shoulder, arm, back or teeth and jaw

* Chest pain episodes that increase in severity

* Pain in the upper abdomen.

* Shortness of breath

* Sweating

* An impending sense of doom

* Fainting

* Nausea and vomiting

In women, additional symptoms may include:

* Heartburn or abdominal pain

* Clammy skin

* Lightheadedness or dizziness

* Unexplained fatigue

How to Prevent Heart Disease

"Don’t wait until you or a family member has a heart attack to worry about heart health. The right lifestyle changes will significantly reduce the risk of heart disease. Get started with these top tips:

1) Eat Better. Every week, it seems like the media reports contradicting advice on what to eat to keep your heart healthy. So stop watching the headlines and start following simple guidelines from trusted experts like the American Heart Association, which suggests eating a variety of nutritious foods such as vegetables, fruits, unrefined whole grains, and fish, and cutting back on nutrient-poor foods high in fat, cholesterol and salt.

2) Exercise more. 30 minutes a day, most days of the week will help keep your heart in prime pumping shape. If this number seems daunting, start small: two 15-minute brisk walks a day will bring you up to the correct total. Remember that walking the dog, gardening, and cleaning the house all work out your heart too. Find ways to stay active that are fun and engaging, and it will be easier to make them habits.

3) Don’t smoke. According to the CDC, smoking increases your risk of stroke and heart disease by two to four times. Any amount of smoking can cause your arteries to narrow and increase your risk of a heart attack. The good news is that, when you quit smoking, your risk of heart disease drops dramatically within just a year. So quit now, and your heart will thank you!

4) Stay at a healthy weight. Extra pounds around your middle can lead to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes -- all conditions that increase your chances of heart disease. But how do you know if your weight is putting you at risk? According to the Mayo Clinic, men are considered overweight if their waist measures more than 40 inches. Women are considered overweight if their waist measured more than 35 inches.

5) Get regular health screenings. If you have high cholesterol or high blood pressure, your heart may be accumulating damage as you read this. If you don’t know whether you have these conditions, the damage can occur without you having any idea. But if you’re aware of a risky condition, you can work with your doctor to make changes -- with medication or in your lifestyle-- to get a handle on your heart health and lower your risk. All regular heart health screening tests should begin at age 20, except blood glucose measurements, which should begin at age 40.

"Take steps now to educate yourself about heart disease and how to prevent it, and you can take big steps toward staving off this killer. With the right diet and lifestyle, you or those you care for can truly enjoy their Golden Years."

I hope this information is useful to my readers. I welcome serious guest posts to this blog that  provide meaningful data for seniors without undue commercialization. Let me know with your comments how you feel about this.

Many Thanks,

Robert Tell, Author

Dementia Diary, A Caregiver's Journal

How Do I Find The Best Choices for Medicare?

How do you "find the best" information for making good choices in the Medicare system? 

Certainly, the U.S. government websites, Consumer's Union, and several others provide tools that are worth adding to your arsenal of resources as you evaluate and re-evaluate your selections each year. Another one that merits your attention is FindTheBest.Com.

Readers of this blog have told me that the FindTheBest tool in the sidebar for Finding The Best Nursing Home has been helpful. There are other resources being made available by these folks that I'd like to suggest.

The following post was written by Ryan Franco of FindTheBest.com:

"If the time has come for either yourself or a loved one to choose a Medicare plan, read on.  At a glance, the Medicare industry has a tendency to confuse and intimidate, as sifting through all the Government data can be an uphill climb.

"The Government guides us to first decide between an original Medicare or Medical Advantage plan.  Next is the decision if you want prescription drug coverage (Part  D).  Finally, you decide if you want Supplemental coverage (Original Medicare only) or not.  Meanwhile you wouldn't be wrong to consider how the Medicare industry may change in the upcoming years.  It is safe to assume, you would want the best coverage for yourself or loved ones; and with so many variables to consider, the selection process becomes unclear.

"Today there is a powerful tool that compares the options in an unbiased format, and organizes the data about:

Medicare Part-D providers

Medicare Part-D plans  

Medicare Supplement plans

"The data is presented in a consumer friendly format so that you can make quick and informed decisions based on what's important to you.  The three mentioned comparisons allow you to search and compare your options by overall ratings, drug & health plan ratings, monthly premiums, and more. 

"Moreover, if you were to have a question about the Benefits within the Medicare Supplement plan, the Medicare Supplement guide breaks down how to choose between plans, benefits, Medigap Policies, and more.  The Guides, found at the top of each respective comparison, are a great resource to find answers to your questions, useful definitions, and FAQ's.

"So when you are researching providers, plans, and whether or not you want supplemental coverage, check out this easy to use resource to get the facts.  Once you have narrowed down your options, you can even compare your top choice (side by side).  This helps to really take everything into consideration when finalizing that decision. 

"The different paths down Medicare avenue are an important decision, but they don't have to be as dificult as they may appear.  Take your time when choosing a plan, research your options considering the benefits of each, then go and make an informed decision on what's best for you."

Check out the links referenced by Ryan Franco in the above quote. If they are helpful to you please let us know with your comments.

Thanks,

Robert Tell, Author
Dementia Diary, A Caregiver's Journal

Beyond Dementia Caregiving

With this post I introduce a necessary change in the purpose and goals for the Caregiver Chronicles blog. We began this project to focus on Alzheimer's Disease and other dementias and have been gratified to see the participation and comments of many people dealing with these diseases either as patients or their caregivers.  

We also wanted to introduce you to my book about caregiver burnout: "Dementia Diary, A Caregivers Journal." This has been very successful and continues to provide support to dementia caregivers worldwide. It may still be purchased by clicking on any of the links on the right.

The change we are reporting today is both timely and appropriate. It is one that many of our friends have asked for. Until now, discussions have focused on caregiver burnout, treatment developments, research for prevention or cures, and similar topics. We've been told that these have offered valuable hope and knowledge to readers.  Articles on these topics, of course, will continue to be welcome.

However, we are expanding our mission. Readers will have already noticed articles about aging and the elderly, Medicare and so-called entitlements, funeral pre-need planning, long term care insurance, and other topics only loosely related to our original purpose. These have been well received.

So, from now on, all topics of caring and caregiving, issues concerning physical and emotional health, medical care, and spiritual well-being, or anything of deep concern to you as a caregiver or care receiver, will be highlighted in these posts.

Let's hear from you.

Robert Tell, Author
Dementia Diary, A Caregiver's Journal

What's the One Thing You Never Want To Forget?

Samantha Kennedy has left the following new comment on my post "Why All the Fuss about Medicare Advantage?"

 "Every 69 seconds someone develops Alzheimer’s disease. Please share this video and one thing that you never want to forget to help end Alzheimer’s. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xeHTTonG6co&feature=player_embedded "

So here's my "one thing": One thing I never want to forget is the tight, loving, extended family I enjoyed as a child and young man. The people may mostly be gone now, but not their memories.

What's yours?

Robert Tell, Author
Dementia Diary, A Caregiver's Journal