What is long-term care?  Long-term care is support and health services for persons who have lost the capacity for self-care due to illness or frailty.

What is long-term care?  Long-term care is support and health services for persons who have lost the capacity for self-care due to illness or frailty.

Who needs long term care insurance? A common misconception about long term care is that it is just for the elderly. Anyone of any age or occupation may need long term care at any time for any length of time. Age is not an issue with long term care.

When will I need long-term care? When you continuously need substantial assistance to perform 2 of the 6 activities of daily living. Those activities could be bathing, continence, dressing, eating and toileting. Or, when you require substantial supervision to protect yourself from threats to health and safety due to the presence of a cognitive impairment.

How long must I need care to be considered long-term? When a chronic illness has left you needing care for more than 90 days. 

What are the levels of long-term care? There are three levels of care that can be provided in an array of long-term care settings.

Custodial Care: is non-skilled care that is necessary due to a cognitive impairment or to assist you with your daily activities. 

Intermediate Care: the care provided by a registered nurse or other skilled nursing professional on an interim basis, not necessarily daily.

Skilled Care: the care provided by a doctor or registered nurse on a daily basis. This care is usually provided in a skilled nursing or rehabilitation facility.

Respite Care: short-term, limited services from home care to healthcare provided by outside agencies to provide the primary caregiver a break from the responsibilities of full-time eldercare. 

Where are these services provided? These services can be provided at home, a community based care environment or in a facility.

What other services are provided during a long-term illness? When a person is receiving care, the main caregiver may need time off from their duties. Respite care allows the caregiver to be away for several days or just hours to run errands. If you have a terminal illness and have less than 6 months to live, you may need Hospice Care.

What are the chances that I may need long-term care? Over 70% of people over age 65 will require some long-term care services at some point in their lives.

 Information provided by Senior Care Concepts and Guide to Long Term Care .

If you receive quotes from several highly rated insurers and yet find that the premiums are still too much to bear, there is no need to panic and assume that long-term care insurance costs too much. You may be able to adjust the benefit amounts of the original quotes to bring the premiums more in line with your expectations—and ensure an affordable policy.

Know the Costs of Long-term Care Where You Live

One way to lower premium costs is to make sure you know what the actual costs of care are in your area. There are many statistics used when discussing long-term care costs and often these are based on national averages. The actual cost of home care, assisted living facilities and nursing homes in your particular area may be much lower.

You can find out about local long-term care costs by either downloading the latest Genworth Cost of Care Guide or by calling a few local home care agencies and long-term care facilities to ask for comparison rates.

Adjust Your Benefit Period

Another way to lower long-term care insurance premiums is to use a shorter benefit period. Many consumers feel that unlimited benefits are necessary for good coverage. A recent study published by the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance in their 2009 Sourcebook revealed that only eight percent of those who buy a three-year benefit period exhaust the policy and still need care. Only a little over one percent of those with a five-year benefit period will see their claims closed due to policy exhaustion. This means that lowering the benefit period can be a practical way to lower insurance costs without sacrificing vital coverage.

Information provided by Gilbert Guide

Too many times we go through our day to day activities and sometimes not even think of the signs that our body is saying. Caregivers & Seniors know how to prevent cardiac arrest and save yours or your loved ones life.

What is cardiac arrest?

Cardiac arrest is the sudden, abrupt loss of heart function. The victim may or may not have diagnosed heart disease. It’s also called sudden cardiac arrest or unexpected cardiac arrest. Sudden death (also called sudden cardiac death) occurs within minutes after symptoms appear. Unlike a heart attack, which involves a blockage of the coronary artery and can lead to damage to the heart itself, sudden cardiac arrest is the result of a severely abnormal heart rhythm that stops the flow of blood to the rest of the body. A heart attack can actually cause sudden cardiac arrest when the arterial clot triggers an irregular heart beat. But although sudden cardiac arrest and heart attacks may occur together, it is possible to experience sudden cardiac arrest without a blockage in the artery.

What are the most common symptoms?

The most common symptoms of sudden cardiac arrest are sudden collapse, lack of pulse, no breathing, and loss of consciousness. Though sudden cardiac arrest can strike without warning, people experiencing heart palpitations; rapid or irregular heart beats; persistent chest pain; shortness of breath; blackouts, dizziness, or fainting; fatigue; and/or vomiting should see a doctor immediately.

Prevention

Healthy living is one of the best ways to lower the risk of sudden cardiac arrest. This includes eating a well-balanced diet of fruits, vegetables, fish, exercising regularly, reducing stress levels and a smoke free environment. Frequent visits to the doctor, for screening is advised after a certain age, especially for those with heart disease in the family.

Risk factors

Risk factors are not unlike those of heart attack and other coronary diseases:

• Hypertension
• Diabetes
• Smoking
• Advanced age
• Cholesterol
• Male gender
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Obesity
• Family history of early coronary artery disease
• People who have heart attacks when younger (Male less than 55, female less than 65)

Heart attacks and sudden cardiac arrest starkly remind us of our physical vulnerabilities, often a consequence of unhealthy lifestyle choices. They are the heart’s way of telling us in no uncertain terms that we need to change our routines, if not our entire way of life, if we want to continue living. Take care of yourself and your loved one as life is precious.

Commandment I: Take The Oxygen First

Caregiving is an experience of confusion, challenge and mixed emotions. Love for your family member and the satisfaction you derive from helping may create a situation where one sacrifices their lives at the “alter of caregiving”.  That sacrifice gives rise to conflicting emotions such as guilt, stress, anxiety and a host of other mental health challenges. It is imperative as a caregiver to take care of one’s own mind, body and soul by taking the oxygen first.

Commandment II: Never Assume

Caregivers are no different than others in that we tend to make assumptions about other people and situations before actually having gathered all of the needed information.  Let’s make a sincere effort to garner all the details before we make assumptions.

Commandment III: Have Ongoing Family Conferences

Roles and responsibilities are extremely important to explain to all involved. Ongoing family conferences maintain the boundaries necessary to the caregiving process so that no one feels out of control or inadequate.  This is vital and should be done in person and as frequently as needed.

Commandment IV: Do Not Isolate

Social isolation can detach and separate a caregiver and give rise to a wide variety of stresses for those taking care of loved one. Participating in a support group helps caregivers manage stress by sharing their experiences and helping to improve caregiver skills.

Commandment V: Do Not Take Anything Personally

Taking things personally is about self-importance, “the maximum expression of  selfishness” where we assume everything is about “me”.  The actual words said by your loved one are not what is hurting you; it is that you have wounds that are touched by what was said.

Commandment VI: Plan Ahead/Have Contigency Plans

No doubt if you are a caregiver Plan A needs to be made out but has to be followed by Plan B, a contingency plan.  Turn to other people for help- your family,friends and neighbors.  Planning ahead is vital as it gets all on the same page, allows your loved one to feel safe and to have continuity, lessening their anxiety.

Commandment VII: Do Not Fall Prey To Shame & Stigma

Shame and stigma have tragic consequences. Caregivers with mental health challenges fail to seek help for themselves because of the shame associated with their condition.  As a result of this feeling many think they will experience some form of discrimination, whether in the workplace, from health insurance plans or in social settings. They must get help for their behavioral issues in the same manner they would get help for any other medical condition.  Matters get worse if the caregiver represses their own mental health issues and keeps it hidden.

Commandment VIII: Use Community Resources

A full complement of support services that address the caregiver and the recently diagnosed exists in every community.  The quality and the extent of such a continuum of resources may vary but just know that neither a caregiver nor their loved one has to be alone.

Commandment IX: Honor Sacred Memories

Empower yourself and your family using experiential approaches to memories.  Take time to “remember”. Get away from it all while relaxing with yourself and your loved ones.

Commandment X: Find Humor In Many Places

“Laughter is the Best Medicine”  Try to see the humor in being a caregiver. There are positive effects to be gained from laughter as a great tension-releaser, pain reducer, breathing improver and general elevator of moods. In short, humor therapy is valuable and it helps us through difficult or stressful times.

For more information on this article go to www.leezasplace.org

When it’s hot out, it is important to remember to:

• Avoid long exposure to the sun
• Drink plenty of fluids (water is best)
• Avoid caffeine and alcohol
• Spend as much time as possible in an air-conditioned or cool environment – either at home or at cooling centers (community shelters made available during heat emergencies)
• Use fans in well-ventilated areas (a fan in a closed room simply redistributes the heat)
• Have family, friends and neighbors check on Seniors regularly to see how they are withstanding the heat
• Never ignore danger signals like nausea, dizziness and fatigue. If you or anyone you know needs medical attention, call 911 immediately
• Take cool baths or showers
• Wear lightweight, light–colored clothing
• Avoid strenuous activity, especially during hottest time of the day
• Avoid heavy meals, using cooking ovens, and don’t take salt tablets unless directed by a physician
• Keep shades drawn and blinds closed, but windows slightly open
• Keep electric lights off or turned down

During heat emergencies, communities are involved in door-to-door outreach; Senior Centers, Adult Day service sites and other familiar buildings serve as cooling centers, and information is provided on an ongoing basis through agencies serving seniors.

Cooling Center Available in La Grange

Hot weather conditions are being forecast for the next several days.  The Village, in cooperation with La Grange Memorial Hospital, is prepared to provide temporary shelter for residents in need of this service.  These conditions can be especially dangerous for older adults.

If you, a family member or a neighbor are in need of such assistance, go directly to La Grange Memorial Hospital.  Use the main emergency room entrance, ask for security, and indicate the need for the cooling center.  Hospital security will provide an escort to the center.

For additional information or emergency assistance, call the Village’s Emergency Dispatch Center at 9-1-1.

Information provided by Illinois Department on Aging & Village of LaGrange

The Centers for Disease Control, reports that falls are the leading cause of injury deaths among older adults, as well as the most common cause of hospital admissions for trauma. So it’s important to take steps to prevent falls, including these:

1. Prevent and Treat Osteoporosis. Making sure everyone’s getting enough calcium and vitamin D is key here. Many older adults stop drinking milk, and don’t realize that the lack of low fat dairy in their diets is sabotaging their intake of nutrients necessary for bone health. Vitamin D is particularly troublesome, since it’s found primarily in fortified milk, and there are few other dietary sources. Many older folks stay inside more and get less sun exposure, so they end up with low vitamin D levels without knowing it. Find ways to sneak more calcium and other bone-building nutrients into your diet and see your doctor for a bone density test. Most experts recommend regular bone density tests after the age of 65, but if you’re thin, eat a diet low in dairy, have a family history of osteoporosis, or have any other risk factors, ask for a bone density screening now.

2. Improve Strength and Balance with Exercise. Exercise classes designed with the safety, confidence, and special needs of older adults are springing up at community centers, gyms, senior centers, and elsewhere across the country. No matter where you live, it shouldn’t be hard to find a gentle movement, dance, or yoga class designed with older bodies in mind. For example, the Arthritis Foundation offers a variety of classes through local chapters. Another option becoming more and more popular is Tai Chi, an ancient Chinese martial art, that’s now offered through many health centers such as Kaiser Permanente facilities. Several studies have shown that Tai Chi improves balance and reduces the risk and the fear of falling among older adults. In one study, people between the ages of 70 and 92 who took Tai Chi three times a week for six months had a 55 percent lower risk of falling than a comparable group who didn’t take classes.

3. Treat Balance Problems. When an older adult starts feeling dizzy and having balance problems, the culprit is often the inner ear. One recent study found that 35 percent of all older adults had balance problems caused by changes within the inner ear due to aging. And most of these are treatable. People who have BPPV (Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo), which accounts for about 20 percent of all cases of inner ear dizziness, swear by a new procedure called the Epley maneuver — also called canalith repositioning procedure (CRP). BPPV is caused by a buildup of tiny calcium carbonate crystals in the inner ear, and the CRP effectively repositions the crystals.

Article provided by Caring.com

The easiest way germs are transferred is by coughing or sneezing into your hands and rubbing your eyes, nose or mouth. Many times, people don’t realize they are at risk. Another way germs are transferred is through food. It is extremely important to wash your hands before and while you are cooking for a client. Bacteria also thrives on toilets, doorknobs, railings, sinks and other commonly used objects so think about all of the objects you touch before visiting a client. 

Caregivers deal with many different clients everyday therefore it is extremely important to keep hands clean. 

When should you wash your hands?

• After lengthy contact with any client.
• Before & after situations in which your hands are likely to be contaminated, including bathroom breaks, your lunch break and before and after your workday.
• After gloves are removed (since the gloves may have a hole).
• If a client asks you to wash your hands, do so, don’t be offended.
• Whenever you are preparing food for a client.
• If a client has pets, wash your hands frequently while visiting.
• If someone in your family is sick, keep your hands as clean as possible all day long, so you don’t pass on germs to your clients.
• After sneezing or coughing.
• When you arrive to see a client and once again when you leave.
• Before and after you put on gloves.
• Anytime you think it might be a good idea.  

Article provided by In the Know Inc.

Depression is a disease not just a way of feeling. Everyone feels “blue” now and again, but those feelings of sadness go away. Depression is different.  It is an illness that comes from a chemical imbalance in the brain. People who are diagnosed with depression have an illness that affects their whole body, including their thoughts, feelings, behaviors, physical health, appearance and daily activities. 

The most important thing to remember about depression and the elderly is that being depressed is not a normal part of getting older. However, depression is a common illness in the older population. Doctors say that depression in the elderly increases the risk of heart disease and death from a heart attack. Depression also affects how the blood clots, so people with depression may develop dangerous blood clots after surgery.

Elderly people often have one or more chronic illnesses. Depression often occurs with illnesses such as Heart Disease, Stroke, Diabetes, Cancer and Parkinson’s disease.

The risk factors that make an elderly person more likely to suffer from depression include:

• Being female
• Living alone
• Having few friends
• Being a widow
• Fear of death
• Having chronic illness or dementia
• Having a recent death in the family
• Having a family history of depression

There are a number of ways to treat depression. Some are treated with medications and some are treated with therapy or both. If you are caring for an elderly that has signs of depression or has been diagnosed with depression, be positive and be patient. Encourage your clients to participate in their care. Doing activities they enjoy (if they are able) can go a long way in relieving depression.

How MedicAlert & Safe Return Works

When a person with Dementia wanders or becomes lost, one call immediately activates a community support network to help reunite the lost person with his or her caregiver. When a person is found, a citizen or law official calls the toll free 24-hour emergency response number on the identification product and the individual’s family or caregivers are contacted.  The nearest Alzheimer’s Association office provides support during search and rescue efforts. In addition, should medical attention be required, access to a personal health record (PHR) is immediately available.

Benefits of MedicAlert + Safe Return Membership

• Provides you peace of mind
• Provides vital medical information to emergency responders
• Live 24-hour emergency response service for wandering and medical emergencies
• 24-hour family notification service
• 24-hour care consultation services provided by master’s level counselors   

 To enroll for this program or for more information on this article go to www.medicalert.org

Here are some common telltale signs:

• Does the senior lose checks, forget to make deposits and/or overdraw checking accounts?
• Have important bills not been paid?
• Are mail and paperwork piling up?
• Does the senior sometimes lose track of what has happened?
• Is the senior unable to produce the paperwork to file taxes?
• Has he or she purchased expensive, unnecessary financial products? Are the products scams that lead to complete losses?
• Has the senior given personal and financial resources away in exchange for guarantees of attention, love and care?
• Has there been loss or breakage of valuables?
• Has the person deferred trust to people who have take advantage of them with deceptive promises of security and benefits (including family, sales and services people, tenants, etc.)?

Talk early, talk often and plan ahead.  Start the discussion before it gets to this point. An elderly person who is perfectly capable of making his or her own decisions today may not recognize it when the time comes to “let go.” At that point, it’s up to the designee to act responsibly, moving forward and taking control at the appropriate time.

For more on this article go to www.gilbertguide.com