IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF OSTEOPOROSIS

When you think about staying healthy, you probably think about making lifestyle changes to prevent cancer and heart disease. But, keeping your bones healthy is just as important. Here are some important facts.

We have 206 bones in our body. And it’s important to keep them strong by getting enough calcium, vitamin D and weight-bearing and muscle-strengthening activity. However, that might not be enough. Talk to your doctor about your risk factors and how you can prevent osteoporosis.

44 million Americans have low bone density or osteoporosis. In fact, about one in two women and up to one in four men over the age of 50 will break a bone due to osteoporosis. By 2020, half of all Americans over age 50 are expected to have low bone density or osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis is considered a pediatric disease with geriatric consequences. Up to 90 percent of peak bone mass is acquired by age 18 in girls and age 20 in boys, which makes youth the best time to build strong bones to last a lifetime.

There are many reasons people get osteoporosis. Some of these include having a family history of broken bones, smoking, not getting enough physical activity, unhealthy eating habits, drinking too much alcohol, taking certain medicines and having certain medical conditions.

Osteoporosis can sneak up on you. You can’t feel your bones becoming weaker. You could have osteoporosis now or be at risk without realizing it. A bone mineral density test can tell if you have osteoporosis before you experience symptoms, such as breaking a bone.

Osteoporosis isn’t just a problem for older Caucasian women. While osteoporosis is common among white women, men and women of all races and ethnicities can develop the disease. It can also strike at any age.

These are just a few facts about osteoporosis.

National Osteoporosis Foundation

1150 17th Street, NW Suite 850

Washington, DC 20036

800.231.4222 T | 202.223.2237 F

www.nof.org

Bathing and personal hygiene of their loved one has long been a struggle for caregivers. If their loved one has dementia, this issue may further become one riddled with fear and trepidation. While bathing can be difficult for the elderly, it is necessary for skin cleansing and infection control as well as providing an opportunity for the caregiver to inspect the senior’s skin. Socially, a bath controls body odor, enhances social interactions and provides positive touch.  But the question remains, “How can we make shower time less of a strain on your personal relationship?”

§         Communicate Tell your loved what you are going to do before proceeding. “Mom, I am going to help you get undressed for the shower.” Approach from the front and maintain eye contact. If he/she becomes violent, back off and try another time.

§         Schedule Set up a bath schedule and use a calendar. Find a time of day where he/she is less likely to have outbursts. Use incentives to get him/her to bathe, such as telling your loved one that they must bathe before a favorite TV show or a favorite dessert. Once or twice a week is sufficient for seniors if they are not incontinent and keep the genital area clean.

§         Atmosphere Make it like a spa experience. Dim the lights and play relaxing, instrumental music. Use scented soaps/lotions, heated towels (use heated towel bars/containers or pluck them from the dryer) and a warm fuzzy bathrobe.

§         Temperature Turn up the heat one to two hours before the bath to keep the bathrooms warm. Seniors are often cold when we are wearing short sleeves. If there is tile in the bathroom, cover them with a plush bath rug or carpet (watch for falls). If you have an overhead heater, turn that on. Wear a t-shirt so you’re not overheated!

§         Safety Make sure the bathroom is safe - use bath chairs, non-slip mats/appliqués and grab bars. If the senior doesn’t feel safe, he or she will not agree to bathe.

§         Equipment Install a hand-held shower. The water spray in the face is distressing as often happens when sitting in a shower chair. The hand-held shower also allows the warm water to pour over them as they wash resulting in a greater sense of control.

§         Modesty Allow your loved one to do as much bathing independently as possible. Keep the doors closed and curtains drawn. Always cover the genitals with a washcloth or keep a light gown on the body that is not being bathed.

If your loved one still refuses to bathe, use alternative methods. Use no-rinse washcloths and dry shampoo. Try a “weekly bath” with everyday washing one part of her body using washcloths. For example, Monday wash her arms, armpits and back, Tuesday, feet and legs. Ask her to take that body part out of her clothes one at a time to wash, dry and then switch. It takes longer but your loved one may be more open to this. Sometimes you could time it during a trip to the washroom and use that as an excuse to clean the genitals. Use powders, body sprays, etc to help cover the body odor when you just can’t get them to bathe.

And lastly, many home care agencies offer a bathing service so that you don’t have to do the “dirty work”. Hire them and then go out for a cup of coffee to de-stress. Home & Hearth Caregivers offer a variety of packages that include bathing. Call us at 800-349-0663 for your complimentary, no obligation home assessment.

World’s First Electronic Medical Bracelet!

 Home & Hearth Caregivers has partnered with CARE™ Medical History Bracelet to offer the world’s first electronic medical bracelet to their clients.

Imagine all of your Medications, Physician and Emergency information at your fingertips wherever and whenever you need.  The bracelet can be plugged into any computer providing instant access for emergency medical responders taking the guess work out of your care.

·         Easy to use and update

·         Customizable

·         Waterproof

·         Portable

·         Durable

·         And all the software is included 

Call us today to see how you can

get yours for free!

1-800-349-0663

10. Home & Hearth Caregivers is ready to fulfill whatever needs the client request.  No task is too small or activity too large.

9. All our Home & Hearth Caregivers staff are licensed, bonded and insured.

8. All of our caregivers are experienced professionals and go through an extensive screening process including drug testing.  All of the Caregivers have passed thorough criminal background checks and participate in our ongoing training sessions.

7. We are flexible to our clients needs whether they need two hours or 24 hour live-in care.

6. Home & Hearth Caregivers are conveniently located in your neighborhood. Home & Hearth Caregivers provides care in the greater Chicago metropolitan homes of seniors living in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, Will and other counties in Illinois.

 5. Home & Hearth Caregivers can be reached in the evening or on weekends, 24 hours a day 7 days a week.  

4. Home & Hearth Caregivers allows our clients to choose their own caregiver. After meeting the family and performing an in-depth assessment in the home, we review the Caregivers uniquely qualified for each situation and choose two to introduce to our client. They are then free to decide which individual they feel would be the best fit in working with them at home.

3. Home & Hearth Caregivers is not a nationally franchised company where one can get lost in the shuffle.

2. Home & Hearth Caregivers has high standards due to the fact that we are a division of Parker Cromwell HealthCare. We have committed ourselves to set the bar to enrich your experience and to surpass your service expectations in the senior home care industry. 

1. Receive one free hour of Senior Care when you sign up for 6 or more hours of service.

Caring for the Caregiver

If you don’t take care for yourself, you will have nothing left to give! I know what you are thinking…it’s easy for you to say. I’m so focused on my loved one that I have trouble carving time out to take care of my own needs and family obligations. You are not alone, so STOP…take a breath, and don’t feel guilty for taking time out for yourself. The following steps can help you minimize some of the stress you’re feeling so you will be less overwhelmed by the caregiver role:

Accept your own limitations and those of others.

• Don’t sweat the small stuff.
• Learn to laugh, watch situation television shows, read books and share stories.
• Avoid junk food, keep a balanced diet and exercise every day.
• Save time and money; shop on-line or via catalogs.
• Educate yourself on your loved one’s medications (keep a list of dosage, time of intake and doctors’ numbers by the phone and in your wallet).
• Learn to relax. Use relaxation techniques, meditate, listen to music and visualize a calm setting.
• Get a hobby or re-establish an old one.
• Join a support group.
• Educate yourself on your loved one’s affliction so that you’ll know what to expect
• If help is offered by friends, neighbors and others don’t be afraid to accept it. If it will lighten your load, do it.
• If you’re not getting many offers of support, you may want to ask family members if they might be able to offer some.
• There may be help offered in your community, so doing some research in that area may yield some useful results (Church, Synagogue, park district, senior centers).
• If you are religious or have spiritual leanings, now is a good time to rely on them, and gain strength from your faith as well as your spiritual community.
• Hire a reputable home care agency like Home & Hearth Caregivers that can step in for a couple of hours a day/week to assist you in your loved one’s home.
• By taking an hour or two to go to a coffee shop, watch a movie, or immerse yourself in a good book are all easy options that can help you to ward off burnout.

The main idea here is to take good care of yourself physically, mentally and emotionally so that you will be able to handle the challenges of caretaking and continue to provide care for your loved one.