Home Care Cincinnati Ohio, Dayton Ohio, Erlanger KY,Family Bridges Home Care, Elder Care, Senior Care

Senior Care in Dayton OH: Talking Dementia with Your Doctor
from Alzheimer’s Weekly

Health care can be confusing.

Whether you are just starting treatment or your treatment is already underway, it is never too late to take an active role in your health care.

By talking with your doctor, nurses, and other people on your senior care team, you can make sure you are not missing the best treatment for you.

Here are a few tips to help you better understand your treatment options:

1. Give your doctor as much information as you can.
Don’t wait for your doctor to ask questions. Share everything—even information that might be embarrassing. This information can help your doctor make better recommendations.

• Tell your doctor about all your symptoms.
• Talk about what is most important to your quality of life. You can use the Department of Health & Human Services’ Health Priorities Tool to make a list of what is important to you.
• Keep a list of your past illnesses, operations, and treatments. Share the list with your family and bring it to your appointment.
• Bring a list of your medicines (or bring them in a bag) to your appointment. Tell the doctor how much and how often you take each medicine.
• Tell your doctor about allergies, reactions, or side effects you’ve had from medicines.
• Tell your doctor if you take herbal products or alternative medicines, supplements, or treatments.

2. Ask as many questions as you need to understand your diagnosis.

If you do not ask questions, your doctor may think you understand everything you are being told.

Write down your questions before your visit so you do not forget anything. Start by asking the most important ones and work your way down the list. To get you started, here are some questions you might want to ask:

• Why would this treatment be good for me?
• What are the chances this treatment will work?
• When will I notice a difference?
• How much does this treatment cost?
• Will this treatment hurt?
• What are my other options?
• Are there side effects?
• What can be done about the side effects?

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If you and your family are facing dementia in a parent or loved one and need help with care, Family Bridges Home Care is the answer. For information about how Family Bridges can help you and your family with senior care in Dayton OH, call our caregivers at (888) 900-0048. We provide quality and affordable care and assistance to seniors, veterans and the disabled in our community.

Home Care Mason OH: How to Arrange Breaks From Caregiving With Respite Care
8 ways to get occasional or regular backup help for a few hours, a few days, or longer
By Barbara Kate Repa, Caring.com Author

Options for respite care range from informal agreements with friends and neighbors to formal contracts for home care services with an agency or onsite at a facility. Here are eight ways to do it:

1. Ask for help from family and friends.

How it helps: You’ll get a break; those filling in will better understand both your needs and your loved one’s needs. An added benefit: The one receiving care will benefit from receiving comfort and company from another trusted person.

What it costs: This type of care is usually free. It’s sometimes a good idea to either pay a small amount or to compensate family or friends informally with gas station cards, restaurant meals, or other goods or services.

How to get started: Ask the person who needs care whom he or she misses most or would like to spend more time with and who may also be able to lend a hand. When approaching potential helpers, be specific about what’s required — and get a solid commitment about the days and times they’re available.

2. Hire or recruit In home care assistance or companion.

How it helps: A home care companion can prepare meals, do light housekeeping, help with laundry, shop for groceries, run errands — and, most important, offer companionship to the person you care for when you can’t be there.

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Family Bridges Home Care is the perfect solution to temporary home care in Mason OH. If you would like more information, please call our caregivers at (888) 900-0048. We are a home care agency providing care and assistance to seniors, veterans and the disabled in our community.

What If There Was a Cure?
The Benefits of Coconut Oil for Patients of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, ALS (Lou Gehrig’s), Autism and other Diseases
By Mary T. Newport, MD,

Home Care Cincinnati OH: My husband Steve, now 61-years-old, has early onset Alzheimer’s disease. In May 2008, while he was screening for clinical trials, I came across information about a potential treatment in development: AC-1202, now called Axona.

As I learned about the potential treatment, I learned that consuming medium chain triglycerides (derived from coconut oil) resulted in improved cognition in about half of the persons with Alzheimer’s or Mild Cognitive Impairment in their studies.

So, I gave my husband Steve some coconut oil. He had a dramatic response with a remarkable improvement in clock drawing and in his memory testing. Two months later, Steve continued to improve and other people confirmed that it was not my imagination.

Steve ‘s dramatic improvement began on the very day he started taking coconut oil. This was consistent with results of the first Axona study in which nearly half of the people had improved memory scores after taking just one dose of Axona.

Since we had changed nothing else in the months prior to or immediately after starting coconut oil, it ‘s reasonable that it was the cause for his improvement.

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For information about how Family Bridges Home Care can help your family with home care Cincinnati OH, call our caregivers today, 888-900-0048. We are a home care agency providing care and assistance to our seniors, veterans, and the disabled in our community.

Will You Raise Your Hand to Stop Diabetes?
by ADA

November kicks off American Diabetes Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about how diabetes affects the lives of millions of Americans. And, this year we are thrilled to launch our boldest, most extensive program ever!

We’re asking people to “Raise their Hand to Stop Diabetes” by making a personal pledge to take action against this deadly disease. Throughout the month, we’ll spotlight individuals and programs making valuable contributions in the fight to Stop Diabetes. From outspoken advocates and community leaders to medical professionals and celebrities who battle the disease every day, be sure to visit our Facebook page daily for their stories of triumph and perseverance.

Read more here

If you would like information about senior care in Dayton OH, contact the caregivers at Family Bridges Home Care. We provide quality and affordable home care to seniors, veterans and the disabled loved ones in our communities. Call (888) 900-0048.

Home Care Cincinnati OH: November is Long Term Care Awareness Month

Each November, during Long-Term Care Awareness month, Americans are reminded to think about their future care needs.

Why the big deal about LTC Awareness?

It is estimated that persons who turn 65 today, could need up to three years of long-term care services, with almost two years of that care provided in the home with home care. Long-term care is needed when you have a chronic disease or disability that causes you to need assistance with Activities of daily living, such as eating, bathing, dressing or mobility.  Cognitive issues of memory loss, confusion or disorientation also give rise to long-term care needs.

Depending on how much you need, these types of services can be expensive. Medicare and other health insurance do not include most long-term care services, so planning for how you might pay for long-term care becomes important. If you have fairly low income and savings, you may qualify for Medicaid, the federal public program that pays for most long-term care services. Other federal public programs, such as the Older Americans Act, and state-funded programs, pay for long-term care services, but, like Medicaid, these programs cover services for people with high levels of disability and low income and savings.

Sources:
http://www.longtermcare.gov
http://www.send2press.com

To learn more about home care in Cincinnati OH and how Family Bridges Home Care can help your family, call (888) 900-0048. We are a home care agency providing quality and affordable home care to seniors, veterans and the disabled loved ones in our community.

October is National Depression Education Awareness Month
by Lu Ann Presser, Dorothy Love Retirement Community

Major depression affects an estimated 19 million American adults every year. Nearly twice as many women as men suffer from depression.

Symptoms of major depression interfere with the ability to work, sleep, eat, or enjoy pleasurable activities. It can occur at any age.

Low levels of the chemicals serotonin and norepinephrine are believed to attribute to depression. These substances are called neurotransmitters and they carry electrical signals from one nerve cell in the brain across spaces (called synapses) to other cells.

Life events may also be responsible for a person’s depressed mood, such as a death of a loved one, financial concerns, martial problems, and health issues.

In the past few years we have heard much about Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). In the winter months we are exposed to less light. Research indicates that the absence of sunlight triggers a biochemical reaction that may cause loss of energy, fatigue and lethargy, decreased activity and sadness.

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If you or someone you know needs help with elder care in Mason OH or the surrounding area, contact the caregivers at Family Bridges Home Care. We provide quality and affordable elder care for many disabled and elderly loved ones in our community. Call us at (888) 900-0048 for more information.

High-tech Ways to Care For the Elderly
By Barbara Mahany

Elder Care Dayton OH– Used to be, the phone or good neighbors were the best bets for keeping tabs on someone you love who’s elderly and living alone – especially if you lived too far to buzz over every day.

Now, a host of technological devices and Internet-based solutions are crowding the elder care landscape, making it more convenient, and less worrisome, to know that all is well with an aging relative or friend.

We talked to gerontology nurses and gerontologists to get the lowdown on what’s smart, what’s dignified, and what’s best avoided. Far more important than all the high-tech is the simple act of talking about it to make sure any high-tech monitoring is seen not as an invasion of privacy but rather a means of allowing a person to more safely live alone.

“Sometimes in our eagerness for safety, that whole aspect of a person’s autonomy – and dignity – is being trampled,” says nursing professor Margaret Bull, who specializes in elder care issues at Marquette University in Milwaukee.

“As much as possible, match what’s in that person’s comfort zone,” advises Dena Schulman-Green, a gerontologist at Yale University’s College of Nursing, who often opts for low-tech elder care solutions but certainly not always. “Some older adults are very into technology, and using such devices makes them feel part of the modern world and less of a burden to their kids.”

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If you or someone you know needs help with elder care in Dayton OH or the surrounding area, contact Family Bridges Home Care. We provide quality and affordable elder care for many disabled and elderly loved ones in our community. Call us at (888) 900-0048 for more information.

October Is Organize Your Medical Information Month: Are You Prepared For An Emergency?
By LTC Expert Publications

Along with other observances this month, we want to share something that benefits the caregivers of our seniors, loved ones and friends.

When it comes to your medications and dosage, allergies, or life threatening challenges to a medical professional, emergency response professionals and caregivers need to know about you, what you are taking or what could harm you should there be an emergency.

The Vial of Life is the perfect solution. Having this information on your refrigerator for emergency response is invaluable. This information could be a life saver!

What is the Vial of Life?

The Vial of Life is designed to speak for you when you can’t speak for yourself. The vial contains important medical information that can assist emergency personnel in administering the proper medical treatment.  It is a small vial, bag, envelope or container that has all of your pertinent medical information in one place. It is also provided free, thanks to the ongoing support of American Senior Safety Agency.

“The Vial of Life is free because it should be!” Every person should have a Vial of Life form filled out. Seniors need this because of their constant medical changes and medications. It’s the right thing to do.

Put one in your wallet, in your glove compartment, and especially on your refrigerator door, and one in your child’s pocket.

“May I speak to you from my heart? People find themselves in emergencies that make it difficult to think straight. At these times, all emergency personnel who are trying to help you need to know many things about you.” says Jeffrey C. Miller, Director Vial of Life Project www.vialoflife.com.

Please take the time to check this out by visiting vialoflife.com. If you don’t use the Vial of Life, do something similar for yourself or the loved one you care for. The only cost to help save a life is time!

For information about how Family Bridges Home Care can provide you and your family with caregivers in Erlanger KY or the surrounding area, call (888) 900-0048. We are an elder care agency dedicated to caring for the elderly, veterans and those with disabilities in our community.

10 Things to Discuss with a New Caregiver
By Kate Rauch

You’ve finally found a great personal elder care caregiver or companion for your parent, and tomorrow is her first day. But wait: Have you forgotten to tell her anything? Use this list (and adapt it to your parent’s needs) to make sure you’ve covered the bases. After discussing it with the caregiver, give her a hard copy for reference (mail it to her if you live far away). That way you can relax, knowing your parent’s needs will be taken care of.

Medications

Make sure they’re accessible and clearly marked, and that the caregiver knows when they need to be taken and in what amounts. Also let her know whether your parent prefers swallowing them with water or juice.

Food and drink

Note your parent’s food and drink allergies, sensitivities, likes, and dislikes. Be detailed — for example, explain that your parent shouldn’t drink coffee after 3 p.m. because it prevents him from sleeping; that seafood gives him hives but fish is OK; or that ice cream is his favorite treat on a hot day.

Eating, cooking, and cleaning

Should your parent be encouraged to prepare food and clean up for himself as much as possible, or does he need help with these tasks? If he needs help feeding himself, is it enough to cut food into small pieces for him, or does he need help getting the food to his mouth? What about tidying up the house — does your parent make his bed or do his own laundry, or is this beyond his abilities?

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For information about a caregiver in Cincinnati or the surrounding areas, look no further! Family Bridges Home Care can help you and your family with all of your elder care needs. Call (888) 900-0048.

How to Tell Your Kids About a Grandparent’s Alzheimer’s Disease
What children need to understand about Alzheimer’s
By Paula Spencer Scott

If you have a parent, other family member, or close friend who has Alzheimer’s disease or some other form of dementia, it affects not only you; it has an impact on your children, too. The time Grandma blanked on your son’s name? Those overheard long, worried phone conversations with your family about finding elder care for your aunt?

Kids notice more than we give them credit for. They may not understand exactly what’s wrong, or they might mishear “Alzheimer’s” as “old timer’s” disease, but they deserve being included in the situation in an age-appropriate way.

The following suggestions for filling in your kids come from Joyce Simard, a geriatric consultant in Land O’ Lakes, Florida, who self-published a children’s book called The Magic Tape Recorder: A Story About Growing Up and Growing Down. You can adapt these suggestions to the age of your children.

Explain Alzheimer’s in ways your children can understand

Alzheimer’s is a big word that may not mean much to kids, and “disease” can sound like something catching (which it isn’t). So simplify: “Grandma has a memory problem.” Or, “George has a disease that is sort of like if you had a tape recorder in your head, but the tape recorder is turned off. When he was younger, the tape recorder was on, so he remembers a lot of things from his past.”

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Family Bridges Home Care provides premier elder care in Cincinnati and the surrounding areas. For more information about how the caregivers at Family Bridges can help your family care for a loved one, call (888) 900-0048. We provide companionship, homemaking and personal elder care services for many seniors, veterans and disabled in our community.