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Senior Living Options: Respite Care Q & A
by Michelle Seitzer

Q: What is respite care?

A: Respite care is an important, though underutilized, resource for caregivers. Defined by Merriam-Webster.com as “a period of temporary delay” or “an interval of rest or relief”, respite provides the opportunity for caregivers to assess, reflect, and rest. As it’s absolutely vital that caregivers take care of themselves (and those in the throes of caregiving often neglect to do so), taking advantage of respite allows caregivers to “take care to give care” (be it for a spouse, parent, sibling, or another relative/friend) and prevent burnout.

Q: Who provides respite care?

A: Although friends and family members can certainly help alleviate the caregiving burden, there are times when you need professional caregiving assistance for an extended period of time (perhaps you’re undergoing surgery, or taking a family vacation). Assisted living communities across the country now offer respite/short-term stay options. Home care agencies also provide respite care. Search for home care agencies/assisted living communities here at SeniorsforLiving.com.

Q: What’s the difference between respite care and a short-term stay?

A: They are essentially the same, but sometimes, caregivers require assistance while they are away for an extended period for business/personal reasons (and not because they need respite). In other cases, caregivers are considering a transition to senior living for their senior loved one. A short-term stay gives caregivers and the care recipient the opportunity to evaluate whether assisted living or Alzheimer’s care is the best option, for example.

Source; Seniorsforliving.com

The caregivers at Family Bridges Home Care are available to talk with you and your family about all of your live-in home care needs. Family Bridges Home Care is a home care agency providing quality, affordable home care in Cincinnati and the surrounding areas. Call (888) 900-0048 for more information.

Support Men's Health Awareness
Source: menshealthnetwork.org

There is an ongoing, increasing and predominantly silent crisis in the health and well-being of men. Due to a lack of awareness, poor health education, and culturally induced behavior patterns in their work and personal lives, men's health and well-being are deteriorating steadily. Society is being dramatically affected because men are living approximately 5 years less than women.

Click here to get started planning your Wear BLUE event.

End the Silence

Wear Blue to remind men the importance of staying healthy.

Wear Blue and become part of a national movement.

Wear Blue to let men know we care.

Wear Blue to keep men healthy and alive.

For more information about receiving care for your loved one at home. Contact the caregivers at Family Bridges Home Care. We can help your family with all of your care needs. We are a home care agency providing quality and affordable live in home care in Northern KY and the surrounding communities. Call (888) 900-0048.

June 13-19: Help Bring Awareness During Men's Health Week in Cincinnati

Goal of Men’s Health Week  June 13-19

The purpose of Men’s Health Week is to heighten the awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of disease among men and boys.

This week gives health care providers, public policy makers, the media, and individuals an opportunity to encourage men and boys to seek regular medical advice and early treatment for disease and injury. The response has been overwhelming with hundreds of awareness activities in the USA and around the globe. For a partial list of activities……

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For more information about receiving care for your loved one at home, contact the caregivers at Family Bridges Home Care. We can help your family with all of your care needs, call (888) 900-0048. We are a home care agency providing quality and affordable live in home care in Cincinnati and the surrounding communities.

June Is Home Safety Month For Seniors

Seniors are twice as likely to sustain injuries or death in their home. June is home safety month for seniors and a good time to make sure a home where a senior resides is as free from risks as possible. Falls at home may cause serious injuries to the elderly. While every fall or potential hazard cannot be prevented, there are some precautions that can be taken to make sure seniors at home are as safe as possible.

Start With A Conversation

Home safety for seniors starts with a simple conversation. Basic home care can help to make a home what it should be, a comfortable place to live and enjoy life. Adult children are generally the best ones to bring up the subject of home safety. Most seniors feel they can handle their own home care. While this may be true for the most part, people of all ages sometimes overlook things that help prevent a serious injury or worse.

Unfortunately, as we age it is not as easy to recover from an injury or fall and seniors at home do face certain hazards. Some of these may be avoided. When having a conversation with seniors about safety in the home it is best to remain calm and explain that efforts to keep a home safe will be beneficial not only for them, but for those who love them as well.

Have A Home Inspection

Take a walk through the home and take note of any potential hazards. Everything does not need to be corrected at once, but it does help to be aware of potential risks in the home. Once potential risks are identified, sit down and discuss options to correct these issues and make the home a safer environment for all. Here are some main areas to look at when pinpointing potential safety issues at a senior’s home.

Fall Prevention

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

Is It a Cold? Or an Allergy?
Staywell Custom Communications

(HealthDay News) — Colds and allergies can cause similar symptoms, and finding out which condition you have is the first step in getting relief, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI).

Colds are caused by one of more than 200 viruses that get transmitted from person to person. Allergies, which are not contagious, are caused by allergens, such as pollen, that prompt the immune system to overreact.

In spring, high levels of tree and grass pollens cause sneezing and other cold-like symptoms for the estimated 60 million Americans with allergic rhinitis, more commonly known as hay fever.

There are a number of ways to distinguish between spring allergies and a cold, says the ACAAI. Colds generally evolve, starting with a stuffy nose, throat irritation and low-grade fever, followed by sneezing and a runny nose with thickening mucus that often turns yellow or green. Common allergy symptoms include sneezing, itchy eyes and nose, but the mucus is typically clear.

While colds usually last a week or two, allergy symptoms persist and can even get worse with continued exposure to the allergen causing your symptoms. Spring allergies can last six weeks or more.

Aches and fever most likely indicate a cold, while itchy eyes are strong evidence of allergies.

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

Understanding Osteoporosis: Learn More During National Osteoporosis Awareness Month

May is Osteoporosis Awareness Month. The experts say that by 2025, each year osteoporosis will cause around three million fractures, and the related cost will skyrocket to over 25 billion dollars. Osteoporosis can occur when hormonal changes take place, or when you do not have enough vitamin D or calcium in your system. These changes or deficiencies in senior health can cause a loss of tissue that makes the bones fragile and brittle, which makes it easier for the bones to break. Unbelievably, sometimes just a sneeze can break a bone when you suffer from a severe case of osteoporosis. Around half of all women older than 50 and up to one in four men will suffer from a broken bone because of osteoporosis. While you cannot cure this disease, it is treatable if you catch it in time. The only test that can correctly diagnose osteoporosis before a break occurs is the bone density test. 

As we get older, breaking bones becomes more serious for senior health because of the possible complications that can arise. The pain from the broken bone can linger and make it difficult for you to move around and enjoy your life. This loss of mobility and enjoyment can make you feel depressed and isolated from your loved ones. The estimates state that 20 percent of the seniors who have broken their hip die from related problems. Whether from the break alone or the surgery to fix it this estimate seems high. For those that do survive, they may need long-term care either in a nursing home or at home. Osteoporosis can also affect your posture. As the vertebrae in your spine break or collapse you hunch over and lose height.

Kind of scary when you think about what can happen if you have osteoporosis, but while there is no cure it is treatable. A medical evaluation will help in estimating the risk of you breaking a bone. Once you and your doctor know then you can work together on managing the disease, which will help reduce the risk of you breaking any bones. The doctor may ask for various tests like a medical history, bone density test, physical examination, and laboratory tests. Your doctor may also ask for other additional tests. All these tests can help identify other medical conditions that may cause the bone loss, which means treating that condition may slow down or stop the progression of the osteoporosis. 

After you receive a diagnosis of osteoporosis, you should sit down with your doctor and discuss ways to manage the disease. Your senior health provider will need to consider several things concerning medications. Both sexes can take some of the same medications, but only women can take estrogen and hormone therapies. Postmenopausal and premenopausal women may need different treatments. Taking into consideration other health problems or if you suffer from severe bone loss can dictate the need for a very different treatment. The side effects and how well the medication works vary from person to person, so your treatment may differ from your friend’s treatment. 

The key to your good health centers on you taking the time, and discovering what you can do to improve, maintain, or avoid health problems. Diseases like osteoporosis sneak up on you because you cannot feel your bones losing their density, so you have to take an active stance. Talk to your healthcare provider and get the tests done that will diagnose any problems, and make sure your loved ones do the same. Research and find out everything you can because knowing ahead of time can make a difference.

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

May is Arthritis Awareness Month
Source: arthritis.org     

The Arthritis Foundation is the only national not-for-profit organization that supports the more than 100 types of arthritis and related conditions.  The Arthritis Foundation is the largest private, not-for-profit contributor to arthritis research in the world, funding more than $380 million in research grants since 1948. Celebrating its 60th anniversary  this year, the foundation helps people take control of arthritis by providing public health education; pursuing public policy and legislation; and conducting evidence-based programs to improve the quality of life for those living with arthritis. Learn more facts about arthritis and the Arthritis Foundation.

"Arthritis is a debilitating disease that profoundly impacts the lives of millions of Americans on a daily basis," says John H. Klippel, M.D., president and CEO, Arthritis Foundation. "The effects of the 46 million Americans with arthritis on the economy are enormous; the direct and indirect medical costs of this disease are estimated to be $128 billion each year. With the aging of baby boomers, the prevalence of arthritis is expected to rise by 40 percent – that is up to 67 million people – by the year 2030."

For questions about live in home care for your aging loved one, please contact the caregivers at Family Bridges Home Care. We provide everything from respite care for the primary caregiver to full time in-home care in Cincinnati OH and the surrounding communuties. Call us at (888) 900-0048 for more information.
 

National Nurses Week
Source: www.nursingworld.org   

National Nurses Week May 6-12 2011 Nurses Trusted to Care

Often described as an art and a science, nursing is a profession that embraces dedicated people with varied interests, strengths and passions because of the many opportunities the profession offers. As nurses, we work in emergency rooms, school based clinics, and homeless shelters, to name a
few. We have many roles – from staff nurse to educator to nurse practitioner and nurse researcher – and serve all of them with passion for the profession and with a strong commitment to patient safety.

Suggestions on How to Celebrate National Nurses Week

•    Hold a special celebration or reception to recognize a nurse or several nurses in your community. These nurses could be honored for heroic acts, years of service to the community, exemplary courage, or their commitment to the nursing profession over the years.

•    Promote a positive, realistic image of registered nurses by sponsoring health fairs, conducting preventive screenings in underserved areas, organizing a walk-a-thon, etc.

•    Place an article in your state or local newspaper(s) about National Nurses Week and the value of nurses.

•    Invite a politician — local, state or federal — to accompany a nurse or several nurses at their place of employment for a day or part of a day. Health care remains an issue of tremendous importance to voters. Politicians should be visible and accountable for their positions on health care. This is a win-win situation and it offers good media coverage potential.

•    Ask every nurse in America to wear an "RN Pin" and/or nurse’s uniform during National Nurses Week. The official "RN Pin" is available by calling 1-800-445-0445 (credit card orders only).

For questions about live in home care for your aging loved one, please contact the caregivers at Family Bridges Home Care. We provide everything from respite care for the primary caregiver to full time elder care in Cincinnati and the surrounding communities. Call us at (888) 900-0048 for more information.

The National Family Caregiver Support Program Offers Help for Stressed Caregivers
by Carol Bradley Bursack, Editor-in-Chief

Respite care programs are in place so the caregiver can have a break. While there aren’t nearly enough programs, there are some. One is the Federally funded National Family Caregiver Support Program. Caregivers need to be aware that respite care can benefit the care receiver as much as the caregiver, since a rested caregiver is generally a better caregiver.

Every so often I write in my newspaper column about The National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP) and the support it offers. I specifically mention respite care for caregivers and then I give a phone number for the agency that administers this program for my area. I’m told by the agency that their phone rings non-stop, with many callers sobbing into the phone, "I didn’t know this existed!"

I don’t need to tell you how gratifying it is for me to hear I’ve helped spread the word about one way caregivers can get some relief and support. This program wasn’t available for me over the two decades when I cared for a total of seven elders. Quite frankly, like many of you, I’m not sure I would have taken the time to see if such a thing existed, if it had. I was too busy to bother with the research. However, it is worth your time to make this one phone call.

It’s highly unlikely you’ll regret you did.

The National Family Caregiver Support Program

The National Family Caregiver Support Program was established in 2000. Each state offers a somewhat different program with benefits administered it in various ways. However, most programs include some respite care for the caregiver.

The services provided by Federal funding work in conjunction with community-based services to provide coordinated support for caregivers and their families. NFCSP in North Dakota, the state where I live, is administered through regional human service care centers. They offer support services to family caregivers of persons age 60 and older, or adults of any age with dementia. They also offer services to people over age 60 who provide care for disabled person under 18.

Services include:

• providing information to caregivers about available support services
• providing caregiver access to supportive services
• providing individual counseling, support groups and caregiver training;
• providing respite care and supplemental services (such as emergency response systems and home modifications)

Caregivers should take advantage of the Federally funded program or funding can be lost.

So do your patriotic duty and get some help.

continue reading from eldercarelink.com…

At Family Bridges Home Care, we recognize that there are many reasons why a loved one may need home care. From seniors with Alzheimer’s Disease, to patients with disabilities, to caregivers needing respite care, we are here to provide quality and affordable in-home care in Cincinnati OH and the surrounding communities. Call us at (888) 900-0048 for information!

When To Consider Home Care for Aging Loved Ones in Northern KY

Elders need care and love. They need someone to check on them, children to stay over, or go for outings. There can be times when the aged parent is staying alone and requires urgent assistance. If family members are unable to come in quickly, calling centers for elder care help is handy.

One need not suffer the guilt that they were unable to be there and could not even arrange for an alternate solution. Some common reasons why these centers are opted for taking care of the elder are:

• Sudden loss of weight due to illness or depression which will require lot of time of the care-taker for the process of diagnosis and rectification.
• If the elder suffers from memory loss, it might be risky to leave such elders alone even for a while. One can then escape from the embarrassment of having to advertise for missing parents.
• The elder might be in a condition when they find it difficult reach up to the toilet on their own and end up soiling their clothes. They would need assistance from the family member who might be working or might not be able to be by their side constantly.

 Source: EldercareABCblog

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 For questions about live in home care for your aging loved one, please contact the caregivers at Family Bridges Home Care. We provide everything from respite care for the primary caregiver to full time elder care in Northern KY and the surrounding communities. Call us at (888) 900-0048 for more information.