Saturday, 12/20/14 "Let's Talk Boomers"

Tune in tomorrow, 12/20/14 to 94.3FM "Let's Talk Boomers"

Today, our Lowcountry boasts many forms of public transportation – CARTA comes to mind of course. But have you ever thought about  the ding, ding, ding of the Trolley?  Right here in our area we now have a locally owned Trolley service – the LOW COUNTRY LOOP TROLLEY.  Learn how to Hop-On, Hop-off this Shuttle and Special Event Charter and see our Lowcountry sites in a whole new way.    Let's Talk Boomers!  will be talking with Owners Derrick and Terry Williams tomorrow and you'll want to tune in as they will be giving away a Sip n See Tour Package for two valued over $100!

So you don’t want to miss this Let’s Talk Boomers edition hosted by Rebecca Imholz and presented locally by Kelly Williams of AllCare Living Services, Rick Durkee of the Coastal Financial Planning Group; and Debra Whitfield, a 55 Plus Realtor, Seniors Real Estate Specialist with Coldwell Banker United Realtors.

Kelly Williams Live on "Let's Talk Boomers"

Listen to the complete show with Kelly Williams and Tauna Longest. The complete show is here.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/gga49y3ahf6jm77/Kelly%20Williams%2012-13-14%20Live.mp3?dl=0

"Let's Talk Boomers!"

Join Kelly Williams and Tauna Longest tomorrow at 11 am on "Let's Talk Boomers!"  94.3 WSC when they talk with Rebecca Imholz about what we all need to know when choosing a Home Care Agency for our loved ones and AllCare's lead in ensuring their caregivers and our community receive the latest information and practical advice for taking care of those who have Alzheimer's or any form of dementia with their Dementia Dialogues classes.

Comparing In-Home Care, Home Health Care and Hospice

In-Home Care

Private duty in-home care offers home care aides or Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) in a clients home or living facility. The services include: companionship, light housekeeping, meal planning and preparation, help with personal hygiene, medication reminders,  and escorted transportation for errands, shopping and doctor appointments.  The goal of in-home care is to allow an individual to remain living in their preferred location as long as possible. In-home care can be anywhere from a few visits up to 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days of the year.  Payment options vary based on the individual situation from Long-term Care Insurance, Community Long Term Care, Grants, Veteran's benefits and private pay. In-home care does not require a doctor’s order.

Home Health Care

Home Health Care offers skilled nursing services.  It is intermittent or short-term care provided by registered nurses (RNs), physical therapists (PTs), occupational therapist (OTs), speech language pathologists (SLPs), home health aides (HHAs) and medical social workers (MSWs) as a limited number of up to one hour visits, primarily through medical insurance as this is a medical service. A Home Health care agency coordinates skilled care services once they have been ordered by a physician.

Hospice

Hospice programs are available to help those at the end stages of life live their remaining days with dignity.  Hospice normally involves a team of nurses, physicians, home health aides, clergy or other spiritual counselors, social workers and volunteers who provide comprehensive support for families dealing with end of life decisions. Hospice is primarily a concept of care, not a specific place of care.  Hospice care usually is provided in the patient's home and requires a doctor’s order. Hospice may be covered by Medicare, private health insurance,  veterans' benefits and Medicaid (confirm your coverage with your insurance provider).

Click here to print this information.

Medication Management

Do you regularly forget to take your medicine?

Do you get confused with multiple medications?

Do you know how much medication you need to take daily?

Holiday Blues

Let's Talk Boomers

Tune in tomorrow 11AM on 94.3 WSC for "Let'sTalk Boomers!"

Boomers have embraced the digital age, but still like the rustle of real newspaper. As Mark Twain might say, "The death of newspapers has been greatly exaggerated." So what are the best sources of print media for Boomers and where do we find them? Tune in tomorrow when host Rebecca Imholz talks with Torrey Monroe, publisher of the Lowcountry Senior Sun and his newly launched publication, the Summerville Senior Sun, "Keeping Focus on the Young & Active After 50."

AllCare Living Services is a presenting sponsor of "Let's Talk Boomers!"

What Kind of Sandwich Are You?

Let's Talk Boomer! Saturday, 11/15/14 at 11am

Be sure to tune in to "Let's Talk Boomers!" this Saturday at 11 am on 94.3 WSC when host Rebecca Imholz talks about understanding the Medicare Open Enrollment process with Kirk Matenaer of Franklin and Associates.   The deadline for Medicare Open Enrollment is swiftly approaching - December 7! so you don't want to miss this show! AllCare Living Services is a presenting sponsor for "Let's Talk Boomers!"

AllCare to pilot a new Medication Dispenser System - Livi ™

AllCare to pilot a new Medication Dispenser System - Livi ™
Livi™ is a fully automated home medication dispenser designed and developed by PharmRight.

Hidden Hunger Among Today's Elderly

Have you ever heard the term hidden hunger? It's often used to describe an intake of calories without the nutrition needed to support mental and physical health. But it also applies to the increasing number of older adults who live alone and aren't getting the food they need for a variety of reasons, ranging from poverty to forgetfulness.

In 2013, 2.9 million households (9 percent) with seniors experienced food insecurity, which is being without reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food. Of those households, 1.1 million (9 percent) are made up of older adults living alone.


Click here to read more.

Medication Management and Monitoring

We offer medication management. With seniors taking multiple medications it's very important to monitor and manage those medications. View our brochure to see if our service can benefit you or someone you love.

3 Clues to Deciphering the Nonsensical Speech of Dementia

"I want pancake . . . bird window . . . let's go now." Seemingly nonsensical speech is a common development in moderate dementia, as language skills become increasingly scrambled. But often, there's logic behind the words that come out.

Here's what happens: An inability to concentrate and to contain a thought in the "holding pen" of immediate memory can make it literally impossible for someone with moderate-stage dementia to finish a thought. The person starts out on one track and then, losing his or her way, zigs or zags to another thought that has popped into mind.

·         Pay especially close attention to the first words. They may best reflect what the person initially wanted to communicate -- say, pancakes, because he or she is hungry.

·         Look for related meanings. Often words about water, rain, and showers indicate that the person has to use the bathroom (or has already wet himself or herself).

·         Look for connections between like objects. "Hairbrush" and "toothbrush" both have bristles, for example, and a fork's tines may seem similar.

Questions to ask when looking for a Home Care Agency

1. Do you run BACKGROUND CHECKS and DRIVING RECORDS on caregivers?

2. Do you DRUG SCREEN and TB TEST caregivers - how often?

3. Do you have NURSES on staff?

4. Do you have an ON-CALL SUPERVISOR after office hours?

5. Are the caregivers EMPLOYEES or INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS for the company?

6. Do you offer 24/7 365 care?

7. Are your caregivers BONDED and INSURED?

8. How long have you been in BUSINESS - will you provide REFERENCES?

9. Do you have a fee for your ASSESSMENT?

10. What if I’m NOT HAPPY with a caregiver?

11. What is the COST and how can I PAY?

12. Are there any LIMITS on the types of tasks performed? If so, what are the limits?

Free Dementia Dialogues Classes

We have multiple partners around the Lowcountry sponsoring our Dementia Dialogues Classes.  Visit our website to find a time and location that will work for you - http://allcarelivingservices.com/Calendar.html

View the news coverage on these Free classes.

Bathing Someone with Alzheimer's

Let the person feel in control.
Create a safe atmosphere.
Use a bath bench.
Respect the person's dignity.
Be gentle.
Be flexible.

http://www.caring.com/articles/alzheimers-bathing-tips?utm_source=stages&utm_campaign=alz:mid_moderate_memory:38&utm_medium=email

Dementia Dialogues Class Starting September 29

We partner with local businesses to bring you FREE Dementia Dialogues classes. Dementia Dialogues is a five-part learning experience designed to educate caregivers of persons who exhibit signs and symptoms associated with Alzheimer’s Disease or related dementia.

Our next class starts Monday, September 29, 2014 and is being held at the Church of the Holy Cross located at 299 Seven Farms Drive, Daniel Island, SC 29492
Mondays, Sept. 29 – Oct. 27, 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.

View our website for times and locations for upcoming classes. You can register for any of our FREE Dementia Dialogues classes at http://allcarelivingservices.com/Registration.html

Toileting Advice when Caring for Someone with Alzheimer's

Incontinence

Incontinence usually begins in the late part of the middle stage of AD. It is a symptom of Alzheimer's disease that caregivers fear they will not be able to handle. Many learn to take it in stride and find that it is not the "deal breaker" they expected it to be. Knowing how to use the proper products will help you with the discomfort you may feel.

Confusion about how to find the bathroom, inability to get there on time, or a urinary tract infection may be the cause of the problem. Be sure to ask the doctor if there could be a physical cause of the problem, rather than the progression of AD.

Click here for more information.

How to monitor from a distance.

You may soon be at the point where you feel you need to stay in the same room all the time with your loved one, to make sure he or she is safe. A makeshift home monitoring system can help.

Many caregivers discover that baby monitors work for adults, too. Simple models send both sound and pictures. Set one up at the bed, and you can see when your loved one wakes up. Some caregivers set up multiple cameras with video feeds, especially if they spend long periods in a detached workshop or home office. Is it "spying"? No, it's monitoring. You gain peace of mind, and your loved one preserves a sense of independence.

FREE Dementia Dialogues Classes

We partner with local businesses to bring you FREE Dementia Dialogues.

Dementia Dialogues is a five-part learning experience designed to educate caregivers of persons who exhibit signs and symptoms associated with Alzheimer’s Disease or related dementia.

Emergency Call System with NO Montly Fees

There are a lot of emergency call systems out there. We carry one of the few that doesn't require a monthly fee.  Our Guardian Alert 911 works directly off your home land line.

Risk Factors for Alzheimer's Disease

With the exception of the rare cases of Alzheimer’s
caused by known genetic mutations, experts believe
that Alzheimer’s, like other common chronic diseases,
develops as a result of multiple factors rather than a
single cause.

Some risk factors are: age, family history, Apolipoprotein E (APOE)-e4 Gene, MCI involving memory problems, cardiovascular disease, social & cognitive engagement, education, and traumatic brain injury.

Common signs of moderate Alzheimer's disease

Common signs of moderate Alzheimer's disease

• Increased memory loss and confusion
• Problems recognizing family and friends
• Continuously repeats stories, favorite words, or motions
• Difficulty carrying out tasks that have multiple steps, like getting dressed
• Lack of concern for hygiene and appearance

Levels of In-Home Care

Let us help you determine the level of care needed for you or your loved one. We offer a Free In-Home Assessment.

http://allcarelivingservices.com/Comparison.html

Perception is Everything

5 Things I Miss About My Dad's Alzheimer's

What could I possibly miss about Alzheimer's? Sure, it would have been best -- would have been bliss -- had my dad's dementia never happened. But it did. Distressing as it was for everyone who knew and loved him to see him change, our good times didn't end. In fact, some of my most endearing memories of him came after he had "changed."

When we hear an Alzheimer's diagnosis, we tend to brace for the worst. Dementia, though, is a slow, erratic unwind, full of ups and downs. Personality, meanwhile, is a strong and persistent force. Everyone's dementia is different, but so much of my dad's good heartedness and good humor -- his essential goodness -- prevailed to the end of his life. It's reassuring, really, how much was left to enjoy, once I learned to relax and roll with his new reality.

Read more here

How to use "body memories"

The body remembers many things that the conscious mind seems to have forgotten. You can use these "body memories" to your advantage. They can help someone with dementia begin or continue an activity.

At meal time, for example, try handing over a fork to begin the eating process if your loved one simply sits and stares at the plate. Instead of asking, "Did you brush your teeth?" give a toothbrush with the paste already on it, while standing in front of a sink with the water running. Sometimes just getting started can be enough to enable him or her to complete the task.

10 Ways to Live Normally With a Leaky Bladder

Retrain your brain, your muscles, and your habits to control an over active bladder.

1. Be sure you're not drinking too much -- or too little
2. Identify and avoid your trigger food(s)
3. Get the knack
4. Keep on kegeling
5. Visualize delay
6. Quit Smoking
7. Treat your bladder the same seven days a week
8. Make sure all of your doctors know about new prescriptions
9. Wear tampons or pads for extra security
10. Get the right diagnosis

Read more - http://www.caring.com/articles/leaky-bladder

Dementia Patients taking Medications

3 Smart tips for making sure someone with dementia takes medications properly.




1. Stay nearby someone with dementia when giving meds. You want to be sure they're taken and not ignored, thrown away, or fed to the dog.

2. Make sure your loved one drinks enough water. Not drinking enough can cause pills to become lodged in the esophagus, sometimes causing a damaging "burn" or leading to choking. If you simply set a glass down next to the pills, the person with dementia might forget to sip after the first swallow. Keep gently reminding him or her to take a drink until the glass is finished.

3. Don't let the person lie down immediately. It's smart to stay upright in a chair for 15 or 20 minutes after taking meds.

Fun Family Activity

Looking for a fun activity for a family gathering, or just to pass the time alone with your loved one? Try playing "Name That Tune." Collect a good selection of songs the person with dementia would recognize, because they're favorites or were popular during the person's youth. Throw in some holiday classics, Broadway or musical show tunes, "Happy Birthday," or even hymns and nursery songs. (You can do this with a CD collection or a special playlist created on iTunes.) Start the first song and encourage everyone to guess it. You might forewarn the others to give the person with dementia a chance -- or you might be pleasantly surprised by how many musical memories leap quickly to mind. (This is also a great game to play with almost anyone who can play piano and has a repertoire of popular tunes.)

Nutrition and Aging

5 Ways Your Nutritional Needs Change as You Age

1. You need more protein
2. You don't absorb certain vitamins and nutrients as well
3. You need fewer calories and more nutrient-dense foods as you age
4. You need more fiber
5. You don't feel thirsty - but you become dehydrated more easily

Click here to read more.

Choosing Safe Shoes

Just as you check your car tires, it's important to check the treads of the shoes worn by a person with dementia. As the brain has difficulty coordinating movement, you'll probably notice more of a hesitant shuffle. The safest shoes have rough, not smooth, soles that get better traction on surfaces such as linoleum. Ask a shoe repair shop to add traction strips to smooth-soled favorites. Just be careful not to err in the direction of heavy lug soles as seen on certain hiking boots or walking shoes. Treads that are too big and deep get caught on things and can cause falls.

Personal Care Assistants

What Personal Care Assistants Do and How They Help

In addition to providing companion care, personal care assistants can help with the following:

• Light housekeeping
• Grocery shopping
• Preparing meals
• Grooming, including bathing and dressing.

They can't provide medical services, such as diabetes care.

http://www.caring.com/articles/caregivers-guide-to-personal-care-assistants

Easy Ways to Boost Your Memory

5 Easy Ways to Boost Your Memory

1. Take the stairs
    Exercise benefits your head as much as the rest of your body, a growing number of studies indicate. Overall cardiorespiratory fitness also lowers the risk of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular problems -- all known risk factors for Alzheimer's disease.

2. Change your wallpaper
    When doing routine things, the brain runs on autopilot. Novelty, on the other hand, literally fires up the brain as new data creates and works new neural pathways.

3. Steal some zzz's by daylight
   It's while you're sleeping that your brain sorts, consolidates, and stores memories accumulated during the day -- that's why eight hours at night is so valuable. But a mere six-minute nap is as valuable as a full night's sleep to short-term recall, according to German research. And a 90-minute nap has been shown to speed up the process that helps the brain consolidate long-term memories.

4. Take a mental "photograph"
   Memories aren't just stored in one spot in the brain; bits of data are processed and stored in different areas. To help make the memory of an incident last, take a "snapshot" of it while you're in the moment, using all your senses. Look around and think about what you see. Notice colors and textures. What do you smell? If you're eating or drinking (or kissing), what's the taste?

5. Eat less
   After only 12 weeks, healthy volunteers (average age 60) who reduced their daily calories by 30 percent scored 20 percent better on memory tests, University of Munster (Germany) researchers have reported. The possible reason: decreased levels of insulin, created when the body processes food, and of the inflammation-associated molecule C-reactive protein. Both factors are linked to improved memory function.

Alzheimer's Cost to the Nation

Alzheimer's disease is the most expensive condition in the nation. In 2014, the direct costs to American society of caring for those with Alzheimer's will total an estimated $214 billion, including $150 billion in costs to Medicare and Medicaid. Despite these staggering figures, Alzheimer's will cost an estimated $1.2 trillion (in today's dollars) in 2050. According to the latest facts and figures by the Alzheimer's Association.

Dealing with "I want to leave"

"Let's go." "I'm ready to leave." Few words are more dispiriting to hear when you've just arrived at an outing for you or your loved one's benefit. What's behind them? Sometimes it's feeling uncomfortable about a new place or feeling intimidated by a lot of people. If so, be pleasant and reassuring; help him or her find a quiet space and something enjoyable to eat or drink. But know that dementia also distorts a person's sense of time. So you may be among familiar, beloved people and still hear, "I want to go" after five minutes. The person with dementia isn't sure whether five minutes or five hours have passed. It's futile to argue. ("But we just got here!") Instead, try to stretch out the visit with a distraction: "Just a few more minutes . . . we're about to hear some music/look at some pictures/have some coffee." Realize, though, that if your loved one grows more agitated, the simplest course may be to try again another day.

Two Dementia Dialogues Classes starting tomorrow.

We have two separate Dementia Dialogues classes starting tomorrow. The first class starts at 10:00 am and will be held at James A McAlister Funerals & Cremation in West Ashley. The second class starts at 3:00 pm and will be held at St John the Beloved Catholic Church in Summerville. The flyer for each is attached. If you are interested in attending this class, please register today!

Upcoming Schedule for Dementia Dialogues

Dementia Dialogues

Dementia Dialogues is a five-session training course designed to educate individuals who care for persons who exhibit signs and symptoms associated with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias. This class may also be of interest to individuals in the early stages of a memory-related disease. If you are an individual who has been diagnosed with dementia, please call the instructor to ask which class is best for you. Training is provided at no cost to participants. Each session lasts approximately one and a half hours.

• Part One: The Basic Facts, An Introduction to Dementia
• Part Two: Keeping the Dialogue Going, Communication Skills
• Part Three: It’s a Different World, Environment, Safety and Helpful Hints
• Part Four: It’s Nothing Personal, Addressing Challenging Behaviors
• Part Five: Now what Do I Do? Creative Problem Solving

 FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
REGISTRATION REQUIRED
http://allcarelivingservices.com/Calendar.html


 

Senior Fact

89% of Seniors want to stay in their homes as long as possible, according to the Home Care Association of America. Let us help make that possible.  All of our services are designed to allow seniors to age gracefully and safely in their own home.

Sundown Syndrome

What to do when someone shows signs of Sundown Syndrome.

 

http://www.caring.com/articles/sundown-syndrome

Dancing with the ARK's Stars video

If you missed the event and would like to see the winning dance - here it is!

Tauna Longest takes First Place in Dancing with the ARK's Stars.

http://www.journalscene.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20140314/SJ01/140319810

Alzheimer's Quick Fact

More than 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's disease.

Senior Resource Fair

Stop by and visit with us this Saturday, March 22, at the Senior Resource Fair being held at Ashley Park Retirement Community 9:00 am - 2:00 pm

Why do Alzheimer's patients remember certain things and forget others?

  Why can my dad, who has early Alzheimer's, forget what happened five minutes ago but remember the name of his fourth-grad teacher?

 

John C. Morris answered...

Alzheimer's disease affects recent memories first. The retention of new information is most affected, while recollections of things that happened in the past are much more resistant. The loss of recent events is often one of the first, if not the first, symptom of the disease.

Because the changes of Alzheimer's come on so gradually, it's usually hard to pinpoint when the first symptoms appeared. What's more, the memory loss can initially be pretty subtle. (And in today's hectic world, everybody has some memory lapses now and then.) It often takes a year or longer to realize that the situation is getting worse and that the memory loss is not just occasional but consistent and unusual for the person.

Typically, memories that are well encoded are those your father will remember best. He's had lots of practice recalling those memories over the years. While you may not consciously remember your fourth-grade teacher, your mind rehearses that memory on its own and its ability to be recalled gets strengthened.

Eventually, long-term memories will be affected as well, and even in the early stages of the disease, it may become more difficult for your dad to accurately recall some things that happened a long time ago.