Home Care Caregiver Shows How To Stop Falls Because Of Better Balance

Unexpected falls of those 65 and older can be responsible for greater than eighteen thousand deaths and nearly 450,000 hospitalizations each year within the USA, reported by the Centers in Atlanta. The majority of the accidents are induced by a decline within that complex and multidimensional skill recognized as balance.

You may know someone who “just fell” and broke something a leg, an arm, a hip or an ankle.  We frequently blame it on old age, failing bones or weak muscles.  If you ask the elder who fell, it was usually someone else’s fault.  One senior told me that a dog ran between her feet and tripped her causing an ankle, rib and eye injury.

The debate rages on regarding calcium and bone density.  Did someone fall and fracture a bone or did a hip just give way and they fell.  See more about calcium and bone density in the nutritional section on MyNaturalSuppliments.myShaklee.com.

Balance is a combination of inner ear sensations transmitted through a network of nerves to the brain then impulses sent by more nerves to the muscles of the body.  When you sense you could be falling, you readjust your torso, legs or arms to keep balance.

The notion of use it or loose it still applies much like a lot of things in life.  It does seem to apply more to brain use and muscle use though.

Inactive seniors as well as nutritional levels can lead to slowing of brain recognition and nerve transmission, thus the inability to recognize when seniors are loosing their balance.  By the time seniors realize the need for a readjustment to maintain balance it may be too late.

In an article by John Hanc of the New York Times the benefits of strength and balance training are listed.  Dr. Thurman explains that balance and strength training will lessen the rate of falls by up to about 50 per cent.

Because most public health agencies recommend thirty  minutes daily of cardiovascular exercise and 2 or 3 sessions of strength training, there isn’t a recommendation for balance training.

There are a number of great balance exercises to use.  The best bet is to join a gym and use a personal trainer.  Many gyms offer low impact stretching and balancing sessions.  Gentle yoga would be wonderful for stretching and balance.  Those yogies live to 125 you know.

At home one of those big balls to sit on and raise up feet land lets would be a good idea.
Try walking a straight line with both feet hitting the line.  Kind of like when the police give a sobriety test on the street.  Next try walking the line with arm out to the sides and cross over the line with each step.  Put your left foot on the right side of the line and visa versa.  This is the model runway walk.  Have someone stand behind for safety and stand on one leg with arm out.  Just raise one foot up a little.  When this becomes easy, reach down and put your palms under the raised foot and balance for 15 to 30 seconds.

Remember safety first.  You don’t want to get hurt exercising so you won’t fall.  Have someone with you for support.
 

For assistance in the Phoenix area contact Care-To-Go at 480-284-8611

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Countless seniors are taking many medicines, which increases the likelihood of medication errors.  Allow me to share several good points for elders to decrease the probability of making an error with their meds:
1.    Check the label when you pick up a medication to validate that you receive the right medicine. Read back the medication to your pharmacist and doctor.
2.    Keep all medication  their original containers.
3.    Contact your physician or pharmacist if you have any doubts about missing a dosage.
4.    Always fill all medications at the same pharmacy.
5.    Read the patient information sheet that accompanies your medication.
6.    Advise the pharmacist right away if there is a change in the shape, color, size or smell of your prescriptions.
7.    Don’t take or share another person’s prescriptions.
8.    If you are in doubt about a prescription you are taking, you should consult your doctor.  Be sure to ask about side effects that you might experience or expect.
9.    Construct a list of all the prescriptions you are taking and share with your Caregivers and family members. Your list ought to include the following information:
- Your name, social security number and your date of birth.  The Pharmacy needs this information if someone else is going to refill the medications without the client present.  Your social security number and date of birth should be kept on a different piece of paper to guard against identity theft.
- Drug name (the drugs being taken, both generic and brand)
- Strength (dosage)
- Instructions for using the prescription, including how many times a day and at what time medications should be taken
- What liquids or foods are being used to take or should be used to take with meds, for example, water, juice, apple sauce etc.
- Allergy symptoms to certain medicines or foods
- Pharmacy and health care providers names, addresses, phone numbers
- Family emergency contact numbers

10.    If you are in the hospital or a skilled nursing facility:
- State your name before taking any meds and always offer your wrist bracelet for identification. Ask the doctor or nurse to identify each prescription by name before you take it.
- Ask your doctor or nurse why your prescription has not been given at its regular time during your hospital stay.
If your medication was prescribed in the hospital, look for new side effects.  If you experience new side effects or your condition is not improving as it should, tell your nurse or doctor.  From time to time medications need to be changed when they are not performing properly.
Always ask your doctor how long a particular medications will be required.  Now and then prescriptions are added in the hospital for a short term problem, but when you leave the hospital for skilled nursing or your home, the prescription isn’t stopped.  A different doctor may be reluctant to stop a prescription from a different doctor.
- Remind your medical doctor if you have any allergies to certain prescriptions or food, or if you may have a condition that may possibly affect the use of certain prescriptions.
1.    Tell your pharmacist and doctor if you are taking any dietary supplements or over-the-counter medications.
2.    Be sure your CareGiver has a current medication log listing all prescriptions, Doctor’s name, and Pharmacy.
Make sure to only take medications that you really need and confirm with your doctor why you are taking it, how long you could require it, what side effects to expect, and that it will not conflict with any other medications you are taking.

In the Phoenix area Care-To-Go, an in-home care agency can assist

you with your prescription organization.  Care-To-Go also provides

complete in-home care elder services.  Contact Care-To-Go at 

www.Care-To-Go.com and for an Elder Travel Companion CareToGoTravel.com

What to do if your medical professional isn’t listening to you or the person you’re caring for, not carrying out your requirements regarding your treatment and prescription options, or suggesting prescriptions or treatments that appear inappropriate for senior patients. Listed below are several illustrations.
Your affiliation with the medical doctor should be a special one and has to be taken seriously.  Many times senior citizens aren’t receiving enough care and attention from their doctor.  Is your medical professional busy and overscheduled, or there just may be a personality mismatch.  In any case don’t be afraid to shop for a new one if you sense you aren’t receiving the attention and care you may need.

Whenever senior citizens go to their physician it is a terrific plan to take along an advocate, a professional CareGiver or a trusted family member.  It will serve you well to have someone else there to make sure you understand everything the medical doctor says and if you need to find more complete information from the physician, the advocate can facilitate.  Every so often it is a lot easier for the another person to ask in depth questions.
As an example a medical professional may try to make you feel guilty when you ask to do away with a medication or a procedure from your regimen.  You may have prescriptions from a number of doctors and they may conflict with each other.  Doctors may be hesitant to stop a medication prescribed by another doctor.
But sometimes the problem does not lie within your control; what’s wrong is that the medical professional isn’t listening to you or not taking your loved one’s age or situation into account when making medication and treatment decisions. In many cases, it’s like a bad relationship; communication has broken down and you, your family member or CareGiver aren’t getting what you need.

Here are seven indications that it could be time to "break up" with your physician:
1.    You feel the health professional blames, ignores, or criticizes you or the person in your care
2.    The physician does not reply to your feedback, or becomes defensive
3.    It seems the health professional is not taking your pain or other symptoms seriously enough
4.    You discover treatments that could help that the health professional hasn’t told you about
5.    The health professional doesn’t explain treatment options clearly, resulting in mistakes
6.    The doctor prescribes medications without comparing to medications prescribed by another doctor.
7.    The physician is reluctant to organize your prescription list when it comes from a variety of other medical doctors.

When you are dissatisfied, the best thing to do is to change your doctor, and change to one you can get along with to provide the best care. Physicians regularly say that if a patient is going to change doctors, they’d appreciate hearing it directly rather than suddenly receiving a sneak request for medical records to be sent to another physician. However, it’s your prerogative to find a new physician and ask the staff to fax over the request for records. You’re not obligated to engage in another confrontation.

Either way, you’ll breathe a sigh of relief once you’re dealing with a medical professional who listens respectfully, answers your questions, accommodates your requests, takes your symptoms seriously, and works with you to develop a treatment plan you can all feel terrific about.

In the Phoenix, AZ area Care-To-Go offers Elder Home Care services and can assist you with doctor appointments and prescription organization.  Contact Care-To-Go at 1-800-818-0407 or  Care-To-Go.com    For Elder Travel Companion services see CareToGoTravel.com.

Phoenix CareGiver Shows How Caregivers Help As Boomers Age

Take a look at what happening: The U.S. populace is aging fast due to the baby boomer generation.  Baby Boomers are living longer as a whole than any generation in the past. As group continues to age it’s a blessing and it’s also a problem that generates worries and stress for the adult children of our seniors.

When family members reside in different locations as their mom and dad or who don’t have time to attend to them, they should be assured that their requirements are getting the quality of care essential to keep up their quality of life.

Assisted living facilities and rest homes could be too expensive for some families, especially in these hard financial times. There are Home Care agencies which present a lot of similar services as independent or assisted living or residential communities while your loved ones maintain the independent life style that comes with staying in their homes. Most seniors appreciate their independence and work to maintain it.  Staying in their home may be a major  part of keeping their independence.

Here’s various ways which a excellent Home Care provider could provide assurance for families and the elderly.

Professional home care caregivers can assist the elderly in the home, running errands and accompanying the senior to doctor appointments.  Tasks at home are usually known as activities of daily living (ADL)

The activities include meal preparation, light house cleaning, help with shopping, dressing assistance,  performing daily hygiene routines in addition to a lot of other household tasks. In Home Caregivers are able to lend a hand with bathing, dressing, personal grooming, dental care, and more when our seniors require more support. For many elderly people, simply getting into and out of the tub or shower might be dangerous, In-Home Care Caregivers are there to keep your loved ones safe and sound and building a fulfilling life-style.

Home care professionals can also be trusted companions, providing empowering conversations and diverse therapies to improve your loved one’s day. These Home Care CareGivers also can take care of other tasks that may be complicated for some seniors for instance: walking dogs, answering phones, meal preparation, laundry, and more. In some cases, live in and full time housekeeping services are available.

Local and Extended Travel Services

Transportation for the elderly falls into two categories, local errands and extended travel.

Locally a senior needs to go to appointments for glasses, hearing aids, doctors, dentists and other medical appointments.  There is also a regular need for shopping trips or visiting the local senior center for lunch or bingo. Each of these could be taken care of by the Home care caregiver using the clients car or the Caregivers’ car.

When your loved one needs to go on a longer trip by air, rail or ship, the services of a Personal Travel Companion are required.  Paid Travel Companions are skilled in travel services as well as CareGiving.

For the family of an elder, the services of a Home Care CareGiver or a Paid Travel Companion can give peace of mind knowing that their elder is well taken care of and safe.

Phoenix Home Care can be found at Care-To-Go.com and Travel Companion services can be found at CareToGoTravel.com

On a picturesque spring day in April when Evelyn and her paid Travel Companion CareGiver boarded the airport shuttle going from Burbank CA to John Day OR.  This promises to be a vacation to remember.  Evelyn now 95 was on her way to reunite with her brother Howard 93 in Oregon.

Evelyn and Howard are the only two remaining of five siblings that grew up on a little farm in Central Missouri then migrated to California and Oregon in the 1940s.  Several years had past since they had spent time together.

The flight to Boise ID went very smoothly because the Travel Companion had reserved an easy connection and had arranged for a wheel chair and priority boarding for all the flight segments.  Evelyn’s Travel Companion Pam handled the checked baggage and arranged for transportation from Boise airport to John Day Oregon, about a 3 hour ride.  After checking into a hotel in John Day, Pam and Evelyn went to the ranch to join with Howard.

Ron, Gary, Brian, and Donna had also joined in the get-together.  Howard and Evelyn were so excited to see each other and they lost no time in catching up.  Pam and Ron made dinner “Missouri” style setting the stage for several hours of conversation about the old days. 

During the next few days, Howard and Evelyn reminisced for endless hours, telling each other stories.  They reminisced, fished (Evelyn caught fish for our dinner), looked at the scrap books, enjoyed Howard’s birthday party and clearly enjoyed their time all together.

Evelyn’s Travel Companion Pam, not only assisted all along the way making the trip possible, but she continually made the extra effort insuring that Evelyn was well attended and cared for.  Besides the personal travel, Pam assisted with meals, baited hooks for fishing, reorganized scrapbooks and helped tape pictures.  Pam also stayed with Evelyn in the lodge to be sure she was well taken care of and secure.

As they headed for the flight home the flight home, Evelyn and her travel companion boarded Southwest flight 405 to Oakland CA to connect to Burbank California.  The regular wheelchairs and pre boarding were arranged and the boarding went fine. 

After 40 minutes in the air, the pilot said that there was a warning light in the flight deck and we were going to return to Boise to have it repaired.  When it was discovered that the delay could be lengthly, Southwest had all of us to get off and wait for another plane.  Evelyn was helped off the airplane and the circumstances explained to her.  The Travel Companion continued to handle everything; explaining the circumstances to Evelyn, re-booking the connecting flight for Oakland, assuring priority boarding once more, and handling food and drinks.  Thankfully the flights home were uneventful and went smoothly.

We are constantly reminded how precious friends and family are to our well being.  The elderly frequently let life close in on them because to maintain contact with loved ones who live far away becomes too difficult.  Unfortunately, travel is one of the first things that drops out of the life of  an aging senior.  Travel Companions are a way for seniors to keep the lifestyle they love and maintain contact with friends and family.

Evelyn and Howard had a few fabulous days together and now have more memories to last a life time.  At the last dinner in Oregon, plans were already started to schedule the next family reunion.

One company specializing in elder Travel Companions is Care-To-Go.  Care-To-Go also provides elder home care in the Phoenix area.  For information on scheduling your Travel Companion visit CareToGoTravel.com

Cruise Ship Starts At Ft Lauderdale Pass Miami From An Elder Travel Companion

Cruise ship travel has always been a favorite getaway especially among seniors.  A lot of cruise ship providers begin Caribbean cruises from Ft Lauderdale, Miami and San Juan, Puerto Rico.  To date Miami is the largest.  It looks like now Fort Lauderdale might take over the top rank.
Travel Companions from Care-To-Go have started at all three and have noted that Fort. Lauderdale seems simplier and easier to access.  Miami may be larger with more flight choices and San Juan can start you a day further along on your trip, but Fort Lauderdale remains our favorite.  When Carnival launched their “largest ship in the world” it was staged from Ft. Lauderdale.

Click to check out the entire article form Travel Weekly. <http://caretogotravel.com/cruise-ship-capital-noted-by-phoenix-travel-companion/>
Also click to read Cruise Deals Now at CareToGoTravel.com <http://caretogotravel.com/book-cheap-cruises-for-seniors-now-reports-a-phoenix-travel-companion-2/>

Phoenix In Home Care Caregiver Describes 19 Home Safety Suggestions For Elders

Nearly all mishaps take place within the house and especially for our seniors.  Despite the fact that our seniors are at home and in familiar surroundings, they have a increased accident occurrence than some of us. When you consider deteriorating eyesight, worsening hearing and poor judgment and balance, the senior has a harder time moving around and being secure.  If you make the changes yourself or decide to use a Home care caregiver, you may be able to dodge a major accident and accident to your loved one.

What can you do to guard an elderly loved one from being injured?  Here are some measures to follow:

Keep outside steps and walks in good condition and free of debris.  Make sure the hand rails are clean and in good condition.

Light all stairways,  halls and provide light switches at both ends.  Use bright lights foir Seniors.

Use nightlights or bedside remote controlled switches. Yeah the clapper works as well.

Provide handrails in stairways and hallways.

Keep a durable nightstand next to the bed so eyeglasses and additional personal items are within reach.

Put felt or soft material around sharp edges of their household furniture for example counters, tables or shelves.

Secure the edges of carpets and rugs; take out throw rugs that slide or can be tripped on.

Keep pathways clear of furniture and other objects.

Install strong handrails in bathrooms (mainly close to the toilet, at the entry to the shower and inside their shower) and use non-skid strips in the tub and shower.

Use a shower seat and shower hose for those not able to stand in the shower.

Avoid using oils or lotions in the bath and shower.

Utilize kitchen appliances with timers. Our seniors find appliances with signal lights and buzzers easier to use.

Clearly mark the “off” position on stoves and ranges so a person with diminished eyesight could immediately tell if the heat is off.  Test some nail polish to mark the off position.

Set water heater thermostats or faucets so water does not scald their skin.

Install smoke detectors in the kitchen, bedrooms and throughout the rest of the house.

Keep a fire extinguisher handy and know how to use it.

Arrange frequently used kitchen items in an easy-to-reach cabinet.

Install one door lock that can be opened easily from the inside.

Keep magazines and mail picked up off the floor.  Seniors love to keep it all, who knows a coupon may show up.

For a complete home assessment contact Care-To-Go at 480-284-8611 and on the internet at Care-To-Go.com  Are you getting to the point where you need someone to help you shoulder the load of caring for Mom? A Home Care CareGiver will be able to assist your senior with household tasks, personal care, errands and shopping to be sure they are safe  happy and well cared for.

Cruises have always been a preferred vacation for Seniors.  Tropical air, tropical swaying palm trees, soft steel drum music,; what’s not to like.  Besides the famous ambiance in the Bahamas, Mexico, or the Caribbean, you’ll find a number of reasons to choose a cruise ship over different kinds of vacation for Seniors.  It is a trip totally set up for all your requirements including activities, food, house keeping and medical services.  It’s great to settle in once and then watch the world go by knowing that all your needs are taken care of.

This is your opportunity to take that great escape you have always wanted and be thoroughly safe and cared for all the way.  Cruises can provide everything you need including; your room, all your food, lots of activities, a pharmacy, doctors and a hospital, a concierge and lots of great people to meet.
If you require some assistance along the way, a Personal Travel Companion can escort you to be sure you are well taken care of.  Now you can take that dream trip that you have always wanted.

We all know that vacation tour prices including Cruise Ships vary greatly.  If you reserve with a travel agent, a Cruise Company, Orbits or a bulk Cruise buyer, the price can vary greatly.  When using a Travel Companion these prices can be easily compared and you can pick the best deal for you.

Speaking of a Travel Companion, you can now take a personal travel assistant with you to be sure that the trip goes smoothly.  Your personal travel companion  can travel with you all the way from your door and back again.  How nice would it be to have professional assistance through the airport and flight, on the cruise and back again.  One company providing Personal Travel Companions can be found at <http://Care-To-Go.com>

Click Here for complete article explaining more about booking discount Cruises.

The Medications List
This form ought to contain your critical information concerning your drugs plus times to be taken it’s color and size. Your information included should include your name, the doctors’ name, the doctors’ telephone and address, the pharmacy telephone and address. The date of birth plus social security number must be here because this is how the pharmacy computer systems detect the patient for refills.

The Medications Side Effects Sheet
This form is just what it says. The patients name, address and telephone ought to be there of course. There should also be a listing of medication names, prescribed amount, frequency, as well as classification. There should be plenty of space for side effects, special instructions and cautions. There may be one drug per page.

Caregivers as advocates
When you need help tracking and understanding your prescriptions, be sure to bring an advocate along with you to the doctors’ office and the pharmacy. Your CareGiver should be at every appointment along with you. As an advocate, your Caregiver professional will ensure all instructions, side effects, and cautions are understood and written down. The CareGiver can then help with the lists you will keep as will as organizing you pillbox for every week.

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During the Golden Years, many elders spend their free time by vacationing. It’s a way to see lots of the places that couldn’t be seen because of busy schedules. However not all the seniors are getting away by themselves. A lot of seniors are going with their grand children sans mother and dad with them in what is now known as GrandTravel.

About 80% of seniors surveyed said they enjoyed taking the grandkids with them on their trips while their parents remained at home. The climb in popularity of Grandtravel can be traced to a number of factors. First, the grandparents are able to spend a lot more time with their grandkids as opposed to only seeing them whenever their parents bring them to visit. The second is that the grandkids parents get a break in order to spend some time together. The last is that the grandparents can do whatever they love to do best – spoil the grandkids without the parents there.

Kids Come First
Studies about Grandtravel have shown is that seniors are more democratic when it comes to making decisions with their grandkids. They not only include the kids in decisions about where to eat and what to do on vacation, but will often concede to their grandkids’ wishes.

Deciding at what age a child should be allowed to go on a trip alone with grandma and grandpa can be tough and really depends on the maturity of the child. Generally, studies on Grandtravel have shown that 12 or 13 is the average age for a child to go. And in cases where there are multiple grandchildren around the same age, many seniors will opt to take one grandchild each summer so that each kid gets the right amount of attention, and the grandparents aren’t driven completely crazy.

Where to Go
While there’s no shortage of destinations to take grandkids, the most well-liked choices are Disney Land, Washington D.C., New York City and theme parks. Outdoor activities like fishing, hiking, or the beach are great choices too.  Places with natural wonders also rank high like Yellowstone, Yosemite or the Grand Canyon.

Let the GrandKids Choose The Trip
I heard from a pilot I know that he would let the GrandKids choose and plan their trip every year for their birthday.  Here is a chance to spend several months of quality time planning a special trip with each Grand Child.  They can choose a trip to a place that really interests them, making the trip very special for everyone.

To maintain independence at home in the Phoenix area visit www.Care-To-Go.Com

For a Travel Companion anywhere contact WWW.CareToGoTravel.com