synergyhomecare-eastvalley

When A Loved One Has Dementia

Recently I spent some time talking with a person closely related to family that has someone with dementia.  The conversation with passionate people is always exciting since their passion helps me to think about how we at SYNERGY HomeCare East Valley can do things differently and, well, better in the future. 

This person and I were talking for a little while about this family's caregiver and about the fact that it took about three tries to find the right personality.  Luckily the family was well aware of the personality quirks with their loved one so multiple attempts wasn't the issue.  What was the issue?  The family waited to long to call for help.  The wife was the person with dementia and the husband assumed the role of caregiver for far too long.  The family decided to help the husband only after his health and mental status deteriorated.  However, with the right match of personalities the caregiver currently assist the wife has been a true blessing.  The husband has found enough respite time to mentallyrecover and be on the right track physically.  He likes to calls his remaining ailments, mostly age exacerbated,his visible signs of his labor of love. 

That is what they really are!  How true indeed.  When you have someone you care for with a long term ailment please talk with professionals immediately.  The time each person has alive with dementia, alzheimer's, diabetes, etc all differ and sometimes the time can be very long.  As a result, plan for long term care, plan to bring in help prior to anyone else's health deteriorates.  We at SYNERGY HomeCare rotate caregivers for just that reason, it's a labor of love that does come with attachments. 

Planning for Long Term Care, Part III

Ok, you now have a long term care strategy for you and your loved ones and the unfortunate time comes that you need to use it.  Rejoice, for you have planned for this and everything will be OK.  First, be sure to always get multiple opinions on the type of care needed.  Just because there is a little nest egg saved for this day doesn't mean you have to use it all at once.  Once the type of care is confirmed be sure to shop around for providers that can provide that type of care.  Just because a provider accepts a certain kind of insurance or will work with you on the specific types of care needed doesn't mean that they will provide you with the best care.  One of the most important things to look for in a provider is their referral network around them.  Having people and other companies surrounding them means that these other companies also like working with them.  Now, it's not just as simple as that either.  Be certain that everyone involved in the decision is comfortable.  You and your family need to be comfortable, the doctors need to be confident, financially you need to be comfortable and lastly, be sure that everyone continues to have a back-up plan. 

Please do not ever forget to continue to have back-up plans either from yourself or your providers for all situations.  Just because you have planned for this need doesn't mean it should fail you now.  Providers need to be able to show you their contingency plans for situations that commonly arise.  When you see these plans, be comfortable with them - and hope you never have to use them. 

Planning for Long Term Care, Part II

In my post from yesterday I spoke about the need to have a long term care plan and the value of having a long term care plan like a last will.  Now, I didn't mean to say get one over the other, you need both for complete success. 

In this post I would like to turn to those individuals that now have a long term care plan in place and what to do with it on a regular basis.  First off, I would like to say with resounding joy, "Congratulations!".  It's pleasing to this company to see folks with that vision.  But, now that you have taken care of things for 2010 you will need regular check-ups to that plan just like any other long range plan, like your 401k, 529 or anything else.  When you are undergoing the check-up over the next few years be sure to always check to see how the latest new strategies play a role into yours. 

If you are due for a long term care planning check-up in the next year be sure to discuss the strategies of CLASS ACT.  CLASS ACT is a federal government form of long term care that was part of the health care reform bill that passed congress earlier this year.  Although CLASS ACT is not long term care insurance, the cost to sign-up for the benefits that will be offered down the road may be a nice addition to your long term care strategy. 

Planning for Long Term Care, Part I

If you know someone suffering with Alzheimer's or any other medical condition that requires significant assistance in order for them to live at home safely, this post and the next two are for you.  Nobody wants to think about planning for long term care or planning for death.  But the reality is, for the few that plan for death and have expressed their final wishes about their care to loved one, fewer have planned for long term care.  But, the reality is long term care planning is equally as important as planning for death.  Why?  Because of the unknown time factor.  The inevitability of death will always happen but the need for long term care might not.  However, the impact to a family financially, mentally and physically is far greater when a family has to deal with a long term medical condition.  As a result, shouldn't people take a priority on planning for long term care so their families won't have to worry about the financial costs, assume majority role of caregiver and give up their careers as a result.  If people saw the face of long term care needs, their perception of planning for it would change and change drastically. 

I ask everyone to consider for a moment what plans they have in place in the event they have to care for a family member or other loved one for 2, 3 or 18 months.  Is there enough money to cover expenses due to loss of income?  Is there enough money to cover the lost time at your job?  Can you handle the on-going stress of being the primary caregiver and prepared to loose your free-time? 

Please consider building a long term care strategy for you and you loved ones?  Do you need a place to start?  If you do, call SYNERGY HomeCare of the East Valley for professional consultation with one of our are partners who can help build for you long term care success. 

The Playground Closes Daily from 2pm to 3pm for Cleaning

Over the weekend my family went to a local mall.  The mall, like most I'm sure, has a playground area for younger children to burn some of that built up energy off so parents can get their shopping done.  It was after lunch when we arrived at the mall placing us at the playground about 1pm.  While I was sitting there watching all of the children play I noticed a small little sign that says the playground closes every day from 2pm to 3pm for cleaning.  At first I thought to myself it's a great idea to ensure the cleanliness from all of the children.  But, what also came to mind was that the mall's management put the cleaning crew on a schedule.  A schedule that works for entire mall and complies with all health and safety requirements. 

The same goes true for people.  We need a schedule!  We need to be help accountable to ourselves and to others and no better way to do it other than a schedule.  The same is also true with Alzheimer's and dementia patients.  Many times it is often repeated that putting you loved one with Alzheimer's on a schedule begin to ease some of the burdens of day to day activities.  Memory care programs are strengthened by repeat activities and schedules.  Schedules also aid other bodily systems as well. 

All Memory Care clients of SYNERGY HomeCare East Valley have a routine schedule with us, cooperating with their medical doctor's request.  SYNERGY HomeCare East Valley specializes in Memory Care programs.

A New Tool for Early Detection?

Last month we made our post about the value of early detection for you or your loved ones when facing memory loss issues.  If you recall we spoke about the need for early detection to help, in some cases slow the progression. 

Well, with that being the focus of some researchers at the University of Pennsylvania, there is a newer tool that may be able to assist.  Please go to the following link if you would like to read about the latest in this new diagnostic technique. 

http://www.uphs.upenn.edu/news/News_Releases/2009/03/csf-alzheimers-biomarker.html

It's great to see doctors and scientists focusing their attention on these important life saving issues. 

The Family Caregiver - Caring for Yourself

Caring for a loved one with a memory disorder (dementia or Alzheimer’s) can be a significant challenge.  Removing the emotional bonds of having your loved one not be able to recall significant family events and people often crushes the family caregiver.  This is an understandable circumstance of the disease that may not be able to be overcome, but certainly can be minimized.  There are a number of support groups in every city or town that may be a place to find answers or bonds with other family grappling with the same issues you are.  If you find a group of family members and are able to talk with them, discuss bringing our a member of the medical community to give real updates to the care and treatment advances being made.  Also seriously consider taking a class in caring for the caregiver.  Your job as a loved one and a caregiver is downright critical.  But making sure you are emotionally and physically able to keep up with day to day activities is essential.  

Find a class that is offered in the community that teaches you how to take care of you, the caregiver when caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s.  The skills you learn there will help you make it through all of situations that arise much better. 

Early Signs? Don't Wait!

We have been gone a little while but we are not back and ready to share with you a lot of exciting news over the next few blog entries. 

Over the last few weeks we have been noticing a lot of information being requested on Alzheimer’s care or other dementia.  This, I fear, is simply the beginning of what we in the industry feel is going to happen more and more over the next 10-20 years.  The identification and progression of dementia is making it observed earlier than ever before no doubt.  This helps the patient get the medical care much sooner.  The great part of this is that the patient now can live a higher quality of life for a much longer period of time.  The Alzheimer’s disease can’t yet be cured, but it can be slowed making the patient’s quality of life much better while living with the disease. What is also interesting to note is that many times, families wait to get their loved one diagnosed too long after some memory loss has occurred. 

So, do your family and friends a huge favor.  Get them to an Alzheimer’s specialist as soon as you feel they need to go in order to maintain the highest quality of life you can for them. 

Please go to the Alzheimer’s Association website for a lot more information regarding the disease.