Cooking For Seniors

Proper nutrition is very important to senior citizens.  As their sense of taste and thirst decrease, they tend to eat and drink less than needed.  They will often choose foods that require minimal preparation and offer little value to their health.  This has an affect on them physically, emotionally and mentally.

At Comfort Keepers, meal preparation is a big part of a caregivers job.  They plan weekly menus with their clients, choosing foods that are delicious and nutritious and encourage them to participate in preparing the meals together.

We take it a step further and offer a series of cooking classes to our caregivers.  Leslie Knopp and Gena Hohman are serious foodies, and demonstrate ways to use convenient and fresh ingredients to prepare meals our clients will enjoy. 

At their most recent class, Leslie and Gena had all of the fixings for two dishes that could be made from a rotisserie chicken.  They had the caregivers make chicken potpie and chicken pizza with pesto and peppers.  They then divided them into teams and had them come up with a dish of their own creation. The caregivers left feeling confident that their new and creative recipes would make a difference in their clients lives.

Comfort Keepers has offices in Petoskey and Traverse City and serves seniors throughout all of Northern Michigan. If you would like more information about how we can help your loved one, call us toll free at 866-929-9044

 

Personalized Care

Karen uses Interactive Caregiving with all of her clients. She has one client with severe arthritis who has great difficulty handling daily tasks. The client still wants to be active and involved with duties around the house so Karen works with her on the laundry. The client expressed that she wished she could help out, so Karen encourages her to load the laundry in the washing machine. This may sound like a small deal to some people, but it means everything to this client to be able to do this. Karen then transfers the laundry to the dryer and folds the clothes. 

It is a team effort and the client is able to maintain her sense of independence. Most people (care providers) would probably take care of the laundry themselves without giving it a second thought but as a Comfort Keeper, Karen understands that this simple act of encouragement and participation makes a difference in the outlook the client has about herself and her independence.

Karen has another client that needed to move into a new apartment. Moving at any age can be stressful but even more so when a person has limited capabilities. Karen talked to the client to find out what she could do to make this move easier. Karen was able to help the client by putting in shelf paper in the cabinets and assisting the client in unpacking. Karen showed great respect for the client’s personal items and was able to work with the client to ensure that her items were placed where she wanted them…as if her client was putting them away herself. She gave great comfort to the client and worked according to the client’s wants and needs.

Karen also uses Interactive Caregiving with her client with MS. Karen understands how critical her client’s service dog is to her independence. She respects the relationship between dog and client and treats both with respect. By doing this and understanding the importance of this aid in her client’s life she displays how Interactive Caring can expand beyond the client.

Comfort Keepers has offices in Petoskey and Traverse City and serves seniors throughout all of Northern Michigan. If you would like more information about how we can help your loved one, call us toll free at 866-929-9044

Spring Has Arrived!

Hello Friends!  We love the month of May!

May is National Stroke Awareness Month, a time to elevate stroke in the mindset of your family, friends and neighbors.  Simple prevention and treatment education can help reduce stroke incidence.  Do you know what the warning signs are?  Would you know how to recognize a stroke and what to do?  Explore the Signs and symptoms page at www.stroke.org for a wealth of practical information and be ready to take action.

May 13 is Mother’s Day!  Did you know that there is a web site dedicated to celebrating Mother’s Day all year long?  Check out www.mothersdaycentral.com for all things related, including a list of the top TV sitcom mothers of all time.

May is the month when Spring truly arrives!  It has been said that the month of May was named for Maia, the Roman goddess of spring and growth.  Her name is related to a Latin word that means increase or growth.  That certainly is evident in the gardens, fields and forests of northern Michigan.  So in the spirit of Spring, one last web site to share is one we love because it encourages us to reach out, grow and enrich the lives of deserving seniors by making wishes come true.  Take a look at http://www.seniorwish.org/index.html for ideas.

Pictured above is  88 year old Bee White who won a "Wish of a Lifetime" contest.  Her wish, a hot air balloon ride! 

Comfort Keepers has offices in Petoskey and Traverse City and serves seniors throughout all of Northern Michigan. If you would like more information about how we can help your loved one, call us toll free at 866-929-9044

Engaging Seniors with Dementia and Alzheimer's

Seniors with Dementia or Alzheimer’s disease have the same needs as all of us: to find purpose and pleasure in life. However, it takes special understanding and training to help them fulfill this need—and to safely care for them at home. Comfort Keepers^® offers that special kind of Dementia care. 

Kathy is a Comfort Keeper of the Year nominee, and shares how she works with her clients:

One of the most important things Kathy keeps in mind when she is caring for a senior is that this is probably not how they saw themselves living their retirement years. She does whatever it takes to preserve that person's integrity. She always speaks to them in a kind and gentle manner without being patronizing. She encourages them to make choices about their clothing and activities. She takes time to learn about a client’s interest and comes up with ways to continue these in a way that matches their current abilities. 

One of her clients insisted on cleaning out and rearranging her silverware drawer during every visit and Kathy patiently involved her client to sort and place them in their “new spot” in the drawer, always praising a job well done. Says Kathy, "I never insult their intelligence by telling them what to do. I ask or suggest ideas that cue them into action. Respect and empathy are what people connect to the most and I try to bring that to work every day.”

Comfort Keepers of Northern Michigan strives to provide continuous training to our caregivers.  One popular class we offer is Dementia 101, taught by The Alzheimer's Association of Northern Michigan.  They help our caregivers to better understand and work with their clients, and bring engage them in activities that bring them joy.

Comfort Keepers has offices in Petoskey and Traverse City and serves seniors throughout all of Northern Michigan. If you would like more information about how we can help your loved one, call us toll free at 866-929-9044

Going The Extra Mile

Last week we learned about two very special caregivers who practice Interactive Caregiving, keeping their clients engaged in their daily lives. Here is another example of how Comfort Keepers cares for their clients and gives families peace of mind.

Sabina goes the extra mile to make a difference for her clients. Before an extended vacation, she cooked and froze meals for a couple who love her cooking and were noticeably anxious about her being away.

Knowing how much one client enjoyed his tradition of throwing a nice dinner party for his wife and family on Mother’s Day, she helped him prepare a special meal and set the table. The son later called to report how thrilled his father had been to be able to recreate this old tradition.

When a client whose husband had dementia was unexpectedly hospitalized, Sabina quickly agreed to a long shift to keep Mrs.S. company during a trying time. She made several trips back and forth to the hospital; made sure she was eating, and taking her medications. Sabina completed other needed tasks, bringing comfort and security to our clients.

Sabina thinks about what she as a Comfort Keeper can do to touch each client’s life, beyond the basic tasks of cooking a meal or cleaning the kitchen. She makes an effort to get to know each client as an individual – and to identify what matters to them. Going above and beyond is routine for her.

Sabina is acutely sensitive to looking out for all aspects of her clients’ lives and creating situations that allow them to continue their independent lifestyles. It is common for her to have suggestions for improved safety or nutrition.

Sabina met the challenge of a couple with multiple diet restrictions – one being diabetic and one being on a strict low-salt diet. She drew upon her own culinary experiences and new recipes and sat down with the clients to find recipe solutions that were appealing to them, but also satisfied their needs. Then she worked her magic in the kitchen and helped keep them on the right track to healthy eating. She also accompanied them to the grocery and worked to help them make healthy choices while shopping.

Sabina also is dedicated to helping clients stay physically active, doing exercises with them or encouraging a walk down the hall at their retirement community.

Comfort Keepers has offices in Petoskey and Traverse City and serves seniors throughout all of Northern Michigan. If you would like more information about how we can help your loved one, call us toll free at 866-929-9044

Going Above and Beyond

From transportation and companionship to skilled nursing services and 24 hour care, Comfort Keepers of Northern Michigan provides a wide variety of services to help seniors continue living in their own homes.

Yesterday we posted about ways Peggy uses interactive caregving to keep her clients engaged. Today we are sharing how Beatrice goes above and beyond for her clients.

Beatrice takes a true interest in her clients hobbies. She works to provide opportunities for them to engage in their special interests. She is an excellent communicator, often initiating the conversation but always taking the time to listen to what her client has to say.

Beatrice incorporates healthy meal plans and encourages her clients to help with meal preparation whenever possible. She makes physical activity fun - participating with her client to ensure safety at all times. She can often be found bringing cards or games from home to use with her clients. Over the years Beatrice consistently goes above and beyond to exceed the expectations of her clients and their families.

Being A Comfort Keeper

One of the many things that sets Comfort Keepers of Northern Michigan apart, is our philosophy of care: interactive caregiving. We understand the importance of keeping our clients engaged in their daily activities.

We don't simply assist seniors with personal care, drive them to appointments or prepare meals. We believe in doing these things with them, not for them.

A Comfort Keepers Caregiver of the Year nominee shares why she loves being a comfort keeper and making a difference in the lives of seniors.

Peggy has mastered the concept of “doing with” rather than “doing for” and has built her reputation on being an interactive caregiver. Following her “AAA” approach, Peggy is quick to learn the activities most enjoyed by her clients. For this reason, Peggy is seen as one of our most resourceful caregivers as she is comfortable with crafts, music, shopping, conversation, meal preparation, baking, cleaning, laundry, personal care and event planning.

When asked to describe one of her most memorable interactive activities with a client, Peggy was quick to recall an event she and her client planned together. This client was end of life, on hospice, and had expressed how much she missed being able to go to card club with her friends. Gathering information from the client, Peggy engaged the client in planning a card party that was to be the client’s last social gathering. From invitations to refreshments, from decorations to setting up her bedroom to accommodate the client’s card playing guests, Peggy exceeded the client’s expectations. It was a grand affair, interactive and memorable for all.

Managing Urinary Incontinence in the Home

As seniors age, many things come into play – safety in the home and out, health conditions seniors face, the emotional ups and downs when dealing with the normal aging process, including the loss of loved ones. Whether someone is caring for an elderly relative or being employed to care for a senior, it is critical to the senior’s health and well-being for the caregiver to be sensitive to these issues and to interact in such a way that helps foster independence in the home for as long as possible.

Sometimes, this interaction is easy. Participating in activities such as playing games, walking in the park or cooking and eating with seniors keeps them engaged and fosters feelings of worthiness and self-esteem. However, a caregiver’s duties may stretch beyond those fun-filled moments and extend into the realm of uncomfortable topics. One such topic that is of concern among seniors is urinary incontinence.

 Incontinence may be tough to tackle and downright embarrassing for seniors, but it is important for caregivers to take a proactive approach to help seniors recognize and successfully deal with the condition. While many seniors may believe incontinence is a sign of the normal aging process, this is not necessarily true. Medical conditions and some medications can cause involuntary loss of urine. Women generally suffer incontinence due to weakened pelvic muscles. Enlarged prostate glands are often the cause of incontinence for men.

 

It is important for seniors to discuss issues of incontinence with their doctors, as incontinence is a symptom, not a disease itself. Understanding the different types of incontinence is crucial. Stress incontinence occurs during moments of laughter, sneezing, bending or lifting. Urge incontinence is caused by sudden bladder contractions causing an urgent need to urinate. Sometimes the bladder is unable to hold urine, causing involuntary overflow of urine. Functional incontinence occurs in seniors with dementia who may forget to use the restroom, or in those with impaired mobility who are unable to reach the toilet in time.

 The good news is there are ways incontinence can be treated and managed so seniors can continue to pursue active, happy lifestyles and be independent in their northern Michigan homes. The following are a few treatments that may be suggested and performed under a doctor’s care.

·         Strengthen pelvic muscles by performing Kegel exercises – the tightening and releasing of the muscles that control urine. Stronger muscles in this area enable seniors to hold urine in their bladders for longer periods of time.

·         Teach seniors to become more aware of their bodies’ signals, which aids in the training of strengthening pelvic muscles.

·         Chart voiding and leaking times to help seniors, including those with dementia, determine specific times they should use the restroom.

There are other factors that can contribute to incontinence. Alcohol and caffeine can cause incontinence in later years and exacerbate the problem once it surfaces. Excessive fluid intake and consumption of spicy foods, highly acidic foods such as tomatoes, citrus fruits and juices may contribute to the problem. Encourage seniors to pay attention to the foods they eat to determine if certain food affects their incontinence. Limit fluid intake before bedtime. Make sure bathrooms are easily accessible.

 If none of the above techniques help, there are medications available to treat some types of incontinence. Temporary, disposable devices can be used to insert in the urethra to stop involuntary urine flow. The use of adult incontinence pads or briefs can provide seniors the freedom to enjoy active lifestyles.

Learning about incontinence and its causes can help seniors successfully manage the condition. The first step is to encourage seniors to talk about their issues to help determine factors that contribute to their incontinence. Work together to find solutions that aid in alleviating incontinence and the embarrassing moments it may cause. By doing so, caregivers help to create positive attitudes and environments that cultivate happiness and well-being for the seniors in their care.

 References

 Schneider, Adina. MD. Managing incontinence in the elderly. Retrieved on February 4, 2012 from http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/showthread.php?t=14494.

 Sollitto, Marlo. How to control incontinence. Retrieved on February 4, 2012 from http://www.agingcare.com/Articles/managing-incontinence-144710.htm.

 Managing Incontinence in the Home – document outline provided by Comfort Keepers.

Seniors and Medications

Living independently is important to all of us, but especially to seniors. As they age, seniors face unique challenges, such as losing a spouse and elderly friends, changes in physical and mental abilities, and other general lifestyle changes that often occur during the golden years. Living in a comfortable and familiar environment becomes paramount to a senior’s happiness and feelings of well-being. As the relative, friend or caregiver of a senior, it is important for you to help seniors achieve this goal.

One area that deserves special attention with seniors is managing medications they take. Chances are the number of medications they are required to take increases with age, as seniors are often prone to medical conditions that are regulated by medicine.  Taking the medications is important. However, it is equally important for seniors and their family caregivers to understand what medicine the senior takes, to become knowledgeable about side effects, and also to determine whether there appear to be adverse effects of taking different types of medications at the same time. Mismanagement of medications can be detrimental and sometimes even life threatening.

Medication mismanagement can be minimal or extreme. Forgetting to take medication can cause obvious problems but may not be of great concern if it does not happen often. But, combining some types of medicines can cause critical adverse reactions and if a senior is required to take painkillers, addiction can raise its ugly head. For these reasons it becomes essential to keep seniors well informed of the hazards mismanagement of medications can cause and to keep the doctor informed all of medications the senior is taking and of any apparent adverse side effects.

Signs of medication misuse include dizziness, nausea, confusion and memory issues, increased falls, troubled sleeping patterns, incontinence, and even hallucinations. Malnutrition can also indicate improper medicine administration, because confused seniors may not eat properly. Seniors who become addicted to painkillers may become secretive regarding their use of those drugs and seek prescriptions from various doctors and pharmacies. In extreme but not uncommon cases, some medications – when mixed – can cause death.

Seniors who have trouble successfully managing medications are not alone. In fact, research indicates that approximately 40% of people entering nursing homes do so because they are unable to self-medicate in their homes. In addition, 30% of all hospital admissions for people over age 65 are directly attributable to missed doses or overdoses of medication.

With these statistics in mind, the medical community has offered advice and other solutions to help seniors manage medications in their own homes. When family members visit, it is an opportunity to remind seniors to take their meds at designated times. If possible, seniors are encouraged to keep logs of the times they take their medications in order to keep track, determine the time of their next dose and to prevent over-dosage. If you need help in northern Michigan, Comfort Keepers^®, offers solid solutions in the form of medication reminder devices. The Safety Choice^® TabSafe Medication System by Comfort Keepers stores medication and dispenses the proper dosage into a locked drawer at the bottom of the unit. If a dose is missed, the unit places a call to designated Comfort Keeper or other contact persons who can then call to remind loved ones to take their medicine. If no one is reached, a call to the monitoring station prompts a call or visit to the client or caregiver.

The use of one or all of these strategies can assist seniors who take multiple medications. It is also essential to make sure their doctors know of all medications seniors take so they can coordinate care and prescribe additional medicine, when needed, that will not cause adverse effects when combined with other meds. Others should keep a close eye on seniors who take medications to ensure seniors are properly administering their own meds.

Research shows seniors who live alone are more likely to inadvertently misuse medications. Knowledge is power, but control is key regarding medication management. The reward in helping seniors properly manage their medication is helping them achieve their ultimate goal of living healthy, independent lives in their own homes for as long as possible.

References

 Comfort Keepers (2012). Safety choice^® products. Retrieved on February 10, 2012, from http://www.comfortkeepers.com/technology-solutions/safetychoice-products.

 Agingcare.com (2012). Seniors and prescription drug addiction. Retrieved on February 10, 2012 from http://www.agingcare.com/Articles/help-for-elderly-prescription-addiction-133459.htm.

 Agingcare.com (2012). Surprising list of medications cause majority of senior overdoses. Retrieved on February 10, 2012 from http://www.agingcare.com/Articles/senior-drug-overdose-148701.htm.

 Caregivingstress.com (2012). The warning signs. Retrieved on February 10, 2012 from http://www.caregiverstress.com/senior-safety/health-information-management/senior-medication-management/warning-signs/.

 Marek, Karen Dorman. Ph.D., M.B.A., R.N., F.A.A.N. Antle, Lisa. A.P.R.N., B.C., A.P.N.P

U.S. National Library of Medicine – National Institutes of Health (2012). Chapter 18 medication management of the community-dwelling older adult. Retrieved on February 11, 2012, from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK2670/.

How Hypertension Affects Memory

Oops, you did it again…forgot someone’s phone number, could not remember what you had for lunch yesterday, or for a moment maybe you were not able to recall your neighbor’s name.  Simple signs, you chuckle to yourself, of growing older.  You might even laugh out loud with family and friends about losing your memory now that you are enjoying your senior years. After all, some degree of short-term memory loss is a sign of aging. Right?

Well, actually you could be wrong.  Studies regarding memory loss in seniors indicate that instead of being a sign of simply aging, short-term memory loss could be a symptom of the effects of hypertension or high blood pressure. Hypertension causes damage to blood vessels, resulting in plaque and other tissue buildup, which can break free and move with blood flow only to get trapped in smaller vessels.  This blockage can cause clots that prevent blood filled with oxygen and nutrients from traveling to the area of the body it supplies.  If clots or other blockage prevent oxygen from reaching cells in the brain responsible for memory, those cells die, inhibiting that function.

There are well-known conditions caused by hypertension such as stroke, aneurysm, heart and coronary artery disease.  While the effects of these conditions can contribute to complications of decreased blood flow throughout the body, vital brain cell loss can occur without your enduring a stroke or another critical health event.  The crucial connection that needs to be acknowledged here is that when brain cells governing memory die due to lack of blood flow – regardless of the cause – the result is potential damage to your brain.

Research indicates this loss of blood flow can cause other diseases to occur. Vascular dementia, one cause of dementia, may very well be caused by decreased or lack of blood flow to the brain.  In fact, studies indicate that people who have hypertension in their middle-aged years are at increased risk for developing dementia as they age.  Mild cognitive impairment, the shift in memory and comprehension that begins in the elderly and is also typical of complications of Alzheimer’s, can also be caused by the effects of arterial damage prohibiting blood flow.

Hypertension often goes undiagnosed for years, especially in people who do not have regular medical check ups.  Memory loss due to hypertension alone is caused by detrimental elements that progress over time, decreasing or halting blood flow to parts of the brain that are critical to its proper function. Brain cells can slowly die due to lack of blood flow, causing a person to experience subtle changes in memory and other cognitive functions.  For this reason, any changes in memory that occur as you or your senior family member transition into the golden years should not be ignored.

High blood pressure can be detected by a simple blood pressure check, which can often be performed at machines now available in local drug stores. If you suspect you or the senior loved one in your life may be at risk, it is well worth a trip to find out.  Keep in mind, however, that while a trip to the store is more convenient than a visit to the doctor, it is still important to seek medical advice for proper diagnosis and treatment.

References:

Mayo Clinic (2011). High blood pressure dangers: effects of hypertension on your body. Retrieved on December 10, 2011 from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/high-blood-pressure/HI00062.

Kirchheimer, Sid (2003). Short-term memory slightly worse in those with hypertension.

Retrieved on December 10, 2011 from http://www.webmd.com/hypertension-high-blood-pressure/news/20030923/high-blood-pressure-causes-memory-lapse.

John Hopkins Medicine (2011). How does hypertension affect memory? Retrieved on December 10, 2011 from http://www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com/alerts/

hypertension_stroke/memory_hypertension_3838-1.html?ET=johnshopkins:

e44738:1259471a:&st=email&s=ESH_110301_001

Why Ruthie Likes Being a Comfort Keeper

National Heart Month

When you are out and about in Northern Michigan and see a senior being assisted by a caregiver in a red fleece jacket, you have most likely spotted a Comfort Keeper.  The red jackets were a gift from Russ and Leslie this past Christmas and our caregivers love them.  They seem especially appropriate this month as February is National Heart Month and we are encouraged to “wear red!” and support the fight against heart disease.

The National Institutes of Health report that 5 million people in the US suffer with congestive heart failure and it is a disease that affects many of our clients.  It’s a disease that has a strong impact on quality of life.  It saps your strength and makes each breath a battle.  There are treatments for CHF but, as always, prevention is key to your best health.  Doctors are saying that CHF is largely a lifestyle disease and that regular exercise, a healthy weight and not smoking are some of the best preventatives. Sounds familiar, doesn’t it.  So, grab a red scarf for your neck and take a nice long walk.  It will do your heart good.