Entries from January 2009
FAIRFAX, Va. (WUSA) — “I go out by myself a lot, and if I couldn’t do that it wouldn’t be natural,” says Amy Pierce.
The sixty-nine year old treasures her independence.
“Why live if you can’t go out and do what you want to do,” she says.
So to maintain her freedom and allay her family’s fears, they want her to consider some hi-tech devices that will monitor her safety 24 hours a day.
“The purpose of this is to let us know when it sees motion,” says Comfort Keepers Toni Reinhart.
Motion detectors…door sensors…
“This is used mainly for people with Alzheimer’s and with cognitive decline problems,” she says.
…even a portable GPS.
“You can just put this in your pocket. If something happens, you can push the button and they can locate you,” says Toni.
Comfort Keepers provides this wireless technology to seniors who want to continue to live on their own.
Toni says, “Not everybody needs someone to come and sit and watch them 24 hours a day, but everybody needs to feel safe 24 hours a day.”
That one-on-one care can be expensive, about $3,000 a month. Comfort Keepers says their SafetyChoice systems won’t bankrupt your savings.
“Most of these monitoring systems are less than $1 a day. And you can be monitored 24-7,” says Toni Reinhart.
And for Amy and her family, peace of mind is priceless when you’re home alone.
“I love my home, and I want to be there,” says Amy.
With some technology like this, you may have to pay a monitoring service fee.
And here are a few steps to take to mitigate care costs for an aging parent.
Begin the conversation while your parents are healthy, organized a family meeting to talk about finances.
Prepare an advanced directive and a living will. This will help you prepare for any crisis.
And consider long-term insurance. It can be vital in case your loved one has a degenerative condition, a cognitive disorder or a prolonged illness. For more information go to:www.comfortkeepers.com and find your local comfort keepers to speak with someone about Safety Products.
Categories: Technology and Safety Choice products
Tagged: adult children, alzheimers, angels, assisted living, caregiver, caregivers, caregiving, dectective, dementia, elders, finder, gps, guardian, help at home, helping, holiday, home, home helpers, homecare, homehealth, inspections, insurance, life alert, lifeline, long term care, medicaid, medicare, memory loss, new year, personal care, personal monitoring systems, right at home, safety, Senior Care and Caregiving, seniors
Comfort Keepers supports this organization and we hope you will too!
Not-To-Be Forgotten Foundation (ntbf) is a newly-formed nonprofit organization* which was created to acknowledge the struggles that older adults face in maintaining quality of life in their twilight years. Ntbf will strive to address those struggles one senior at a time by way of public awareness, education, fulfilling needs and granting wishes. Some needs may be simple – finding a local resource for delivery of meals – and some may be more complicated – repairing a roof that is financially out of the realm of the individual. Wishes may run the gamut as well from easy to complicated. Ntbf intends to work closely with community organizations, government agencies and businesses utilizing all resources available to meet its requests.
See their upcoming events! If you are interested in sponsorship contact: Amy Fenzel at amy@ntbff.org.
May 2, 2009
1st Annual NTBF Tea Party
Where: Villa Nova Conference CenterTime: 10:30am – 12:30pm
Why: What can I do today to help a Senior?Speaker: TBDTickets: $10Our Conscientious Acts of Kindness Campaign will kick off with a Tea Party during Older American’s Month on May 2, 2009. Our special guests will be members of the senior population in Delaware County who are invited to bring family members and friends. All groups in attendance must have a senior citizen as a member of their party. The Tea Party will act as an outreach program focused on connecting the generations, bringing awareness to senior issues and challenging the younger generations and the community at large to take a daily interest in those seniors whose lives cross paths with their own by making conscientious choices to assist seniors in their neighborhoods, in their communities and in their families with purposeful acts of kindness. For instance, bringing trash cans up from the curb on trash day, assisting in unloading a grocery cart at the grocery store, making sure their walkways are safe by shoveling their snow and/or raking their leaves
May 16, 2009′
PA’Ducky Derby
Where: Delaware Canal River – Philadelphia, PATime: TBD
Why: To raise funds for The Not-To-Be Forgotten FoundationIn the planning stages, ntbf is organizing a Duck Derby on May 16, 2009 as part of Delaware County Older American’s Month celebration. The Duck Derby and its related functions (a kick-off silent auction, duck adoptions, etc.) will act as ntbf’s primary fundraising activity for 2009. Individuals, organizations, companies and groups will be able to “adopt” a bright yellow rubber duck for $5 each. All adopted ducks will be tagged and dropped into the Delaware River at Governor Printz Park in Essington. Each derby duck will then race towards the finish line with a winning number attached to it. As a specified number of “adopted” ducks cross the finish line, they will be cross-referenced on a master list to their lucky “parents.” Prizes will be awarded to the winning ducks. In addition to the Duck Derby, ntbf will coordinate a day of family activities in Governor Printz Park on the day of the derby! For more info, go to
http://www.ntbff.org/ or contact
amy@ntbff.org
Categories: Technology and Safety Choice products
When winter temperatures drop significantly below normal,
staying warm and safe can become a challenge, especially for
elderly. There are several factors that can put the elderly at
risk during winter storms and lengthy sub-zero periods such
as unexpected power or heating system failure.
Exposure to cold temperatures, whether indoors or outdoors,
can cause serious or life-threatening health problems. The
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and
Comfort Keepers have provided these tips for seniors to
remain safe during the cold weather season. Other dangers to
consider are icy sidewalks and cold and flu viruses.
Through the proper precautions, winter doesn’t have to
confine seniors to their house. They can enjoy these months
safely by taking additional care and caution. Follow these tips
to protect against illness, body heat loss, and other potential
winter-related problems.
• Be cautious with space heaters – Do not place a space heater
within three feet of anything that may catch on fire, such as
drapes, furniture, or bedding, and never cover your space
heater. In addition to being a fire hazard, space heaters may
also increase the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Consistently check the temperature – Older adults often
make less body heat because of a slower metabolism and
less physical activity. When over 65 years of age, it is
important to check home temperatures often especially
during severely cold weather. The thermostat should be
set to 65 degrees to prevent hypothermia. This will also
prevent freezing pipes. Often times, seniors will turn the
heat down to save money on their monthly bill. Caulking
or plastic sheets can be used to protect windows and keep
the warm air inside the house and bring peace of mind to
seniors worried about their energy bills.
• Check smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors –
CO can be a very dangerous gas emitted by fuel-burning
heaters and appliances. Seniors’ bodies can’t dispose of
carbon monoxide as quickly as younger adults. Check to
make sure all smoke and carbon monoxide detectors work
within the home.
• Eat nutritiously – Eating well-balanced meals will help
seniors stay warmer. Also, alcoholic or caffeinated beverages
can cause body temperatures to drop more rapidly
(regardless of age). Even though the heat may be gone, it is
still important to drink at least six to eight glasses of water
a day. This can help prevent dry skin problems as well as
dehydration. A senior’s body isn’t as tough as it once was.
It is more important for a 70-year-old to stay hydrated than
a 30-year-old. continued on page Safety precautions – If a cane is used to assist in walking, be
sure to replace the rubber tip to prevent falls. When driving
in the winter be sure to get the car tuned up, keep the gas
tank near full and check to make sure the car has good tires.
• Dress appropriately – Be sure the outer layer of clothing is
tightly woven, preferably wind resistant, to reduce body-heat
loss caused by wind. Using wool, silk or polypropylene as
the inner layers of clothing will hold more body heat than
cotton. Mittens are warmer than gloves because your fingers
produce heat when they are touching. Wear a hat to protect
against heat loss through the head.
• Take breaks during outdoor winter tasks – Many forget
how much energy it takes to shovel snow in the driveway or
walkway. The cold weather during the winter months can put
added strain on the heart. It is important to warm up the
body prior to these chores and take frequent breaks to
prevent any problems or injuries.
• Keep a water supply – Have an extra supply of water stored
in clean containers, or purchase bottled water (up to five
gallons per person) in case water pipes freeze and rupture.
By preparing a senior’s home for the winter months and taking
the necessary safety precautions, you can reduce the risk of
weather-related health problems. If you know elderly persons
who are unable, for any reason, to prepare for extreme
cold-weather conditions, they should stay with family members or go to available shelter.Drink plenty of replenishing fluids – Alcoholic beverages
and caffeine should be avoided since they can cause
dehydration. Water is a great option, but does not effectively
replace the potassium and sodium (electrolytes) that are lost
during perspiration. Popular sports drinks such as Gatorade
and Powerade are great choices for rehydrating the body.
Always be on guard for symptoms of heat exhaustion, which
include pale, cold or clammy skin, extreme thirst, lightheadedness,
fainting, mild nausea, vomiting, and excessive
sweating. Signs of heat stroke include hot, dry skin, a fast,
strong pulse, confusion, and a body temperature of 104 degrees
or higher. If a person exhibits signs of heat stroke, this is a
serious medical emergency and 911 or your local emergency
medical team should be contacted.
The good news is heat-related illnesses and injuries are
preventable. If seniors understand the signs and are aware of
the symptoms, they can beat the heat this summer season. To read more, go to www.comfortkeepers.com
Categories: Senior Care and Caregiving
Tagged: adult children, alzheimers, assisted living, bandage, broken bones, caregivers, caregiving, clammy skin, cold, companion, dehydration, doctor, elderly, elders, emergency, fall prevention, fallen, falls, flu, freeze, gatorade, heart attack, help at home, helping, holidays, home health aides, home helpers, homecare, homehealth, hospital, ice, illness, in-home care, injuries, injury, insurance, long term care, medicare, memory loss, ministry, nursing home, pale, personal care, physical therapist, physical therapy, pneumonia, powerade, right at home, safety, season, Senior Care and Caregiving, shovel, sickness, slips, snow, spills, spring, stress, stroke, summer, weather
With families spread out
across the county, many of us
may not be able to be together
with our loved ones as often
as we would like. But that
should not keep you from
taking the time to assess
your loved one’s care needs.
In telephone conversations,
gently probe for information
about the person’s health
and well-being. Below is a
list of sample questions
that are key indicators or warning signs to
help determine if your family members are in need of additional
care or assistance.
• What was eaten for breakfast? If your loved one cannot remember
what he/she ate for breakfast that morning, forgot to eat
breakfast or the meal appears to lack nutritious value, a problem
Did you go to the beauty salon to get your hair cut? Did you use
the new shower gel I bought you? These are good “backdoor”
questions to finding out whether or not your loved one is
remembering to take care of his/her hygiene. A lack of personal
hygiene is often an early sign that your loved one may need a
caregiver to aid in these tasks.
• Did you give any thought to the conversation we had last night
about Debbie coming to visit you? If your loved one cannot
remember the last conversation you had or is repeating stories,
he/she may also be having difficulty when communicating with
strangers (i.e. telephone repair man, bank teller, etc…).
• Did you make it to your weekly bridge club game with the girls
last week? An early sign of depression is withdrawal from social
activities. A caregiver may provide the comfort that your loved one
craves or encourage involvement in activities outside the home.
• Did you get the oil changed in your car? Seniors often do not
realize when their driving skills may be impaired. Finding out if
he/she is keeping up with maintenance on the vehicle is a great
way to find out if he/she may need a caregiver to start running
errands and personally drive the senior to his/her appointments.
• Is your loved one speaking normally? Differences in speech
patterns are warning signs for medical problems that should be
looked into immediately.
These are just a sampling of the questions that could help you
assess your loved one’s needs. To see more questions and download free assessment, go to www.comfortkeepers.com
Categories: Senior Care and Caregiving
Tagged: adult children, alzheimers, assisted living, caregiver, caregivers, companion, dementia, elders, help at home, holiday, home care services information, home health aides, home helpers, homecare, homehealth, in-home care, insurance, long term care, meals, medicaid, medicare, memory loss, ministry, nursing home, personal care, physical therapy, right at home, safety, stress
When a loved one is living out
their last days at home, it can
be an especially difficult and
emotional time. Comfort
Keepers® is here to help.
We provide families with the
help they need to make the
most of their days together,
while helping them through those challenging
moments in life.
Comfort Keepers provides more than just in-home care services. We offer clients a level of comfort that helps preserve their dignity and provides a quality of life that can only be achieved at home. We are also there to give help for family and friends coping with the emotional challenges and additional time burden inevitably associated with this kind of sensitive situation. To read more go to:
http://www.comfortkeepers.com/
Categories: Senior Care and Caregiving
Tagged: adult children, adult day care, alzheimers, assisted living, caregiving, elders, forgetfulness, help at home, helping, home help, home helpers, homecare, homehealth, in-home care, insurance, jobs, long term care, meals, medicare, memory loss, ministry, nursing home, personal care, physical therapy, right at home, safety, Senior Care and Caregiving, seniors, stress
How Do I Know If A Loved One Needs Help?
We live in a very mobile society where families don’t always live in the same town or even the same state for that matter. Unlike the “old days”, entire families throughout America don’t have the opportunity to come together as often as they would like. That’s why the holiday season has become an important time to take stock of our loved one’s health and everyday living capabilities. Family gatherings with loved ones from out of town, or even the more frequent family phone calls from long distance relatives, are a perfect time to ‘check up’ on seniors living on their own.
It is not uncommon for the adult children of seniors, especially the Baby Boomer generation, to have some concerns about how their parents are doing. In fact, according to the Family Caregiver’s Alliance, families provide 80 percent of the long-term care in this country. This holiday season while you are enjoying your visits or on the phone with your aging loved ones, make good use of your time by reviewing their living status.
Using Your Five Senses
Many holiday traditions tempt your five senses. These same senses can be put to use in evaluating the status of elderly family members. Below is a checklist using each of your five senses to determine if your family members are in need of additional care or assistance.
Sight – Looking at the senior’s appearance can be a sign that they are being limited either physically or mentally from completing otherwise normal daily tasks. Watch for things like clothes with stains, poor personal hygiene and a disorganized or dirty house.
Sound – Listening to what and how seniors speak can tell you a lot about their current mental status. You should not assume that “old age” is causing these problems. Do they call you by name? Are they speaking normally? Are they staying involved in outside activities?
Smell – Using your nose as an indicator to determine if your relative is bathing properly, cleaning their house or have spoiled food in their kitchen.
Taste – Tasting their food and sorting through their medications can help you determine if they are eating healthy or taking expired medications. Look at expiration dates and for fresh and stocked pantry items.
Touch – A simple hug can tell you if your family member is fragile or losing weight. Is their skin soft and the color normal? Do they have any bruising or tearing of the skin?
Review Status By Phone
During telephone conversations, gently probe for information about the person’s health and well-being. Below is a list of sample questions that are key indicators or warning signs to help determine if your family members are in need of additional care or assistance:
• What did you have for breakfast? If your loved one cannot remember what he/she ate for breakfast that morning, forgot to eat breakfast or the meal appears to lack nutritious value, a memory problem could be setting in.
• Did you go to the beauty salon to get your hair cut? Did you use the new shower gel I bought you? These are good ‘backdoor’ questions to finding out whether or not your loved one is remembering to take care of his/her hygiene.
• Did you make it to Bingo this week? An early sign of depression is withdrawal from social activities.
• Is your loved one speaking normally? Differences in speech patterns are warning signs for medical problems that should be looked into immediately.
Help is Available
If you sense a problem based on the above indictors, you and other family members should waste no time in taking the appropriate next steps. As difficult as the process might be, keep reminding yourself that by being proactive, as a result of your observations, you will not only provide safety for your family member, but will also keep them happy and healthy for years to come.
If you are concerned about a loved one and would like more information on how to help, call one of our offices for a FREE consultation.
Comfort Keepers – Delaware County -610-543-6300
Comfort Keepers – Philadelphia – 1-866-436-7750.
Comfort Keepers – Mainline Area – 610-520-5300
Comfort Keepers Chester County – 610-358-1640
Out of State? Click on our website: www.comfortkeepers.com and go to locations.
Comfort Keepers provides Assisted Living services in the privacy of the home, hospital or facility to anyone over the age of 18 who is sick, disabled or elderly.
Services include but are not limited to: assistance with bathing and grooming, light housekeeping, laundry, meal preparation, transportation (to doctor, grocery store, errands). to get a free full assessment guide, go to www.comfortkeepers.com
Categories: home care services information
Tagged: adult children, adult day care, alzheimers, assessment, assisted living, bathing, caregivers, checklist, disabled, driving, elders, grooming, handicap, helping, holidays, home care services information, home health aides, home help, home helpers, homecare, homehealth, insurance, jobs, long term care, meals, medicare, memory loss, new year, personal care, physical therapy, safety, Senior Care and Caregiving, seniors, shopping, showering, sick, stress, taking drivers license away, wheelchair
Just because you’re getting older doesn’t mean you have to look it. With a little bit of effort, you can keep your youthful appearance. And what’s nice about looking good is that it’s going to help you feel good, too. It’s not going to cost you a lot either. When it comes to living healthier, it’s never too late to start, and the sooner you start, the sooner people are going to notice. So let’s get going!
Getting fit
As far as getting fit goes, what’s important is to be realistic. Of course, before you begin any fitness routine, you definitely want to discuss with your health care provider your capabilities and your limitations. Remember, everybody is different and so is every body.
When it comes to staying active, options abound! You’ll definitely be more likely to stick with your exercise routine if you’re doing things that you enjoy. But be careful because doing the same type of activity over and over can lead to boredom. Having a homecare helper is one way to facilitate getting to and from excercise classes and doctors appointments to allow for diversity in your routine. Once you get bored, you’ll find plenty of excuses for not working out. So make sure to vary your exercise routine.
When it’s too cold (or too hot) to go out, think of some indoor activities you enjoy. Here are a few ideas. You could find a partner and take a dancing class or get a group together and go bowling. When the weather’s nice outside, you could go walking, kayaking, or golfing. Even gardening is a healthy option.
If you’re having trouble getting your exercising routine started, just try adding more steps to your day. If you can, walk up and down your stairs. When you shop, park further away from the store’s entrance. If you have a pet, put on a leash and take your pet for a walk. It’s something you’ll both enjoy. Once you’re willing to put forth the effort, it’s really not that hard to get your heart beating and your blood circulating.
Eating better
As far as eating better, you don’t have to go out and buy healthy eating cookbooks or clear your cupboards. Again, start simply by adding a fruit or vegetable to every meal. Add a banana to whole grain cereal. Fix yourself a salad with dinner (just be careful with the dressing!). Make a big pot of vegetable soup that you can eat every day for lunch. With minimal effort, you’ll be providing your body with the nutrients it needs to function more efficiently.
There are other ways you can improve your diet, if you’re willing. For example, you can choose leaner cuts of meats and snack on nuts instead of potato chips. You can cut out (or cut down on) sugary drinks and alcohol. You can stop taking seconds and learn about portion control including what a serving size really looks like.
When it comes to eating right and increasing activity, this is just the tip of the iceberg. You don’t need to spend a lot of money on menu planning, health spas and the like. All you need to reap tremendous health benefits is the right outlook.
to read more, go to www.comfortkeepers.com
Categories: Activities, Hobbies, Party Suggestions for Seniors
Tagged: adult children, alzheimers, caregiver, elders, help at home, helping, home health aides, home helpers, homehealth, in-home care, insurance, jobs, long term care, ministry, nursing home, right at home, Senior Care and Caregiving, stress
Be a Part of the Growing and Rewarding Business of In-Home Care
It’s not everyday you find business opportunities that can be rewarding financially as well as emotionally. That’s one of the many special things about Comfort Keepers®, one of the leading providers of in-home care for seniors and other adults requiring additional care. Comfort Keepers provides care services like meal preparation, incidental transportation, and companionship, enabling thousands of aging adults to remain in their own homes.
This is your opportunity to be the entrepreneur you long to be while giving back to your community. Ask any Comfort Keepers franchisee and they will tell you it is one of the most rewarding ways to earn a living they have ever experienced. To learn more about the opportunity, go to:
http://franchise.comfortkeepers.com/
Categories: Public Relations-news
Tagged: adult children, adult day care, alzheimers, assisted living, caregiver, caregivers, companion, dementia, elders, forgetfulness, help at home, helping, holidays, home health aides, home helpers, homecare, homehealth, insurance, interview, jobs, long term care, meals, medicaid, memory loss, ministry, new year, personal care, physical therapy, right at home, safety, Senior Care and Caregiving, stress
