Alzheimer’s Disease and Caring For Loved Ones Dementia, living in Delaware County, Philadelphia, Montgomery County PA, Pennsylvania Mainline

Alzheimer’s Disease and Caring For Loved Ones
Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a common form of dementia that negatively impacts the portions of the brain that effect thought, memory and language. Today, as many as 4.5 million people in the United States suffer from varying stages of AD. The initial symptoms may be as minor as forgetting names or recent events, but as the disease progresses, the Alzheimer’s patient may wander, become anxious or even aggressive.

How can Comfort Keepers® help you manage the care of a loved one with Alzheimer’s Disease?
Most people hope to age safely and comfortably in their own home, including those managing AD. Many Alzheimer’s patients can safely stay in their own home for a period of time, and that’s where Comfort Keepers can provide care assistance. Many Comfort Keepers have been formally trained by local chapters of the Alzheimer’s Association or the Alzheimer’s Disease Education and Referral Center (ADEAR) in how to provide in-home care for AD patients. It may include:

Assisting the client with dressing or grooming
Aiding the client in communication
Improving eating habits with healthy meal planning
Enhancing home safety by implementing measures to prevent wandering or driving
And….much needed respite care for family members who may be primary care providers for the Alzheimer’s patient. To continue to read about the Comfort Keepers serving the Mainline area, click HERE and for Delaware County area, click HERE.

Dehydration:Seniors and elderly in summer heat, what to look for and how to help in Delaware County, Chester and Montgomery County and Philadelphia PA, Pennsylvania

Seniors at Greater Risk of Dehydration
Dehydration is one of the leading causes of hospitalization among seniors. The federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality reports that five to six times as many patients age 65 and over are admitted for the condition as those in the 45-64 age group. Dehydration tends to set in quickly and catch older Americans off guard, because as we age our sense of thirst dulls and the water content of our bodies decreases.

Take dehydration seriously; it can be life-threatening. Warning signs vary but may include:
• Lack of energy
• Headache, nausea, and/or dizziness
• Darkening or decrease in urine
• Fever

To prevent dehydration:
Set up a drinking schedule and follow it. Drink six to eight glasses of water a day
• Provide fluid from a variety of sources, such as fruits and vegetables, milk, broth, popsicles etc.
• Avoid alcohol and caffeinated drinks; they increase water loss
• Increase fluids on hot days. And be aware that dehydration can be a threat to seniors in cold, dry winter months, too, when one is less likely to feel the need to quench thirst.
This article brought to you by Comfort Keepers.

Medication Allergies in elderly loved ones in Delaware and Montgomery County, PA, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware, Seniors who allerigic to meds

A medication allergy is an infrequent and unwanted side affect to medications. Allergic reactions can vary from a mild rash to a more serious reaction that can be life-threatening.

1. There are 2 categories of medication reactions.

 Reaction that is common and predictable. Includes expected side effects and interactions from taking too much medication.
 Reaction that is unpredictable, and only occur in certain people. Includes unexpected side effects, medication intolerance, allergies and other non-allergic immunologic reactions.

An allergic reaction may not happen the first time you take the medication. The reaction is likely to happen when you take the medication again.

2. Signs and symptoms of medication allergies – Common medication reactions can occur within a few days or in a few weeks. Anaphylaxis reaction is a life-threatening effect of a medication allergy. Anaphylaxis reactions usually occur within a few minutes to a few hours.

Common medication allergies include:

 Itching
 Swollen, red rash
 Hives
 Swelling or welts in the skin
 Mild/moderate wheezing

Anaphylaxis reactions include:

 Difficulty breathing
 Wheezing
 Swelling in the face
 Dizziness, fainting
 Rapid/weak pulse
 Drop in blood pressure
 Nausea/Vomiting/Diarrhea
 Abdominal pain

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3. Common Medication Allergies

 Penicillin (antibiotics)
 Cephalosporin (antibiotics)
 Sulfonamides (antibiotics, diabetes medication, diuretics)
 Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs
 IV Contrast Dye
 Local Anesthetics
 General Anesthesia
 Anti-Seizure Medications

4. When to Seek Medical Care – always contact the physician who prescribed the medication to you for advice.

 If symptoms are mild, the physician may change the medication you are taking. If you cannot reach your physician, go to a hospital emergency room.
 If you are having difficulty breathing, swelling in your throat, or feeling faint, you should go to the emergency room, or call 911 immediately for possible anaphylactic reaction. This article courtesy of Comfort Keepers.

In-home care for elderly and seniors Delaware County, PA, Pennsylvania,Montgomery county, Mainline and Philadelphia area

Home health care offers you and your family a cost-effective alternative to health care provided in hospitals and nursing homes. It enables patients to maintain as much independence as possible in the comfort of their own homes while receiving needed care to promote health, wellness and quality of life.

In-home health care services can consist of medical care provided by health care professionals, such as nurses and physical, speech and occupational therapists, as well as non-medical services delivered by Comfort Keepers in Delaware County, PA or surrounding areas or aides to promote well-being and prevent recurrence of illness and hospitalization.

Medical and non-medical home care providers often work cooperatively. Aides or Comfort Keepers, for example, maintain a close watch on a client’s condition and report changes to a supervisor or case manager so medical intervention can be taken if found necessary.

Non-medical home care provides senior citizens help with the activities of daily living, such as personal care or meal preparation, enabling them to continue living at home as independently as possible. In partnership with a senior’s family, a home health care aide or Comfort Keeper can provide as much or as little care as a senior needs to remain safely at home.

Medical home care serves:

Patients just discharged from the hospital. They may need short-term nursing care or rehabilitation following illness or surgery.
Those who may need temporary help adjusting to lifestyle changes required by a new diagnosis like diabetes, or those who need ongoing help with management of a chronic illness

In-home care services provided by a Comfort Keeper —in partnership with family—can help a patient maintain good health and optimal quality of life. Such services include planning and preparation of nutritious meals, reminding clients to take their medication and taking clients to medical appointments.

Comfort Keepers can educate clients and family members on how to take on more of these responsibilities themselves for the long run. And they can always be on hand to provide respite care to provide family members a break from the responsibilities of caregiving. In addition, in-home care providers such as Comfort Keepers often offer clients and families the option of technology solutions—like monitoring devices—that help assure seniors’ safety during the times when a caregiver isn’t present in the home.

Comfort Keepers and family members can make a significant impact for a client or loved one by providing opportunities for physical activity, mental stimulation or emotional or social support. On the surface, they may not look like health care, but a walk in the backyard or neighborhood, a puzzle, conversation, making a favorite recipe, visiting with or writing letters to friends and family all can have a positive impact on maintaining a senior’s health.

Aging Veterans Unaware of VA Pension Benefits – Seniors, elderly need help with paying medical bills in delaware valley, PA, NJ and DE, montgomery, philadelphia and delaware county pa

Aging Veterans Unaware of VA Pension Benefits - Millions of veterans and widows lose out on billions of benefits

For aging veterans, one of their most important benefit programs is the Veterans Non-Service Connected Improved Pension Benefit Program. Established to assist qualified veterans, and/or their surviving spouses and family, the Veterans NSC Improved Pension Benefit Program provides financial support that enables veterans to live independently while receiving the quality of care they deserve. In particular, funds are available for aging veterans who need assistance with medical and non-medical care both in the home and in qualified facilities.

In many cases, veterans, along with their spouses and family, are unaware that this program exists. According to VA analysis, only 27 percent of veterans and 14 percent of widow(er)s who are likely eligible, actually receive any money from the program.

Types of Care Eligible
The availability of this program is something all veterans and their widow(er)s should know. Seniors in our country are now living longer. With higher living costs and the continued rise in healthcare expenditures, many seniors are at risk of quickly depleting their savings. Programs like the Veterans NSC Improved Pension Benefit Program can fund services like in-home care, assisted living facility expenses and other medical costs that many seniors face.

“We see many clients that are faced with the difficult task of covering their healthcare expenses," said Clark Bongaardt of Springfield, PA Comfort Keepers. “If they qualify for these funds, it takes a huge burden off of veterans and their families. This money can be used to ensure they are given access to the care they need.”

Qualifications
To qualify for the Veterans NSC Improved Pension Benefit Programs, a veteran must have 90 days or more of active duty with at least one of those days served during a US-declared war. The benefits are designed for those who meet specific financial criteria and demonstrate a physical need for healthcare.

The Department of Veterans Affairs determines active duty as full-time service, other than active duty for training, as a member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, or as a commissioned officer of the Public Health Service, Environmental Science Services Administration or National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or its predecessor, the Coast and Geodetic Survey.
Other qualifications and considerations:
• Discharge for any reason other than dishonorable conditions
• Over the age of 65 or disabled
• Total financial assets
• Physical condition
• Current marital status (if you are the surviving spouse of a veteran)
• Total gross income versus medical deduction

Costly Misunderstanding
There are several reasons why veterans are unaware or misunderstand these benefits. First is the very name of the benefit itself – improved pension benefit. Pension benefits usually come after years of service, not after only 90 days of service.

In addition, many veterans often assume the available benefits are for those who have a service-related disability not just because they turned 65. As the name implies, this program is a non-service connected benefit.

Finally, it is uncommon for a benefit to be available in part just by virtue of age. However, the Veteran NSC Improved Pension Benefit does not require a qualified veteran to have any disability provided that they are over the age of 65.

Many of the Comfort Keepers can assist in accessing the information necessary to evaluate a person’s eligibility for the Veterans Improved Pension Benefit Program. To find which ones, locate your Comfort Keepers on the website and contact the office directly. To access the webiste click HERE
Comfort Keepers can provide professional guidance while the applicant is completing the necessary paperwork and being assessed for eligibility for the Veterans Improved Pension Benefit Program. Once approved, Comfort Keepers can be the solution for quality in-home care.

For PA residents,to learn more about the benefit, call 1-888-850-1117 or locally 610-543-6300, if you live in another state, please go to www.comfortkeepers.com and find a location near you.