Use It or Lose It

When it comes to how the mind ages, research is increasingly giving new meaning to the popular phrase “use it or lose it”. Mind games keep many aging minds young and vital.  So what are today’s seniors doing to keep mentally fit?  Many have said goodbye to traditional games such as bingo. They’re embracing new technology and gravitating to video games and group activities such as Scrabble^® and bridge tournaments. According to the latest research, it all helps.

• A 2013 study from Brigham and Women’s Hospital Department of Neurology provides specific scientific evidence supporting the concept that prolonged and intensive stimulation by an enriched environment, especially regular exposure to new activities, may have beneficial effects in delaying one of the key negative factors in Alzheimer's disease.¹

^·          2012 research reported in JAMA Neurology found that people who engage in mentally stimulating activities throughout life – especially in early and mid-life – have less buildup of beta-amyloid protein in their brains in older age. (Beta-amyloid is the main component of the sticky brain-clogging plaques that are a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease.)²

One deterrent for many seniors who would like to stay mentally active is lack of companionship – particularly for those older adults who live alone. Sometimes seniors just need a little encouragement from family and friends to help them pursue interests that can keep their minds stimulated.

From a scientific standpoint, multiple factors apparently contribute to a sluggish senior mind, said Ronald Petersen M.D. Ph.D., director of the Mayo Clinic Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. In his words, “There is often a genetic component, but the environment plays a role as well. The cumulative impacts of medical issues such as vascular changes like hardening of the arteries also contribute to dementia.” He also pointed out that, “The connections between the nerve cells probably also don’t work as well.”

On the other hand, Petersen observes, the wisdom and acquired experience seniors bring to the table is often under-valued in society. That’s why exercising the mind as well as the body is such an important goal for older adults.

 “Whether it’s a computer game, crossword or Sudoku puzzles, or reading and analyzing a newspaper or magazine, first and foremost seniors should like what they’re doing,” Petersen said. “If the senior does not enjoy the activity, then it is not as likely to be beneficial.”

1. The Science Behind an Active Mind and Alzheimer’s Disease; Brigham and Women’s Hospital Department of Neurology; http://www.brighamandwomens.org/about_bwh/publicaffairs/news/publications/DisplayCRN.aspx?articleid=2143

2. Association of Lifetime Cognitive Engagement and Low β-Amyloid Deposition; May 2012; http://archneur.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1149704; JAMA Neurology

Tips for Mind-Stimulating Fun

Following, from Home Instead Senior Care^®, are ways to help engage a senior loved one in mind-stimulating activities:

Video action. Interactive video games have become popular for family members of all ages. Some games, such as Nintendo’s Brain Age, and the Wii home video game system, are particularly good for stimulating seniors’ minds.

Computer savvy not needed. Even seniors who are intimidated by the computer still can play online and other computer games. Why not try to help them get started playing Solitaire or joining an online bridge game?

Organize game night. Board or card games offer a great avenue for mind stimulation.  Why not encourage a senior loved one to get a few friends together to join in the fun?

The magic of music. Many seniors were avid musicians in earlier years and some may still have pianos or instruments in their homes. Ask them to play you a tune or challenge them to learn an instrument.

Tournament fun. Bridge and Scrabble tournaments for seniors are springing up around the country. Check with your local senior center or Home Instead Senior Care office to learn of any activities in your area. Or encourage your older adult to join a local bridge group.

Think big. Crossword, large-piece jigsaw and Sudoku puzzles are great pastimes for seniors who need a mind-stimulating activity when they are alone.

Out and about. Most communities have concerts, lectures and other pursuits that can interest seniors and their families. If your loved one is able to get out, consider those.

In the news. Many seniors maintain their interest in politics and current events. For their next birthday, why not renew a subscription to a newspaper or popular news magazine. Or organize a news discussion group.

Just the two of you. When it’s just you and your senior loved one, remember there are more things you can do than watch television. Games like Monopoly Express, Scrabble Express and Sorry Express don’t take long to play.

Look-and-See Signs a Senior Needs Help

What today’s seniors want most is to age in place. But what they’re least likely to ask for is the kind of help that will keep them comfortable and safe at home. That’s why it’s often up to the adult children of aging parents to look for the signs that their older loved one needs help at home. Neglecting those signs will likely lead seniors to the kind of dependence that most would like to avoid.

“Seniors often don’t recognize when they require help,” said Robert Vielee, owner of the Home Instead Senior Care^® office serving Northeast Pennsylvania and the Greater Poconos.  “That’s why adult children should identify where their loved ones need assistance.

Home Instead Senior Care has made this process easier by providing a list of simple, look-and-see signs that adult children can use to identify the types of services their senior might need. Providing assistance with a few basic tasks – such as meal preparation, light housekeeping, companionship and medication reminders – often means the difference between whether they stay at home or go to a care community. And that kind of independence is very important to seniors’ overall happiness.”

Seniors’ expectations for remaining at home are high. Industry studies typically show that as many as 90 percent of seniors want to age in place in their own homes. The Home Instead Senior Care network, the largest provider of at-home care and companionship for aging adults in the U.S., sends CAREGivers^SM to seniors to help keep them independent and at home for as long as possible.

“Most people, in general, want to live at home or independently in a retirement community,” said Mary E. Hujer MSN APRN, a board-certified geriatric clinical nurse specialist/instructor at Southwest General Hospital’s Geriatric Services Center in Cleveland, Ohio. “Who wants to lose their independence? The best approach to staying self-sufficient is to plan ahead and accept help when necessary,” she noted.

“By helping adult children identify the types of resources that a senior might need to remain independent at home, we hope that families can avoid some of the stress that goes with caring for an aging loved one,” Vielee said. 

For more information about Home Instead Senior Care, contact 570-586-3135 or visit the company’s website at HomeInstead.com/nepa.

Look-and-See Signs of Aging

1. Look in refrigerator, freezer and drawers.  Has food spoiled because Mom can’t get to the grocery store? Does she have difficulty cleaning tight, cluttered places?

2. Look over the grocery list. Has your loved one’s declining health prompted her to purchase more convenience and junk foods, and neglect proper nutrition?  Is she losing weight?

3. Look on top of furniture and countertops. Are dust and dirt signs that household tasks are becoming more difficult for your parents?

4. Look up at fans and ceilings. Has the inability to lift her arms and climb stepstools prevented your loved one from cleaning soot and grime from high places? Caution your senior not to climb.

5. Look down at floors and stairways. Have shaky hands spilled drinks and food, soiling vinyl, wood, carpets and walkways? Are frayed carpets, throw rugs, objects and furniture creating tripping hazards? Does Dad’s bad knee put him at greater risk on cracked sidewalks and with broken stair rails? 

6. Look under beds and sofas. Is your senior having difficulty organizing old newspapers, books and magazines, which are creating a fire hazard?

7. Look through the mail. Is Mom’s dementia causing her to forget to pay bills and answer correspondence?

8. Look below bathroom and kitchen sinks. Is poor eyesight making it difficult for your elderly relative to read medication labels and to properly store cleaning materials? Is Dad forgetting to refill medications and to take them on schedule?  Check the refill date against the number of pills in the bottle to help determine if he is taking medication regularly. Or call the pharmacy.

9. Look at your senior’s appearance. Is clothing dirty and unkempt, and is your loved one neglecting personal hygiene? 

10. Look to your parents’ neighbors and other close friends to learn about their daily routine. Are your seniors at home more, watching television and avoiding stimulating conversation and companionship?

Source:  Home Instead Senior Care^®, 2013

Elderly at Risk in Extreme Cold

The extreme temperatures and snow of winter can be particularly dangerous for older adults. The elderly and those with heart disease are at special risk, according to the American Heart Association.

As people age, their ability to maintain a normal internal body temperature often decreases. Because elderly people seem to be relatively insensitive to moderately cold conditions, they can suffer hypothermia without knowing they're in danger, the Heart Association reports (http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4570).

Hypothermia means the body temperature has fallen below normal. It occurs when your body can't produce enough energy to keep the internal body temperature warm enough and the condition can kill. Heart failure causes most deaths in hypothermia, the American Heart Association notes. 

 The following tips, from the local Home Instead Senior Care^® office, will help you safeguard a senior loved one or neighbor.

• Fill the cupboard. Help your senior stock the staples and groceries they’ll need in the event of a large snowstorm or cold spell.
• Maximize energy. Encourage your senior to make sure they have adequate insulation and to check and clean the fireplace and furnace. Replace furnace filters monthly.
• Minimize drafts. Help your senior fill old socks with sand and use them in drafty windowsills and door jams. Weather-strip around windows and doors. Keep doors closed to unused rooms and close curtains at night.
• Stay toasty. Advise your senior to add an extra blanket to the bed and warm the bed in advance with a hot water bottle. Never use electric blankets.  A senior may not be able to operate the controls if the temperature needs to be adjusted in the night.
• Dress warmly. A senior’s circulation decreases with age. Encourage your senior to wear an extra sweater or sweatshirt, and sweat pants during the winter.
• Monitor the thermostat. Check with your senior to make sure that they’re keeping the thermostat above 65 degrees during the cold weather. Older adults are particularly susceptible to hypothermia, which can develop over a few days and weeks even in the mildly cool indoor temperatures of 60 to 65 degrees.
• Beware of budget problems. Make sure your senior isn’t trying to save money by keeping the thermostat down. Many communities have energy assistance programs for low- and fixed-income households.

• Avoid slips. Make sure your senior has made arrangements to have driveways and walkways cleaned. Salt and sand should be available to speed melting.
• Stay in touch. Check on your neighbor or loved one frequently during periods of cold and snowy weather.
• Build a network. You can’t always be around to help your elderly loved one. Call on neighbors, family and church members to help.

For more information about the cold, visit the National Weather Service Web site at http://www.noaa.gov and the Federal Emergency Management Agency Web site at www.fema.gov. Or, to learn more about Home Instead Senior Care, log on to www.HomeInstead.com/nepa.

A Day in the Life of a Caregiver

Meet Reta
Reta lives in a small, 24-bed home specifically dedicated for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias. She has lived there for four years. The home caters to individuals in the first and second stages of Alzheimer’s disease. Reta’s disease has progressed to Alzheimer’s stage three.

A Need for More Care
“The need for extra care became very evident when some challenging behaviors developed,” explained Sharon Galway, owner of the Home Instead Senior Care® franchise in northern Toronto. Reta began refusing bathing and personal care, was often anxious and agitated, and refused food during mealtimes. Though the facility staff were well trained in Alzheimer’s care, Reta’s disease had progressed to a stage that the staff was unable to effectively manage. Typically, this particular home does not permit patients to stay once they have entered stage three Alzheimer’s. However, due to long waiting lists for other facilities that could accept Reta, the home allowed Sharon and her team of CAREGiversSM to step in and help. 

Capturing Life’s Journey
Capturing Life’s Journey® is an Alzheimer’s care technique taught in the Home Instead Senior Care network’s Alzheimer’s or Other Dementias CARE: Changing Aging Through Research and Education® program. It’s a method of better understanding an individual by learning about his or her life history and past experiences, and using that knowledge to customize care accordingly. Before Sharon and her team began providing care to Reta, they gathered information from the home’s staff, talked to Reta’s family, and learned what they could about her past. 

One of the biggest difficulties the home staff expressed was getting Reta to shower. Sharon and her team learned that she had never liked showers or water. They also learned she was a very particular woman and very organized. In her current stage of Alzheimer’s, she would get up early and get dressed thinking it was time to go to work. Then she grew agitated when a staff member from the home wanted her to undress for the shower. That agitation carried through to other activities throughout the day. 

Creating a Customized Care Solution
Once Sharon’s team had identified a trigger for her behavior, they came up with a plan. If they got to Reta’s room before she got out of bed and got dressed, they could redirect her behavior. So Sharon found CAREGivers who were willing to get there at 6:30 in the morning. They started slow to gain her trust. For the first few weeks they were able to do a sponge bath. After six weeks, they could see a noticeable improvement in her behavior. Now a CAREGiver is able to manage her personal care, bathing and dressing, in addition to helping her transition to group activities for the day, all within a three-hour shift. Reta no longer exhibits any of the challenging behaviors she had before the Home Instead Senior Care team began providing her with specialized one-on-one care. 

A Better Quality of Life
The additional care support Home Instead CAREGivers provided Reta took away a lot of worry for her daughter, Linda. When Linda visited, she could be a daughter again. It also made a noticeable impact on Reta. Linda said, “I can tell you without a doubt that having the specialized care added to the quality of her life.”

Volunteers needed to help make holidays merry for local seniors - News - The Times-Tribune

BY COLLEEN DAY (STAFF WRITER)
Published: November 11, 2013

A local group is looking for some help to make the holidays merry for lonely seniors.

The Be a Santa to a Senior program, sponsored by Home Instead Senior Care, collects, wraps and delivers Christmas presents to senior citizens who might be overlooked during the holidays.

Home Instead Senior Care teamed up with other local groups, including Meals on Wheels, Serving Seniors, Compassionate Care Hospice and Oakwood Terrace, to identify financially needy or isolated seniors. The program also receives support from Geisinger Community Medical Center, Gertrude Hawk Chocolates and Keystone College.

Christmas trees featuring paper ornaments with seniors' first names and their gift requests will be set up today in locations throughout the county, including the Abington Community Library, GCMC, the Carbondale Peebles and the Wal-Mart and Marshalls in Dickson City.

Shoppers can pick up a paper ornament, buy the requested gift and return the unwrapped present, with the ornament attached, to the participating location. Gifts will be collected through Dec. 9.

Terry Wise, associate professor of sports management at Keystone College, said the college became involved in the program several years ago when a student worked with Home Instead Senior Care for her senior project.

"She loved the program, but she said that what was holding it back was that they had no place to wrap all of the presents they collect," Ms. Wise said. "She wanted to bring the program on campus."

Keystone College now supports the program by giving volunteers a place to wrap the presents. This year's gift wrap party is scheduled Dec. 10 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

"It's important that students are involved in the community. They need to give back and know that everyone is not as fortunate as they are," Ms. Wise said. "It's important for them to look outside of the microcosm of the college, see what's going on their community and get involved."

Jessica Engel, marketing and sales manager at Home Instead Senior Care and Be a Santa to a Senior coordinator, said the program began about 10 years ago as a way to ensure senior citizens do not spend the holiday season alone.

"People of all ages love the holidays," Ms. Engel said. "The gift is in the present, but it's also in having that connection and interaction with someone else. That is the gift for them. We have so many seniors in this area, and many of them are isolated."

Last year the program reached out to more than 800 seniors and ended up with about double that in presents.

"Everyone always gets a present. No senior on our list ever goes without. What we see is a lot of people buy not only what is on the ornament, but also a little something extra," Ms. Engel said

For more information on the program, visit BeaSantatoaSenior.com or call 570-687-4755.

Contact the writer: cday@timesshamrock.com

Volunteers needed to help make holidays merry for local seniors - News - The Times-Tribune

Increase in use of meal delivery programs could reduce LTC facility admissions

October 14, 2013 by Lois A. Bowers, Senior Editor of Long Term Living

Long-term care facilities could see fewer new residents, but states could save money by expanding meal-delivery programs that enable some seniors to stay in their homes longer or avoid moving altogether, according to a new study by Brown University investigators.
The public health researchers analyzed state, Medicaid and nursing home data to project that if each of the contiguous states expanded by one percent the percentage of senior citizens receiving delivered meals, then 1,722 more Medicaid recipients would avoid living in a long-term care facility. Twenty-six states would realize a net annual savings from expanding their programs, whereas 22 would end up spending more. In every state, however, more "low-needs" seniors would be able to remain in their homes regardless of whether their care is paid for by Medicaid.

Across the country, the one percent expansion would bring meals to 392,594 more seniors at a cost of more than $117 million, the researchers say. Because 1,722 seniors would no longer need to live in nursing homes on Medicaid, total Medicaid savings would total $109 million, they add. The additional food delivery costs outstrip Medicaid savings nationwide, even though most states would save money on a net basis, because in some very large states with relatively few low-care seniors or relatively low Medicaid per diems, food costs outweighed the resulting Medicaid savings on a relatively large scale.

Study lead author Kali Thomas, PhD, assistant professor in Brown’s School of Public Health, said the findings provide guidance for state policymakers as they consider the future of their home-delivered meals programs, which are conducted under the Older Americans Act. States projected to lose money can opt to focus their efforts in ways that are more precise than an across-the-board expansion, she adds.

“We’re not proposing that all states simply increase the proportion of age-65-plus receiving meals by one percent,” Thomas says. “But if they were to target these vulnerable people who are at risk for nursing home placement, they would likely see more savings. This is a program that has the potential to save states a lot of money if it’s done correctly.”
Policymakers should consider not only the fiscal implications of providing home-delivered meals, which the study quantifies, but also the impact on individual seniors, says Thomas, who adds that she has seen the benefits anecdotally as a Meals on Wheels volunteer in Rhode Island.

The National Institute on Aging and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality funded the research, which is published in the October issue of Health Affairs.

Living with Alzheimer’s: A Journey of Caring

As part of World Alzheimer’s Month, Home Instead Senior Care and Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI) will co-host three roundtable events around the world to address the need for support for family members who care for those with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.

Roger Baumgart, Jeff Huber and Dave Banark will be representing Home Instead Senior Care at these events called Living with Alzheimer’s: A Journey of Caring in Washington D.C (Sept. 19), London (Sept. 20), and Beijing (Sept. 26).

Each panel of prestigious Alzheimer’s experts – including influential healthcare professionals, nonprofit organizations, government officials, opinion leaders and family caregivers – will be moderated by noted international journalists.  We encourage you to follow the discussion on Twitter and Facebook using #Alztalk2013.

The events will be moderated by:

o   Barry Petersen, Emmy Award-wining CBS Correspondent, Author of Jan’s Story about his late wife’s struggle with Alzheimer’s (North America)

o   Fergus Walsh, BBC Medical Correspondent (Europe)

o   Professor  Luning Wang, President, Alzheimer’s Disease China (Asia)

Panel members for the Living with Alzheimer’s: A Journey of Caring event include:

o   Marc Wortmann, Executive Director, Alzheimer’s Disease International

o   George Vradenburg, Chairman of USAgainstAlzheimer's

o   Dr. Robert Yeoh, former president Alzheimer’s Australia

o   Professor Angela Leung, Hong Kong University

o   Dr. David Saucedo, esteemed Alzheimer’s physician/researcher in Mexico

o   Dr. David Hilfiker, retired physician with Alzheimer’s, blogger recently featured in Mashable

o   Linda Lawrence, family caregiver from Canada

o    Dr. Alexander Sandy Halperin, Alumni Member of the National Alzheimer's Association Early Stage Advisory Group --- Alzheimer's Advocate; former dentist with Alzheimer’s

o    Karen Garner, Blogger, caregiver to husband with Younger Onset Alzheimer’s

o    Deb Cohen, Ph.D., Senior Vice President, Knowledge Development for the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)

o    Anne Connelly, Aging Well Network in Ireland

o    Dr.  Hans Groth, World Demographic & Ageing Forum

o    Professor Martin Prince, King’s College