Caring for Aging Parents

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services would like to “highlight the importance of continuing influenza vaccination, as well as foster greater use of flu vaccine after the holiday season into January and beyond… the spread of 2009 H1N1 influenza is likely to continue” into 2010.

Influenza is unpredictable, but it is known that if people are vaccinated, the flu is less likely to spread in the coming months.   Ask your health care provider if you have questions about the flu vaccine for you or your senior loved one.

Symptoms of Flu

Seasonal Flu- All types of flu can cause:

• Fever
• Coughing and/or sore throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Headaches and/or body aches
• Chills
• Fatigue

H1N1 Flu- Same as seasonal flu, but symptoms may be more severe.
Fever

• Coughing and/or sore throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Headaches and/or body aches
• Chills
• Fatigue

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
   

• Ask your physician how the medicines you are taking affect body heat.
• Make sure you are eating enough food to keep up your weight.  Fat keeps heat in your body.
• Make sure your living environment is set to 68-70 degress. 
• Sometimes you may need to put on more clothes to help keep warm. 
• If driving, always start the car and allow it to warm up before driving in the winter   months.

• a hat
• gloves or mittens (mittens are warmer) 
• coat and boots
• a scarf to cover your mouth and nose and protect your lungs from very cold air

• Polka
• Asthma Journal by Ringful
• AllOne Mobile
• TheCarrot.com

1. Keep or adapt family traditions that are important to you. Include the person with Alzheimer’s Disease as much as possible
2. Recognize that things will be different, and have realistic expectations about what you can do
3. Encourage friends and family to visit. Limit the number of visitors at one time, and try to schedule visits during the time of day when the person is at his or her best
4. Avoid crowds, changes in routine, and strange surroundings that may cause confusion or agitation.

The Research and Development team at My Health Care Manager has rolled the latest release of our SCANS(TM) application into full production. 

SCANS is a one-of-a-kind decision support and knowledge management system specifically designed for geriatric care management.  The system provides families help with aging parents through comprehensive best practice information in 40 geriatric care categories.  This information is made available to Health Care Managers and other advisors working as licensees or directly for My Health Care Manager.  This information is support with an extensive list of practical, hands-on tools to help seniors living independently or in a senior health care setting. 

Version 1.4 introduces a major productivity advance - Point and Click Care Planning.  This feature improves productivity and saves money for clients.  At the same time it also improves quality and consistency. 

More new features include:

• Care Plan report delivered in consumer language
• 136 new tools in SCANS
• Medical Support Information database powered by Healthwise
• Automatic logo branding of SCANS tools for all affiliate and partner
• Full integration with Navigator

• Introduction of next generation Care Planning supporting a direct SCANS(TM) interface, identification of key findings and intervention, outcomes tracking, and more.
• Care Plan Reporting
• Improved Assessment Summary Report
• Client Portal Care Plan Review
• Client Portal Improvements
• Past Assessment Reporting
• Menuing improvements and more

Part of healthy aging is making sure you are getting the right amount of nutrients and vitamins in your diet.   One way individuals are getting the appropriate nutrients and vitamins in their diet is to take herbal supplements.  An herb is a plant or plant part used for its scent, flavor, or therapeutic properties.  Herbal supplements are a type of dietary supplement that people take to improve their health.  They can be tablets, powders, teas, or extracts.  While many herbal supplements may be helpful, they can cause health problems if they interact with other medications you are taking. 

Before beginning an herbal supplement:
1. Always talk to your doctor first before starting any new medication or supplement
2. Always follow the recommended dosage – never take an increased amount that the label says
3. Consult your doctor if you have side effects

Your doctor may be cautious about embracing many herbal supplements.  This is because there have been very few controlled studies done on herbal supplements.  However, a growing number of doctors are working to better understand herbal therapies to help you make an informed decision about your health care. 

When looking at purchasing herbal supplements, take these points into consideration:
1. Buy only single herb products.  Do not buy supplements that are mixtures of several herbs with unknown amounts of each
2. Beware of claims that sound too good to be true.  There is no herbal supplement that can address a wide range of health concerns
3. Be extremely cautious about herbal supplements manufactured outside the U.S.

Avoid taking herbal supplements if:
• You are taking prescription or over-the-counter medications
• A proven medical treatment is available for your medical condition

Source:

National Institutes of Health
http://www.nlm.nih.gov

Sometimes you think all the "predictions" of science fiction really will come true.  Well here's more support for your case.  GeckoSystems International Corp. announced limited trials of a "Mobile Service Robot" called Carebot.  Really... "carebot". 

This little guy can navigate through the home on it's own; provide assistance caring for aging parents with medication reminders, monitoring vital signs, delivering supplies, and other simple tasks.  The system works thought independent computers and software that work together to deliver coordinated activity.  GeckoSystems has gotten a bit cheeky by calling these  GeckoSavants(TM).  Each functional area has a "geckoname"  like, GeckoNav(TM), GeckoChat(TM) and GeckoTrak(TM).

This version of the Carebot is not likely to replace a geriatric care manager or other caregiver any time soon, but GekoSystems has been solving some of the most difficult challenges to making robot helpful in the home.  For example, Navigating independently in crowds or narrow spaces is something we take for granted, but it's actually a major challenge for a machine. 

I'm looking forward to Carebot II.
 

Most current research suggests that caregivers should interact with older adults with Alzheimer’s in “their” world to minimize anxiety and frustration.  This means not correcting them when they tell you they went to work today, drove to the store or had a conversation with their Mother.    It does no good to remind them that they haven’t worked in 40 years, driven a car in 5 years or spoken to their Mother in 20 years.  For these events are still very real to them, as the past has become their reality.

My Mother’s retreat into the past affects everything about her life.  She is appalled that a BLT is $6.95 on a lunch menu.  She doesn’t understand why my Father hasn’t come back from a business trip.  She tells medical personnel she is 45.  When I am with her, I feel like I have stepped through the door of a time machine that has set the clock back by decades.
Stepping back in time helps me connect with my Mother.  We have lively conversations about her job and shopping trips and she glows with pride when I compliment her new hairstyle.   I don’t overload her with too much information or share plans in advance.  I respond from my place within the time machine, where my Mother is much younger and I am much older. 

My Mother’s birthday is coming up.  My sister and I have planned a celebration with her friends from her memory care neighborhood.  We will have a cake with her name written in sugary icing, balloons, party plates, favors and presents.  It will be reminiscent of birthday parties from within the time machine, when the joy of turning a year older with family and friends was all that mattered.  
 

I just returned from a wonderful weekend spent with four friends from college.  We have been friends ever since we pledged Kappa Kappa Gamma in the mid seventies, some 30 years ago.   We live in four different states and cherish our yearly “girl’s” weekend.  Throughout the year, we keep in touch by cell phone and e-mail.  However, there is nothing like being together, sipping wine and sharing family news, career challenges, and our love of new shoes.  Discussing the pros and cons of reaching the half century mark always comes up too.  Among us you will find wives and widows, mothers and stepmothers, and daughters of aging mothers and fathers. 

In years past, our conversation revolved around our children.  We looked to each other for advice and support as we coped with the terrible twos, middle school independence and aggravating adolescents.   Something different happened this year.  Caregiving was still a topic of conversation, but centered on our parents, rather than our children.    We are all caregivers, with a parent or parents that are facing issues common among older adults:  chronic illness, medication management, cognitive decline, financial concerns, fall risk, and driving conflicts.   

Each one of us expressed concern and a willingness to help.  We wanted to help our parents remain independent and honor their wishes.  Yet, we had so many questions!!!  All weekend long, we discussed and debated how best to help our parents.  Without realizing it, we became a caregiver support group and were comforted by sharing our concerns, ideas and strategies with dear friends.  We have continued the support by raising issues, asking questions, and providing updates via group e-mails.   We haven’t yet joined the facebook revolution, but have formed our own informal eldercare exchange network to help us cope with our aging parents. 

I feel incredibly fortunate to have such a caring group of friends.  Their support has helped me through all stages of life and continues to prop me up when I’m concerned about my Mother and how best to help her.  I encourage every caregiver to find either an informal or formal support group.  Talk to your friends , neighbors and colleagues about caregiving.  My guess is you will find someone else who is an active caregiver.  Also, explore formal support group opportunities offered by organizations such as the Alzheimer’s Association, local hospitals and/or assisted living and long-term care facilities.

• Medicare overview
• Medicare Part D information

It is that time of year… Medicare health and drug coverage open enrollment begins on Nov 15 and ends on Dec 31.  With all the news on revamping America’s health care, you may have missed the announcement from The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) that seniors or other people with Medicare (and their caregivers and/or family members) can begin to review their 2010 coverage options through  Medicare’s improved online tools.  Medicare Health Options Compare and Prescription Drug Plan Finder is located at www.medicare.gov. 

Remember, caregivers, if your loved one is a Medicare beneficiary, they are eligible for Medicare prescription drug coverage, regardless of income, health status, or current prescription expenses.

There are two types of Medicare plans that provide prescription drug coverage:

1) Medicare Prescription Drug Plans - These plans add prescription drug coverage to Original Medicare, and certain types of Medicare Health Plans.
2) Medicare Health Plans  - Some of these plans cover both health care and prescription drugs.

For caregivers and seniors that prefer to get information over the phone,

• Contact a Medicare customer service representative at toll free 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227)
• OR contact your local State health insurance Assistance Program office (find the number online at http://www.medicare.gov/Contacts/staticpages/ships.aspx) or other health advocacy agencies for free personalized counseling.

Medicare's customer service is available 24-hours a day and 7 days a week. English and Spanish-language customer service representatives are available.

A 2010 Medicare & You handbook for seniors and their caregivers, also available on www.Medicare.gov, will be mailed to the homes of all eligible beneficiaries this month.

Medicare can be complicated, and a qualified geriatric care professional can help you figure it out if you're a caregiver.  If you're a veteran (or a caregiver for a veteran) you can also see my previous blogs, which include Information on Veterans Benefits and Part 2: Additional Information on Veterans Benefits.
 

1. Have your medical records sent to the second physician.  This will inform the physician of what has been discussed and any tests that have been performed.
2. Call the second physician's office before your appointment to make sure they received your records
3. Have a list of questions on paper you want to ask and take them with you to your appointment.
4. Ask somebody close to you to come to the appointment with you. 

In my blog on Nov 9th, I discussed the end-stage dementia issues and raised the question ‘Is dementia a terminal illness?’  When faced with terminal illness, seniors and their caregivers often choose palliative care.  Today, I’ll discuss that further.

What is a terminal condition?

In most states, a terminal condition is a status that is incurable or irreversible, and in which death will occur within a short time.  There is not a precise, universally accepted definition of “a short time,” but in general it is considered to be less than one year.  When looking at the hospice benefit, it will define “short term” as six months or less.

What is palliative care?

Palliative care is a comprehensive approach to treating serious illness that focuses on the physical, psychological, spiritual, and existential needs of the patient.  Its goal is to achieve the best quality of life available to the patient by relieving suffering, by controlling pain and symptoms, and by enabling the patient to achieve maximum functional capacity.  Respect for the patient’s culture, beliefs, and values are essential components.  Palliative care is sometimes called comfort care or hospice type care.

For more information: go to Caring Connections which is a program of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO), is a national consumer and community engagement initiative to improve care at the end of life, supported by a grant from The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Caregivers and seniors can find them online at www.caringinfo.org.

Caregivers and seniors can also visit the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) home page at http://www.nhpco.org/templates/1/homepage.cfm.