**The following post is from my guest blogger, Natalie Langley, MSW.  She is a Geriatric Care Research Analyst for SCANS (for more on SCANS, please see Eric Tinsley's blog by clicking here).**

In today’s society, we value independence… and part of that is being able to jump in our car and go where we need to go.  A major challenge for older adults who are unable to drive is feeling that they have lost some of their independence.  As times are changing, older adults’ schedules are becoming busier than before.  Whether it is picking up the grandkids, going to the doctor, beauty shop, or senior center to play cards, etc. older adults are not just sitting at home anymore.  However, older adults who are living independently and are unable to drive can still get to where they want/need to be in their community.  There are resources in our communities that do just that.  The following are some good resources that will help connect older adults to local transportation resources while still living at home.  Happy traveling! 

Area Agency on Aging office – Search by state and find the closest office nearby and contact the Area Agency on Aging to learn about transportation resources locally. (http://www.n4a.org/about-n4a/?fa=aaa-title-VI)

AARP:  State-by-State Guide to Transportation Assistance
(http://bulletin.aarp.org/yourworld/gettingaround/articles/state-by-state_guide.html)

More and more aging adults are moving in with their children or other family members, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.  Between 2000-2007, the percentage of parents moving in with their children rose 67% or 3.6 million.  There are many reasons why this might be occuring:
1.  Higher housing costs and the nation's current economic status
2.  Families are closer now than in the past
3.  Intergenerational households are increasing each year

The number of parents under the age of 65 that moved in with family grew 75%.  I recently read an article that stated 60 is the new 40.  Becoming a grandparent at a younger age is growing.  Some parents are moving in with their children to help raise and care for the grandchildren.  This concept gives the grandparent a "job" and responsibility while contributing to the family and takes away the cost of daycare.  Combining family resources is helping families and their expenses while also providing assistance, a stronger family bond, and preserving memories.

So pull out the sofa bed, clean out the guest room, or build on a small apartment cause mom may be moving in!  ECHO Housing is becoming more popular, Elder Cottage Housing Opportunity, sometimes coined "granny flats" or "mother-in-law suites".  This refers to a housing opportunity for seniors to share a separate living space on the same property or attached to a family member's home.  This concept brings parents closer to their families while also maintaining a sense of independence.  Zoning regulations do apply, so check with your local county or city zoning board.  For more information, check out ECHO Housing.

For the past year, I have been doing my Mother’s laundry.  In the beginning I did everything – sheets, towels and personal laundry.  Soon that became too much – and I made arrangements for the Assisted Living facility to wash the sheets and towels.  But, I still did my Mother’s personal laundry because she did not want other people “touching” her things.

This plan worked at first, but proved to be very time consuming.  It seemed that I was always behind on laundry. I tried putting loads in before work and drying them when I got home at night.  I tried doing multiple loads on a Saturday AM.  I tried picking it up from my Mother more frequently and doing smaller loads at a time.  I tried multi-tasking by doing laundry and paying bills in the same evening.  But the laundry was ever present and the pile seemed to grow each day, despite my best efforts to take control of a seemingly easy task.  My frustration piled up too. 

I finally accepted the fact that “doing the laundry” was a task that could easily be done by someone else.  All I had to do was convince my Mother that someone else could do it too.  First, I talked with the administrator at the Assisted Living facility.  I learned that they could do the laundry and that they did each resident’s laundry separately.   They also used the detergent provided by the family, so that the laundry did not come out with an industrial smell and feel.  Finally, I had a frank discussion with my Mother and told her that I was having a difficult time finding the time to do her laundry and tote it back and forth.  I suggested that we “try” having her clothes washed on site.

Thankfully, she agreed and so far so good.  I have been “laundry-free” for two weeks.  I cannot begin to describe how getting rid of this chore has improved my caregiving outlook.  My Mother has adjusted very well to the new arrangement.

My advice to all caregivers is to evaluate the many tasks on your plate and try to find ones that can be done by others.  Whether it is laundry, grocery shopping or driving a parent to a weekly physical therapy appointment – enlist or hire someone else to assist with these tasks.  You will be so glad you did.  You will be better able to face the next caregiving challenge because your reserve of time and patience has not been depleted by routine tasks.

Just a quick note to announce the production release of SCANS V1.1.  The key enhancements include:

1. Search Capability for Issues, Solutions, and Resources
2. New Resources and Tools for the following:
   • Alcoholism
   • Suicide
   • Pressure Ulcers
   • Falls
   • Confusion and Alzheimer’s disease
   • Hoarding behavior and Alzheimer’s disease
   • Sun-downing and Alzheimer’s disease
   • Wandering
   • Prescription Drug Abuse
   • Transportation resources for both FL and IN
   • Resources by state
   • Alzheimer’s disease resources
   • Malnutrition info
   • Cultural
   • Spirituality
   • Long Term Care Insurance
   • Nutrition and Osteoporosis
   • Nutrition and Cancer
   • Nutrition and COPD
   • Dehydration
   • Oral Health for Older Adults
   • Nutrition and Vitamin B-12 deficiency
   • Beliefs and Practices
   
   

According to a recent study, more than 1/2 of those providing care to an aging adult experience some form of stress and strain.  This amount of stress can negatively affect your physical health, your emotional health and well-being, and your ability to provide care.  Taking care of yourself, taking breaks when needed, and utilizing the help of others is very important!  Some caregivers have been taking care of "mom" for years and oftentimes other family members forget how hard the caregiver is working, because it just becomes second-nature that you take care of mom.  I would like to take the time to say THANK YOU and shower all caregivers with applause and praise for their tremendous hardwork for being a caregiver of another person while still maintaining their own lives, jobs, children, etc. 

I love greeting cards, and I tend to spend quite a bit of time finding that right card for that right person.  A friend recently found a Caregiver Support greeting card, made by Carlton Cards...but only 1 card in a store full of every other kind of greeting cards, doesn't seem quite right.  However, the card reads, "The dedication and strength it takes to care the way you do is truly amazing.  It's hard giving so much of yourself, and yet you do so generously and lovingly.  You have a beautiful, caring heart - and you're doing a truly incredible job.  Hope you know what a difference you're making.  Hope you know how wonderful you are."
THANK YOU FOR BEING A CAREGIVER!

We are constantly hearing certain buzz words in eldercare: aging in place, healthy aging, senior healthcare, wellness, and senior well-being.  How do we truly age in place and take care of our senior health needs in our current healthcare system?  One should become aware of the truths about aging versus the myths that are out there.  One should also help health care providers to promote wellness and independent function by asking them questions and having periodic overall health assessments. 

Do you know – Is this TRUE or a MYTH?

Most older adults are sick. 

MYTH!  Most older adults (78% of 65+) are healthy and engaged in normal activities.


If you are old, you are sick. 

MYTH!  Only 23% of older adults claim to have a disability.  85% of the debilitating diseases are from cancer, coronary artery disease, stroke, diabetes, kidney failure, obstructive lung disease, pneumonia, and flu. Remember  -- Chronic illness does not translate into functional inability.


Older adults have more chronic diseases than younger persons, but fewer acute illnesses.  

TRUE!  Older adults have more chronic diseases than younger persons, but fewer acute illnesses.  There are 102 acute illnesses reported per 100 people over 65 and 230 acute illness per 100 people under the age of 65.   85% of the debilitating diseases are from cancer, coronary artery disease, stroke, diabetes, kidney failure, obstructive lung disease, pneumonia, and flu.


Your body systems are affected by age.

MYTH!  Body systems such as your heart and lungs are minimally affected by age but PROFOUNDLY influenced by lifestyle behaviors such as cigarette smoking, physical activity,  what you eat, and sometimes if you have enough resources to access the care you need.

What should the older adult expect?  The older adult can expect to lose 2 inches of height by age 80, which can lead to changes in posture and our feet - which could affect our balance and create a potential fall risk.  Another fact is that the body cannot regulate its temperature as it did when one was younger, so an older adult needs to be aware of exposure both cold and heat.  If the temperature outside is high, the older adult is at risk for heat stroke.  

The most important item for an older adult to remember?  A health assessment promoting wellness and independent function is a must.  Remember that health care needs to be individualized… and that the body can remain healthy as one ages. Although our organs may gradually lose some function, a senior may not even notice these changes except during periods of great exertion or stress.
Today, there are more than 4 million Americans 85 and older. That number is expected to grow almost 5 times by the year 2050.  By the year 2030, it is estimated that the “oldest-old” (85 years and older), will grow to 10 million people. 

Views on aging are changing  

TRUE!  Aging is no longer synonymous with physical decline and illness. 


Future Blogs will continue to address the issues of senior health care and healthy aging.

Resources:
• Luggen, A.,S Meiner,S. E. (Eds.). (2001) National gerontological nursing association: Core curriculum for gerontological nursing. St. Lois:  Mosby.
• Mezey, M, Fulmer,T, Mariano, C, (Eds.). (2005) Best nursing practices in care of older adult. Curriculum Guide. ( 3rd ed.) New York:  The John A. Hartford Foundation: Institute for Geriatric Nursing.

For the last several months, we have been discussing safety concerns for the older adult.  We all know that medication management and fall risk prevention are instrumental to healthy aging, but a holistic picture is what is most important to assist in aging in place and maintaining good “health”.  As the boomers age, we will see more and more written on wellness, well-being, and just overall aging tips. 

But what is key to a healthy life style?

According to American Geriatrics Society it is

1. Not smoking
2. Drinking alcohol in moderation
3. Exercising
4. Getting adequate rest
5. Eating a diet high in fruits and vegetables
6. Coping with stress and
7. Having a positive outlook.  

These are important, but I feel that whether you are elderly or young, you need to understand your overall health issues, have social connections, be at peace with where you are in life, have a purpose, live in a safe environment that supports your needs, and keep your brain functioning. 

Good Morning America does a segment that highlights individuals celebrating their 100th or older Birthday.  Today a man was 107! I am always amazed at the life history of those over 100...  The majority have remained both physically and intellectually active and have remained connected with society.  Amazing, they never reference how many fruits and vegetables they have eaten!!   So stay connected… and do your brainteaser and always learn something new each day. 

**The following post is from my guest blogger, Natalie Langley, MSW.  She is a Geriatric Care Research Analyst for SCANS (for more on SCANS, please see Eric Tinsley's blog by clicking here).**

Nutrition and eating right are important components to keeping us all healthy.  But what happens when a chronic illness such as diabetes, congestive heart failure, or cancer is brought into the picture?  Having a chronic illness may mean taking a few more steps to ensure the older adult is getting the appropriate nutrients daily.  Making sure that all the key nutrients are a part of your diet can actually help you stay healthy, fight off infections, and feel stronger.  Even making simple changes such as removing the salt shaker from the dining room table can help reduce the amount of salt you put on food, therefore, reducing the sodium level for someone who has Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).  Other nutrition tips can be found on the web resources below for individuals who have chronic illnesses.  If you notice you are losing weight (10 pounds or more) involuntarily over a 6 month period, please check with your primary care provider.  In addition, before making any changes in your diet, always consult with your primary care provider. 

American Heart Association
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=1444

American Cancer Society – Recipes high in calories and easy to eat
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/MBC/content/MBC_6_1_Recipes.asp

American Lung Association – Eating well with COPD
http://www.lungusa.org/site/c.dvLUK9O0E/b.3529631/#eating 

American Diabetes Association
http://www.diabetes.org 

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
http://www2.niddk.nih.gov/ 

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
http://www.niams.nih.gov/

How would you want to spend your golden years?  I have lots of different ideas...I'd like to travel more, spend time with family and friends, be healthy, enjoy life!  I love visiting and learning from my grandmothers (and my grandfather).  It's interesting to ask them questions about their life as children, young adults, how they met my grandfathers, jobs they worked, etc.  My one grandmother has a great sense of humor and is always on the go.  She works one day a week, spends lots of times with friends and family, travels, and likes to learn new things.  My other grandmother is just a "sweet old lady" that grew up on farm, who has a green thumb, loves animals, and is a bird watcher.  Both are relatively healthy and live independently.  Some people fear getting older, but today's world offers many services and perks to seniors, such as, travel deals, wellness programs, lavish retirement communities, etc.  The seniors that have a zest for life in their golden years are an inspiration and should be applauded!

In most practices, doctors are busy, the front offices are short staffed and the nurses are swamped.  Is it any wonder that calls don’t get returned promptly or orders don’t get faxed in a timely manner?  While there is an easy explanation for these delays, it can be frustrating to a family that is anxiously awaiting test results or a prescription change for their parent. 

I hear it all the time from everyone I know. “I can’t get through to a nurse…I left a message on voicemail and haven’t heard back from anyone…I am tired of pressing 1 for this and 3 for that and never getting any real information or a live person.”

These experiences are especially troublesome when you are worried about your parent and want information as soon as possible.  It can also be difficult to find times to talk privately during the work day, except for a lunch hour or during a short break, so waiting for a call can be very hard to manage.

So what do you do? 

• Make sure the medical provider knows to call your cell phone.  There is nothing more frustrating than to wait for a call and find out when you arrive home at 6:00 PM that the Dr. left a message on your home voice mail at 10:00 AM.
• Make a list of your questions and have it available when you receive the call from the Dr’s office.  Getting back in touch with the same person quickly may be difficult, so try to minimize the need to call back with additional questions.
• Be respectful of office protocols and policies, but be persistent.  If you don’t receive a return call in a reasonable period of time – call back and try to reach a “live” person.  Restate your concerns and/or questions and tell them you are willing to stay on the line while they find someone to help you.
• Send a fax addressed to the appropriate party.  It might get routed more quickly than a phone message.  Also, it lets the Dr’s office know that you are really serious about your need for information.
• Always remain polite and respectful. Becoming angry or obnoxious certainly won’t help your case and could brand you forever as “difficult.” 

These suggestions are based on my own personal experience and I hope you find them helpful.  They are meant to help facilitate communication between a physician’s office and a senior’s family when a voicemail culture seems to be impeding communication.

Who can make health care decisions for you when you cannot make them for yourself, and there is no advance directive?  This is a question most people don’t spend enough time thinking about, considering the importance of the issue. 

I was recently sitting in the reception area of a nursing home when I was approached by an executive type person.  He identified himself as an area manager and asked if there was anything that I thought this facility could improve upon.  “Education,” I said.  “There can never be enough education for staff.”  “What do you mean?” he asked.  I said that, for example, I would place a bet that his staff did not know who could make health care decisions for a person when they could not.  “You can’t be serious,” he said. 

Just then the administrator came into the lobby and so the question was posed to her.  By this time I was a little nervous because I knew it was quite possible that she would not know the correct answer and it would be me that made her look bad.  He asked her, “who makes health care decisions for a person when they cannot and there is no advance directive?”  Without hesitation, she blurted out  "the spouse"... then "the kids"...   Wrong.

The correct answer is that our health care consent law says that when a person cannot speak for oneself and there is no advance directive and no guardianship in place, the spouse, adult children, siblings, and parents ALL have the right to make health care decision for the incapacitated person, AND there is no priority in that group.  This law gives maximum flexibility to the family as a whole but does set up possible conflicts between family members since there is no priority in the decision making group.

I quickly apologized to the administrator saying that I did not mean to put her on the spot – and I did add that many people do not seem to know the answer.  So if you want to try it for yourself, ask this question of the next health care worker you meet and the odds are – they don’t know.

One of our greatest challenges as caregivers for our aging parents is getting an accurate and complete understanding of their health status.  Unfortunately, it is difficult to find a single source of unbiased guidance to help understand and coordinate our parents’ complicated issues of aging.  A big reason for this is the way the U.S. health care system works.  No health care provider is reimbursed for spending the time necessary to holistically understand all of the issues involved in a patient’s well-being.  With seniors covered by Medicare, the payments for allowable claims are for specific services delivered for single or closely-related issues.  This reality requires older adults to deal with multiple health issues, care providers, prescription medicines, and care plans by themselves or with the help of a trusted caregiver or a competent geriatric care manager.  For the few that can afford the charges, some physicians operate “concierge” practices that charge annual flat fees for unlimited access for primary care services and coordination with specialists.  However, these concierge practices are only able to serve a very small number of seniors, and the concept itself is subject to significant differences of opinion among physicians and health policy specialists.

We are finding that understanding and coordinating these complexities in our eldercare services is one of the greatest values we add for seniors and their families.  If you find yourself in a role similar to what we do, it is wise not to underestimate the difficulty and time it takes to gain a holistic view of an older adult’s health status.   Accompanying seniors to their health care providers’ appointments and participating in the debriefings at the end of the office visits is an excellent way to gain direct knowledge.  Taking good notes or (with the provider’s permission) recording the debriefing allows for accurate recollection when memories often fail to remember the details.  Discussing the various physician’s care plans with your parents’ primary care physician at an office visit can further help with a caregiver’s difficult job of gaining the holistic view necessary to be effective in your critically important role.

If your loved one lives in an assisted living facility or a nursing home, it is important for caregivers to know their rights as family members - and the rights of their loved one living there.  The federal government has many rules and regulations that these facilities must follow.  Each state then has additional rules and regulations that these facilities must follow.  This information is made public through the state department of health.  These facilities are also required to provide the residents/families a copy of the Resident Rights document, which is a list of your rights and can also be accessed through the state department of health. 

The social worker at the assisted living facility or nursing home is the liaison between the facility and the residents/families.  They are also to be an advocate for resident rights.  It is important for family members to educate themselves on the rules and regulations of these facilities.  If you feel the facility personnel is not working with you properly, outside assistance can be helpful.  Each community has an ombudsman, who is an advocate for people living in the residential facility.  They are employed by the state and usually work out of the Area Agency on Aging office.  To find your local ombudsman, contact your local Area Agency on Aging. 

A professional health care manager is also a good resource to utilize as an advocate and 3rd party when working with a residential facility.  Education and advocacy is a powerful asset for family members and seniors.

Following the safety theme with older adults, I came across a great government site: click here or visit http://www.fsis.usda.gov/PDF/Food_Safety_for_Older_Adults.pdf.  This 24 page PDF is a guide to food safety for those 65 years of age and older.  It addresses the major pathogens that contribute to food poisoning.  It also gives great tips on making wise choices, how to prevent food poisoning, and what symptoms to look for if you think you have food poisoning... 

Nutrition is a key concern for older adults.  Often as a person ages, healthy eating becomes a challenge. Social isolation, decline in taste, financial concerns, or just making bad decisions can cause weight loss - which impacts older adults' total well-being.  Knowing what choices to make and what to look for can be instrumental in maintaining a healthy nutritional status. If your loved one has a weight loss of more than 10 lbs in a six month time frame, please contact the physician and encourage your loved one to address the concern with the help of the health care provider.

Asking for help is difficult.  Accepting help can be difficult too.  For some of us, asking for help feels like failure – i.e. if we can’t do it - we must not be smart enough, capable enough or care enough.  However, nothing is further from the truth.  Asking for help is sometimes the absolutely best thing caregivers can do….not just for themselves, but for their parents. 

It is impossible for any one person to be an expert on everything.  It is impossible for any one person to manage a huge number of caregiving tasks, in addition to managing work and family responsibilities.  Sometimes going it alone is not feasible or practical. 

Finding help is not difficult.  Tap into all the resources you can think of – use your informal network of friends, neighbors, and co-workers.  Consider developing a formal network with case workers, companion services, home health agencies and geriatric care managers.  This week, I estimate that the Geriatric Case Manager I work with here at My Health Care Manager saved me about 8 hours – by making phone calls to share concerns about my Mother’s declining health with the doctor and the assisted living facility. Then she followed up to make sure the doctor’s recommendations were followed and the tests he recommended took place.  This represented hours of work that would have been very difficult for me to accomplish in the midst of a very busy work day. 

The bottom line is that my Mother’s care is better when I utilize help.  Problems are more quickly identified and addressed.  Our Health Care Manager always keeps my sister and me informed, so we don’t feel disconnected from the issues surrounding my Mother’s health or care.  Additionally, our Health Care Manager offers suggestions and insight based on years of geriatric experience that help us provide the best care possible for our Mother. 

Don’t be a hero by trying to go it alone.  Caregivers don’t look good in capes.

Ask for help!

I've had several people ask me how SCANS (our Senior Care Navigation System) will develop over the life of the Indiana 21st Century Research and Technology Fund grant and beyond.

Version 1.0 of SCANS has just gone live, as active blog readers will know.  Training was completed yesterday and the system is already in the hands of Health Care Managers to improve geriatric care.

Over the next few months we are developing and deploying a series of "point" releases to and features and functionality of the system.  V1.1, for example, will improve the search capabilities of the application to provide easier access to solutions and tools for specific senior health care issues  (e.g. dementia information, well-being concerns, depression, and so on).  The plan includes the following releases:

SCANS    V1.0    Knowledge Repository 
               V1.1    Expanded Search
               V1.2    Enhanced Navigator Integration 
               V1.3    Localization and Enhanced Branding Support

Next, there are a series of major releases planned.  These provide dramatic advances in application capability and can even result in fundamental changes in the geriatric care profession.  The release plan is as follows:

SCANS  V2.0  Reasoning Engine 
SCANS  V3.0  Automated Knowledge Collection  
SCANS  V4.0  Outcomes Validation

Great news for families caring for aging parents!

My colleague Jennifer brought another in home communication device/service to my attention recently.  It's called Celery. 

You may remember a previous blog (click here) on the Presto Printer; a great way to communicate with parents living independently at home of in a retirement community. 
Celery is a service which combines FAX and Email capability.  It allows a caregiver or remote family member to send an email to a FAX machine in their loved one's home.  This can include a text message and even pictures.  The FAX is hooked up to a standard phone line so you don't have to obtain Internet service or have a computer.  The exciting part is that the receiver can hand write a reply and FAX it back to a special Email service that will match it to a preset list of authorized email accounts and send the message on as an image.  This makes the communication two-way.  For more on Celery see their web site http://www.mycelery.com/. 

This could be used to reduce social isolation, provide reminders about heath care, improve medication management, and just keep in touch with distant and busy family members.

In several of my past blogs, I discussed safety concerns and the older adult.  One the main concern is medication safety. Not just the management of medications but how many are actually taken.

It is often reported in the news about a medical error made and the impact it has on individual lives.  Those articles are frequently about hospitals errors.  But have you ever thought about the older adult and how they manage at home...?  The impact our current health system has on managing medications...?  How chronic illnesses such as congestive heart failure, diabetes, and arthritis impact the older adult and his/her caregivers...?  Different providers – prescribing different medication – generic versus brand names.  multiple medications with multiple doses all affect the medication management and the safety of the older adult.

Let’s look at the key safety issue: polypharmacy (multiple medications).  
A caregiver may ask what defines polypharmacy or how many pills or too many?  The answer would have to be that different entities in the current health care system define Polypharmacy differently.  I have seen it defined as low as two or more medications, but in general it deals with using more than three to five medications or herbal supplements for longer than 90 days in a given year.  In my career I have witnessed shoe boxes filled with medications that have numbered over 20 different medications- especially when dealing with multiple chronic diseases, over the counter medications, herbs, and vitamins.

Where should the caregiver and/or older adult start in trying to deal with their medications?
First, realize that the main problem with polypharmacy is that it increases the clients’ risk for drug interactions.  Drug interactions occur when one medication or herbal supplement reacts negatively with another medication when they are taken together. It is important to report any side effects to your physician.
 
The following are some steps you can take to prevent drug interactions:

• Provide a complete list of your medications and herbal supplements to your physician and/or pharmacist
• Discuss how each medication/herbal supplement works inside the body.
• Verify with your physician that you are receiving the recommended dose of each medication/herbal supplement.
• Verify with your physician that you are receiving the recommended form of each medication/herbal supplement you are taking (pill, liquid, tea, extract).
• Determine how many times a day your medications/herbal supplements should be taken.
• Discuss any side effects that might be experienced.
• Discuss the common prescription medication interactions.
• Discuss the common herbal supplement interactions.

If you can not complete a list of medications, take them all into your physician or pharmacist and have a list made for you. 

The National Institute on Aging is a great resource for learning more about medication managements, herbs, vitamins and safety concerns - learn more by clicking here.

SCANS (Senior Care Navigation System) goes live today with the first Health Care Manager training session.  A second session will be held this Thursday.  Our Training Manager, Katie Eller, has put together an exceptional train module for the introduction of this exciting new product.

In just a few short days all of My Health Care Manager's and our Affiliates' geriatric care managers will be using this knowledge base to provide eldercare services.

The system is directly integrated with our case management system called Navigator.  Navigator has been in use for well over two years.  The two systems together provide a comprehensive package for Health Care Managers to help with aging parents.

Technology is helping seniors with their health, safety, and overall well-being.

More than 50 million people provide care to a chronically ill, disabled, or aged family member or friend.  While caring for our loved ones is an important job, we often forget to take care of ourselves.  Statistics show that caregivers have a high risk for stress (physical and mental tension), heart problems/heart attack, sleep problems, and depression.  Caregivers also have a higher mortality rate than non-caregivers.  So, what can we do?  Take a break for a few hours or a few days...relax, have fun, take time for yourself and other family members, etc.
There are several community resources available that provide respite care.  Respite care is temporary relief or a temporary break from caregiving.  The local Area Agency on Aging offers home companions and volunteers who can come to your home to sit with your loved one while you run errands, go to lunch, take a break, etc.  To find your local area agency on aging, click on the link provided.  Adult day programs are offered in most communities and provide group programs for seniors during the day.  The provide social activities, meals/snacks, recreational outings, and assistance with care.  Most adult day programs allow you to drop your loved one off for a couple of hours up to a whole day.  Most are open Monday-Friday and are very helpful to those caregivers who work during the day.  To find an adult day program, click on the link provided.  If you would like to take a couple days off for a vacation or just a much needed break from caregiving, some nursing homes and assisted living facilities offer respite care.  This is a great option where your loved one could stay in there temporarily while receiving 24/7 medical and social care.  Most nursing homes and assisted living facilities offer respite care for up to 30 days.  Some communities also offer respite care homes or units, which allow up to 10 people to stay on a short-term basis.  Check your local nursing home, assisted living facility, Area Agency on Aging, or Alzheimer's Association for respite care information and resources.