Tag: home care Montgomery County

Dementia and Loneliness

Posted on by Peter R. Abraldes

Social Isolation for those living with dementia

Living with dementia can often be isolating. Over time, the ability of a person with dementia to communicate may become worse and interactions that once seemed to come so easily may become more difficult. This can be frustrating for everyone involved, though it is important to try and understand the loneliness your loved may be experiencing so you can best engage them.

Take note that there are different types of loneliness – for example, someone can feel lonely, even if they have regular contact with friends and family, while others may have limited contact with people and not feel lonely. NursePartners alters our care approach depending on a client’s personality and life history. We engage with introverts differently than extroverts. We also need to consider the person’s skills when creating opportunities for engagement.

These days it can be tough to have regular face-to-face contact, especially if your loved one lives in a facility or if you live far away. FaceTime will only go so far for someone living with dementia. If they are a Pearl, Ruby, or Amber stage of dementia, it might be nearly impossible to connect with them via video chat. This is because the best way to connect with these people if through sight, touch, taste, and smell. However, you may be able to have a virtual breakthrough if you can engage them through song.

Another factor to consider is that those living with dementia are also usually living with diminishing social circles. They may move away from friends and older loved ones die. It also becomes harder for them to initiate new conversations and build new relationships. This is just another reason why it is important to build you care team early!

Social Isolation in the Age of COVID-19

How would you experience social isolation if you were not processing the rationale behind it? As we head into future months of quarantine and social isolation, consider how this is affecting a loved one living with dementia. Consider how your loved one is remaining socially connected in safe way. Do they have close friends or family that visit? Do they see someone at least once a week? How often do you check in and are these calls effective?

If you are answering no to any of these questions, it is understandable. Life gets busy and sometimes we forget how those living with dementia come to depend on us more over time. Nonetheless, you may want to consider seeking help for your loved one if you feel you are unable to provide this care yourself. (Over time it will become impossible for one person to provide all the necessary care for one other person living with dementia.)

The NursePartners Difference

NursePartners has been caring for older adults since 2002. We specialize in Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, focusing on what the client can still do, not what they cannot. We build stable care teams for our clients, supporting them from three assignments per week to 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

Let us show you how NursePartners can make the difference in the life of you and your loved one. Call us today, 610-323-9800.

610-323-9800

Fall Costs for Older Adults in the Philadelphia Metro, Fall Risk Mitigation Techniques

Posted on by Peter R. Abraldes

Healthcare Costs Attributed to Falls:

The Pennsylvania Department of Health collects statistics for injuries that result in hospitalizations, per cause, per age group. In 2014, these injuries increased greatly for ages 45 to 64, decreased slightly for those 65 to 74, and increased again greatly for those over 75.

Below are the results for three counties in Pennsylvania: Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia. The numbers are not weighted for total population of each county, but rather represent individual counts.

dementia care costs, home care costs, fall risk Philadelphia, Alzheimer's Association of Philadelphia, Alzheimer's Association of Delaware River Valley

 

The National Council on Aging reported that in 2013, that out of 25 injury categories and 7 age groups, total hospital charges for all injuries and ages was greater than $9,100,000,000. Of this amount, $3,700,000,000 was spent on one injury type for one two age groups. This was for fall injuries for adults aged 65 years and older.

Using numbers from the U.S. census for 2013, the population of these three counties aged 65 years or older is approximately 385,762. In costs are divided evenly among the approximate U.S. population of this same age, 44,701,074.  The total cost of falls for older adults in Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties was approximately $31,930,316 in 2013.

9,790 individuals in the Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties were reported as having sustained hospitalizations due to a fall.  If we consider national costs consistent, the average hospitalization cost for these local older adults was $3,261.52 per fall.  This figure obscures the true cost. Some of these falls result in death while others lead to chronic and permanent injuries, which require increasing amount of funding for the remainder of that individual’s life.

How can you help prevent falls in older adults?

We do not have to wait around for a fall in order to act. Each of us has a role in mitigating the fall risk of older adults. In the senior’s home, we need to be especially vigilant, because this is where they spend the most time, and usually alone.

These are the concrete steps we can take:

  • Clear floor of clutter.
  • Ensure older adult is wearing nonskid footwear or shoes that fit.
  • If they wear glasses, clean them regularly and ensure use.
  • If the older adult is living with dementia, pay attention to the position of their head. Their line of sight is restricting, so they should be looking down at their path ahead.
  • Complete physical therapy exercises to make gains when possible and reevaluate weaknesses.
  • Keep corridors and bathroom properly lighted.
  • Be available to assistance in case of emergencies.
  • Reorganize closets and kitchen to be easily assessible to older adult.

Most, if not all, of these tasks require a consistent presence in the home to ensure compliance. NursePartners is a privately-owned home care company providing traditional home care and dementia care services. We have been around since 2002, founded and operated by a registered nurse and certified dementia practitioner.

Let us help you help them. Call us to learn about what makes NursePartners the agency of choice for families in the Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia county areas. We also call this area home!

610-323-9800

All sources were referenced today, on June 29, 2019.  The organization names are hyperlinked below.

 

Vision Changes for those Living with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia

Posted on by Peter R. Abraldes
Our field of vision changes as we age, but the changes are drastic for a person living with dementia.  Eventually the field of vision becomes so restricted that sight becomes a main obstacle in carepartners connecting before providing care.  The results could worsen anxiety, hallucinations, mood swings, aggression, and other behavioral issues. 
Visual deterioration progresses in the following order:
  1. 45* peripheral (This is the normal range of vision for an older adult 75 years young.)
  2. Tunnel vision (The width is about a yard in diameter.  Loss of sight occurs in all directions: left, right, up, and down.)
  3. Binocular vision (Cup your hands around your eyes or use a pair of binoculars to experience this for yourself.)
  4. Restricted binocular (Cup your hands tighter around each eye, until they are just loose enough to fit a pencil through each opening.)
  5. Monocular (The brain shuts off vision to one eye.  This is because the brain is prioritizing other bodily functions such as digestion, respiration, and blood circulation.)
NursePartners practices the positive physical approach to care.  We emphasize the importance of recognizing these changes in order to build meaningful and successful relationships.  Admin includes dementia practitioners and coaches that train our carepartners in dementia care before placing them to work with our clients.  
Want to learn more about our dementia training?  Think these approaches can enhance the quality of life for your loved one? 

Call us to learn more about how we can help: 610-323-9800.

Philadelphia demenia care, Philadelphia home care, Philadelphia Alzheimer's disease“Ambers”, or clients living in a middle stage of dementia, experience the world with binocular vision.
If you want to learn more about reducing challenging behaviors, check out this article from Pines Education.
 

Visual Cues and Decluttering for Those Living with Dementia

Posted on by Peter R. Abraldes

On Monday, November 13 at 12:30pm the National Aging in Place Council of Philadelphia will present on dementia and the importance of decluttering.  The program is titled “Visual Cues and Decluttering for Those Living with Dementia”.  It will be hosted at the Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill.

The goal of the seminar is to educate participants as to how dementia changes our senses and our responses towards external stimuli. Understanding the disease progression is crucial for being able to successfully adapt and to begin the dialogue of decluttering. 

Older adults thrive in an organizes and simplified environment.  By reducing clutter, older adults will be able to find the items they need and minimize the risk of falls.  However, even given the risks, the actual tasks of organizing and decluttering needs to be handled in a sensitive way.  The disposal of an item does not imply that we are forgetting experiences. 

We will also discuss the physical removal of items from the home.  This step must be done in a sensitive way too, understanding that each individual values items differently.  The removal is done in a responsible manner, always considering the possibility for donation, resale, and recycle.   

The presenters are founding members of the National Aging in Place Council (“NAIPC”) of Philadelphia.  Together the NAIPC serves as a consortium of industry leaders who hold themselves to ethical standards in their commitment to helping older adults age in place. 

If you would like to join us next Monday , please email philadelphia@ageinplace.com. 

Our presenters include:

  • Bode Hennegan, Life Managers & Associates
  • Bill Read, JDog Junk Removal & Hauling
  • Peter Abraldes, NursePartners, Inc.

 

Responding to Pacing Behavior in Dementia

Posted on by NursePartners

As a caretaker or family member, you may notice that sometimes a loved one with dementia can display signs of pacing. He or she may become restless, causing a need to move around. They might wander back and forth – sometimes to the point of exhaustion. Individuals who walkabout, may also feel agitated and take on repetitive moments.

When an individual with dementia starts to behave differently, this can often mistakenly be seen as a result of Dementia. It’s important to see beyond the behavior itself and think about what may be causing it. Looking at the underlying factors might help you identify the needs of your loved one and reduce these behaviors. Try to evaluate whether the pacing is problematic, or if you as a carepartner can alter your response to their behavior.

Rather than dismissing it, it is important to think about how to preserve their independence, dignity and safety.

 

img slide 3 Responding to Pacing Behavior in Dementia

So what causes pacing in Dementia?

  • Restlessness (as a symptom of dementia or a side effect of medication)
  • Relieving pain and discomfort
  • Boredom
  • Lack of physical activity
  • Feeling lost (searching for something familiar)
  • Responding to anxiety and stress
  • Need for the bathroom, hunger or thirst
  • Disorientation or confusion

Here’s how you can respond to pacing behavior:

  1.   Your loved one might wander or pace in response to basic needs like human contact, hunger, or thirst. Ensure that their basic needs are met, and that he or she is not in pain.
  2.   If night time walking or pacing is a particular issue, your loved one may have sleeping difficulties. Monitoring caffeine and alcohol consumption in the evenings, as well as avoiding daytime napping can reduce restlessness and pacing.
  3.   Constant pacing may also reveal that your loved one is not getting enough physical activity. Encouraging them to incorporate more exercise in their daily routine can reduce the spare energy exerted during restlessness.
  4.   New surroundings can trigger feelings of confusion and uncertainty. If you find that your loved one’s behavior has worsened due to a new location or surrounding, showing them familiar items can assure them that they belong. Your loved one may also need extra help finding their way about. It may be helpful to provide signs to familiarize them with their surroundings.
  5.   Offering meaningful activities that engage your loved one can relieve boredom and diminish pacing. Being occupied can provide them with a sense of purpose, keeping them mentally engaged and physically active.
  6.   If your loved one appears to be constantly distressed or the pacing worsens, call a physician to ask about possible medications that can help.

Our carepartners are dedicated to improving quality of life.  If your loved one need home care assistance or relief, our team would love to help: Contact Us Today.

Study to evaluate the impact of a cancer fighting drug on slowing neurodegenerative disease progression

Posted on by Peter R. Abraldes

This NPR article discusses how Nilotinib seems to work by eliminating toxic proteins that build up in the brains of people with Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. The drug seems to activate a mechanism in brain cells that acts like a sort of garbage disposal.  Read the entire article on NRP.

Currently Georgetown University is looking for participants for a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the impact of low doses of a cancer fighting drug on slowing the progression of neurodegenerative diseases. Learn more about the study.

NursePartners does not advocate for any specific type of medication.  Our holistic approach seeks to connect before providing care.  For clients with advanced forms of dementia, we explore different ways to say hello and communicate.

Our carepartners follow the Teepa Snow’s positive physical approach to dementia care.  Through extensive training, carepartners learn how to deescalate situations and build meaningful relationships with our clients.  We do not promote a purely medicated method for working with clients living with dementia.