Home Care Central Phoenix and Home Care Greater Phoenix provides elder care and senior care in Phoenix. Call us today at 623-583-5868, 602-265-8228 or 480-991-3959.

A lot of people begin to panic when they hear their loved one has been diagnosed with Alzheimers.  Images of nursing homes with people nodding off and barely able to remember their kids’ names come to mind.
The question that we are always asked is “how long can my mom stay home alone?”  The answer really is it depends on how well the family has prepared for this.  Planning, when it comes to handling vital issues about when to move mom or dad, is the most important thing.  We have seen many families that have either been in denial or not considering that some decisions will need to be made and it is better to make them in advance.

One of the ladies we took care of, Jean, was a 78 year old lovely lady with a sharp sense of humour.  All of her CAREGivers loved working with her and looked forward to the times they would spend bopping around town for daily outings.  She complained though that every time her children got together the inevitable conversation of “what to do with mom” would come up.  She loved her home and really didn’t want to move even  but eventually she did start repeating the same story over and over again. 

Her CAREGivers came over twice a day. Once in the morning to help walk her dogs, fix her breakfast, help her take her medications, tidy her home and take her out to run errands or do something fun.  In the evening a different CAREGiver would come by to make sure she had dinner and take her evening medications.  They would visit for awhile to make sure she was feeling good before going to bed. One of her CAREGivers enjoyed the symphony and took her to enjoy it together - to that Jean replied “that was the most fun she had since her husband had passed”.

Even though Jean was forgetting things her CAREGivers kept her on track and kept her safely at home for several years beyond what her family believed was possible.

Written by: Denise Thomas

Owner of Home Instead Senior Care

Home Care Central Phoenix and Home Care Greater Phoenix provides elder care and senior care in Phoenix. Call us today at 623-583-5868, 602-265-8228 or 480-991-3959

Home Instead Senior Care Greater Phoenix welcomes Ms. Margaret Anne Coles, Program Manager at The Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center (MAPC). Margaret Anne gives us insight into the Parkinson Center, and the programs and education classes they offer to those living with Parkinson’s disease in the Phoenix area. MAPC is a National Parkinson Foundation Center of Excellence, and a wonderful resource for people with Parkinson’s and their families.

The staff of MAPC is committed to providing excellence in diagnosis, treatment, research and education for people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) and other movement disorders. They extend an open invitation to you to participate by attending their support groups, educational classes, research studies, assistance programs, conferences, recreational programs and other services.

How many people living with Parkinson’s disease participate in your classes and programs here in the Phoenix area?

Margaret Anne: Last year we had 4320 attendances at our recreation classes.  About 500 people attended the education programs; 520 for our annual educational symposium (combined number for English and Spanish symposia), about 1100 people attend Support Groups.

Do doctors and hospitals refer clients to you?

Margaret Anne: Certainly physicians refer patients to us but I would say most of the people we see at the Center for the programs are self-referrals.  People do not need a physician referral to attend programs – all they need is a diagnosis of Parinson’s Disease.

In your years of experience working with people living with PD, do you find that exercise can improve their flexibility, strength, posture, and balance?

Margaret Anne: The current research tells us that exercise has a very positive benefit on the quality of life for people with PD.  There is some discussion about whether the effects are neuroprotective having the ability to slow down disease progression.  At the very least we know that exercise has a disease modifying effect.  People feel better, have more energy and with the right exercise regime they can improve flexibility, strength, posture and balance.

Which class is best for someone with early diagnosis?

Margaret Anne: It is important for people early in their diagnosis to keep active.  If they are exercising, as long as they can continue to do the activity safely, we encourage them to continue.  All of the classes we offer are adapted to accommodate the challenges presented by Parkinson’s Disease and there are people at varying levels in every class.  Maybe rather than focusing on which class is the best, because that is a personal choice based on what kind of activities people like to do, we should be focusing on keeping active and socially engaged.  This looks different for different people.

How does a support group help them cope?

Margaret Anne: Support groups allow people to come together and share their experiences about living day to day with Parkinson’s Disease – everybody is in the same boat  and it is an opportunity be yourself without any explanation  needed, discuss challenges and learn how others manage these challenges as well as learn new information about treatment and managing day to day.

Tell me about the Walk-a-thon in February. Is this a large event primarily to raise awareness of the disease?

Margaret Anne: The Walk is certainly to raise awareness but it is also an opportunity for the Parkinson’s Disease community to come together.  There is a Health fair, live music, face painting and it is heart warming to see three generations in a family walking together and enjoying the event.  Proceeds from the event support the community outreach and education activities of the MAPC

How does Parkinson’s disease effect family members? And does your Caregiving class help them care for the patient/client?

Margaret Anne: Parkinson’s Disease does not just affect the person with the disease.  Because it is a chronic progressive disease it has affects on peoples’ families and on their friends.  Often the spouse goes through the same grieving process that the person with PD does as it changes their life as well.   Accommodations are often necessary in ADL (activities of daily living) as well as some role adjustment on everyone’s part As the disease progresses with many people there are physical caregiving issues to contend with as well.

Thank you, Margaret Anne Coles for sharing information with us. We hope to increase awareness on help that is available in Phoenix for those living with illness.

For more information, please go to:

www.maprc.com

Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center
Barrow Neurological Institute
500 W. Thomas Road,
Suite 720
Phoenix, AZ 85013
602-406-4931
info@maprc.com

Home Care Central Phoenix and Home Care Greater Phoenix provides elder care and senior care in Phoenix. Call us today at 623-583-5868, 602-265-8228 or 480-991-3959.

A lot of people get very nervous when their relative starts to show signs of dementia or alzheimers and begins forgetting some basic things such as where they left their keys, checkbook or whether they turned the oven on.  My mother was visiting for the holidays recently and left the stove on and completely forget.  We realized it was on when we smelled something burning.  My husband freaked out a little and whispered to me what happened when I got back home a little later. Since she is only 67 years old and has not been diagnosed with dementia I will not jump to any conclusions, but, since both of my grandparents suffered from Alzheimers I am of course worried about my mother when she starts to show any signs.

The fact is that many things can cause symptoms that look like Alzheimers from stress to depression, so a single incident like this is not too worrisome.  I will keep an eye on her and even though we live far away, whenever we speak over the phone I always ask questions to see how her memory is about recent events because this is the part of the brain that is effected first by Alzheimers.

So far she seems fine and is not living alone so my dad can keep an eye for any changes as well.  Sometimes people don’t realize how important it is to get diagnosed for dementia early when signs start to show.  The fact is that the medications that are currently available do not reverse the disease they just slow the progression so whatever part of the brain has been damaged will not necessarily be repaired.  So remember early treatment is the key.

Written by:  Denise Thomas

Owner of Home Instead Senior Care

Image: pro.corbis.com

Home Care Central Phoenix and Home Care Greater Phoenix provides elder care and senior care in Phoenix. Call us today at 623-583-5868, 602-265-8228 or 480-991-3959.

Seniors with smell and taste deficiencies may find that when they are able to taste their meals, foods just don’t taste like they used to. Things may taste too salty or too sweet, and meats may take on an odd taste. It’s not uncommon for meals to just taste plain bad, but the elderly don’t need to tolerate this or sacrifice their nutrition due to the poor eating habits that result. Adding simple ingredients to meals can tone down the overbearing tastes, although if you are a senior cooking for yourself and a friend or a caregiver preparing a meal for both of you; you will definitely want to serve two separate meals. Learn how to overcome smell and taste problems by reading the answers to the following common questions.

Q1 – Is there any way to tone down the flavor of foods that taste too sweet?
A1 – Nutritional drinks in particular may be the problem; by adding plain yogurt, buttermilk, instant coffee powder or extra milk can make the drinks taste less sweet and more tolerable.

Q2 – As a professional caregiver who provides in-home care for an elder who has a problem with sweet foods, are there meal options that won’t cause this problem?
A2 – If you’re looking to provide food options that avoid sweet flavors, consider serving snack items like cheese, chips or pretzels, crackers, devilled eggs, nuts, peanut butter or sandwich spreads.

Q3 – How can I provide a senior with dessert and drink options that aren’t overly sweet?
A3 - Since many drinks and juices are sweet, make sure you keep items like fruit juice (dilute when serving), milk, buttermilk, lemonade, ginger ale or sports drinks on hand in the home. Try to avoid serving very sweet desserts, instead choose things like yogurt, custard, pumpkin pie, fruit, cottage cheese, plain donuts, or graham crackers instead of cookies or cakes. By providing them with these food choices, you will make sure their nutrition remains a priority and the variety of options makes mealtime more enjoyable.

Q4 – How can meals be prepared for a senior who thinks foods taste too salty?
A4 – The easiest answer is to avoid salt. When cooking don’t use seasonings containing salt, and stick with more bland foods. Processed foods contain great amounts of sodium, so these should be avoided. Adding sugar to foods can also help tone down the salty taste.

Q5 – My elderly mother thinks that meat tastes strange, but there is nothing wrong with it. How can I make sure she is able to get the recommended amount of meat?
A5 – You can serve other protein options, or get creative when serving meat dishes. Instead of serving a piece of meat on its own, serve it in dishes like soups, chili or sauces; marinate the meat in various sauces when cooking or provide ketchup or other seasonings on the dinner table to improve the flavor. Salty, spicy or smoked meats may also have a better taste, or serve high protein meats cold which can reduce the presence of bad tastes.

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cancer/HQ01135

Home Care Central Phoenix and Home Care Greater Phoenix provides elder care and senior care in Phoenix. Call us today at 623-583-5868, 602-265-8228 or 480-991-3959.

When seniors begin to lose their sense of taste or smell, meal time can be challenging, because with aging comes decreased appetite, and when food lacks flavor or has a bad taste it becomes easy to neglect nutrition; opening the doors to all kinds of other health problems.

Of course, for seniors who are experiencing loss of the senses, like smell and taste, the first step towards improvement is to seek medical attention; however, that doesn’t mean they have to suffer through tasteless meals to remain healthy.

Just because a diet is restricted doesn’t mean the food should be dull, lifeless and boring.  Here’s how we recommend adding flavor to a senior’s diet without compromising good health.

- Add low-sodium, no-salt stock to liven up a sauce.  Likewise, cook rice in chicken or vegetable stock rather than water, and replace cream with stock when making mashed potatoes for a flavorful, low-fat alternative.

- Fresh herbs are a no-fat addition, to brighten the flavor of salads, dressing and sauces.

- Don’t sacrifice quality.  Never buy less than ground sirloin.

- Avoid prepared foods.  They are not healthy for seniors because they can’t control the amount of salts, fats, and additives.

Additional ingredients that can add flavor when added to ready-prepared foods are:

• Cheeses – especially the very flavorful, like sharp cheddars
• Chopped green pepper or other vegetables
• Chopped onion
• Nuts and seeks
• Bacon bits or ham strips

Meals prepared for seniors with declining senses should also focus upon other elements, like presentation, texture and color; because overall, an attractive meal is more appealing and texture adds diversity and interest to the food even if strong flavors are absent. Plastic utensils can also be used to limit metallic tastes, and drinking often or eating mints to clear any bad tastes from their mouths before a meal can also make it more enjoyable.

Age and good nutrition should go hand in hand for a long healthy life, so make sure all meals are enjoyed!

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cancer/HQ01135

Home Care Central Phoenix and Home Care Greater Phoenix provides elder care and senior care in Phoenix. Call us today at 623-583-5868, 602-265-8228 or 480-991-3959.

Passing legislation that requires seniors do undergo on-road testing in order to renew their licenses would not be easy to implement. In Ventura County, California, a lawyer representing a client in a wrongful death suit, caused by an elderly driver is attempting to impose a legislation that requires drivers over 65 to complete rigorous testing every 10 years and is being met with extreme opposition. While he has compiled a sound case and is approaching legislators, senior care organizations, like the AARP believes this would create a stigma that age naturally results in poor driving; an assumption that is not true for every case. If the region’s legislators do not support the lawyer’s suggestions, he plans on completing a public poll to try and sway them; hoping that the population overall will see the benefit it could bring to the safety of our roads.

Unless each state’s government begins to agree to some big changes, imposing limitations upon elderly driving lies with families looking to ensure the safety of their elder members. While it’s important to allow seniors to maintain their independence behind the wheel, families should watch out for signs that it’s time to encourage seniors to give up their keys.

Sources: http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2007/dec/16/behind-the-wheel-exams-sought-for-drivers-65-and/
http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~content=a714006952~db=all
http://www.wpxi.com/news/13317389/detail.html
http://www.helpguide.org/elder/senior_citizen_driving.htm

Home Care Central Phoenix and Home Care Greater Phoenix provides elder care and senior care in Phoenix. Call us today at 623-583-5868, 602-265-8228 or 480-991-3959.

While specific driving laws vary at the state level, both the US and Canada share one thing in common when it comes to elderly driving; neither nations require mandatory testing overall either on the road or on paper to ensure that seniors are safe to get behind the wheel. Older adults should have the same rights as everyone else when it comes to driving, provided that they are able to do so without causing harm to themselves or others; and let’s face it, for many, health just isn’t on their side as declining vision, hearing, reflexes and more can all impact a senior’s ability to drive.

It is a heated topic that has fueled debate between elder care experts, seniors and the general population; however, there is some data to show that mandatory testing for seniors would have its benefits for everyone on the road. Australia is an example of one country that has embraced this safety trend by imposing mandatory medical assessments and/or on-road testing for seniors who have reached a specified age; however, since not all jurisdictions have come on board, there is no way to determine if crash rates have been reduced with so many varying statistics to consider. Some US states, like Florida, are on the right track, in requiring that seniors over 80 pass visual acuity tests in order to have their licenses renewed. Some Canadian provinces and American states do also have shorter renewal periods that bring seniors back to the licensing office more frequently than younger people, but  re-issued licenses are based on minimal criteria.

Sources: http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2007/dec/16/behind-the-wheel-exams-sought-for-drivers-65-and/
http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~content=a714006952~db=all
http://www.wpxi.com/news/13317389/detail.html
http://www.helpguide.org/elder/senior_citizen_driving.htm

Home Care Central Phoenix and Home Care Greater Phoenix provides elder care and senior care in Phoenix. Call us today at 623-583-5868, 602-265-8228 or 480-991-3959.

While seniors should exercise extra care when on the road, the elderly’s approach to getting behind the wheel shouldn’t be so different from younger generations. Seniors also need to have a firm grasp upon the rules of the road, and be proactive while driving defensively. Those who find their confidence has declined can take a driving class or refresher course through the AARP, AAA or National Safety Council. It’s also okay for older adults to adjust their driving based on their comfort levels, by avoiding driving at night, through unfamiliar areas, in heavy traffic or when there is bad weather.

Families can help encourage their seniors to drive safely, by reminding them of these basic driving tips:
• Wear a seatbelt
• Watch all the traffic around, including those entering the road from curbs,driveways or businesses and keep eyes moving
• Use rearview and outside mirrors often
• Never assume you can take the right of way, always enter an intersection with caution
• Maintain a minimum three second following distance
• When driving in the rain or in winter, reduce speed and increase following distances
• Avoid prolonged hours of driving.
• Keep windshields and rear windows clean inside and out
• Avoid looking at the headlights of oncoming vehicles
• Do not drive when emotionally upset
• Minimize background noise; keep radio volume, air conditioning and heater blowing units on lowest settings. If you believe that an important senior in your life is exercising unsafe driving, be encouraging and talk to them about their options; having the ability to drive allows them an element of independence that cannot be replaced, so help them maintain it, but make sure that safety comes first.

It’s highly recommended you drive with a senior once a month for driving observation and assurance that they have maintained safe driving practices. If unsafe driving is detected, contact your local DMV to discuss driving privileges.

If you feel it is unsafe for your loved one to be driving, please contact your local Home Instead Senior Care office at the number listed above,for driving services enabling them to take advantage of alternative transportation.

Sources: http://www.safety-council.org/info/seniors/driving.htm
http://www.americangeriatrics.org/education/forum/driving.shtml

Home Care Central Phoenix and Home Care Greater Phoenix provides elder care and senior care in Phoenix. Call us today at 623-583-5868, 602-265-8228 or 480-991-3959.

To encourage their safety behind the wheel of a car, senior drivers need to consider factors that take place both on and off the road. Overall health can have a great impact upon a senior’s ability to safely operate a vehicle, and since aging causes some decline in hearing, eyesight and reflexes, it’s important that older adults receive regular checkups by a doctor as well as frequent eyesight and hearing examinations.

Anytime new eyeglasses are prescribed, the adjustment period can cause changes in vision and occasional disorientation; so until the elderly have become fully adjusted to their new prescription, they should hang up their keys. It’s also crucial that they understand the affects of any medications that they take regularly, both by reading what it says on the bottle and understanding how taking it affects them. A senior should never drive when their prescription states that it’s “not safe to operate heavy machinery” or “it’s unsafe to drive a vehicle”; however, just because these warnings are not present, doesn’t mean that a senior shouldn’t take the time to evaluate how the drug impacts their perceptions on the road.

It is highly recommended you drive with a senior once a month for driving observation and assurance that they have maintained safe driving practices.  If unsafe driving is detected, contact your local DMV office to dicuss driving privileges.

If you feel it is unsafe for your loved one to be driving, please contact your local Home Instead Senior Care office at the number listed above, for driving services enabling them to take advantage of alternative transportation.

Sources: http://www.safety-council.org/info/seniors/driving.htm
http://www.americangeriatrics.org/education/forum/driving.shtml