Thursday, July 23, 2015

IN THE SPOTLIGHT ADL Solutions Inc.

We are pleased to announce our newest advertiser in the 
Welcome ADL Solutions, Inc.!




ADL Solutions is a total solution company. We offer evaluations and assessments in the facility and home setting to provide a variety of options and recommendations to modify the environment to meet the needs of the individuals served.

ADL has a team of professionals that understand the world of accessibility. We are committed to keeping up with the latest innovations and products in the industry to bring state-of-the-art equipment and concepts that can improve the quality of life for the individuals served.

We are Certified Environmental Access Consultants (CEAC), Certified Aging in Place Specialists (CAPS), and Executive Certificate in Home Modification (ECHM), to help determine the most effective way to assist facilities & individuals with their needs.

We provide the complete installation of equipment and all the construction work necessary to modify the facility or home setting.

Our exceptional team of commercial and residential contractors are fully licensed and bonded. We also sell all the innovative and state-of-the-art adaptive equipment needed for the modification. Providing a variety of solutions and resources to help improve the quality of life for those in our community is at the very heart of what we do.  

Visit us online @ www.adl-solutions.com 

Wednesday, July 22, 2015

IN THE SPOTLIGHT Elmcroft Senior Living

We are pleased to announce our newest advertiser in the 
Welcome Elmcroft of Tempe!

About Us

Based in Louisville Kentucky, Elmcroft takes great pride in offering much needed services for seniors across the United States. Elmcroft has 102 senior care communities, including 79 assisted living communities, 4 multilevel retirement communities and 19 health and rehabilitation centers serving over 6,000 residents in 19 states.
At Elmcroft, we are dedicated to providing compassion and kindness to our residents and fellow employees. Our mission is to enrich the lives of those who live and work with us by responding to their unique needs and universal desire for dignity and respect.
We are mindful that each resident comes to us with an individual set of needs. For some, those needs are as simple as companionship, a church service or a few kind words throughout the day. For others, it’s assistance with the basics of daily living such as housekeeping, laundry and more. Still others require more specialized care including therapy services, skilled nursing and rehabilitation services.
Our trained and tenured staff are here to serve the many differing needs of our residents, promoting creative thinking and learning, with patience, kindness and, above all, compassion.
The later years of life can bring many joys and many challenges. At Elmcroft, we are committed to making these precious years fulfilling and enjoyable. And we will do this through our passionate pursuit of excellent care and service.

Resources

At Elmcroft we understand the decision to place yourself or your loved one in another’s care is a complex one; there are many factors to consider. We would like to be a resource to help you make the decision that is best for you and your family based on your specific needs and wants. We have assembled some resources below to help, but we encourage you to reach out to one of our communities for assistance as well.

WHEN IT’S TIME

What are the signs that a move to a senior living community might be a good option?
  • Mobility issues – difficulty with daily activities or frequent falls and other safety concerns
  • Memory loss – misplacing items or wandering away from home
  • Medication concerns – forgetting to take medications as prescribed
  • Lack of socialization – not interacting as usual; untidy surroundings and poor personal hygiene
  • Fear and depression – unwilling to seek medical help or assistance; withdrawal from others
  • Lack of appetite – not receiving proper nutrition throughout the day
If you or your family member are experiencing any of these signs the move to a senior living community may in fact be a very good option. Whether a long-term or short-term stay, seniors often improve through socialization, regular diet and medication management, as well as relieving the burden they often feel they have placed on their family. You are free to resume your relationship and enjoy the company of your loved one without the worry of providing for their needs.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT COMMUNITY

You should take the time to visit the senior living communities you are interested in to see which will be the best fit for you. Each visit is an opportunity to get to know the community and staff better.
The Assisted Living Federation of America has developed an evaluation tool to help you get all the answers you are looking for before you choose the community that’s right for you.

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS

How will you cover the cost of a senior living community? This is a concern for many families. Follow the link below to view the financial options available to seniors and their families

MAKING A SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION

We understand that you, just like your loved one, are going through a life-changing transition. Our goal is to make that process as comfortable as possible – for both of you.
You will have more quality time with your loved one because our caregivers are doing their day-to-day physical care. And you will have peace of mind knowing that your loved one is getting 24-hour care and you can focus on your own health needs.
  • It will take you and your loved one time to adjust, but remember why you chose to make the move to a senior living community.
  • Give your relationship time to adjust. You are still an important part of your loved one’s life.
  • Take care of yourself. Allow time for physical exercise, rest and play. Nurture yourself.
  • Reconnect with friends; surround yourself with supportive people.
Making the decision to surround your loved one with trained professionals who can meet their needs is a selfless act. It is important that you understand you will still be involved in medication and level of care concerns and that no one lights up your loved one’s life like you, so visit often and cherish those moments.
Here's to life.

Friday, July 17, 2015

IN THE SPOTLIGHT Caring Senior Service


We are pleased to announce our newest advertiser in the 
Welcome Caring Senior Service!




Long Term Care Options
At the Caring Senior Service of Phoenix, we understand that deciding on long term care
for yourself or an aging loved one is not an easy decision. Making the right
choice requires some research into the different options available to you.
To help we have provided a brief description of the most common options available
as well as a few facts about home care.

  Nursing Home   


Nursing homes offer skilled nursing care given by a registered nurse and include
medical monitoring and treatments. Skilled care also includes services provided by
specially trained professionals, such as physical, occupational, and respiratory therapists.
A nursing home facility may be a good choice for people who require 24-hour
medical care and supervision.

  Assisted Living   


Assisted living facilities offer housing alternative for older adults who may need help
with dressing, bathing, eating, and toileting, but do not require the intensive medical
and nursing care provided in nursing homes.

  Independent Living  

The operative word at any independent living community is “independent.” For the
most part, residents are active seniors who are ambulatory and are able to complete
all of the activities of daily living without assistance.

  Non-medical Home Care  

 Non-medical home care focuses on helping seniors with the daily activities they need
to engage in to remain safe, healthy, and at home. In addition to assisting with daily
activities non medical homecare offers one on one companionship. A well
placed caregiver can help a senior continue participating in their favorite activities
such as gardening, baking or woodworking. 

  Homecare Facts  

  • According to an AARP survey almost 90% of people over 50 want to stay in their
    homes as long as possible.
  • More than 80% of individuals who need long-term care receive it in their home.
  • Caring Senior Service believes every senior should be able to remain healthy, happy,
    and at home
  • No home can be 100% risk free but you can make yourself aware of many common
    hazards by downloading our free 43 Point Home Safety Assessment.
For a more detailed look at your long-term care options download this free eBook,
The Complete Road Map to Long-Term Care. The eBook will walk you through how to
approach the process of finding long-term care, will give you a better understanding
of your care options, and will help you learn how to receive the care that you need. 

Monday, July 13, 2015

Silverado Peoria Memory Care Featured in USA Today!


Fostering Quality Memory Care for People with Alzheimer’s
EDUCATION AND RESEARCH  Most families haven’t been exposed to quality memory care. As a result, they accept the status quo because they’re unaware that people with dementia can experience a life filled with dignity, purpose and meaning.



A FAMILY EFFORT: Communities are beginning to provide families with assistance programs to support sufferers of Alzheimer’s and their caregivers, including home care and counseling services.
Quality memory care begins with a focus on what this population can do. It’s about creating an environment that combines purposeful engagements and social interaction with exceptional clinical care.
Specialized care
From personalized activities, around-the-clock nurses and specialized staff training, it takes many details to create a stimulating experience for those with memory impairment.
"When memory care is done right, families can let go of the fear and focus on sharing life with their loved one again."

Care providers like us must continuously raise the bar by refining programs based on observations made within our communities and the latest research.
Safety net
We cannot pursue our vision alone. We have an excellent support system—including staff, leaders in the medical community, financial support from partner companies and the families of those in need—that plays an important role in ensuring that we continue to provide quality care.
When memory care is done right, families can let go of the fear and focus on sharing life with their loved one again.
Quality care has led to hundreds of success stories about individuals who can once again live life. From a husband whose love for his wife led him to find the right care to personal success stories, we are dedicated to facilitating, capturing and sharing these experiences to help educate others.
By LOREN SHOOK, PRESIDENT, CEO, CHAIRMAN, SILVERADO 


Thursday, July 9, 2015

How To Prepare For Long-Term Care


How to Prepare for Long-term Care

Richard A. White JacksonWhite Law, Mesa Arizona
Question: I am 55 years old and I have spent the past year helping my father transition into an assisted living community. The process has been difficult, not to mention expensive. Along the way, I learned about the Arizona Long Term Care System program, and I wish I would have known about it from the outset. What can I do now to help me prepare for ALTCS in case I need long-term care myself?
Answer: One of the difficult things about ALTCS is that it has strict medical and financial requirements that must be met concurrently in order to qualify.
This being the case, even if you engaged in planning to meet the financial requirements now, you would not be eligible unless you also met the medical requirements.
The fact that you are only 55 does not disqualify you from the program, but the fact that you are presumably healthy will prevent you from qualifying.
As a rule of thumb, it makes sense to start planning for ALTCS if and when you have a medical need that might necessitate long-term care.
Despite being strict, the financial requirements typically do not present an insurmountable barrier to those with a real medical need. Accordingly, waiting until the need for long-term care is actually foreseeable is most often the best approach.
If you want to be more proactive than this, there are long-term care insurance products that might be able to help.
It is worth pointing out that even where it makes sense to delay ALTCS planning, speaking with an attorney who is familiar with the ALTCS process could help you in the long-term.
Everybody should have their affairs in order, and given that the expenses associated with long-term care are so burdensome, it helps to have an understanding of what you will need to do when the time is right.

Richard White is an elder law attorney at JacksonWhite Attorneys at Law. For more information on Elder Law at JacksonWhite, please visit www.ArizonaSeniorLaw.com.

Protecting Seniors from UV Rays


Protecting Seniors from UV Rays

UV RaysEven though the days are now growing shorter, that doesn’t mean the sun is any less dangerous to the eyes or skin than it was before June 21st. In fact, July and August are known as the hottest months of the year, even though the longest day (the day with the highest amount of sunlight) is in June. When you are the caregiver for a senior, make sure that you pay attention to the harmful UV rays of the sun.
What are UV rays?
The UV rays of the sun are ultraviolet radiation. This is the aspect of sunlight that generates heat, can burn the skin, and can cause damage to eyesight and have other health impacts.
Any time that you step out into the sun, or into the direct line of sunlight in the home, and feel the heat from it, that’s UV radiation. It can feel wonderful at times, and millions of people around the world bathe in it in order to get a tan, regardless of how harmful it is to the skin, and how it increases the risk of many types of skin cancers.
How to protect the elderly from UV rays.
When providing senior care services to an elderly individual –whether it’s a family member or someone you’re caring for as part of your paid profession- there are plenty of things that you can do to help protect the individual from harmful UV rays.
The most commonly known protective measure is to recommend that they wear sunglasses whenever going outside into the direct sunlight. Sunglasses that wrap around the side of a person’s eyes and that also wrap over and touch the forehead are ideal to make sure that no sunlight gets through. Even though the sun may be at an angle to the individual’s eyes, it can still do damage.
Next, make sure that the elderly individual puts sunscreen on their exposed skin, even if they are only going to be outside for only a few minutes.
Finally, if it’s comfortable, they should wear clothing to cover as much skin as possible, especially if they have had any previous skin cancer risks or scares. There are many types of clothing that are ideal for summer, including light fabric long sleeves and slacks.
ParentYourParents.com ~ Helping You Help Your Aging Parents

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

Home Instead Senior Care ~ 4 COPD Management Tips for Caregivers



4 COPD Management Tips for Caregivers
 If you’re caring for a loved one with a chronic medical condition like COPD, you might feel drained much of the time. The medications, the appointments, the sheer logistics of wrangling the medical equipment involved—it all can seem overwhelming to manage. Fortunately, a few simple strategies can help reduce the stress a chronic illness can bring to caregivers and their loved ones.
The Challenges of COPD Caregiving
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), nearly 12 percent of men and women over age 65 in the U.S. have been diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which makes it one of the most common chronic medical conditions within the aging population.
When a loved one receives a diagnosis of COPD, you may face a number of changes. More pills may be added to a possibly already bulging pillbox. Inhalers might appear, each with a unique dosing schedule. Doctor and respiratory therapy appointments can proliferate on the calendar. Portable oxygen tanks, tubing and a home concentrator machine might need to be installed and maintained.
If all of this sounds daunting to you, well, you’re not alone in feeling that way. Many caregivers find it difficult to manage their loved one’s chronic disease. Luckily, a little attention to organization goes a long way with a condition like COPD. These four tips will help you get organized.
1. “Outsource” Medication Management
Medication management represents one of the more confounding aspects of caring for a family member with COPD, since prescription therapy may extend beyond pills to include on-demand treatments like a rescue inhaler. One solution? Instead of trying to figure out a complicated medication schedule on your own, have a professional do it for you.
SimpleMedsSM by Home Instead® can be a great solution. SimpleMeds has experienced pharmacists to work with you and your loved one’s doctors to inventory all current prescriptions and create a dosing schedule. Then they send a monthly supply of the medication in pre-packaged units to your loved one’s home. Each individual packet is labeled with the date and time it should be taken. This system eliminates pill bottles and the confusion associated with which pill to take and when to take it. The service also can deliver inhalers for conditions like COPD.
Alternatively, you can ask a nurse to help you develop a medication schedule. Next time you take your senior family member to the doctor, ask to talk to the clinic nurse to help you understand what the new COPD medications are for. The nurse also can create a dosing schedule to help you manage the medications. You may need to make a separate appointment for this purpose.
If no nurse is available at the doctor’s office, ask your loved one’s pharmacist for help.
2. Get Help Coordinating the Logistics of COPD
Because COPD is a progressive disease (meaning it only gets worse with time), your loved one will likely face increasing challenges related to mobility, both at home and away.
In the beginning, simply figuring out the logistics of taking a trip to the grocery store with oxygen tanks in tow may feel insurmountable. How many tanks do you need? Where can you put them? How is this going to work when Mom needs both hands on her walker? You can reduce the stress of a trial-and-error phase by involving professionals for help from the start.
Consult a professional home care provider such as your local Home Instead Senior Care® franchise. Many of their dedicated CAREGiversSM have experience in helping their senior clients with walkers, oxygen hoses, tanks and more. They will be delighted to advise you about logistical strategies that can help at home and when getting out and about. By seeking professional advice, you can reduce the stress of figuring everything out on your own.
3. Set Up a Transportation Support System
A diagnosis of COPD may mean more doctor appointments or trips for respiratory therapy. If you’re like many family caregivers, you may not be able to take time off work frequently to take your aging parent to a multitude of medical appointments. Setting up a support system strictly for transportation can help reduce your stress in this area.
Recruit family members and friends to help shuttle your senior family member to appointments. You can set up a simple online calendar and ask people to sign up for specific appointment times, or you can ask people to commit to a ‘standing’ week each month. For instance, one person could agree to be available for transportation to all appointments during the third week of every month.
If you don’t want to impose on other people to help get your loved one to appointments, consider hiring a Home Instead® CAREGiver to provide transportation. These professionals will not only take your senior relative to any necessary appointments, but they also will take notes about how the visit went, what instructions were given and so on.
4. Prioritize Time for Self-Care

Between helping your loved one take medications on time, changing the oxygen tubing cannulas on a schedule and providing transportation to appointments regularly, you might feel COPD has taken over your life. To avoid burning out from the demands of family caregiving, it’s imperative you prioritize and schedule time for self-care.
One great way to do this is to set up one day per week to devote to your own needs. Have a friend or family member relieve you from your caregiving duties, or get a professional caregiver to provide respite care. Then use that “time off” to do something you really enjoy. Self-care doesn’t have to be elaborate; sometimes just soaking in a bubble bath for an hour can act as the best stress-buster imaginable.
When you implement a self-care plan, you’ll be able to return to your caregiving life with renewed energy and spirit.
Helping a senior family member manage a disease like COPD isn’t always easy, but it can be managed with the right support. Instead of trying to figure everything out from scratch, involve the appropriate professionals for advice and organizing strategies. This will help you feel more in-control and less stressed by the situation, which in turn will improve everyone’s quality of life.
Visit us online at http://www.caregiverstress.com/