Eldercare Tips | Caregiver Tips

Archive for May, 2012


Posted on May 24, 2012 - by

PHYSICAL FITNESS CENTERS/MENTAL FITNESS CENTERS– WILL THIS BE THE FUTURE FOR THE CONFUSED ELDERLY

We all know what activities belong to a physical fitness program.  You may join a new health club and they will begin with a fitness assessment that they use to develop a program just for you. It will include;

  • Some form of cardio workout to get your circulation going and improve your endurance.
  • Muscle building
  • Toning and increased flexibility

 

But what would a “mental fitness program” look like? Would it be for everyone, every age? Would it be for adults worried about dementia and cognitive loss? Or would it be for those already diagnosed with a brain disorder, in an effort to slow the decline?

 

What we know is that it surly would mirror the physical fitness programs with a cardio piece. As they say what is good for the heart is good for the brain. Getting the blood flowing and bringing more oxygen to the brain would have to be there somewhere.

 

What about all these commercial brain exercise products?  I know when we had a very young man come into our nursing home with a head injury related to motorcycling. Our restorative aid brought his kids Nintendo “Brain Age” program in to help with this 20 year olds memory loss.

 

There would have to be a social aspect to the program, maybe dancing. When you dance you have to keep thinking about your next step and many times you are going backwards which helps with connections in the brain.

 

How about nutrition? There has been ongoing nutrition research for over 10 years to come up with a supplement that can be sold for your brain instead of just eating your vegetables.

 

And yes like every other program, this one would have to start with an assessment. Maybe someday we will all be dropping in at a different kind of fitness center.

Virginia Garberding R.N.

Director of Education, The Wealshire, Lincolnshire, Illinois

Author: Please Get to Know Me – Aging with Dignity and Relevance

www.pleasegettoknowme.com


Posted on May 23, 2012 - by

CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE MAY CAUSE CONFUSION IN THE ELDERLY

I RECENTLY RECEIVED THIS EMAIL:

My mother was independent 2 weeks ago, living on her own. She went to the doctor and he said she had congestive heart failure and to go to the hospital. She went and is now in a skilled nursing facility and is highly confused with every aspect of the daily world. They say she has not had a stroke. It started the day after she was admitted to the hospital. The doctors say she is just confused.  They won’t give us an answer as to what happened to our mother. When she was in the hospital nursing home her O2 stats dropped dramatically and she almost died of carbon monoxide poisoning. Could it be that her levels had been so high that her brain was starved from oxygen? Please help us to understand what has happened.

Ideas from a distance:

When congestive heart failure is advanced, there is a low level of oxygen exchange in the lungs which may affect the brain causing the elder to experience confusion. As well as confusion the elder may also exhibit changes in behavior due to the low oxygen levels.  At this point, even if the elder is given oxygen therapy, the lungs ability to effectively exchange oxygen is impaired and the behavioral changes and confusion may not necessarily improve.

So saying that the build up of fluid from the CHF “starved” her brain of necessary oxygen and caused her confusion may be true. The fast intervention on the part of the doctor certainly indicates an emergency situation as well as the hospital admission.

Finding a physician who is a good communicator would really be helpful for you right now, to help your family with realistic expectations. The brain is a wonderful and in many ways, still a mysterious place. Don’t give up on your mother – let go, let God.

 

 

Virginia Garberding R.N.

Director of Education, The Wealshire, Lincolnshire, Illinois

Author: Please Get To Know Me – Aging with Dignity and Relevance

www.pleasegettoknowme.com


Posted on May 22, 2012 - by

SIGNS AND INDICATIONS FOR ADDITIONAL CARE AND SUPPORT FOR THE ELDER WITH MILD COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT

  1. The caregiver is feeling more stress.
  2. The elder is unable to initiate an activity without hands on assistance.
  3. The elder is no longer able to do household tasks without assistance.
  4. The elder is making financial errors or making unusual purchases.
  5. The elder is unable to understand or no longer obeys traffic laws.
  6. The elder is making poor decisions that jeopardize safety.

Most families begin with friends and available family members taking turns providing assistance to the caregiver. This assistance may be in the form of giving rides to appointments, grocery shopping, or making a meal.

If you need to bring in some outside help, it is usually good to find a reason for this person to be around. If the elder liked to work out and keep in shape, the relief caregiver might be a “personal trainer” or a “golf coach, whatever title would appeal to the elder.

Or possibly have the relief caregiver bring an activity to do. My husband when he went to visit with his Dad would always bring movies for them to watch together. This gave the direct caregiver a good amount of time to be out running errands.

Some adult day services offer “Spa” services where the elder can get hair and nails done as well as a shower or massage. This can turn into a welcome diversion for the elder and a chance to do the very normal activities of going to a beauty parlor. These services will also include a meal, stimulating activities, and some social engagement for the elder.

Adult day programs may be eligible for payment through Long Term Insurance, Veteran’s Benefits, or the Department on Aging.

 

Virginia Garberding R.N.

Director of Education, The Wealshire, Lincolnshire, Illinois

Author: Please Get To Know Me – Aging with Dignity and Relevance

www.pleasegettoknowme.com


Posted on May 17, 2012 - by

WHEN THE ELDER WITH ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE NEEDS MORE ASSISTANCE AS HIS NEEDS CHANGE

When you are taking care of an elder with dementia you have to adjust and re-adjust constantly. You are the one who needs to be flexible. What the elder is able to do and understand today might be very different from how they functioned yesterday. This is true of the skills needed to dress and bathe as well as skills needed for hobbies and leisure time activities.

What if the elder loved all forms of art?  Jerry used to spend many hours a day involved in his favorite hobbies of drawing, painting and often re-drawing and re-painting. At first he was able  to plan what kind of picture he wanted to paint. He could shop if he needed certain paper, colors, or brushes to achieve the picture in his mind.

As time went by Jerry was still pretty independent in drawing and painting but began needing  some assistance in the shopping and his wife took over providing the supplies.

The day came when Jerry needed more assistance in organizing, more times than not he started  losing equipment. His wife is now not only shopping but arranging the supplies and maintaining Jerry’s work space.

As his dementia progresses, Jerry often forgets about his art, going for days and sometimes weeks without even attempting a project. Jerry is now at a point where he can physically open his paints, mix his paints and go through the motions of painting. But he is no longer able to go through the sequence of getting ready and the steps for completion of a project. So if his wife is unable to help, he just sits there no longer knowing how to start.

Now Jerry’s wife spends long periods of time with Jerry, opening jars, mixing colors, putting paint on brushes and placing the brush in Jerry’s fingers. These are still good times. Times spent  reminiscing, talking about colors, taking out past projects and enjoying them all over again.

It is not what they would wish but with more and more assistance from his wife, Jerry continues to enjoy and participate in art.

 

Virginia Garberding R.N.

Director of Education , The Wealshire, Lincolnshire, Illinois

Author: Please Get To Know Me – Aging with Dignity and Relevance

www.pleasegettoknowme.com