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Older Americans Month

May 18, 2012 at 10:30 am | Posted in Deborah Varisco, GCM | Leave a comment
Tags: Aging, Health, Help, Life, News, Support

Each May we celebrate the contributions and achievements of older Americans. The 2012 theme for Older Americans Month is, “Never Too Old to Play.” This theme encourages older Americans to stay engaged, active, and involved in their own lives and in their communities. Older Americans are living longer and are more active. Since 1963, communities have celebrated Older Americans Month organized by the Administration of Aging through the Department of Health and Human Services. While there is a vast network of programs for older Americans, many still struggle everyday to stay healthy and make ends meet. Many seniors cope with multiple health conditions and find it difficult to pay for food, utilities and other basic necessities on a fixed income.

To maintain good health, it is important to do something active each day. Older Americans should select activities that they enjoy but also maintain their strength, balance, flexibility and heart health. Activity helps older Americans maintain a healthy weight, prevent or control illness, sleep better, reduce stress and depression, improve balance and feel their best. Being active has also been shown to improve memory.

The theme, “Never Too Old to Play,” is the perfect opportunity for people of all ages to play games together. Younger children or teens can play games with older relatives, neighbors and friends or they can volunteer to play games at area nursing homes. Games can include card games, such as Uno or War and board games, like Monopoly, Clue and Scrabble. Other activities they can participate in are trivia games, video games such as Wii games, bowling, cooking, swimming, going to the movies or a concert, or taking a walk.

Older Americans Month is a great opportunity to show your appreciation for older adults and to thank them for their contributions to our communities. Interactions with older Americans enrich the lives of everyone involved. As part of Older Americans Month, get involved with at least one senior and enjoy an interaction which will ultimately benefit both of you.

Distinctive Care Geriatric Care Management serves Bergen, Passaic, Rockland and Orange County with nurses licensed in New Jersey and New York. We help families dealing with various issues related to their elderly loved ones and would be happy to discuss any concerns you may have related to long term care.

Please contact us in our Ramsey or Ridgewood Office to schedule a consultation. 201-587-5283.

Caregiver Burnout

May 4, 2012 at 10:30 am | Posted in Deborah Varisco, GCM | Leave a comment
Tags: Caregiver, Caregiver Burnout, Health, Help, Life, Love, Personal, Prevention

Caregiver burnout is a state of physical, emotional and mental exhaustion. Caregiver burnout can occur when caregivers do not get the help they need or if they try to do more than they are able. Caregivers who are burned out may experience fatigue, stress, anxiety and depression. Symptoms of caregiver burn out include withdrawal from friends, family and loved ones; loss of interest in activities; irritability; changes in appetite and weight; changes in sleep patterns and emotional and physical exhaustion. A caregiver will face disruption in work and social life, sleep habits, exercise routines, household management and financial situations.

Some have described the caregiver role as a “roller coaster ride from hell.” Each day brings new challenges, demands and adjustments. Caregivers are often so busy caring for another that they neglect their own needs. They may place unreasonable demands on themselves and may even become sick themselves. Many individuals are confused when they are forced to take on the role of caregivers. It can be difficult for one to separate their role as a caregiver from their role as a spouse or child. Many are additionally frustrated by a lack of money, resources and skills.

To prevent caregiver burnout:

Find someone you trust and talk about your feelings and frustrations.
Set realistic goals. Accept you may need help with caregiving.
Be realistic about your loved one’s disease, especially if it is a progressive disease such as Alzheimer’s disease.
Do not forget about yourself because you are too busy caring for someone else.
Stay healthy by eating right, getting enough exercise and sleep.
Talk to a professional such as a therapist, social worker or clergy member.
Take advantage of respite care services.
Educate yourself. The more you know about the illness, the more effective you will be in caring for the person.
Join a caregiver support group.
Accept your feelings. It is normal to have negative feelings, such as frustration and anger.

Remember you need to balance your caregiver role and personal life. Prevent burnout by recognizing problems you may encounter. Reward yourself for the positive differences you make in your loved one’s life. Do not stress over the things you did not get done, or can not change. Focus on the good things you do and acknowledge the reality that being a caregiver is filled with stress and anxiety. The best way to be an effective caregiver is to take care of yourself.

Please contact us in our Ramsey or Ridgewood Office to schedule a consultation. 201-587-5283.

Time To Clean Your Kitchen

April 5, 2012 at 10:30 am | Posted in Amy Shein, GCM | Leave a comment
Tags: Family, Help, Life, Tips

It is now spring once again and there are so many things to look forward to during this time of year. But, really, who wants to clean their kitchen? Martha Stewart is the only person I could think of! Spring and the upcoming holidays give us all a change to catch up on some spring cleaning. We all know that the heart of the home—is your kitchen.

I found this great tip list on Real Simple Magazine website from this past March 19^th issue.

As you’re cleaning, make a list of things that you need to replenish in your kitchen, from cleaning supplies to basic cooking items. Hand soap, dish soap, paper towel, cooking oil etc. and write it all down.

Give your sink a good scrubbing. Keeping your sink clean is a good way to get inspired to do the dishes instead of leaving them pile up. Fill the sink to the rim with water and pour in a cup of bleach to disinfect it. Scrub the inside of you wink with baking soda to get rid of the extra tough stains. Rinse and finish with a shining spray or wipe.
Empty out you cupboard and drawer, sweep out crumbs and dust and clean any stains with a wet cloth. Keep an eye out for frozen dishes and other kitchen accessories. Donate or throw them away. If you’re up for it, put new contact paper on the bottom of draws or shelves.
Clean the exterior of your cabinets and drawers. You may be surprised at how different your kitchen looks when all the fingerprints have been wiped off.
Organize your pantry. Throw out anything that’s expired, including canned goods, herbs/spices, cereals, cake mixes or just anything that has been in there for too long. Anything that’s been in there longer than a year may have gone stale.
Clean your refrigerator and freezer. Do a thorough cleaning after you have thrown away all expired or unwanted food. If your shelves are removable, take them out and wash them in the sink or dishwasher. Scrub out the inside of your fridge with a wet, soapy cloth. Wipe everything clean with a damp cloth.
De-clutter the front of your refrigerator. Make sure you emergency contact list is up front and visible.
Clean your microwave. To get tough gunk off, fill a microwave-safe bowl with water and microwave it on high for a few minutes. Keep doors closed for a couple more minutes to let the steam work on spills, then wipe everything down with a soapy rag. Rinse and wipe dry.
Deep clean floor. Sweep under the oven and refrigerator.
Dust and wipe down walls, baseboards and the top of the refrigerator.
Wash the insides of your garbage cans. Try using a strong bleach-and-water solution. Rinse them out and let them dry outside.
Clean drains and garbage disposal. Run a lemon or cup of white vinegar through your garbage disposal to get rid of any unfortunate smells.
Clean your oven and give your stove top a good scrubbing.
Run your dishwasher while it’s empty. Add a little white vinegar to it beforehand to get rid of any odors. If you have a food trap in the bottom of you dishwasher, clean it out.

I hope these tips above that I have found are useful to you and your family. Happy Spring Cleaning!

Aging Eyes

March 2, 2012 at 10:30 am | Posted in Deborah Varisco, GCM | Leave a comment
Tags: Aging, Eldercare, Health, Help, Life, Personal, Prevention, Tips

Your circadian rhythm is a biological clock that regulates many of the systems of your body, such as the sleep-wake cycle, the temperature regulation system and the endocrine system. Circadian rhythms are responsible for rallying the body in the morning and slowing it down at night so the body will rest and rejuvenate. The malfunction of an individual’s circadian rhythm causes circadian rhythm disorders leading to insomnia, heart disease and cancer.

Most of the time your biological clock or circadian rhythm is in sync with the 24 hour day-night. In some individuals, the circadian rhythm is out of sync due to several reasons, which include travel, shift work or neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s. Symptoms found in individuals with circadian rhythm disorders include difficulty initiating sleep, difficulty maintaining sleep, daytime sleepiness, poor concentration, decrease in cognitive skills, headaches, gastrointestinal distress and poor psychomotor coordination.

Recently researchers have been studying the effect of the aging of the eyes as one of the reasons for some of the health problems that come with age. As we age there is a gradual yellowing of the lens of the eye and a narrowing of the pupil, which results in less sunlight getting through the lens and reaching key cells in the retina, which regulate the body’s circadian rhythm. Studies indicate that by age 45 the photoreceptors, cells in the retina that absorb sunlight and transmit messages to the part of the brain which governs our internal clock, receive only 50 percent of the light needed to stimulate the circadian system. By age 55, it is only 37 percent, and only 17 percent by the age of 75. Due to these changes it is felt that as an individual ages they should make an increased effort to expose themselves to bright sunlight or bright indoor lighting when they cannot get outside. Often older adults spend more time indoors and put themselves at increased risk.

The eye’s role in maintaining good health is becoming increasingly evident. In order to decrease some of the conditions that occur with age, such as depression, slower reaction time, memory loss and insomnia, it is important that the eyes get the proper light exposure they require to maintain one’s circadian rhythm.

Please contact us in our Ramsey or Ridgewood Office to schedule a consultation. 201-587-5283.

145 N. Franklin Turnpike, Suite 311, Ramsey, NJ 07446

45 N. Broad St., Suite 503, Ridgewood, NJ 07450

Aphasia

February 24, 2012 at 10:30 am | Posted in Deborah Varisco, GCM | Leave a comment
Tags: Health, Help, Personal, Therapy, Tips

Aphasia is a disorder that results from damage to the area of the brain which is responsible for language. It can occur suddenly due to stroke or head injury or develop slowly as a result of a brain tumor, an infection, or dementia. Aphasia also will impair the expression and understanding of language as well as reading and writing. The middle-aged or elderly account for the most cases of aphasia. Men and women are equally affected. Once the underlining cause has been treated, the primary treatment for aphasia is speech therapy. Speech therapy focuses on relearning and practicing language skills and using alternative or supplementary communication methods.

A person with aphasia may speak in short or incomplete sentences, speak in sentences that do not make sense, not comprehend other people’s conversations or write sentences that do not make sense. Aphasia is often a sign of a serious problem, such as a stroke. An individual should seek emergency medical treatment if they have difficulty speaking, trouble with comprehending speech, difficulty with word recall or problems with reading or writing.

The best way for family and friends to communicate with an individual experiencing aphasia is to:

Simplify language by using short, uncomplicated sentences.
Maintain a natural conversational manner appropriate for an adult.
Minimize distractions, such as a loud radio or television.
Include the individual in conversation.
Avoid correcting the individual’s speech.
Allow the individual plenty of time to talk.

Organizations such as The National Aphasia Association, The American Stroke Association, and certain medical centers offer support groups for those with aphasia. These groups provide those with aphasia and others affected by the disorder a sense of community and a place to learn coping strategies. Your doctor, speech pathologist or other health care providers can help you locate and get involved in one of these local support groups.

Please contact us in our Ramsey or Ridgewood Office to schedule a consultation. 201-587-5283.

145 N. Franklin Turnpike, Suite 311, Ramsey, NJ 07446

45 N. Broad St., Suite 503, Ridgewood, NJ 07450

Come to the Ridgewood Health Fair

January 9, 2012 at 10:30 am | Posted in Pat Linard, PR | Leave a comment
Tags: Health, Help, Life, News, Personal

It’s hard to believe that the health fair that I have been so busily involved in is almost here. I’ve been very involved as co-chair of the committee and I think it will be a real success! I am hoping lots of people will take advantage of all that is being offered by so many in the community. Distinctive Care Geriatric Care Management has always had a policy of giving back to the community and volunteer activities like this are all part of our Distinctive Touch program.

The former Ridgewood Health Fair, now called Realistic Resolutions 2012, is being held on Thursday, January 19 from 5 to 8PM at the YMCA/YWCA of Bergen County at 112 Oak St. in Ridgewood. Amanda Arlauskas, runner-up from Season 8 of NBC’s The Biggest Loser will be the Keynote Speaker. Amanda will also be on hand to sign books and planners. I have heard Amanda speak before and I know how inspiring she can be. Maybe I too will be inspired to lose those couple of pounds that are making my pants tight!

This is a free event and will feature other happenings such as food demos and samplings from Whole Foods, chair massages, health screenings such as blood pressure, body fat analysis, reflexology and more from more than 40 exhibitors. Door prizes and giveaways will be abundant.

Of the many screenings that are being offered, Distinctive Care wanted to offer something that would be of real service to the attendees. Being in the middle of winter and knowing how many people suffer from depression, we thought it would be a good idea to offer screenings and advice for Seasonal Affective Disorder. We have written many blogs about this and now we are able to work directly with individuals to help them through what is a difficult time for many older adults and people of all ages. Two of our nurse care managers will be on hand to do this timely screening.

Presentation of Maximizing Your Memory

January 2, 2012 at 10:30 am | Posted in Pat Linard, PR | Leave a comment
Tags: Education, Help, Memory, Seminar, Tips

Who doesn’t want to maximize their memory! Sophia Heftler, RN, MSN,CALA, CMC, CDP® will be presenting one of her most popular talks, Maximizing Your Memory, at the North Rockland Senior Center at 69 Bridge Street In Garnersville, NY on Wednesday, January 4, 2012 at 11:00AM. If you would like to attend, call Barbara DuVal at 845-429-9027 to let her know you are coming.

Learn what memory is and how your memory works. This seminar will discuss what simple things can be done to improve your memory. Find out what normal memory loss is and what it is not. Discover when memory loss should be investigated further with your physician and become informed about some of the current medications used for memory loss, Alzheimer’s and the various other forms of dementia.

If you would like to attend, call Barbara DuVal at 845-429-9027 to let her know you are coming.

It’s Time to Say Goodbye to Clutter

December 30, 2011 at 10:30 am | Posted in Deborah Varisco, GCM | Leave a comment
Tags: Health, Help, Life, Personal, Support, Tips

It’s a new year and many of us make New Year’s resolutions. For many of us, maybe our New Year’s resolution should be to “declutter.” Some of us have drawers and closets stuffed with items. Every nook and cranny of our living space may be piled high with newspapers, magazines, paperwork, canned goods or that one item we are afraid to be without.

Lots of people lead a messy lifestyle and hoard certain objects. These individuals may acquire things that they don’t need, but they are still able to continue to function. Hoarding becomes a problem when an individual may no longer be able to cook meals, live safely in their home or when their hoarding becomes a threat to others. Hoarding can put one’s health and others at risk. Individuals hoard for many reasons. They may hoard because of an intense emotional attachment they have developed to certain objects. Throwing these objects away results in a sense of loss. Others hoard because they feel the item may be useful to them or someone else in the future. We accumulate too much if we are afraid we won’t be able to get more of it when we need it, or that it may be discontinued.

Most people who hoard will not seek help on their own. It is usually a friend or family member who pressures the individual to control their hoarding. Solutions are usually not simple, quick or long-lasting. Extreme hoarders will require professional therapy.

For others dealing with clutter, here are some helpful tips.

Take just one project at a time and stick with it until it is complete. Start with an easy project and gradually move onto more challenging ones.
Schedule time for decluttering.
Make three piles for items being decluttered. Keep, donate, discard. Do not make a fourth pile labeled undecided. Remove the discard and donate piles as soon as possible.
Bring nothing new into your home unless you have a proper place for it.
Sales and bargains may cause you to over buy. Remember that food, over the counter medications and beauty products all have expiration dates and buying too many could be wasteful.

Parting with the objects you have collected can trigger anxiety. If an individual becomes anxious during decluttering, having them sit down and do something fun or relaxing until the feeling passes may be helpful. Hoarders need to realize they may be causing others and their community harm and stress. The goal is to help an individual see their objects in a new light and to change their hoarding behaviors. Pairing a health professional with an organizer can be helpful. Together they can guide the individual toward understanding the benefits of changing their hoarding behavior and setting goals to clean up the mess!

What Hospice Can Do!

December 1, 2011 at 10:30 am | Posted in Amy Shein, GCM | Leave a comment
Tags: Aging, Caregiver, Health, Help, Life, Personal

Last week was difficult one for me. I experienced my first loss of a client as a Geriatric Care Manager. I was with this client for over 16 months and she was actually one of my first clients with Distinctive Care. She was 92 years old and lived a full life. Working so closely with this woman, who had severe Dementia, and with her family, was so rewarding, both spiritually and educationally. It was a beautiful relationship that I had worked so hard to develop and embrace.

As a nurse for 16 years, I have experienced death of a patient in many different ways. When death happens in the hospital it seems to be so much worse. Patients come to the hospital to find answers and healing to prevent the worst possible outcome. This particular client was placed on hospice during the last 3 weeks of her life (she was on hospice once before for 2 months last year, then eventually graduated off) while she was living in a skilled nursing facility. Hospice is a special way of caring for people who are terminally ill, as well as care for their family members. She received excellent palliative care, love and compassion from the local hospice nursing team and so did her family.

Hospice was even amazing to the entire team that worked directly with my client. The team included her physician, skilled nursing staff, private caregiver and me. Hospice was able to educate her family and her team with frequent updates of her declining status on a daily basis. The family was so grateful to the entire team that assisted with their loved one during her last few days of life. This was my first “close” experience working with hospice. It was truly an amazing occurrence that my so sweet client rightly deserved. Hospice is covered under Medicare, Medicaid and most private insurances. It is best to speak to your physician and health care team to learn more about the benefits of hospice services.

Signs of Sepsis

November 18, 2011 at 10:30 am | Posted in Deborah Varisco, GCM | Leave a comment
Tags: Health, Help, Life, Medication, Safety

Sepsis is a condition in which the body is fighting a severe infection that has spread through the body via the bloodstream. The individual will have low blood pressure which will lead to poor circulation and shock. In severe cases one or more organs may fail, such as the lungs, kidneys and liver. The elderly population, especially those with weak immune systems, are at increased risk. Others at risk include the very young, those taking an immunosuppressant and steroids, individuals being treated with chemotherapy, and individuals with long-standing diabetes and AIDS. Many different microbes can cause sepsis. Infections such as pneumonia, urinary tract infections, cellulitis and appendicitis can lead to sepsis.

If an individual is septic, they will probably have a fever. In addition, they may have chills, decreased urination, increased heart rate, rapid breathing, confusion, agitation, dizziness, a possible rash and pain in their joints. One should call a doctor if they have any signs or symptoms of sepsis, particularly if they are being treated with chemotherapy, have had an organ transplant, or have diabetes or AIDS. Sepsis may be diagnosed with blood work, and samples of sputum, urine, spinal fluid or drainage from a wound. If an individual is diagnosed with sepsis, they will be admitted to the hospital and treated with intravenous antibiotics and fluids. Oxygen is also given to maintain normal blood oxygen.

The individual’s prognosis relies on age, health history, health status, how quickly diagnosis was made and the specific type of organism causing the sepsis. The earlier that treatment is started for sepsis, the better the outcome.