Live Free Home Health Care, LLC. - Bristol, New Hampshire

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Fight the Holiday Blues with a Rainbow of Possibilities

Helping Seniors Experience the Joys of the Season

Bristol – November 18, 2009 – For most people, the holidays represent a wonderful time of year to share the joys of family and friendship. But for some older adults, this time of year can be extremely difficult if their mental, physical and emotional needs are not taken into consideration. For the elderly, the nostalgic season and memories of friends and family members that they have outlived, or the long distances that separate family member can become even more painful during the holidays. In addition, older family members with special needs can get lost in the shuffle and chaos of happy family gatherings.

“For many older adults, the memories of holidays past outshine present day celebrations, and they find it difficult to experience joy in the present,” said Jason Harvey, Owner of Live Free Home Health Care. “However there are some easy ways to bring joy back to the season for older adults and their families.”

This year, bring a little color to a senior to help avoid the holiday blues. Live Free Home Health Care suggests a rainbow of possibilities to spruce up the season for elderly loved ones in the local community.

RED: In some cultures, red denotes purity, joy, and celebration. Red is also the color of happiness and prosperity in China. What better way to celebrate the joy of the season than to offer assistance in decorating an elderly family member’s house for the holidays? Set up a Christmas tree or menorah. Talk about the history behind some of the decorations that have been handed down through the years. Don’t forget to also volunteer to help take down the decorations after the holidays!

Red can also signify avoiding embarrassing moments. Try to avoid making comments that could inadvertently embarrass an older friend or family members who may be experiencing memory problems.

ORANGE: Put some logs on the fire or light some candles and cozy up to reminisce about special times and people. Often, older people whose memories are impaired may have difficulty recalling recent events, but find it easy to share stories and observations from the past. Reminiscing can bring smiles, but remember to balance any discussion on the past with talk about the present and future. Reminders about fun upcoming events, whether it is coffee with friends in an hour, a vacation next week or a daughter's wedding in a year may result in having positive feelings about the future as well as the past.

YELLOW: Turn on some lights and get out of the house. Shorter days and less sunlight cause people to tire earlier, especially as they get older. In addition, be aware of seasonal affective disorder (SAD), an illness that can be provoked by reductions in sunlight during the short days of winter. Make time for activities that will increase exposure to sunlight. Seniors need new things to anticipate during the holidays, and for those that rarely get out of the house, this may be a very special treat. Stay active and turn some lights on when dusk approaches.

GREEN: Eat healthy and avoid alcohol. Watch out for those heavy or carb-loaded foods that make a person feel tired. Also, alcohol is a depressant and should be drunk at parties and gatherings with moderation or not at all, as it can interfere with medications and increase some symptoms of the holiday blues. When preparing holiday meals, involve everyone, breaking down tasks to include the youngest and the oldest family members. Older adults with physical limitations can still be included in kitchen activities by asking them to do a simple, helpful task, like greasing cooking pans, peeling vegetables, folding napkins or arranging flowers. Also, help older adults stay healthy by adhering to their regular schedule of medications during the frenzy of the holidays.

BLUE: Many seniors feel depressed and sad during the holidays but hide this from friends and family because they don't want to worry anyone by displaying these feelings. Encourage your loved ones to talk about it. Don’t view sadness as taboo. Many people experience it at some point and often talking about it with others can help. Someone specially trained to help those with depression can also be a valuable asset in determining if more serious intervention is needed.

PURPLE: Make a senior feel like royalty and assign someone to be the day’s companion to the senior, making sure he or she is comfortable. Social connectedness is extremely important at holiday times, and spending quality time with senior family members can make it easier for them to be social. However, be sure to plan ahead. If older family members tire easily or are vulnerable to over-stimulation, limit the number of activities they are involved in or the length of them they are included. Take into consideration time for naps or “quiet time” in a quiet part of the house.

Ensuring that an elderly loved one experiences joy during the holidays can seem challenging at first, but there are many available resources to help. Oftentimes an extra pair of hands, such as Live Free Home Health Care provides, can be helpful for dealing with a frail family member’s everyday tasks of cleaning, cooking, transportation and shopping, so that the concentration can be on spending quality time together during the holidays. For more information about helping seniors in our local community beat the holiday blues, please contact Live Free Home Health Care.

About Live Free Home Health Care, LLC:

Serving the Lakes Region and Central New Hampshire, Live Free Home Health Care, LLC is dedicated to providing top quality care in the comfort of home as an alternative to assisted living facilities or nursing homes. Family owned and operated, Live Free Home Health Care offers a wide range of services, from companion care and assistance with activities of daily living to skilled nursing, and all care is supervised and updated by a registered nurse. Live Free Home Health Care also offers medical alert systems to provide extra peace of mind should an emergency care need arise. Whether the need is for short or long term care, Live Free Home Health Care’s compassionate staff promises to treat each client respectfully and like a cherished family member. For further information, contact (603) 217-0149 or visit www.LiveFreeHomeHealthCare.com.

Tags:   holiday blues

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Friday, November 13, 2009

Alzheimer’s: The Rising Epidemic

Activities and Communication Tips for a Better Quality of Life

(Central New Hampshire – November 4, 2009) – Alzheimer’s Disease has been a hot topic in recent headlines, and for good reason. The progressive, degenerative neurological disease for which there is presently no cure affects an estimated 35 million people worldwide – a 10 percent increase over 2005. According to the 2009 World Alzheimer Report, the number of people with Alzheimer’s is projected to double every 20 years, to 65.7 million in 2030 and 115.4 million in 2050. Worldwide, the estimated annual economic cost of dementia is $315 billion. Every 70 seconds, someone in the US develops Alzheimer’s, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. As the more than 77 million American baby boomers begin reaching the age of greater risk, this disease and its effects simply cannot be ignored.

Because many in our local community are affected in some way by Alzheimer’s or dementia, Live Free Home Health Care is helping raise awareness of the enormous impact of this increasing epidemic. The disease can take a physical, emotional and mental toll on patients, families and caregivers. As communication skills fade for a person with Alzheimer’s, caregivers often find it frustrating to support the person’s sense of self while trying to minimize skills that may be compromised due to the disease.

“With Alzheimer’s, a daily routine is essential,” said Jennifer Harvey RN, BSN, Owner, Clinical Director of Live Free Home Health Care. “Activities that are done regularly, even at the same time every day if possible, may help establish routine and increase the person's sense of stability. Following structured activity ideas that involve and interest the person w/ Alzheimer’s will help minimize the disturbing behaviors associated with the disease,” such as agitation, anger, frustration, depression, wandering or rummaging.

Harvey offers the following structured activity ideas for helping Alzheimer’s patients experience a better quality of life:

• Motor: Take a walk, do chair exercises, stretch, or even do a dance using just the hands – the important thing is to encourage some sort of movement.
• Sensory: Listening to music on tapes or CDs (not the radio, as commercials can be confusing) while looking at old photographs, watching TV or movies, looking at picture books, sniffing perfume, soap and spices, or working on basic art projects are beneficial to the patient. Be careful to avoid sensory overload by eliminating competing noises.
• Interactive: Invite friends or relatives over for tea or coffee, reminisce, asking basic questions while looking at old photos, play simple card or board games, or try pet therapy (be sure to match the animal’s activity and energy level with that of the individual).
• Cognitive: Practice computerized memory exercises, do simple crossword puzzles or word finds, play games such as “Simon Says” or “I Spy”.

Because Alzheimer’s gradually diminishes a person’s ability to communicate, it is important to help people with dementia express their thoughts and emotions, as well as help them understand others. Here are some tips to help in communication and understanding:

• Create a ‘kind voice,’ talking slower, lower and clearly, smiling in the process.
• To orient the person and obtain his or her attention, call the person by name, identify yourself, and be sure to approach from the front so there are no surprises.
• Ask one question at a time, using short simple words and sentences.
• Avoid using logic and reason, as well as quizzing.
• Avoid criticizing, correcting or arguing, and do not take any negative communication personally.
• Let the person know you are listening and trying to understand what is being said by maintaining eye contact, being careful not to interrupt.
• Patiently wait for a response as extra time may be required to process your request; repeat information and questions. If there is no response, wait a moment before asking again.
• Focus on the feelings, not the facts, as sometimes the emotions being expressed are more important than what is being said.
• Let the person think about and describe whatever he or she wants.

If you fear someone you love may be showing signs of dementia or early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, Live Free Home Health Care recommends a memory screening. Though a memory screening is not used to diagnose any particular illness and does not replace consultation with a qualified physician or other healthcare professional, it is a good first step towards diagnosis and treatment. For more information about memory screenings in the local community or dementia and depression in older adults, please contact Live Free Home Health Care.

About Live Free Home Health Care, LLC:

Serving central and northern New Hampshire, Live Free Home Health Care, LLC is dedicated to providing top quality care in the comfort of home as an alternative to assisted living facilities or nursing homes. Family owned and operated, Live Free Home Health Care offers a wide range of services, from companion care and assistance with activities of daily living to skilled nursing, and all care is supervised and updated by a registered nurse. Live Free Home Health Care also offers medical alert systems to provide extra peace of mind should an emergency care need arise. Whether the need is for short or long term care, Live Free Home Health Care’s compassionate staff promises to treat each client respectfully and like a cherished family member. For further information, contact (603) 217-0149 or visit www.LiveFreeHomeHealthCare.com.

Tags:   Alzheimer's Disease, better quality of life, caregiver, communication, dementia, depression, Jennifer Harvey

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