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Thirty-three percent of current seniors have accidents each year. The annual number of hip fractures alone is 350,000. But, Baby Boomers are healthier and more active than previous generations. More than 70 percent report good mental and physical health, but precisely because they are more active. Boomers have more accidents than previous generations. Biking, running, skiing and other activities send Boomers to the emergency room far more frequently than previous generations.

And despite the overall good health of their generation, 30 percent of Boomers are already suffering from debilitating health issues that are usually associated with old age, such as Alzheimer’s disease and arthritis.

Arthritis is the most common condition that affects seniors. Another emerging area of concern is obesity. In 2002, 30 percent of Boomers were reported as obese. That number is expected to grow to 42 percent by 2025. Obesity makes daily activities much more difficult and increases the likelihood of other health problems, such as diabetes and stroke.

Most Common Conditions Impacting Senior:

10% General Dementia
3% Parkinson’s Disease
12% Orthopedic Condition
12% Depression
12% Alzheimer’s Disease
30% Multiple Sclerosis
12% Arthiritis
23% Other

Home Care Boston providing elderly services in Cambridge, Boston, and Somerville. Call us 617.314. 9873.

For those caregivers who are dealing with Alzheimer’s and dementia patients, there is a new program available that can connect caregivers with these diseases. The program is conducted in the caregiver’s home and involves teaching the caregiver various ways to improve the quality of life for the seniors they care for.

1.            The program was developed by Ellen Phipps. Specialists will visit the home of a caregiver one time a week and teach them how to set up activity stations.

2.            The stations can include painting, gardening or any activity that would be meaningful for the Alzheimer patient.

3.            As the number of people with dementia and Alzheimer’s continue to grow, additional support for caregivers is needed. More than 85 percent of people receiving services from a caregiver are suffering from dementia or Alzheimer’s.

4.            It is believed that 1 in every 10 individuals over the age of 65 and 50% of those over 85 may have Alzheimer’s or dementia.

5.            The goal of the new support program is to teach caregivers how to provide activities that can add meaning to the life of a senior.

6.            The program is geared towards those with all levels of dementia and will help them improve their levels of functioning.

Source: Star Exponent

When caring for a patient with dementia, the goal should be to enable that person to thrive and function as much as possible. By using abilities-based care, the abilities of the individual are focused upon and treatment for the disease is based on these abilities. The following list contains some interesting information on how doctors are now caring for patients that have dementia.

1.            Doctors and therapists are using the person-centered care model that allows the individual to use their abilities and function during every stage of dementia.

2.            Person-centered care involves a care team gathering life stories of people with dementia and gaining an understanding of their interests, beliefs, leisure interests and routines.

3.            A great example of this new model is employed during dinner time. Patients with dementia face many challenges when it is time to eat. Encouraging patients to eat foods that are nourishing is the goal. This helps maintain health but also allows the patients to have some control over what they are eating. They will be allowed to make food choices based on personal preferences.

4.            It is important for each patient with dementia to be monitored so that team members can get an in-depth understanding of the individual needs of each patient.

5.            The person-centered model allows for each dementia patient to be treated as an individual. This individualism carries forth into treatment methods that will be used.

Source: McKnights.com

Grandparents with dementia will often end up living in a home with their grandchildren. This has become a common alternative to placing the senior in a nursing home. While it may seem like the right thing to do, it can be very difficult for smaller children who do not understand what the disease is. To help deal with this issue, the list below offers some tips on how to explain things to kids.

1. The best thing to do is to be honest with the child. Explain to them the grandma or grandpa is having trouble remembering things. This may help the child understand and be more willing to help.

2. Always encourage smaller children to ask questions. Try to answer them in terms they can understand. Instead of giving a medical definition of the disease, explain it in simple terms.

3. Have the child interact with the senior Helping with simple, everyday things, such as tying shoes and helping seniors eat can benefit the child as well as the senior with dementia.

4. Explain to children that there is nothing to fear. Grandma may forget things, but she can still be a joy to be around. Encourage kids to include seniors in fun time.

5. Talk to children before the senior moves in and try to explain the situation. If the child has questions, answer them as well as you can without being too complex.

Source:  USA Weekend

Home Care Boston providing elderly services in Cambridge, Boston, and Somerville. Call us at 617.557.4600.

What’s Wrong with Alzheimer’s Care Methods?

When it comes to Alzheimer’s care, there are many methods used today in hospitals that truly don’t focus on the best interests of the seniors. They medicate seniors right up until the very end of their lives rather than focusing on providing them comfort, and unfortunately, lack of knowledge on the part of seniors and their families allows this to happen. Often, seniors don’t have advanced care directives that tell medical professionals and family members how they want their care handled; and family members take doctors and nurses at their word and allow various treatments to take place. The following methods that are used in Alzheimer’s treatment and care are some that are questionable, because they just don’t seem to look out for the seniors’ best interests:

• Improper pain control – because many seniors in the later stage of Alzheimer’s or dementia cannot express themselves, proper pain management techniques are not being administered even though it’s clear that many seniors are in pain.

• Treatments don’t focus on comfort – most seniors with Alzheimer’s continue aggressive treatment until they pass away, but there is no focus on comfort at the end of their lives even once treatment is typically ineffective. Only about 11% of seniors who are hospitalized with one of these illnesses is transferred to a hospice

• Medications used can make symptoms work – often medications are administered to treat other affects of the disease like osteoporosis or high blood pressure, but these can only add to senior’s feelings of confusion and general lack of well-being

With better knowledge about the Alzheimer’s care options available, families and seniors can ensure that quality of life always comes first, and choose a care option that meets these needs, whether it’s with home care help or hospice care for terminally ill seniors on their last legs.

Via: NY Times

Home Care Boston providing elderly services in Cambridge, Boston, and Somerville. Call us at 617.557.4600.

Information on Alzheimer’s

Much research is being done on Alzheimer’s disease. This disease affects thousands of seniors. Some researchers feel that we may not be doing enough to push research along. Finding a cure for this disabling disease is the ultimate goal. This is the most common form of dementia in older adults. The list below contains some additional information on how researchers hope to solve the puzzle of Alzheimer’s

1.    More than 5 million seniors in the US have Alzheimer’s and many of these cases are severe, resulting in the loss of daily functions.

2.    As the population continues to age, the number of people that will be affected by Alzheimer’s will also be on the rise. Currently, a senior in the US develops Alzheimer’s every 70 seconds. This is expected to become every 33 seconds in the next decade.

3.    Those who are researching early detection of the disease say they are on the road to substantial advances.

4.    Alzheimer’s drugs are now being used on many senior patients. The medication focuses on amyloid, which is a protein that clumps in the brain of those with the disease.

5.    Researchers are optimistic that once an anti-amyloid drug is perfected, the disease could be stopped in its tracks. It will also allow the disease to be detected by using scanning technology.

6.    Currently, there is no national plan aimed at researching the disease. Not enough funding and lack of researchers is the reason more progression has not yet been made.

7.    Researchers have a goal of perfecting medications and learning much more about this debilitating disease.

Source: Consumer Healthday.com

Home Care Boston providing elderly services in Cambridge, Boston, and Somerville. Call us at 617.557.4600.