Aging with Grace proudly welcomes

 

 

 

   

For 30 years, VITAS has been a leader in the American hospice movement, helping to define the standards of care for hospice and working to ensure that terminally ill patients and their families have ready access to compassionate and effective end-of-life care through Medicare and Medicaid.

VITAS was founded in 1978 as Hospice Care, Inc., one of the nation's first hospice programs. The name, VITAS, is derived from the Latin word for lives. It symbolizes the VITAS mission: to preserve the quality of life for those who have a limited time to live. As a hospice pioneer, VITAS was instrumental in leading a bi-partisan effort to add hospice to the healthcare payment system. As a result of these efforts, Medicare pays for hospice services, many states have established Medicaid coverage for hospice, and virtually all private insurers and managed care plans provide coverage for hospice care. Today, VITAS is the leading provider of end-of-life care, working in cooperation with hospitals, physicians, nursing homes, assisted living communities, insurers and community-based organizations throughout the nation.

VITAS is dedicated to expanding the Choices® available to the terminally ill and their families, and to providing a kind of care that cannot be duplicated by other providers-hospitals, home care services or nursing homes. Our efforts are centered on defining and meeting the specific needs of the terminally ill and their families-something we call Innovative Hospice Care®. It includes:

• Ongoing company-generated research on more effective methods of controlling pain-involving physicians, nurses,clinical pharmacists and social workers.
• Development of proprietary tools and protocols, including a pain formulary, analgesic dosage conversion ruler,wound formulary, guidelines for Intensive Palliative Care® and electronic patient records.
• Development of a proprietary information management system, VITAS Exchange or Vx, which provides real-time communication of patient information and supports the efficient delivery of high-quality services to patients indisparate locations.
• Specialized care programs for patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), AIDS, Alzheimer's and Congestive Heart Failure (CHF).
• Programs that actively involve patients and families in redefining and improving the services we offer.
• Professional education through seminars, group case reviews and a specialized library of clinical literature.
• Specialized training and formal credentialing of all VITAS employees involved in patient care.
• Bereavement programs to meet the needs of friends and family members after their loved one has died.

VITAS provides care for adult and pediatric patients with a wide range of life-limiting illnesses, including but not limited to cancer, heart disease, stroke, lung disease, liver disease, kidney disease, multiple sclerosis, ALS, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and AIDS.

VITAS is a company defined by the needs of the patients and families we serve. When we were founded in 1978, our first patient, Emmy Philhour, made this offer: "Help me stay at home, and I'll teach you how to care for me."

Emmy taught us much, and her teaching still guides us today. Since caring for Emmy, each of the hundreds of thousands of patients and families we've served have taught us how to do a better job.

With our roots as a leader in the hospice movement in the United States, we will continue to evolve and to meet the changing needs of those with life-limiting illnesses and their families, guided, as always, by our VITAS Values:

• Patients and families come f irst.
• We take care of each other.
• I'll do my best today and do even better tomorrow.
• I am proud to make a difference.

To learn more call 1.800.93.VITAS or visit Vitas on the web.

 

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It is sometimes necessary for a caregiver to place himself or herself in the position of the person suffering from Alzheimer’s to help anticipate possible concerns or dangers. Learn to continually adapt both the living environment and approaches to care as the stages progress.

Caregivers will find that such approaches will be dependent upon the person for whom care is being provided. The most important aspect of caregiving in a home is safety and security, for both the patient and the caregiver.

Minimizing risks and making a home safe for those suffering a steady decline in both cognitive and physical disabilities is also a major step toward ensuring security and protection of a loved one suffering from Alzheimer’s as well as providing safe environment for all those involved in care.

In the long run, adapting the home environment is much easier than trying to adapt behaviors that may be exhibited by a loved one in various stages of the condition. Making necessary changes within the home environment may not only decrease physical hazards, but also reduce the amount of stress that is placed upon both the caregiver and the care receiver. Anticipating such risks and hazards goes a long way toward helping caregivers prevent potential injuries and accidents.

Creating a Safe Living Environment
When assessing a home or apartment for someone suffering from Alzheimer’s, one of the most important things to consider is preventing access or use to areas or equipment that may harm the patient. Such dangers can include:

•    Hazardous areas within the house
•    Basements and garages and tool sheds
•    Kitchen and bathroom appliances

A person suffering from dementia may not be able to rationalize the difference between safe and unsafe. Locking doors that lead to areas that contain tools, equipment, or materials that may prove harmful to the patient is necessary.

Removing electrical equipment or appliances from the bathroom and kitchen area will help to reduce the risk of electrical shock. Something as innocuous as a kitchen blender may cause injury to someone suffering from cognitive function and loss. To prevent accidents, knives and cooking implements should also be stored in a safe, secure location and cooking appliances in the kitchen can be made safer by removing knobs or installing hidden circuit breakers and gas valves.

Refrigerator should be checked frequently for food spoilage. In many cases, people suffering from various stages of Alzheimer’s may be unable to distinguish between fresh and rotten food. Sense of taste and smell may also be altered due to medications.

Gardening tools, gasoline and equipment normally stored in tool sheds and garages should be placed in a secured area to prevent accidents, and car keys and keys to larger pieces of home or yard maintenance equipment should be stored in a protected location.

Ensuring Safety Inside the Home
Family members see rugs and carpets as home decorations, but the caregiver often sees those very same rugs and carpets as potential fall hazards. Many times, older people are extremely reluctant to change things, but by using firm yet gentle explanations, caregivers may successfully eradicate potential hazardous situations from a home.

Top-heavy floor lamps and cords should be placed against walls or underneath carpets. Caregivers can discuss such issues with their loved ones and gain their cooperation and help of other family members to help remove clutter to make the home a safer living environment.

Those suffering from Alzheimer’s may experience vision complications. Depth perception, as well as the ability to distinguish colors is often compromised as stages of Alzheimer’s progress.

Whenever possible, using color contrast when it comes to rugs, floor covering, bedding, and window coverings will help a patient to perceive space and depth within the home. Many Alzheimer’s also patients experience difficulty seeing dark objects, as they are often perceived as large, black holes. It is recommended that caregivers avoid wearing black or very dark brown colors, as it may cause agitation and anxiety in the patient for that very reason.

Child-proof locks can be placed on cabinets within the house and doorknob covers used on doors that provide access to areas that cannot be locked for practical purposes. Deadbolts placed near the top or near the base of exterior doors will help to ensure the safety of your loved one.

 

Bathrooms
Bathrooms provide special challenges for caregivers. Whenever possible, bathtub and toilet areas should supply adequately anchored grab bars in both bathtub area and around the toilet. Products such as:

Such situations may prove embarrassing for a loved one, which is where the caregiver’s compassion and simplistic approach to such needs are especially important.

Getting in and out of bathtubs also provides a challenge. Non-skid mats or other stick-ons should be placed in the bathtub and on top of bathtub surface to help prevent slipping. In many cases, those experiencing anxiety may feel much more comfortable sitting on a special stool or chair made for shower bathing. Fear of falling is a major issue with many Alzheimer’s patients, and eradicating such fears will help to ensure that you are able to adequately care for his or her cleanliness and hygiene.

Make sure that water temperatures are adequate for bathing or washing, and that water heaters do not exceed 120 degrees. If pipes are exposed, pad them as necessary to prevent burns.

While many patients may be able to toilet themselves, brush their teeth, their hair, and other personal hygiene tasks, some may need help getting to and from bathroom areas. To avoid injuries, bathrooms should be equipped with adequate stools or chairs, and adequate lighting fixtures for greater comfort and safety.

Poor vision in many patients will need to be addressed in all areas of the home. Providing contrast with objects from walls and floors will avoid problems caused by depth perception issues. For example, in an all-white bathroom, an all-white toilet may be difficult for some patients to see. A caregiver can alleviate this problem by placing a colored toilet seat cover or cushion on the seat for the patient as a strong visual clue of location.

Bedrooms
Bedrooms also provide special challenges in safety. Adequate lighting in bedroom areas needs to be provided for easier reading or television watching during any time of the day or night. Those suffering from various stages of Alzheimer’s may fear the dark, so a night-light placed in the room may help. In addition, adequate lighting needs to be made available during nighttime hours in case your loved one needs to find the bathroom in the middle of the night.

In many cases, placing a large picture of a toilet or the word "Toilet" on the bathroom door will help to offer guidance. Bed clothing should be easy to open or close. Caregivers should be available to offer assistance whenever possible, and if desired.
In some situations, a caregiver may need to learn how to help a loved one use a bedpan or a urinal if nighttime trips to the bathroom are not feasible for a variety of reasons. Because of this, a communication system needs to be established for nighttime needs. An intercom-type system or even a bell to address calling for help for toileting, dressing or other needs should be implemented as necessary.

In the Kitchen
Kitchen areas of any home or apartment often contribute to the most injuries because of ovens, stoves, microwaves, hot plates, or crock-pots, all of which may burn or otherwise harm a patient. The caregiver must determine the cognitive abilities of their loved one to ensure that the use of such equipment is safe under any circumstance.

In the homes of patients suffering from cognitive disabilities, cooking with flame can be a fire hazard. Food left on the stove too long may scorch and burn, and in some circumstances, catch fire. A can placed inside a microwave not only damages the microwave, but also may cause an explosion or injury. To ensure safety, the caregiver may cook foods in advance and then unplug or otherwise disable such appliances to prevent injury. Avoid keeping step stools or small ladders in the kitchen area in order to prevent falls and injuries.

For patients with vision difficulties, brightly colored plates, drinking cups, placemats and napkins will often help alleviate the embarrassment and difficulty in choosing the right utensils for eating. "Caregivers need to understand that it’s the same person as before, but because of the complexity of the process of eating, the person may be confused and embarrasses, and thus refuse to participate," says Occupational Therapist and founding editor of Alzheimer’s Care Quarterly Carol Bowlby Sifton.

Living with Alzheimer’s
A safe living environment will ensure that the patient remain in their home as long as possible. Challenges to caregivers caring for those afflicted with Alzheimer’s can be incredibly stressful. However, through careful planning, many of those potential stresses, worries, and dangers can be anticipated and a home environment made as safe as possible for both the caregiver and the person suffering from Alzheimer’s.
Information and prevention is the key to maintaining optimal safety and comfort, for both patient and caregiver.

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• secondary cataracts which can follow surgery for other eye diseases like glaucoma or diabetic retinopathy.
• congenital cataract which is present at birth.
• traumatic cataract which can form following an injury to the eye, and
• radiation cataract which forms after exposure to large doses of radiation.

On reflection, though, the nutrition link with secondary cataract is a valid connection to make. Type II diabetes is increasingly common in the Western world often as the result of over-eating on junk food. By raising blood sugar levels, diabetes can cause changes in the retina severe enough to impair both visual acuity and color vision.
It could be argued that eating a healthy diet in the first place creates a virtuous circle by reducing the incidence of diabetic retinopathy, thereby reducing the number of surgical procedures to rectify the condition and reducing, in turn, the incidence of secondary cataract formation.

Cataract formation, however, is predominantly a condition associated with aging and is an acquired vision defect. Lifestyle changes, then, and changing patterns of behavior - stopping smoking, wearing sunglasses to block out harmful ultraviolet rays and eating a healthy diet - can all contribute to the prevention and retardation of cataract formation.

Let's examine more closely the connection between nutrition and cataracts. Lutein and zeaxanthin, which assist in the absorption of Vitamins C and E to counter damaging free radical activity in the eye, are found, like Vitamin C, in colorful fruit and vegetables. Kale and Collard greens top the list of good food sources for both lutein and zeaxanthin; broccoli, corn and peas are fairly good sources of lutein and zeaxanthin while persimmons and tangerines offer the least amount of these beneficial carotenoids.

Nutrition promises to be one important weapon in the prevention and delayed progression of cataracts. Eat wisely, take nutritional supplements and the benefits over time could be plain to see!

  

This year the Psoriasis Walk will take place in five locations. To join the fight as a walker or to start your own team, simply pick your Psoriasis Walk location:

Paramus, New Jersey, Van Saun Park, September 12th

Virtual Walk, Nationwide on Short Sleeve Day, September 26th

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, FDR Park, October 4th

Baltimore, Maryland, Inner Harbor, October 17th

Charlotte, North Carolina, Freedom Park, October 24th

Tempe, Arizona, location to be announced soon, November 22nd

To learn more go to www.psoriasis-cure-now.org

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Aging with Grace has proudly partnered with Holiday Retirement to offer our members exclusive added discounts through The Red Carpet Program.

 

To take advantage of the Red Carpet Program and experience The Holiday Touch!

 

Call 800.626.9440

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