The goal of the program is to keep people in their homes, allowing them to age in place for as long as they are able by providing the services and support seniors need to maintain their independence.

“From attending doctor’s appointments or helping with medication management, laundry or shopping, we are here for one purpose — to help our residents,” says Julie Poelker, Bethesda Senior Care Coordinator. “This program is especially beneficial for residents who do not have family members living in the area. Our team is able to step in and help with tasks that the residents have trouble completing.”

For more than ten years, Care Management team members have attended doctors’ appointments with multiple Bethesda residents. For those with no family members in town, this service has helped them avoid navigating stressful situations on their own.

“We relay information from the doctor to the residents’ families,” Julie says. “In addition, our team may help with medication management and activities of daily living when the resident returns home.”

Julie and her team also assist residents when they need another level of care by navigating the transition to the appropriate Bethesda community.

The Care Management program is part of Bethesda Senior Support Solutions, Bethesda’s in-home private duty agency.

For more information on the Care Management program or Bethesda Senior Support Solutions, call 314-963-2200.

The post Bethesda’s Care Management Provides Support to Residents first appeared on Bethesda Health Group.

Whether home is an independent senior living community or a long-time family home, the benefits of these services can be customized according to the needs of senior adults and delivered where they live.

1. Care Management

Enlisting the expertise of care managers like those at Bethesda is a good idea, particularly if the adult children or senior caregivers have become physically or emotionally overloaded or confused when determining the needs of their senior loved ones.

Care managers have the knowledge and experience to explain and handle many aspects of senior care and support. They know the system. They can coordinate care, review and update care plans, explain benefits, and suggest what other professionals may need to be consulted.

In addition, they can make sure the right people have the information they need to keep seniors living as independently as possible. As a result, seniors may experience a reduction in hospital and physician office visits, and associated medical costs, as well as ease the stress experienced by seniors and their caregivers.

Also, the level of their involvement can vary from an initial consultation to a more active role when required.

As a result of the Bethesda Care Management Program, residents living in Bethesda retirement communities are able to stay in their apartments an average of three additional years after members of the care management team are called on to help.

2. Senior Support Solutions In-Home Services

Working with care managers at Bethesda, the staff of Senior Support Solutions provides in-home services within Bethesda independent living communities or in the senior’s own home.

The level of service they provide is individualized according to need. Services include traditional private-duty services and specialized programs such as:

TRADITIONAL SERVICES

• Bathing
• Meal planning
• Laundry
• Dressing
• Errands
• Shopping assistance
• Personal correspondence

SPECIALIZED SERVICES

• Medication management
• Attending and note-taking at physician appointments
• Safety monitoring through the use of pendant technology
• 24-hour in-home assistance

These services relieve the emotional and mental stress of trying to perform daily tasks that have become too difficult for seniors and too numerous for their caregivers while still allowing seniors living independently to do the things they enjoy.

3. Home Health Care

Medicare-certified St. Andrews & Bethesda Home Health can provide specially trained medical home health professionals, for temporary assistance after a health event such as a hospital or rehab stay.

THERAPY AND REHABILITATION SERVICES

Studies show physical therapy programs can reduce the incidence of falls by 30 to 50 percent, a major factor in maintaining senior health and self-sufficiency.

The following services restore flexibility, increase strength, reduce pain, build endurance, improve speech, and restore the body’s ability to perform tasks, all of which increase the senior’s ability to live independently:

• Physical therapy
• Occupational therapy
• Respiratory therapy
• Speech therapy
• After-surgery rehabilitation

HEALTH CARE MANAGEMENT

In addition, the St. Andrews & Bethesda Home Health team, comprised of registered nurses, social workers, and aides, provide the following on a short-term basis and following doctors’ orders:

• Medication management
• Pain management
• Blood pressure management
• Cardiovascular care
• Wound management
• Home safety
• Mobility training
• Nutrition assessment and counseling

The key to maintaining one’s health and independence is an environment that promotes physical and mental activity, provides accurate health information, quality medical care services, and encourages consistency in good health habits. This is what health at home is all about!

Whether you choose to live at a retirement community or are aging in place in your own home, Bethesda’s wide range of senior care services are available to meet your unique needs. Contact us or visit a community near you to learn more.

The post Three Services that Lengthen Seniors’ Ability to Live Independently first appeared on Bethesda Health Group.

Who Should Be the Primary Caregiver?

A self-evaluation is a good first step. For example, these questions should be asked if you are considering becoming a caregiver for your loved one:

• Do I have the time?
• Do I have the patience?
• Can Mom or Dad and I get along through good times and bad?
• What will this do to my own family?
• Will I jeopardize my career and finances by accepting this responsibility?

The answers to these questions will change as the condition of your loved one changes. When his or her abilities decline, more of your time will be required (along with more patience!).  If there are unresolved issues, the additional stress of caregiving may strain the relationship even further.

Caregivers are pulled in a lot of different directions. It is usually about the time that their kids are in high school or college, and the seniors’ children – the potential caregivers — are often at the height of their careers and earnings. It’s not an easy decision for anyone to make.

What Will Be Required of New Senior Caregivers?

The best way to find the answers to that question is to contact a Care Manager. Care Managers have experience addressing these situations. They will visit your home and talk with you and family members about the many aspects of caregiving.

Care Managers can answer questions about insurance and benefits, as well as what safety and assistive items might be needed in the home. They can describe the path the senior’s illness will probably take, explain the support services available to supplement care, sort out family disagreements, create goals and plans, identify financial concerns and recommend other professionals to provide guidance.

They also help people with questions they may not even know to ask. This keeps them from making many mistakes and missing out on benefits to which they are entitled.

It is highly recommended to first legally designate who will be identified as the caregiver in an advanced health care directive, along with discussing the wishes of the seniors. Having this in place well in advance, when Mom and Dad are still able to make their own decisions, is vital.

When Will I Be Needed?

Many family caregivers act as managers, and pull together a team of family, friends and care management specialists to provide the necessary services. As the needs of the senior increases, your care management team can increase the amount of personal aid and medical services in the home.

You also need to take care of yourself. The stress of caregiving can lead to caregiver burnout — which can include depression, increased susceptibility to illness, weight gain, sleep deprivation, physical injuries, and the increased use of alcohol. Don’t become locked into a destructive, ever-increasing commitment of time and energy. Don’t forget that the first person you must take care of is yourself.

Where Can I Find Resources?

Aside from the consultation services of a care management professional, it would be wise to consult other family members. Find out what they are willing to provide. You don’t have to do it all. If your brother is good with finances, maybe he could deal with Mom or Dad’s bills and investments. Perhaps a sister who has medical training can advise and monitor health situations.

There also is a wealth of resources online, including from the AARP, which provides information on how to get started and prepare for the caregiver role.

In addition, Bethesda offers respite care, sending personnel upon request to the home to relieve caregivers who need to attend to their own lives or simply leave for a time of rest and recovery.

Other considerations you might want to explore include the requirements for qualifying as a paid caregiver, or the benefits provided by the Family Medical Leave Act.

Why Am I Doing This?

When you decided to become a caregiver, was it out of love or reluctant obligation? Do you still enjoy times shared with your loved one? Do you feel good about what you are able to provide for them, or is your life tipping out of balance and becoming unmanageable?

It might be useful to keep a daily journal of your experiences as a caregiver, as it will help you put things into perspective. This will not only assist in monitoring the day-to-day condition of your loved one, but may help you reaffirm your purpose and re-energize you.

How Do New Senior Caregivers Find Support?

Caregivers are generally compassionate people who commit themselves deeply to the people they love. They push on as caregivers often in spite of their own challenges, because it is who they are.

First, realize that you are not alone, and you don’t have to do it all by yourself. Accept that you may have to let go at some point as you can no longer manage the senior’s care needs. Professional Care Managers can help you determine when that is and help you explore assisted living communities or skilled nursing communities, which can provide the needed care and supervision.

Online caregiver support groups and information can be found at sites like the AARP for new senior caregivers.

Are you new to family caregiving? Contact Bethesda to learn more about our Care Management program, and we can help you with a customized plan for your senior loved one.

The post First Steps for New Senior Caregivers first appeared on Bethesda Health Group.

Chokshi, who has been working with families for more than 40 years, says that instead of seeking help, it’s typical for elderly parents to adapt and adjust their activities and routines.

They do household chores more slowly (or not at all). They may use adaptive devices, such as a cane, reacher, or magnifying glass. Perhaps they’ve lined up someone to pick them up for errands and appointments. And — often just to please their children — they will wear a medical alert bracelet or necklace.

WHAT OUR AGING PARENTS DON’T ADMIT

But they usually aren’t admitting — especially to their adult children — that they tend to drop heavy pots, trip on the basement steps, are confused about when to take their medications, or back into things with the car.

They don’t think it’s any of their kids’ business. Or, they are in denial about what’s going on.

TRY TO SEE THE BIG PICTURE

Denial isn’t all on the parents’ side. Adult children are often deep in it, too.

They don’t want to admit that a parent is declining and needs help. They may resist accepting that familial roles are starting to reverse and that they need to step in, either helping a parent themselves or lining up support.

If you’re guilty of denial, it’s time for you to take a hard look around for the telltale signs that things aren’t going well for a parent or loved one.

Don’t just look for safety and health troubles, Chokshi advises. Look for things that could point to problems with how a parent is functioning on a daily basis, and also check on whether companionship and socialization needs are being met. Try to check out the whole physical, emotional and psychological picture.

Also, look for indicators that your parent’s spiritual needs are being met. Many older adults have had very strong and active affiliations with their religious organizations and it’s important for them to keep those up.

WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR

The following are incidents, situations, and observations to be on the lookout for and, where appropriate, question aging parents about:

• Falls, accidents and bruises
• Difficulty getting up from a seated position or with walking, balance and mobility
• A decline in housekeeping and house maintenance (dishes piled in the sink, dirty floors, broken railings, drippy faucets, dirty walls, etc.)
• A noticeable decline in grooming, dress and personal care
• Unexplained weight loss or gain
• Inability to recognize or react to danger
• A falloff in socializing, getting out or visiting (often due to a shrinking social network)
• Loss of interest in hobbies and activities
• Forgetting to take medications or taking more or less than the prescribed dosage
• Uncertainty and confusion when performing once-familiar tasks

Keep in mind that some problems could be due to an illness or be related to medications being taken (or not taken). So sometimes a visit to the doctor is a good first step in assessing your parents’ needs.

Another scenario to be aware of when self-care and other habits change — it could indicate the onset of Alzheimer’s or a related dementia. If a parent is diagnosed with dementia, adult children need to be more watchful, but it doesn’t necessarily mean they have to step in with help right at that moment.

Navigating the maze of eldercare options can be challenging. As you navigate this period of transition, visit Bethesda’s caregiver tips blog for more helpful resources.

The post When You Should Step in to Help Your Aging Parents first appeared on Bethesda Health Group.

After all, most of us aren’t medical experts equipped with the resources and connections necessary to find the best answers to our complex health and care questions. Even overseeing their daily routine can be more than one person can handle — coordinating visits with several medical care professionals and social workers, as well as navigating the opinions of disagreeing family members, can all be too much to bear.

That’s where a professional senior care manager comes in, allowing you to focus on being a supportive son or daughter – not to mention being able to look after your own household, children, and job – while ensuring that your elderly parent gets the absolute best care available and advocate for their wishes and needs.

What is a Care Manager?

A professional care manager, is usually a licensed nurse, physical or occupational therapist, social worker, or other professional who is experienced in caring for elderly patients. They’re private employees who are usually hired by families whose senior loved one has an income too high to qualify for publicly funded case management. The role is becoming increasingly prominent as the American population ages. According to the Population Reference Bureau, the number of Americans aged 65 or older will rise from 58 million to 82 million by 2050.

Care managers’ primary responsibility is to get to know the needs, wishes and personality of their patient and then play matchmaker, finding the right caregivers to get them the care they need while making them feel confident and comfortable with the direction of their care. But they do so much more! For example, a care manager may visit their elderly client’s home to assess for trip hazards, ease of accessibility, and other safety needs.

Senior Care Manager services may include:

• Organizing and arranging medical appointments, including transportation
• Making referrals to medical, legal and financial professionals
• Creating care plans, both short and long-term
• Translating medical reports and assessments into terms their patient and patient’s family can understand
• Arranging for health care monitoring and in-home assistance
• Answering questions including those about resources and options available
• Taking the emotion out of healthcare decisions
• Allowing family members to get relief through arranging respite care

Bethesda offers care coordination services, knowing that while getting older can sometimes be challenging, finding help shouldn’t have to be. Whether your senior loved one has advanced medical needs that are too much for you to handle or if you just have a few questions you’d like to ask, you can call us to reach an experienced professional with the right answers for your Mom or Dad’s unique situation.

Hiring a care manager is not only the best way to ensure your senior loved one gets the care they need, it is also a great way to minimize the stress of your relationship with your elderly parent, allowing a neutral third party to do the hard work of solving problems and tending to the details of arranging care while you’re free to focus on spending quality time doing things you and your loved one enjoy doing together.

Contact Bethesda to find the senior living resources that are right for you!

The post The Value of a Care Manager for Your Elderly Parent first appeared on Bethesda Health Group.

Fun is not going to come on its own; you need to find it.

How do you do that? Like the 1940’s hit says, we must “accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative, latch onto the affirmative.”

With that in mind, let’s look at some ways to have more fun caregiving.

Accentuate the Positive

Regardless of age, everyone loves to laugh. Renting a funny movie or watching a comedy on TV with your senior loved one is a great way to spend quality time and have a little fun caregiving. Or maybe read a book together by a favorite humorist. Laughter releases endorphins that reduce stress hormones.

You personally will benefit from a few minutes of fun and relaxation each day. Try taking a short walk or sitting outside on the patio and focusing on the nice breeze. Do something to take your mind off all of the things that you have to accomplish. You might also find your loved one would enjoy some of these moments with you. Enjoyable conversations are more likely to happen when you are both relaxed. And regardless of your senior’s physical and cognitive condition, there are many things you can do together. Try these ways to have fun caregiving with your senior loved one:

• Listen to music
• Flip through a photo album
• Watch a movie
• Play a video game
• Share a hobby
• Complete a jigsaw puzzle
• Celebrate holidays
• Cook and share recipes

Eliminate the Negative

You can’t have fun if you are depressed, frustrated and frayed, so you need some strategies to overcome those feelings.

Above all, avoid self-criticism. You are doing your best and, sometimes, you will make mistakes. Do not keep thinking about all of your shortcomings (many of which we tend to exaggerate in our minds). Think about the things you have done well for your senior loved one, and things that you like about yourself. Negativity feeds on itself. Break the cycle!

CARING FOR A SENIOR WITH DEMENTIA

If your senior loved one has dementia, your stress may be multiplied by watching the disease take its toll. There are still some ways, however, to help make the best of the situation.

Do not worry when they make a mistake or cannot recall information they have just received. It only drives up the frustration and stress levels for both of you. If Dad believes he just bought a new car when he hasn’t driven in years, what’s the harm in letting him talk about it?

Offer comfort and listen carefully. Your loved one is still trying to communicate with you, so let the conversation run where it will. Sometimes your loved one will recall a clear memory, something poignant to share, or even something to laugh about. Listen to their stories and tell some of your own. These moments will be a treasure you will always remember.

Michele Kimball, RN, Corporate Director of Clinical Services at Bethesda, suggests focusing on the following tips when caregiving for a loved one with dementia:

• Try to enjoy the moment and not spend too much time thinking about what the future holds.
• Avoid criticism or negative comments.
• Praise, encourage, and celebrate successes.
• Focus on the positive.
• Assist with establishing a daily routine but know that there will be days that things won’t go as expected.
• Allow your senior time to do activities and let them enjoy their ability to do so.
• Support your loved one (and yourself!) even when mistakes are made.

Latch Onto the Affirmative

Make sure you are taking care of you. Your mental and emotional well-being are positively affected by eating food that is good for you and exercising. Maybe you no longer have an hour to spend at the gym. Instead, climb some stairs in the house, work out with bodyweight exercises, and take three five-minute walks during the day if possible. Keep moving and keep eating well. You’ll sleep better and feel better about yourself.

When the stress mounts, talk to a trusted friend. He or she may not be able to offer any advice, but just talking about your worries can provide a release, and may make you more aware of what you are feeling. In addition, sometimes a friend can supply a perspective of which you are not aware. Also, a friend or relative may be able to give you a break and watch Mom or Dad for a while, allowing you to run some errands or do something just for yourself.

As a caregiver, it is easy to get trapped in the details—the medications to be dispensed, meals to be fixed, bills to be paid, doctor’s appointments to attend . The list seems endless, but slowing down enough to focus on the present moment and enjoy what it has to offer can make all the difference.

As a senior caregiver, you might need some extra support. Explore convenient care options like Respite Care for a temporary break, or Care Management to make sure your senior loved one is receiving the best care possible. Contact us to learn how these programs can help you manage your duties and have more fun caregiving.

The post How to Have Fun Caregiving for a Senior Loved One first appeared on Bethesda Health Group.

What is hospice care? In short, it’s end-of-life care for those who are expected to live for six months or less. In many instances, people enter hospice care after deciding to no longer pursue treatment for a condition or attempt to extend their life. Instead, they opt for pain management and to be as comfortable as possible for their remaining time.

While most hospice organizations provide the same basic services, their resources and attributes they offer for your family’s needs – such as religious affiliation and insurance compatibility – can vary greatly.

Hospice care can take place in a variety of settings, ranging from a hospital, to a hospice house, to a person’s own home. Where it takes place is often impacted by how much the patient’s family is able to manage their loved one’s care. So, the amount of help the family is able to offer is key in the decision-making process.

Important questions to ask hospice providers:

• What is expected of family caregivers, and will the hospice organization provide training for them?
• How often will a hospice team member visit?
• What is the expected response time if a hospice team member is needed?
• Are there any services, medications, or equipment the hospice team doesn’t provide?
• What kind of bereavement support is offered by the hospice service?

If your loved one is a veteran, ask if the provider is We Honor Veterans Certified. Organizations that are certified provide specific care related to the special needs of those who have served in the armed forces.

Finding a trusted hospice provider:

One way to find out information about a hospice provider is to ask your senior loved one’s doctor for a referral to a trusted organization. You can also check around in your community to ask about providers on which friends have relied to care for their family members. Inquire with members of your church or social organizations, ask your neighbors or check with your colleagues to find out who they turned to when they needed end-of-life care for a family member. Were they satisfied with the experience? Why or why not?

Another way to find information is to request an informational. This is typically a call from a member of the hospice care provider team to the family and provides a one-to-one opportunity to address many questions about Hospice and end of life care.

Once you’ve identified a potential candidate or two, it’s time to turn to the internet to make sure the organizations are accredited. While accreditation or endorsement by these agencies isn’t required by law, and a lack of approval doesn’t mean the organization isn’t reputable, it’s advisable to have a seal of approval from an independent evaluator.

Another place to check for information is your state’s hospice association website. Find information about hospice care in Missouri at mohospice.org. Learn about Bethesda’s Hospice Care by clicking here. Find information about hospice care in Illinois by clicking here. Find hospice providers anywhere in the country by accessing the National Hospice Locator.

Types of hospice care:

• Routine home care: A hospice care provider will come to where the patient lives to provide therapeutic care, coordinating a schedule with them and their family members.
• Continuous home care: Around-the-clock care for an extended period of time to address demanding needs, including treatment of severe pain.
• General inpatient care: When symptoms are too severe to be managed at home, care may take place during an inpatient stay. Sometimes, the condition can be brought under control so the person may return to the comfort of their own home.
• Respite care: When family members are capable of providing most of the care their loved one receives, they may find they need a brief break from their responsibilities. This can happen in an inpatient hospice setting, in a skilled nursing facility or a hospital for a set period of time.

Like many senior living, care and service organizations, Bethesda offers a team of compassionate caregivers to help families navigate end-of-life decisions. The team includes a registered nurse case manager, hospice aides, chaplains, social workers, physicians, therapists, and dieticians who will all work together to make sure your senior loved one’s needs are addressed.

A good program will work with you to tailor an individualized plan to suit your senior’s unique needs. You can be confident your loved one will get the compassionate care they deserve, and be comfortable in knowing that they’re well taken care of.

Find the hospice care approach that’s right for your loved one — contact Bethesda today to find the perfect fit. 

The post How to Choose the Right Hospice Care for Your Senior Loved One first appeared on Bethesda Health Group.

“I hired a maid… [My mother] didn’t talk to me for months. I filled two construction dumpsters full and there was still 2,400 square feet left to clean up. Eventually the maid quit when my Dad berated her for throwing away a plate with petrified ketchup gluing a dead mouse to it. That was the last time I tried to ‘help.’”

The comment, posted on a Children of Hoarders website discussion board, provides a glimpse into the daily lives of those with a parent or close senior who hoards.

It’s an all-too-common scenario: the adult child struggles to get his or her parent to clean out the house and stop bringing more stuff in, only to face resistance.

“What tends to happen … is that you’ve tried to solve the problem by arguing and by threatening and by demanding and it hasn’t worked,” said Michael Tompkins, a psychologist, co-director of the San Francisco Bay Area Center for Cognitive Therapy and author of Digging Out: Helping Your Loved One Manage Clutter, Hoarding & Compulsive Acquiring. “And so the result is the relationships get very damaged, and there’s a lot of resentment and mistrust and hurt feelings.”

Hoarding: A Psychiatric Disorder

Hoarding is not just excessive collecting or extreme messiness. Hoarding disorder was classified as a mental illness in 2013 in the fifth version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.

“Though hoarding usually begins in childhood, seniors are particularly vulnerable to its consequences,” Tompkins said. They may be frail and prone to falls in a cluttered environment; malnourishment can worsen because kitchen clutter may make it hard to use a stove or countertop; the sensory “blunting” that comes with age may prevent them from knowing when food is rotten; dementia can worsen symptoms and they may become isolated. Emergency personnel often have a hard time accessing extremely cluttered homes, and the excess of accumulated items and trash pose a pest and fire hazard, both for the resident and for nearby neighbors.

Besides dementia, hoarding disorder is the only mental health disorder that increases in severity and prevalence with age according to Catherine Ayers, a specialist in geriatric hoarding, section chief of the Outpatient Mental Health Clinics La Jolla at the VA San Diego Healthcare System and an associate professor in the department of psychiatry at the University of California San Diego.

What’s more, hoarding disorder is difficult to treat, leaving family members at a loss as to what to do. But experts have found certain strategies that may help.

Understanding the Senior Who Hoards

One way to start is through education.

“The best thing that family members can do is really educate themselves on what hoarding disorder is,” Ayers said. “It is a psychiatric illness; it’s something that is treatable and it’s not the person just being lazy or messy.”

“Those with a hoarding disorder have some of the same reasons for acquiring and keeping things as anyone else: value or perceived value, aesthetics and utility,” Ayers said. “Older people generally focus on utility; they could tell you 50 different ways to use a bottle cap.”

But the attachments they have to the objects are fierce. And they place those values ahead of others.

“The value of ‘waste not, want not’ for most people would not be adhered to at the expense of social relationships or safety,” for example, said C. Alec Pollard, director of the Center for OCD and Anxiety-Related Disorders at St. Louis Behavioral Medicine Institute and professor emeritus at St. Louis University School of Medicine.

Seniors with hoarding disorder “tend to not recognize that their beliefs are dysfunctional or abnormal. And then [they] think the rest of us are wasteful or irresponsible or unethical,” Pollard said.

Focus on You

“Most adult children who reach out for help with a parent who hoards want to immediately get rid of the clutter. And they often want to get the parent into treatment,” Pollard said.

But something else must come first.

“Many times, the adult child is so stressed from the problem itself, and they are struggling with anger, resentment, guilt, anxiety, maybe even depression, that we help them first,” Pollard said. “Make sure that before they start to do anything strategic with the senior’s hoarding habits, they have to take care of themselves first.”

“Part of that self-care is to resume the activities you may have stopped because of your parent’s hoarding,” Pollard said. “Get together with friends, go to the gym, and make time for yourself.”

It’s also important to stop “accommodating” the hoarding behavior, which means protecting your loved one from the consequences of his or her actions, experts say. That means you shouldn’t clean up after your senior who hoards or pay bills that resulted from damage caused by the hoarding, because that breeds more resentment on your part.

Stop Fighting and Repair the Relationship

It’s common for adult children to take matters into their own hands — but that can do more harm than good.

“The classic story is they give Mom a 10-day cruise in the Bahamas,” Tompkins said. “While she’s gone, they come in and clean the place out without her consent. Instead of being happy, as the children may expect, the older adult feels betrayed.”

“Many times, this is a very traumatic experience for individuals because they had actually no influence over this. Their experience was that this was done to them,” he said.

“At that point, several things happen,” Tompkins said. “One is that the relationships that the senior had with his or her children are totally broken. There’s so much hurt and mistrust.”

“Other results: The older adult becomes less likely to leave the home, increasing his or her isolation. And the parent’s attachment to collected objects worsens,” Tompkins said.

Bec Belofsky Shuer acknowledged that family members of a senior who hoards can become “overwhelmed, resentful, absolutely frustrated and full of blame.” She and her husband, Lee Shuer — who calls himself “an excessive finder-keeper in recovery” — founded Mutual Support Consulting to offer help for others who want to keep their relationships intact.

Resources for Families of Seniors Who Hoard

The Shuers have developed and run peer-recovery workshops and facilitator trainings around the country based on the Buried in Treasures model. They urge family members of a senior who hoards to get them connected to services like care management or home health care, offered by organizations like Bethesda Health Group in the St. Louis area.

Learn more about Care Management services in St. Louis.

If older adults are at risk of eviction from their home, they may be able to temporarily delay it with the help of the Fair Housing Act and other laws. The federal law provides for a “reasonable accommodation” for people with disabilities, and those with hoarding disorder may qualify.

Another resource is the International OCD Foundation (hoarding was previously thought to be a type of obsessive-compulsive disorder), whose website includes hoarding information, advice about dealing with family members, and a resource directory for therapists and treatment programs.

If Not Treatment, Reduce the Harm

What if your parent refuses treatment? “Unfortunately, that’s not uncommon,” Tompkins said.

“Seniors with hoarding disorder are generally not open to treatment for the condition,” he said. The alternative approach is called harm reduction. “You embrace the assumption that as long as the behavior continues, we’re going to minimize the risk.”

That may include making a “contract” with your parent to work on the home. You agree to do it together, and you come up with guidelines. For example, you pledge that you won’t let go of any more than what’s necessary to keep your parent safe.

“When the situation is dire, a forced cleanout may be the only way to keep the older person from homelessness,” Tompkins said.

“It’s a very complicated problem,” he said. “Everybody’s in a really tough spot.”

Find more senior home safety tips from Bethesda or contact us to learn more about our Home Health and Care Management services in St. Louis.

By Emily Gurnon for Next Avenue

© Next Avenue – 2018. All rights reserved.

The post How to Cope With a Senior Who Hoards first appeared on Bethesda Health Group.

Preparing for an In-Home Caregiver

Establish requirements and expectations

Seniors and/or family members should write down what they expect before hiring a caregiver. Keep in mind that the in-home caregiver may have his or her own requirements. A clear understanding will avoid problems later on. However, even when the caregiver has been hired, keep the lines of communication open and make adjustments.

Share stories about your loved one

Family members can share stories about their loved one that will foster relationship-building conversations between the in-home caregiver and senior. If the senior is experiencing cognitive decline, they may have difficulty talking about their remembrances of what is being shared, but they will still have a connection to those memories that the caregiver needs to understand.

Family members should also make an effort to learn about their caregiver. It could be casually asking about their family, hobbies, or favorite TV shows.

Talk about preferences

The caregiver will need to know the senior’s personal habits. Where do they like to eat in the house? How does the senior like his or her eggs?  What TV programs do they watch? What music do they listen to? How do they go about their morning routine?

Seniors have maintained their home and way of life for years. They have specific ways of doing things. A caregiver may not perform household chores in the same manner; therefore, having a caregiver in the home is quite an adjustment for most seniors. Find common ground, compromise, and consider what is best for everyone.

Keep communicating

Relationships need continuous attention and open communication. This involves not only telling the in-home caregiver what he or she is doing well, but what needs to be changed. For family members who live some distance from the senior, staying in touch with a caregiver may be the best source of information they have about their loved one.

Behaviors That Hurt Relationships

People communicate with each other in many different ways; what they say, how and when they say it, and with body language. Often, we do not realize that we are saying a lot about someone else by things such as:

• Eye rolling
• Sighing loudly
• Not paying attention to the other person
• Using a condescending or patronizing tone
• Being unresponsive

When interacting with the caregiver, give them your full attention. Don’t look around the room, check your watch, or stop to read a text. Listen to the other person. Show you are engaged.

Demonstrate a genuine interest in the other person. Caregivers are people, and people respond well to others who treat them as such. Seniors and family members should express to the caregiver the value he or she brings to the home.

Practice Patience

Caregiving is a tremendous responsibility and a constant learning experience. The vast majority of caregivers are deeply committed to the people they care for. But building a strong relationship does not happen in a day. Patience is a virtue that can establish bonds between people. It provides the time to see things in a more positive light, and can bring us to better understanding of each other.

For more tips on creating rewarding relationships, visit Bethesda’s assisted living blog.

The post Building Strong Relationships with Your In-Home Caregiver first appeared on Bethesda Health Group.

At a minimum, people of any age should get a yearly checkup, even if nothing seems wrong. This visit gives the doctor a chance to monitor a patient’s health and compare their wellness to their last visit. This is especially important for senior adults, who more commonly have chronic and complex health concerns.

A doctor who regularly sees a patient can make a better diagnosis based on observed changes in that patient’s health. Management of chronic diseases also becomes more effective, as the physician has a better understanding of the patient’s health history.

This can prevent complications that are more serious, thus leading to fewer medical and emergency room visits. Altogether, regular doctor visits actually lower the patient’s health-care costs.

Developing a Relationship

A doctor who sees you regularly gets to really know you and your well-being. Just as importantly, you get to know the doctor. This relationship will help you communicate better with them. You will also feel more comfortable sharing information and asking questions. As a result, you will have more confidence in your care.

What is ‘Regularly?’

There is no fixed schedule that works for everyone when it comes to seeing a doctor. Factors such as age and health determine how often a visit is needed. An annual visit is recommended at the very least.

You should also consider the following:

• On your last visit, did your doctor recommend a date for your return?
• Did you go to this return visit?
• Has your health changed since your last visit, with a new or worsening symptom?

Getting the Most Out of the Visit

It might be advisable for a caregiver, friend, or relative to accompany an older adult to their doctor appointment. Not only will this person provide emotional and transportation support, but they serve as another set of ears to hear what the doctor recommends and another set of eyes to read any written instructions.

Before the appointment, the caregiver and older adult should discuss what they want to accomplish during the visit. Are there new symptoms or concerns to report? Is there anything that needs explanation or review? For example: You want to clear up any confusion about medications and questions about their effectiveness.

Bring a list of the medications and questions to the appointment, along with paper and pen to record information.

After the visit, caregivers and senior adults should compare notes to ensure that all are able to understand and follow through with the doctor’s recommendations. Do not hesitate to contact the doctor’s office if there are still any questions or misunderstandings.

Finally, find a safe place for the visit’s notes. Make sure the information from the visit is not lost.

Common Health Suggestions for Seniors

• Be sure to get a flu shot each year. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), people age 65 or older are at greater risk for complications from the flu. A high-dose vaccine is designed for people 65 or older. Other vaccine options such as nasal spray vaccines are not recommended for this age group. Check with your doctor.
• The CDC also recommends pneumococcal vaccines for those 65 or older. These protect against diseases seniors are more susceptible to like pneumonia, meningitis, and bloodstream infections.
• Some of the annual tests for senior adults recommended by the American Medical Association include the following:
• Blood work, which will vary between patients, but should include blood count, glucose tests and thyroid tests.
• A chest X-ray may be recommended and a fecal occult blood test to check for blood in the stool.
• For men, a prostate exam or PSA test up to the age of 75 is recommended to check for prostate cancer. Women should receive an annual mammogram until age 75, as well as a bone density test to detect loss of bone mass (osteoporosis).
• An annual vision screening is important to minimize vision loss from eye diseases like cataracts and glaucoma.

There are other tests recommended every two to five years, depending upon your age and physical condition. Your doctor may also want to run additional tests, based upon his or her knowledge of your health.

When Do You Need a Geriatric Physician?

A geriatric physician, or geriatrician, is a physician who specializes in the health of seniors. They are board-certified in family medicine or internal medicine. These doctors have additional training and experience in the treatment of disabilities and diseases for older adults.

In most cases, internal medicine or family practice doctors can serve as a primary care provider for senior adults. However, if there is a significant increase in frailty, or if managing the senior’s health becomes increasingly complex for caregivers, a geriatric physician may be considered.

Speak with your primary care physician. He or she can recommend what to do and refer you to a geriatric physician if that is what is needed.

If you haven’t seen your doctor recently, it’s time to give them a call! Contact Bethesda or continue reading more Senior Health and Wellness tips.

The post The Benefits of Seeing a Doctor Regularly first appeared on Bethesda Health Group.