I Care For Elders » Long-Term Care

Dialysis Decisions & Continued Care for Elders

admin — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 19:23:32 +0000

I just read this article from the New york Times blog about elderly patients who are experiencing kidney failure. For the past several decades, these patients would be led directly to dialysis treatment, which has been completely covered by the federal government.

But today, as kidney failure seems to have skyrocketed since those days, the medical industry now has to make choices as to who will get treatment and who will not. The first problem is that we are broke as a nation. The second problem is that the medical community cannot properly handle all the people who need treatment.

So who gets the free dialysis treatment?

The article goes on to talk about how oftentimes, doctors are hesitant to recommend dialysis for patients who are experiencing a ton of health problems already. If you have a person whose kidneys are failing, and who is also in the late stages of cancer or heart disease, or perhaps Alzheimer’s, etc, then dialysis might be of no use whatsoever. Some doctors say that this treatment could end up causing a world of pain and problems for those seniors. And because there is a shortage of available treatment anyway….

Okay, you can see where this is going. It’s a real problem, but there is something about it that makes me uneasy. Are we talking about health care rationing at this point? Are we going to dictate who is allowed to get what kind of treatment?

Honestly, I don’t know the answers here, but the issue is troubling. The article talks about how almost no senior wants to forgo dialysis. Why? Because they know it can keep them alive. Their quality of life might not be helped at all. But they will at least be alive. And they want that option. But the doctors would counter and say that kidney treatment won’t help them if they are just going to die of something else that they are suffering from.

My question is this: will cardiologists suggest that they should not treat heart patients who are already suffering greatly of kidney issues? Or will they turn down surgery candidates because they think the patient might die anyway as a result of the patient’s cancer? And then will the oncologist refuse to offer chemotherapy to a cancer patient because that patient has heart trouble? Or because the patient is on dialysis?

Do you see the problem? Where does it start, and where does it end? I assume that we are only having the discussion about dialysis because we are talking about the direct appropriation of federal tax dollars?

Look, I am not getting political here. This is obviously a complicated issue, and I don’t pretend to understand it all. I am not a doctor or a politician. I’m a pastor. I happen to think that senior citizens are people who are every bit as valuable as any member of society, no matter what abilities, or disabilities they have. I believe they are made in the image of God, and they ought to be respected. That’s what we do at iCare for Elders. So this whole discussion is really disconcerting. I don’t want to give anyone an excuse to let sick seniors die.

I can only hope and pray that the ones who have to make these awful decisions make them carefully. And that they will put the needs and the desires of patients at the highest priority at all times.

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Budget Battles & The Future of Elder Care

admin — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 19:32:24 +0000

Unless you have been hiding under a rock for the past two weeks, you should know that there is a major debate raging in Madison, WI, and around the United States. And no matter what side of the labor protests you side with, there is no doubt that the underlying issues will affect the future of senior care.

The protests that are raging in Madison are being done by public sector unions who oppose the new governor’s plan to balance the state budget. Both sides know the budget crisis is big and something must be done. He wants to cut back on the meaty benefits package that many state employees are getting, which are in many cases far higher than private employees. And he wants to make sure this does not happen again by limiting their ability to collectively bargain. That really set off many of his constituents, especially the public school teachers, and the protests began. Thousands came to the Madison capitol steps, and sparked a nation wide debate on how best to get our finances under control

The purpose of this article is not to splice the labor issues, but to consider the larger issue of what a budget crunch is going to mean for senior care across the country. Here is the reality: we are broke. As a nation, and as individual states. Legislators, governors and presidents have been authorizing new spending bills left and right, but there is not enough money coming in to cover them.

Where is this all going? One place: tax hikes and more spending cuts, across the board. Legislators do not want to end up dealing with Greece has dealt with in recent years, with out of control debt. Nobody wants to go bankrupt, here. And in all likelihood, there are to be cut spending to all sorts of major programs, including some that seniors depend on.

Here’s one article from the Orlando Chronicle that explains the dilemma. As you can see, this is not a Republican / Democrat issue, but a mathematical one. Nobody knows how to predict where the cuts will come exactly, or how deep, but they are going to come. And baby-boomers who are going to be seniors soon would be wise to consider how to best find affordable health care when they need to retire.

Here is why: it costs a state around $6,000 per month in Medicare funds to care for a patient in a nursing home. Naturally, this figure adds up very quickly. As states are looking for places to cut spending, they will not overlook this. And I expect they will turn to cheaper options, like Home Health Care.

Senior Home Care: Is it the Future?

Home Health Care agencies are popping up all over the country, both because many seniors would prefer to stay home then move into a senior care facility, and because home care is generally cheaper than assisted living, which patients usually pay for themselves. This trend is likely to continue as states buckle down on their budgets. If they can affordably take care of Assisted Living patients who need help with activities for daily living, could they also conceivably care for nursing home patients in their own home and save lots of money doing it?

They will certainly look into it, and if you are in this position, you really should consider it, too. Whether you are fitting the bill yourself, or Uncle Sam is helping out, home health care companies are figuring out ways to be more efficient than other forms of care for elders.

Do you need to find care for your senior loved one in your area? Check out the Care.com banner at the top of the sidebar. Enter your zip code to find senior care providers in your area.

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Finding the Right Senior Caregiver, part 1

admin — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 18:50:43 +0000

Recently, a scam artists bilked an 89 year old man out of thirty thousand dollars. Of course, this type of thing happens all the time, right? But there was something especially heinous about this story: the scammer was the man’s caregiver.

Here’s the story. In this case, the caregiver was a woman who pretended to cozy up to the wealthy man and start a romance. She was 58 years old. As he grew to trust her, he asked her to go buy a new car for him, which she could drive him around in. So he gave her the money. Thirty grand.

She bought the car, all right! She bought it, and put it in her name…

Thankfully, this time, the woman did not get away with it. She was arrested, tried and convicted for her fraud, and she even has to pay the money back in restitution. Justice has happened!

But the issue raises a larger issue in my mind: How do you choose a caregiver that you can trust? After all, this story took place in an Oregon assisted living home, but seniors who get home health care from an agency or an individual are far more vulnerable, even. When a person begins to get to know them, to understand how they operate, they could be very easy prey for a scam artist. It could happen through a false romance, but more likely, it could happen in far more subtle ways. A credit card disappearing. Old jewelry, lying around, is suddenly gone. Or it could happen in the most drastic ways of all: the caregiver winds up in the will of the senior, receiving lavish gifts. And the family can do nothing.

With this in mind, we will be exploring how we as family members can protect the ones we love when choosing a caregiver. The discussion will move far beyond protecting from fraud. We will look at how to find a person that will encourage your loved one. Someone who can really be able to relate to them. Someone who knows what they are doing.

So stay tuned for our series, “Finding the right Caregiver.”

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Can a Dog Help Your Senior Loved One?

admin — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 04:12:47 +0000

We all know what a big help dogs can be to the handicapped of our society. Seeing eye dogs have been used since before World War II, and guide dogs in general have been used, some believe, for the past 500 years. So I guess it should be no surprise to find that therapy pets have recently been all over Assisted Living locations and adult day care centers helping with seniors who have Alzheimer’s disease or dementia.

So how do they help? Do they fetch memories of yesteryear, when the senior they are visiting had a dog of their own? Maybe. But probably not. What they do is help the patient relax. People who experience pet therapy often get their stress levels reduced, along with their blood pressure. In general, they just feel better.

There is something about therapy dogs and the patients they work with. And this isn’t just some feel-good but far-fetched idea being touted by fringe scientists. Doctors and animal experts–from places like the Mayo Clinic–agree that pet therapy is extremely helpful; almost like having a drug, as elderly care article quotes.

So what does this mean for you? It means you can take advantage. Do you care for your loved one at home? Maybe you should think about getting them a dog. A friendly one, like a well trained golden retriever. Or if you have your senior in an Oregon assisted living facility, consider having pet therapy visits by bringing a pet to them.

I know, I know… it doesn’t have to be a dog. It could be a cat. Or a hamster, or a parrot for that matter. But I’ve got my money on Fido.

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How Care for Elders in the Winter

admin — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 00:54:11 +0000

It’s January, and reports of blizzards and record cold temperatures are hitting us like, well, like a barrage of snowfall. Cold weather makes us want to stay inside all day long. But if you have a loved one in elder care services, don’t wait too long! After all, regular family visits are big highlights in the lives of grandparents who live in elder care communities.

But what can you possibly do in the winter?

Here are just a few ideas:

Things to do with Grandma in a Wet Winter Climate:

Grab an umbrella and take a walk at the park.
Go visit a nature reserve.
Take the kids along to the zoo. The animals don’t take days off when it’s wet!

Things to do with Grandma in a Cold Winter Climate:

Get to a coffee shop, grab some hot tea, and then go take in a local show
Go to the mall. It’s not snowing there!
Go pick her up and bring her over to your house. Have her make cookies with the kids.
Grab a DVD, pick up some lunch, and surprise her at the elderly care facility. That way, she doesn’t even have to put on a coat to have some special family time.

I know, I know… these are pretty basic ideas. But the fact that I came up with a half dozen in a few minutes shows just what a no-brainer this is. So what if the weather is bad! There are lots of things you can do to have a good time, and to help your loved one remember that she is not forgotten!

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Robotic Help for Assisted Living

admin — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 21:54:55 +0000

I always enjoyed watching Star Trek back in the day, and there was one part of the show that was always particularly fascinating: Data. The Android-robot. Would it ever be possible to develop such an intelligent artificial intelligence? The show ratcheted it up a notch on the Voyager series, where the ship’s doctor was a holographic computer projection with a brain the size of the ship’s computer. Thus, a robot was in charge of caring for the medical needs of human patients.

Could this ever happen in the world of assisted living and elderly care? Well, consider the efforts of some scientists in Japan. They are developing the RIBA (Robot for Interactive Body Assistance) to be a special kind of helper in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. RIBA’s job description is pretty narrow so far: it helps seniors transfer from a bed to a chair, and vice versa. But the developers have high hopes that some day, this bear-robot-caregiver will be able to do much more.

Since “transferring” is one of the most common types of Activities for Daily Living that are dealt with in Assisted Living facilities, RIBA could become a real help in senior homes in the future. Lifting patients can be a full-time gig in larger facilities, and it can be exhausting, especially for smaller caregivers. If there was a way to utilize technology in caring for seniors, would it be worth it?

There are other ambitious scientists that are also researching into using robotics in elder care services, as outlined and discussed at this Elderly Care blog. Do you agree with their conclusions?

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Oregon Elder Care Services

admin — Sat, 04 Dec 2010 19:30:58 +0000

Seniors and their families can face a difficult, up hill battle in getting the exact right kind of care they need in the exact, right location. Fortunately for Oregon residents, there is an abundance of both.

Oregon Elder Care Services are broad. Portland, in particular, offers just about any type of elder care housing that you could possibly ask for. Whether you need nursing home care, assisted living, retirement care, continuing care, alzheimer’s care… the list goes on and on… they have it.

Here are some listings for Portland

Portland Nursing Homes
Portland Elder Care (General)
Portland Memory Care

The same is true for the smaller cities of Eugene and Salem. Each of these cities have around one hundred fifty thousand residents, and yet both have a good selection of senior housing. This includes a new form of senior care: residential home care. This is a type of assisted living that lets seniors live in a family setting. It also includes continuing care, which is a “continuum of care” that begins with retirement living, and lets the patient get more care as the need arises. Residents can move into an assisted living facility or a nursing home facility without signing a contract with a new company. It is an all encompassing type of elder care.

Here are some directory listings for Eugene

And Finally, somem links for Salem

To find assisted living where you are, use the box at the top right corner of this page. For more advice on elderly care, visit that link.

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When You Can’t Be There This Christmas

admin — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 22:48:04 +0000

We can all imagine just how difficult it would be to be left alone in an Assisted Living facility over Christmas time. So what do you do as a family member who lives hundreds of miles away? How can you help grandma to avoid becoming one of the millions of Americans who get depressed over the holidays?

This is not an easy answer. There is no simple fix. People want to be together on the holidays, and there is simply no substitute for a human touch. However, there are a couple of things you can do to help your aging loved one know that she is loved and remembered.

First, call her, and then call her again! Seriously. Give her a phone call the night before Christmas. Let the children tell her how much they love her. Take time to tell her you wish she could be with you. And then call her again the next morning to say how much the kids enjoyed opening their presents. Her present to them:)

Secondly, get her visuals as soon as possible. If she has video chat capabilities (we have talked a lot about that on this site!), then get her on Skype or Face Time and let her be a part of the festivities. Let her see your faces. If not, send her pictures right away. Chances are, she at least has email, right? Send her some photos of the kids, the food, the tree. Make her a part of the celebration even though she is away.

Finally, make her gift personal! Don’t just order something for her online and have it shipped to her elder care services home. That is all well and good, but just make sure you do something else as well. Something that has a person ring to it. Have the kids make her a gift. Send a personal card with personal photos. Put some real thought into it. Write her a note. Make her a calendar with faces of the kids. Just do something to let her know that you cared enough to take some time for her.

There is no way to completely fend off the feelings of sadness and loneliness over the holidays for grandma. But you can at least let her know that no matter where she is, you and the family still love her very much. For more ideas, check out Elderly Care Services.

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A Great Senior Gift Idea

admin — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 18:38:08 +0000

My father, a sixty, one year old hospice chaplain from Texas,visited us this Thanksgiving, and I was surprised to see how much his eyesight had diminished. He is far from blind, but reading has become really difficult for him, and he has always enjoyed a good book. I was eager to show off my newest gadget–my Amazon Kindle–as soon as he got there. And in just a few minutes, he was hooked.

The Kindle: A Great Gift for Seniors

The Kindle is a fantastic device for any book lover for many reasons, but it is especially great for seniors in an elderly care facility. Books can be downloaded in onto it in a few clicks, without a computer and without cables of any kind. And the selection of books at Amazon is unbelievable, especially as far as classics and out of print books are concerned. You can find most anything that was published more than a hundred years ago for under two dollars. Most of them, you can find for free! So for my dad, a western book lover and Zane Grey fan, this was a huge plus.

I helped him download the Kindle App for his laptop, set up an Amazon account for him, and showed him how he could instantly load up on all the Zane Grey books he wanted. And for the first time in a while, he found himself absorbed into novels for days. What changed? Besides the easy access to the books he loved, there was this: he could increase the font size and adjust the brightness as much as he wanted to. For a sixty-one year old, this is a priceless perk.

After a couple of days, I was busy, so I let him read a Grey novel on my Kindle itself. The new Kindle’s have a button that will let you increase the font and contrast with one click. He, of course, popped the size up to giant print. It would drive me crazy to have to turn pages so often, but this was the perfect arrangement for him. The long and short of it is this: he read at least 3 novels in the week he was with us. He found a passion that he had forgotten about. Print size had prohibited him, but with the Kindle, it is no longer an issue.

Great for Seniors in Assisted Living

Senior book worms in an assisted living facility will undoubtedly love the Kindle for that reason, but for this as well: the Kindle can hold thousands of books, and Assisted Living apartments typically have very little space for things like bookshelves.

The books are cheap. The print is as big as they want it. And the storage space is non-existant. Yes, the Kindle might just be the perfect Christmas gift for seniors!

To find assisted living and other elderly care services in your area, use the box at the top of the sidebar.

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Wii Kinect With Our Grandparents!

admin — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 19:52:20 +0000

Okay, so last Christmas we wrote this article about the Nintendo Wii, and how seniors all over the country have fallen in love with video games. Weird, huh? All it took was a switch from controllers to natural motion. Seniors hate tiny buttons, as we all know. And, as it turns out, most of us prefer natural motion as well. Well, it’s even more true today than it was a year ago. In fact, recent studies show that men and women over the age of 50 now represent more than one quarter of all video game players! Amazing, isn’t it?

The Wii remains a proven hit with seniors, particularly those who have built in competition within an assisted living community or skilled nursing center. If you can’t get out and play golf on the links anymore, maybe you can still play 9 holes in your living room, right? But this Christmas, the Wii has its first real competition: The XBOX 360 Kinect.

Enter the XBOX 360 Kinect

If you haven’t seen the barrage of television ads, you certainly will! The Kinect is a truly revolutionary product. It takes the Wii idea to the next level. Now, you don’t even need to hold on to a motion sensor controller. All you need to do is set up the Kinect Sensor, and it senses your movements. Now you can control your game by simply moving your body, or giving voice commands!

The system is brand new, so it is expensive, to be sure. The sensor addition to the XBOX 360 console is about $200 right now, and the games are $50. It gets worse for those who do not already have an XBOX 360, because you have to have the console in order to play the Kinect games, and the console will run you from $150 to $200. So you will need to expect to pay well over $350 to grab this system.

But will it be worth it? I guess that depends on the seniors in your life. If they have enough mobility, and a good eight feet of empty space in their living room, then it is almost certain to be a hit. Not only can they play games on the system, they can also watch DVD’s, stream music, and even video conference with the grandkids (Note: This feature costs a bit extra: $50 per year is what I have heard). But all of this can be operated with voice commands! This might be the biggest selling point of all. They can sit on the couch and speak to the computers as if they are the Starship Enterprise! They can “ENGAGE” the family through gaming or conferencing even if they live in an elder care community.

Now that, young man, is cool!

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