Elderly-Care Articles
How To Spot Elder Abuse
(category: Elderly-Care, Word count: 812)
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Elder abuse is described by the following acts among family and members of the household, any nursing home staff or any individual.
- When somebody attempts or causes physical injury to an elder
- When the family member or staff of a nursing home try to or is trying to place an elder in terror or alarm of physical harm by torment, threat or harassment
- When one is convincing or persuading an elder by strength or intimidation to participate in a certain act from which the elder has the right to withhold
- When one meaningfully confines the movements of an elder without his consent
- Threatening the elder to a crime of violence
1. Detecting Abuse:
- Burn markings from cigarette
- Black eye, lacerations, bruises or cuts that can not be explained
- Rope marks, a sign that the elder had been tied or slashed upon
- Hair loss, a sign that the elder's hair was pulled
- Bodily sores and wounds
- Fingernails that are broken
- The elder's skin is very poor condition
- Fractures of the bone
- Bite marks
- Eye glasses are broken
- Laboratory results are positive of drug overdose
- The elder displays a sudden change of behavior
- The care giver refuses to allow visitors to see the elder
2. Signs Of Neglect:
- Sores are untreated
- Displays significant signs of malnutrition
- May show signs of insanity
- Lack of personal hygiene care
3. Signs Of Emotional Abuse:
- May display a nervous behavior
- Constantly be disturbed or upset
- Displays a negative attitude
- Always in anxiety
- Demonstrate signs of insecurity, such as constant sucking or biting of the fingers
4. Financial Abuse:
- Unknown withdrawal from the elder's account
- Unusual ATM withdrawals and switching of accounts
- The elder tend to withdraw money often
- The elder does not receive his pension or Social Security check from the mail
- The elder, without any valid reason, revises his will and changes his beneficiary
- The elder unexplainably signs contracts that results to unwanted financial commitment
- Signature was forged
- The elder has plenty of unpaid bill, despite his assets that can very well cover the bill
- Strange credit card charges
5. Signs Of Sexual Abuse
- Mysterious and unexplained genital infection
- Anal or vaginal bleeding that can not be explained
- Ripped underwear
- The elder may tell someone that she has been sexually abused
- Genitals are bruised
- The elder may report that her care giver is showing her pornographic materials
- The report of the elder that she is forced to touch someone's genitals, observe sexual acts, tell dirty stories and pose nude for a picture
6. How Can You Prevent Abuse To Yourself As An Elder?
- Keep and continue contacts with friends and neighbors
- Work out on a buddy system with other elders in the home
- Be active socially, do not be in isolation
- Protest and speak up if you are not happy or contented with the way your caregiver or other family member treats you. Tell somebody
- Request your friends and other relatives to visit you often
- Open your mail personally
- Never sign anything unless it was reviewed by someone that you trust
- Always review your will once in a while
- Coordinate so that your pension or Social Security check be deposited directly to your bank account than being sent by mail
7. How Can You Prevent Abuse To Others?
- Pay attention. Be wary and look out for signals that might point towards abuse
- Call your loved one as frequently as possible
- Visit your loved one often and make certain that she is well taken cared of
- Always be open to your loved one, taking the time to always talk to her and assure her that you are there to help and can be trusted
- Get permission to periodically look into your loved one's bank accounts as well as credit card statements for unauthorized withdrawals or transactions
8. How To Get Help If You Or Someone You Know Is Suffering Abuse:
911 or your local police emergency number or your local hospital emergency room
1225 Eye Street, NVW Suite 725
National Center on Elder Abuse
Washington, DC 20005
(202) 898-2586
Fax: (202) 898-2583
Area Agency on Aging
Almost all States have information as well as a referral line that can be useful and helpful in locating and finding services for elder abuse and neglect victims.
National Domestic Violence Hotline
The hotline provides support counseling for victims of domestic violence and provides links to 2,500 local support services for abused women. The hotline operates 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
Finding Nonmedical Home Care
(category: Elderly-Care, Word count: 378)
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There are a number of ways to get nonmedical supportive services inside a home. But regardless of what level of service you are looking for, odds are you will find yourself facing one choice: Should you find and hire an independent contractor or someone who works for an agency? Here's a closer look at both options.
Nonagency Service
Nonagency workers, or independent contractors, are hired by either a family member or the person needing help. While this may appear less expensive, it could involve some hidden costs and risks:
(*) Whoever hires an independent contractor must pay all appropriate payroll taxes because, technically, that person is the employer.
(*) If the independent contractor is injured on the job, the person who hires the individual is responsible for medical bills and any other expenses.
(*) If the independent contractor is sick or goes on vacation, he or she is not obligated to find a replacement.
(*) Because people often hire an independent contractor without first conducting the proper background checks, they may be leaving themselves or their loved ones open to theft, fraud and-in rare cases-even abuse.
Agency Service
Companies such as Interim HealthCare employ individuals to provide specific services that help with activities of daily living such as preparing meals, light housework, bathing and companionship. The agency can alleviate consumers of many of the problems they may face if they hire an independent contractor because it is responsible for taxes, insurance, bonding and workers' compensation. Also, if an employee is sick or goes on vacation, the agency provides another employee to perform the needed services.
The home care agency provides training for its employees and ongoing supervision as well. This helps the agency monitor and respond to the changing needs of clients, ensuring that the appropriate level/skill of caregiver is assigned. The agency also conducts background checks according to state law.
In addition, the agency is often licensed to provide a higher level of home care (skilled nursing, for example) for individuals. That means that as a person's needs change, he does not need to work with more than one company. Working with one company can make it easier to access formal payer sources such as Medicare.
Potassium Concerns In The Elderly
(category: Elderly-Care, Word count: 364)
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Having sufficient nutrients in the body is a general goal for everyone. It doesn't necessarily take great effort to achieve this goal. If you simply follow a diet rich in vitamins and minerals, you should be healthy. However, taking medication, genetics, and age can cause you to become vitamin or mineral deficient. Potassium is one such mineral that the elderly or those individuals who care for them should be aware.
Potassium is a mineral that, in combination with sodium and calcium, maintains normal heart rhythm, regulates the body's water balance, and is responsible for the conduction of nerve impulses and the contraction of muscles. The body of an average-sized person contains about 5 ounces (140 g) of potassium. Blood levels of the mineral are controlled by the kidneys, which eliminate any excess in the urine.
Potassium deficiency is rare because almost all foods contain potassium. The best sources of potassium include lean meat, whole grains, green leafy vegetables, beans, and many fruits (especially bananas and oranges). A diet that includes these foods is sufficient for obtaining adequate amounts of potassium.
Since potassium sources are so abundant, for most people potassium deficiency is not a concern. The elderly, however, are at a greater risk for potassium deficiency. The main reason the elderly should be concerned about sufficient deficiency is because their kidneys and other organs tend not to function as well. This results in the system not being able to absorb and regulate the amount of potassium in the body.
In addition, medications prescribed for the treatment of high blood pressure are less effective with elderly. High blood pressure can lead to serious health conditions, including diabetes and heart disease. So, the elderly who are prescribed blood pressure reducing medications with little success may want to discuss potassium supplementation with their doctor.
The main symptoms of potassium deficiency are irregular heart rate, gastrointestinal problems, muscle weakness and abnormal skin sensations, such as numbness. To detect potassium deficiency a doctor tests the patient's blood levels for the presence of potassium. If less than 5.6 grams of potassium are present the individual is determined to have a potassium deficiency.
What Are The Pros And Cons Of A Manual Wheel Chair
(category: Elderly-Care, Word count: 346)
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Are you trying to decide between a manual wheel chair and an electric one? Before I explain the pros and cons of owning a manual wheel chair as opposed to an electric wheel chair, here are some important considerations to take into effect.
A manual wheel chair requires you to use your own muscles to propel yourself forward. So if you have decent to good upper body strength, these may be ideal for you. You can get manual wheel chairs that are lightweight. You can also get sports chairs and outdoor chairs too.
Here are the pros and cons of owning a manual wheel chair:
Pros:
1.More affordable.
2.Great for temporary/short term use.
3.May maintain upper body strength and endurance, as it is a self-propelled wheel chair requiring upper body ability.
4.Most common models are lightweight and fairly easy to transport.
5.May require less maintenance.
Cons:
1.If you lack upper body strength or ability, and the ability to self-propel yourself throughout the day, on a daily basis - manually, then this may not be the wheel chair for you.
2.Harder to get around than in an electric wheel chair. You lose the luxury of "automatic" mobility the electric wheel chair offers.
3.Depending upon your condition, you may require a helper to push you around if you own a manual wheel chair.
When talking to a sales rep at a wheel chair store, it's important to let him or her know your physical condition. What you will and will not be capable of.
Let him or her know if you have a nurse or someone available who can push you and if temporary, for how long you expect to be in the wheel chair. (If it's not to long, you may want to look into getting a used wheel chair or even wheel chair rental.) With that information, he or she can better help you pick out the model and brand perfect for you.
Something For Seniors To Smile About
(category: Elderly-Care, Word count: 403)
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A generation ago, dentures and bridgework were all too common among U.S. seniors. Today, according to a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Americans are keeping their natural teeth longer. In part, seniors can thank endodontists, the dentists who specialize in performing root canal treatment and saving natural teeth.
Endodontists' advanced training and access to cutting-edge technologies allow them to save older teeth that once were considered hopeless. As people age, the canals inside their teeth narrow, making tooth-saving procedures more difficult. Using new technologies, such as ultrasonics and operating microscopes, endodontists can locate even the smallest canals to remove inflamed pulp and nerves, and preserve natural teeth. Digital imaging, which is used in place of traditional X-rays to take pictures of teeth, is another tool that significantly increases endodontists' ability to find the cause of pain in even the narrowest root canal.
"Endodontists are accustomed to working within a very small space," says Dr. Marc Balson, D.D.S., president of the American Association of Endodontists. "Our background, which includes four years of dental school followed by two to three years of advanced training, allows us to perform root canal treatment efficiently on any patient."
During root canal treatment, the endodontist removes the inflamed or infected pulp (the soft tissue inside teeth), carefully cleans and shapes the inside of the canal (a channel inside the root), then fills and seals the space. A well done root canal is like a solid foundation in a house -it allows for further restorative work to be done on a tooth with a likelihood of long-term health and stability.
Endodontists' training also helps them deal with seniors' special medical needs. The same prescription medications that allow older Americans to lead healthier, more active lives can pose problems when it comes time to undergo dental procedures. Endodontists routinely conduct a thorough assessment of elderly patients' medical histories in preparation for root canal treatment, so as to avoid harmful drug interactions and safely treat patients with high blood pressure and other chronic conditions.
The most important advantage endodontists offer older patients is experience. On average, endodontists perform 25 root canal treatments each week, while general dentists perform two. This means that seeing an endodontist for root canal treatment is the healthiest way for seniors to avoid dentures, bridgework or artificial implants, and preserve their smiles for a lifetime.
Making The Nursing Home Choice
(category: Elderly-Care, Word count: 203)
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While placing a loved one in a nursing home is a difficult decision, there may come a time when it is the right one. It will help if you do your homework and trust your instincts.
According to the Department of Health and Human Services, the nation's nursing homes provide care to over 1.5 million people. Over 90% of these residents are over age 65. Most of the residents are frail and require round-the-clock supervision due to dementia.
Things You Need to Know
A nursing home is a residence that provides room, meals, nursing and rehabilitative care, medical services and protective supervision to its residents. While someone coming from the hospital may require the services of many long-term care professionals such as nurses, therapists and social workers, a nursing home is not a hospital (acute care) setting. The goal at a nursing home is to help people maintain as much of their independent functioning as possible in a supportive environment.
Choosing a Facility
One of the first things to consider when making a nursing home choice is the needs of the individual for whom you're providing care, suggest experts at the MetLife Mature Market Institute
Mobility Electric Scooters Freedom For The Elderly
(category: Elderly-Care, Word count: 810)
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There would not be much excitement in life if you had to spend it sitting in a chair or lying in a bed every day. Relying on somebody else to perform simple tasks for you, such as getting a drink of water, can make you feel like you are nothing but a burden to others. If you or someone you love needs a boost maybe electric scooters are what you should be investigating.
It wasn't too long ago that the elderly and handicapped relied exclusively on others for their care and entertainment. But with the recent advancements in scooters many seniors or disabled people can now grab hold of some of their freedom again. Cheap electric scooters can allow the formerly bed-ridden or chair-ridden to travel as if they actually had legs that worked again. No more depression due to lack of independence. Returned is the ability not only to get yourself a glass of water, but to go out and get the morning newspaper or even take the dog for a walk. Getting out in the fresh air is something that may not have been possible for many without the assistance of electric scooters. Some people think of scooters as belonging in a sports category, but it's all recreation and assistance.
In my neighborhood there is an elderly gentleman that cruises down the sidewalk with his control lever in one hand and his dog leash in the other. Without his electric scooter there would be no fresh air for him. There would be no walking the dog or talking with the friendly neighbors he runs into (figuratively, not literally). He's free once again to roam the streets with his best friend Fido. What a great feeling that must be, to get out of the house for a short time each day when it used to be impossible. There's practically nowhere a person can't go these days with the help of these magnificent little vehicles.
There are a wide variety of scooters available to the public these days. Besides electric types there are gas, utility and foldable models. They all have their advantages under certain conditions. Kids love the compact and easy-to-handle foldable or Razor scooters. They are very cheap, often under $100, and make getting places a snap. They are also very inexpensive to operate once you own one. Kids use their scooters as motorcycles, but a scooter is so much more than a miniature motorcycle, they are a means of obtaining freedom for the elderly.
Gas powered scooters are more powerful, allowing the driver to travel further distances away from home. There are even larger touring models manufactured for the sole purpose of long distance travel. The touring types are bigger and heavier, and they consume a little more fuel, but they allow for long distance travel unlike the foldable, utility or mobility models.
Utility scooters are becoming very popular with different types of institutions such as school campuses, professional sports stadiums, golfers and big businesses. Have you ever seen a person driving a cart in a school parking lot, going from car to car looking for parking violations? In all probability they were driving utility scooters. And golf carts are just a modified version of this type. It's hard going to any large institution these days without running into a utility scooter of some type or another.
The electric models are very versatile and are used to perform many functions. They are used in the foldable and utility types most often. But perhaps where they perform their greatest task is in assisting the elderly or disabled. It wasn't too long ago that these mobility vehicles had a very limited distance, but with the advancement of batteries and their capacities they can now be used for an entire day before needing to be recharged. They can be driven all day and then plugged in at night for recharging while everyone is fast asleep. Then in the morning they are ready to perform their duties again for another day. What a wonderful gift to those that no longer have the ability to get around on their own.
Mobility electric scooters are different than the gas powered models. For one thing they will have at least 3, but usually 4 wheels. The reason for the extra wheels is stability. It's not too hard to lose your balance on a 2-wheel variety, but it's almost impossible with 4-wheels. With the extra stability that 4 wheels adds it makes the mobility electric scooters very safe for travel in and around the home. These handicapped models are bigger and heavier than other types which allows for better control and more storage. Electric scooters are here to stay. If chosen carefully it can become one of the best purchases ever made for the handicapped, disabled or elderly.
Massage Therapy For The Elderly
(category: Elderly-Care, Word count: 311)
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You've probably heard about how effective massage therapy for elderlies is by now, but you probably don't know why it is considered so beneficial. Well, although massage therapy has been practiced for a long time, the general public has only recently started to open their minds and hearts to this technique in recent years. It is now known, and proven, that touch therapy and massage helps reduce stress in elderlies - someone who is given the massage and touch therapy sleeps deeper and longer.
Massage therapy provides elderlies with a very nurturing feeling and it is especially helpful for adults with medical or physical problems. The more times they experience your touch, the calmer they will become. The calmer they are, the better they are able to deal with the medical interventions that they have to go through at their old age!
Massage therapy and touch therapy have a lot in common because they have a lot to do with motion of the hands over various parts of the body. The technique involves a lot of touching, stroking, and massaging of body parts. Massage therapy might even be a little bit on the painful side - but for elderlies, this is not the case.
Some nursing professionals offer massage therapy services to elderlies they deliver. Professional nurses who offer these services will provide the technique to critically or seriously ill elderlies. These nurses work closely with the elderly's doctor and other nurses to ensure that the persons health is in no way endangered at all.
Elderlies who are not medically challenged will also benefit from massage therapy. It has been shown that elderlies who are given massage therapy from an early age tend to age more alert, smarter, and healthier in general. Make sure you treat your parents right by giving them a free massage gift!
Why Swimming Is The Perfect Exercise For Seniors
(category: Elderly-Care, Word count: 340)
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There are a many reasons why swimming and water-based exercise may be the best choice for seniors. Water based exercises are second only to walking in lowest rates for injuries. They are commonly used for physical therapy modes for those recovering from major surgery.
Water also provides more options for those who are lacking in general fitness or have a prior injury that makes land based activity difficult. Finally, water based activities work the entire body, serving as a form of both strength training even as aerobic training takes place.
Swimming utilizes nearly all major muscle groups simultaneously, imparting a total body work out. Because of the inherent resistance of the water, swimming develops both muscle strength and endurance, as well as helps flexibility.
Because of its horde of effects, swimming provides almost all of the aerobic benefits of running even as it yields many of the benefits of resistance training thrown in. Because swimming does not put the strain on connective tissues that running, aerobics and some weight-training regimens do, swimming is the kind of low-impact work out that is perfect for seniors seeking to regain or maintain their fitness.
This is a sport especially gentle to those who are physically challenged. The buoyancy factor of water makes swimming the most injury-free exercise available. So it is specifically interesting to seniors, especially those with any type of joint issues. In water, a person's body weight is reduced by 90% as compared to its weight on land. For example, a 220 pound man will weigh about 22 pounds if he is standing in chin deep water.
Exercises in water can also be done more often because of the low incidence of injuries and it is more effective for exercising the entire body as any movement in water 12 times greater resistance than movement in air.
For the elderly, water fitness is safe, fills the need for exercise, increases a body's range of motion and is a low-impact exercise.
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