Family Dynamics

How to Overcome Family Dynamics in Caring for Elderly Parents

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Family DynamicsIf you want to see a family that has unending patience with each other, stays together through any situation and has unconditional love for each other, you’ll want to watch reruns of The Waltons. But if your family members are like most, there’s definitely some degree of dysfunction, some lingering stubborn sibling rivalry, and in many cases a little residual competition to be Mom’s and Dad’s favorite. These sorts of family dynamics can be aggravated when caring for elderly parents with family members, resulting in the resurfacing of old childhood issues.

Clinical psychologist Craig Grether shares, “When there is a family crisis with a parent, the adult children, no matter how educated they are, no matter how successful, with a variety of life experiences, they regress to the same dynamic of whatever was going on when they were 7, 8, 10, 12 years old.”

The reality is, approximately 40% of family caregivers are experiencing significant family disputes, and 65% feel care needs for elderly parents end up being unequally distributed among siblings. Disagreement commonly occurs whenever there’s a notion that one family member isn’t pulling his or her weight in terms of meeting the proper care demands of an older family member – reigniting any earlier family dynamic problems that until now may seem to have been hidden. With family caregivers at risk for such challenges as depression, alcohol or other substance abuse, sleep loss, and career pressures, it’s easy to understand how rapidly tempers can surface between family members.

So, just how can members of the family come together and make a plan of care that’s fair to all? The conclusion: there are times when it’s just not attainable, and it’s necessary to come to a place of acceptance that your younger brother might not be equipped, for whatever reason, to handle caring for Dad at the level you’d like. Letting go of preconceived expectations and also any feelings of resentment is essential to gaining peace for yourself and to be able to focus on providing the best care for your senior loved one.

Regardless of your family’s dynamics, Endeavor Home Care’s San Diego caregivers are on hand to supply a regular, trustworthy resource to ensure that all care requirements are fully fulfilled at all times. We work together with family members to help fill in the gaps in caregiving, enabling them to focus on spending quality time together and alleviating the anxiety often associated with meeting the everyday needs of elderly parents. Contact us at (480) 535-6000 or review our full service area to learn more.

Insomnia

Can Chronic Insomnia Lead to Alzheimer’s Disease?

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InsomniaIt is a common problem for many older adults – falling and staying asleep for a full night’s rest. Other than feeling a tad foggy the next morning, however, and feeling the need for an afternoon snooze to catch up on lost sleep, the actual repercussions have felt negligible. That is, until a recent study suggested a potential link between chronic insomnia and Alzheimer’s disease.

Deep sleep enables the brain to remove toxins, such as the amyloid plaques related to Alzheimer’s disease, and it appears that a build-up of these toxins is shown to harm the brains of lab animals. Consequently, a human study is launching to better understand the interconnection and its impact.

Through the use of a strong MRI system, the strength of the brain’s signal to get rid of toxins can be reviewed: a strong signal in brains whose toxin elimination is successful, and a less strong signal in people who may be developing Alzheimer’s. The objective will be to assess if too little deep sleep does, in fact, affect the likelihood of a future Alzheimer’s diagnosis, and if so, to determine the best treatment options to improve sleep quality.

The difficulty in the human leg of the trial will be in assisting people to feel comfortable enough in the MRI machine to achieve the natural stages of sleep, between the noise and cramped and sometimes claustrophobia-inducing quarters. However, it’s a much more feasible and less-intrusive option than the laboratory animal study, which involved creating a window in the skull and watching the brain with a strong microscope and laser. And the payoffs may potentially be life-changing: identifying people at risk for Alzheimer’s disease because of inadequate sleep, and opening doors to new treatment options.

Per Bill Rooney, director of Oregon Health & Science University’s Advanced Imaging Research Center, “It could be anything from having people exercise more regularly, or new drugs. A lot of the sleep aids don’t particularly focus on driving people to deep sleep stages.”

Financing for human trials is currently in place, and the research is slated to start this year.

Are you currently providing care for a senior loved one and finding it challenging to get a restful night’s sleep? Or does your family member have a problem with sundowning, chronic insomnia, or other issues that make evening sleeping tough for you both? Contact the Arizona and San Diego senior care experts at Endeavor Home Care for overnight respite care, offering you the chance to sleep while knowing your family member is safe and sound and well cared for!

Taking Care of Parents

When Taking Care of Parents Turns into a Battle of Wills

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Taking Care of ParentsIt is an amazing feeling to know that you are protected, safe and cared for. Dads and moms thrive on making certain their kids are surrounded in the comfort of understanding their needs will be fulfilled, providing the safety net that permits them the self-confidence to explore the world around them. Yet there comes a point in all children’s lives when the craving for self-sufficiency is more compelling than the benefit of protection, and they have to discover firsthand what it means to stumble, fall and get back up again independently.

These types of protective instincts quite often trigger once again for adult children who find themselves taking care of parents as they age. We wish to help them to reduce risks, to ensure they are safe from harm. Yet at the same time, it’s all too easy to fall into a pattern of overprotectiveness if we’re not always careful, which can result in feelings of bitterness as well as resentment on the part of the senior parents.

According to professor of human development and family studies at Pennsylvania State University Steven Zarit, “One of the scariest things to people as they age is that they don’t feel in control anymore. So if you tell your dad not to go out and shovel snow, you assume that he’ll listen. It’s the sensible thing. But his response will be to go out and shovel away … It’s a way of holding on to a life that seems to be slipping back.”

A recent study investigated the impact of stubbornness in older adults’ relationships with their adult children. While the seniors were less inclined to rate themselves as appearing stubborn, their younger loved ones more regularly noted stubbornness as an issue. The key for adult children is in knowing their parents’ reason for digging in their heels to hold onto their freedom and autonomy, and to avoid arguing and generating an attitude of defensiveness. Clear, open and truthful communication among both sides can go far towards smoothing the waters and making sure that each individual is heard and understood.

So what is the easiest method for taking care of parents without seeking to control them? A healthy dosage of patience, respect and empathy will go a long way. Positioning yourself within the senior’s shoes and knowing the importance of self-sufficiency allows adult children to step back, instead of stepping in. Allow the additional time an older adult needs to finish a task, rather than doing it for the person. Continue to look for opportunities to show the older person you appreciate his or her suggestions and recommendations. For additional suggestions about offering care that doesn’t cross the line, contact the San Diego home care experts at Endeavor Home Care by calling (480) 535-6800. And see our full California and Arizona service area here.

Medicare Appeals: How Older Adults Can Succeed in Getting the Coverage They’re Entitled to

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On average, seniors are each taking 15 – 18 different prescribed medications, so Medicare coverage of these medicines is often extremely important. And with a typical price tag of greater than $11,000 annually for the most typical medicines prescribed for the elderly, it could be debilitating when Medicare suddenly denies coverage. Nevertheless, that’s taking place ever more frequently as Medicare plans are progressively establishing coverage limits on seniors – generally outside of affirmation from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

Because the Medicare appeals process for denied coverage can be so intimidating, unfortunately, a great many aging adults just accept the denial – at frequently an outrageously high financial impact, and also at potential risk to their health when necessary medicines are discontinued because of lack of Medicare insurance coverage. As stated by David Lipschutz, senior policy attorney at the Center for Medicare Advocacy, “A lot of people fall through the cracks. They simply don’t know what to do. Or they try to go through the process, and it’s complicated and time-consuming and they just give up.”

Even though several medications must be covered by Medicare across the board (those for HIV/AIDS, depression, cancer, and seizures, to name a few), there’s a gray area by which medications are covered for other conditions – and preapproval is oftentimes required, or patients are given the criteria that lower cost methods need to be used first (also known as step therapy). Denials usually come as a result of neglecting to satisfy these requirements.

So, exactly what can a senior try to receive the drug insurance coverage to which they’re entitled? There are particular important steps:

  • First, obtain a formal coverage determination from the senior’s Medicare drug plan. Details on submitting this specific request can be found by clicking here.
  • When coverage is determined, there are five levels in the Medicare appeals process, detailed here.
  • Keep detailed documentation throughout every step of the process. To get more guidance, the Medicare Rights Center can help. You can reach them at 800-333-4114.

Keep in mind that it’s important to be persistent. Frequently, higher levels of Medicare appeals are approved even though initial steps result in disheartening results. Contact Endeavor Home Care, the number one San Diego home care team, for additional tips and hands-on assistance for seniors. We are able to provide resources that will help seniors in addition to their family members advocate for themselves, as well as specialized in home care services to ensure that medications are taken just as prescribed, that prescription medication refills are taken care of, and much more. Call us at (480) 535-6800 and learn how to keep your senior loved one safe and flourishing!

Endeavor Home Care’s Top Elderly Travel Tips

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Summer vacations are something everyone looks forward to! Exploring new destinations, leaving the worries of our everyday world behind, checking items off our bucket lists. And helping a senior loved one enjoy such a thrill makes it all the better. You will find, however, certain factors to keep in mind that can help pave the way to successful elderly travel:

  • Schedule a pre-trip physician visit. To be certain your senior family member is physically able to comfortably cope with the rigors of a lengthy car trip or air travel, and all that your intended destination has to offer, a check-up with the senior’s doctor is essential. You can use this opportunity to determine what prescription medications he or she must take along, any kind of dietary restrictions to adhere to, and any other concerns or tips to keep in mind.
  • Keep your plans senior-friendly. You’ll want to plan plenty of time for rest, and figure out the top points of interest that you want to make a goal to see, with a few other backup choices which might be added in if your elderly loved one’s tolerance allows. It’s also useful to research available amenities provided to senior citizens – motorized scooter and wheelchair rentals, accessible entrances and walkways, preferential seating and also early admission times, and so on.
  • Plan for the unexpected. Keep a directory of emergency contact numbers in your phone, and take a printed list as well. It’s also useful to verify the location of the closest hospital to where you’ll be staying, together with other possibly necessary amenities such as restrooms and areas to stop for meals, refreshments, or additional supplies. Also be sure your family member has an identification card with your name and cell phone number listed, in the event that he/she happens to become separated from you.
  • Take it easy and enjoy yourself! It’s natural to fall into a pattern of protection with our aging loved ones, and certainly we would like to keep them safe; but take care not to let the pendulum swing too far as to become restrictive or patronizing. Allow sufficient opportunities for your elderly loved one to express himself and explore to his heart’s content with openings such as, “What do you want to look at next?” or “Let’s give this a try!”

Did you realize that Endeavor Home Care offers patient, caring San Diego caregivers to provide accompaniment services that make elderly travel as safe and enjoyable as possible for families, allowing them to focus on simply taking pleasure in quality time together and making lasting memories? Call us today at (480) 535-6800 for more information!

Alzheimer's Memory Loss

How to Cope with Alzheimer’s Memory Loss and a Desire to “Go Home”

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“Home sweet home,” the saying goes; but if you are caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s who is experiencing memory loss and insists home is somewhere other than where he or she is currently living, what do you do? When you are providing care for a loved one with dementia, unfortunately this discussion can be a common occurrence. And the bewilderment and sorrowful yearning being conveyed are nothing less than heartbreaking – and, if we’re truthful, annoying.

At Endeavor Home Care, our professionally instructed San Diego dementia care team helps families control difficult events such as this, and we recommend trying the following to help restore peace to an upset loved one with dementia:

  • Instead of rationalizing, help the senior feel validated. Reasoning or arguing with a senior with dementia can actually increase frustration and unrest. Even if the older person is in the same home she’s resided in for the past 20 years, within her thoughts, “home” could represent the enjoyment she felt in her childhood home together with her parents. Her sentiments of loss are quite real, and should be acknowledged.
  • Provide reassurance. Maintain a calm, soothing tone of voice and body language and take a seat next to the person, providing consolation through a hug, hand-holding, or maybe lightly touching the person’s arm, if these kinds of actions are accepted.
  • Next, redirect. Once you’ve provided a soothing presence and affirmed the person’s views, redirection to some pleasurable, entertaining activity will be helpful. Taking a walk outdoors or in a different part of the house, playing favorite music, or checking out photograph collections are just a couple of suggestions; consider the particular person and incorporate the things that work best for her.

For further suggestions about helping restore peace to a troubled loved one with memory loss resulting from Alzheimer’s or another type of dementia, contact Endeavor Home Care at (480) 535-6800. We can help keep seniors safe, enrich socialization, and present them with opportunities to strengthen both cognitive and physical wellbeing through services such as:

  • Patient, sensitive assistance with personal care responsibilities such as bathing and dressing
  • Participating in conversations and reminiscing about the past
  • Helping the senior to participate in physician-approved exercises
  • Playing board games, cards or games on a tablet device with the senior
  • Planning and making nutritious meals
  • Running errands such as picking up groceries and medications
  • Providing transport to health care appointments and other outings
  • And so much more

Whether just a few hours each week of respite care for primary family caregivers are necessary, or full-time, seamless, around-the-clock caregiving is wanted, we’re always ready to partner with you to deliver the highest quality dementia care. Contact Endeavor’s San Diego dementia care experts to find out more and to arrange for a free in-home assessment.

Something New for the Sandwich Generation: The Boomerangs

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sandwich generationHumans are now living longer than ever because of the progress of science and medicine, resulting in the “sandwich generation” (those caring for both children and aging parents) taking on a new role, that of the boomerang generation.

“Aging together” is the label for seniors whose mom and dad are still living and requiring good care. The result is a wave of seniors uprooting and relocating after retirement to live, once again, in close proximity to their elderly parents. And in many cases, the senior child is being affected by his or her own health conditions, further complicating the dynamics and developing a greater risk for caregiver burnout – on both sides of the equation.

Associate Professor of Gerontology Kathrin Boerner, of the University of MA, clarifies the dilemma: “For a lot of people, that is the time – if you’re in good enough health – you hope for a time of greater freedom. You’re past all the other caregiving tasks and, for most people, they can dedicate time to their own needs. But for those with very old parents, it just doesn’t happen.”

Even though the regenerated connection between older adult children and their aging parents can be good for all involved, such as through exploring shared interests that can be appreciated together, the toll that caregiving usually takes later in life can lead to increased stress levels, depression, and also physical health issues.

Thankfully, there’s a solution to supply the needed care for senior children along with their elderly parents, allowing for both to concentrate specifically on enjoying quality time together: hiring an in home caregiver from a professional elder care agency like Endeavor Home Care. We can help in several different ways, personalized to each family’s unique circumstances, including such services as:

  • Running errands, including buying groceries and picking up medications
  • Making healthy and balanced meals
  • Assisting with light housework and washing
  • Personal care services which include assistance with showering and dressing
  • Providing transportation and accompaniment to health care appointments or fun outings
  • And much more

Our Sun City caregivers are fully background checked, trained, and knowledgeable in all aspects of caregiving. Leave the mundane tasks to us, and get back to making the most of life with those you love! Contact Endeavor Home Care at (480) 535-6800 to learn more.

 

Arthritis Pain Making It Hard to Exercise? We Have a Solution!

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arthritis Older adults are no exception to the rule that we should exercise and stay active to maintain health. But if you are battling arthritis, it can be difficult to maintain a good amount of exercise because of pain.

Fortunately, the latest recommendations ease back on the intensity of activity for seniors with arthritis, specifying that as little as just 45 minutes of physical activity weekly is enough to attain and maintain a high level of functionality – and much less overwhelming for people who have a tendency to steer clear of exercise.

As outlined by Northwestern University professor Dorothy Dunlop, “For those older people suffering from arthritis who are minimally active, a 45-minute minimum might feel more realistic.”

In spite of these scaled-back recommendations, unfortunately, as few as 10% of the elderly fighting the challenges of arthritis are accomplishing this level of activity. However, participants in a recent study who achieved the 45-minute level of moderate exercise per week showed an astounding 80% increase in sustained or improved functionality over a 2-year period of time, compared with people who were less active. And it was confirmed that even though any amount of exercise is better than nothing, the 45-minute weekly guideline is optimal.

Needless to say, always check with the older adult’s physician before beginning or modifying any activity or exercise program. With his or her consent, a great place to get started is with the Arthritis Foundation’s app, Walk With Ease, which includes goal-setting, progress-tracking, a handbook and sample online videos to demonstrate the exercises. Setting aside designated times daily for physical activity, and turning it into a top priority, may help make certain exercise becomes an ingrained routine and boosts the possibility of its success.

Additionally you can partner with Endeavor Home Care, the Arizona home care experts, for a companion to help encourage and motivate participation in an exercise program. It’s always more fun with a friend! We can also offer transportation and accompaniment to exercise programs, to parks or other outdoor locations for enjoyable walks together, to doctors’ appointments, and more. Call us at (480) 535-6800 to learn more.

The Positive Side of Dementia

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dementia care scottsdaleIntroduce the topic of “dementia” at your next summer party and you’ll find the mood quickly turns from happy to heavy-hearted. For most of us, negative experiences are all that we have read, and perhaps have experienced, with this disease. And since there is still not yet a cure, it’s only natural that an Alzheimer’s medical diagnosis in a family member creates an array of concerns.

What isn’t as often mentioned – if at all – are the bright spots of dementia. Actually, studies have shown that as few as 25% of people with mild or moderate dementia self-describe their lives as negative. According to Dr. Peter Rabins, author of “The 36-Hour Day” in which the study is highlighted, and a professor at the University of Maryland, “I’ve seen that you can be a wonderful grandparent and not remember the name of the grandchild you adore. You can be with people you love and enjoy them, even if you’re not following the whole conversation.”

It can help to remember that regardless of the outward changes seen in people with Alzheimer’s or dementia, they are still the same person inside with many of the same characteristics and feelings as always. They appreciate being in a relationship with other people, find peace of mind in familiar surroundings, and enjoy meaningful, purposeful activities. It’s a matter of taking the time to better understand the person and dedicating quality time to attempting to engage in hobbies and interests that he or she enjoys.

There are a number of ways one can help foster wellbeing and a positive outlook on life for a family member with Alzheimer’s or dementia, even as the condition progresses. Helping a loved one with socialization is one of our top recommendations. Many relatives are fearful and uncomfortable around their loved one with dementia, and for that reason, tend to cut back on visits or even just abandon them altogether. It’s essential to seek out ways to help your loved one remain socially connected. Continue to visit, and hire the services of a professional in home caregiver, such as Endeavor Home Care provides, to fill in the gaps.

Call on Endeavor’s Scottsdale home care experts at (480) 535-6800 for more ideas or to discuss additional ways to help a family member with dementia improve total wellbeing. Our professionally trained Alzheimer’s and dementia care team is available to provide reliable respite services, allowing members of the family necessary time away to rest and refresh, knowing their family member is in the absolute best of care.

doctor explaining medication to senior man and his adult daughter

The Cancer Medication That May Be a Treatment for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s

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doctor explaining medication to senior man and his adult daughterIs it possible that there is one single medication that has already been developed that can be a treatment for not only leukemia, but Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease as well? At Georgetown University Medical Center, researchers are hopeful that nilotinib is that medication. Currently approved for use in individuals with one type of leukemia, a small trial is creating great excitement in its encouraging results to rid the brain of toxic proteins.

Georgetown’s medical director of the translational neurotherapeutics program, Fernando Pagan, explains it this way: “Our drug goes into the cells to turn on that garbage disposal mechanism. And if we’re able to degrade these proteins, we could potentially stop the progression of this disorder.”

Because of the exciting results with the small trial, a new trial is being launched. This trial will be more in-depth and will involve 75 Parkinson’s patients and 42 Alzheimer’s patients. Hopefully these results will be equally as exciting, but regardless, the many years of research that have gone into evaluating nilotinib, as well as other new potential developments, are helping pave the way towards practical treatment methods, or perhaps an eventual cure.

Trials in mice have produced some amazing results, actually curing Parkinson’s disease in mice. It’s also proven effective in a small number of human tests in those with Parkinson’s and dementia, for which there currently is not a treatment designed to stop or even slow the continuing development of the diseases. For those in the initial testing phase, improvements in a variety of areas were noted: speech and mobility, most notably.

The next part of the study is expected to be completed in about a year, and patients with either Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s are currently being enrolled for the study. More information in regards to the upcoming Alzheimer’s study is available here, and information about the Parkinson’s study is available here.

For additional resources on Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, turn to the aging care experts at Endeavor Home Care. We can provide a full range of professional home care solutions with our fully trained and knowledgeable specialized Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s caregivers. Contact us at 480.535.6800 to schedule a free in-home assessment or to allow us to answer any questions you might have. We provide home care solutions throughout much of Arizona, as well as San Diego dementia care and home care solutions to families in Southern California. Check out our service area.