Senior Care in Scottsdale, AZ: What to do about compression fractures

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What is a compression fracture and why is it so prevalent in the elderly?

A compression fracture is a collapse of vertebrae in the spine. Vertebrae can break due to traumatic force such as an auto accident or fall, or it can happen due to bone disease or infection. Finally, vertebrae break due to osteoporosis, a loss of bone density. Since our focus is on seniors, we will target how the aging body becomes susceptible to compression fractures.

First: a little anatomy. The spinal cord is a superhighway of sensory and motor nerves. It is surrounded by vertebrae protected by discs. The discs work as a shock absorber between each vertebra. Discs start out soft and elastic and like so many other parts of the body, become more rigid and vulnerable to injury as we age.

Vertebrae become brittle with osteoporosis. They press against the discs upon collapsing. What distinguishes compression fractures from other spinal fractures is that front of the vertebrae crushes but the back of the vertebrae stays intact. This process produces that hunched over look in the elderly.

The symptoms of compression fractures may or may not include back pain. That is because the back of the vertebrae remains intact and can still do its job in protecting the spinal cord. In some cases, compression fractures caused by osteoporosis may not have any symptoms and are only discovered when X-rays of the spine are done for other reasons. In other cases, compression fractures present back pain that increases over time, usually when walking rather than while at rest. Nerve pain such as numbness, tingling and difficulty walking signal a more serious condition that the spinal cord is affected.

Compression fractures will heal, usually in about eight to 12 weeks. Having one compression fracture puts you at risk for having more, so it is important to do what you can to prevent it from happening again. The best treatment is prevention of osteoporosis. Exercise, calcium and medications are effective in fighting osteoporosis.

Keeping a straight posture may help keep your spine aligned and less prone to curvature. Yoga and tai chi can strengthen muscle groups to support the spine. There is a list of yoga and tai chi classes on the Health Calendar this section of the newspaper. Take a look at a sample video of instruction at http://www.taichiforseniorsvideo.com/ to give you an idea of what tai chi entails. Just a note, A Brand New Day does not endorse or support this website.

If you suspect a compression fracture, see your doctor and have a physical exam and X-rays for an effective treatment plan.

The doctor may order physical therapy to help straighten the spine. The physical therapist can direct exercises to help restore normal joint and muscle function and further reduce risk of a another compression fracture. This option may prevent surgery. Doctors usually exhaust all options before surgery to correct the fracture.

In some cases, an interventional radiologist can change the height of the vertebra by a procedure called vetebroplasty by injecting cement into the vertebrae. This stabilizes the fracture and will prevent another collapse. If the fracture is not severe, another treatment option may be bracing of the spine. Immobilization of the spine with bracing may help with healing.

When researching options for Senior care agencies in Scottsdale AZ, home care counselors at Endeavor Home Care are available to talk with you about your Senior care needs including how to reduce caregiver stress while providing better, affordable care. We are an elder care agency providing Senior care in Scottsdale AZ

Consumers in Tucson, AZ overwhelmingly prefer home care delivered services to institutional care.

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Home care in Tucson, AZ is more often preferred because it:

• keeps families together

• supports independence

• is significantly less expensive and more efficient than other forms of long term care

• prevents or postpones institutionalization

• involves the individual and family in services that are delivered

• represents the best American tradition

Home care is both the oldest and newest form of health care. Traditionally given at home throughout the centuries, home care now is taking advantage of modern technologies, making virtually anything that can be done in a hospital available at home. Home care is the most cost effective and satisfying type of health service available.

Life Expectancy Increasing

Life expectancy is increasing in the United States, and the Baby Boom generation is poised between midlife and old age. Increasingly, chronic disease management is becoming the most common of health concerns, rather than acute illness.

Hospital Stays are Shorter

With hospital stays becoming shorter, same-day surgery increasing and nursing home care shifting to focus on rehabilitative care, the trend to access home care continues to grow.

Here are some reasons why home care services will continue to be in demand:

• Home care is delivered at home. Home is our refuge and the place where we feel safe and secure. When we are not feeling well, the comforts of home and being surrounded by loved ones makes a difference.

• Home care keeps families together. Patient and family are taught to participate in their health care. Home care by definition involves the family as caregivers. Supporting patient and family is especially important in the time of illness.

• Home care promotes healing. There is much scientific evidence that patients heal more quickly at home.

• Home care prevents or postpones institutionalization. No one wants to move to a nursing home unless that is the only place where total, 24-hour care can be obtained.

• Home care helps people remain independent. People from birth to old age may have a health condition requiring care. Home care’s clinical and supportive services can make the difference to achieve staying in one’s home.

• Home care is personalized. Home care is tailored to meet the needs of the individual client. It is delivered one-to-one.

• Home care reduces stress. Unlike most forms of health care, which can increase anxiety and stress, home care has the opposite effect.

• Home care is an efficient form of health care. This is because it is personalized, it uses the patient’s own home, instructs the patient, enlists the patient’s family as caregivers, cuts down on travel to hospitals and minimizes hospital stays.

• Home care is less expensive that other forms of care. Evidence from studies in the U.S. and Canada demonstrate that home care is always less expensive than hospitalizations and almost always less costly than comparable nursing home care.

• Home care is an effective form of health care. There is very high consumer satisfaction associated with care delivered in the home.

Health care has been traditionally given in the home setting for generations. With technology developing services that can be offered in the home—along with the compassionate and competent professionals who deliver home care—the future looks bright for increased service delivery. Consumers will continue to demand home care services as a convenient, and cost-effective, form of health care.

If you or a loved one are considering home care services in Tucson please contact us through our web form or by calling us to speak with one of our caring staff members. We look forward to answering your home care questions.

When researching options for elder care agencies in Tucson, AZ Home care counselors at Home Helpers are available to talk with you about your in home care needs including how to reduce caregiver stress while providing better, affordable care. We are an elder care agency providing Home care in Tucson, AZ


Home Care in Scottsdale, AZ: Helps Clients with Congestive Heart Failure

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Navigating Elder Care In Fountain Hills, AZ

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Senior Care in Gilbert, AZ: Get cool when the going gets hot

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Staying hydrated and cool is very important in the heat of the summer.

Redding’s heat can rapidly become dangerous. Scorching temperatures can overwhelm the heat-regulating mechanisms of the body. This creates a medical emergency called hyperthermia requiring immediate treatment to avoid disability, or at worst, death.

  • It is important to be aware of the symptoms and know what to do in the event you or others in your company are getting too hot to the point of reaching hyperthermia.
  • Hyperthermia can be classified progressively as heat rash, heat cramps, heat exhaustion or heat stroke.
  • Heat rash, also known as prickly heat, happens when sweat is prevented from reaching the surface of the skin because of clogs in the sweat ducts. Mild inflammation results.
  • Heat cramps are characterized by involuntary muscle contractions. Major muscle groups are often affected and the condition can be quite painful.

While prickly heat and cramps are less serious forms of hyperthermia, these situations should not go unheeded. Failure to seek a cooler environment and increase hydration will only lead to serious complications

Heat exhaustion

Heat exhaustion is revealed by hot, dry skin. Blood vessels dilate in an attempt to cool the skin, giving off the appearance of red, blotchy skin. Lips may become swollen. The skin is dry because the body can no longer sweat effectively. A person who becomes overheated often complains of a headache and nausea. Fainting or dizziness can occur when the person tries to stand up. Although not an easily observed outward sign, a drop in blood pressure also signals that something is wrong.

Heat stroke

Heat stroke also is called sun stroke. It is the most severe form of hyperthermia and requires immediate attention. Body temperature rises to 104 degrees or higher. In addition to the above symptoms of rash, cramping and exhaustion, a person may appear confused, intoxicated or hostile. The skin may feel cold or clammy. Breath and pulse rates quicken in an attempt to increase oxygen intake. The skin may take on a pale or bluish hue. The person may fall unconscious. Death results if medical attention isn’t immediate and effective.

Unfortunately, the elderly are easily susceptible to hyperthermia. Those who are dealing with heart disease, lung disease, a compromised immune system and taking medications for a variety of conditions are more vulnerable to dehydration and sensitive to the burning rays of the sun.

The best way to avoid hyperthermia is to stay hydrated; wear light, loose clothing made with material that breathes; avoid physical exertion during the heat of the day; and try to remain in a cool environment.

If hyperthermia sets in, it is critical to treat it immediately before it becomes life-threatening.

Fortunately, heat rash goes away when the skin cools. Calamine lotion or hydrocortisone creams or sprays relieve heat rash discomfort. In the event that clogged sweat ducts become infected, a physician can prescribe an antibiotic treatment to clear the rash.

Heat cramps

Heat cramps can be stopped without seeking medical care. Simply stopping the activity, moving to a cooler place, drinking lots of fluids and gently massaging the affected area should bring relief.

Heat exhaustion doesn’t require a call to 911 if the person can rehydrate in a cooler environment and ceases to display symptoms. Otherwise, the person is on the way to a heat stroke.

Permanent organ damage can result in victims of a heat stroke. Immediately attempt to cool the victim while waiting for emergency medical treatment to arrive. Get the person to shade or inside to air conditioning. Remove clothing and apply tepid water, fanning the skin to promote evaporation. Place ice packs under the armpits in and the groin area. Encourage sipping of water or an electrolyte-enhanced beverage (no caffeine or alcohol.)

Enjoy the summer, seniors, but play it safe!

When researching options for senior care agencies in Gilbert AZ, home care counselors at Endeavor Home Care are available to talk with you about your senior care needs including how to reduce caregiver stress while providing better, affordable care. We are an elder care agency providing senior care in Gilbert AZ.

Male Caregivers in Chandler, AZ are on the Rise- It Turns Out That Husbands, Partners, Sons, Grandsons and Nephews Make Great Caregivers Too!

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Men are more often assuming the role of caregiver. In fact, data shows that nearly 35 percent of caregivers to the elderly are men. This is a big increase over previous years.

In the past 12 months, an estimated 65.7 million people in the U.S. have served as unpaid family caregivers to an adult or a child. One out of three caregivers — about 14.5 million — are men. That’s a significant number: about 6 percent of all adults in the United States.

And while male caregivers deal with many of the same issues as their female counterparts, they also face some unique challenges.

1. Male caregivers are less likely to be the sole or primary caregiver but are just as dedicated to their role: The duration of their caregiving experience is about four years, the same as women.
2. They’re less likely to provide personal care.
• 24 percent of male caregivers help a loved one get dressed, compared to 28 percent of female caregivers.
• 16 percent help with bathing, versus 30 percent of females.

Some interesting statistics about male caregivers:

• The average age of a male caregiver is 49.
• The average age of the person he assists is 77.
• He usually cares for an aging parent, usually his mom.
• Aging and Alzheimer’s or other types of dementia are the typical reasons the person needs care.

Dr. Edward Thompson, Jr., Professor of Sociology and Director of Gerontology Studies at Holy Cross College, discussed male caregivers of spouses, partners, and the elderly. He emphasized that men provide 40% of the nation’s unpaid care work, and more men (58%) than women are involved in long-distance caregiving. Like their female counterparts, most male caregivers experience some disruption in their lives, particularly with respect to work, social activities, and financial well-being.

Studies also reveal that male caregivers do not verbalize their feelings as willingly as women, and may fail to disclose their burdens to friends, coworkers, physicians, and others. Some male caregivers are embarrassed about helping their wives/partners with personal hygiene and daily activities. Several studies reveal that husband caregivers often worry about not being there for their wives, and feel more powerless, angry, irritable, and likely to use alcohol for self-medication than female caregivers.

Other research suggests that men adapt to caregiving with less adverse impacts on physical and mental health than women. For example, some studies indicate that male caregivers experience less caregiver burden, less anxiety, less role engulfment, and a greater ability to take respite time than do women caregivers. However, research also points to male caregivers’ reluctance to use community services that might benefit them. Such failure to tap into community resources has been attributed to a number of factors, including men’s fear of appearing they cannot handle the situation, unfamiliarity with available services/programs and their benefits, lack of other men using support services, and lack of identification with other caregivers.

Tips for the male caregiver:

• Be honest with yourself. Get support and help for the things you find you can’t do. It’s ok to ask for help!
• Be honest with your friends as to what is happening in your life—friends and neighbors will empathize and truly be understanding of your situation. There is no dishonor in a request for help, and there is no reason to feel embarrassed about the diagnosis of your loved one.
• Educate yourself. Talk to the doctor, a social worker, or a geriatric care manager; ask questions of health-care workers. Inquire about outside services that can provide assistance or support.
• If you have the assistance of formal caregivers or health-care workers, know that they can provide visual examples of how to deal with your loved one. Watch how they interpret nonverbal cures while providing assistance and learn to use these cues when you provide care.
• Don’t doubt yourself. Know that stress, anger, and frustration are common feelings among caregivers.
• If the opportunity arises, offer assistance to other male caregivers. As someone who’s been down the road before, you are a valuable resource.

Caregiving men, although fewer in number, are just as dedicated, diligent and determined to help their loved one live the best life that he or she can. Family caregiving remains the backbone of the long-term care system in this country. Men and women every day give of their time and money, and it’s a commitment that we should all appreciate.

Source: Male Caregiving: Creating a Research, Programmatic, and Policy Agenda for an Emerging Public Health Issue

When researching options for in home care agencies in Chandler AZ, home care counselors at Endeavor Home Care are available to talk with you about your in home care needs including how to reduce caregiver stress while providing better, affordable care. We are an elder care agency providing home care in Chandler AZ.

 

Elder Care in Sun City West, AZ: Wait It’s Just On The Tip Of My Tongue

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What is that word? I know it. I think it starts with a P. It is on submarines. I can just see it in my head but can’t come up with the word. Minutes later, the word “periscope” pops into my head. What just happened?

I just experienced something called the tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon. This happens when you search for a word but cannot immediately recall it. You feel that the word is on the tip of your tongue. You know what the word means and how it might sound, such as recalling the first letter of the word. Your brain just can’t immediately retrieve it. Then, in just a couple of minutes the word rolls off your tongue. It is a very frustrating experience.

Psychologists have found this phenomenon to be a universal one, and it happens to people about once or twice a week. It happens more frequently as people age. Proper names often are the hard words to retrieve. Quick, who played Scarlett O’Hara in “Gone With the Wind?” If you can’t think of her name, wait until you get to the end of the column where it will be revealed.

The tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon can happen for several reasons. Perhaps a similar sounding word is recalled first, and it blocks the way for you to name the correct word. In the first example, the word telescope could have blocked finding the name periscope. If you could just get the word telescope out of your head, you know you could find the right word. Telescope is stuck there, and it is only when you relax and give up searching that your brain is free to retrieve the correct word.

Blocking also can interfere with identifying music. Playing a song may bring up the memory of another song or musical group difficult to name. When the song ends, and if you can get it out of your head, you are able to come up with the name of the other song or group.

Another explanation comes from examination of how words are held in your memory. Words are made up of letters that create sounds and represent meaning. These elements are processed in different parts of the brain. According to a study by Dr. James at UCLA and Dr. Burke of Pomona College, your brain must find the connections between the visual, sound and meaning of the word to retrieve it. Connections weaken over time, so if you haven’t used or thought of the word for a long time, it may be harder to retrieve.

Proper names may be frustrating to find because there is less of a connection. After all, how long has it been since you have seen “Gone With the Wind?”

It is very annoying to have a word on the tip of your tongue, especially when it happens more frequently as you get older. The trick is to keep those connections active. Doing crossword puzzles, reading, playing memory games will help keep those connections sharp. Learning and using new words in writing and in speech also helps. Finally, relax when that word is on the tip of your tongue. It will come to you sooner or later.

Answer: Vivien Leigh

Continue reading here

When researching options for elder care agencies in Sun City West AZ, home care counselors at Endeavor Home Care are available to talk with you about your elder care needs including how to reduce caregiver stress while providing better, affordable care. We are an elder care agency providing home care in Sun City West, AZ.

Summertime and Senior Care in Sun City, AZ: Keep an Eye on the Elderly in the Summer Heat

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Just as the severe cold temperatures are dangerous for the elderly in the winter, the high temperatures of summer can be equally or more dangerous. Seniors are more prone to the effects of heat and at greater risk for dehydration.

According to the CDC, elderly people are more at risk for the following reasons:

• Seniors’ bodies do not adjust as well as young people to sudden changes in temperature.
• They are more likely to have a chronic medical condition that changes normal body responses to heat.
• They are more likely to take prescription medicines that impair the body’s ability to regulate its temperature or that inhibit perspiration.

It is important during this time of year that someone you trust is checking on senior loved ones who live alone. If you can’t be there, consider hiring a home care agency to visit a couple of times a week to assist with errands, light housekeeping, laundry, and general senior care. It’s always good to have a set of eyes and ears that can report anything unusual to the family.

Here are some tips on “beating the heat” with regard to senior care.

• Try to plan activities that require going outside during cooler hours.

• Move exercise indoors. Consider exercising at a gym, walking on a treadmill, or “mall walking” instead of outdoor walks or activities. Swimming and water aerobics are good options as well.

• Drink plenty of fluids (non-alcoholic, caffeine-free as these ingredients have a diuretic effect). Talk with your doctor if you take medications that affect fluid intake, such as Lasix or a “water pill”.

• Stay indoors in cooled spaces as much as possible. Check on senior’s air conditioning system, do a maintenance review. If electricity goes out or your loved one does not have air conditioning, consider alternative arrangements when heat is at dangerous levels.

• Be aware of signs of dehydration, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

The most common signs of dehydration in the elderly are thirst, confusion, irritability and poor skin elasticity. Keeping hydrated on a regular basis is the most important preventative measure, and individuals should be encourage to drink fluids even when not thirsty as thirst may not be triggered until already dehydrated. Heat and dehydration may make seniors more prone to dizziness and falls and can cause/increase confusion.

Heat exhaustion is the more mild form of heat-related illness that can develop after several days of exposure to high temperatures and inadequate or unbalanced replacement of fluids.

Warning signs of heat exhaustion in seniors vary but may include the following:

• Heavy sweating
• Paleness
• Muscle Cramps
• Tiredness
• Weakness
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Nausea or vomiting
• Fainting
• Skin: may be cool and moist
• Pulse rate: fast and weak
• Breathing: fast and shallow

Heat stroke is the most serious heat-related illness. It occurs when the body becomes unable to control its temperature: the body’s temperature rises rapidly, the body loses its ability to sweat, and it is unable to cool down. Body temperatures rise to 106°F or higher within 10 to 15 minutes. Heat stroke can cause death or permanent disability if emergency treatment is not provided.

Warning signs of heat stroke in seniors vary but may include the following:

• An extremely high body temperature (above 103°F)
• Red, hot, and dry skin (no sweating)
• Rapid, strong pulse
• Throbbing headache

When researching options for senior care agencies in Sun City AZ, senior care counselors at Endeavor Home Care are available to talk with you about your senior care needs including how to reduce caregiver stress while providing better, affordable care. We are an elder care agency providing senior care in Sun City, AZ.

Angie’s List Prepping Your Home For Senior Care in Paradise Valley, AZ

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The key for aging homeowners is to prevent falls and injuries before they happen by proactively addressing safety issues in the home, like potentially slick surfaces, rugs that are tripping hazards, and poor lighting.

Falling is the leading cause of death from injury in adults over the age of 65, according to the National Centers for Disease Control (CDC), with three of every five falls occurring in the home. One-third of those accidents could be prevented by making the home safer.

According to a nationwide Angie’s List poll:

  • 18 percent of respondents had remodeled with aging in place in mind and;
  • 37 percent planned to do so.

What is a Certified Aging in Place Specialist?

Millions of seniors are supporting a growing niche of contractors who specialize in addressing the needs of aging homeowners, as well as those with special needs. Certified Aging in Place Specialists (CAPS) are specially trained through the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) to work with senior citizens and those needing specific modifications by proactively addressing safety and accessibility issues in the home.

Remodeling to age in place can include:

  • Installing grab bars;
  • Widening doorways to accommodate a walker/wheelchair;
  • Eliminating steps or curbs from entryways;
  • Replacing slippery floor materials;
  • Installing pull-out kitchen cabinets;
  • Replacement of traditional bathtubs with walk-in shower/tub;
  • Installation of vanities to allow wheelchair room; and
  • A dishwasher that minimizes the need to bend

Angie’s List Tips: Hiring a Remodeling Contractor

  • Talk to a Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS): Its important homeowners who do need to make special modifications find a company with the training and know-how to identify the best changes to make. A CAPS contractor is trained to evaluate your specific needs and offer recommendations to make your home safe and functional.
  • Communicate your ideas: Explain what modifications you want done to your home. Even rough ideas on paper are better than nothing at all.
  • What are the costs? Aging-in-place project costs can range from a few hundred dollars to tens of thousands of dollars. Cost can vary depending on the scope of the project and quality of products used. If you anticipate being in your home at least 5 or 10 years, the cost of modifying may be lower compared to the cost of moving into an assisted living facility – explore all your options before deciding whether to move or remodel.
  • Be proactive, not reactive: Before the need arises is the best time to consider aging-in-place design. For any remodeling project, it is a good idea to look at what changes can be put in place now that will support aging-in-place, even if you are years away from needing it.

When researching options for senior care agencies in Paradise Valley AZ, home care counselors at Endeavor Home Care are available to talk with you about yoursenior care needs including how to reduce caregiver stress while providing better, affordable care. We are an elder care agency providing senior care in Paradise Valley AZ.

Jeanette Ellison Selected as Featured Alzheimer’s Care Contributing Expert at www.AlzheimersCareToday.com

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Contact:

Jeanette Ellison

(480) 535-6800

Jeanettee@EndeavorSeniorCare.com

 

Jeanette Ellison Selected as Featured Alzheimer’s Care Contributing Expert at www.AlzheimersCareToday.com

 

(St. Louis, MO, June, 2012) LTC Expert Publications is proud to announce that Jeanette Ellison is the featured contributor this week on www.AlzheimersCareToday.com .

 

AlzheimersCareToday.com contains articles and information specific to Alzheimer’s care, Alzheimer’s treatments, dementia care, and more.   All content is written by experts in the home care and assisted living industries.

 

“We have dozens of experts nationwide who are happy to share information and advice with those who are caring for a family member with Alzheimer’s disease. Many are home care agency owners who care for clients with Alzheimer’s disease daily. They know and understand the challenges of Alzheimer’s disease, and they deal with these challenges full time. We are sharing their expertise on this new website,” states Valerie VanBooven RN BSN, Co-Owner of LTC Expert Publications, and author of three books on senior care, elder care, and caregiving.

 

AlzheimersCareToday.com will highlight and feature a different expert who will share tips and information on Alzheimer’s disease each week.

 

“We are honored to have Jeanette Ellison as an official featured expert. Her office in Phoenix, AZ provides home care services for the entire area.  She just submitted a new Alzheimer’s care article, “The Symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease: Why are We Fighting all of the Time?” adds VanBooven.

 

Contact Jeanette and her staff at (480) 535-6800, or www.HomeCareArizona.org

 

Compassionate Care You Can Depend On

 

With Endeavor Home Care, you’re in charge. We listen to you and respond to your care preferences. You determine your schedule and daily activities. We’re there to lend a helping hand, ensure you’re safe, and help you to develop the strength and mobility that leads to greater independence.

 

 

 

Endeavor Home Care home care services include:

 

  • Joyful Companionship
  • Self-Care and Hygiene Assistance
  • Medication Reminders
  • Meal Planning and Cooking
  • Light Housekeeping
  • Transportation
  • Alzheimer’s Care
  • A complete home safety evaluation performed by our occupational therapist
  • Ongoing exercise programs developed by our occupational therapist
  • General assessment and oversight provided by our nurse
  • Hourly or 24/7 live-in care
  • A wide variety of additional services

 

Contact Jeanette and her staff at (480) 535-6800, or www.HomeCareArizona.org

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