Monthly Archives August 2016

What Are Your Rights as a Caregiver?

What Are Your Rights as a Caregiver?

August 9, 2016 | No Comments

If you’re a family caregiver, you’re performing a labor of love. Often at great cost to your own health, finances or career you provide this service. But not knowing your rights makes a challenging job 10 times harder. By getting informed you’re better able to care for the one you love and yourself. Let’s discuss some of these rights. Do you qualify for FMLA? FMLA (Family Medical Leave Act) protects caregivers in the workplace. For those who qualify and work within a company that employs 50+ people, it allows up to 12 weeks of unpaid scheduled or unscheduled time to
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How Much do Assisted Living Facilities Cost?

How Much do Assisted Living Facilities Cost?

August 9, 2016 | No Comments

If you have a loved one who needs assisted living and you find yourself having to pay for it, there is a good chance that you were not anticipating that this was going to happen. Many people believe that this will be covered by government subsidies in the case that someone needs assisted living. However, this is typically not the case. The cost of assisted living facilities can vary greatly depending on the different types of places and different amenities that are provided to residents at these places. Base rates for these facilities typically cover room and board, as well
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Do I Need a Power of Attorney for My Loved One?

Do I Need a Power of Attorney for My Loved One?

August 9, 2016 | 1 Comment

Watching a loved one slowly succumb to dementia is hard enough without having to worry about logistics and financial and legal issues. As you and your loved one are faced with a diagnosis of dementia, you may feel the need for a power of attorney. As loved ones becomes more consumed by the disease, it’s important to make sure their wishes are carried out if and when they can no longer make important decisions for themselves. Getting a power of attorney is an important step toward making sure their wishes are carried out. What is a Power of Attorney? A
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How Much Exercise Should Your Loved One Get?

How Much Exercise Should Your Loved One Get?

August 9, 2016 | No Comments

Keeping your elderly loved ones active is important for their continued health and well-being. Since exercise has been proven to boost the brain and ward off memory problems, it’s especially important those suffering from dementia. Being more active also often increases a person’s energy level, which makes them feel more productive and gives them a more positive attitude. However, you may wonder how much exercise should your loved ones get and what types of exercise is best to avoid injury. To ensure they get enough exercise, you may need to take a more active role in these pursuits. Doctor’s Opinion
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How Many Calories Per Day Should Your Loved One Consume?

How Many Calories Per Day Should Your Loved One Consume?

August 9, 2016 | No Comments

When caring for loved ones with dementia or Alzheimer’s, good nutrition is essential to manage symptoms and optimize their quality of life. It is quite common for patients with these conditions to be at risk for dehydration or malnutrition due to a decreased sense of hunger and thirst. Over time, their tastes may also change, presenting challenges in meal preparation. For these reasons, it is very important to make sure your loved one is well-attended and observed during meal times to make sure he or she has eaten enough. Meeting with a dietician to discuss the foods right for your
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5 Easy to Swallow Shakes that are Packed with Nutrients

5 Easy to Swallow Shakes that are Packed with Nutrients

August 9, 2016 | No Comments

When some of the simple things in life such as swallowing are no longer simple, there are alternative solutions than can be of help. Taking nutrition is vital to every person, without regard to physical challenges that may be a part of your life temporarily or for the long term. The good news is that finding alternative things that are easy to swallow and provide good nutrition is easier today than it has ever been. One category of such things are meal replacement or meal substitute shakes and drinks. There are a variety of brands, and even more variety of
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How To Protect Your Home When Caring for a Loved One With Alzheimer’s

How To Protect Your Home When Caring for a Loved One With Alzheimer’s

August 9, 2016 | No Comments

Although it’s possible for someone with Alzheimer’s to continue living in a residential home, it takes some problem-solving and creativity to ensure safety. As the disease progresses, a person’s abilities transform. Moreover, symptoms vary from person to person. Here are some tips for how to protect your home when you’re caring for someone with Alzheimer’s. Slips and falls Falls are the number one unintentional safety hazard for elderly people in general. Those with Alzheimer’s are at an even greater risk due to their decreased ability to accurately judge space and distance. To reduce the likelihood of your loved one having
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Helping Your Loved One with Dementia Find Meaning in Their Life

Helping Your Loved One with Dementia Find Meaning in Their Life

August 9, 2016 | No Comments

The worst thing you can do for someone with Alzheimer’s or dementia is allow them to spend too much idle time alone. It’s important to learn how to communicate with someone suffering from dementia and to include them in your daily life as much as possible. If you maintain open and frequent communication with their medical care providers, you will find that your loved one can enjoy many of the events that give meaning to your life. Continuance & Familiar Objects Try to talk to your loved one about items in their home that have sentimental meaning. It’s best to
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Caring for the Personal Hygiene of Those with Dementia

Caring for the Personal Hygiene of Those with Dementia

August 9, 2016 | No Comments

Dementia is often a frustrating condition, and those who care for people with dementia may sometimes find themselves at a loss, despite their best efforts. Odd behaviors may keep cropping up with no clear solution to the problem. Here’s a look into why these behaviors might be occurring and what you can do to deal with them. Refusing to Bathe This is one of the most common and frustrating problems you’ll come across. A variety of issues could be contributing to their refusal to bathe. They might be embarrassed to be seen naked, or they may have had previous negative
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What Is Dementia?

What Is Dementia?

August 9, 2016 | No Comments

If your parent or other loved one has only recently begun to suffer lapses in memory or moments of impaired judgment, it can be easy to attribute each slip of the tongue or scuffed car bumper to a “senior moment” or other minor blip in an otherwise healthily functioning brain. When this is the case, a formal diagnosis of dementia can hit you like a ton of bricks. What can you do to assist your relative in navigating through this process? Read on to learn more about dementia and what you may be able to expect when dealing with a
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