Tag Archives: Caring for Mom

Eating with Alzheimer’s and Dementia – Helping A Loved One

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$110 for a dining set that looks like it is straight out of Ikea!?!  Yup, and worth every penny.

Sure today is only the end of August, and sure, it was in the mid 90’s in normally cool headed East Idaho, but Christmas may just have come early.  At least for those who are suffering from Alzheimer’s it has.  Well, for those whose loved one’s plan on leaving them this awesome dining set in their stocking.Eat Well Dining Set - Alzheimers Eating Help

 

According to Foodbeast, When designer Sha Yao’s late grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease, the young designer felt helpless and wanted to do more for her loved one. Yao spent time volunteering in senior care facilities that care for patients of Alzheimer’s and other impairing conditions.

The colors, shapes, design were all thought out with Alzheimer’s patients in mind.  It even uses scientific research to help stimulate the appetite of someone suffering from Alzheimer’s.

Her design got noticed.  In 2014, it won the Stanford Design Challenge out of 52 teams from 15 countries.

You can go snag a set today!

Alzheimer’s: The Toll On Women

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Women More Likely Than Men To Get AlzheimersPink is a great color. We run marathons wearing it. College and professional athletes wear it. It serves to remind us well the toll that breast cancer impacts women.

Did you know there is a disease that inflicts twice as many women as breast cancer? According to the Alzheimer’s Association 2014 Facts and Figures report, women over 60 have a 1 in 6 chance of developing Alzheimer’s. Men have a 1 in 11 chance.

Maybe it is time to start wearing purple along with pink.

There are five million people in the United States afflicted with Alzheimer’s with half a million people dying each year due to the disease.

The impact on women puts them at the epicenter. Consider these facts:

  • Two-thirds of those living with the disease are women
  • Women are 2.5 times more likely than men to provide intensive “on-duty” care 24 hours a day for someone with Alzheimer’s
  • Over 60 percent of Alzheimer’s and dementia caregivers are women
  • 20% of women (compared with 3% of men) switch from full-time to part-time work in order to assume responsibilities as caregivers
  • Women caregivers report feeling more isolated and depressed than men
  • Women are more likely to take a leave of absence from work or stop working altogether

Alzheimers Purple RibbonWhile there is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s, awareness of the disease is a great first step.

1 Assist Care of the Valley: Assisted Living at Home is partnering with the Alzheimer’s Association to bring Alzheimer’s support groups to Rexburg to serve caregivers and those in the early stages of the disease from Rigby to Driggs and everywhere in between. To stay informed about the support groups and to stay informed about Alzheimer’s Disease, fill out your information below.

And don’t forget to like us on Facebook, follow us on Pinterest, and subscribe to this blog (scroll to the top of the page and look to the right of the post)

For more information on Alzheimer’s in Idaho, click the link below.

Alzheimer’s Disease: Idaho Facts and Figures

Find a Caregiver Today

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Ready to provide your loved one or yourself with the best care possible while staying home?

We will work with you to find a fantastic match from our trained and screened team members to provide that care.

Tell us a little about your situation so we can start the process.

Or you can simply call us at 208-557-4215 and start the process that way.

 

When Exercise Isn’t Enough – The One Thing That Will Increase Elderly Health By 50%

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<a href=”http://www.valleyhelpathome.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Sitting-Senior.jpg”><img class=”alignleft  wp-image-480″ alt=”Helping Seniors To Walk In East Idaho” src=”http://www.valleyhelpathome.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Sitting-Senior.jpg” width=”379″ height=”216″ /></a>So it turns out that exercise is just not enough.  Not that the solution is terribly difficult, but in this case, <strong>knowing is way more than half of the battle</strong>.

<span style=”text-decoration: underline;”><strong><a href=”http://www.news-medical.net/news/20140220/Sedentary-behavior-may-be-a-risk-factor-for-disability-once-we-reach-our-60s.aspx” target=”_blank”>A recent study</a></strong></span> published in <i>Journal of Physical Activity and Health </i>found that <span style=”text-decoration: underline;”>the more time a senior spent sitting</span>, even if they spent time exercising, <span style=”text-decoration: underline;”>the more likely the senior’s health would lead to disability</span>.

The likelihood is pretty dramatic – to the tune of <strong>50% more per extra hour sitting</strong>.

Take this example. If two 70 year old men had similar health and exercise profiles, but one sat for 12 hours a day while the other sat for 13, the second man is 50% more likely to be disabled.

Does that mean sitting is dangerous?  What it means is that it is important to get up and move around.  If you want to watch TV, work on the computer, or play games, try to doing so while spending more time standing.  It might seem silly, but it is the difference between health and disability.

Looking for someone to help get you moving in one of Idaho Falls parks?  Wanting to find someone to go walking with your mother around the block in Rexburg?  Hoping you could just get someone to walk with your father in his house in Driggs?  Worried your loved one might be sitting too much at their cabin in Island Park? Wanting to give your wife a little extra walking time in the Ashton Living Center?  <em>1 Assist Care of the Valley: Assisted Living in the Home’s </em>care team members are more than happy to walk with our elderly clients.  Focusing on the emotional, social, and physical well-being of our clients, 1 Assist Care of the Valley’s team members follow care plans generated to help with that well-being while receiving assisted living care in their home.  That could mean a few hours a day or a few hours a week.

Give us a call at <strong>208-557-4215</strong> or fill out the information below to learn more or to <strong>schedule a free home visit</strong>.  We will then work with you to create a care plan to get moving and to help with your other objectives for your well being, or the well being of your loved one.

ABC: 3 Warning Signs That Your Elderly Loved One Might Need Help

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Happy President’s Day!

We have now enjoyed Valentine’s Day and President’s Day. Typically, we are looking forward to the warmth of Spring and a break that goes along with it.

It might also be a good time to check in with your mother or father to make sure they are doing okay.

ABC Warning Signs Senior Needs HelpDoing so should be a positive experience. In 2014, you have a number of options not available earlier to make sure your loved one is taken care of and safe, even without you having to be there 24 hours a day or placing them into an assisted living home in Idaho Falls.

When visiting with Mom and Dad, here are some simple ABC’s to consider their situation.

A is for Aroma
Is there an unpleasant smell that seems to be new? It might be that they have lost a little of their sense of smell and may have something that needs to be thrown away. Or it could be something else. It could be that they do not have the energy, memory, or ability to either clean the house or to get cleaned up every day – or every few days.

Did your Mom or Dad insist on cleanliness growing up? That desire to have a clean house or to be clean and beautiful does not go away as they age. But their ability to or memory to may.

Bad question to ask: What is that smell? May embarrass your loved one.
Good question to ask: Mom, can I help you clean up? This will allow you to assess the situation and find out what the odor is.

B is for Bedtime Clothes
Is your Mom and Dad in their evening attire throughout the day? This may be a sign of depression or loneliness. According to a study released this year, loneliness is more deadly to seniors than obesity is. Or it may be a sign that they do not have the energy to get changed.

Either way, a change needs to be made – and not just a change of clothes.

Bad question to ask: Why are you still in your pajamas? Your loved one may get defensive.
Good question to ask: I love your pajamas! What is your secret to finding such good sleeping attire? This will open up your loved one and will open a conversation about buying clothes with large necks and other clothes that are easy to get in and out of, but still make them feel stylish and beautiful.

Warning Signs that Your Elderly Mother Might Need HelpC is for Catching Up With Life
This one will require more conversation. Are they calling you by name? Do they remember what happened five minutes ago? Are they slurring their speech? Are they keeping up with the things they used to love, be that news or grandchildren or religious activities.

Short term memory loss, slurred speech, disengagement with life are all things that should raise red flags and it is time to seek professional help.

D is for Dining
Bonus one. Be sure to ask your loved one about what they ate for breakfast. If they cannot remember, that is a sure sign that there is a problem. This is also true is their clothes seem to start sagging. A loss of weight may mean that they are forgetting to eat, which will lead to other more serious problems.

If your conversation with your mom or dad shows signs of concern, be sure to make two more phone calls. The first to your parent’s physician. The second to 1 Assist Care of the Valley to discuss how we can help your loved one enjoy life at home while you know that they are safe and taken care of as you are able to deal with the other demands of life.

See any of these? Call us today for a free home visit from our team. You can call us at 557-4215 or fill out the contact form below and we will reach out to you.

Your Mother’s Greatest Fear About Aging – And What She Loves

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<em></em><i>1 Assist Care of the Valley sponsors free monthly educational sessions in East Idaho to prepare families and individuals for aging in graceful and happy ways.</i>

You know your parents.  You know them well. Age changes people.  And that is not a bad thing.  With age comes wisdom, experience, and a beauty only the elderly can claim. But things happen to the body and the mind as we age. Here are four statistics you may not know about the elderly.

<img class=”  ” alt=”Elderly woman climbing a wall with the text ” src=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LiX01VmZvD8/UYf-6RyNH7I/AAAAAAAAHLU/dIW-WRUmrbM/s1600/Sorry-Grandma-No-Bingo-Today-Funny-Old-Lady-In-RussSe Financial</a></span>, is that <span style=”text-decoration: underline;”>they are going to be a burden on you</span>.  Yeah, they are more concerned with putting you out than they are worried about death. Talking about what is in store for the future does not have to be gloomy or depressing.  The time will come when age will impact your family’s life.  Wouldn’t you rather face that time prepared with a plan that you have all discussed and understand what everyone is to do – and what the desires of both your parent and yourself are?

<strong>3. Your loved ones may not know what is coming
</strong>According to that same report by GenWorth, <span style=”text-decoration: underline;”>49% of those who receiving long term care had not even considered the possibility that they might even need long term care</span>.  That represents almost half of those receiving care.

<strong>4. You may not know what is coming
</strong>This is probably the most surprising, as it represents well over half of those who were providing support to their loved one.  Of those providing support, <span style=”text-decoration: underline;”>57% had to dip into their own retirement funds or personal savings to take care of their parents</span>. What does that mean? It means that not only did their loved ones not plan for or realize what was coming, but neither did the family member providing the support.

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<strong>Conclusion – Be Prepared Now
</strong>Does that mean retirement does not have to look like what you hope it looks like?  Absolutely not.  Go and travel the way that you want.  Let your loved one do the same.  Read the books that you all want to read. But in order to make that happen, you need to sit down and plan.  Understand the reality of what may come and prepare for it.  There are options out there to help you prepare for the unexpected – and expected. The time to start is today.  As in now. Schedule some time as a family.  You will all pat yourselves on the back later for making the right choice now.

<a href=”www.valleyhelpathome.com”><img alt=”Picture of a frustrated woman – the greatest concern for the elderly is being a burden on their children.” src=”http://resources2.news.com.au/images/2013/05/11/1226639/918334-frustrated-woman.jpg” width=”312″ height=”176″ /></a> Your mother’s greatest concern about aging? That this is how your are going to feel about making sure she is taken care of as she ages.

<em>To find out more about this and other topics to prepare your family for aging, fill out the form below and we will update you on the free monthly informational sessions.</em> <em><span style=”text-decoration: underline;”><strong><a title=”Our Services” href=”http://www.valleyhelpathome.com/our-services-east-idaho-teton-jackson-hole-in-home-care/” target=”_blank”>1 Assist Care of the Valley</a></strong></span> also provides assisted living services to seniors who desire to stay in the comfort of their own home throughout East Idaho. To find out more, fill out the form below and we will reach out to you.</em>

Keeping Her Home – A Powerful Alternative to Assisted Living for Mom

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Somewhere between 90% and 95% of seniors want to stay in their own home. Read on to find out how to keep your loved one in their own home with all of the comforts of assisted living.

There comes a time in most of our lives when we have to face a sobering question:

What do we do with Mom?

Assisted Living at Home For Parents in East Idaho, Rexburg, Idaho Falls, and Driggs

Assisted Living for Mom no longer has to be in a facility. Now your Mother can have all the comforts of assisted living in the comfort of her own home.

It is not a question that indicates loss of love. It can mean we no longer live close to her and she needs help with daily living. It may mean she has some sort of dementia. It may mean we live close to her, but in the midst of living our lives, it is difficult to find the time to spend with her that she needs.

Do these mean it is time to put her into a home?

That may be a great choice.

But is that the choice she would have wanted?

The fact is, probably not. Somewhere between 90% and 95% of seniors want to stay in their own home. And is it any wonder? She has spent the past several decades making her house a home. Her home is where she raised her children, spoiled her grandchildren, entertained her friends, babysat the neighbors, found ways to beautify its walls, spent countless hours cleaning it, filled its air with smells of Thanksgiving, placed presents under the Christmas tree, hid eggs at Easter time, found ways to pinch pennies to pay it off.

Not very many of us say, “When I grow up I want to have my own house so that when I am old enough my children will put me in a community home.”

Assisted Living Facilities are not a bad choice, do not get me wrong. It just is probably not where Mom wants to be.

So what is the alternative?

How about Assisted Living in her own home? A place where she can be taken care of, enjoy companionship, have her meals taken care of, where she can have help with personal hygiene, a place where she can be watched over to make sure she is safe. But also a place where her family can visit her and be filled with memories. A place where she can feel a sense of community, and the community feels she is part of it because of the time she spent in it. A place where she can go on excursions to her

Home - The Best Assisted Living Place for Mom

She worked hard to make the house a home. Let her stay in it – while keeping her safe and taken care of. Contact us today.

favorite local spots and events.

A place where she can be surrounded by familiarity in a time that is often so unfamiliar to most of us.

That is what 1 Assist Care of the Valley in Rexburg offers. The ability to age gracefully in the comfort of home. Where a member of our care team is able to take care of your mother in a place that she worked for decades to create. The ability to allow you and your siblings to honor your mother’s desire to stay home, coupled with your desire to make sure she is taken care of and safe, knowing that she is not alone or isolated.

The choice no longer has to be – Which assisted living facility do we put her in? Now the choice can be to keep her in her home with all of the amenities and help of an assisted living facility.

Want to find out more on how to keep Mom home? 1 Assist Care of the Valley will work with you to create a plan that works best for you and all loved ones involved. We service individuals and families from Idaho Falls to Rexburg to Ashton to Driggs.

To find out more or to create a plan for your mother’s care, just fill out the contact form below and we will be in touch. You can also call us at 208-557-4215.