tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1089741268633869410Fri, 01 Jun 2012 08:45:30 +0000SafetyParentsCare ManagementNutritionGeriatric CareMedicalTechnologyHospiceLifespan CarePreventative HealthScamsLocalExcerciseLifespan AidesEventsVideoEducationNewsLawsVeteransDementia/AlzheimersFinancewww.lifespancare.comhttp://www.homecaresantacruz.com/noreply@blogger.com (Unknown)Blogger83125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1089741268633869410.post-1463226406319899506Wed, 09 May 2012 19:28:00 +00002012-05-09T12:28:28.079-07:00Dementia/Alzheimers I can't seem to get over the grief and shock of finding out my husband has Alzheimer's.  -From Caring.com My husband (not quite 60) has been diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's. We've spent four months telling close family and friends, making small changes to our lives, and making long-term plans. I finally feel like we've done all we can do prepare for what's to come. The problem is, http://www.homecaresantacruz.com/2012/02/coping-alzheimers-diagnosis-in-your.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lifespan)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1089741268633869410.post-501534307319086062Tue, 01 May 2012 20:41:00 +00002012-05-01T13:41:38.407-07:00Geriatric CarePreventative HealthEducation Men over age 75 and their doctors are largely ignoring changing medical guidelines for prostate cancer screening, a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association has found. As the Well blog’s Tara Parker-Pope reported on Tuesday, the United States Preventive Services Task Force in 2008 issued a strong recommendation against routine prostate-specific antigen (P.S.A.) testing in http://www.homecaresantacruz.com/2012/05/psa-testing-continues-in-older-men.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lifespan)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1089741268633869410.post-2631245265669274175Wed, 25 Apr 2012 19:32:00 +00002012-04-25T12:32:25.022-07:00Parentsby Dorian Martin of ElderCareLink Mom’s placement in a nursing home due to her chronic obstructive pulmonary disease andAlzheimer’s disease had ripple effects throughout our family. One of the most difficult was Dad’s diagnosis with depression. It turns out he’s not alone getting this diagnosis. A new study out of Rutgers University found that 6.2 percent of whites, 4.2 percent of African http://www.homecaresantacruz.com/2012/02/diagnosing-depression-in-elders-is.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lifespan)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1089741268633869410.post-3191726565207525218Wed, 28 Mar 2012 20:28:00 +00002012-03-28T13:28:19.026-07:00MedicalParentsNewsGeriatric CarePreventative HealthBy PAULA SPAN of the New Old Age Blog For the very old and frail, surgery can become a source of danger in itself.It may take members of our parents’ generation (and our own) a long time to get over thinking of hospitals as refuges of safety and operating rooms as harbingers of better days ahead. But it’s gradually becoming clearer that for the very old and frail, and for nursing home residentshttp://www.homecaresantacruz.com/2012/02/avoiding-surgery-in-elderly.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lifespan)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1089741268633869410.post-6108794434043789138Wed, 14 Mar 2012 19:32:00 +00002012-03-14T12:32:44.455-07:00NewsScamsby Dorian Martin of ElderCareLink Last week, I was asked to interview an older gentleman who I didn’t know for a story I was writing. I called the gentleman and we had a pleasant but brief introductory conversation. We agreed that I would do the interview the following afternoon in person. At the end of the call, I could hear the gentleman talking to a woman who he identified as his daughter who http://www.homecaresantacruz.com/2012/02/be-wary-of-these-10-scams-aimed-at.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lifespan)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1089741268633869410.post-1767294430095908921Wed, 07 Mar 2012 21:30:00 +00002012-03-07T13:31:16.143-08:00ParentsGeriatric CareBy PAULA SPAN of The "New Old Age " NY Times Blog “Come gather in the living room,” the staff told assisted living residents on Monday afternoon at Harbor’s Edge, a retirement village in Norfolk, Va. “We have an important announcement.” About 20 people assembled and heard the news: The continuing care retirement community would reverse a controversial policy that had restricted the gracious http://www.homecaresantacruz.com/2012/03/now-tables-for-almost-everyone.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lifespan)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1089741268633869410.post-7621522489994810444Thu, 01 Mar 2012 20:01:00 +00002012-03-07T13:31:03.376-08:00ParentsGeriatric CareBy PAULA SPAN from the New Old Age Blog Controversy erupts after a retirement community in Virginia excludes residents in assisted living and nursing care from its main dining room. Harbor’s Edge The River Terrace, above, a dining room at the Harbor’s Edge retirement community in Norfolk, Va., has been closed to residents in assisted living or nursing care. Residents at Harbor’s Edge, an http://www.homecaresantacruz.com/2012/02/tables-reserved-for-healthiest.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lifespan)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1089741268633869410.post-4590656034057208198Wed, 15 Feb 2012 20:49:00 +00002012-02-15T12:58:53.157-08:00MedicalGeriatric CarePreventative HealthFrom the Mayo Clinic Blog Counting calories may do more than just help shrink your waistline. A new study from Mayo Clinic suggests that eating too much may double the risk for memory loss in people age 70 and older. “We observed a dose-response pattern which simply means; the higher the amount of calories consumed each day, the higher the risk of mild cognitive impairment,” said study author http://www.homecaresantacruz.com/2012/02/overeating-may-double-risk-of-memory.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lifespan)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1089741268633869410.post-377110727702623835Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:45:00 +00002012-02-15T13:45:43.563-08:00MedicalParentsGeriatric CareNutritionPreventative HealthExcerciseDr. Travis Stork of “The Doctors” gives advice on heart healthby Carol Bradley Bursack, Editor-in-Chief of ElderCareLink Are you at risk for heart disease?You most likely know the risks for heart disease, but it doesn’t hurt to read the list again: high cholesterol, high triglycerides, untreated diabetes, smoking, high blood pressure, obesity, stress and lack of regular exercise.How do you knowhttp://www.homecaresantacruz.com/2012/02/february-is-heart-health-month-check.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lifespan)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1089741268633869410.post-2098204195956669774Sat, 21 Jan 2012 20:32:00 +00002012-02-15T13:26:42.056-08:00ParentsThis article is from the NY Times 'New Old Age Blog', By SUSAN SELIGER I couldn’t figure out how to delicately bring up the subject of what my parents want done with their bodily remains after death.The topic is awkward on all sides. If you’re elderly, you may worry that just talking about what happens after death could be depressing or bad luck. (Is that wood-knocking I hear?) And if you’re http://www.homecaresantacruz.com/2012/02/alternatives-to-traditional-funeral.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lifespan)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1089741268633869410.post-5512711529180257529Wed, 11 Jan 2012 21:05:00 +00002012-02-15T13:24:42.127-08:00TechnologyParents There is now a calculator that can approximate years left to live. This is an interesting concept. Article by the NY Times New Old Age Blog, by PAULA SPANLast spring, I wrote about a group of geriatricians and researchers assembling online a variety of geriatric indexes that do a reasonably good job of predicting mortality for those older than age 60. Since a number of tests and treatments oughthttp://www.homecaresantacruz.com/2012/01/how-long-until-end.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lifespan)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1089741268633869410.post-1012307524075260988Tue, 20 Dec 2011 20:46:00 +00002012-02-15T13:26:09.972-08:00ParentsLifespan CareCare ManagementCheck out this insightful article by Carol Bradley Bursack of ElderCareLink. A great way to provide help with the hospital to home transition for your loved one is through a care management agency, such as Lifespan. Check out our hospital to home brochure here. Fortunately for me and my family, I was able to make myself available to help each of my elders after their many hospitalizations. http://www.homecaresantacruz.com/2012/01/improving-elder-health-care-transitions.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lifespan)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1089741268633869410.post-2522540782191382231Mon, 05 Dec 2011 23:02:00 +00002011-12-05T15:05:27.594-08:00MedicalParentsGeriatric CareCare Management Slow down! That message is one we need to hear when it comes to making decisions on health matters for the elderly. In this era of text messages, snap decisions and time limits on doctor’s visits, it really may be beneficial to give elders, caregivers and doctors some time to think about next steps and to make informed decisions. For example, is surgery really the best option for the elderly? A http://www.homecaresantacruz.com/2011/12/slow-medicine-decision-making-may-lead.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lifespan)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1089741268633869410.post-4669582012587720889Mon, 05 Dec 2011 22:55:00 +00002011-12-05T15:07:04.430-08:00Parents Like many young adults, my brother Steve and I moved away from home to follow our dreams. With the exception of a four-year period in the late 1990s, we never lived closer than a three-hour drive to our parents’ house. That wasn’t a problem early on, but as our parents reached their late 70s, Steve and I increasing found it difficult to gauge how they were doing physically and mentally. Like http://www.homecaresantacruz.com/2011/12/holidays-provide-opportunity-to-gauge.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lifespan)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1089741268633869410.post-3660212146039543322Tue, 29 Nov 2011 20:18:00 +00002011-11-29T12:18:47.984-08:00http://www.homecaresantacruz.com/2011/11/are-you-or-one-of-your-clients-in-need.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lifespan)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1089741268633869410.post-6986892529762622513Thu, 10 Nov 2011 19:51:00 +00002012-02-15T13:27:21.909-08:00ParentsDementia/Alzheimersby Judy Kirkwood of Elder Care Link We used to roll our eyes and laugh when my dad would open his wallet and count his money over and over.I wish I had known that compulsive behavior is a typical manifestation of anxiety for those withAlzheimer’s. Dad knew at some level it was important to have money on hand, but he didn’t remember why. To a man, the wallet symbolizes being a  provider. In fact, http://www.homecaresantacruz.com/2011/10/by-judy-kirkwood-elder-care-link-we.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lifespan)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1089741268633869410.post-4175299069005985194Mon, 31 Oct 2011 18:35:00 +00002011-11-08T10:30:20.914-08:00ParentsMy brother and I are helping our mom move from out of state into a nearby condo we’re buying. It makes good sense, since she doesn't own her home or have strong emotional ties where she lives now. It will also be good for her to be nearer to us as she gets older and begins to need more care -- and best for her to have some years to feel happy and settled herebefore she becomes more dependent on http://www.homecaresantacruz.com/2011/10/q-my-mom-is-balking-at-moving-closer-to.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lifespan)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1089741268633869410.post-1921088281372119973Mon, 31 Oct 2011 18:15:00 +00002011-10-31T11:15:12.824-07:00ParentsPreventative Healthby Dorian Martin from Elder Care Link My 86-year-old father fell again recently. These missteps are worrisome since falls account for 70% of accidental deaths in people age 75 and older, according to the American Family Physician. Therefore, Dad’s experiences may provide important insights that can help other elders avoid falling.Dad first fell two years ago while living alone. He was carrying http://www.homecaresantacruz.com/2011/10/four-ways-to-help-elders-keep-their.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lifespan)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1089741268633869410.post-5328580631585177111Fri, 07 Oct 2011 02:58:00 +00002011-10-06T20:02:38.497-07:00ParentsDementia/AlzheimersMom was lucky to have several friends who lived as long as she did. So, it was frustrating that my mother didn’t make an effort to see or talk to them when she seemed to be capable of doing so. Even before her stroke, we would suggest mom make a date to meet an old friend from church, or a woman whom we had called “Aunt” whom mom met way back when Dad was in the service.We had a Certified Nursinghttp://www.homecaresantacruz.com/2011/10/why-elderly-friendships-can-fade.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lifespan)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1089741268633869410.post-1056569535470476642Fri, 07 Oct 2011 02:49:00 +00002011-10-06T19:49:07.745-07:00ParentsGeriatric CareSafetyPreventative HealthSurgery is surprisingly common in older people during the last year, month and even week of life, researchers reported Wednesday, a finding that is likely to stoke, but not resolve, the debate over whether medical care is overused and needlessly driving up medical costs. The most comprehensive examination of operations performed on Medicarerecipients in the final year of life found that http://www.homecaresantacruz.com/2011/10/surgery-late-in-life.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lifespan)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1089741268633869410.post-9157269539642675452Fri, 26 Aug 2011 16:30:00 +00002011-08-26T09:30:45.199-07:00 One in four caregivers for ill or elderly relatives and friends said in a survey released on Tuesday that they suffer from depression, a figure far higher than for the U.S. population in general.By comparison, 9 percent of all Americans are estimated to suffer from depression, according to a study released last year by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.The http://www.homecaresantacruz.com/2011/08/1-in-4-adult-caregivers-suffers-from.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lifespan)7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1089741268633869410.post-4037355336915690340Thu, 18 Aug 2011 16:54:00 +00002011-09-06T10:45:03.007-07:00MedicalLawsNewsEducation Free Guide to how healthcare reform affects seniors.Click here to download the guide.http://www.homecaresantacruz.com/2011/08/free-guide-to-how-healthcare-reform.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lifespan)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1089741268633869410.post-3505725779101874767Thu, 18 Aug 2011 16:52:00 +00002011-08-18T09:52:35.044-07:00NutritionPreventative Health People who are sick or elderly have different food requirements than young, healthy people. They are also more likely to suffer harm from not eating the right foods. After age 50, there are chemical and physical changes in the body that affect nutritional needs. The metabolic rate (metabolism), which is the speed at which the body uses energy, slows down. Older individuals burn less fuel for http://www.homecaresantacruz.com/2011/08/recognizing-body-changes-that-influence.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lifespan)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1089741268633869410.post-266477194119976773Thu, 18 Aug 2011 16:51:00 +00002011-08-18T09:56:18.553-07:00NutritionPreventative Health This is an excerpt from the HCPro book, The CNA Training Solution, Second Edition.The body will begin to break down if it does not get the type and amount of fuel it needs. Malnutrition means, “badly nourished,” another way of saying that the person isn’t getting enough of the right nutrients the body needs to stay healthy. It can be caused by not getting enough nutritious foods or by not http://www.homecaresantacruz.com/2011/08/observe-residents-for-signs-that-may.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lifespan)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1089741268633869410.post-9134117684861820489Mon, 01 Aug 2011 17:26:00 +00002011-08-01T10:26:58.016-07:00New website launches to keep your stories in tact for your loved ones. Check it out!http://www.homecaresantacruz.com/2011/08/write-your-legacy-for-your-loved-ones.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lifespan)0