Staying Safe in Cold Weather

Cold weather is especially dangerous for children and older adults. Although we may not notice its affects right away the winter's cold can easily bring on Hypothermia. Hypothermia occurs when the body's core temperature falls below 96 Degrees Fahrenheit. Hypothermia can develop in older adults fairly quickly when exposed to colder temperatures, even if the temperature change is small. Older less active adults are more prone to Hypothermia due to a low production in body heat. Diabetes and other medical conditions can also lead to a diminished response to cold weather. Even some over the counter cold medicines can lead to a poor response to drops in temperature. If you care for an older adult you should pay close attention to them when they are exposed to the cold.

Although dangerous Hypothermia is preventable. While indoors dress your loved one in layers, ensure that they are wearing socks and slippers. Set the thermostat to 68 to 70 Degrees Fahrenheit, although this may seem too warm Hypothermia can be brought on at the temperature of 65 Degrees Fahrenheit. When going outdoors it is important to make sure they keep their heads covered by a hat and that they have a scarf and gloves with them. You should also check with a doctor to see if any medications or cold medicines may increase their
risk of hypothermia.

If an older adult has been exposed to the cold and you believe that they may be suffering from hypothermia, check their temperature. A temperature of 96 degrees or less is an indicator that something is wrong and 911 should be called immediately. Some other warning signs are sleepiness, confusion, shivering, stiffness in their arms or legs, slow/slurred speech, slow reactions and a weak pulse.

Helpful ways to communicate with dementia sufferers

Many of those suffering from dementia find themselves unable to
communicate their needs and fears with others. Often this leads to a
breakdown in communication between the client and their caregiver.
Although frustrating there are some ways to help caregivers
communicate with dementia suffers to help build long lasting healthy
relationships. These tips are designed to help you handle the often
difficult task of of assisting dementia clients.

1.Maintain your sense of humor
Many dementia clients still have their social skills. Telling
jokes or sharing funny stories are ways to lighten the mood and to
share laughter together.

2. When interacting be positive
Communicate with more than just your voice. Your body language
and tone or voice are other ways to convey your thoughts and feelings

3. Be clear and direct
Speak slowly and use simple words/phrases. Always refer to people
by their names rather than he/she as sometimes this may cause
confusion. If the client does not understand your question the 1st
time you ask it is recommended that you repeat the question the same
way you phrased it the 1st time you asked it.

4. Minimize distractions around them
Make sure you have their full attention before speaking to them.
If you are in a place that is very noisy you may chose to leave the
room or turn down the volume of the TV.

5. Ask questions that are easy for them to answer
Ask questions that are easily answered with Yes/No answer. Try
not to ask open ended questions that can confuse their thought
process.

6. Listen with more than your ears
Take note of their body language when they are trying to answer
their questions. If they begin to get confused or flustered you can
try to make suggestions as to what they are trying to say.

7. When they start to get upset, lighten the mood
When their mood begins to change address the negative emotion
they are demonstrating and then change the subject or divert their
attention to a hands on activity.

8. Reassure them with feelings of safety and comfort
During times when they are unsure of their surroundings or become
confused reassure them buy using a soft tone of voice or a pat on the
shoulder.

9. Use the Divide and Conquer approach
When taking on a large task help them make it manageable by
breaking the process into steps. Encourage them to keep moving forward
and help them when they aren't sure what to do next.

10. Have them share stores from the past
For most dementia clients it isn't their long term memory that is
fading so suggest that they tell you stories from their favorite
vacation. Another way to jog their memory is to pull out an old album,
ask who people are or what they were doing when this picture was
taken.

Exercise and Older Adults

As most of us already know physical activity and exercise are important to both your physical and mental health. That being said there are tremendous benefits for older people who exercise. Continuous physical activity can also produce long- term benefits and many experts suggest that older adults who remain active also maintain their optimal health. Some of you may be reading this wondering what activities can do to stay healthy and for others this may be the time to start an exercise game plan.

First, you need to know what your limits are. Second, ease into your new exercise routine. Decide how often you want to exercise, whether it be once a day or maybe just certain days of the week. There are 4 main categories of physical activity: Endurance, Strength, Balance and Flexibility. For the most part most exercises fit into more than one category.

Endurance:
These are activities that increase your heart rate and breathing. Increasing your heart rate and breathing help to condition your body and may lower your risk of heart attack while increasing the strength of your lungs. You may try taking a brisk walk or taking the stairs whenever possible. If you are looking to build your physical endurance try taking a dance or aerobics class, some of these classes may be offered at your local senior center. Biking and swimming are 2 other ways to build up your endurance.

Strength:
By increasing your strength may also ensure that as you age you will still be able to carry your own groceries as you get older. To do this you can try lifting light weights.

Balance:
If you are concerned about your balance you might want to learn Tai Chi or even practice heel to toe walking.

Flexibility:
As with all exercises and especially before physical activity always stretch to increase your flexibility and to prevent injuries.

Remember that even though physical exercise is important it is also important to know your physical limits before beginning an exercise routine.

Here at ACS we are commited to educating the community on the service we provide. We understand that many of those in need of care don't really know where to start in terms of searching. For some of you it is a shock to know your loved one is in need of such care and for others it is something you knew you would need eventually.

Although it is difficult for us to accept we must remember that those that are in need of homecare have a sense of loss that is often troubling to accept. They are afraid to leave everything familiar behind along with losing their sense of independence.It is important that at such a difficult time in one's life they understand moving away from home isn't the only option. By having a caregiver to supervise and assist them with everyday tasks in their home they don't have to succumb to a nursing home.

If this is your first time looking into homecare you should understand some of the benefits. Take the following into consideration:

It's Simple:
ACS is here to meet your specific needs. Together we can work out a schedule and a list of duties that you need performed. You decide if you want light housekeeping, bath assistance, meals, etc. performed everyday and you even choose the shifts you need worked. Once we have that information we will be able to place you with a caregiver.

The transition is easy:
The true benefit is that your caregiver comes to you! There is no need to drive yourself or your loved one anywhere. You'll also have a companion around who you can talk and share stories with.

The price is reasonable:
ACS was founded to provide quality, affordable, non-medical homecare for seniors! Keeping costs down is what we are here to do! It is our mission to improve their quality of life by providing them the best service at the best price.

Homecare provides family members with the PEACE OF MIND that their loved one is in the hands of a qualified individual.

Caregivers, Care Managers and Family Members

Many seniors, for various reasons, face hazards when they are left alone in the house. Some might need someone to bring food and water, or help them go to the bathroom. Others, due to memory problems might be in danger of leaving the stove on, or doing something else that puts them in danger. For these seniors, just having someone around for supervision can be a tremendously valuable thing.

Unfortunately, many seniors are unable to have someone around at all the times when they need one. For seniors with large, closely-knit families, it can be easier to make sure that someone will be there, especially if the senior also has a professional caregiver for hours when family is unavailable. But for other seniors, without a lot of nearby family members to supervise, it can be a major challenge to get sufficient care. In this situation it can be useful to hire a care manager. Care managers work with seniors’ physicians, family members and caregivers to ensure that the senior is being cared for sufficiently, and is not in danger. When seniors don’t have family members to check in on them, a care manager can provide all the supervision that would otherwise be provided by the family.

Not all seniors can have people around whenever they need them. Depending on the amount of care needed, and the ability of the senior's family to provide supervision, the senior's home care needs could be met by a combination of family help and the services of professional caregivers. But for seniors without an adequate family or social support system, hiring a care manager might be the best choice.

Homecare Humor

Because laughter is the best medicine, the ACS blog is going to take a break from serious topics, and bring you some homecare humor. We've searched all across the web to find the best (and most family-friendly) senior jokes. So here's a funny list of signs that you might be the right age for homecare, from your friends at Accredited Caregiver Specialists.

You know you might be the right age for homecare when:

1) Your back goes out more often than you do.
2) Your idea of a night out is sitting on the patio.
3) At cafeterias, you complain that the gelatin is too tough.
4) You begin every other sentence with, "Nowadays..."
5) People call at 9 p.m. and ask, "Did I wake you?"
6) Your knees buckle and your belt won't.
7) Happy hour is a nap.
8)Tying one on means fastening your Medic Alert bracelet.
9)You do the hokey pokey and put your left hip out, and it stays out.
10)You light the candles on your birthday cake, and a group of campers form a circle and start singing “Kumbaya.”

Happy Holidays everybody!

How Seniors Can Beat the "Holiday Blues"

People often associate the holidays with good company and happiness, and for many this is so. But for others, the holidays can be a very challenging time. For some, the stress of preparing celebrations, and the financial pressures of buying gifts can make the holidays an unpleasant time, and for seniors lacking a strong social support system, the holidays can be a time of loneliness, and especially difficult when seeing everyone else having a "merry" time. This is an important thing for all of us to keep in mind during the holidays. To prevent "the holiday blues" among seniors, social interaction is very important. If there is a senior in your life who you know might be missing out on the holiday cheer, remember to visit or at least call them, because even small gestures can make a big difference for their moods. And if you are a senior, click here to read an article on how to improve your mood during the holidays.

Season's greetings from all at ACS!