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Archive for May, 2009

Why In-Home Care May be Right for You in Seattle WA

I found a great article that talks about the many positive aspects regarding the use of In-Home Care for an aging loved one.  If you have any questions at all about Home Care in the Seattle, Bellevue areas,  please visit www.andelcare.com .

“In-Home Care is rapidly becoming the most commonly asked for service among today’s aging population. In-Home Care involves a network of service providers who deliver personal care and maintenance right to the home. These service providers handle routine tasks including light housekeeping, meal preparation, errand running, mail sorting and a whole lot more. If desired, they can also provide assistance with personal care. Besides the elderly, In-Home Care is a wonderful service for new mothers and those with a short-term disability or illness.”

Continue Reading the article by clicking the following link: http://www.thehomecaredirectory.com/home_health_care/related_articles/why_in-home_care_may_be_right_for_you/30/

There’s No Place Like Home For Growing Old in Seattle Washington

“The stairs are getting so hard to climb.”
“Since my wife died, I just open a can of soup for dinner.”
“I’ve lived here 40 years. No other place will seem like home.”

These are common concerns for older people. And, you may share an often-heard wish—“I want to stay in my own home!” The good news is that with the right help you might be able to do just that.

Click on the link below from the National Institute on Aging to read more.  The tips there will help families know what to do first, the kinds of help available, where to start and what the costs are.  If you have any further questions, or need help with an aging loved one in the Seattle or Bellevue areas, visit www.andelcare.com.

Here is the link:  http://www.nia.nih.gov/HealthInformation/Publications/stayinghome.htm

How Can Social Support Ease Caregiver Stress in Seattle Washington?

Here is a great article I found that I wanted to share. The original article can be found at http://www.alzinfo.org/alzheimers-caregiving.asp#3.  If you have any questions, or need help for an aging loved one in the Seattle or Bellevue areas, please visit www.andelcare.com.

How can social support ease caregiver stress?

Two important contributors to caregiver stress are lack of social support and the caregiver’s assessment of the behavior of the patient with Alzheimer’s.

Social and family support. Caregivers who lack sufficient or appropriate social support from family and friends are often put under heightened stress. Family conflicts, isolation and loneliness further exacerbate the stress of caregivers. While social support may not affect the primary stress caused by the disease, it can change the caregiver’s response to the illness. Feeling supported by family and friends can improve psychological responses to stress and boost the caregiver’s sense of well-being.

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"Happy Nurses Week" from Andelcare of Seattle Washington!

Happy Nurses Week from all of us at Andelcare.  Remember to thank a nurse that you know too!

National Nurses Week begins each year on May 6th and ends on May 12th, Florence Nightingale’s birthday. These permanent dates enhance planning and position National Nurses Week as an established recognition event. As of 1998, May 8 was designated as National Student Nurses Day, to be celebrated annually. And as of 2003, National School Nurse Day is celebrated on the Wednesday within National Nurses Week (May 6-12) each year.

The nursing profession has been supported and promoted by the American Nurses Association (ANA) since 1896. Each of ANA’s state and territorial nurses associations promotes the nursing profession at the state and regional levels. Each conducts celebrations on these dates to recognize the contributions that nurses and nursing make to the community.

The ANA supports and encourages National Nurses Week recognition programs through the state and district nurses associations, other specialty nursing organizations, educational facilities, and independent health care companies and institutions.

A Brief History of National Nurses Week

1953 Dorothy Sutherland of the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare sent a proposal to President Eisenhower to proclaim a “Nurse Day” in October of the following year. The proclamation was never made.

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“Happy Nurses Week” from Andelcare of Seattle Washington!

Happy Nurses Week from all of us at Andelcare.  Remember to thank a nurse that you know too!

National Nurses Week begins each year on May 6th and ends on May 12th, Florence Nightingale’s birthday. These permanent dates enhance planning and position National Nurses Week as an established recognition event. As of 1998, May 8 was designated as National Student Nurses Day, to be celebrated annually. And as of 2003, National School Nurse Day is celebrated on the Wednesday within National Nurses Week (May 6-12) each year.

The nursing profession has been supported and promoted by the American Nurses Association (ANA) since 1896. Each of ANA’s state and territorial nurses associations promotes the nursing profession at the state and regional levels. Each conducts celebrations on these dates to recognize the contributions that nurses and nursing make to the community.

The ANA supports and encourages National Nurses Week recognition programs through the state and district nurses associations, other specialty nursing organizations, educational facilities, and independent health care companies and institutions.

A Brief History of National Nurses Week

1953 Dorothy Sutherland of the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare sent a proposal to President Eisenhower to proclaim a “Nurse Day” in October of the following year. The proclamation was never made.

Read the rest of this entry »

Food for Thought – May

Old Age?  I feel like my body has gotten totally out of shape, so I got my

doctor’s permission to join a fitness club and start exercising. I

decided to take an aerobics class for seniors. I bent, twisted, gyrated,

jumped up and down, and perspired for an hour. But, by the time I got my

leotards on, the class was over.
 

 

Remember: You don’t stop laughing because you grow old, You grow

old because you stop laughing.

May is Stroke Awareness Month

Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the U.S. and is the leading cause of disability in adults. Approximately 780,000 strokes will occur this year; however 500,000 of those strokes can be prevented. The goal of the annual campaign is to raise public awareness about the continuum of stroke by managing risk factors to reduce stroke risk, better understanding stroke symptom recognition and response and improving the quality of life during stroke recovery for the 6 million stroke survivors in the United States.

 

If you see stroke’s warning signs act FAST and call 911

 

F = Face      Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?

A = Arm      Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?

S = Speech      Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. Does the speech sound slurred or strange?

T = Time      If you observe any of these signs, call 911. Time lost is brain lost.
Stroke Symptoms include:
SUDDEN numbness or weakness of face, arm or leg – especially on one side of the body.
SUDDEN confusion, trouble speaking or understanding.
SUDDEN trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
SUDDEN trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.
SUDDEN severe headache with no known cause.
 
Stroke prevention is important for everyone. Through recognition and management of risk factors, lifestyle changes and compliance with recurrent stroke prevention treatments, up to 80% of strokes can be prevented. Manageable risk factors include:
• Blood pressure
• Cholesterol management
• TIA (transient ischemic attack)
• Weight
• Smoking
• Alcohol consumption
• Diabetes
• Atrial fibrillation
 

Sources: American Stroke Association, National Stroke Association

 

Marla's Musings – May

Finally, I think Spring is here.  Some sunny days, flowers are blooming, people are sneezing, etc.  I recently was in Chicago for a National Private Duty Association meeting and it was definitely Spring there – 70 degrees.  Here’s a beautiful picture of the Chicago river tinted green for St. Patrick’s Day.

 

Things around the office are never boring. We completed our new website. If you have a chance please check out www.andelcare.com. We’d love to get your feedback. Also, one of our caring staff members has won the “Senior Choice Caregiver Award”. The Senior’s Choice is the nation’s largest membership network of independent senior care providers. They have a quarterly award called “Caregiver of the Season”. Dorothy won the award and we are very proud of her! Our caregivers are fantastic people and deserve to be recognized as much as possible.”
 

Marla’s Musings – May

Finally, I think Spring is here.  Some sunny days, flowers are blooming, people are sneezing, etc.  I recently was in Chicago for a National Private Duty Association meeting and it was definitely Spring there – 70 degrees.  Here’s a beautiful picture of the Chicago river tinted green for St. Patrick’s Day.

 

Things around the office are never boring. We completed our new website. If you have a chance please check out www.andelcare.com. We’d love to get your feedback. Also, one of our caring staff members has won the “Senior Choice Caregiver Award”. The Senior’s Choice is the nation’s largest membership network of independent senior care providers. They have a quarterly award called “Caregiver of the Season”. Dorothy won the award and we are very proud of her! Our caregivers are fantastic people and deserve to be recognized as much as possible.”
 

Swine Flu Facts for Seniors in Seattle, WA

Here is very helpful information that will address the concerns that many have over the recent outbreak of Swine Flu.  Visit www.andelcare.com if you need help with an elderly loved one in the Seattle, Washington area.

What is swine influenza?
Swine influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by a type of influenza virus. Outbreaks of swine flu happen regularly in pigs. People do not normally get swine flu, but human infections can and do happen. Most commonly, human cases of swine flu happen in people who are around pigs but it’s possible for swine flu viruses to spread from one person to another. In the United States there were 12 cases of swine flu in people from 2006 through 2008. In March and April 2009 there have been many more cases of swine flu than usual in both Mexico and the U.S. and the infections have spread from one person to another.

What are the symptoms of swine flu in people?
Swine flu causes symptoms very similar to seasonal (or human) flu. The most common symptoms of swine flu, like seasonal flu, are fever, cough, and sore throat and can include body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people also have diarrhea and vomiting. There have been some people with swine flu who have been sicker and have even died.

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