November is National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month.   According to the Alzheimer’s Association 2009 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report, there are more than 5 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s and as many as 10 million family caregivers.   Caregivers tend to experience high levels of stress and anxiety, and it is important to recognize the signs of such stress.  Visit us at www.andelcare.com if you have any questions, or need help for an aging loved one in the area.

Coping with Caregiver Stress

Alzheimer caregivers report that they frequently experience high levels of stress. Too much stress can be damaging to both a caregiver and the person with Alzheimer’s.

If you experience some of these signs of stress on a regular basis, consult your doctor. Ignoring them can cause your physical and mental health to decline.

Symptoms of caregiver stress

Denial

Anger

Social withdrawal

Anxiety

Depression

Exhaustion

Sleeplessness

Irritability

Lack of concentration

Health problems

Be a healthy caregiver

Taking care of yourself is one of the most important ways to be a healthy caregiver.

Know what resources are available. Adult day care, in-home assistance, visiting nurses and Meals-on-Wheels are just some of the services that can help you.

Become an educated caregiver. As the disease progresses, new caregiving skills are necessary. Find information on alz.org or contact your local Alzheimer’s Association.

Get help. You are not failing as a caregiver by asking others for assistance. Seek the support of family, friends and community resources. Alzheimer’s Association support group meetings are a good source of comfort and reassurance. Or you can join our online community.

Take care of yourself. Watch your diet, exercise and get plenty of rest. Make time for shopping, lunch with friends or even a golf outing. Take advantage of community services such as adult day care or in-home companion services to care for your loved one while you take a break.

Manage your stress level. Stress can cause physical problems and changes in behavior. If you experience symptoms of caregiver stress, use relaxation techniques that work for you, and consult your doctor.

Accept changes as they occur. People with Alzheimer’s change and so do their needs. They often require care beyond what you can provide on your own. Look into care services such as in-home caregiver services and residential care.

Do legal and financial planning. Consult an attorney to discuss legal, financial and care issues. If possible and appropriate, involve the person with Alzheimer’s and other family members.

Be realistic. Many of the behaviors that occur are beyond your control and the control of the person with Alzheimer’s. Grieve your losses, but also focus on the positive moments.

Give yourself credit, not guilt. You are doing the best you can. Don’t feel guilty because you can’t do more. Your loved one needs you, and you are there – that should make you feel proud.

Original content found HERE.

It’s time to ‘Stop Diabetes’

(ARA) – November is American Diabetes Month, a time to recognize the deadly disease that nearly 24 million children and adults live with today. Another 57 million people have pre-diabetes or are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes. Diabetes has become an epidemic; in fact, if current trends continue, one in three children born today will face a future with diabetes.

The time has come to take greater action in communicating the seriousness of diabetes and the importance of prevention and control. The American Diabetes Association is launching a movement called Stop Diabetes to confront, fight and eventually end this devastating disease.

You can take steps to help change the future of diabetes, whether it’s learning tips on prevention, how to help people who struggle with it, or how to get involved in events in your community. In addition to joining the national movement, here are a few ways you can help Stop Diabetes on a local level:

Share. Inspire others to join the movement by sharing your personal story. Beginning Nov. 2, visit stopdiabetes.com and join the American Diabetes Association on Facebook and Twitter to learn about all the exciting ways to be a part of the Stop Diabetes movement. Invite your family, friends, and co-workers to join this effort as well.

Act. Whether you want to run, walk, bike or simply tell a friend, there are many ways to help build momentum for the Stop Diabetes movement. Visit stopdiabetes.com or call (800) 342-2383 to get involved in your area.

Learn. The American Diabetes Association has many resources throughout the country to help Stop Diabetes. If you or a loved one already have diabetes or are at risk for type 2, the Association can provide lifestyle and motivational information to prevent this disease from taking control of your life and the lives of those around you.

Give. The drive to Stop Diabetes cannot succeed without individuals dedicating time, effort and funds to support mission-critical activities in your neighborhood. Contact the American Diabetes Association to get involved.

Through these actions, you have the chance to get involved and help raise awareness, promote healthy living and raise money to fund educational outreach, advocacy efforts and critical research that will ultimately Stop Diabetes once and for all.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Visit us at www.andelcare.com if you need help for an aging loved one in the area.

Remember to visit us at www.andelcare.com if you need help for an aging loved one in the Seattle, WA area.

The Holidays are Coming – Visit-ability (Part One)

by Raad Ghantous on October 23, 2009 in Aging in Place, Contributing Writers

“Holidays are coming, holidays are coming, holidays are coming … watch out, look around, something’s coming, coming to town, coming to your town, holidays are coming, something magical, can you see it shining bright? Tis the season …”  These are the lyrics from Coca Cola’s famous “Holidays are Coming” advertising that has been around for decades and usually runs to announce the soon to arrive holiday season.

Here we are again at the beginning of another such season, with Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas on the doorstep. A time for family and friends to visit and share the warmth of the season together – that is assuming our homes are “visit-able.”  Visit-ability, a trend that has been gaining more and more support starting in the mid-80s is a movement/philosophy that seeks to insure that all homes are at least partially accessible to people with mobility impairments, even though those in fact might not be the owners of the homes but rather occasional visitors.  The importance of this simple philosophy can be seen even more when one realizes that America’s 50-plus population is likely to exceed 100 million by 2010. Ten thousand people will reach the age of 50 every single day and this 50-plus consumer base will account for more than one-quarter of all new home sales in the future. One can argue that making a home visit-able may even have a direct positive impact on its resale ability.

In fact, back in 2006 the National Association of Home Builders stated that “Our visiting parents aren’t getting any younger (and neither are we). Visit-ability in entry doors, barrier-free showers and non-stoop dishwashers show buyers you care” were in their list of emerging trends. Visit-ability modifications also make homes easier for people who might develop mobility limitations to still visit friends and family, rather than have to turn down invitations or not be invited at all. Therefore, visit-ability can even act as a first step towards a fully universally-designed home.

Read the rest of this entry »

“Happiness is to be found along the way, not at the end of the road, for then the journey is over and it is too late. Today, this hour, this minute is the day, the hour, the minute for each of us to sense the fact that life is good, with all of its trials and troubles, and perhaps more interesting because of them.”

-Robert R. Updegraff: Author of “Be Thankful For Your Troubles”

by Raad Ghantous on October 23, 2009 in Aging in Place, Contributing Writers
 

“Holidays are coming, holidays are coming, holidays are coming … watch out, look around, something’s coming, coming to town, coming to your town, holidays are coming, something magical, can you see it shining bright? Tis the season …”  These are the lyrics from Coca Cola’s famous “Holidays are Coming” advertising that has been around for decades and usually runs to announce the soon to arrive holiday season.

 
Here we are again at the beginning of another such season, with Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas on the doorstep. A time for family and friends to visit and share the warmth of the season together – that is assuming our homes are “visit-able.”  Visit-ability, a trend that has been gaining more and more support starting in the mid-80s is a movement/philosophy that seeks to insure that all homes are at least partially accessible to people with mobility impairments, even though those in fact might not be the owners of the homes but rather occasional visitors.  The importance of this simple philosophy can be seen even more when one realizes that America’s 50-plus population is likely to exceed 100 million by 2010. Ten thousand people will reach the age of 50 every single day and this 50-plus consumer base will account for more than one-quarter of all new home sales in the future. One can argue that making a home visit-able may even have a direct positive impact on its resale ability.
 

In fact, back in 2006 the National Association of Home Builders stated that “Our visiting parents aren’t getting any younger (and neither are we). Visit-ability in entry doors, barrier-free showers and non-stoop dishwashers show buyers you care” were in their list of emerging trends. Visit-ability modifications also make homes easier for people who might develop mobility limitations to still visit friends and family, rather than have to turn down invitations or not be invited at all. Therefore, visit-ability can even act as a first step towards a fully universally-designed home.
 

These features provide basic universal access and allow currently able-bodied people to remain in their homes if they do in fact develop a disability, and as such to start to age-in-place, rather than to be forced to do expensive renovations, relocate to a different house, live in an inaccessible home which endangers their health and safety, or move from the community they love and feel safe and oriented in into a care facility prematurely.  Many of us baby boomers are also taking care of parents, and parents are visiting their children’s homes or living with us even now, so maybe we should look at the upcoming holiday season as a magical opportunity to prepare our homes to match the warmth of our hospitality through their visit-ability.
 

So how do we go about making these necessary changes to be able to entertain our families regardless of their individual impairments you ask? Well, some of these modifications can be temporary and barely cost you any money at all.
 

We’ll cover some of these specific in Part Two.

 
About the Author: Raad Ghantous is the principal of Raad Ghantous & Associates and is an expert in luxury hospitality, wellness centers, and medical & day spa developments. He is also the owner of Your Home For A Lifetime, an A.D.A/ Barrier-free/ Universal design/Aging in place, full service design/build firm with over 15 years of experience specializing in developing integrating elegant and seamless designs/modifications to new or existing structures.

It’s hard to believe this picture of me and my friend Sheri was taken only a month ago. We had a great time exploring a cove on Lummi Island that was filled with purple starfish. I temporarily relocated two starfish to show our husbands and then we paddled them right back to their friends on the rocks. I have been reminded lately how I take for granted my mobility and that I have no trouble moving in and out from a bobbing dinghy.
Karen our Director has been waiting for hip replacement surgery (this will be her eighth joint replacement) and is on crutches, she is also “vertically challenged”. I see her struggle just to move in and out of her chair. Unfortunately our office is in an older building and is not very user friendly to Karen. We have made changes to accommodate her limitations and even our neighbors have been so gracious to allow her access through their offices so she can avoid the stairs. We put files and supplies on lower shelves for her and the “tall” people in the office are ready to retrieve items that she is unable to reach. Karen illustrates to me how important it is to have our homes and offices accessible to people who have mobility impairments. Our lease is up for renewal and I am now looking to move to an office that has visit-ability for Karen and our guests. Karen is an important part of our team and it’s important to all of us at Andelcare to make her work environment more accessible to her when she returns from surgery and for all the years to come. I hope this article helps you see how important visit-ability is for your loved ones and maybe yourself one day.