How do you know when in-home care is required for your parent?

Carol Bradley Bursack

Most of us want to take care of our own families, so arriving at a decision to hire a stranger to come into the home to help with the care of a loved one can be difficult. Still, once people find a good home care agency and regular caregivers to help care for a loved one, they often wish they’d taken action earlier.

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For more information and assistance with home care in the Seattle WA area, visit www.andelcare.com.

This is an important article with information everyone should take to heart.  If you need help for an aging loved one in the Seattle WA area, visit www.andelcare.com.

Assemble a Paper Trail, and Make Sure Your Heirs Can Follow It

NO one wants to think about dying. But refusing to look at the documents that will determine where your money goes when you pass away will not make you live longer. It will just make sorting through everything more difficult for your heirs.

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You’ve gone from kid to caregiver. 

How can therapy help you manage this transition?

                                                       Kim Richan, MSW

The cycle of life often goes like this – as children we are cared for by our parents, as adults we begin to see our parents with the perspective of that maturity and in our middle years we become caregivers for our parents.  This transition can be one of the most challenging of your life.  It’s at times like these when it can be helpful to turn to a therapist for added support and insight into the process you are experiencing.  This article guides you through the process of therapy, what to expect and how to find a therapist who suits your needs.

What to expect from therapy.  The Logistics. 

 Here are some basics: 

• You can expect your therapy to be confidential.
• The therapy hour is typically a 45 -50 minute hour.
• Costs vary – a typical therapy session costs between $75-$140 per session.
• Weekly sessions are common, though your therapist may recommend a greater or lesser frequency based on your individual circumstance.
• Many therapists require at least a 24-hour cancellation notice.
• Your therapist should respect the issues you want to discuss in therapy and those you don’t.

What to expect from therapy.   The experience.

  Talking to a therapist is different than talking with a friend, though both can offer comfort.  This section is dedicated to helping you understand the unique experience of therapy and how it might change you.

The essential difference between talking to a friend and talking to your therapist is that this is a relationship focused on you and a dedicated time where you can take your emotional and inner life seriously, maybe for the first time in your life.  Therapy can help you identify the distressing feelings you have when it comes to caring for your parent(s).  Successful therapy can help you understand those emotions in a way that will help you shift your behavior so you can better manage this role reversal.  Therapy is a process that builds upon itself, so when you begin this work it is important to maintain the regularity of sessions so you can realize the greatest benefit.

What to look for in a therapist.

 Research shows the most important element in successful therapy is how good the “fit” is between you and your therapist.  Does your therapist “get” you?   Do you like her?  Does she offer insights that change the way you think about your life in ways you didn’t know were possible?  Other than that, there are a few logistical things to keep in mind.  If it is important that your therapist take insurance, ask that question up front.  Make sure your therapist’s office is in an area that is easy for you to get to.  Finally, think carefully about whether you’d prefer to work with a male or female therapist and how the experience might be different with each.

Kim Richan is a psychotherapist in Seattle.

You can learn more about her practice at www.kimrichan.com

With Age Comes Wisdom: Study

Seniors better able to see other points of view and seek compromise to smooth social conflicts

There just might be plenty of truth to the old adage, “With age comes wisdom.”

A new study finds that seniors are better equipped than younger folks to solve social conflicts. Seniors could more easily see multiple points of view, were more interested in searching for compromise and were more willing to acknowledge that there might be things about a difficult situation that they didn’t know.

Taken together, those attributes make people 60 and older generally wiser than younger people, the researchers said.

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Visit www.andelcare.com for information and assistance with elder care for an aging loved one in the Seattle, Bellevue WA areas.

April is National Parkinson’s Disease Month!

Parkinson’s disease is a disorder of the brain that affects the transmission of messages to the muscles. It is characterized by tremor, stiffness of the muscles, and difficulty in initiating movements. Over one million Americans have Parkinson’s disease. It occurs most often in later life, but can also affect younger people. Men face almost twice the risk of developing the condition.

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive disease, which means that it normally worsens over time. It usually, but not always, develops slowly. No one knows what causes Parkinson’s disease. Certain “Parkinson-like symptoms” can result from the side effects of some drug therapies, or can be caused by conditions such as a brain tumor, arterial disease, viral encephalitis, stroke, or head injury.

What are the Symptoms?

Tremor or involuntary movements-One or both hands or limbs may exhibit an involuntary trembling, which lessens when the person is using the affected part. Involuntary movements of the hand are common, and the person may seem to be “rolling” something between the fingers.

• Rigidity of muscles; slowness of body movement-Posture may be stiff or stooped, with diminished movement of the arms and legs.

• Shuffling gait-The person may take small, cautious steps, or may alternate slow steps with rapid ones.

• Loss of facial mobility-The person’s face may seem to be expressionless.

• Speech difficulties-Speech may be slow and expressionless, and the voice a low-pitched monotone.

• Impaired balance-The person may have difficulty balancing or sitting up straight.

• Deteriorating handwriting-The person’s writing becomes cramped, smaller and more difficult to read.

How Is Parkinson’s Disease Diagnosed?

At present, there are no laboratory tests that can confirm the diagnosis of

Parkinson’s disease. In order to arrive at a diagnosis, the physician takes a family and health history from the person, and performs a thorough physical and neurological examination, observing the person’s movements and muscle function.  The physician will also rule out other disorders that can cause similar symptoms. Early diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease is important so that appropriate treatment can begin.

Managing Parkinson’s Disease

For now, there is no cure for Parkinson’s disease. But with early diagnosis and an effective plan of treatment, the symptoms of the disease can often be controlled or lessened. Treatment varies widely for each individual, and may include:

Medication therapy-A number of drugs can help control the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. The choice of correct drug or drugs, the dosage, the method of taking medication, and the risk of side effects of drugs vary from person to person, requiring careful physician supervision.

Rehabilitative therapy-Physical, occupational and speech therapists can assess the person’s abilities and needs, and provide exercises to help maintain the highest possible range of motion, muscle tone, balance and flexibility, and communication ability.

Lifestyle alterations-Exercise helps maintain muscle tone and strength. Diet is important for nutrition, for maintaining an appropriate weight, and because protein level may be a factor in the person’s condition. Rest and stress reduction are also important.

Support groups and counseling are available to help the person and family members deal with the social and emotional impact of Parkinson’s disease.

Find more information at

http://www.parkinson.org/

Visit www.andelcare.com if you are in need of help for an aging loved one in the Seattle or Bellevue, Washington area.

Study: Loneliness Linked to High Blood Pressure in Older Individuals

Elderly individuals may want to take nutritional supplements such as potassium to lower their blood pressure, as feelings of loneliness may increase their levels.

According to researchers from the University of Chicago, feeling lonely increases the blood pressure rate of individuals who are 50 years old and up. The scientists examined the possibility that loneliness could bring on feelings of depression and stress, both of which are known to increase blood pressure levels.

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Visit www.andelcare.com if you are in need of help for an aging loved one in the Seattle, Bellevue Washington areas.