Long Term Care for Senior Veterans

Since its establishment in 1930, the Department of Veterans Affairs has evolved to supporting and aiding the nation’s veterans in numerous ways. One of these services for example, the Veterans Health Administration, is the largest single provider of medical care in the United States. Its 22 regions with 154 hospitals and their associated 875 outpatient clinics offer the following services:

• Hospital, outpatient medical, dental, pharmacy and prosthetic services
• Domiciliary, nursing home, and community-based residential care
• Sexual trauma counseling
• Specialized health care for women veterans
• Health and rehabilitation programs for homeless veterans
• Readjustment counseling
• Alcohol and drug dependency treatment
• Medical evaluation for disorders associated with military service in the Gulf War, or Treatment for exposure to Agent Orange, radiation, and other environmental hazards
• HISA grants
• Other special benefits

The Department of Veterans Affairs provides three types of long term care services for veterans.

The first are health care benefits provided to veterans who have service-connected disabilities, who are receiving VA Pension or who are considered low income. These services include free medical care, possible free prescription drugs, orthotics and prosthetics, home renovation grants for disabilities, home care, assisted living, domiciliary care, nursing home care, and a possible host of other services or benefits.

The second benefit is state veterans homes. The majority of these homes offer nursing care but some may offer assisted living or domiciliary care. The Department of Veterans Affairs in conjunction with the states helps build and support state veterans homes. Money is provided to help with construction and a federal subsidy of $72.71 a day is provided for each veteran using state veterans nursing home services. These homes are generally available for most veterans and sometimes their spouses and in some cases for so-called "Goldstar parents." Veterans homes are run by the states, sometimes with the help of contract management. There may be waiting lists in some states.

The third benefit for veterans is disability income programs. The most familiar of these benefits is an income for service-connected disabled veterans called "Compensation."  The least known of these is a program officially called "Pension" but popularly known as the "aid and attendance benefit."

…. read the entire article from longtermcarelink.net

 
If a you have someone in your life that needs help with care and assistance in the Bellevue WA area, please visit www.andelcare.com for more information.

 

Becoming a Family Caregiver

It is not unusual for a family member to suddenly find them self in the role of a caregiver to a seriously ill family member. We all go through varying stages of emotions when our lives have been transformed by becoming a family caregiver. Research has shown there are five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. These are the emotions that form the framework which makes up our learning to adjust and cope with our life as a family caregiver while we watch someone we love struggle with chronic illness.

The responsibility of being a primary caregiver can overwhelm you. The time requirements and physical demands of caring for older people are taxing. The emotional stress can be ever worse. So consider all the consequences carefully before you agree to be come a primary family caregiver.

Family members are in a position to help reduce the burden and stress of caregiving. There are times when strong disagreements arise over the treatment of an ill family member. All too often, a care giving family member is pitted against a distant family member who may feel guilty for not "being there. If there has been a history of feeling left out, arguing, or providing an unfair share of care giving, there can be deep resentment, too.

A sudden serious illness of a family loved one often bring families closer together than they may have been in years. Children of the seriously ill parent will have to make informed adhesions. There are situations where it is clear who will make the decisions and how. Think about how your family operates.

…continue reading from ezinearticles.com 

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

September is Healthy Aging Month! There is no better way to age gracefully than with fitness. Crossfit for Seniors (Silvers) offers an amazing fitness program for all levels, that can be done anywhere. For information about care and assistance for a family member in the Seattle WA area, visit www.andelcare.com.

Training Silvers
By Joey Powel
Senior athletes require a special approach, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t CrossFit. Joey Powell offers tips on how to help your senior athletes achieve health and fitness.

Working with seniors has taught me a lot, but most of all it’s taught me that we must embrace the lessons they can share first and then patiently return the favor.

After working with many “silvers,” I think it’s productive to view the senior athlete as you would a classic or antique car. The vehicle may have set speed records in its day, and it may indeed still be able to burn up the track, but that does not mean it should. A 1950s Corvette might hit 150 mph down I-17, but at the first time that driver pulls over he should be arrested, and perhaps beaten, for abuse of a classic. Classics are meant for cruising.

With that, it is important to note that “intensity,” as we commonly experience it with CrossFit, is not to be strived for when training silvers. Rather the trainer must be very thorough on the diagnostics before allowing anyone to put the “pedal to the metal.” If the traditional means of recognizing intensity (sweat, heavy breathing or writhing on the floor) do not appear, we should then not go hunting for them.

Continue reading from crossfit.com….

Keeping Seniors Active and Healthy 

 An active life begins with healthy joints

(ARA) – What many people don’t know is that our joints are the critical part of the body that allows us to be active and do the activities we most enjoy.

Approximately one-third of Americans 35 and older say their joints prevent them from doing their favorite sport or activity in the last year and more than 50 percent of them just accepted that as part of the aging process, according to a recent study. The good news is there are simple and effective steps you can take to strengthen and protect these "forgotten soldiers" – ensuring your joints a healthy kick-off to an active year.

Dr. Kevin R. Stone, an orthopedic surgeon at the Stone Clinic and founder of the Stone Research Foundation and Joint Juice, a San Francisco-based joint health beverage company, offers five tips for helping to maintain healthy joints:

1. Manage your weight - You won’t just look better – you’ll feel better. Every extra pound puts four times the stress on your knees and other weight-bearing joints. Even a small amount of weight loss will give your joints relief.

2. Be supplement savvy - Dietary supplements like glucosamine have been proven to help maintain joint function and mobility. Glucosamine is produced naturally in the body, but due to the physical demands of everyday life (let alone running, tennis or even walking), our body’s supply is often not enough. Joint Juice beverages provide an easy way to drink your daily supply of glucosamine and avoid having to swallow two big horse pills a day.

3. Stretch - Stretching isn’t just for workouts. Take breaks throughout the day, especially at the office, to get re-energized. Range-of-motion exercises are a good way to keep muscles and ligaments flexible and strong.

4. Use good technique – When sitting, standing and especially when lifting, using the proper technique will prevent fatigue and injury. Ask an expert if you don’t know how to do it, but be sure to assess your technique for these simple daily activities.

5. Make a date with your doctor – See a physician for a routine check-up at least once a year. Request an examination of your joints – from head to toe – and ask for tips on protecting your joints from daily stress.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Do you need help with the care of a loved one in the Seattle WA area? Let Andelcare help! For care and assistance services, visit us at www.andelcare.com.

Planning For Healthy Aging

(ARA) – Soon, the first wave of baby boomers will turn 65. For some, this milestone birthday may signal retirement; for others it may not. For all boomers, it should mean an increased focus on health care. Baby boomers can take steps now to help ensure many more healthy years.

A focus on early prevention – including regular tests for certain cancers and heart disease, a healthy diet and exercise – is an important start to staying healthy well into the golden years.

Most baby boomers will count on Medicare to support them in their efforts to stay healthy. In fact, Medicare has long been a source of comfort for those 65 and older who otherwise wouldn’t have health coverage. But as more people older than 65 seek care, they may find it increasingly difficult to get in to see a doctor, or they may find that their choice of doctors is limited because of planned Medicare payment cuts to physicians.

Prevention
"As we age, we have an increasing role to play in our health care to ensure our golden years are healthy ones," says Dr. J. James Rohack, president of the American Medical Association. "Have regular discussions with your physician about any health problems or concerns you may have and make sure you are up-to-date on preventive exams."

At age 50, it’s important to start annual exams for colorectal cancer, and men should have a prostate exam. For those boomers who weigh less than 154 pounds, screenings for osteoporosis should start at age 60. It’s also important to start annual exams with a physician before you reach age 65 to:

• Monitor and discuss blood pressure, cholesterol, needed vaccines and tests to monitor or prevent disease.
• Identify activities and goals to address healthy eating, physical activity, tobacco use cessation, moderating alcohol use and attention to stress and mood.
• Discuss screenings needed to prevent and/or monitor degenerative or chronic disorders in vision, hearing, bone density, cancer and obesity.

Access to care, choice of physician
Weighing in with legislators is another way boomers can take charge of their health care, because what happens in Washington in the next couple months, with regards to the health-reform debate, could have a significant impact on their ability to see their doctor of choice.

A recent AMA/AARP poll shows that nearly 90 percent of people 50 and older are concerned that the current Medicare physician payment formula threatens their access to care. Without permanent repeal of the broken Medicare payment system as part of health reform, physicians face steep payment cuts which might force them to limit the number of new Medicare patients they can treat.

"Without health-reform action by Congress, the 21 percent payment cut planned for this January puts many physicians in the difficult position of not being able to treat new Medicare patients and still keep their practice doors open," says Rohack. "For years, Congress has taken short-term action to stop the cuts and preserve seniors’ access to care, but they can no longer put a Band-Aid on the problem. It’s time for permanent action to preserve the stability and security of Medicare and ensure seniors can keep their choice of physician."

As the health system reform debate continues, and final legislation approaches, a permanent fix for the broken Medicare physician payment formula must be included to preserve access to care for the millions of baby boomers headed toward Medicare enrollment age. Replacing the physician payment formula with a system that better reflects the costs and practice of 21st century medical care will help improve quality and reduce costs by allowing physicians to increase care coordination, reduce costly hospital admissions and adopt health information technology.

"I encourage all baby boomers to take preventive action now to prepare for a long, healthy life, and to ensure that their physician will still be there for them when they begin relying on Medicare," says Rohack.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

For information about Andlecare and how we help families in the Bellevue WA area, visit www.andelcare.com.

Getting Fit For Life

“I don’t have time.”

“I’m too old-I might hurt myself.”

“I’d be too embarrassed at a gym with all those fit young people around.”

Sound familiar? Maybe one of these is the reason you aren’t physically active or exercising. But, in fact, scientists now know that it’s usually more dangerous to not exercise, no matter how old you are. And you don’t need to buy fancy clothes or belong to a gym to become more active.

Most older people don’t get enough physical activity. Here are some reasons why they should:

• Lack of physical activity and not eating the right foods, taken together, are the second greatest underlying cause of death in the United States. (Smoking is the #1 cause.)
• Exercise can help older people feel better and enjoy life more. No one is too old or too out of shape to be more active.
• Regular exercise can prevent or delay some diseases like cancer, heart disease, or diabetes. It can also perk up your mood and help depression, too.
• Being active can help older people to stay independent and able to keep doing things like getting around or dressing themselves.

So, make physical activity a part of your everyday life. Find things you enjoy. Go for brisk walks. Ride a bike. Dance. Work around the house and in the yard. Take care of your garden. Climb stairs. Rake leaves. Do a mix of things that keep you moving and active.

Four Types of Exercise
There are four types of exercises you need to do to have the right mixture of physical activities.

One-Be sure to get at least 30 minutes of activity that makes you breathe harder on most or all days of the week. That’s called “endurance activity,” because it builds your energy or “staying power.” You don’t have to be active for 30 minutes all at once. Ten minutes of endurance activity at a time is fine. Just make sure those 10-minute sessions add up to a total of 30 minutes most days.

How hard do you need to push yourself? One doctor describes the right level of effort this way: If you can talk without any trouble at all, you’re not working hard enough. If you can’t talk at all, it’s too hard.

Two-Keep using your muscles. When muscles aren’t used, they waste away at any age.

How important is it to have “enough” muscle? Very! When you have enough muscle, you can get up from a chair by yourself. When you don’t-you have to wait for someone to help you. When you have enough muscle, you can walk through the park with your grandchildren. When you don’t-you have to stay home.

That’s true for younger adults as well as for people age 90 and older.

…continue reading from webmd here

For information about how Andelcare can help you and your family care for a loved one in the Seattle WA area, visit www.andelcare.com.

Advances in Equipment Adapted for Elders

I’m thrilled by the recent advances in adapted equipment. Books, videos, Web sites, and pamphlets are out there for almost any type of elder care, handicap, or special need. They are more widely available than people think.

Once you determine your elder’s need, you should be able to find adapted equipment that will improve the quality of his or her life.

Adapted equipment draws from a wide variety of products that can help your elder function more independently and/or on a higher level. They can help your elder regain confidence in his or her abilities, and they can even alleviate your elder’s overwhelming fear of being dependent on others.

Along with advancements in medical technology and pharmaceuticals, adapted equipment has come a long way in recent years and can be a vital part of a senior’s later years.

Most people are unfamiliar with adapted equipment, but as a caregiver, you must become aware of this growing field. I’m talking about commonplace products like a wheelchair or an elder-safe stepladder, as well as more obscure products, like jar/bottle openers and grocery store scooters. Other examples include high curved bowls and large-handle eating utensils that help prevent food spills and modified “sippy” cups that prevent liquid from spilling. Anything that can help maintain dignity and independence should be integrated into your elder’s life.

One area that has been improved tremendously is transportation. Cars, trucks, SUVs, and vans can now be modified before they are purchased or on the aftermarket. No matter what your elder’s handicap may be, vehicles today can be adapted so that even a quadriplegic or paraplegic can operate them.

 
…continue reading HERE

If your family is needing help with the care and assistance of a loved one in the Bellevue WA area, visit www.andelcare.com.

Sunday September 12th is Grandparents Day!

What better way to spend a summer afternoon than going to the Farmers Market! The atmosphere, the neighbors, the fresh food! For healthy aging month, going to the Farmers Market is not a bad idea. Exercise and diet are so important for all of us. Our seniors especially benefit. Enjoy this article from seniorsforliving.com and remember, for the best in Home Care Services in the Seattle WA area, visit www.andelcare.com.

Farmer’s Markets: A Gathering Place for Community Seniors

By: Michelle Seitzer

One of my favorite things about living near Amish Country is the abundance of farmer’s markets in a 30 mile radius.  My husband and I try to buy the majority of our goods at the market, going only to grocery stores for things like orange juice and toilet paper.

There are a number of reasons we enjoy stocking our kitchen via the farmer’s market. The food is fresher and more affordable, we can shop at a leisurely pace and hardly ever wait in line, we’re supporting local farmers and small businesses, and when recalls dominate the headlines, we don’t have much to worry about. We’ve developed relationships with many of the vendors, sometimes stopping by their stands just to say hello even if we don’t intend to buy that day. It’s also a great place to bring our out-of-town family and friends. In fact, when my parents come to visit, it’s usually the first thing my Dad asks upon arrival: “Can we go to the market?”

A strong sense of community pervades the market. Besides befriending vendors, there are a number of regular attendees that we greet there. I always have my eye out for the seniors. Many of the mature market shoppers come dressed to the nines with a straw basket on their arm or a small metal shopping cart trailing behind them, which is clearly something they’ve done for decades.

Most of the senior shoppers arrive alone, even shop alone, but eventually, they bump into someone they’ve known for years, or maybe even someone whom they have befriended at the market. In downtown York, an old piano positioned in the middle of the market is available for anyone who wishes to tickle the ivories. Like clockwork, two older gentlemen can be spotted (and heard) on Thursday mornings, one plays as the other sings. I’ve sat there several times, enjoying the wide range of music they share, from old hymns to “My Funny Valentine” – each set is interjected with humorous comments and ready smiles for anyone who stops to listen.

…continue reading

P.S.  Grandparents Day is September 12th!

The Changing Face of Elder Care
By Michael S. Simpson

There was a time when Mom became too frail to take care of herself the only option was “the old folks home”. Now our choices have much improved. We have independent living facilities, assisted living facilities, skilled nursing facilities and nursing homes. Many of these have the look, feel and amenities of a resort. In fact many of them refer to themselves as “retirement resorts”.

They are really nice but some can be real pricey too. But for the aging loved one who desires to stay in their home, the home where they feel safe surrounded by neighbors who they trust and in the home of memories we now have in home senior care.

Senior care or elder care includes a wide range of services that are provided over an extended period of time to people who need help to perform normal activities of daily living because of cognitive impairment or loss of muscular strength or control.

Elder care can include rehabilitative therapies, skilled nursing care, palliative care through hospice, and social services, as well as supervision and a wide range of supportive personal care provided by family caregivers and/or home health care agencies. Elder care may also include training to help older people adjust to or overcome many of the limitations that often come with aging. If appropriate, elder care can at best be provided in the home first.

Where do we start when looking for resources for elder care for a loved one? Resources that can help the elderly stay in their own home are the first place to start. A variety of independent living services are now available to help the elderly care for themselves in their own home despite their changing physical needs. This may help, delay or totally avoid moving into an assisted living or nursing home.

…continue reading

For information about how Andelcare can help you and your family provide care for a loved one, visit www.andelcare.com.

September is Healthy Aging Month! As we age, one of the most important things we can do for our bodies is eat healthy. WebMD has some great advice on what you can eat to keep the pep in your step! Read the excerpt here, and the full article at www.webmd.com.

The Anti-Aging Diet
Can what you eat help you age gracefully?
By Kathleen M. Zelman, MPH, RD, LD

It seems we’re all trying to find the "magic bullet" that delays the natural aging process. Put an antiaging label on most any product, and it flies off the shelves.

Yet if you’re trying to look your best without going under the knife, a secret ingredient might be right under your nose. Some experts say one answer to aging gracefully can be found in the grocery store — in fruits, vegetables, green tea, and a host of other healthful foods that are rich in antioxidants and other potentially age-deterring compounds.

What Is Aging?

Of course, the signs of aging include not only wrinkles, but also memory loss, decreased brain function, and an increasing risk for chronic diseases such as heart disease, osteoporosis, and cancer. Healthy aging is also defined as living a longer, healthier life. And many studies have documented the link between a healthy diet and prevention of age-related or chronic diseases.

Adopting a healthy lifestyle that includes regular physical activity, adequate rest, avoiding tobacco, and a diet full of healthy foods and beverages can be the best defense against aging.

"Dietary choices are critical to delay the onset of aging and age-related diseases, and the sooner you start, the greater the benefit," says Susan Moores, RD, a spokesman for the American Dietetic Association.

Antioxidants and Inflammation

Some foods and beverages contain powerful substances called phytonutrients that some believe are capable of unlocking the key to longevity. Phytonutrients, which are members of the antioxidant family, gobble up "free radicals" — oxygen molecules that play a role in the onset of illnesses such as heart disease, cancer, osteoporosis, and Alzheimer’s disease.

As we age, we become more susceptible to the long-term effects of oxidative stress (a condition where the body basically has too many free radicals) and inflammation on the cellular level. The theory is that antioxidants and other age-defying compounds help cells ward off damage from free radicals and minimize the impact of aging.

Beyond antioxidants, some other compounds in foods can affect aging. They can be classified according to their impact on inflammation at the cellular level, experts say.

"All foods fit into three categories: pro-inflammatory, neutral, or anti-inflammatory," says dermatologist and best-selling author, Nicholas Perricone, MD.

Perricone says you can help to slow aging at the cellular level by choosing foods that are anti-inflammatory and rich in antioxidants.

"Age-related changes may be reversed by consuming foods and beverages that are rich in a variety of compounds, including antioxidants, and are anti-inflammatory, such as cold-water fish and richly colored fruits and vegetables," he says.

On the other hand, foods classified as pro-inflammatory can accelerate aging, Perricone says.

If "we eat large amounts of saturated or trans fatty acids, sugars, and starches, insulin levels surge and trigger an anti-inflammatory response and accelerate the aging process," says Perricone.

While the benefits to eating healthy are many, Perricone notes that diet is certainly not the only factor that affects the aging process.

"Stress, hormones, ultraviolet light, and a weakened immune system also contribute to aging," he says.

Still, making smart lifestyle choices are within your control, and are among the best things you can do to help prevent disease and retard aging.

Continue reading ….

For information about Andelcare and how we can help your family care for a loved one in the Seattle WA area, visit www.andelcare.com.

P.S.   Grandparents Day is September 12th!