Many Alzheimer’s Cases Go Unrecognized: Report
Staywell Custom Communications

(HealthDay News) — Diagnosing and treating Alzheimer’s disease early is essential if patients are to benefit from the medications currently used for this dementia, a new report stresses.

However, most people with the condition are diagnosed late in the progression of the disease, which results in a “treatment gap” that limits access to information, treatment, care and support, according to the report released Tuesday by Alzheimer’s Disease International. All this compounds the problems for patients, families, senior care caregivers, communities and health professionals.

“The most important thing about this report is that it confirms the importance of early diagnosis and that interventions are possible because of it for Alzheimer’s and other dementias,” said Robert J. Egge, vice president for public policy and advocacy at the Alzheimer’s Association.

In the United States, Alzheimer’s and other dementia are a “crisis,” he said. “Part of what makes it a crisis is that it is so under-recognized. One of the places it is not recognized is in the doctor’s office.”

Many patients go undiagnosed, which means even the limited treatments available aren’t started soon enough, he said. Doctors need to be aware of dementia and how to diagnose it early, Egge added.

But there is a worldwide lack of awareness, he noted.

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At Andelcare, we recognize that there are many reasons why a loved one may need senior care. From seniors with Alzheimer’s Disease, to patients with disabilities, we are here to provide quality and affordable senior care in Seattle and the surrounding communities. Call us for information 888-788-3051!

Wish You Were Here
By Gwendolyn de Geest, RN, BSN, MA

I am sitting in the restaurant having lunch with my husband, Howard. But Howard’s not here.

We ordered our lunch; Minestrone soup (Howard’s favorite), Caesar salad, a nice panini bread, and tea. Howard excused himself, “I have to go to the bathroom Dear.”

“Alright,” I responded. The soup came; I didn’t want to start without Howard, but I was hungry. I finished my soup, still no sign of my husband. The salads arrived, still no Howard. The food items have taken on a secondary importance.

By now, I’m beginning to wonder. I asked our waiter, “Excuse me, would you please check on my husband? He’s been in the men’s room for a very long time.”

The young man complied, and reported back to me, “Your husband says to tell you that he has to wait for his friend. In fact, the two of them are engaged in conversation.”

“I don’t understand,” I replied. “Howard went to the bathroom alone.”

By now, the young man could see that I was becoming anxious. With a sigh, he said, “Okay, Madam, I’ll check on him once again if you like.”

And he did so. When he reported back to me, it was the most confusing and frightening message I have ever received.

“Your husband is talking to his friend in the mirror. He told me to tell you he can’t join you for lunch until his friend is ready.”

Peggy and Howard met nearly 45 years ago at a University dance. Peggy was studying Nursing, and Howard, Civil Engineering. Peggy said, “I knew I was going to marry that guy, when he offered to take me home from the dance, with a bus ticket he found on the dance floor.” They married three years later; two children followed, a son and a daughter.

“Wish You Were Here” is a true story. Howard is in early stage Alzheimer’s disease. From the moment of diagnosis, his wife, Peggy, family members and friends are thrown into a state of turmoil, attempting to understand and attach meaning to what is happening to this person, Howard, they once knew.

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At Andelcare, we recognize that there are many reasons why a loved one may need elder care. From seniors with Alzheimer’s Disease, to patients with disabilities, our caregivers are here to provide quality and affordable elder care in Bellevue and the surrounding communities. Call us for information, 888-788-3051!

Let’s Talk
Do you have someone with whom you can yammer away caregiver stress?
By Paula Spencer Scott

It was a classic case of miscommunication. My sister-in-law — a.k.a. the mother of all caregivers, with six school-age kids and, at one time, three live-in elders — was under strict orders to call me at any hour she felt the need, for any reason. Her mother was on home hospice when the text arrived: “Can you talk?”

Eager to help, I texted back, for speed’s sake, a simple “Y.”

And then…she didn’t call!

I waited awhile before texting back again, “Are you okay?”

Actually she was all right, had just been wanting to update me, until she got my message — and that had made her a little miffed and hurt. She’d mis-read my “Y” as the word “Why?” As in, I was asking her why she needed to talk to me right then, as if I were screening her level of need. (No, no, I quickly clarified. My “Y” meant “Yes!”)

Fortunately, our communication is normally much smoother. (For one thing, I’m much better at spoken or written words than texted ones!)

Every caregiver needs a talking buddy. Talking allows you to offload stresses, large or small. Research shows that the simple act of giving voice to a concern, peeve, or issue takes its impact on your mind and body down a few notches. When you talk to someone else, you feel less alone. Sharing thoughts and feelings leaves you better equipped to manage them. Talk may be cheap, but it’s also invaluable.

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For information about how Andelcare can help your family by providing caregivers in Seattle WA or the surrounding area, call 888-788-3051. We are a home care agency that is dedicated to helping the elderly, veterans and the disabled with all of their caregiving needs.

Roller-Coaster Caregiving: 5 Ways to Cope With Constantly Shifting Dementia-Care Needs
By Paula Spencer Scott

Don’t blame yourself for feeling you can’t get the hang of dementia homecare. One of the few certainties about dementia is that the ground keeps shifting for caregivers. Just when you adjust to a “new normal” routine or way of getting something done, a novel symptom renders it obsolete and forces you to figure out another way of getting through.

Each shift can feel like a new loss to mourn. To find the strength to keep going forward, try to channel that grief into action:

1. Brainstorm fresh solutions with members of a dementia support group or a social worker; they may help you see a fresh approach.

2. Post questions in online groups describing a new symptom or situation to hear what’s worked for others.

3. Talk to friends to offload your frustration. It’s actually good to talk about these feelings; even if your pal can’t truly understand or relate to dementia homecare, he or she will be able to commiserate about how challenging life can sometimes be. You could even preface the talk by saying you’re not looking for answers, only stress-release.

4. Refuse to be blocked by a new impediment; search for the way around it. Look up options in the Caring.com Dementia Symptom guide.

5. Remember that there isn’t such a thing as the perfect or even “correct” way to manage dementia homecare, precisely because there’s so much change and so much individuality. You can only do the best you can do, and flexibility and creativity will help you achieve that goal.

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At Andelcare, we provide professional and affordable homecare in Seattle and the surrounding communities. Call us today for information about how we can help your loved one receive the care they need with a caregiver from Andelcare. 888-788-3051.

County Expects to Save Millions on Health-care
By Susan Gilmore, Seattle Times staff reporter

King County employees are getting healthier, and that will save the county money — big money. Costs are so much lower than expected that the county says it will be able to save $23 million in this year’s budget and will spend $38 million less than planned in 2012, County Executive Dow Constantine said on Tuesday.

King County employees are getting healthier, and that will save the county money — big money.

Costs are so much lower than expected that the county says it will be able to save $23 million in this year’s budget and will spend $38 million less than planned in 2012, County Executive Dow Constantine said Tuesday.

That could save jobs in other parts of county government, including sheriff’s deputies and nurses, Constantine said.

It’s all tied to the county’s innovative Healthy Incentives benefit plan, inaugurated six years ago, that rewards employees for changing their habits — losing weight and quitting smoking, for example. The initiative has garnered national attention at a time of soaring health-care costs.

Under the program, employees can elect to take a health assessment, followed by a 10-week plan to improve their health. Physical activity, nutrition, weight management and stress management are included.

Employees have an incentive: They pay lower deductibles or co-pays if they take the assessment and even less if they complete the action plan.

Better health means fewer visits to the doctor and more money in the pockets of employees who don’t have to buy drugs or pay their share of hospital visits.

“Our Healthy Incentives plan is succeeding, containing costs better than we could have hoped,” Constantine said.

As a result of the program, Constantine added, smoking has declined 40 percent among county employees and 2,000 workers have lost a total of 24 tons of weight.

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Andelcare provides premier homecare in Seattle, Bellevue and surrounding areas. For more information about how the caregivers at Andelcare can help your family care for a loved one, call 888-788-3051.

Top Five Reasons to Choose In-Home Care
by Shannon Dauphin

Choosing in home care might be the best choice for you or your loved one–but how do you know for sure? This quick primer on in-home care can help you make that very important decision.

Seniors sometimes need a bit of help. Whether that means simple reminders to take their medication or something as significant as 24-hour medical monitoring, there is a solution designed to meet all of their unique needs.

What Kind of Care is Best for Your Loved One?

There are many different kinds of care available for elderly patients. Some will require occasional light help, while others might need round-the-clock nursing care. Knowing your options can help you choose the best one to fit the needs of everyone involved.

• Skilled Nursing Facility. Also known as a nursing home, a skilled nursing facility offers round-the-clock care for those patients who need constant monitoring.
• Assisted Living. Assisted living facilities offer custodial care, or help with the basics of day-to-day life. Grooming, bathing, dressing, and meal preparation are just a few of the ways assisted living can help.
• In-Home Care. Care at home can cover a wide range of assistance. From help with occasional grocery shopping to full-time medical attention, there is an in home care option available.

The Top Five Considerations for In-Home Care

In-home care is the most popular option chosen by the American public. Consider the following reasons why in-home care might be the best choice for you and your family as well:

• Independence Matters. With in-home care, patients are encouraged to be as independent as possible. With a few changes for safety, such as grab bars and anti-slip rugs, freedom to move around the comfort of their own home is very possible with in-home care.
• Family Involvement. Those who are cared for at home have the advantage of open visiting hours. Family members can stop in and help out as often as necessary without concerns about intruding on the care of others. In times of illness, the presence of family members can buoy a patient’s spirits and make everyone feel more in-control of the situation.
• Continuity of Care. Home care is often provided by the same nurse or team or nurses, so they always know what kind of care has been given or is needed. The patient can also keep their same doctor, so the continuity of their care stays intact.
• Safe and Personal. The risks of infection are lessened when a patient uses in-home care. The one-on-one care and personal attention also ensures that all your loved one’s needs can be met quickly and without the red tape often found in hospitals or nursing homes.
• Lower Costs. In home care providers are usually less expensive than nursing homes or assisted living facilities. With in-home care, you also have the option of hiring someone for only the hours when your loved one needs help the most. Lower costs also offer peace of mind to those seniors who are concerned about the financial burden their care might put on their family.

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Andelcare is a full service in home care agency providing in home care in Seattle and the surrounding areas. We take pride in caring for the elderly, veterans and disabled in our community. Call us at 888-788-3051 for more information.

10 Things to Discuss with a New Caregiver
By Kate Rauch

You’ve finally found a great personal elder care caregiver or companion for your parent, and tomorrow is her first day. But wait: Have you forgotten to tell her anything? Use this list (and adapt it to your parent’s needs) to make sure you’ve covered the bases. After discussing it with the caregiver, give her a hard copy for reference (mail it to her if you live far away). That way you can relax, knowing your parent’s needs will be taken care of.

Medications

Make sure they’re accessible and clearly marked, and that the caregiver knows when they need to be taken and in what amounts. Also let her know whether your parent prefers swallowing them with water or juice.

Food and drink

Note your parent’s food and drink allergies, sensitivities, likes, and dislikes. Be detailed — for example, explain that your parent shouldn’t drink coffee after 3 p.m. because it prevents him from sleeping; that seafood gives him hives but fish is OK; or that ice cream is his favorite treat on a hot day.

Eating, cooking, and cleaning

Should your parent be encouraged to prepare food and clean up for himself as much as possible, or does he need help with these tasks? If he needs help feeding himself, is it enough to cut food into small pieces for him, or does he need help getting the food to his mouth? What about tidying up the house — does your parent make his bed or do his own laundry, or is this beyond his abilities?

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For information about elder care in Seattle, look no further! Andelcare can help you and your family with all of your elder care needs. Call 888-788-3051.

Elder Care Seattle: 5 Secrets to Aging Well
How to be happier and healthier for the rest of your life
By Paula Spencer Scott, Caring.com senior editor

We’d all like to make it to 100 — but let’s face it, some people age a lot more gracefully than others. What’s the difference between someone who looks and feels vibrant in midlife and beyond — and someone who’s sick, sad, and already old?

Scientists are turning up some surprising key factors: approaches to attitude and lifestyle that not only add years to your life but add a better quality of life to your years.

“Studies on successful aging have shown that only one third of what predicts how well we age is controlled by genetics. About two thirds is based on our personal lifestyle choices — and is therefore under our control,” says psychiatrist Gary Small, director of the UCLA Center on Aging and author of The Longevity Bible (Hyperion).

Here are five longevity factors you can do something about.

Why it matters: The Founding Fathers were right about the pursuit of happiness being as critical as life and liberty. Happiness boosts the immune system and helps tamp down stress. Involvement with activities, people, and experiences that bring joy and contentment also boost optimism and positive attitude, both of which are linked to longevity. And pursuing reasonable pleasures helps one live more fully in the moment, rather than dwelling on the past or suffering until some future happiness comes along (as in slogging through a job you hate in order to enjoy an annual two-week vacation).

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For information about how Andelcare can help your family with elder care for your loved one, call 888-788-3051. We are an elder care agency providing many services to help your loved one stay comfortably at home. From respite care services to full-time live in care, we are here to provide quality and affordable elder care in Seattle and the surrounding communities.

Home Care Seattle: No Increase in Medicare Drug Premiums in 2012
Staywell Custom Communications

In 2012, the average Medicare premium seniors pay for their prescription drugs will actually drop slightly, U.S. officials announced Thursday.

Overall, the average premium cost of the Medicare Part D prescription drug plan in 2012 will be about $30, a modest decline from $30.76 paid out on average in 2011, representatives of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said during an afternoon press conference.

How is the plan able to keep premiums low? According to officials, Medicare’s popular drug benefits program is benefiting from competition between private insurance plans and the growing use of cheaper generic medicines. And they say that situation might even get rosier in the future, as more blockbuster drugs are set to go generic over the next couple years.

In addition, so far this year almost 900,000 Medicare patients who dropped into the prescription drug donut hole — where costs aren’t covered — got a 50 percent discount on their drugs to help ease that financial hardship, HHS officials said.

Agency Secretary Kathleen Sebelius credited the Obama Administration’s health care reform efforts with much of the cost savings to seniors.

“The Affordable Care Act is strengthening a very critical Medicare program and helping million of seniors and Americans with disabilities get the home care they need,” she said. “Thanks to the new discounts, beneficiaries are saving hundreds of millions of dollars in the Medicare Part D coverage gap, known as the donut hole, at the same time as Part D premiums are falling,” she said.

Overall, out-of-pocket savings on drugs for Medicare patients rose to $461 million through June 2011, health officials said. That’s an increase of $260 million through May 2011, meaning that Medicare patients in the donut hole saved more than $200 million in June alone.

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For more information about home care for your loved one at home, contact the caregivers at Andelcare. We can help your family with all of your care needs. We are a home care agency providing quality and affordable home care in Seattle and the surrounding communities. Call 888-788-3051.

How to Tell Your Kids About a Grandparent’s Alzheimer’s Disease
What children need to understand about Alzheimer’s
By Paula Spencer Scott

If you have a parent, other family member, or close friend who has Alzheimer’s disease or some other form of dementia, it affects not only you; it has an impact on your children, too. The time Grandma blanked on your son’s name? Those overheard long, worried phone conversations with your family about finding elder care for your aunt?

Kids notice more than we give them credit for. They may not understand exactly what’s wrong, or they might mishear “Alzheimer’s” as “old timer’s” disease, but they deserve being included in the situation in an age-appropriate way.

The following suggestions for filling in your kids come from Joyce Simard, a geriatric consultant in Land O’ Lakes, Florida, who self-published a children’s book called The Magic Tape Recorder: A Story About Growing Up and Growing Down. You can adapt these suggestions to the age of your children.

Explain Alzheimer’s in ways your children can understand

Alzheimer’s is a big word that may not mean much to kids, and “disease” can sound like something catching (which it isn’t). So simplify: “Grandma has a memory problem.” Or, “George has a disease that is sort of like if you had a tape recorder in your head, but the tape recorder is turned off. When he was younger, the tape recorder was on, so he remembers a lot of things from his past.”

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Andelcare provides premier elder care in Seattle, Bellevue and surrounding areas. For more information about how the caregivers at Andelcare can help your family care for a loved one, call 888-788-3051.We provide companionship, homemaking and personal elder care services for many seniors, veterans and disabled in our community.