Archive for July, 2010

Information About Alzheimers Disease – What is It?

Alzheimers disease is a form of dementia which affects middle-aged and older people. It is a progressive disease that slowly kills the victims nerve cells in the brain. Alzheimers is a rather complex disease that seems to be caused by several influences.

It is the most common type of dementia, accounting for roughly seventy percent of diagnosed cases, and it knows no boundries, being spread across different cultures and affecting both males and females in equal measure. Alzheimers disease can be extremely stressful for the victims family, who very often find themselves being in the front line when it comes to providing care and support. It ought to be remembered that the family member or members doing the caring will also need plenty of support.

Research shows that getting Alzheimer’s is the biggest worry among US residents older than 55 years. Even cancer, which is perhaps the most feared affliction in the world, is not as feared as Alzheimer’s by this demographic. Something about the idea of losing one’s identity to dementia seems to terrify people even more than the thought of physical death. Among many of the elderly (and even among some younger individuals) the mere thought of this wasting illness of the mind is enough to send one into a state of complete panic. Unfortunately, the phobia of diseases that affect the brain can cloud people’s minds, too. It, too, can interfere with normal living. Isn’t there a way to keep one’s fears under control, and enjoy one’s sanity while one still can?

The steady onslaught of this dreaded disease affects both physical and emotional responses. As Alzheimer’s progresses, individuals may also experience changes in personality and behavior, such as anxiety, suspiciousness or agitation, as well as delusions or hallucinations.Alzheimer’s disease advances at widely different rates depending on the individual. The duration of the illness may vary from 3 to 20 years.The areas of the brain that control memory and thinking skills are affected first. Cells die that affect other regions of the brain.

Most Alzheimer’s patients are diagnosed with the disease after a series of cognitive tests, behavioral assessments and a brain scan. Early symptoms of the disease include memory loss, confusion, irritability, aggression, mood swings, language problems, long-term memory loss and the depletion of the senses. The majority of patient live for roughly seven years after being diagnosed and only a handful live for 14 years following diagnosis.

Early signs of Alzheimer’s disease can include subtle memory lapses and episodes of confusion over mundane activities, such as the rote motions associated with driving a car or cooking a familiar meal. Loss of simple words in conversation or forgetting names of familiar people, if occurring with increasing frequency, can be a symptom of impending dementia.

Alzheimer’s diseases advances with varying speed in individual patients. Some studies indicate that a balanced, low-fat diet and regular exercise can delay the onset of the disease and slow its progression. The intelligence of the patient can also affect the speed of deterioration, with highly intelligent individuals appearing to be affected by the progressing dementia much more slowly than others, perhaps because such individuals unconsciously employ adaptive strategies to circumvent the obvious effects of the dementia, such as finding alternate words for more familiar ones that can’t be recalled easily.

A qualified psychologist can administer a battery of psychological tests to a patient to determine with a fairly high degree of certainty whether the patient is in the early stages of dementia. These tests include simple things like asking the patient to draw the hands of a clock in the correct position for a given time of day, or asking the patient her age or what the season of the year is, or who is currently the president of the United States.

Official Program Name: Arkansas Non Emergency Transportation Waiver 1915(b)
State: Arkansas
Waiver Authority: 1915(b)
Date Originally Approved: 02/19/1998
Medicaid Waivers and Demonstrations List

Learn About Alzhiemers Disease

Insurance: Understanding Long-Term Care Insurance

Today’s seniors are living longer than ever, but as life spans increase, so do the needs for additional care. The majority of today’s retirees will need some form of special care as they age, whether that help is delivered in their own residence, in an assisted living facility or at a nursing home. The cost of such care is skyrocketing and many find they are unable to afford it.

Our recent series of articles has discussed this situation in great detail, exposing the gap that exists between what seniors need and what government programs actually provide. The best way, by far, to fill this gap is with Long Term Care Insurance.

Long Term Care Insurance (LTCi) is an insurance policy that covers your care when you can no longer perform at least two of six daily functions. These ‘activities of daily living’ are bathing, dressing, eating, toilet use, urine and bowel continence, and getting in and out of a bed or chair.

Each LTCi policy works a little differently. Some require you to cover the first 90 days of care before coverage begins, while others waive that waiting period if the need is for in-home care. Some pay so much per day, while others pay actual expenses up to a certain amount. Some have care coordinators that arrange for all the care, so you don’t see the bills or have to handle any paperwork.

Anyone seeking to purchase LTCi has to medically qualify. The underwriters look at your health differently than if you were applying for life insurance. LTCi underwriters are more concerned about illnesses and diseases that are likely to keep you from caring for yourself, not those that will cause death. Osteoporosis and diabetes are examples.

Most companies have preferred rates for those in excellent health, with normal rates for the rest. LTCi premiums are also based on your age. That means the longer you wait the higher the premium will be. There is a two in ten chance of needing long-term care after age 50, a two in five chance after age 65, and a seven in ten chance after age 75.

As a result, it is better to buy LTCi sooner as opposed to later. This should be seen as a pre-retirement purchase. I recommend strongly considering it around age 50.

There are many factors to consider when choosing a LTCi provider. Since this coverage is so critical, only do business with insurance companies rated at least AAA or AA by Standard and Poors. Beware of companies that have just entered the market. Check how many LTCi policies they have issued. If they haven’t issued LTCi policies for at least 10 years and aren’t one of the major players, stay away.

Many companies (including some that are major household names) entered the business, only to exit it a few years later. Others don’t have the actuarial experience to properly price policies and end up raising premiums. Either way the policy holders suffer.

Don’t choose a company that has raised rates on existing policy holders. Don’t choose a plan that requires you to buy additional insurance every three years to protect yourself from inflation. It’s better to have inflation protection automatically built into the policy.

You get to choose how much coverage to buy. Don’t purchase three years of coverage just because that’s the length of the average nursing home stay. This is ridiculous! The majority of people use LTCi to remain independent, at home, as long as possible. They get LTCi because they don’t want to go into a nursing home! Get unlimited coverage if you can afford it.

In my experience, the best Long Term Care insurance is Genworth Life Insurance Company (formerly General Electric). They are the biggest kid on the block, doing LTCi business since the 1970s. No one that has purchased a policy from them has ever had a rate increase. It sets the Gold Standard in the industry.

Don’t try to save a few dollars by going with a questionable company. This is insurance that could pay back 10-100 times what it costs you. There’s a 50% chance you will use it. Don’t skimp–what you save today may cost you much more down the road.\

Elder Abuse Prevention – Emotional Abuse

Elder abuse prevention is a critical part of protecting our aged loved ones. the elderly often have trouble fending for themselves as their mental and physical abilities begin to wain. it is up to us to monitor their care as closely as possible to ensure their happiness and safety.

Even though emotional abuse can happen under any sort of caretaker, this article will place emotional abuse in the context of a nursing home.

Nurses and administrators of homes need to be mindful at all times of the unique needs of all of their patients. They need to do their best to make sure everyone is happy, properly medicated, and satisfied with the facility. As you might imagine, this can be difficult with sometimes ornery patients and even more ornery families.

Therein lies one of the more subtle causes of nursing home abuse – the emotional mistreatment of patients. It’s can become evident when a nurse or practitioner falls out of line and starts hitting or abusing a patient. But what about emotional abuse? How can we tell if our elderly loved ones are actually being abused or just deciding to be (for lack of a better term) “grouchy”?

The truth is there is no exact line. Emotional abuse works in nuance and it is the duty of the family to pay close attention to changes in their loved ones. It also helps to be properly educated regarding what kinds of emotional abuse can happen and what the symptoms can be. Finally, it’s critical that the family know when and how to pursue legal recourse should they think it necessary.

Types of Emotional Abuse:

It’s tough to understand emotional abuse without giving some categories and descriptions. The following are not prescriptive or all inclusive, but mainly to help you in identifying potential problems.

Verbal Harassment. This constitutes a stream of insults, put downs, and slights. The patient is made to feel like a lesser person and can be made hyper-aware of their age and illnesses. Threat of Punishment. Sometimes physical abuse is never reported because it is never needed. The nurse or practitioner could simply threaten, yell, and scare the patient into compliance. Humiliation. Humiliation comes in many varieties, both public and private. Deprivation. Deprivation blurs the line between physical and emotional abuse. Much less physically obvious, deprivation can be  withholding of medication, food, water, or even attention. Abandonment. Successful living in a retirement home is more than just satisfying base needs. Mature adults require interaction and a feeling of fulfillment. Abandonment is an utter lack for these concerns. Intimidation. Much like verbal harassment, intimidation is the use of coercion and threats to gain compliance.

Signs of Emotional Abuse:

Part of figuring out if abuse is occurring is paying attention to certain signs and symptoms. Consider the following:

Direct Reports of Abuse. First, and most obviously, is direct reports of abuse from your loved one. Whether they make the complaint to the home administrators or directly you, this is the best way to get a sense of what’s happening. Unfortunately, due to physical/mental handicaps or just ‘not wanting to make a fuss’, direct reports or much less prevalent than one might think. Emotional Withdrawal/Non-communicative. If your loved one is normally openly communicative and you see a sharp drop in that, it could be because they are having problems they don’t want to burden you with. Self Abuse or Deprecation. Some individuals begin to internalize the abuse and believe it. Watch for drastic  changes in levels of self confidence. Emotional Sensitivity. When abuse is occurring, there is often an increase in agitation and suspicion. Be especially aware of this if your loved one has a naturally positive demeanor. Unusual Changes in Personality. Adjusting to different surroundings can be difficult, but they shouldn’t result in drastic personality changes.

Legal Recourse

It’s important for people to know that criminal statutes exist for nursing home abuse. Often there are particular regulations in place regarding emotional abuse specifically. You should never feel like emotional abuse is simply something ‘made up’ or without precedent.

To figure out if you have legal recourse for emotional abuse in a nursing home, first do your best to assess the situation. Don’t jump to unsubstantiated conclusions and understand the complexities of home living. But if you believe there is definite trouble, find and contact a specialist attorney in your area. With intangible factors such as emotion and mental state, it’s critical to have representation who knows how to handle those factors.

More Elder Abuse Articles

See Power Scooters

Harmar AL030 Power Tote

• AL030 Power Tote, Each
• Lifting capacity: 100lbs. Swing away option available.
• Hitch height: 5″ to 19″. Hitch class: I, II or III.

The AL030 Power Tote makes it quick and easy to transport your manual folding wheelchair. This lightweight lift features a 100lb-lifting capacity and will mount on a standard ball mount, as well as Class I, II or III hitches.

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Every year we hear stories of seniors falling, ending up in hospitals and never fully recovering. Unfortunately, these falls often result in death. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), falls are the leading cause of injury related deaths for seniors age 65 and older. Every year, approximately 35% to 40% of seniors over 65 years of age fall at least one time. The following are five ways to help reduce the risk of you or a loved one from falling:

1. Keep Indoor Pathways Safe- Remove throw rugs or use double sided tape to prevent rugs from becoming loose. Keep telephone and electrical cords out of walkways as well as items such as shoes, blankets and books. Move furniture out of walkways to ensure the path is clear. Always keep stairways free from clutter.

2. Review Medications- Visit with your doctor or pharmacist about the medications you or a loved one is taking. Some prescriptions and over the counter drugs can cause one to become drowsy, dizzy or unsteady. In addition, make sure to get your vision checked once a year to reduce the risk of falling due to poor vision.

3. Exercise Regularly- It is important to improve your muscle flexibility and strength to reduce the risk of falling. Balance and coordination are also important to help prevent falling, and these can be accomplished through regular exercise.

4. Add Safety Features to Bathroom and Bedroom- Install mats or suction cups in the bathtub. Place grab bars near the toilet, shower, and tub area, as well as bench or a stool in the shower. Consider using an elevated toilet seat to help reduce the risk of falling. In the bedroom, keep a lamp or light switch that can be easily reached without getting out of bed. Use night lights in the bedroom, bathroom and hallways.

5. Improve Outdoor Walkways- Paint the edges of outdoor steps, especially steps that are narrow or are higher or lower than other steps. Paint outside stairs with a mixture of sand and paint to help with traction. Keep walkways well lit and clear from debris, snow and ice.

In addition to keeping the home safe from hazards, always try to maintain good health and exercise habits. It is important to wear rubber soled shoes that fully support your feet. Furthermore, limit the consumption of alcohol, and use walking devices such as a cane or a walker if extra support is needed. By reducing the risk of falling, one is increasing the chances of living a happy and safe life.

—————————————————————————You have permission to use this article as long as the author’s full bio is present as well as any hyperlinks to author’s website.

Torey Farnsworth has over 12 years of experience working with seniors. Ms. Farnsworth’s vast expertise encompasses a wide variety of senior issues ranging from adult care to elder law. Her legal experience includes long term care planning, estate planning, ALTCS eligibility and Medicaid planning. Ms. Farnsworth is also a certified caregiver with the State of Arizona as well as a Certified Senior Advisor. Ms. Farnsworth has spent her career in senior care as her family owns and operates assisted living homes.

Ms. Farnsworth owns and operates a senior care placement business in Arizona called Horizon Senior Care Referral. Her placement services are free to seniors and their families. For information on placement services in Arizona, visit http://www.adultcarecentral.com

Senior Living: 5 Ways to Help Reduce the Risk of Falling

Hearing loss cannot be easy to tell. Usually people around you start complaining that you have turned up the volume of the TV or you cant hear the other person on the telephone or if you are a Gen Y kinda person, you might hear something like: “Mom I can hear your IPOD !”. Here are some tips to recognize the onset of hearing loss.
1.    Do you have a problem hearing over the telephone?
2.    Do you have trouble following the conversation when two or more people are talking at the same time?
3.    Do people complain that you turn the TV volume up too high?
4.    Do you have to strain to understand conversation?
5.    Do you have trouble hearing in a noisy background?
6.    Do you find yourself asking people to repeat themselves?
7.    Do many people you talk to seem to mumble (or not speak clearly)?
8.    Do you misunderstand what others are saying and respond inappropriately?
9.    Do you have trouble understanding the speech of women and children?
10.    Do people get annoyed because you misunderstand what they say?

If you have answered yes to three or more of the above questions you need to get your hearing tested by a qualified professional like an audiologist. Be sure to search for more articles on hearing aids on this site.

Problems with smell happen for many reasons, some clearer than others. Loss of smell may be permanent or temporary, depending on the cause.
As with vision and hearing, people gradually lose their ability to smell as they get older. Smell that declines with age is called presbyosmia and is not preventable.
Age is only one of the many reasons that problems with smell can occur. Some people are born with a poor sense of smell, but this is not the case for most people.
Most people who develop a problem with smell have recently had an illness or injury. The most common causes are the common cold and chronic nasal or sinus disease.
Other common causes of smell disorders are
•    head injuries
•    allergies
•    exposure to airborne toxic chemicals.
Swollen sinuses and nasal passages often result in problems with smell. These conditions may cause total or partial loss of smell. The problem usually diminishes or goes away when the underlying medical condition clears up.
You can help prevent problems with smell caused by respiratory infections and colds by washing your hands frequently, especially during the winter months. Hand washing helps protect you from getting respiratory infections and colds.
If your smell disorder is caused by allergies, you should avoid allergens, like ragweed, grasses, and pet dander. Also, get a flu shot every year to prevent influenza and other serious respiratory conditions that can result from the flu.
Loss of smell can be caused by nasal polyps, which are small, non-cancerous growths in the nose or sinuses that can block the ability of aromas to reach nerve cells high up in the nose. Removing the polyps may restore smell. In rare cases, benign non-malignant tumors grow on the nerves of smell, causing a loss of smell.
Previous surgery or trauma to the head can upset your sense of smell because the nerves that are involved in smell may be cut, blocked, or damaged by scar tissue. Automobile accidents are among the most frequent causes of trauma to the head. Everyone should wear a seat belt, and those who participate in sports, such as bicycling, should wear protective helmets.
People with head and neck cancers who receive radiation treatment to the nasal regions are among those who experience problems with their sense of smell. Older people who have lost their larynx or voice box commonly complain of poor ability to smell and taste.
Tobacco smoking is the most concentrated form of pollution that most people are exposed to. It impairs the ability to identify odors. Quitting smoking is one thing you can do right now to prevent loss of smell and improve your sense of smell.
Sometimes exposure to certain chemicals, such as insecticides and solvents, and some chemicals found in the workplace can decrease the sense of smell. Avoid contact with these substances, or if you do come in contact with them, see your doctor.
If you are taking certain medicines, you may notice a change in your ability to smell. Certain antibiotics, some blood pressure pills, some cholesterol-lowering drugs, and some antifungal medications can cause problems with smell. This occurs rarely, but it can happen.
If you are taking these medications and notice a change in your sense of smell, talk to your doctor. You may be able to adjust or change your medicine to one that will not cause a problem with smell. Sometimes it is difficult to determine if the cause of the smell disorder is the medication or the underlying condition.
Other less common causes of smell disorders are thyroid abnormalities and vitamin deficiencies. Malnutrition and diabetes also can be linked to smell disorders. If you have any of these conditions and experience a loss of smell or taste, tell your doctor. In some cases, when the condition that is causing the problem with smell is treated, the sense of smell returns.
Sometimes a problem with smell can be a sign of a more serious health problem, such as diseases of the nervous system, like multiple sclerosis, or, in rare cases, a brain tumor. Loss of smell may be the first sign that something is wrong.
Check with your doctor if you’ve been experiencing a problem with your sense of smell for a while. You may be able to prevent or get early treatment for a more serious health problem.
Source: National Institutes of Health
Read more about Smell disorder- causes and prevention

What to do if your hearing aid stops working

Like many appliances hearing aids, even the best brands may suffer from a glitch. If your hearing aid has become less effective or stopped working altogether then there are simple tests to see if you can fix it yourself.

First you can check if your hearing aid is working by cupping the hearing aid in your hand, you should then hear a faint whistling noise. This whistling lets you know that the hearing aid is working.

However if you don’t hear this noise then the first and probably obvious solution is to change the battery; this should be done even if you have recently put a new one in. If you continue to have problems with your hearing aid then it might be easier and cheaper to invest in a hearing aid battery tester.

ITE (In The Ear) and CICs (Completely In the Canal)

A common problem with these types of hearing aids are that the wax filters can become blocked. To stop this from happening they would need to be cleaned using a cleaning brush or a soft tissue each night. Care should be taken though as some wax filters have a fine wire mesh and it is best advised not to use a brush on this but a tissue instead.

For best performance optimisation the wax filter should be replaced once every three to five weeks depending on the individual’s build up of wax. All hearing aids have different wax filters so be sure to check what make your hearing aid is before you purchase any new filters.

Hearing aids should be kept in a dry place as moisture is one of the biggest problems with hearing aids the best way to avoid this problem would be to get a dry aid kit.

Another common problem with these type of hearing aids is the keeping the microphone clean. Microphones need to be clear and can be found next to the battery door. To keep it clean the microphone can only be cleaned with the cleaning brush to gently brush the wax away. Under no circumstances should anything else be used, especially needles or pins to clear away the wax.

BTE (Behind The Ear)

With these types of hearing aids the dome should be checked before the tubing. Most over time can and will get blocked up with wax. To stop it getting blocked up use either a cleaning brush or a soft tissue to clear the wax away from the dome each night. To make sure the dome is free of wax you can use the technique described above to see if the hearing aid is whistling.

Typically domes should be replaced every 6-8 weeks but check the make and size as these vary from hearing aid to hearing aid.

Having checked the dome, the tubing should be checked to see if it is clear and clean of wax. If this becomes a problem then the tube should be replaced, if you have no extra tubes then again make sure to check the make and size as they vary.

RITE (Receiver In The Ear)

The only difference between a RITE hearing aid and a BTE hearing aid is that the RITE has a receiver at the end of the tubing. Receivers are normally very reliable but there are occasions where it is actually the receiver that is creating the problem. If this is the case then it is best to call your audiologist and request a new receiver.

It is normal for all hearing aids to have their own ‘noise’ although the noise does vary from aid to aid. However if the level of noise increases or is uncomfortable then you should speak to your audiologist.

Having followed this advice if your hearing aid still isn’t working then it will have to be sent to the manufacturer for repair under your warranty. For the best prices and most up to date technology then visit Natural Hearing they are open seven days a week from 9am to7pm and can be contacted on 0800 228 9865 or visit their website at www.naturalhearing.co.uk

Which hearing aid battery do I need?

Which battery do I need? Hearing aid batteries have been standardised across the board now, and as such are fairly easy to identify.

There are four sizes available, size 10, size 312, size 13 and size 675. They are colour coded for ease of recognition. Size 10 batteries are coded with yellow labels and packaging, size 312 are coded brown, size 13 are orange and size 675 are blue.

Most of the smaller hearing aids from Phonak, Resound or Oticon will use a size 312 (brown) or a size 10 (yellow) battery. Some of the larger digital hearing aids will use the size 13, and a few power aids such as the Oticon Sumo or the Phonak Naida will use the size 675.

As a rule, the larger the battery, the more life you will get from it and the longer you will be able to listen to your hearing instruments without needing to change the battery.

If you are unsure which hearing aid batteries are right for you, ask your digital hearing aid supplier for advice. They will be more than happy to provide free advice on your hearing aid and perhaps even offer a free clean and check at the same time. Once you know the colour of the hearing aid battery that works with your hearing aid then its really simple to always get the right ones.

Some hearing aid companies will offer free batteries with all new hearing aid purchases, so its worth calling around to find the best offering. Also ask about the after service that comes with the hearing aid as this is so important to the ongoing benefits that you will receive from your hearing aids. Always make sure you will get your aftercare included within the price of the digital hearing aid and be wary of low cost internet providers.

Most hearing aid audiologists will offer free hearing tests and also advice on current or new hearing aids so call around to see which local providers are on your doorstep.

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