Disaster Preparedness for Those With Disablilities

Disaster Preparedness for Those With Disabilities

September is disaster preparedness month so we thought it fitting to touch on this topic for the September Blog.   

People who have disabilities are especially vulnerable during natural disasters and emergency situations.  It is very important for the family and caregivers of these individuals to be well prepared for the unexpected.    Below, we have listed a few links with helpful information, checklists, and specific things to consider for those with functional needs.

•  Emergency Preparedness Calendar and Guide:  www.uams.edu/ar_disability
•  Planning Outline for People with Limited Speech: psu.edu
• Planning documents for people with specific disabilities:  nod.org/research_publications/emergency_preparedness_materials/
•  Emergency Evacuation Preparedness downloadable document:  www.cdihp.org/evacuation/evacprep.html

·         Here is a Basic emergency supply list

•   Prescription medications and glasses

•  Pet food and extra water for your pet
•  Important family documents such as copies of insurance policies, identification and bank account records in a waterproof, portable container 
•  Cash or traveler’s checks and change
•  Emergency reference material such as a first aid book or information from www.ready.gov
•  Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person. Consider additional bedding if you live in a cold-weather climate
• Complete change of clothing including a long sleeved shirt, long pants and sturdy shoes. Consider additional clothing if you live in a cold-weather climate.
• Household chlorine bleach and medicine dropper – When diluted nine parts water to one part bleach, bleach can be used as a disinfectant. Or in an emergency, you can use it to treat water by using 16 drops of regular household liquid bleach per gallon of water. Do not use scented, color safe or bleaches with added cleaners.
• Fire Extinguisher
•  Matches in a waterproof container
•  Feminine supplies and personal hygiene items
• Paper cups, plates and plastic utensils, paper towels

This list is pretty general,however, you can follow the links above to find more specific lists for those with disabilities.
Stay safe by being prepared!

 

Walking a Mile in Their Shoes

Absolute Care's 2012 Team T-shirt

This year, team Absolute Care is getting more involved than ever in the efforts of the Alzheimer's Association.  The Alzheimer's Association raises funds for research, support, and awareness of the Alzheimer's epidemic.  Each year all over the country, there are Walks to raise those needed funds.  We chose to focus more time and resources on this cause than any other because it is now the 6th leading cause of death in the U.S. and it's the only disease that has no cure at all.  These numbers are expected to rise exponentially as the baby boomer generation ages, which means raising funds for research is imperative in the fight to preserve the memories of our nation.  There are drugs to slow the progression, but a person diagnosed with Alzheimer's immediately begins to lose grip of the life they are used to.  For those people, the only time they have is the present, and knowing that puts so many things into perspective.  Though the money that is raised for research is great, for those with the disease already, research offers little hope.  The thing that offers hope to those affected today, is the support of each person who gets involved.  The love and care that is expressed in a group of hundreds of people walking together in honor of those who are fighting is felt by all, no matter what their cognitive ability has come too.  This is why we are walking that mile.  To show them that we are here for them.  We are thinking of them.  We care.  

 For more information about the Walk to End Alzheimer's Disease, please visit the official site at www.alz.org and follow the "Join a Walk" link.

The Power of Positive Thinking

This blog is about just that.  How can you train your mind not to dwell on the negative but to create and maintain a positive perspective in any situation?  Some of you reading this blog may be caregivers for someone who is home bound and has lost all sight of positivity.  Or maybe you yourself have fallen into your client’s or loved one’s pattern of negativity as well.  Positive and negative thinking are contagious, so I hope this information helps you to retrain your thinking and theirs.   A positive outlook will change your life! 

Most everyone would agree with the statement, “Life is what you make it.”  Although circumstances in life can dictate our surroundings, our feelings and attitude about those circumstances determine our outlook, which is what really determines quality of life.

Our clients are home bound for the most part, which means that an injury or illness has left them with dependency on others to continue living their life at home.  If you are blessed with good health, imagine the way you live now:  Independent, self-sufficient, hardworking, and needed by so many.  Now, imagine an injury leaving you completely dependent on help, unable to do for others, and unable to provide for yourself and your family.   Could you stay positive?  Could you find happiness? 

A positive mind anticipates happiness, joy, health, and a successful outcome.

With a positive attitude, we enjoy pleasant feelings and can envision what we really want to happen.  This puts a brightness in your eyes, more energy and happiness in your speech, and determination in your actions.  When your attitude radiates good will, happiness, and success,  you are more liked by others. They will want to see you succeed and will help support and assist you as you work toward your goals.

Here are a few tips for retraining your mind to think positively:

• Practice imagining only beneficial and favorable situations
• Use positive words in your thoughts and when speaking to others
• Be aware of negative thoughts that enter your mind and replace it quickly with constructive ones.  You have to do this repeatedly, as negative thoughts recur 
• Try reciting positive affirmations to yourself like, "I am capable of achieving my  goals", or, "Good things will happen today!"
• Smile because smiling actually helps you to think more positively

  

The Art of Caring

At Absolute Care Management, we believe caring is an art.  The client is the inspiration and the canvas, and the caregiver is the artist and the brush.  Our role in creating the masterpiece of care is to make sure all the supplies are available and the artist is fully prepared for the work.  When all the components come together as they should, the result is beautiful! 
In order to pay tribute to this idea, our marketing department put together a client wide art contest, open to any of the clients of our Marked Tree Branch who would like to participate.  We started small, with just one of our 26 counties of service, just to see how it would go.  We gave each contestant a kit with everything they would need to create a watercolor painting.  We set the ground rules and the time-line in a small manual and gave each client 8 words of inspiration to get started.  After a month of painting, we collected the art, took it to a local artist to be judged and held an art showing and celebration just last week.  During the show, we spoke about what each client painted, what things are most important to them and what advice they have to give younger generations.  Those clients who participated varied in age and ability, but they all seemed to enjoy the challenge and especially the opportunity to share what inspires them with others.  Each of the clients had their caregiver with them to celebrate, because they were a large part of the project start to finish.  I was a great bonding experience for the caregivers and their clients as well as the branch employees because they all worked together in a new sort of way.  Overall, the project was a success and will give rise to other fun projects like it in the future.  Below we have shared a few more lovely photos of the Art of Caring Show and celebration.

Alzheimer's Disease: Preparing for the Changes Ahead

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive degeneration of brain tissue that normally presents itself after age 60.  It is the most common cause of dementia in older adults and begins with memory loss, leads to changes in emotional and physical functions, and ends in death.  There is no cure for this disease.  Currently, about 4.5 million Americans suffer from it and over the next 15 years or so that number is projected to nearly double as our baby boomer generation ages.   These are the facts, but Alzheimer’s disease is more than just facts.  It is a very personal illness that affects every part of a person’s social, mental, physical, and emotional being.  A diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease may be the most terrifying of all diagnosis because there is no current treatment that will stop its progression.  Research has awarded physicians much more insight than ever before but still, there is no cure and the effects are out of our control.



The greatest hope to offer a person who is newly diagnosed is assurance that he or she is not, nor will he or she ever be, alone.   To know that they are loved and supported and that their life will keep being valued as long as they live and even after they die may be the only assurance you can provide, but what could be better than that!

As a child, I watched as my great grandmother, Pearl, traversed through the final stages of Alzheimer’s disease.   In her late stages, she lived in a nursing home about an hour away.  During the summer, I went along with my grandma for visits.  I watched as Grandma washed her mother’s hair, fed her the meal that she had prepared and brought from home, and took her for a stroll outside.  It made me sad to see such a beautiful, dignified, and strong woman succumb to complete dependency.  What I did not see until much later in life, was her legacy alive and well in my grandma as she proudly brushed her mother’s hair and loved on her baby doll.   The strength and compassion that Pearl possessed in her years on Earth was passed to her children, giving them all the strength to care for her in the way she needed it most…with dignity and love.   Alzheimer’s disease may have ended her life, but it did not define her life.  Her legacy did, and it continues.

Alzheimer's disease is scary, but the best way to combat fear is knowledge. There are countless resources for caregivers of those with Alzheimer’s disease.  Some of Absolute's favorites are  www.alz.org, www.alzconnected.org, and  www.alzheimersreadingroom.com . They offer support and encouragement as well as education.  The best piece of advice I have heard in regards to caring for one with Alzheimer’s is to take it a day at a time.  For that person in the mid to late stages of Alzheimer’s disease, every day is new so why not approach their care in the same manner.  Along with this advice, we have included some great tips from www.webmd.com/alzheimers.  They are simple and effective and can give you somewhere to start when caring for one with Alzheimer’s disease. 
 

•    Make time for yourself.  Make sure you have time to relax. If necessary, enlist the help of other family members or even hire someone to help out.
•    Learn as much as you can about your loved one's disease so you will know how you can help. You'll also understand what changes to expect in your loved one's behavior or symptoms.
•    Help your loved one participate in as many activities in the home and outside the home as possible. Maintain the intricate balance between helping your loved one accomplish a task and actually doing the task for him or her. Allow the patient the time needed to complete daily activities on his or her own, such as dressing.
•    Consult with your loved one about his or her family affairs.   Although it's not easy to discuss these topics, you should be informed of your loved one's wishes regarding a living will, durable power of attorney, and do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order.
•    Set realistic goals for yourself and your loved one. Do not attempt to do everything. By setting attainable goals, you are setting everyone up for success, rather than disappointment.
•    Do not put your life on hold. Continue to meet with friends, participate in hobbies or groups, and maintain a schedule as normally as possible. You will feel more energized and are less likely to feel resentful in the long run.
•    Have someone you can talk to. You are there for your loved one -- to listen and to offer support -- but you also need a support person. Talk openly and honestly with a friend or family member. If this is not possible, join a support group. Understanding that you are not alone and that someone else is in a similar situation helps you to feel nurtured.


Good luck and God bless!

Take Care: Tips for Stressed out Caregivers

Absolute Care Management depends on qualified and professional caregivers to provide the best in-home assistance to elderly and disabled people every day.  These women and men have all the skills and heart it takes to insure a great quality of life for their clients.  This is what they do professionally, and they do it well, but, as the shoemaker pays no mind to his own shoes, many times the professional caregiver makes little time to care for herself.

Just the other day, I received a request from a caregiver to offer stress relief tips in our next blog.  I thought of the causes of stress (demanding schedules, messy homes, etc.) and the symptoms of stress (headaches, anxiety, depression) and I asked the question:  How can a caregiver cope with the causes of stress in a way that will reduce the effects? 
When you take care of others for a living, taking the time for yourself can seem like work as well but it is well worth the extra effort.  The benefits of a healthy mind and body will far out-weigh the convenience of self-neglect.  Below, I have listed a few tips for preparing your body and mind for the stresses that come with a caregiver’s job.  I realize that even the slightest change in your routine can seem impossible, so try focusing on one change a week so that you aren’t overwhelmed. 

Take Breaks:  Do you go full speed all day without taking a break only to get home and crash? If your a caregiver, I’m sure the answer is "yes" most of the time! When you’re so tired at the end of the day that you leave your own laundry piled up and you choose ramen noodles over a healthy meal, you are actually creating a new source of stress for tomorrow.  Try structuring your day to make room for a small mid-morning and mid-afternoon break so you can rest your feet and your mind.  It’ll be worth it later, when you have enough energy left to enjoy your evening!
Work out: Exercise endorphins cause an immediate “feel good” feeling that gives you confidence to tackle a long day.  Try taking a 20 minute walk at least three times a week.  Not only does it give you time to clear your mind and regain focus, it gets your blood pumping and works out the aches and pains caused by stress.  
Meditate: Sit still and breathe deeply in a quiet place for a minute or two in the morning, at noon, and at night.  Close your eyes and try to clear your mind of any thought at all.  This is more challenging than it sounds but is a great way to calm yourself when you’re feeling stressed.
Eat well: Try to eat something fresh at every meal.  Fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, beans, and whole grains will leave you feeling clean from the inside out and give you energy.  Caffeine, fast food, and excess sugar may offer a quick pick-up but they will let you down just as quickly!  Healthy eating isn’t always the easiest or the most affordable option but your health is your biggest investment so find what works best for you and stick with it.
Keep your health in check:  As stated previously, your health is your biggest investment.  If you work check to check like most people, missing work for illness or injury can be financially devastating.  Keep your yearly checkups as regular as possible and get regular vaccinations.
Indulge: After all you do for others, you deserve to treat yourself!  Plan to do something you love at least once a month.  It’ll give you something to look forward too on even the most stressful days.
Support:  Your fellow caregivers can be a great source of motivation and support.  Get to know a few of the caregivers in your area and meet up for lunch once a week or take walks together.  No one understands the stresses and rewards of care giving like another caregiver, so tap into that valuable resource!

I hope these tips help.  I’m sure you’ve heard them all before, but good advice is worth repeating!  If you have any tips to share or comments to make, let us know!  We would love to pass them on!

Make Home a Safe Place to Stay

For the frail elderly, an injury or fall at home could mean the end of independent living.   Fortunately, most injuries can be prevented with a little effort by a caregiver or family member.  So, for those of you who have been charged with the task of keeping someone safe, here are a few things to consider:

The first step in making your home safe is to eliminate any fire hazards, tripping hazards, or possible air contaminants in the home.   To address any fire hazards or air contaminants, try calling your local fire department to ask if someone might come to evaluate your home for possible risks.  If you have a case manager, you can ask him or her to come evaluate your home as well. Some potential hazards include:

Stacks of books, magazines, and papers

Old electrical outlets
Excessive clutter
Uneven floor surfaces
Old space heaters
Gas stoves and ovens

The next step in reducing the risk of at home injuries is making things easier to do.  Keeping everyday items within reach reduces the risk of back and neck strain, and dizziness that occurs after bending over and standing back up.  Falls often occur in the bathroom where the floors can be slippery and the floor space is limited.  A caregiver can reduce the risk of bathroom falls greatly by helping with transition in and out of the tub.  If a caregiver is not available, bars and rails should be in place for self assistance.  Non slip bathmats, shower chairs, and hand-held shower heads are all great tools to make the bathroom safer.  Many of these items are made less expensive or may even be free to seniors or disabled individuals.   In order to find out if you can get these items discounted or free, you can contact your healthcare provider, home care agency, or local medical supply company.  As you look around for ways to make things easier, ask yourself these questions:

Is every room in the home well lit?
Are the pathways clear and wide?
Are all cords and wires kept close to the wall?
Are rugs and carpets smooth and even?
Are rooms free of clutter?
Are hand rails installed properly?

Step three in reducing the risk of at home injuries is to evaluate the bedroom .  Getting in and out of bed is troublesome for the frail elderly for several reasons.  Having a walker or cane next to the bed is helpful in the morning, when dizziness is often worse.  Night vision often decreases with age so it is helpful to have a night light in the bedroom, hallway, and bathroom and a flashlight beside the bed.  Making sure the mattress is in good condition and not too soft will make getting in and out of bed easier and will reduce aches and pains in the morning.  At some point you may need to consider getting an adjustable hospital bed.

There are many things to consider when making your home a safe place to live, many of which are not covered in this blog, so, our best advise to research and ask for help.
 If you plan to make modifications to your home to improve the safety this link may be helpful:   http://www.csa.us/docs/HomeSafetyforSeniorsGuide.pdf
For more information about small changes that will make your home safer follow this link:  http://www.seniorresource.com/Senior_Home_Safety_Checklist.htm