The Gift of Love

I’ll be honest… most of our blogs contain information and stories that were borrowed from other sources other than Absolute Care. We want to provide you with the best and most up to date information and tips on improving your everyday life, but let’s face it, the material is already out there. Someone else has figured it out and put it out for all to see. We just do the digging for you and bring you the content wrapped in a nice little orange and blue bow.  However, today’s blog will be about something absolutely personal. It’s about that thing that touches your heart in a way that the impressions will be felt for the rest of your life. It’s about that feeling you get. It’s about knowing that you have done something that will forever impact someone else’s life. That thing is the gift of love.

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to travel to a nearby city to help some elderly folks who are in need of some basic items that most of us take for granted on a daily basis. The impact that these people had on me after leaving is something I will always remember.

Let me give you some back story:

One of Absolute Care Management’s Community Relations Managers came upon this small community of elderly people one day while doing her marketing “rounds”. (Side note here: One of the perks of working for Absolute Care is that you get to meet some amazing people with heart warming life stories.) After chatting with this group of 10 or so people, she discovered something heartbreaking. These people had been forgotten. Who was taking care of this group of elderly life warriors when their basic needs weren’t being met? The answer, was each other. One lady shared that she asks for toilet paper for Christmas so she can be sure that she will have some. Most of the others agreed that they were in need of basic items such as shampoo, hand soap, laundry detergent, and so many items that we take for granted every day. If one of their neighbors doesn’t have supper one night, they cook and invite them over. One gentleman tends a garden and shares the food with the whole complex. While they try to care for each other, sometimes it’s just not enough.

Items before we bagged them up.

So we had this wonderful idea to do a drive for these people. The employees at the Absolute Care Management Jonesboro Agency collected money to purchase the basic items that these people had a need for. The items that each person received included: laundry detergent, hand soap, shampoo, toilet paper, facial tissues, bar soap, toothbrushes and toothpaste, cleaning wipes, plastic storage bowls, dish soap, and some foods items such as crackers, potted meat, pudding, peanut butter and coffee. I’m sure you can pick out any one of these items (probably all of them) and walk to your cabinet to get it out right now. These people did not have that luxury.

It’s easy to overlook someone who on the surface doesn’t “need” you. Absolute Care Management provides homecare services for the disabled elderly and homebound, but these people needed help of a different kind. They needed someone to care.

The items that we delivered yesterday were basic and very small in quantity, but the looks on their faces when we handed them the bags were absolutely priceless. One lady came out of her apartment a few minutes later to make sure she gave me a hug and thanked me. These people were genuinely excited about items that are probably going bad in my pantry as I type.

The lesson I learned yesterday is don’t underestimate the power of a simple gift. Even a sweetly worded greeting card sent at just the right time can impact someone beyond what they could have imagined. These simple items may only last these people a month, but the joy that they gave me will last a lifetime!

-Whitni, Creative Director at Absolute Care Management

The Benefits of Art Therapy and Home Care

What is Art Therapy?

Art therapy is a form of therapy that encourages people to express and understand their emotions through artistic expression and through the creative process. Caregivers can encourage and assist the homebound individual in art therapy, making the home care experience even more enjoyable for everyone involved.

How can Art therapy be beneficial to older adults?

According to the American Art Therapy Association, for older adults, art therapy helps individuals cope with complex age-related issues including mental and physical illness or limitation, lifestyle transition, end of life decisions, grief, expression and communication.

With these key benefits in mind, you can see why Art Therapy can be beneficial to the elderly community and especially patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Caregivers of clients with Alzheimer’s disease can have many highly stressful and frustrating days.  As a home care professional, participating in art therapy with the one they care for can be a relaxing experience.

There was a case study done in 2011 documenting the effects of the disease on a patient named Mr. Z. Mr. Z was diagnosed with moderate stage Alzheimer’s disease. During a visit at the Alzheimer Disease Societies (ADSC) monthly meeting for patients and families alike with Alzheimer’s disease, Mr. Z was evaluated and advised to participate in the Art Therapy they had available, due to his behavioral issues. Symptoms from AD include memory loss, difficulty communicating, personality changes, inappropriate behavior, paranoia, agitations and hallucinations. Due to the enormous effect that AD has on not only the patient but the family as well, sometimes pharmacological treatments are administered. In Mr. Z’s case he was treated with the anti-dementia drugs which caused behavioral issues. His primary caregiver, his wife, did not want to use antipsychotics for his issue due to a greater chance of more side effects. So she decided to explore the Art Therapy suggestion, which would be provided with his daily care. The Art work displayed by Mr. Z shows great concentration and creativity! It is not realistic, but abstract. It presents you with great emotion and frustration that Mr. Z was experiencing internally. The therapy seemed to have helped the patient with his own self-discovery and it also gave him a sense of empowerment and stress relief. His family and doctors were excited with the outcome of the therapy. Keep in mind that Mr. Z was never an artist let alone drew anything his whole life, yet he drew with great creativity and while drawing he has a tranquil calmness about himself. The Art Therapy helped greatly with not only his behavioral issues but also with his day to day life.

Absolute Care Management employs the best caregivers with the biggest hearts for home care. Each and every individual who works for Absolute Care always wants the best for their clients. If there are any ways to help a person with Alzheimer’s or a Dementia related disease, we strive to offer helping hands. Art Therapy is one of those ways that we are willing to help with. All you need is a blank canvas, a brush or pencil, and a little bit of time to let creativity loose! Art Therapy may be beneficial for stress related issues in people with dementia, but it also works for everyday people or people with other illnesses. It is an expression used since the beginning of time.  

There's No Place Like Home - For Growing Old

“The stairs are getting so hard to climb.”

“Since my wife died, I just open a can of soup for dinner.”

“I’ve lived here 40 years. No other place will seem like home.”

These are common issues for older people. You, too, may share the often heard wish “I want to stay in my own home!” The good news is that with the right help, you might be able to do just that. Most senior citizens would prefer to remain in their homes instead of going to live with a family member or in a nursing facility. At home, there is a level of comfort that cannot be achieved anywhere else. By remaining at home, with the help of our Absolute Caregivers, our clients will be able to maintain an independent and healthy lifestyle while being surrounded by a lifetime of cherished memories. Also, remaining at home will improve both their physical and mental health. Not to mention, it is a much lower cost alternative than an assisted living facility. 

What do I do first?

Planning ahead is difficult because you never know how your needs might change. The first step is to think about the kind of help you might want in the near future. Maybe you live alone, so there is no one living in your home that is available to help you. Maybe you don’t need help right now, but you live with a husband or wife who does. Everyone has a different situation, but one way to begin planning is to look at any illnesses like diabetes or emphysema that you or your spouse might have. Talk to your doctor about how these health problems could make it hard for someone to get around or take care of themselves in the future. Help getting dressed in the morning, preparing a meal, or remembering to make medications may be all you need to stay in your home.

What kinds of help can I get?

You can get almost any type of help you want in your home. The following list includes some of the common things people need help with as they age. Absolute Care Management can offer any of these services:

• Personal Care – Is bathing, washing your hair, or dressing getting more difficult? Maybe a relative or friend could help. Or, you could hire a certified caregiver for a short time each day to help you with these tasks.
•  Homemaking – Do you need help with chores like housecleaning, yard work, grocery shopping, or laundry? Hiring an Absolute Care certified caregiver can give you the extra hands needs to get the jobs done.
•  Meal Preparation – Worried that you might not be eating nutritious meals or tired of eating alone? Sometimes you could share cooking with a friend or have a potluck dinner with a group of friends. Find out if meals are served at a nearby senior center, church, or synagogue. Eating out may give you a chance to visit with others. Is it hard for you to get out? Absolute Care can assign you a certified caregiver that will make you delicious and nutritious meals.
•  Money Management – Do you worry about paying bills late or not at all? Are health insurance claim forms confusing? An Absolute Care certified caregiver can help decipher confusing forms and help with bill pay.
•  Be careful to avoid money scams. Never give your Social Security number, credit card account numbers, or bank account numbers to someone on the phone (unless you placed the call) or in response to an email you received. Always check all bills, including utility bills, for charges you do not recognize. Absolute Care does the very best at staying on top of new scams and educating the caregivers on how to help clients avoid them.
•  Medication Reminders – Do you forget to take your medicine? There are devices available to remind you when it is time for your next dose. Special pill boxes allow you or your caregiver to set out your pills for an entire week.

Absolute Care Management spends a great deal of time looking for the best Professional Caregivers to ensure that all of our clients will continue to receive the same kind of exceptional service that people have come to expect from us. We seek out only the most Compassionate Caregivers by putting each candidate through an intensive series of interviews, Drug Test, and conduct a professional background check. Each candidate must successfully complete every part of the screening process before they will be considered.  When it comes to the care of your loved ones, at Absolute Care Management, the only higher standard than yours, is ours.

Advance Care Planning: Tips from the National Institute on Aging

Advance care planning is not just about old age. At any age, a medical crisis could leave someone too ill to make his or her own healthcare decisions. Even if you are not sick now, making healthcare plans for the future is an important step toward making sure you get the medical care you would want, even when doctors and family members are making the decisions for you.

More than one out of four older Americans face questions about medical treatment near the end of life but are not capable of making those decisions. The following are some tips that will discuss some questions you can think about now and describe ways to share your wishes with others. Write them down or at least talk about them with someone who would make the decisions for you. Knowing how you would decide might take some of the burden off family and friends.

What is Advance Care Planning?

Advance care planning involves learning about the types of decisions that might need to be made, considering those decisions ahead of time, and then letting others know about your preferences, often by putting them into an advance directive. An advance directive is a legal document that goes into effect only if you are incapacitated and unable to speak for yourself. This could be the result of disease or severe injury – no matter how old you are. It helps others know what type of medical care you want. It also allows you to express your values and desires related to end-of-life care. You might think of an advance directive as a living document – one that you can adjust as your situation changes because of new information or a change in your health.

Decisions That Could Come Up Near Death

• CPR
• Ventilator Use
• Artificial nutrition or artificial hydration
•  Comfort Care

Making Your Wishes Known

There are two elements in an advance directive – a living will and a durable power of attorney for health care. There are also other documents that can supplement your advance directive or stand alone. You can choose which documents to create, depending on how you want decisions to be made.

Making It Official

Once you have talked with your doctor and have an idea of the types of decisions that could come up in the future and whom you would like as a proxy, if you want one at all, the next step is to fill out the legal forms detailing your wishes. A lawyer can help but is not required. If you decide to use a lawyer, don’t depend on him or her to help you understand different medical treatments. That’s why you should 

start the planning process by talking with your doctor.

Many states have their own advance directive forms. Absolute Care Management can assist you in locating the correct forms. You can call us toll free at 866.935.3730 or go online to www.absolutecaremanagement.com and leave us a comment in the “Contact Us” section.

After You Set Up Your Advance Directive

There are key people who should be told that you have an advance directive. Give copies to your healthcare proxy and alternate proxy. Give your doctor a copy for your medical records. Tell key family members and friends where you keep a copy. If you have to go to the hospital, give staff there a copy to include in your records. Because you might change your advance directive in the future, it’s a good idea to keep track of who receives a copy.

Review your advance care planning decisions from time to time – for example, every 10 years, if not more often. You might want to revise your preferences for care if your situation or your health changes. Or, you might want to make adjustments if you receive a serious diagnosis; if you get married, separated, or divorced; if your spouse dies; or if something happens to your proxy or alternate. If your preferences change, you will want to make sure your doctor, proxy, and family know about them.

Looking To the Future

Nobody can predict the future. You may never face a medical situation where you are unable to speak for yourself and make your wishes known. But having an advance directive may give you and those close to you some peace of mind.

Happy Nursing Assistant's Week!

Absolute Care Management employs only the BEST caregivers! In honor of those who work hard to care for the ones you love, we say thanks! 


“Only” a CNA?
Who are you to refer to us,
As “Only” a CNA?
We’re the ones who wash and dress
Our patients for the day.
We’re the ones who take the time
To listen to them speak.
We listen about their lifetime,
In a forty hour week.
We also give our hands to hold
When someone’s feeling scared.
It’s not easy being a patient,
You’re never quite prepared.
We take the time to listen,
By lending both our ears.
We listen to their worries,
Or how they’ve spent their years.
Our arms were made to reach,
And even wrap around.
To give our patients hugs,
When they’re feeling a little down.
We help our patients do the things,
They used to do on their own.
Everybody needs some help,
Even when we’re grown.
So who are you to refer to us,
As “only” a CNA?
We do our best to meet their needs,
Within our working day.
We chose to do this job,
The job did not choose us.
We sympathize and empathize,
Compassion is a must.
We try to keep them comfortable,
And free of any fear.
We sit along beside them,
When that time is near.
We hold their hand, stroke their hair,
Just making sure they know.
They’re not alone, an aide is there,
It’s ok for them to go.
To all the CNAs keep your head held high,
We’re not “only” CNAs.
WE’RE ANGELS IN DISGUISE!!

10 Ways to Boost Your Cognitive Fitness and Longevity

We normally associate the term cognitive development with babies and children. While many adults do not think of developing themselves cognitively, they should do so, particularly since cognition is one of the four categories of fitness that can add up to 15 years onto our life and greatly impact the quality of those extra years.

You can be many years younger than your chronological age by making certain lifestyle choices, including those that tax or challenge the brain. Research over the past 20 years has shown that certain regions of the adult brain can generate new neurons and new synapses. In essence, whenever we learn something new, engage in new activities or even ponder a new concept, the brain will rewire itself in response to these activities. Just like babies, adults can keep growing their brain and protect cognitive functioning as they age.

There are many positive ways to build better cognition and to lessen the chances of developing diminished cognitive ability, dementia, or Alzheimer's later on in life, all of which make us act old and feel old. Here are ten of them.

1. Exercise to improve cognitive function.
Exercise increases blood flow to the hippocampus, which is the part of the brain responsible for memory. One recent study found that the loss of tissue density in the brain was less in those who were aerobically fit, which is another way of saying fit people have better cognitive functioning. Many other studies show that exercise increases one's ability to learn, handle stressful situations, make clear decisions, and recall facts and memories.

2. Watch TV and read "actively."
The difference between watching The Bachelorette and watching an educational science show is how active your brain has to be. Watching TV is cognitively enriching when it takes effort to understand what you're watching or sparks questions, ideas or "aha" moments. The same is true for reading. A celebrity tabloid magazine takes less brain power to flip through than, say, a magazine such as Smithsonian. Develop new connections in your brain by reading something that's instructive instead of merely entertaining. After reading or watching TV, make yourself recall what you just learned. This exercise boosts retention.

3. Take up a new hobby.
Increase cognitive enrichment by taking on a new active pursuit that requires learning, as opposed to merely attending a baseball game or concert. Some examples include: gardening, antiquing, taking up an instrument, raising chickens, learning a foreign language or selling items on the internet. Read books, talk to experts, take classes, attend conferences or join organizations related to your hobby. All of this learning activity develops new connections between neurons, which helps offset cell loss due to aging or disease.

4. Solve all types of puzzles.

Puzzles are an outstanding way to build new connections in the brain. There are many types of puzzles other than crosswords. These include acrostics, cryptograms, syllacrostics and many other word-oriented brain teasers. Some brain teasers don't involve words at all, such as Sudoku. It's particularly good for your brain to seek out a variety. Or start with one type and, as you get better, switch to another type of puzzle. Your brain will establish new connections for each particular type of puzzle.

5. Play board games and card games.
Games that involve strategy are excellent for the brain, especially those that involve puzzle solving or new learning of some sort, such as Scrabble, Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy, Trivial Pursuit, Monopoly and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire--all available in digital form as well. Chess and checkers are excellent games because almost every game is unique, requiring a different set of strategies each time. Card games can similarly help preserve cognitive functioning because the player continues to perfect the most effective strategies according to the opponent's playing style. You can also play card games with a computer!

6. Visit museums, zoos and historical sites.
There are many specialty museums as well as zoos and historical sites that will help you build better cognition. To get the most out of the visit from a cognitive standpoint, don't be a passive visitor. Read the signage next to the exhibits, try to repeat the key information to yourself, and then do it again once or twice during or after your visit. Not only will you retain what the exhibits were about, but with some occasional recall attempts, you increase the odds of being able to recall the information months or even years later.

7. Become a student again. 
Many continuing education courses are available that do not require being in a degree program—you merely sign up for one or two courses whenever you feel like it. Relatively inexpensive courses are available through community colleges. As a student, you will get many chances to learn new things, and most instructors will give you tests that will force you to recall the information learned. Non-degree classes are offered in many areas, from technical subjects to local community history, public speaking, relationships, poetry, and other friendly topics.

8. Attend workshops.
Workshops, conferences and other gatherings where professionals in their field share their knowledge offer another way to build cognitive function through active learning. While these are commonly offered in a person’s profession, you may find many others connected with hobbies and personal interests. One that came across my desk recently, for example, was a workshop on how to trace your family’s ancestry. Another was amateur backyard astronomy.

9. Reduce stress. 
People with high amounts of stress are more likely to suffer from cognitive problems than those who are free of stress. While medications can reduce the symptoms of stress, they do not cure the problem or help you understand the root cause of the stress, which is key. Since many meds require ever-increasing dosages to be effective, and many have side effects, it is important to reduce stress in more natural ways, including exercise, naps, individual counseling, meditation, relaxing hobbies, spiritual growth, and other means.

10. Address depression.
Depressed individuals are more likely to suffer from cognitive problems later in life than those who are free of depression. As with stress, many people who are depressed merely run to their family doctor and say, "Can you give me something for being depressed?" and walk away with a prescription. No attempt is made to find out what is causing the depression in the first place, let alone cure it. As with stress, there are ways to bring about a long-lasting solution to depression besides medication, including individual counseling, exercise, spiritual growth, career rejuvenation, goal setting and other techniques.