Caregiving For A Loved One With MS

By Lainie Messina and Renata Gelman, RN, BSN

Multiple sclerosis works silently and swiftly, sometimes moving from symptom to symptom in a matter of weeks, but also possibly years. MS affects how signals are sent to the brain, which can often be crippling. The average diagnosis of MS is between ages of 20 and 50, making those suffering from MS much younger. It also affects one in 750 people. MS impacts the body, but not the mind, so someone suffering from MS could be paralyzed physically and require significant caregiving for MS, but be completely mentally capable.

Experts in delivering care to individuals with MS can help patients who wish to remain independent and happy in the comfort of their own homes. Home modification is often a major factor for a person with MS, and an assessment from an experienced health professional can guide you through this process. The following tips can help people and families who have someone living at home with MS.

Tips For MS Caregivers At Home
Multiple sclerosis caregiving involves a unique set of responsibilities as the person with MS loses physical abilities. These guidelines can help caregiving for MS patients:

• Create and follow a healthy well-balanced diet for the loved one with MS.
• Develop an exercise program that will help increase energy, balance and flexibility.
• If the MS patient is in a wheelchair make sure that it is fitted properly.
• Ask a professional about making necessary changes and home modifications so that your loved one is able  to move as freely as possible and can safely shower and bathe.
• Check regularly for skin irritations—MS patients have loss of nerve fibers and are less likely to notice bedsores or major skin irritations.
• Be mindful of the heat. MS makes people very heat sensitive, which can bring on fatigue or affect the level of their strength.
• Be careful not to speak to an MS patient like they are hard of hearing or cognitively impaired. Fatigue can bring on speech impairment, but this has no affect on their ability to hear or understand.
• Help loved ones stay intellectually stimulated through interests, whether it be through reading books, learning a new language or watching movies; having such connections can help them to avoid depression.
• Maintain a positive attitude and encourage your loved one with MS to maintain a positive attitude as well; this will help lower the stress that comes with living with MS.
• Show patience and understanding. Realize that MS is an unpredictable disease, and your loved one’s ability will vary day to day, so it is important to be able to adapt.
• Allow the person to do whatever they are able to on any particular day. While simple tasks like brushing teeth may take a long time, the feeling of accomplishment from having completed that task independently can be a major motivator.

When To Hire A Home Health Aide
Caregivers tend to shoulder too many responsibilities, putting their own health and well-being in jeopardy. Be aware of the signs and signals that you need help to provide the highest level of multiple sclerosis caregiving for your loved one:

• When it becomes too difficult for you to provide the needed day-to-day care, due to a job or other family responsibilities.
• If the person with MS is becoming depressed because they feel they are a burden to their loved ones.
• If you notice that you are becoming impatient when supporting a loved one who attempts to do tasks more independently.
• When caring for a loved one begins affecting your or another family caregiver's health.
• When getting your loved one to and from appointments becomes difficult to do by yourself—at some point this may require two people.

Should you or your family experience one or more of these issues, contact Absolute Care Mangement, to hire a nurse to come out and do an assessment and/or a home health aide to provide personal care, companionship or respite care.

The Home Safety Checklist For Loved Ones With Dementia

By Renata Gelman, RN, BSN

Minimizing household dangers and providing safe home health care for dementia patients can be simple and effective with proper preparation. Caregivers of a loved one with dementia can easily improve home safety in order to help them live better and to ensure a comfortable environment.

• Create a “wander loop” that allows the patient to move around freely.
• Use reflector tape to create a guidance path into commonly used rooms such as the bathroom or kitchen.
• Cover electrical outlets and radiators.
• Lock doors to basements and garages.
• Lock cabinets containing liquor, medications, cleaning supplies and toxic substances.
• Remove firearms from the home or store them in a locked cabinet. Keep bullets separate.
• For home safety, install safety locks and alarms on doors and gates.
• Eliminate glare from counters and floors by covering shiny surfaces, and remove lamps and lighting that may create confusing shadows.
• Remove mirrors for dementia patients with hallucinations.
• Keep car keys out of reach or in a locked compartment.
• Do not allow unattended smoking.
• Hire an aide who is certified and trained to work with dementia patients and is under the supervision of a nurse.
• Constantly reassess your loved one’s abilities with the help of a nurse or physician. Make necessary changes in dementia care as the illness progresses, for the better or worse.

7 Ways To Talk To Your Parents About Getting Help At Home

It can be difficult to acknowledge the fact that your parent needs some help with day-to-day activities, let alone introducing to them the idea of hiring a professional caregiver for help. Your parent is likely to react to this decision with some resistance. Approaching the subject requires patience and tact. However, there are certain considerations to keep in mind that can help you approach a conversation about in-home care with your parent with greater success.

Below are some ideas to consider, based on our years of experience with families facing these struggles:

1. List the advantages. Make quality home care provided by a hired caregiver desirable to your loved one. Some benefits for hiring in-home care for your parent may be: rather than having to move to an assisted living facility or nursing home, they can remain at home; in-home care is often less costly; they will be given one-on-one attention when their caregiver is there.

2. Focus on independence. Explain why hiring a caregiver is a way for your parent to maintain their independence in their own home. Of course, this is easier said then done. Perhaps paint a visual picture for them. Have they already fallen once or twice? Explain what could happen if they fall again – how it could lead to broken bones, surgery and hospitalization, followed by a lengthy recovery period. The same method could be used if they frequently forget to take their medications, or often miss doctor appointments.

3. Try a different approach. If your parents are still living together, try suggesting that in-home care would benefit their spouse. They may be more willing to accept the care for the sake of their loved one, even if in reality it is equally beneficial for both parents. If they live alone, focus on concerns or activities that are important to them.  For example, your parent may deny needing help, but may be amenable to someone helping with housekeeping and preparing some meals. They may acknowledge that they don’t like to drive at night but still want to attend their weekly bridge game.

4. Make it about you. Explain to your parents how much you worry about them. Or if you have been acting as primary caregiver, explain that it has become too much on top of career or parenthood responsibilities. According to a recent study by Genworth, 55 percent of Americans say being a burden on their family is their biggest concern regarding long term care issues. Take this into consideration when approaching your parent about accepting in-home help. You might say, “Mom, I worry about you…and even if you tell me I shouldn’t, it keeps me up at night. Would you try having someone come in once a week for me?”

5. Mitigate fear.  An elderly person can act hostile towards a hired caregiver at times, but this action is most likely out of fear. Prior to attempting to alleviate this fear, it is important to understand it. Common fears include loss of independence, losing control and dignity and financial worries. The presence of an outsider is likely to leave the elder feeling vulnerable. Take this into consideration when communicating with them, and respond with empathy rather than with frustration. Realize how your own emotions may be impacting the conversation and increasing resistance. It is important to choose an appropriate time and place for these discussions and set aside time for them.

6. Test it out on a trial-basis. Try hiring an outside caregiver for in-home help on a short-term basis for respite or recovery care, after being discharged from the hospital or after a fall. This provides an opportunity to show your parent that having a caregiver is not something to fear and often leads to them being open to receiving ongoing care. If they currently rely on you or another family member or friend as their primary caregiver or source of help, try using a vacation as an excuse to bring in a professional caregiver while gone. Explain that it is for your own peace of mind.

7. Get advice from a professional. Try discussing the situation with your parent’s primary care physician (this is most likely someone they have known for years and trust). If he or she shares your concern for your parent, they are likely to help by talking to them, explaining why in-home care is the best option for them. Another option is to consult a geriatric care manager, a professional with special expertise in making these assessments, who will be able to provide you with further advice on how to prevent resistance when introducing the new living arrangements with your loved one.

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.