All posts by clearsem

Recognizing Caregiver Depression

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Does your mother have enough food? Does she have clean laundry? Is she eating nutritious meals? Has she been wandering? Is she safe? Does she have her medications? Are her finances in order? Who will set up her doctors appointments? Who will drive her?

Up to 50 percent of caregivers providing Alzheimer's and dementia care suffer from caregiver depression in some way - developing major depressive illnesses and stress related to added duties and worry, according to a doctor with the Memory and Aging Center at the University of California, San Francisco. The caregiver becomes so overburdened with responsibilities, duties and worries that they aren't sure what to do next. This feeling of being overwhelmed and not knowing what to do, especially when it concerns a loved one, can lead to anxiety and eventually clinical depression.

With 80 million baby boomers getting older and needing more medical care, and estimates stating that there will be 7 million Americans with Alzheimer's disease by 2025, the concern becomes about the costs of care - financial costs as well as the mental and emotional costs on the caregiver.

Signs of Caregiver Depression

Providing dementia care and Alzheimer's care for a loved one can lead to feelings of stress, guilt, anger, sadness and isolation. Depression can affect caregivers in different ways and at different times, so it is important to recognize the signs and symptoms. It is common for depression to set in immediately after the loved one has been diagnosed with the disease, and also as the disease progresses and diminished mental capabilities start to become apparent. Signs of depression include:

  • Difficulty concentrating, remembering details, and making decisions
  • Fatigue and decreased energy
  • Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, and/or helplessness
  • Insomnia, early-morning wakefulness, or excessive sleeping
  • Irritability, restlessness
  • Loss of interest in activities or hobbies once pleasurable
  • Overeating or appetite loss
  • Persistent aches, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems that do not cease with treatment
  • Thoughts of suicide, or suicide attempts

If you are concerned that you might be depressed, see your doctor as soon as possible. If depression is left untreated, not only can it lead to emotional and physical problems, it can also affect the quality of care you're able to provide the person with Alzheimer's or dementia.

What is the solution?

Even though providing Alzheimer's and dementia care can be difficult, caring for loved ones can truly be very rewarding if managed correctly. It is important while providing care that the caregiver takes time to his or herself  to participate in enjoyable activities  and hobbies. Another way to help cope with the added responsibilities and stress is to try keeping a journal to express both positive and negative emotions. It is also important to talk to your friends and family and let them know when you might need some assistance.

There is also major research being conducted that aims to reduce both the tangible and intangible costs of dementia care. The University of California, San Francisco, along with the University of Nebraska Medical Center, is beginning a $10 million study funded by the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation. Researchers plan to develop a dementia "ecosystem," which aims to reduce the cost of caring for the growing number of dementia patients and to ease the strain on caregivers.

A handful of tech start-ups have also been working to create technological solutions to ease the burden on caregivers. In San Francisco, Lively markets a system of networked sensors and a watch that can pick up on activity around the house and let family members or caregivers know if there is a worrisome change.

With increasing technology targeted to help ease the burden of Alzheimer's and dementia care, caregiver responsibilities and worries will be lessened, and depression will likely decrease as a result. However, in the meantime it is important to find outlets for emotions realted to providing care, and to seek professional help when necessary. Respite care is an affordable, reliable option that can provide the additional support to keep you from feeling isolated and overwhelmed. American In-Home Care offers respite care along with other live-in elderly care solutions. Contact us today to set up a free consultation and discuss what care options are right for you.

Long Term Retirement Planning

All Posts, Long Term Care Options

The number of Americans needing long term care is expected to double in the next 30 years, putting a increased financial and emotional burden on many families. This burden will be felt the most by Baby Boomers who are facing retirement themselves, while also caring for elderly parents and maintaining relationships with grown children of their own.

As it is becoming less common for children to assume the sole caregiving responsibility for their parents, it is even more crucial to be proactive and focus on long term retirement planning at an earlier age.

So what are the steps to successfully plan for long term retirement?

1. Location Matters

As a healthy, recent retiree, or an adult planning for retirement, it is important to think about where you are living. If you have a large, expensive house in a largely car-dependent city or neighborhood, you might want to consider downsizing into an apartment, condo, or small home that is in a pedestrian friendly location near your family and friends. Making the change now will allow you to limit unnecessary expenses, and ensure that you will be able to age at home as long as possible.

According to a UBS survey, 89 percent of participants said that while they would prefer to stay in their current home, they still find moving to a smaller home vastly more preferable than moving into a Nursing Home or Assisted Living Facility.

2. Get Long Term Care Insurance

If aging in your home is what you want, an important step in your retirement planning should be finding an insurance policy that covers that kind of care. It is never too early to be searching for a Long Term Care Insurance policy that suits your needs, as the younger and healthier you are, the cheaper the policies are.

3. Consider The Tradeoffs

It is natural for a parent or grandparent to want to help their children and grandchildren with money - mortgages, college tuition, etc. However, most of us are not wealthy enough to not have to make tough financial decisions sometimes. That same money could be put away in preparation for your long term care needs, which would prevent financial hardships and relationship strains on your children later on.

If you do end up needing to rely on your children for care later in life, it could be a source of conflict between siblings on how to split care responsibilities and payments.

4. Talk To An Expert

Talking to a professional with your entire family present is an important step for long term retirement planning. It allows you to determine what is important to you, and how to manage your retirement and care needs so that the whole family is on the same page, preventing strife later on.

Find a financial advisor or lawyer who specializes in wealth transfer and estate planning, and who is willing to build  relationship with you so they can adapt as your needs change over time.

Once you have determined that either you or your parents need assistance to continue to age at home, one of our Client Care Liaisons can set up a free consultation to determine your in-home care needs, and refer a care provider that is right for your family. Contact us Toll Free at 1-844-505-0004.

 

 

Travel Care For Alzheimer's Disease

Aging, Assisted Living, In Home Care

When a loved one is diagnosed with Alzheimer's, it often feels like that is the end of life as you know it. But being a caregiver for someone with this disease doesn't mean that you have to give up traveling, nor does it mean your loved one can no longer enjoy getting out of the house. Traveling is still possible in the early stages of the disease, it just requires advanced planning and understanding travel care for Alzheimer's Disease to ensure everyone involved is safe and happy.

Safety is always the number one consideration when planning a trip with a loved one who has Alzheimer's. Follow the steps below to help plan an Alzheimer's-safe vacation so that you can both relax and enjoy the trip.

1. Have a plan in place for wandering.

A familiar routine and environment are comforting to someone suffering from Alzheimer's, and because traveling disrupts this, it is more likely that anxiety and wandering could happen. That is why it is crucial to never leave your loved one alone, be prepared, and have a plan in place.

Contact your local Alzheimer's Association before your trip and register with their Safe Return Program or  Comfort Zone monitoring system, being sure to complete the process entirely before you leave. If a situation arises while you are there, have a plan in place and don't hesitate to contact the local authorities.

3. Keep comfort in mind when traveling.

Have comfort items such as pillows, snacks and water readily available when you travel. This includes any kind of transportation including bus, train, car or airplane. If you decide to fly, schedule flights early in the day, and choose to fly non-stop if you can. Put medications in your carry-on bag, along with any other necessities you might need in case your flight is delayed. And  consider bringing a puzzle book or something similar for your loved one to hold on to.

3. During your trip, maintain a daily routine as much as possible.

Even in a new environment, having a regular routine will lessen the confusion for your loved one. Plan on waking up at the same time every morning and going to bed at the same time in the evenings. Also eat meals at the same time during the day. Create a plan for your days, organizing the days with structured and pleasant activities that you both can enjoy. Plan to see places and incorporate activities you know they enjoy, and make sure to allow for flexibility within your daily routine for spontaneous activities.

4. Consider respite care while you travel.

If you feel that traveling with your loved one would be too difficult or too disruptive to them, consider hiring a temporary respite caregiver to come to their home. This will allow you the chance to take a break from your caregiving responsibilities, which can be crucial for your own health and happiness, and it will give your loved one a chance to  experience quality care and meaningful activities, making their "staycation" fun and safe as well.

Whitsyms offers Respite Care and special Alzheimer's Care services, ensuring your loved one will be in the best hands, and will always be safe and happy. We offer free, no obligation consultations and assessments. Contact us today at 1-800-952-3881!

 

Maximizing Social Security Benefits Under New Rule

All Posts, Long Term Care Options,

By Laurence J. Kotlikoff, Social Security expert and Boston University economist (This article previously appeared on NextAvenue.org)

Here are 12 tips for maximizing Social Security benefits under the new rule.

The 2015 Budget dramatically changed Social Security claiming options. ​Every day, I get a host of emails from the victims of these changes. Most are like my 64-year-old secretary, who I wrote about last week.

Thanks to Congress and the President, she lost her ability at age 66 to do three things: a) get a child benefit for her severely disabled child, b) a get spousal benefit for her non-working husband who has had to stay home and care for their child for years and c) file for her retirement benefit, immediately suspend it (with the strategy known as “file and suspend“) and wait until 70 to collect her highest possible retirement benefit.

The most important means to maximize your lifetime benefits was, and remains, to try to start benefits only after they have stopped growing.

What’s her new best strategy?

Is it to keep working to forgo getting her son and husband benefits for four years and take her own retirement benefit at 70? This strategy entails her continuing to work 80 hours of week at two jobs to keep the family living at its decidedly lower-income living standard.

Or is it to take her own retirement benefit at 66 and thereby activate benefits for her son and husband? Doing so means her own retirement benefit will be 26 percent smaller for the rest of her life. That option provides the immediate wherewithal (the money) to consider working one rather than two jobs from age 66, but at the price of a permanently lower long-term living standard.

Surprising, Rushed Social Security Changes

This is the kind of outcome that the AARP — the huge nonprofit that is supposed to protect the elderly — was applauding in emailing its tens of millions of members and telling them to actively congratulate their Congressmen and Congresswomen for supporting the change in the law. I wrote about this in a recent Forbes column.

This is the kind of outcome that the small-minded, ill-informed Congressional staffers who changed Social Security rules are now cheering. They made their draconian changes in a back room, with no public hearings, knowing that the changes would be rushed to a vote before Congress. They made these changes knowing that these changes would take benefits away from millions of low- and middle-income people.

But if the new Social Security benefit rules are here for good, and they certainly seem to be, what should people do?

Here are 12 secrets to maximizing your lifetime Social Security benefits under the new rules:

1. The most important means to maximize your lifetime benefits was, and remains, to try to start benefits only after they have stopped growing. For a high earning 60-year-old couple, for example, their inability to utilize the file and suspend strategy costs them about $50,000. But if they wait until 70 to collect their retirement benefits, they will still be up $350,000 compared to taking their retirement benefits at 62. That’s the power of being able to wait to collect a 76 percent greater check every month from age 70 through 100 if you live that long. As a result of this new law, this couple loses roughly $50,000 out of the $400,000 they would have previously received from optimizing. That is, the budget legislation cost them 12.5 percent of their remaining lifetime benefits.

The hit to my secretary if she takes her retirement benefit at 66, which appears likely, is roughly twice as large.

So this supposed “progressive” policy change that “eliminated loopholes” is nothing of the sort. It will force low- and middle-income households to file for their retirement benefits early and leave them with permanently lower old-age living standards.

2. If you are married, you may still qualify to use the file and suspend strategy.Under this strategy, a) one spouse files and suspends their retirement benefit at 66 and waits until 70 to restart that benefit at its highest possible value while b) the other spouse files just for a spousal benefit at Full Retirement Age and waits until 70 to take his or her retirement benefit.

Under the new law, use of the file and suspend strategy is highly restricted. The spouse who is going to file and suspend has to have been born no later than May 1, 1950, and submit their request to file and suspend on or before April 29, 2016, so Social Security has time to process their application. This reflects the six-month grandfathering window including in the 2015 Budget.

The spouse who wants to take their full spousal benefit by itself and let their own retirement benefit grow must be born no later than Jan. 1, 1954. The grandfathering rule here is you need to be 62 by the end of the year, but Social Security treats someone whose birthday is on the first of a month as having changed their age on the last day of the prior month.

So if your spouse does file and suspend before this witching second, you better not turn 62 (the way you record your own birthday) even a nanosecond after midnight, Jan. 1, 2016.

3. If you are divorced (after having been married for 10 or more years) and turn 62 no later than Jan. 1, 2016, you can still file just for your divorce(e) spousal benefit at full retirement age and wait until 70 to collect your own retirement benefit.

4. If you are married and you and your spouse are more than four years apart in age, but the younger of the two of you will reach 62 by the end of this year, that younger spouse is still free to file just for a full spousal benefit when he or she reaches Full Retirement Age and still let his or her retirement benefit grow through age 70. This is possible, because the older spouse will be taking retirement benefits by then.

5. If you are married and reach 62 no later than Jan. 1, 2016 and your older spouse won’t reach 66 by May 1, 2016, your older spouse can file for a retirement benefit before age 70 but after you reach Full Retirement Age, permitting you to take just your spousal benefit at that point and then wait until 70 to collect your own retirement benefit.

Whether this is optimal is something only the most precise commercial software can calculate. Make sure that the software program you use has been fully updated since the legislation has passed.

6. Suppose you are a married younger spouse and that you were born after Jan. 1, 1954 and that your spouse was born after May 1, 1950. Assume you have very low earnings relative to your spouse so that your spousal benefit will exceed your own retirement benefit even if you wait until 70 to collect it. In this case, you and your spouse have a tricky problem.

Your spouse can file for their retirement benefit before reaching 70, say, at 68. But doing so comes at a price of permanently reduced retirement benefits and a permanently lower widow’s benefits for you if your spouse dies before you and after age 68. On the other hand, by taking their retirement benefit earlier than 70, your spouse can permit you to take your spousal benefit sooner than would otherwise be the case. Recall, however, that if you take your spousal benefit before full retirement age, it will be permanently reduced.

One option, which is likely the best in many cases, is for you to take your own retirement benefit when you reach Full Retirement Age and then take your excess spousal benefit when your spouse reaches age 70 and take their retirement benefit.

But if your spouse has a relatively low maximum age of life, it may be better for you to take your retirement benefit as early as age 62 and have your spouse take their retirement benefit somewhat before age 70 at which point you take your excess spousal benefit. Taking the excess spousal benefit (the difference between your full spousal benefit and your own retirement benefit) early (before full retirement age) will permanently reduce it. But if you are going to be flipping onto a widow’s benefit fairly early in life, getting a bird in the hand may be worth it.

If the above sounds even more complex than under the old system, you’re right: it is. The new law has made maximizing your Social Security via the correct collection strategies even more complex for many couples.

7. If you took your retirement benefit before Full Retirement Age, were born after Jan. 1 and were hoping to suspend it at full retirement age, you can still suspend your retirement benefit and restart it at 70 at what is now a 32 percent larger value. But you can’t provide your spouse or your ex-spouse or your young or disabled children any benefits based on your account during the years that you keep your retirement benefit in suspension.

For example, you may have filed for your retirement benefit last year, say, at age 62 to activate a child benefit for your disabled child and a child-in-care spousal benefit for your spouse who is caring for your child. You may have done so knowing that at Full Retirement Age you could suspend your own retirement benefit and restart it at a 32 percent higher at 70 without terminating your child’s disabled child benefit and your spouse’s child in care spousal benefit during the suspension period. But Congress and the President just took that option away. When you reach Full Retirement Age, if you suspend, both the child and child-in-care spousal benefit will stop until you restart your retirement benefit. Consequently, the advantage of this start-stop-start strategy has been greatly reduced.

Still, it may be best to forego those auxiliary benefits for four years in order to have a permanently higher retirement benefit (and when you die, provide a permanently higher widow(er) benefit), starting at 70.

8. If you are single or divorced before 10 years and you aren’t going to get married, the new law doesn’t change any of your options except for one. If you don’t reach 66 until after May 1, 2016, but you still suspend your retirement benefit, you will no longer be able to ask to receive all your suspended benefits in a single lump sum check if, for example, you are diagnosed with a terminal disease. This makes suspending your benefit in order to raise it by restarting it at 70 a riskier option.

9. If you are widowed, nothing has changed with respect to your options to maximize your lifetime Social Security benefits. Your best strategy will be to either take your widows benefit at 60 (or 50 if you are collecting disability) and start your own retirement benefit at 70 (or, if widowed, at Full Retirement Age, but you can then suspend it until 70) or take your retirement benefit at 62 and take your widow(er) benefit at Full Retirement Age or earlier in the case your deceased spouse took their own retirement benefit early.

10. If you are collecting disability benefits, you weren’t hurt as badly by the new law. That’s because thanks to another midnight massacre of Social Security benefits, you weren’t able to collect a full spousal benefit off you spouse’s work record in any case. On the other hand, if your spouse turns 62 by or on Jan. 1, 2016, he or she can collect just a full spousal benefit from Full Retirement Age through 70 while letting the retirement benefit grow. That is, the spouse, too, is grandfathered.

11. If you are disabled and were expecting to collect excess spousal benefits from your spouse during years that their retirement benefit is in suspension,you can kiss those benefits goodbye unless your spouse was born on or before May 1, 1950 and files and suspends. If your spouse is a minute too young to meet that deadline and suspends after reaching Full Retirement Age, he or she won’t be able to give you any benefits off their work records while their retirement benefits are in suspension.

12. If you and your spouse were born before or on Jan. 1, 1954 and have been married for 10 plus years, but neither of you will turn 66 before or on May 1, 2016, you have an option to collect full spousal benefits off of each other’s records starting at Full Retirement Age and then take your own retirement benefits at 70. But, there’s a rather large caveat: The option involves getting divorced two years before you reach Full Retirement Age.

Neither of you will be deemed at Full Retirement Age to be filing for both your divorcee spousal benefit and your own retirement benefit (because you have been grandfathered in), so you’ll have this option that someone who won’t turn 62 by or on Jan. 1, 2016 won’t have. Between the time that you divorce and age 70, you can “live in sin.” Then at 70, you can get remarried. For some high-income households this can mean an extra $120,000.

Source: Kotlikoff, Laurence J. "How to Max Social Security Benefits Under the New Rules." Next Avenue. 18 Nov. 2015. PBS NewsHour. 16 Nov. 2015. 

Paying For Elder Care

Aging, In Home Care, Long Term Care,

With the average lifespan increasing and costs of living rising, more and more aging adults that need care are finding their savings accounts depleted. The cost of care then falls back onto the family, who have financial burdens of their own, and often get overwhelmed by expensive care options. According to the Genworth 2014 Cost of Care Survey, the average annual cost of a one bedroom apartment in an assisted living community is $42,000 per year, and a private room in a nursing home averages more than $87,600 per year.

Independent home care is generally less expensive, so many seniors and their families opt for this option because of the potential for savings. However, quality in-home care providers with screened and trained professionals still cost an average of $4,560 per month, and thus paying for elder care requires understanding options through research and careful planning.

Long-Term Care Insurance

Long-term care insurance (LTCI) helps pay for costs that private medical insurance does not cover, and  minimizes the financial impact of long-term health care needs. In general, long-term care insurance covers the cost of home care, assisted living, adult daycare, respite care, hospice care, nursing home and Alzheimer's care facilities. However, most companies will not insure people with preexisting conditions, so it is best to buy LTCI before health issues arise.

Learn more about long-term care insurance

Life Insurance Policy Conversions: Long Term Care Benefit Plan

Rather than allowing a life insurance policy to lapse, the owner can convert their policy into a Long Term Care Benefit Plan. It is a unique financial option for seniors because it pays for immediate care needs, all health conditions are accepted, and there are no premium payments. There are also no wait periods, care limitations, costs or obligations to apply, and no requirement to be terminally ill. Policy owners have the right to convert an in-force life insurance policy to enroll in this benefit plan, and are able to immediately direct tax-exempt payments to cover specific costs like senior housing and long term care.

Learn more about paying for senior care with life insurance

Government Funded Long Term Care

Contrary to popular belief, Medicare is not universal health care for people over 65, and it does not cover long-term care costs for seniors. However, Medicare, Medicaid and the US Department of Veteran Affairs do offer assistance programs that can help pay for eldercare in certain circumstances.

Learn more about government funded long term care

Reverse Mortgages

A reverse mortgage - also known as a Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) - is a kind of loan for homeowners over the age of 62 that turns home equity into cash. When a reverse mortgage is secured, the money from the home equity can be used while still living in and retaining ownership of their home. There are no restrictions on how the money from a reverse mortgage can be used. The relatively high closing costs can be a disadvantage, but it could be useful if there is concern about not being able to make the payments on a normal loan, or the money is needed for any purpose.

Learn more about reverse mortgages

Elderly Depression: What You Need To Know

Aging, Long Term Care, Medical,

One in five Americans aged 65 and older are affected by depression. That means over 20 percent of the aging population is affected, making recognizing signs of elderly depression increasingly important.

Although the rate of depression in the elderly population is relatively high, that does not mean that it is a normal part of aging. Depression can affect anyone, at any age, but there are several risk factors that put older adults at higher risk.

Risk Factors For Depression In Older Adults

  1. Difficult life events and changes in personal circumstances
  2. Losing loved ones and friends
  3. Loneliness and isolation
  4. Lack of social support
  5. Pain and physical illness
  6. Being a victim of crime or abuse
  7. Financial crisis
  8. Family history or past episodes of depression
  9. Moving accommodations
  10. Alcohol abuse
  11. Over medicating

Recognizing the risk factors for older adults allows you to realize when a loved one might be at risk for depression, and to be able to prevent possible negative repercussions. As the risk factors vary with different age groups, it is important to be familiar with the factors for older adults specifically. Elderly people also display symptoms of depression differently than younger adults, so it is important to recognize age-specific symptoms of depression as well.

Symptoms Of Depression In Older Adults

  1. Psychotic Symptoms
    1. Delusions
    2. Auditory hallucinations
    3. Catatonic features
  2. Cognitive Symptoms
    1. Disorientation
    2. Memory loss
    3. Poor concentration
    4. Easily distracted
    5. Apathy
  3. Behavioral Symptoms
    1. Feeling melancholy
    2. Anorexia or excessive eating
    3. Insomnia or disrupted sleep patterns
    4. Loss of interest in hobbies and activities
    5. Thoughts of suicide
    6. Anergia
    7. Inappropriate feelings of guilt
    8. Pyschomotor retardation
    9. Note: sometimes medications can cause some of these same symptoms

Depression is a serious illness, and whether it affects people young or old, the condition's many symptoms make it very difficult for the individual to overcome it, or find a way out on their own. While depression affects around 6 million Americans aged 65 and over, only about 10 percent actually receive treatment. Perhaps this is because risk factors and symptoms are different in older adults and make recognizing the disease more difficult. Another factor could be the fact that seniors were raised in a generation when the disease was a stigma, and are afraid or embarrassed to ask for help.

Given the fact that depression can increase the risk for other serious diseases in older adults, it is important to make every effort to recognize and help get treatment for a loved one suffering. If you are caring for a depressed elderly person, you can make a difference by supporting them emotionally and making a point to be involved in their lives. Although you might not have the answer to fix their situations, sometimes just listening and giving support, companionship and love is enough to make a difference.

However, if you feel any concern, don't hesitate to contact a medical doctor for help and support. Also, if you are concerned about your loved one feeling isolated or lonely, and you don't have the chance to be around as much as you would like, you could consider a caregiver. Whitsyms refers care providers that can perform many useful duties, and provide companionship and excitement for your loved one, so you don't have to worry. Call toll-free at 1-800-952-3881 to schedule a free consultation to discuss all of your options and find a caregiver that is right for you and your loved one.

 

Signs of Early-Onset Alzheimer's Disease

All Posts, Alzheimer’s and Dementia,

A person suffering from early-onset Alzheimer's disease likely does not look like the average Alzheimer's patient. The average Alzheimer's sufferer in America is a woman in her 70s, whose disease has a relatively slow onset and symptoms that reflect memory loss.

However, early-onset Alzheimer's is different, affecting the middle-aged populace with symptoms that don't necessarily have anything to do with memory loss. According to the Mayo Clinic, 200,000 Americans suffer from it, so how can you tell if you are among them?

Stealing or Breaking the Law

Behavioral changes in older adults should always be cause for concern. If behavioral patterns have changed drastically, and a previously well-behaved adult starts behaving dangerously or erratically, it could be a sign of  Frontotemporal Dementia, the most common brain-damaging disease that strikes people under age 60, affecting their ability to make decisions and determine right from wrong.

Falling Often

If you or a loved one are falling frequently, tell your doctor as it could be a sign of a cognitive problem. In a recent study of 125 people sampled, those that fell often had correlating brain scans for early-onset Alzheimer's disease.

Forgetting What Objects Are For

There's a difference between not remembering where you put your keys and not remembering what a key is used for. If you're having problems remembering the function of objects or where things go, it is time to talk to a doctor.

Eating Inappropriate Things

Some patients of early-onset Alzheimer's have been reported to eat inanimate objects, such as paper or other inedible things, prior to their diagnosis. Also, people diagnosed with Alzheimer's generally consume more calories and are hungrier than non-sufferers, and still they tend to lose weight. Both of these could be related to decreased brain function; the brain receives hunger signals and isn't sure how to process them.

Not Able to Recognize Sarcasm

Sarcasm can sometimes be hard to pick up on, but if you find yourself constantly missing out on humor and sarcasm that others are picking up on, this could be a warning sign of brain atrophy. In diseases such as early-onset Alzheimer's and Frontotemporal Dementia, the brain’s posterior hippocampus is affected, which is where short-term memory is stored, and where one would sort out such things as sarcasm.

Being Depressed

A change in mental health later in life is another symptom of early-onset Alzheimer's disease. If you have never suffered from clinical depression in your young adult life, but develop depression later in life, this could be an alerting factor. This doesn't mean that every person diagnosed with depression later in life will suffer from Alzheimer's, but it does make someone three times more likely to have an Alzheimer's-related disease. Get treatment for depression as soon as possible because it is speculated that the hormones released during depression can actually damage parts of the brain.

Blankly Staring

With early-onset Alzheimer's, the function of the brain is compromised, meaning your ability to recall facts, memories and information is compromised, the brain becoming all around unfocused. So staring in a detached way might be an early sign of a compromised brain.

These symptoms could signal early-onset Alzheimer’s Disease, but they might also be the signs of other underlying conditions. A trained neurologist can easily diagnose Alzheimer’s or other dementias, so talk to your doctor if you have worrying signs so that you can begin treatment. If diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's, having a care provider in your home could help you feel safe and comfortable. American In-Home Care always refers qualified, credentialed, insured and screened care providers that can help with a variety of services including Alzheimer's and Dementia Care. Contact us today at 1-844-505-0004 to schedule your free in-home assessment.

______________________________________________________________________________

Adapted From: Andrea Atkins, "7 Surprising Early Signs of Alzheimer's Disease." Next Avenue. Oct. 2015. 

 

What Really Causes Heart Disease

Healthcare

The cause of heart disease is high cholesterol. It is a medical and scientific fact. Or is it?

There is evidence that not only is this not the cause of heart disease, it is a misconception that is actually causing health problems and obesity in America. Renowned heart surgeon Dr. Dwight Lundell, former Chief of Staff and Chief of Surgery at Banner Heart Hospital in Mesa, Arizona is one of the people who has evidence to support this claim.

According to Lundell, prior to the discovery that inflammation in the arteries could be the real cause of heart disease, the only course of action to prevent or treat heart disease was prescription medications to lower cholesterol and a diet to severely reduce the intake of fats.

These low-fat dietary recommendations that have been long accepted as a beneficial "heart healthy diet" have actually been the culprit behind the epidemics of diabetes and obesity in the United States.

"Despite the fact that 25% of the population takes expensive statin medications and despite the fact we have reduced the fat content of our diets, more Americans will die this year of heart disease than ever before," said Lundell.

The Real Cause Of Heart Disease

So if elevetaed blood cholesterol isn't the culprit, then what is? The answer is inflammation. Inflammation of the artery wall causes cholesterol to get trapped in the arteries where it causes damage. Without inflammation, cholesterol could flow freely through the blood without getting trapped.

Inflammation is your body's natural response to foreign invaders such as a virus or bacteria or toxin. The cycle of acute inflammation is a healthy and important cycle in our bodies, however, when we continually expose our body to the agent that is causing the inflammation, it doesn't have time to heal and thus chronic inflammation is born. Repeatedly consuming food that humans were never designed to process regularly exposes our bodies to unfamiliar bacteria, which leads to chronic inflammation in our bodies and our arteries.

Why would someone repeatedly consume food that is causing this damage? According to Lundell, it is because they had been following the mainstream low-fat, high carb diet that was prescribed to prevent heart disease, not knowing that they were actually causing injury to their bodies.

"The injury and inflammation in our blood vessels is caused by the low fat diet recommended for years by mainstream medicine," said Lundell.

What Causes Inflammation

The biggest culprit of inflammation in our bodies is the overload of simple, highly processed carbohydrates - sugars, flours and all of the products made from them - and the excessive consumption of omega-6 vegetable oils such as soybean, corn and sunflower oils that are found in many processed foods.

Because these foods have a very long shelf-life, they have become staples of the American diet for the past several decades, and according to Lundell, have been poisoning Americans ever since. Although those sweets taste delicious when we consume them, they are wreaking havoc on our bodies.

"A diseased artery looks as if someone took a brush and scrubbed repeatedly against its wall. Several times a day, every day, the foods we eat create small injuries compounding into more injuries, causing the body to respond continuously and appropriately with inflammation," said Lundell.

How Do Carbohydrates Cause Inflammation?

How does a little piece of cake cause so much damage? When we consume simple carbohydrates like sugar, our blood sugar rises rapidly. In response to this, our pancreas produces a substance that exists to bring the sugar into our cells, where it is then stored as fat. However, if the cell is full and doesn't need any more sugar, it will reject it. This increases blood sugar and production even more, creating more excess in the body.

These excess sugar molecules attach to proteins in the blood vessel wall and cause repeated injury, and this injury eventually causes chronic inflammation. And when you consider that that piece of cake or that sweet roll not only contains simple carbohydrates, but is also likely coated in or contains several vegetable oils, the inflammatory property increase exponentially.

"When you spike your blood sugar level several times a day, every day, it is exactly like taking sandpaper to the inside of your delicate blood vessels. While you may not be able to see it, rest assured it is there. I saw it in over 5,000 surgical patients spanning 25 years who all shared one common denominator — inflammation in their arteries," said Lundell.

So What Is The Real Heart Healthy Diet?

Omega-6 oils are not dangerous in-and-of themselves, it is only when they are eaten in excess and the balance between omega-6 oils and omega-3 oils shifts drastically. According to Lundell, the mainstream American diet of processed foods has produced a huge imbalance of these two fats in favor of omega-6.

"There is no escaping the fact that the more we consume prepared and processed foods, the more we trip the inflammation switch little by little each day. The human body cannot process, nor was it designed to consume, foods packed with sugars and soaked in omega-6 oils," said Lundell.

So what can we do to reduce inflammation and truly lower our risk of heart disease?

The one simple answer is to return to eating foods that are closer to their natural state, pure and unprocessed. Eat more protein, choose carbohydrates that are very complex such as colorful fruits and vegetables. Cut down on or eliminate inflammation- causing omega-6 fats like corn and soybean oil and the processed foods that are made from them.

Instead of choosing corn or soybean oil, use natural olive oil or coconut oil, or even butter from grass-fed beef. And add fats back in to your diet. With all the facts surrounding inflammation, it is no longer a legitimate concern to be worried about consuming fats. In fact, quite the opposite. Consuming a proportional amount of saturated fats, especially animal fats is actually good for your body and your heart. Healthy fats can be found in animal products, coconuts and nuts.

"By eliminating inflammatory foods and adding essential nutrients from fresh unprocessed food, you will reverse years of damage in your arteries and throughout your body," said Lundell.

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Source: Dr. Dwight Lundell, M.D. "World Renowned Heart Surgeon Speaks Out On What Really Causes Heart Disease." Disclove.tv. Jan. 21 2015. <https://m.disclose.tv/news/World_Renowned_Heart_Surgeon_Speaks_Out_On_What_Really_Causes_Heart_Disease/113103>

 

Aging In Place: Benefits of Staying Home

All Posts, Family Caregiver Tips, Long Term Care Options

The ability to live alone is a way for older Americans to maintain their independence and identity, and it doesn’t necessarily mean being lonesome. Due to medical advancements and healthier lifestyles, people are living longer, healthier lives, which means they can stay in the workplace longer and save more money, making it an option to stay at home rather than move in with their children, or go in to a facility.

In fact, the percentage of older adults living with their children has dropped from 35% in the 1950s, to a relatively steady 12% since the 1980s, according to the Huffington Post. So why do more and more older Americans want to age in place? What is the allure of staying at home?

What makes aging in place desirable 

  • Familiarity: For older adults, being familiar with their home and surroundings is more than a nice feeling, it means safety. Knowing where things are and having a routine in their home is important for safe aging, especially if they are diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer's.
  • Comfort: There is a reason people get homesick, it's because there is no place like home. Being at home is going to be the most comfortable option that a senior can have. They have their own surroundings and belongings, and will feel the most at ease there.
  • Independence: Being able to remain at home to age means that seniors will have an opportunity to remain more independent. They will be able to continue doing many of the things that have been a part of their lives, and that they enjoy. They also have the ability to maintain relationships with friends and family who live around them, and who they want to visit with.
  • Emotional Well-Being: Our location and the place we live can impact how we feel mentally. When older adults age in place by receiving help at home, they are likely to have a better outlook and feel happier and healthier than if they were confined in a facility.
  • Affordability: With Assisted Living Facilities averaging a monthly rate of $3600, and Nursing Homes an average rate of between $220-$250 daily, depending on the privacy of the room, long term care can have  major financial impact on an individual and a family. In-Home care is generally the most affordably option for long term care, with Homemaker/Companion services and Home Health Aid services having an hourly average of $20 per day (Refer to Genworth Survey for specific statewide costs).

Avoiding burden on a family caregiver

While all of these factors contribute to the desire for seniors to age in place, it is also important to remember that it might not be safe or healthy for some older adults to live completely on their own. Some might need assistance with daily activities, or just regular social interaction that they can't achieve on their own. When this is the case, it is important to get a care provider into the home so that they can age in place with reassurance and safety.

Often times, a family member will take on the role of caregiver for an aging parent that wants to stay home. However, being a family caregiver with no assistance from a professional could have serious impacts on personal lives and careers.

Being the sole caregiver for an aging parent can impact both work time and leisure time, having consequences on personal well-being, income, and relationships. In fact, 60% of family caregivers said being the sole caregiver had negative effects on their jobs, and 33% said they spent more than 30 hours a week on caregiving, according to the Genworth Survey.

Professional In-Home Care options

Bringing a professional care provider into the home allows the elderly loved one to reap all the benefits of aging in place, while giving family members the flexibility to have time for their personal and professional lives. With a professional care provider in the equation, family members can take a step back from the physical and emotional pressure, and define new roles in the caregiving process that fit with their lives and schedules.

There are many options for in-home care providers, so that you can find the best fit for you and your family. In-home care providers can range from Companion to Registered Nurse, and can provide a variety of services. To view rates, the Genworth Survey provides median cost of different levels of caregivers by state.

  • Homemakers & Companions:  Provide help with household tasks that cannot be managed alone. Homemaker services includes “hands-off”care such as cooking, cleaning and running errands.
  • Home Health Aides & Certified Nursing Assistants: Home Health Aides offer services to people who need more extensive care. It is “hands-on” personal care, such as assistance with bathing and dressing, but not medical care.
  • Licensed Practical Nurses & Registered Nurses: People who require medical care, such as wound care/bandage changes, enemas, catheterization and IV flush, require either Licensed Practical Nurses or Registered Nurses. RNs are also known for their critical thinking, leadership, and ability to teach patients about their care.

Care providers can perform hourly, live-in, or respite (temporary) care, depending on the needs of you and your family. Many care providers have specialized training to assist loved ones who may need dementia care or care specific to other chronic diseases like Parkinson's or ALS.  At American In-Home Care, all of the care providers we refer are highly qualified and credentialed, and have also been screened, bonded and insured. Contact us today to set up a free, no-obligation consultation to assess your in-home needs.

 

Home Care For Aging Parents: How To Broach The Subject

Aging, In Home Care

There comes a time when we realize that home care for aging parents is necessary. The moment of realization usually comes in the form of a crisis, perhaps mom fell and broke her hip, or maybe dad went on a walk and couldn't find his way home. Moments like these are frightening, and can bring up feelings of anxiety for what is to come.

How do you talk to your parents about a very complex and sensitive situation? How do you take time away from your job or your own family and children's needs? How do you take care of your parents the same way that they cared for you?

These are all very legitimate questions that arise during a time like this, and the most important thing to do when mom and dad need care is to remain calm and not get frustrated.

1. Have your parent talk to someone outside the family about personal matters

Because many older adults can find the transition to receiving advice and care from their own children somewhat humiliating, it can often be very difficult and frustrating to try to talk to our parents about topics like installing safety equipment in their home, giving up their car keys, or wearing an ID bracelet. But these are conversations that need to be had. To make it easier on both you and your elderly parent, try having them talk to a third party outside of the family about these issues. This third party can either be a friend, or a professional in the form of a therapist or someone in the geriatric care profession.

These third party individuals can help provide a feeling of equality for your parent, and at the very least their advice is more likely to be taken.  Having an outsider to be the one to make unbiased recommendations to your parent about potential safety issues can be instrumental in getting your parent to cooperate.

2. Determine your own needs as well as your parents'

Taking care of an aging parent can add unneeded stress to an already very busy life and schedule. Because of this, it is important to make a plan delegating what your wants and needs as well as the wants and needs of your parents to ensure that you can enjoy the time with your parents rather than spending it arguing.

It is important to determine how closely you are able to be involved with parents' care, while still maintaining the personal and professional jobs and duties of your own. It can be beneficial to speak with a geriatric care manager or an in-home care specialist in this situation to help ensure that the needs and desires you have determined are going to be met.

3. Don't be afraid or embarrassed to seek professional help

This is a time that can be very difficult and frustrating for both you and your parents, so leaning on the advice and expertise of professionals who have experience with geriatric care can be very beneficial. When you start asking yourself the following questions, it may be time to seek out professional help:

  1. Are my parents safe in their home?
  2. Are my parents' health concerns taking me away from my own family and obligations?
  3. Are my parents needs and concerns becoming more than I can manage?
  4. How can I make sure that both my and my parents' needs are being met?
  5. What kind of assistance can me and my parents afford?
  6. What resources are out there that could benefit my parents?
  7. What kind of help would increase my parents' safety while also maintaining their independence?

Whitsyms In-Home Care refers Nurses, HHAs, CNAs, and Companions who provide a wide variety of services, so you can always find the care that is right for your family. Schedule a free consultation with one of our Patient Care Liaisons by calling 1-(800)-952-3881.

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