How to Report Elderly Abuse

March 31, 2015/0 Comments/in Senior Safety/by Premier Caregiver Services

How to Report Elderly Abuse: An Overview

We all have a responsibility to our elder’s to watch out for them and report any form of abuse if we feel it is happening to them.

Elderly abuse is steadily increasing and becoming a serious problem in our society. A broad definition of elder abuse is intentionally causing pain, suffering, and/or injury to an elder adult. This abuse can be mental, physical, or sexual. A vulnerable adult is considered a person over the age of 18 that cannot care for themselves.

Current research estimates that approximately 1 to 2 million Americans age 65 or older have been abused or neglected by the people they have entrusted with their care. Believe it or not, family members are the more likely to abuse an elder than any other group. In most states, there are several laws that address criminal penalties for various types of elder abuse – the laws vary from state to state.

There are seven types of elder abuse: physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, financial/material exploitation, neglect, abandonment and self-neglect. Some signs of physical abuse can be bruises, welts, black eyes, broken bones, open wounds, medication overdose, sudden change in behavior and many other signs. A few signs of emotional abuse are being emotionally upset or agitated, being withdrawn or non-responsive, unusual behavior or even the elder’s report of being verbally abused. Several more definitions of the various types of abuse can be found on the National Center on Elder Abuse site.

The National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA) is a national resource center dedicated to the prevention of elder mistreatment. The NCEA makes resources available online to help you recognize elder abuse among other programs you can look into for help. Other ways to get help if you or a loved one are being abused is to call 911, or tell your doctor or a friend/family member you can trust. You can also call the Eldercare Locator help line at 1-800-677-1116 and they will refer you to a local agency that can help.

Know Your Home Care Coordinator

March 25, 2015/0 Comments/in Caregiver Services/by Premier Caregiver Services

“What is an HCC?” you may ask. HCC is an acronym for Home Care Coordinator. It is typically used to identify the representatives who act on behalf of a patient who is in need of home care services or medical equipment in their home.

Getting the Ball Rolling

The HCC is the one who can coordinate the trip home from a hospital or rehabilitation facility. The HCC can have a hospital bed, shower chair, bedside commode, oxygen concentrator, and many more home medical equipment products delivered right to your home. If oxygen is a necessity for the patient, the HCC can arrange to have enough O2 supplied via portable tanks for the car ride home. There are many people who work behind the scenes, but your HCC is the one who “gets the ball rolling” so-to-speak.

Staying on Track

It is important that you or your caregiver know who the Home Care Coordinator and Home Care provider is for durable medical equipment. Many times, a patient will be discharged from the hospital with the need for a single piece of equipment. If that person is in a declining state of health, there may be a need for additional items later. If you are unable to tell the doctor who your provider is, these items may be ordered from a different supplier. If the items are ordered over a series of doctor visits from different providers, one can find themselves tasked with keeping an “inventory” of their medical equipment needs. However, if a problem arises with, say, an oxygen concentrator – contacting the correct service provider is a very big deal!

I know the previous scenario sounds unlikely, but I have received numerous calls from patients and caregivers inquiring if Premier was their O2 provider. After checking my computer, I have to tell them “no”. And then that patient has to make at least one more phone call!

Don’t let yourself be caught in that situation. Know your HCC/DME provider and be proactive when it comes to your home care. You are your own best advocate!

Recognizing the Signs of Alzheimers

March 21, 2015/0 Comments/in Alzheimer's Disease/by Premier Caregiver Services

Alzheimers is a form of dementia that can affect a person’s thinking, memory, and general behavior. Alzheimers is the most common form of dementia and generally worsens as time goes by. The progressive decline in mental behavior derives from the nature of the disease. It damages and destroys brain cells, which leads to the mental disorder issues already mentioned. Time is a major factor with regards to Alzheimers; the number diagnosed with this disease doubles every 5 years after 65 years of age, so it is important to keep watch for the signs of Alzheimers in vulnerable populations.

When Alzheimers is diagnosed early on, there is some hope to prolong the full-onset. Even though this disease develops over time, there have been techniques, medications, and procedures developed to help slow the mental digressions as much as possible. Time spent with a loved one becomes priceless when this disease is diagnosed – that’s why recognizing the signs of this disease early is very important.

Below is a list to recognize the signs of alzheimers in order to provide the best care for your loved ones. Try to recognize these signs early so you can get the assistance you need to effectively combat this disease:

1. Memory loss that disrupts daily life

2. Challenges in planning or solving problems

3. Difficulty completing familiar tasks at work, home, or leisure

4. Confusion with time or place

5. Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships

6. Problems with words in speaking or writing

7. Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps

8. Decreased or poor judgment

9. Withdrawal from work or social activities

10. Changes in mood and/or personality

More information on Alzheimers can be found at www.alz.org.

Senior Skincare: Giving Your Feet a Helping Hand with Foot Care

March 16, 2015/0 Comments/in Avoiding Injuries/by Premier Caregiver Services

Giving your feet a hand:

Senior skincare isn’t all about looking younger and protecting our loved ones from skin cancer and other results of UV rays; it can also help to prevent foot pain! Due to an increased risk of damage to nerves and blood vessels, help you loved ones out by introducing senior skincare in regard to feet by following these simple foot care tips:

1. Wash your feet in warm water with mild soap every day, but don’t soak them. Dry them well.

2. Check your feet every day for cuts, sores, blisters, redness, calluses, or any other problem. Call your doctor if healing process doesn’t start after one day.

3. If your skin is dry, rub lotion on your feet after you wash and dry them. Do not put lotion between your toes.

4. Gently file corns and calluses with an emery board. Do this after your bath or shower while skin is still soft.

5. Trim your toenails once a week or when needed. Cut them with nail clippers then smooth the edges with an emery board. If you are unable to do this, ask a family member or your health care professional for help.

6. Always wear socks to avoid blisters.

7. Always wear slippers or shoes to protect your feet from injuries. Even around your own home.

Having the right footwear may help diabetics to keep their feet healthy and free from cuts or blisters. Of course, everyone will get blisters and minor foot injuries from time to time, but having wide, comfortable shoes can help to prevent them significantly.

Premier Caregiver Services can help manage your loved ones’ health with caretakers who know how to keep seniors in their best shape. Contact us today to hear about our care options.

Going The Extra Mile: Excellent Care Giving

March 12, 2015/0 Comments/in Caregiver Services/by Premier Caregiver Services

Providing Excellent Care Giving: Premier Caregiver Services

If someone is prepared to go the extra mile, they will do everything they can to help or to make something succeed. That person goes above and beyond their duty while exceeding expectations. The expression “going the extra mile” probably comes from the Bible, when Jesus declares in his Sermon on the Mount, “Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two.” When it comes to care giving, Premier Caregiver Services will go the extra mile, every time.

At Premier Caregiver Services we aim to provide our patients with the highest satisfaction and care giving that they deserve. Going the extra mile sets us apart from the majority of the competition. At Premier Caregiver Services, we will lift up our patients brows, build trust, and give them the leading home care services and products. Going the extra mile and demonstrating our commitment to excellence has a huge impact on decision making both consciously and subconsciously with everyone we come in contact with.

You see, referrals and patients are lost because they fear their DME company will make a poor decision, push them to the side, and often forget about them. Premier consistently demonstrates excellence in the care giving services and products we provide. It’s true, great service is crucial in these tough economic times – it is important we make our services available to our patients 24/7 and promptly answer any questions or concerns that may arise.

Premier Caregiver Services focuses on the quality, not the quantity, of the services we provide. Here is a short list of what sets our customer service apart:

Responding to patients promptly and as soon as possible
Keeping patients updated
Listening to our patients
Keeping our promises
Patience in everything we do
Possess knowledge about the Home Care industry
Demonstrating empathy

Choosing a Caregiver

March 7, 2015/0 Comments/in Caregiving Support/by Premier Caregiver Services

Choosing a Caregiver

One of the most difficult decisions a family or POA (Power of Attorney) has to make is choosing a caregiver service to use for their loved one or family member. An even more difficult task is finding an excellent caregiver that fits well with their loved one. As of 2004, they estimated 21% of households in the US are impacted by caregiving responsibilities so don’t worry – you are not alone on this topic. 83% of families use family caregivers, i.e. family members, friends, neighbors, etc. So the challenge comes when a family doesn’t have someone close who they can rely on to care for their loved one when needed.

You want your loved one to be cared for in the best possible way, especially if you are paying for a caregiver service. You want your loved one to feel safe, comfortable, and enjoy the company of someone who’s there for them. One main way to find a good fit is to question the caregiver, like in a job interview. Since their job is caregiving, you can interview them to make sure they will gel with your loved one in a healthy way so that it makes their life as easy as possible.

Below is a list of questions to help interview and gain knowledge about the caregiver you are choosing to take care of your loved one, family member, or friend:

1.) Do you have any CPR or first-aid training? Do you have any formal caregiving training?

2.) Can you perform the duties required? (i.e. cleaning, cooking, bathing, etc.)

3.) What hours are you available? How much notice would you require if needed for unexpected caregiver services?

4.) Do you have any medical conditions that would prevent you from heavy lifting or daily care giving tasks? Would you be able to transfer someone from a wheelchair to a car or to a bed?

5.) Do you have any caregiving experience? What tasks did you perform? What do you feel are your caregiving strengths? What do you feel are your care giving weaknesses?

6.) (If cooking is a task) What experience do you have cooking? Do you enjoy cooking for yourself or others? What meals do you prepare?

7.) How do you feel about caring for the elderly? (Depending on the age group at hand) What diagnosis have you cared for before?

8.) How do you deal with stubborn, angry, or timid individuals?

9.) Give an example of a difficult situation you have dealt with while care giving and explain how you handled the situation.

10.) Will you keep daily records?

11.) Why do you feel I should hire you as our caregiver of choice?

Make sure you consult your loved one who will be receiving the care giving service. It is important to hear what they have to say about the topic and listen to their feelings. You are choosing a person who will be in their home or with them on a regular basis, so they will want to feel comfortable. Try to find someone who shares the same hobbies or interests. The best advice is to take your time and do plenty of research regarding your available options when choosing a caregiver.

Keeping Siblings Informed About Parents’ Health

March 5, 2015/0 Comments/in Family Issues/by Premier Caregiver Services

Adult children faced with an aging parent, failing health issues, and senior home care often create friction among themselves, sometimes reverting back to old oppressive moments of sibling rivalry, when making choices for Dad and Mom. Everyone cares about what happens but may not agree on the same decisions, which triggers misunderstandings and conflicts. Compromising about any home care, stroke care, or dementia care for the elderly can be challenging but attainable with communication, honesty and equally informing one another.

Many adult children accept the primary caregiver role by emotional ties, geographic location, age, or as they take on more and more tasks. Encourage all sibling participation early on and try not to make them feel resentment or left out. For those who remain distant, do everything possible to keep or get them involved. Give those having a desire to be updated a weekly report concerning Dad and Mom. Keep everyone in the loop if possible – solicit their help, advice and support.

Keeping siblings informed via telephone, email, mail, texting, social networking and visits eliminates potential family stress and anxiety. Caring for Dad and Mom during their aging years should be the first priority for everyone. Stay in touch.

Tips to keep siblings informed:

Use social media especially for those out of town.
Share appointments, reports, and objective feedback from professionals.
Pick up the phone and call one another or send a text message, “Dad’s lab results were good.”
Schedule family meetings and discussions.

Each sibling, from the primary caregiver to those living out of town, have obligations and rights to anything and everything that concerns your aging parent. Stay in touch…

Coping with Catastrophic Reactions

March 1, 2015/0 Comments/in Caregiving Support/by Premier Caregiver Services

As a Care Manager, it is not uncommon to get calls from our caregivers stating that their client with dementia “turned angry” or “aggressive” in an instant. He or she threw a tantrum or they “lost it”. These tantrums can be vocal and or physical – they can involve shouting, becoming upset, throwing things, physically pushing you away, or even causing bodily harm to themselves.

These meltdown behaviors have a name: Catastrophic Reactions. These reactions are an emotional outburst of fear, stress, or other suddenly overwhelming emotions. It is not uncommon behavior for moderate-stage dementia.

How to Deal with Catastrophic Reactions in Dementia Patients

If it happens to you, do not panic. Instead, retreat for a few moments and allow the patient to calm down – it is difficult for your patient to process messages (even if they are calm) when he or she is emotionally “hot”. Stay calm yourself. Sometimes, this is a very difficult move to make but staying calm means staying in control.

Next, see if you can identify the trigger of the outburst. Run a mental review of what just happened. By mentally reliving the scene, you can usually trace the trigger to something you said or did (or maybe didn’t do). It could be as simple as something in the environment: light shining in the patient’s eyes, a loud noise close by, or even an unwanted surprise. Recognizing the trigger is of the utmost importance.

Start over again with the patient without mentioning the incident. Remember to stay calm and to announce your intentions in a reassuring way (be calm and reassuring).

If your patient continues to seem “not right”, know that the outburst may not be strictly emotional, but physical. A sudden change in behavior, especially cognitive reasoning skills, can be caused by delirium. Delirium is a common complication of infections or other systemic problems in older adults, especially those with dementia. Above all, be sure to contact another family member if you have one – it always helps to journal the incident, review it, and identify the triggers.

Remember: do not try to be dominate! Stay calm, reassuring, safety conscious, and stay in control.