Home Instead Senior Care of Michigan

Older Travelers Require Transportation Options For The Future

Bert Copple — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 15:33:19 +0000

An AARP Public Policy Institute report that provides a detailed look at travel patterns of older Americans sheds light the need for better ways to travel.

“Americans want to stay in their homes and communities as they age, which means our nation needs safe transportation options as boomers get older and want to maintain their independence,” said Susan Reinhard, AARP’s senior vice president for public policy.

The report predicts that older travelers will change the landscape of transportation in the coming years and concludes that transportation planners and policymakers must adapt to this shift.

“Many older adults depend on their cars to live independently and when they don’t have a ride, they walk,” Reinhard said. “Improvements and investments in the travel environment – from roundabouts, left turn lanes and signals to lighting, retro-reflective signs, better road markings and crosswalks — can make driving and walking safer for everyone.”

In addition to releasing the report, the AARP renewed support for legislation that would make roads and transportation safer and more user-friendly.

“To make roads safer for drivers, transit users, bicyclists and pedestrians of all ages and abilities, AARP encourages policymakers to adopt ’complete streets’ policies and direct resources for low-cost, life-saving roadway improvements to accommodate the mobility needs of an aging population. Making roads safer for older Americans will make them safer for everyone,” said AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond.

One key option that older travelers have is Home Instead Senior Care. Our caregivers are not only specially trained to care for your loved one in the home and with daily tasks, but they also offer an alternative method of transportation. No matter what the plan of care is, incidental travel is always available to our clients.

Home Instead Senior Care will provide outstanding CAREGivers to help your loved one with personal care, incidental travel, companionship, medication reminders, light housekeeping, and even meal preparation. To learn more, call 248-203-2273 or visit www.homeinstead.com. Home Instead Senior Care is the world’s trusted source of in-home non-commercial personal care and companionship for seniors. Each franchise is independently owned and operated. And remember, to us, it’s personal.

New, Better Alzheimer’s Treatment in Ten Years?

Bert Copple — Thu, 19 May 2011 16:37:36 +0000

A new Alzheimer’s Society research program could open the doors tor new and more effective treatments for dementia within the next ten years. The program, called Drug Discovery, hopes to develop treatments that not only delay the onset of dementia, but also provide benefits for five times longer than current dementia drugs.

Alzheimer’s Society Ambassador and Oscar winning writer Julian Fellowes, Lord Fellowes of West Stafford, will today host a launch reception at the House of Lords. He will be joined by fellow ambassador and long-term supporter Fiona Phillips. The stars are stepping out to support the novel and exciting dementia research program which offers hope to millions of people.

“This programme is more than a ray of hope for 750, 000 people with dementia, their carers and families,” said Fellowes. “At a time when the number of people with this condition is rising, it is wonderful to see the Alzheimer’s Society striding ahead in the race to find a cure and new treatments. In short, it is a tremendous opportunity, and something really to celebrate.”

Fiona Phillips also commented on the new program, saying, “I know from caring for both my mum and my dad the devastating impact that dementia can have on the person living with the condition and their families. Investing in treatment development today has to be a priority if we are to change this picture. That is why I am so happy to offer my support to this major project which has the potential to transform the lives of so many.”

Drug Discovery will be testing treatments that are already available and licensed for other conditions. These treatments have additional actions that may be successful in treating the changes that occur in the brain in an Alzheimer’s patient. These six chosen drugs for trial are being fast-tracked for exploration in scientific studies. Clinical trials of the drugs will soon follow to test the benefits towards dementia and Alzheimer’s.

The reason that the drugs will be tested so quickly and cost-effectively is because the drugs are already available and developed; further research exploration is the main cost of this endeavor, and it is expected to total at £15 million. Compared to preparing a new drug from scratch, which would cost one billion US dollars (approx £612.7million GBP) and take 20 years to complete, this is an astounding amount of time and money well saved.

This new research could prove to be the next step in taking on Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Until then we must continue to take the initiative and provide extra care for dementia patients, and there is no company better at that than Home Instead Senior Care.

Home Instead is not only the leading in-home care company in the world, but they also have a world-renowned Alzheimer’s Care Program. If you have a loved one who is suffering from dementia or Alzheimer’s, or if you have noticed signs of dementia, please do not hesitate to call and get the extra care they may need, as well as peace of mind for yourself.

SOURCE: MatureTimes.co.uk

Mary Maxwell Wows Crowd At ASA Conference

Bert Copple — Wed, 18 May 2011 19:12:51 +0000

Mary Maxwell, the star of our viral video, was a huge hit representing the Home Instead Senior Care network at the American Society On Aging’s annual conference in San Francisco April 26^ththrough the 30^th.

Mary opened the first day’s general session, addressing more than 3,100 attendees. Using the same witty humor that made her video an Internet sensation with more than 8.1 millions view, Mary entertained the audience and gained the Home Instead Senior Care network considerable recognition at the conference.

The Home Instead Senior Care network was a sponsor and exhibitor at the event, which is the premiere conference on aging issues, said Debbie Norman, strategic alliances manager. Recognizing the conference’s value, the Home Office sent five staff members to strengthen relationships and represent the network. Debbie and Katie Cox, marketing manager, worked our booth at the exhibitors showcase, and Phyllis Hegstrom, advocacy director, attended to focus on industry affairs. Jessie Brumbach, marketing director, and Mary Alexander, strategic alliances director, presented educational sessions along with Michelle Rogers, owner of the Mountain View, CA, office.

“This is the place where everyone interested in aging issues comes,” Debbie said. “And they’re all seeing Home Instead Senior Care there year after year.”

With more than 6,000 members, ASA is the largest organization of multidisciplinary professionals in the field of aging. Members include practitioners, educators, administrators, policymakers, business people, researchers, students and more. The organization offers resources, publications and educational opportunities to enhance the knowledge and skills of people working with older adults and their families. Home Instead is clearly a prominent member, and growing in popularity with each coming year.

Alzheimer’s Impact on Caregivers

Bert Copple — Tue, 17 May 2011 22:13:16 +0000

Maria Shriver recently talked publicly about her father, Sergeant Shriver, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2003, for the first time since his death in January. She spoke to Larry King about his battle with the disease, her thoughts on Alzheimer’s research and why the disease is especially hard on women during an interview with Larry King that aired May 1.

Shriver talked about the study published in partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association. The Shriver Report: A Woman’s Nation Takes on Alzheimer’s was just released in paperback. The report highlights the epidemic’s effect on women as caregivers, advocates and people living with this disease.

The Shriver Report unveils information from the Alzheimer’s Association Women and Alzheimer’s Poll that found women are almost two-thirds of all Americans with Alzheimer’s and comprise 60 percent of the unpaid caregivers for family members and friends with Alzheimer’s.

The Shriver Report is an immensely useful guide for families who may have a loved one suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. And you are not alone if you are one of these families, because Home Instead Senior Care is here to help and provide the best respite care in the world. We take pride in our world-renowned Alzheimer’s Training Program that each of our CAREGiver go through. Home Instead is here for you or your loved one.

The text of Shriver’s interview is included in a transcript of King’s segment Unthinkable: The Alzheimer’s Epidemic available online. More information on The Shriver Report is available online.

Diet and Exercise Research

Bert Copple — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 18:54:24 +0000

Dieting and exercise together are more effective at improving physical performance and reducing frailty in obese seniors than either alone, according to researchers from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

Older adults who are obese face severe health risks, including high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes, which can be compounded by a lack of mobility.

“We wanted to tease apart the effects of dieting and exercise in older people who are obese,” says principal investigator Dennis T. Villareal, M.D. “In older adults, obesity exacerbates declines in physical performance and leads to frailty, impaired quality of life and increases in nursing home admissions. Given the increasing prevalence of obesity even among older people, it is important to find ways to combat the problem and help seniors remain healthier and more independent.”

For the study, researchers evaluated the effects of dieting and exercise in more than 100 obese seniors over a one-year period. Although weight loss alone and exercise alone improved physical function by about 12 percent and 15 percent, respectively, neither was as effective as diet and exercise together, which improved physical performance by 21 percent.

‘Combining exercise and weight loss isn’t designed so much to extend their life expectancy as it is to improve their quality of life during their remaining years and to help seniors avoid being admitted to a nursing home,” Villareal said.

About 20 percent of people 65 and older are obese, and the rate is expected to continue rising as more baby boomers become senior citizens.

If there is someone who know or a loved one who suffers from obesity and/or lack of physical activity, then Home Instead can help. Not only are our caregivers unbelievably talented and careful, but they will also be there for your loved one to help watch their diet and keep them active. Caregivers will encourage them towards the activities they enjoy and can comfortably perform, and provide full, healthy meals according to their specific diet.

Home Instead Senior Care Studies Show Relevance of In-Home Care

Bert Copple — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 20:21:15 +0000

A new study commissioned by Home Instead, Inc., will inform policy makers and the general public on the positive impact that home care services have on the senior-care continuum.

On March 8, the Home Office released The Value of Caregiving at Home study – often referred to as “the Outcomes study” – and is promoting it to trade publications, the mainstream media and policy makers.

The study compared senior care provided by older adults’ family members with that offered by professional, in-home non-medical caregivers. It determined that professional in-home medical care can help family caregivers provide their senior loved ones with more and better care.

“This helpful study clearly demonstrates the importance and value of home care to a large number or older persons and their family caregivers,” said Dr. Peter Boling, a geriatrician at Virginia Commonwealth University and lead advisor for the study. “It should inform policy makers looking to improve the quality and reduce the cost of care for older Americans, especially those with Alzheimer’s disease.”

The study builds on another study commissioned by Home Instead, Inc., titled “Is Home-Health Care a Substitute for Hospital Care?,” often referred to as “the Columbia University study.” That research, conducted by Columbia University professor Dr. Frank Lichtenberg shows that seniors prefer to “age in place” at home and that paid, in-home, non-medical care saves as much as $25 billion per year in the U.S., primarily in high hospital payroll costs.

Together, the studies reinforce the possibilities and opportunities of aging in place – a message that Home Instead Senior Care has since the beginning always professed. Here are links to the white papers of the conducted studies:

• “Paid In-Home Care: A Growing Part of the Medical-Care Continuum”

• “Paid In-Home Care: Improving the Lives of Family Caregivers”

• “Paid In-Home Care: Benefitting Those With Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia”

• “Paid In-Home Care: More Care & Better Care for Seniors”

“This study confirms what we consistently see – that in-home care has a major, positive impact when it comes to caring for seniors,” said Paul Hogan. “The challenge now is to ensure that home care is viewed as a bona fide part of the care continuum for seniors.”

Meet the Great Lakes Region CAREGiver of the Year

Bert Copple — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 16:54:34 +0000

This week we are concluding our highlighting our regional CAREGivers of 2010. These regional winners are eligible to be honored as the 2011 Mary Steibel CAREGiver of the Year, an award that will be presented at this year’s International Convention. Today we’d like you to meet Today we’d like you to meet Rose Marie “Til” Leacock, 2010 Great Lakes Region CAREGiver of the Year.

Paul, a Home Instead Senior Care^© client in Pennsylvania, has a singular goal. His highest priority is staying at home — the place he built and shared with his family and friends. An increasing inability to care for himself jeopardized his plan. That is until Ron and Christine Krasnansky’s State College and Saxton, PA, Home Instead franchise office paired the formerly independent 95-year-old with CAREGiver Rose Marie “Til” Leacock.

Going on five years, Til has assisted Paul’s dream of aging in place. “She is a friend, companion and confidant. We have been through many journeys over the years,” Paul wrote in Til’s nomination letter. “She keeps my home immaculate, which adds greatly to my peace of mind and comfort. She is a dynamo at getting daily tasks done.”

“I just care,” Til said. “When I see someone struggle, I’m just not going to stand there. You can’t walk away from someone.”

Til knows the meaning of home. She and seven siblings were orphaned whenshe was one year old. The youngest baby was born on the very day that her father was killed in a coal mining accident, and her mother died two months later. Family members offered a place for Til and her twin brother only, but their grandfather refused. “He took charge, saying. ‘We’re not separating the children. This is their home, and this is where they’re going to live,’” Til said. “It helped me become the way I am, because it taught me to be caring toward people. There were a lot of people who loved me.”

Til said her friends question how she can befriend clients so near the end of their lives. “People say they don’t understand how I do what I do. I tell them you enjoy them every day you can. The big thing is to make people the center of your life. And, have compassion,” Til said.

No matter how long she lives, Til will always remember the day Home Instead Senior Care called her to the office because she forgot to sign some paperwork. “When I arrived, there were a lot of people around. A big sign said, ‘Til, you’re the greatest.’ And, I thought, ‘That’s different.’ Ron handed me a bouquet of flowers, and I thought, ‘That’s nice.’ It hadn’t clicked it was all for me,” she said. “When I realized I was being honored as Great Lakes Region CAREGiver of the Year, I told them, there are a lot of CAREGivers out there just as good as I am. We all work hard.”

Lisa is just another fine example of the high quality CAREGivers we have all around the world working for Home Instead Senior Care.

April is Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Month

Bert Copple — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 16:49:16 +0000

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a disorder of the brain that can lead to shaking, difficulty with walking, and coordination. It most often develops after the age of 50, and this is why it is a major concern for seniors. This month we are reminded that at least 50,000 new cases of Parkinson’s will be diagnosed in just this year alone. The disease can be draining not only for the person diagnosed, but also their loved ones and the people who care for them.

The Parkinson’s Disease Foundation (PDF) gives some great tips and strategies for both people with PD and the people caring for them; these help with better communication, the right doctors, and the right planning. Here is a shortened version highlighting the 12 points:

Respect your partner’s own journey with PD
Talk openly to each other about the disease
Don’t let the disease take over or define your lives
Find a good doctor
Feel free to seek out a second opinion
Educate yourself about PD in stages
Educate others about PD – not only friends and family, but also healthcare professionals
Find a support group
Actively seek out support from friends, family, and other caregivers
Support other people with PD
Tackle life planning decisions
Take care of yourself

For a full description of how to best communicate and deal with Parkinson’s disease, click here. You can find even more information and support on PD through the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation website.

If you are still looking for the right caregiver, then there is nowhere better to look than Home Instead senior care. They provide only the best caregivers for you or your loved one’s specific needs.

SOURCE: PFD.org

Meet The Mid-Atlantic Region CAREGiver of the Year

Bert Copple — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 16:24:00 +0000

This week we are highlighting our regional CAREGivers of 2010. These regional winners are eligible to be honored as the 2011 Mary Steibel CAREGiver of the Year, an award that will be presented at this year’s International Convention. Today we’d like you to meet Lisa Whitney, 2010Mid-Atlantic Region ”CAREGiver of the Year.”

When Lisa Whitney met her new client, Mac, she knew there was just “something more to him.” Les and Roberta Farnum’s Home Instead Senior Care^©office in Charlotte, NC, told her they had someone who was perfect for her and who lived close to her home. Mac was working on a painting when she arrived. The client relationship manager made the introductions.

Mac and Lisa went for walks, he with his cane, and talked. He began to feel comfortable with her. They took hour-long drives to the Veterans Hospital and got to know each other. They painted together. He placed a picture of Lisa and Craig, her husband, on the edge of his canvas and painted their portrait.

Mac’s house grew brighter. He drew the curtains so he could watch for Lisa’s arrival. He started to spend part of his life outside. They planted a garden together and waited for the ice cream truck. She would get him a fudgesicle. She introduced him to the electric scooters at Walmart, so he could shop more easily and be out among people longer.

They formed a friendship that brought joy to their lives. He called her “Hon.” He was special to Lisa, whose father had passed away in 2002. And, she realized what the “something more” was. “We needed each other. He didn’t just need me,” she said.

Being a CAREGiver has fulfilled Lisa’s life. “I truly feel that it’s a calling from God for me to work with seniors. I went into it thinking it would be more flexible, less stress, but I cannot imagine doing any other job right now,” she said.

Mac is only one person on a long list of clients that Lisa has served with distinction. When reviewing potential CAREGivers’ qualifications, Les and Roberta, owners of the franchise from which Lisa works, frequently ask themselves, “Is this someone you would allow to take care of your mother?” With Lisa, the answer is a definite “yes.” They have entrusted her to care for Les’s own mother. They believe she is not only part of the Home Instead family, she also is part of their family.

Lisa befriends clients, researches their interests and takes up their hobbies. She dons a bathing suit for those who can benefit from water aerobics, stimulating their participation. She learns all she can about her clients’ conditions and advises others providing care to do the same.

“Whatever the illness, educate yourself about it. The more I learned from Home Instead about dementia, the more I was able to help. You can never learn too much,” she said.

Lisa is just another fine example of the high quality CAREGivers we have all around the world working for Home Instead Senior Care. Be sure to check back as we highlight more of our outstanding people in the coming weeks.

Meet The Canadian Region CAREGiver of the Year

Bert Copple — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 16:16:35 +0000

This week we are highlighting our regional CAREGivers of 2010. These regional winners are eligible to be honored as the 2011 Mary Steibel CAREGiver of the Year, an award that will be presented at this year’s International Convention. Today we’d like you to meet Donna Kumar,2010 Canadian Region ”CAREGiver of the Year.”

One of Donna Kumar’s heroes is Dr. Patch Adams. Robin Williams plays the true-life physician and clown in the movie Patch Adams, which she enjoys sharing with her Home Instead Senior Care^©clients. Like Dr. Adams, Donna believes laughter is the best medicine.

Another of Donna’s heroes is her father. Serving as a family caregiver for him, Donna learned how laughing and joking comforted him through his severe scoliosis. She witnessed how his amazing sense of humor could ease his pain.

For six months, Donna, the oldest of five children, cared for her father in her home while her mother recovered from surgery. Donna loved caring for her father.

After an enjoyable, 20-year career as a home daycare provider and special education teacher, Donna looked for a new home for her skills. She answered a Home Instead ad and interviewed to become a CAREGiver with Tom Chuchmach and Scott Johnson’s Oakville, ON, franchise office.

“I believe it was divine intervention,” Donna said. “I was at a crossroads, and I was taking care of my father, and it led me to Home Instead.”

For her first Home Instead shift, Donna volunteered to be with a client on Christmas Eve. The staff was torn, because Donna would spend a holiday evening with one of their most difficult clients. Afterward, Donna assured them everything had been fine. Just hours later, on Boxing Day, Donna accepted an emergency client who had fallen. The client died in her arms two days later.

“Everyone at Home Instead — Scott and Tom, too — were calling to make sure I was OK. I told them I considered it an honor, a blessing, to be with this client as she was dying. I just felt it was a wonderful experience that I was there to help the family through,” she said.

Her Home Instead Senior Care co-workers were in awe of Donna’s ability to find a positive side to death. Encouraged by co-owner Scott, Donna enrolled in a palliative care course which was “an incredible experience.” It served Donna well, as she believes a key to great care is to keep learning.

Her father is on her mind as she cares for clients. “I always recall that, when I’m with a client, this is someone’s mother or father, brother or sister. First and foremost, I treat clients with respect and dignity,” Donna said. “I think it’s important to remember our clients were once very independent people.”

Her greatest CAREGiver success, she believes, is when her assistance allows clients to stay in their own homes longer than they might have without her.

Donna is just another fine example of the high quality CAREGivers we have all around the world working for Home Instead Senior Care. Be sure to check back as we highlight more of our outstanding people in the coming weeks.