JacquelineMarcell

Alzheimer's is the 7th Leading Cause of Death in the US : Help Rate Alzheimer's Project!

Author Elder Rage www.ElderRage.com Host Coping With Caregiving Radio Show www.wsRadio.com/CopingWithCaregiving Jacqueline's Lecture on CD; 12 Experts; 14/hrs. of Help--ASK ME! WELCOME BACK ALL MY CAREGIVERS—Tell us your story! More…

Elders Who Sleep All Day and Stay Up at Night: Sundowning & Adult Day Care

Author Elder Rage www.ElderRage.com Host Coping With Caregiving Radio Show www.wsRadio.com/CopingWithCaregiving Jacqueline's Lecture on CD; 12 Experts; 14/hrs. of Help--ASK ME! WELCOME BACK ALL MY CAREGIVERS—Tell us your story! When I took care of my elderly parents (both with early Alzheimer's Disease), I was surprised at how different their symptoms were with the same diagnosis. Mom would stay up all day and sleep fairly well at night, while dad was just the opposite--which meant I was up around-the-clock and never got enough rest. I tried everything to get my father up and active during the day so he'd sleep through the night. I swear, I loudly opened drapes and windows, vacuumed, turned on his TV, slammed doors, and even played the rap music he hated near his good ear--nothing. But then sure enough about midnight, he'd get up and start getting into everything, just as Mom and I were trying to get to sleep. THE ANSWER: More…

Long-Distance Caregiving & Long-Distance Care Management

Author Elder Rage www.ElderRage.com Host Coping With Caregiving Radio Show www.wsRadio.com/CopingWithCaregiving Jacqueline's Lecture on CD; 12 Experts; 14/hrs. of Help--ASK ME! WELCOME BACK ALL MY CAREGIVERS—Tell us your story! After taking care of my elderly parents by myself for a year and constantly searching for the right caregivers to help me, I finally stumbled upon "Amazing Ariana" and her wonderful mother. After training them and eventually feeling confident enough to allow them to move in, they gradually took over all the hands-on care of my parents. Eventually I was comfortable enough to fly back home, monitoring every detail of my parents' care and lives via long-distance phone calls to them and the caregivers 2-3 times a day. I was so blessed that my caregivers stayed through thick and thin, living in my parents' home, caring for and loving them for four more years--even through their deaths and helping me with the funerals. I realize now how rare that situation was and that I had completely lucked-out finding them. More…

Mother's Day: Focus on Savoring the Day--Not the Decline

Author Elder Rage www.ElderRage.com Host Coping With Caregiving Radio Show www.wsRadio.com/CopingWithCaregiving Jacqueline's Lecture on CD; 12 Experts; 14/hrs. of Help--ASK ME! WELCOME BACK ALL MY CAREGIVERS—Tell us your story! When you go see your mom for Mother's Day and notice how much she has aged and declined since the last time you saw her (and Dad too)-be sure to focus on enjoying the time and not on what's ahead and the inevitable. More…

In-Home Healthcare: Has Your Folks' In-Home Caregiver Had Formal Training?

Author Elder Rage www.ElderRage.com Host Coping With Caregiving Radio Show www.wsRadio.com/CopingWithCaregiving Jacqueline's Lecture on CD; 12 Experts; 14/hrs. of Help--ASK ME! WELCOME BACK ALL MY CAREGIVERS—Tell us your story! A fascinating new survey by "The Caregiving Project for Older Americans" says all kinds of in-home caregivers have not had much training, because there is no national training requirement for in-home caregivers for older adults. And since 78% of those surveyed (who had hired caregivers) had the misperception that they did have training, the problem is heading for a crisis with the enormity of the advancing aging population. I experienced this problem myself when I took care of my parents for a year--the whole time trying to find caregivers to help me--from agencies and independents. I was so dismayed because most didn't speak English very well, had limited education, were shy and sensitive, didn't have a car and were being driven by a relative, and had their own children and elders with all kinds of family and health problems, which I heard about--every day. And then, since my father was so challenging, I had a rough time getting anyone to stay very long. Who needs to be yelled at over the silliest thing, called nasty names, and have fruit thrown at them? And those that did stay for a few days or weeks had very spotty training--at best. More…

Falls and Accidents at Home: How Quickly They Can Happen!

Author Elder Rage www.ElderRage.com Host Coping With Caregiving Radio Show www.wsRadio.com/CopingWithCaregiving Jacqueline's Lecture on CD; 12 Experts; 14/hrs. of Help--ASK ME! WELCOME BACK ALL MY CAREGIVERS—Tell us your story! Falls are such a common problem in the elderly, often because of equalibrium, medications and failing eyesight. Three of my own friends' parents have been in the hospital recently from freak falls. My elderly father used to trip on his pretty persian throw rugs all the time and argued with me about putting them away, well, until he took a really bad fall but luckily didn't break anything. I am embarassed to say that I have been recuperating from a freak fall and subsequent broken right arm and shattered shoulder--and not even on a throw rug to blame. I still can't believe it happened to ME! Apparently, my cushy rhinestone rubber flip-flops stuck on the hardwood floor and didn't move with me when I had all my force stepping to the right. It happened so fast--one second I am standing there... and then BOOM, I am on the floor screaming. It was the most horrible sharp pain with immediate shock and chills and fever. More…

Shocking New Alzheimer's Statistics

Author Elder Rage www.ElderRage.com Host Coping With Caregiving Radio Show www.wsRadio.com/CopingWithCaregiving Jacqueline's Lecture on CD; 12 Experts; 14/hrs. of Help--ASK ME! WELCOME BACK ALL MY CAREGIVERS—Tell us your story! The Alzheimer's Association recently released a fascinating new report you will want to know about: http://alz.org/news_and_events_rates_rise.asp Reprinted here: Alzheimer's Disease Prevalence Rates Rise to More than Five Million in the U.S.In 2007 there are now more than 5 million people in the United States living with Alzheimer's disease. This number includes 4.9 million people over the age of 65 and between 200,000 and 500,000 people under age 65 with early onset Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. This is a 10 percent increase from the previous prevalence nationwide estimate of 4.5 million. The greatest risk factor for Alzheimer's is increasing age, and with 78 million baby boomers beginning to turn 60 last year, it is estimated that someone in America develops Alzheimer's every 72 seconds; by mid-century someone will develop Alzheimer's every 33 seconds. More…

Congress to Make Key Decisions on Alzheimer's Funding -- PLEASE HELP!

Author Elder Rage www.ElderRage.com Host Coping With Caregiving Radio Show www.wsRadio.com/CopingWithCaregiving WELCOME BACK ALL MY CAREGIVERS—Tell us your story! Congress is debating the Fiscal Year 2008 Budget Resolution, which sets overall limits on how much will eventually be spent by the government on health, education, transportation and other federal programs. Later in the year, these overall limits will guide the Appropriations Committees when they make final decisions on federal spending.   Funding for Alzheimer's programs, including research and care programs (such as the 24/7 Alzheimer's Call Center, the CDC Brain Health Initiative and the Alzheimer State Matching Grants Program), depends on how much Congress sets aside for health spending in the Budget Resolution. Action on this legislation is also a critical step in restoring funding for Alzheimer's research and care programs which were cut in the President's Fiscal Year 2008 budget proposal. More…

Walk a Mile With Their Walker

Author Elder Rage www.ElderRage.com Host Coping With Caregiving Radio Show www.wsRadio.com/CopingWithCaregiving WELCOME BACK ALL MY CAREGIVERS—Tell us your story! Speaking recently with an idealistic young nutritionist, she mentioned how appalled she was by some of the food she observed being served in nursing homes. She couldn't understand why it wasn't all of the highest nutrition and why there was always some junk food offered too. She wanted to change that. I told her I felt the same way about it when my mother was in a nursing home for a short time, but that I changed my mind about it when I took care of my disabled elderly parents myself. Whenever I asked what they wanted for dinner, I always cringed to hear the same response, "Hamburgers and milkshakes!" More…

When is it Time to Move a Loved One to Assisted Living or a Nursing Home?

Author Elder Rage www.ElderRage.com Host Coping With Caregiving Radio Show www.wsRadio.com/CopingWithCaregiving WELCOME BACK ALL MY CAREGIVERS—Tell us your story! It's time to consider placing a loved one in a care facility when safety is in question and the ability to perform Activities of Daily Living (ADL's) is severely impaired: getting in or out of bed or a chair, using the toilet, bathing or showering, dressing and eating. When fears that an elderly person may leave the stove on, get lost, fall down stairs or get hurt in any way, and family helpers or in-home caregivers are not an option--it is time to act. More…