In helping a person with Alzheimer’s disease to select and put on clothing, be mindful of the choices he used to make, and try to honor that taste and style. For example, if an elderly man had worn a tie every day to work, but could no longer tie the knot and was frustrated if he could not put the tie on every day, a simple solution is to tie several in advance for him and let him slip the ties on and off. That may be easier for him to do and save you time. Sometimes a “clip on” tie will work also.

NOTE: Clean out closets and drawers so that out of season or difficult to clean clothes will not be temptingly in view.

Most people have favorite colors, textures, and types of clothing–and people with dementia often want to wear the same outfit all the time. If you get duplicates of the items the person always wants to wear, he can still be comfortable when clothes are being washed and you will avoid arguments and explanations.

Lay out clothing in the order in which it should be put on. This will provide a cue to those who are unsure what to put on next, and will generally make the process run more smoothly when you have to assist. You will also not need to leave the person to go find a missing piece.

• Use clothes that are easy to put on.
• Store all like clothes together.
• Use shoes that slip on or fasten with Velcro®.
• Use socks rather than pantyhose.
• Use pants and skirts with elastic waistbands.
• Use bras with front openers.
• Avoid clothes that have to be put on over the head.
• Replace buttons with Velcro closures.

Sometimes, people with Alzheimer’s disease will undress at inappropriate times. If it is because he is fidgeting and unintentionally opening buttons, consider sweaters without buttons, or a one-piece jump suit. Sometimes, wearing an apron will be a distraction. If things are sewn onto the apron, that will give the person something to touch and feel with his hands, distracting him from trying to remove a shirt or pants.

It may be best to have a frail person or someone with poor balance or a disability sit down when you help dress him, unless of course he is bed bound. If the person has a “weak” side, dress it first.

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For Alzheimer’s care in the Englewood, North Port, Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda and Venice FL areas, visit us at http://floridahomecare.net.

Flu season is on the way, and it is recommended that seniors get vaccinated to prevent illness. Of the 24,000 deaths caused by flu each year, 95% are seniors. For senior home care in the Engelwood, North Port, Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda and Venice FL areas, visit us at http://floridahomecare.net.

New Flu Vaccine for Seniors May Offer Better Protection

DEAR SAVVY SENIOR: I’ve read that there is a new extra-strength flu vaccine being offered to seniors this year. What can you tell me about it, where can I find it, and does Medicare cover it?

Flu-Conscious Connie

DEAR CONNIE: The new extra-strength flu vaccination you’re inquiring about is called the Fluzone High-Dose, and it’s designed specifically for seniors, age 65 years and older. Here’s what you should know.

Fluzone High-Dose: Manufactured by Sanofi Pasteur Inc., the Fluzone High-Dose vaccine was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in December 2009 and was first made available last flu season.

The main difference between the Fluzone High-Dose and a regular flu shot is its potency. The High-Dose vaccine contains four times the amount of antigen (the part of the vaccine that prompts the body to make antibody) as a regular flu shot, which creates a stronger immune response for better protection. This extra protection is particularly helpful to seniors who have weaker immune defenses and have a great risk of developing dangerous flu complications. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that the flu puts more than 200,000 people in the hospital each year and kills about 24,000 — 95 percent of whom are seniors.

As with all flu vaccines, Fluzone High-Dose is not recommended for seniors who are allergic to chicken eggs, or those who have had a severe reaction to a flu vaccine in the past.

Dementia is poised to become a defining disease of the rapidly aging population — and a budget-busting one for Medicare, Medicaid and families. Now the Obama administration is developing the first National Alzheimer’s Plan, to combine research aimed at fighting the mind-destroying disease with help that caregivers need to stay afloat.

“This is a unique opportunity, maybe an opportunity of a lifetime in a sense, to really have an impact on this disease,” says Dr. Ronald Petersen of the Mayo Clinic, who chairs a committee that later this month begins advising the government on what that plan should include.

An estimated 5.4 million Americans have Alzheimer’s or similar dementias. It’s the sixth-leading killer. There is no cure; treatments only temporarily ease some symptoms. Barring a research breakthrough, those numbers will worsen steadily as the baby boomers gray: By 2050, anywhere from 13 million to 16 million Americans are projected to have Alzheimer’s, costing a $1 trillion in medical and nursing home expenditures.

But that’s not the full toll. Sufferers lose the ability to do the simplest activities of daily life and can survive that way for a decade or more, requiring years of care from family, friends or paid caregivers. Already a recent report finds that nearly 15 million people, mostly family members, are providing more than $200 billion worth of unpaid care.

Thousands of those caregivers have turned out at public meetings since early August — and at a “telephone town meeting” organized by the Alzheimer’s Association that drew 32,000 people — pleading for a national Alzheimer’s strategy to bring changes.

They want primary care doctors trained to diagnose dementia earlier, describing how years of missed symptoms cost them precious time to make plans or seek treatment.

They demand to know why the National Institutes of Health spends about six times more on AIDS research than on Alzheimer’s, when there are good drugs to battle back the HIV virus but nothing comparable for dementia.

Overwhelmingly, they ask for resources to help Alzheimer’s patients live their last years at home without ruining their caregivers’ own health and finances.

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For senior home care in the Englewood, North Port, Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda and Venice FL areas, visit http://floridahomecare.net.

If you have a loved one who has been diagnosed with dementia, it can be particularly difficult to know how to communicate. The person suffering with dementia is not necessarily aware of the oddities they may be saying, and you may be frustrated and worried about upsetting them further. The following article offers some great techniques for anyone caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s. To learn more about Alzheimer’s care available in the Engelwood, Venice, Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda and North Port FL areas, visit us at http://floridahomecare.net.

How to Communicate Better With Someone Who Has Early-Stage Alzheimer’s
Keep these simple techniques in mind when talking to someone with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia.

It’s so easy to become frustrated when talking to someone with dementia or Alzheimer’s. It’s hard to know the “right” way to respond to the repetitive or odd things he sometimes says. You won’t be tongue-tied if you keep these simple communication techniques in mind.

How to start a conversation

When you want to start a conversation or ask a question, get the person’s attention in an obvious, direct way. Start by approaching him from the front and saying his name. This will help him focus on you and prevent catching him by surprise, which may set him on edge and make him less able to concentrate on the conversation. Someone who’s older may be somewhat deaf, and this direct approach also makes it easier for him to hear you.

Slow down your usual speaking style a bit. Enunciate your words to be as clear as possible. Also stay conscious of giving the person plenty of time to think about what you’ve said and to reply. Many people have a tendency to rush in and fill a silence with more words, which often only serves to agitate someone with Alzheimer’s or other dementias.

Another way you might need to alter your usual conversational style is to stick to common, plain words and short sentences whenever possible. (It’s like talking to a young child, though without using singsong baby talk.) Try to construct sentences that include only one main thought, ask only one question at a time, and give instructions one step at a time.

If the person doesn’t understand something you’ve said, repeat it exactly the way you said it the first time; that will give him more opportunities to figure it out. If you’ve asked a question that’s not connecting, ask it again the same way. Do this within reason, of course — if two or three repetitions fail, try rewording the message in different, simpler terms.

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Everyone is looking for the fountain of youth, for quick fixes and remedies to cure life’s ills. The answers to living the longest we can and feeling good are the same recommendations we have heard from our doctors and experts for many many years. We must stop smoking, stop over eating unhealthy foods, exercise regularly, and limit our alcohol consumption. As America faces an obesity epidemic, these lifestyle choices are difficult to overcome. Losing weight is hard. Quitting smoking and drinking are really hard, and could require professional intervention. Exercise when you are out of shape is a daunting proposition. Healthy lifestyle behaviors require dedication and daily commitments, particularly if such behaviors are the complete opposite of what you are doing now. When most of us ask ourselves how we want to live out the end of our lives, we want to be at home with loved ones. Our best chance of staying independent and living the way we want to is to avoid the chronic diseases that are preventable. Even if we can’t change all of our behaviors, even changing one is beneficial to your overall health and improves longevity. The number one behavior that must change, and that causes the most damage to the body and contributes to early death is smoking. To learn more about how we can assist in keeping seniors independent at home, visit our website http://floridahomecare.net.

Longer Life Possible By Practicing One or More Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors, CDC Finds

Four keys to longevity – not smoking, eating well, regular exercise, limiting alcohol

It’s not a miracle cure for aging but a new study by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention pretty much nails down what aging studies have been finding for some time – if you want to live longer don’t smoke, eat healthy, exercise and drink alcohol moderately. If you do them all it makes a gigantic difference.

But, people can live longer if they practice even just one of these healthy lifestyle behaviors, according to a the CDC.

During the study period, people who engaged in all four healthy behaviors were 63 percent less likely to die early, compared to people who did not practice any of the behaviors.

Not smoking provided the most protection from dying from all of the causes examined.

“If you want to lead a longer life and feel better, you should adopt healthy behaviors– not smoking, getting regular physical activity, eating healthy, and avoiding excessive alcohol use,” said CDC Director Thomas R. Frieden, M.D., M.P.H.”

People who engaged in all four healthy behaviors were -

● 66 percent less likely to die early from cancer,

● 65 percent less likely to die early from cardiovascular disease, and

● 57 percent less likely to die early from other causes compared to people who did not engage in any of the healthy behaviors.

The study, “Low Risk Lifestyle Behaviors and All-Cause Mortality: Findings from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III Mortality Study,” was published August 18 online by the American Journal of Public Health.

Researchers analyzed data from CDC’s National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) III Mortality Study, a mortality follow-up of NHANES III survey participants aged 17 years and older who were recruited from 1988 to 1994 and followed through 2006.

The researchers defined low-risk health behaviors as -

> never smoking,

> eating a healthy diet,

> moderate intensity or vigorous intensity physical activity, and

> moderate alcohol consumption.

Moderate alcohol consumption was determined using the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans: men should drink no more than two drinks per day; women, one drink per day.

Continue reading from www.seniorjournal.com…