Frustrated, Anxious, Frightened, Uncertain…..

Most of the adult children we speak with are experiencing one of more of the above emotions as they are trying to address the needs and concerns of their aging parents.  It seems to all boil down to the same issue… WHY WON’T THEY ACCEPT HELP?

The reasons are complex and often difficult for families to sift through.  But the following are the most common statements of resistance that we hear:

1. “I have to save my money for you!”
2. “I don’t want to become dependent on anyone!”
3. “It would be more trouble to have to ‘get ready’ to have someone come into my home.”
4. “If this doesn’t work out, would I have to leave my home?
5. “I lived through WWII where we had to ‘make do’.  I can take care of myself!”

No wonder we adult children are frustrated, anxious, frightened and uncertain.  How can we more effectively cope with our parents when we know they need assistance?

First of all, having a heart-to-heart conversation may be beneficial.  Helping that loved one recognize the burden that their refusal of outside help is placing on you and your relationship with them often paves the way for more open communication.  The adult child can again assume the role of child and enjoy quality time with their parent, instead of being the main caregiver.

Another strategy that is often effective is a “trial run” with a caregiver.  When my mother-in-law and father-in-law returned to their winter home in Mesa, my husband and I “insisted” that they have a caregiver once weekly for a few hours as a “trial”.  “Let’s just see how it goes”, we told them.  The day my father-in-law died, he thanked my husband for the help he had in their home.  “That was the best gift we could have ever received”.

Sometimes having an outsider, such as a Geriatric Care Manager, come in can make all of the difference.  Even if a Care Manager makes exactly the same recommendations the son or daughter does, it may be more readily accepted.

Lastly, know that you are not alone.  Most baby boomer-aged persons are dealing with these very issues.  It really does help to talk with your friends and neighbors, just for the moral support.  Many communities and churches offer support groups, as well as resources to consider.

The National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers (caremanger.org) is a wonderful resource to locate a Care Manager in any part of the country.
For a complimentary consultation in the Phoenix area by a Villa Home Care Geriatric Care Manager, please contact us at 602-957-9300 or visit our website at www.villahomecare.com.

Did you know….

*35% of all hospital admissions for older adults is related to medication mismanagement?

*125,000 older adults die each year (or 342 each day) due to medication related problems.

*The average older adult takes 8.8 medications?

Medication Management for any of us can be perplexing; however, older adults bring their own set of issues to the equation.

Very often medications are not taken as prescribed due to adverse effects.  Lasix, a diuretic or “water pill” often prescribed for Congestive Heart Failure, may be skipped because a person decides since they have an appointment or an outing, and they don’t want to have to use a bathroom enroute.

Cost can frequently impact compliance.  When a prescription for 30 days costs over $300, many of us would take pause.  Being on a limited income, as so many older adults are, just means that sometimes these difficult decisions have to be made.   With cost being a concern this also means that discontinued medications may not be discarded, but “saved” in case it is needed again.

Generic vs. brand names can be quite confusing.  Using the Lasix example noted above, many medicine cupboards include both Lasix and the generic form, Furosemide.  When both bottles say “Take one daily”, that is exactly what is done – leading to serious consequences.

One last extenuating factor concerns multiple physicians prescribing medications.  One of our Villa Home Care clients saw 4 Specialists, as well as his Primary Care Physician.  All of these physicians were prescribing various medications for him.

What’s the answer?

Having a medication management “system” in place can promote compliance.  That system can take many forms.  We have all seen the plastic medication boxes that many pharmacies sell that are labeled with the day of the week and the time of day.  These plastic boxes work quite well for many folks, and they are very inexpensive.  Medications can be placed in the appropriate sections for a week, or even a month.  It is easy to see if medications are left behind.

If an individual likes to “rearrange” the medications in the plastic boxes, then this is not the solution.  However, there are more sophisticated medication systems available that are locked, and only dispense the medications needed for that dosing time.  These kinds of devices can also notify a designated individual when the medications are not removed from the devise, so that a phone call can be placed as a reminder.

Villa Home Care offers a Pharmacist Review of medications.  The services of a pharmacist are available to our clients to review that lengthy list of medications.  Being specially trained in the geriatric field, the pharmacist can look for correct doses, consolidation of doses, duplications, potential side effects, and even the appropriateness of the drug itself.

Lastly, having a Geriatric Care Manager present at all of the physician appointments can greatly promote coordination of prescriptions.

For more information on Medication Management services, contact Villa Home Care at 602-957-9300 or www.villahomecare.com.

Care for seniors is taking a whole new approach.  As a result, Villa Home Care is “rebranding” our look.  What does this mean? 

Villa Home Care doesn’t only offer Caregivers (which we do and they are amazing!).  We also have Geriatric Care Managers (who are really great); we have medication management systems; we have our Family Portal; and we have technology.  We have what NO OTHER HOME CARE COMPANY has!!!  Our clients receive the appropriate level of care, as well as the appropriate kind of care wherever they are at with their aging process.  We really needed a new look to express that change in philosophy.

Our logo will reflect Villa’s continuum of care which is reflected in our mission statement:  We preserve the dignity, independence and resources of our clients.

Watch for our new look!

Call us at 602-957-9300 or email us at info@villahomecare.com to find out more about our Continuum of Care.

Phoenix area seniors now have a new resource to help them age successfully. Karen Jeselun, RN, BSN, GCM, CSA, with Villa Home Care, recently completed a comprehensive course through the Society of Certified Senior Advisors (SCSA) and earned the designation of Certified Senior Advisor (CSA)®.  SCSA is an international organization that has trained more than 20,000 professionals to meet the changing needs of a growing senior population. 

 “The health, financial and social needs of seniors are different and more complicated than those of any other age group.  SCSA keeps professionals from a wide variety of fields abreast of all these issues by providing education, training, support and communication resources to those of us dedicated to serving seniors,” Karen Jeselun said.
 
The explosion in growth of the senior population is one of the most important demographic developments of the 21st century.  Two-thirds of the people who have lived past the age of 65 are alive today.  In the United States alone, seniors (age 65 and older) number 35 million and will continue to increase (with women being the largest segment), leading an unprecedented shift in the age of the population.  By 2030, the U.S. Bureau of Census predicts there will be about 70 million people who are 65 and older – one in five Americans will be seniors.

This demographic shift requires an educated response in how professionals work with seniors and the challenges and opportunities they face. Karen Jeselun said, “With more people living longer, we are already beginning to see changes in how seniors function in our society, from retirees who choose to start a second or third career, to various forms of alternative senior housing and new approaches to diet, exercise and overall health care for seniors”.
 
As a CSA, Karen will participate in continuing education that emphasizes ethical selling and business practices and volunteer service specific to seniors.

About SCSA
The Society of Certified Senior Advisors (SCSA) is a national organization that educates professionals to work more effectively with their senior clients. Founded in 1997, SCSA teaches an integrated approach to the health, financial, and social aspects of aging. Professionals who obtain the designation as Certified Senior Advisors (CSA’s) are able to integrate this knowledge into their professional practices. They’ve learned how incredibly gratifying it is to help seniors achieve their goals, and the seniors they’ve worked with have learned how important it is to work with someone who truly understands their age-related circumstances.

Helping people understand the role of a geriatric care manager

Karen Jeselun, RN, CCM returns on KXXT Radio Phoenix on 08/19/2010. Radio show “Your Long Term Care Show” with Ralph Norman and Michael Anastos.

Click on the link below to listen to the Audio Clip:
Karen Jeselun returns on KXXT Radio Phoenix