Older adults who get infections of any kind – such as urinary, skin, or respiratory tract infections – are nearly three times more likely to be hospitalized for a dangerous blood clot in their deep veins or lungs, University of Michigan Health System research shows.

The most common predictor of hospitalization for venous thromboembolism – a potentially life-threatening condition that includes both deep-vein and lung blood clots – was recent exposure to an infection, according to the study released April 3 ahead of print in Circulation.

“Over half of older Americans who were hospitalized for such blood clots had an infection in the 90 days prior to the hospitalization,” says lead author Mary Rogers, Ph.D., M.S., research assistant professor in Internal Medicine at the University of Michigan Medical School and research director of the Patient Safety Enhancement Program at the U-M Health System and the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System.

“This is important because infections are common and many people do not link infections with developing blood clots. In fact, many educational websites do not list infections as a risk factor for blood clots – but they are.”

f the infection occurred during a previous hospital or nursing home stay, patients were nearly seven times more likely to be admitted for a blood clot. Those who got the infection at home were nearly three times more likely to be sent to the hospital for a blood clot within 90 days.

The study also found that other strong predictors of hospitalization for blood clots included blood transfusions and drugs prescribed to stimulate red blood cell production (known as erythropoiesis-stimulating agents), which are sometimes given to treat anemia. The risk of hospitalization for blood clots was nine times greater after the use of these drugs.

The study comes as the rate of hospitalization for venous thromboembolism steadily increases in the United States, with more than 330,000 hospital admissions for this condition a year.

For more information on the above article, please refer to http://www.medilexicon.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=243767

At Home Instead Senior Care we are happy to provide non-medical services for your loved ones.   Our CAREGivers are  highly trained and ready to assist your loved ones a daily basis. Please call us at 360-782-4663 or 253-514-9201

Your Home Instead Senior care Team

“We would like to decrease the number of preventable hospitalizations, both for the be

Healing Hands

Arthritis is a condition that touches over 50 million Americans.  The condition is an inflammation of the joints that causes swelling, pain and stiffness. There are currently over 100 types of arthritis.

One treatment that seems to be decreasing the pain in arthritis sufferers is massage.  When a person receives massage, it has the ability to relax the muscles.  Massage research has been shown to increase serotonin which is a natural chemical produced by the body to alleviate pain.  Arthritis sufferers should receive massage treatment when they are not experiencing a flare up, otherwise the massage could be painful.

Massage therapy does not cure arthritis but it can be a solution to allow people to live a more comfortable, active life.

Here at Kitsap Peninsula Home Instead we can offer assistance in getting loved ones massage appointments.  Our CAREGivers truly care about our clients and look forward to serving you or your loved ones.  For more information on our services, please contact us here at 360-782-4663 or 253-514-9201.

 

American Heart Month in February

Five simple ways to boost your energy levels.

Want more energy? Who doesn’t? We’d all like to be able to do more and feel better doing it. Fast-fix energy drinks aren’t the answer, despite what TV ads tell you. The key to boosting energy is making healthy, lasting lifestyle changes. Here’s a quick rundown on ways to keep from feeling run down:

1. Move more. In the short term, increasing physical activity to increase energy seems counterintuitive. In the long term, it works. You don’t have to be a marathoner to see benefits. Just start where you are and do more. If you don’t exercise, walk around the block and gradually work up from there.  Your goal should be to get 30 minutes of brisk activity on five days a week for a total of at least 150 minutes per week. You don’t have to do all 30 minutes at once. Three 10-minutes hikes in a day works too. If you try to do too much too fast, you might get hurt, so start slowly and stick with it. Get more tips on getting healthier through physical activity.
2. Eat smart. Eat fresh fruit and veggies; the calcium and potassium they contain is good for energy. If you need a quick snack during the day, keep a serving or two of your favorite fruit or vegetable handy wherever you are.  Avoid big meals; heavy, fatty foods can leave you feeling groggy. Eating smaller and more frequent meals will help balance out your energy and blood sugar levels over the course of the day.  Whole grain fiber-rich foods are a great filler-upper.  Fiber causes food to stay in your stomach longer, so you feel full longer than with quick fixes like coffee, high-calorie energy bars and candy — which rely on caffeine and sugar — and can lead to energy spikes and crashes.) Drink lots of water, too. Dehydration reduces energy levels. Read our 5 Goals to Eating Healthy.
3. Sleep. How much is enough? Each person is different. Most adults need around seven hours, but you may need more. You need quality sleep, too. If you have sleep apnea, a condition that causes you wake up many times during the night, you won’t get the quality sleep you need and may feel sleepy all day. Heavy snoring is a major sign of sleep apnea. If your spouse or partner says you snore or that you periodically stop breathing for brief periods during sleep, tell your doctor. Sleep apnea can put you at risk for stroke.
4. Lose a few. Carrying around extra pounds saps energy. It creates extra work for your heart and can raise blood pressure, too. Increasing your physical activity and eating a healthier diet to burn more calories than you take in is the way to go. Steer clear of fad diets; they don’t work. Learn our 5 Goals to Losing Weight.
5. Lighten up. Stress is an inevitable part of life. That’s why learning to manage it is important. Successfully managing stress means keeping a positive outlook and a healthy lifestyle, which helps fight energy-sapping depression. To take care of yourself, try taking physical activity breaks, meditating, taking time off and doing things you like. Avoid unhealthy ways to manage stress, include smoking, drinking excessive amounts of alcohol, overeating and relying on stimulants. Avoid these. Learn to fight stress by developing these healthy habits.

Most people who want more energy can get it. Following the steps above is a good start. You’ll feel more energetic, and feel better overall. You’ll also reduce your risk for heart disease and stroke.

Here at our Kitsap Peninsula Home Instead office, we have highly trained CAREGivers that can help your loved ones with non-medical needs.  If someone you know is recovering from a heart attack, we can come along side to aide in their recovery.  Call us at 360-782-4663.

10 Warning Signs an Elderly Loved One Needs Help

The Eldercare Locator has produced a guide of “10 warning signs” to help families and older Americans determine if help is needed. Any one of the behaviors listed may or may not indicate that an action should be taken and your family member’s physician should be kept informed of physical or psychological behavior changes.

Has your family member:

• Changed eating habits within the last year resulting in weight loss, having no appetite, or missed meals?
• Neglected personal hygiene resulting in wearing dirty clothes, body odor, bad breath, neglected nails and teeth, sores on the skin?
• Neglected their home so it is not as clean or sanitary as you remember growing up?
• Exhibited inappropriate behavior by being unusually loud or quiet, paranoid, agitated, making phone calls at all hours?
• Changed relationship patterns such that friends and neighbors have expressed concerns?
• Had physical problems such as burns or injury marks resulting from general weakness, forgetfulness, or possible misuse of alcohol or prescribed medications?
• Decreased or stopped participating in activities that were previously important to them such as bridge or a book club, dining with friends, or attending religious services?
• Exhibited forgetfulness resulting in unopened mail, piling newspapers, not filling their prescriptions, or missed appointments?
• Mishandled finances such as not paying bills, losing money, paying bills twice or more, or hiding money?
• Made unusual purchases such as buying more than one magazine subscription of the same magazine, entered an unusual amount of contests, increased usage of purchasing from television advertisements?     ~www.eldercare.gov

If you believe a loved one is in need of non-medical services, someone from our office would be happy to come and do a free assessment.  At Home Instead Senior Care we have highly trained CAREGivers that will provide excellent, quality care for your loved one.  Call our office at 360-782-4663 or 253-514-9201.

Dementia and Possible Hospitalizations

A recent study from the University of Washington suggests that, “People with dementia are far more likely to be hospitalized than their peers who don’t have any impairment in their brain function.  What’s more, about two-thirds of the hospitalizations that occur in people with dementia are for potentially preventable illnesses.”  Specifically, these researchers “found that having dementia increased the odds of being hospitalized by 41 percent.  They also found the risk of being hospitalized for potentially preventable illnesses was 78 percent higher for people with dementia” (about two-thirds of these potentially preventable admissions were caused by just three diseases: “urinary-tract infection, pneumonia, and congestive heart failure.”)   Thus, according to lead researcher Dr. Elizabeth Phelan, “People caring for someone with dementia have an important role to play.  They can be the eyes and ears for the care recipient,” alerting primary-care providers as soon as these patients are experiencing deviations from their normal health patterns.

For more information on this study check out: Washington Study

Here at Home Instead Senior Care, we have highly trained CAREGivers that can help your loved ones that may suffer from dementia.  For more information, please call us at 360-782-4663 or 253-514-9201.

~The Home Instead Senior Care Staff

New Year’s Resolutions for Elderly

Now that the Christmas excesses are behind us, many people of all ages are ready to start anew and make their New Year’s resolution. To help seniors live a healthier and more active life, Home Instead Senior Care, a trusted source of home care for seniors recommends the following New Year’s resolutions:

* Start exercising – It is never too late to start exercising and for seniors, regular exercise can help improve your health and overall quality of your life. It also helps improve your balance which will help you avoid injuries from falls and keep you independent and mobile.

* Assess your medical health – Prevention really is better than cure and visiting your doctor will help identify any potential health problems allowing you to take steps to prevent or treat illness early.

* Make new friends – After the death of a spouse or loved friends and family members, many seniors find themselves alone. Being lonely is hard on our health and affects our immune systems so it is so important seniors reach out to people. Developing new friendships can ward off depression and make life feel worthwhile again.

* Learn new things – You are never too old to learn new things – research actually shows that training and learning reignites the brain and improves memory. Many local schools and colleges offer adult learning programmes that you may be interested in, such as language classes.

* Fall proof your home – 82% of accidents to people over the age of 75 are fall related. A home visit by an occupational therapist will help identify risk factors and tell you what to do to make your home safer. For example you may want to avoid throw rugs or have cracks and uneven pathways repaired.

For further information on tips to keep seniors healthy log onto www.homeinstead.com/616 or call (360)782-HOME.

Dear Savvy Senior,

Can you write a column on fall prevention tips for elderly seniors? My 81-year-old father, who lives alone, has fallen several times over the past year. What can you tell us?

Concerned Daughter

Dear Concerned,

Falls are a big concern for millions of elderly Americans and their families. In the United States, roughly one-third of the 65-and-older population will suffer a fall this year, often with dire with consequences. But many falls can be prevented. Here are some steps you can take to help keep your dad up on his feet and reduce his risk of falling.

Check his meds: Does your dad take any medicine or combination of medicines that make him dizzy, sleepy or lightheaded? If so, gather up all the drugs he takes – prescriptions and over-the-counter – and take them to his doctor or pharmacist for a drug review.

Schedule an eye exam: Poor vision can be another contributor to falls. If your dad wears glasses, check to see if he’s wearing the correct prescription and beware of bifocals. Multifocal glasses can impair vision needed for detecting obstacles and judging depth.

Check his balance: Balance disorders – which can be brought on by a variety of conditions like inner ear problems, allergies, a head injury or problems with blood circulation – are also a common cause of falls. If you dad is having some balance issues, make an appointment with his doctor to get it checked and treated.

Start exercising: Improving balance through exercise is one of the best ways to prevent falls. Strength training, stretching, yoga, tai chi are all great for building better balance. Some simple exercises that he can do anytime are walking heel-to-toe across the room, standing on one foot for 30 seconds or longer, or getting up from a chair and sitting back down 10 to 20 times. For more balance exercise tips, call the National Institute on Aging at 800-222-2225 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            800-222-2225      end_of_the_skype_highlighting and order their free exercise DVD and free exercise book or you can see it online at go4life.niapublications.org.

Modify his home: Because about half of all falls happen around the home, some simple modifications can go a long way in making your dad’s living area safer. Start by picking up items on the floor that could cause him to trip like newspapers, books, shoes, cloths, electrical or phone cords. If he has throw rugs, remove them or use double-sided tape to secure them. In the bathroom put a non-slip rubber mat or self-stick strips on the floor of the tub or shower, and have a carpenter install grab bars inside the tub and next to the toilet. Also, make sure the lighting throughout the house is good, purchase some inexpensive plug-in nightlights for the bathrooms and hallways, and if he has stairs, consider putting hand rails on both sides. And in the kitchen, organize his cabinets so the things he uses most often are within easy reach without using a step stool. For more tips, call the Eldercare Locater at 800-677-1116 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            800-677-1116      end_of_the_skype_highlighting  and order a free copy of their “Preventing Falls at Home” brochure.

Other pitfalls: Believe it or not, the improper use of canes and walkers sends around 47,000 seniors to the emergency room each year. If your dad uses a cane or walker, be sure it’s adequately adjusted to his height and that he’s using it properly. A physical therapist can help with this, or see the Mayo Clinic slide show on how to choose and use a cane (mayoclinic.com/health/canes/HA00064) and a walker (mayoclinic.com/health/walker/HA00060). Another possible hazard is pets. If your dad has a dog or cat, he needs to be aware that – because they can get under foot – pets cause a lot of falls. Shoes are another issue to be aware of. Rubber-soled, low-heeled shoes are the best slip/trip proof shoes for seniors.

Savvy Tip: Consider getting your dad a home monitoring system which is a small pendent-style “SOS button” that he wears that would allow him to call for help if he fell. Available through companies like lifelinesys.com and lifealert.com these systems cost around $1 per day.

Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. About Jim Miller:

Jim Miller is the creator of Savvy Senior, a syndicated information column for older Americans and their families that is published in more than 400 newspapers and magazines nationwide. Jim is also a contributor on NBC’s “Today” show, and is the author of The Savvy Senior, The Ultimate Guide to Health, Family and Finances for Senior Citizens, (Hyperion, 2004).

Jim is frequently quoted in articles about issues affecting senior citizens and has been featured in numerous high profile publications, including Time magazine, USA Today and The New York Times.  In addition, he has made multiple appearances on CNBC, CNN, Retirement Living Television and national public television.

If you need a CAREGiver for non-medical, daily needs, we would love to talk with you more about our services.  Contact our Kitsap Peninsula Home Instead Office or call our office at 360-782-4663.

~Tracey

 

Medicare Patients at High Risk for Long-Term Institutionalization

Confirming many elderly patients’ worst fears, a national study has shown that being hospitalized for an acute event, such as a stroke or hip fracture, can lead to long-term institutionalization in a nursing home. Equally alarming, researchers found that direct discharge to a skilled nursing facility — a common practice designed to reduce hospital stays — put patients at “extremely high risk” of needing long-term nursing home care.

According to researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in Galveston, these findings suggest that programs aimed at helping older patients recuperate successfully at home instead of in an institutional setting could greatly improve their health outcomes and reduce healthcare costs. The study is published online October 3 in the Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences.

“Hospitalization is a tipping point for older patients, often reducing their ability to live as independently as before,” said lead author James S. Goodwin, MD, director, Sealy Center on Aging at UTMB and the George & Cynthia Mitchell Distinguished Chair in Geriatric Medicine.

Goodwin also noted that certain factors common among the elderly — cognition problems, frailty, lack of social support — increase the risk of nursing home institutionalization.

“Add the enormous systemic pressure to reduce hospital stays and a dearth of viable programs to help patients fully recover their health and independence after hospitalization, and there simply isn’t a clear path to get the patient back home,” he said.

Medicare pays 100 percent for 20 days at a skilled nursing facility for patients who have just been released from the hospital but still need extra care.

“There is a very narrowly defined view of what Medicare will provide post-hospital,” said Goodwin. “If Medicare payment guidelines were broadened to cover in-home care — bathing and food preparation for example — there is a tremendous potential for savings and patients could adjust gradually back to their familiar home environment. Medicare will not pay for the in-home care.”

Goodwin and his colleagues measured a five percent sample of Medicare enrollees (approximately 762,000) aged 66 or older between 1996 and 2008 who were admitted to nursing homes. Of that population, 75 percent were admitted to a nursing home for long-term care within six months of a hospital stay.

According to Goodwin, the period studied paralleled a time of growth in the use of skilled nursing facilities, which may have been due to Medicare’s adoption of a prospective payment system that encouraged hospitals to reduce the length of stays.

Institutionalization after hospitalization increased with older age, in women and in patients without a primary care physician. The odds of institutionalization were also more than six-fold higher in patients with a dementia diagnosis and increased in patients with other co-morbidities, including delirium and incontinence.

Being transferred to a skilled nursing facility on discharge was the primary risk factor leading to substantial long-term care. The percent of hospitalized Medicare patients transferred on discharge increased from 10.8 percent in 1996 to 16.5 percent in 2008. Additionally, the study found that nearly 65 percent of patients in a nursing home six month after hospitalization had first been transferred to a skilled nursing facility. This was up from 50 percent in 1996.

Researchers also found several factors that reduced the risk of long-term institutionalization. Patients cared for in larger hospitals and major teaching hospitals were less likely to be in a nursing home six months after discharge, as were patients treated by their primary care physicians. In general, rates of nursing home institutionalization were lower in Midwest and Western states, where regulations, cultural and social factors may reduce nursing home use.

Goodwin recommends that hospitals consider alternatives to skilled nursing facilities post-hospitalization, such as community-based facilities, assisted living facilities and at-home care. Developing preventive programs that target the population at-risk for long-term nursing home care — hospitalized Medicare patients — may serve as another avenue to avert long-term institutionalization. He also suggests exploring ways to reduce the economic incentives of keeping patients in long-term care and divert savings to such alternatives and prevention programs.

“There is no perfect solution for caring for patients who may not be able to function completely independently and who lack a social network of able caregivers,” said Goodwin. “We do know that most people fervently wish to remain at home and it is our responsibility to help avoid preventable nursing home admissions.”

Yong-Fang Kuo, PhD, associate professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Geriatric Medicine at UTMB, co-authored this study, which was funded by the National Institutes of Health.

If you need a CAREGiver for non-medical, daily needs, we would love to talk with you more about our services.  Contact our Kitsap Peninsula Home Instead Office or call our office at 360-782-4663.

~Tracey

Good Gums Equals Good Heart

Researchers are finding that bad gums could actually mean trouble for your heart. That’s why you don’t want to skip those nightly flossy chores and those regular trips to the hygienist. Unfortunately, too many of us are neglecting gum care.  According to the American Academy of Periodontology, one in three adults over 30 have periodontal disease. It just gets worse as you get older. My night time routine involves a whole lot of flossing.In both gingivitis, the milder form of gum disease and periodontitis, the more severe form, there is an accumulation of bacteria or plaque in the gums, writes Dr. Ranit Mishori in the March 14, 2010 Parade article. These organisms release toxins that can circulate around the body. In particular, she writes, the body’s arterial system may be affected. You want to keep those arties clean so the blood can flow.

The toxins in plaque can cause harm wherever they go. They may even be a link between oral health and conditions like diabetes, kidney disease, even Alzheimer’s disease. In fact, untreated gum disease can trigger or worsen diabetes. It has been found that gum disease is more common in people with diabetes. That’s because having the disease decreases your body’s ability to fight infection.

But there’s some good news. With deep cleaning of your teeth and the removal of bacterial buildup, gum disease can be reversed as long as it is caught early enough.  So visit your hygienist regularly. If you have periodontal disease, do what it takes to reverse it. Check with your dentist for a specific treatment plan. Healthy gums could actually help your heart and the rest of your body stay health.

~http://boomerhealthblogger.com/blog/dont-let-your-gums-affect-your-heart.html

Here at Home Instead we can help you with your non-medical needs.  Our CAREGivers are ready to help out when your loved ones are in need of some extra special care.  Please call our office at 360-782-7663.

~Tracey

Alzhemier’s Report

On September 13, the London-based Alzheimer’s Disease International organization released its World Alzheimer Report 2011, with this year’s edition paying special attention to topics such as disease-related diagnosis and intervention. Key findings include the following:1) “As many as three quarters of the estimated 36 million people worldwide living with dementia have not been diagnosed, and hence cannot benefit from treatment, information, and care.”

2) Governments around the world should start “spending to save” — in other words, investing now to develop new approaches to diagnosis, intervention, and/or treatment that will save larger dementia-related expenditures in the longer term. Indeed, “The report estimates that earlier diagnosis could yield net savings of over $10,000 per patient in high-income countries.”

3)  “Support and counseling for caregivers can improve mood, reduce strain and delay institutionalization of people with dementia.”

Here at our Kitsap Peninsula Home Instead Office

we have trained CAREGivers to help your loved ones, that may suffer with dementia or Alzhemier’s, tend to their daily non-medical needs. Please visit our website or call us at our office 360-782-4663 or 253-514-9201.

~Tracey