Driving and Alzheimer's from Comfort Keepers Senior Care in Troy, MO

Many believe it is safe to allow someone with early Alzheimer's to continue driving. Unfortunately this isn't always the case. Alzheimer's is a very unpredictable disease and even though your elderly loved one may seem capable of driving to the corner grocery, there is no way of knowing when that may not be the case. According to a study published in the American Journal of Occupational Therapy, of 207 drivers with Alzheimer's who went missing while driving, 32 died and 35 were found injured. Please read the two following articles for more information.

Early Alzheimer's can erode driving skills

Driving With Early Alzheimer's May Be Ill-Advised

Preventing Heat Related Illness from Comfort Keepers Elderly Care in Troy, MO

Summer is almost here and every year we hear about older adults dying from heat related illnesses, these deaths can often be prevented. The elderly are often more prone to heat stroke and heat exhaustion than younger people. They often don't seem to feel the heat as we do, complaining of being cold when it's over 80 degrees. Medications and the inability to adapt to temperature changes can contribute to the problem. Many times they will turn the AC off or down thinking they are saving money at what could be a great risk to their health. this page from the CDC explains the risk and how to prevent it.

Heat Stress in the Elderly

Driving and Alzheimer's from Comfort Keepers Senior Care in Troy, MO

Many people with early Alzheimer's continue to drive figuring that they will give it up when things get worse before "something happens". Unfortunately there is not really any way to tell when this "something" is going to happen. Getting confused and lost or in an accident can happen even in the early stages. Please read the following article for more information.

Driving With Early Alzheimer's May Be Ill-Advised

Safety Tips for Your Loved Ones Home by Comfort Keepers Elderly Care in Troy, MO

When a loved one falls they can go from being healthy and independent to losing their mobility and Independence. We can help by eliminating the dangers in your loved ones home. One of the most important thing to remember is to have their vision checked at least once a year. Also talk to your parents doctor to find out which, if any, of their medications could increase the risk of a fall. In the home check for hazards and correct them if found.

1. A change in color to denote changes in surface types or levels helps . Use contrast in paint, furniture and carpet colors so to make boundaries easier to see..

2. Use nonskid tape to secure rugs and carpet edges. Remove throw rugs that can be tripped over. Nonskid mats or carpet in areas that can get wet such as bathrooms and kitchens help reduce fall risks also.

3. Reduce clutter by removing over sized furniture and objects. Arranging furniture (especially low coffee and end tables) so that they can easily move around it with out bumping into it.

4. Make sure light bulbs are of adequate brightness and not burned out. Remember to check the ones in places your loved one doesn't frequently go such as in the basement or attic. Nightlights in bathrooms, kitchens, and hallways can help at night. Use a light on the nightstand beside the bed that is easily turned on and off. Keep curtains, window shades, and blinds open for good lighting during the day.

5. Keep electrical and telephone cords out of walkways. Keep them as close to the wall as possible and never have them extended across a room. Add electrical outlets in places where an outlet is needed if possible.

6. Make sure all stairways have secure handrails on both sides of stairs. Use brightly colored or glow in the dark tape at the edge of the steps to make them more visible. Keep everything off of a stairway, your loved one may not see what has been placed on the steps.

7. Keep commonly used items within easy reach in kitchen cabinets and closets. Make sure there is a sturdy step stool available to reach higher items to reduce the temptation of climbing on a chair or other unsafe object.

8.In the bathroom install grab bars on walls in and around the tub and beside the toilet. Make sure they are strong enough to hold your loved ones weight. Use nonskid appliques or mats in the shower or tub and make sure there is a nonskid mat for them to step out on after they are done. A liquid soap dispenser in the on the tub or shower wall can also help, as can a hand held shower head. A shower seat can also make the shower safer. A raised toilet seat can make it easier to get up and reduce the risk of falls.


9. Remove caster wheels from chairs so they don't slide away as your loved one is trying to sit down. Also make sure chairs and couches are easy to get in and out of. Adjusting the height of bed can make it easier to get in and out of.

10. Have at least one phone extension in each level of the home and post emergency numbers at each phone. Locate the bedroom telephone within reach of the bed.

We can do what we can to prevent falls but unfortunately they still happen. An electronic emergency alert system can help your parent get help when it is needed. Comfort Keepers has a system we call Safety Choice. For more information in the St Louis area call us toll-free at (888) 892-2993.

Keeping our Elderly Loved Ones Safe from Dangerous Activities from Comfort Keepers Senior Care in Troy, MO

Everyone needs a purpose in life and a reason to get up in the morning. This doesn't change just because they get older. We want to protect our loved ones and keep them safe. But we also don't want to interfere with their sense of purpose and self worth. Some of the chores, activities and hobbies they have done all their lives can become increasingly dangerous as their abilities decrease.

How to keep elderly parents safe from dangerous hobbies and activities

Companions from an Elder Care Agency- An Alternative to Nursing Homes in Troy, MO

By: Tyler Moon

A fit and healthy lifestyle always leads to much alert sense in the elderly. A fit lifestyle includes healthy and nutritious meals, regular exercise and stimulating the mind with mental activity. With the aid of elder care services, a senior member of the family can get the support they need to keep up with their physical and mental health.

A well controlled nutritious diet not only contributes to the physical health, but also has a great role to play for mental stability. Five times consumption of fruits and vegetables in a day would suffice, with fish once or twice a week. Fats of any type should always be avoided. A companion from elder care services can make sure that someone living on their own will continue with their healthy eating, and not skip meals.

Physical activities that take care of cardiac fitness and vascular health can also take care of brain required for mental stability. For senior members, thirty minutes of exercise every alternate day allows for cardiovascular benefits. This vascular health and maintenance translates into a sharp mind for seniors. An elder care companion to visit an elderly person will make sure that a patient keeps up with their exercise routine.

Engaging an elderly person in mentally challenging activities can also help them keep their minds healthy and quick. Reading novels, solving crossword puzzles, games, brain teasers or learning a new language or musical instrument keeps the mind active and occupied. These activities can be good pastimes for an elder and a caregiver sharing these pastimes can be a positive experience for the seniors.

Personalized care for seniors from non-medical care agency can be a good alternative to assisted living facilities or nursing homes. A senior member will stay more active physically and mentally if they stay more at home rather than in a nursing home. Companions provided from elder care agencies can help an individual with their routine and assist in their activities. It is a priority for a patient to continue to live a healthy lifestyle.

Ideally, once you find a senior care provider you're happy with, you should provide the newly-hired caregiver with a detailed job description outlining job title, purpose, duties and responsibilities.

Using resources available, elderly care in the home becomes a viable option. Elder care does not have to mean you have to do it alone. Becoming knowledgeable about elderly care issues make the aging transition an easier road to travel.

About the Author

Tyler Moon is an expert in article writing and internet marketing. She regularly contributes articles on various topics like security services, birth announcements etc.
Senior Care

(ArticlesBase SC #833146)

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ - Companions from Elder Care Agency – An Alternative to Nursing Homes

Tips for Choosing Home Care from Comfort Keepers Senior Care in Troy, MO

Please take a few minutes to read this.

How to Choose Home Care for Elderly Parents

Our caregivers here at Comfort Keepers are our employees. Every one of them has undergone a thorough background check. They are bonded and insured, trained and supervised. Even if you don't choose us please make sure your loved one is being cared for by an agency that can say the same.

Home Safety Tips for Parkinson's Sufferers from Comfort Keepers Elderly Care in Troy, MO

I know a man with Parkinson's who recently had a serious fall that resulted in a several day hospital stay. Having Parkinson's increases the risk of falling due to many factors. The following article lists ways you can help your loved one with Parkinson's reduce these risks. Many of these tips can be used for anyone with mobility and balance problems.

Safety Tips for Parkinson’s Disease

Holiday Assessment from Comfort Keepers Elder Care in Troy, MO

Often we overlook a variety of warning signs such as forgetfulness, lack of house
cleaning or a decrease in physical appearance by writing them off to “old age”.

Comfort keepers has developed a checklist to use each of your five senses that provide key
indicators or warning signs to help determine if your family members are in need of additional care or assistance.

If your not sure if your loved one may need extra care this holiday please download this assessment:

Holiday Assessment Guide

Preventing Falls From Comfort Keepers Senior Care in Troy, MO

It has been estimated that over one third of all adults over the age of 65 fall each year. Falls are the leading cause of injury death in this age group and the also a common cause of nonfatal injuries and hospital admissions for trauma. How can you keep the loved one in your care safe?

Your loved one:
1. Encourage exercize, see if there's a local program nearby, Tai Chi and similar programs that increase strength and improve balance are especially good.
2. Have their doctor or pharmacist go over their medications to see if there's any drugs or drug interactions that can cause dizzyness or balance problems.
3. Make sure they get an eye exam yearly.
4. Wear proper footwear.

The home:
1. Increase the lighting for better visibility.
2. Remove throw rugs, use carpet tape to secure edges on other carpets.
3. Reduce clutter
4. Make sure electrical and telephone cords are safely out of walking paths
5. Install grab bars in the bathroom
6. Buy a shower chair and raised toilet seat if needed.
7. Use a non-skid mat or appliques in the bathtub.
8. Arrange furniture so it can easily be walked around.
9. Use nightlights.
10. Have sturdy handrails on both sides of all stairs.
11. Use brightly colored tape to mark the edge of stairs both inside and out.
12. Adjust the height of the bed to make it easy to get in and out of.

Driving and Dementia can be a Deadly Mix from Comfort Keepers Elder Care in Troy, MO

We had a client several years ago that had caused an accident and then just drove away. He had Alzheimer's and didn't seem to think that he had done anything wrong. He claimed that the other car had left so he left too. The other car hadn't left, it had simply pulled off the road. He was charged with leaving the scene of an accident and his driver's license was revoked.

He probably shouldn't have been driving in the first place but no one in his family had thought to take away his keys. Accidents aren't the only danger of allowing someone with dementia to continue driving. They also run the risk of becoming lost and disoriented. Unfortunately, some dementia patients who become lost aren't found until it is too late.

The following article gives some good tips on how to take away the keys:

Taking away keys tough for Alzheimer's caretakers

Emergency Planning and Caring for Someone with Alzheimer's from Comfort Keepers Senior Care in Troy, MO

Keeping to a set routine with people with Alzheimer's really helps to reduce agitation and confusion. When something happens that upsets this routine the person in your care may become very agitated, combative and resist all attempts to help. Although the writer of the following article is talking about hurricanes, the tips he gives on how to deal with an emergency while caring for an elderly loved one with Alzheimer's are good for any emergency situation.


Weathering the Storm

Background Checks are Important from Comfort Keepers Senior Care in Troy, MO

There are a lot of pitfalls to hiring someone from an advertisement or even from an agency that doesn't do background screening. The link I have included below is only one of them. Here at Comfoprt Keepers Elderly Care all iof our caregivers are our employees, they've been thoroughly screened and are bonded and insured. Making sure this is the case with the agency you use could save you the problems this woman had with her mother's caregiver.

Worker's theft shines light on elder abuse

Summer Heat Safety for the Seniors in our Care in Troy, MO

1. What causes Heat Injuries?
The body gains heat continuously from various sources and gains even more heat with activity in a hot and humid environment. People are at greatest risk for heat related injuries if they:
 do not adjust to an increase in temperature
 do not drink enough fluids
 have poor physical health
 are obese
 have an acute OR chronic illnesses
2. What are the types of heat related injuries?
- Heat Cramps occur with profuse sweating. Sweating causes both the loss of salt and water, which results in leg cramps, usually in the thighs and calves.
- Heat Exhaustion is a more severe form of heat injury. There is a significant loss of water from the body. Signs and symptoms are weakness, exhaustion, headaches, dizziness, and profuse sweating with elevated temperature.
- Heat Stroke is the most serious form of heat injury. The bodies core temperature is 105.8F or above. Signs and symptoms could be confusion, aggressive behaviors, and even a comatose state.
- This is a medical emergency.
3. What is the cause of dehydration?
Dehydration is the reduction of body water content below a normal and safe level for the body to function. Water is most often lost through sweating.
 Caffeine and alcoholic beverages cause more urination which
increases the possibility of dehydration.
 Heat, wind, and dry air increase the body’s requirement for water.
 At high altitudes there is an increase in the rate of breathing
and often the atmosphere is drier, leading to decrease thirst.
 If a person is under stress in a hot environment, they may not
recognize the early signs of dehydration.
4. What are signs of dehydration?
- Skin: Less elastic; if you pinch the skin & it returns to its original shape slowly.
- Urine: Concentrated in color and smell, with decrease volume and frequency
- Sweat: Large amount that stops suddenly
- Endurance: Reduced physical ability and fatigue
- Heart Rate: Faster
- Appetite: Decreased, nausea, vomiting
- Mental Changes: Lethargy, difficulty concentrating, less alert, confusion
and irrational behaviors
5. How can you prevent heat related injuries?
 Drink water until you are no longer thirsty and then a little more
 Rest well before and in-between strenuous exercises and activities
 Loosen your clothing while at rest
 Avoid too much exercise / activity if you have any illnesses
 Look for symptoms of heat injuries and react
 Rest in a cool spot in the shade
 Reduce the body temperature as quick as possible
 Re-hydrate slowly if showing signs and symptoms of heat related injury
 Get medical help if there is no response to re-hydration or you have
heat stroke symptoms.

Identity Theft and the Elderly from Comfort Keepers Senior Care in Troy, MO

A. What is identity theft?
Identity theft is a crime that involves someone pretending to be someone else in order to steal money or get other benefits. They acquire your personal information without your knowledge and use it to commit fraud.

B. How does identity theft happen?
Identity theft and credit card fraud all start when someone gains access to your personal information. It can be as easy as someone digging through your trash, stealing your information from your purse or wallet, or listening to a conversation and writing your information down to use later. The con artist knows the questions to ask when they call your home, so beware of your conversations.

C. What to do if identity theft happens.
If you suspect that someone has been tampering with your credit or identity information, immediately contact one of the three credit reporting agencies to place a fraud alert on your credit report. If you have evidence of identity theft, contact your local law enforcement agency, the Federal Trade Commission’s Identity Theft hotline at 877-438-4338, and the financial institution/credit card company.

Equifax: 800-525-6285
Experien: 888-397-3742
TransUnion: 800-680-7289

D. Steps to ensure protection:
1. Shred sensitive documents – shred all documents with personal identifying information on it. Con artists submit the change of address notice and have the information sent to their address with your name on the card.
2. Shop safely on-line – Shop on secure sites only.
3. Monitor your accounts – Check your credit reports regularly for any discrepancies.
4. Avoid Phishing – Phishing is the act of sending an e-mail to a user falsely claiming to be an established legitimate enterprise in an attempt to scam the user into surrendering personal information that will be used for identity theft. They usually tell you there is a problem with an account. Never click on a link in the email.
5. Don’t sign Credit Cards/Debit Cards – never sign the back of your credit and debit cards. Merchants are required to verify with a photo ID.


E. Special precautions with your Medicare Card
1. Once you have given a health care provider a copy of your Medicare card, make a copy and black out all but the last four digits for future use.
2. Don’t give out Medicare information over the telephone.
3. Be aware of door-to-door salespeople trying to offer you Medicare prescription drug coverage. No one is authorized to provide this service.
4. Do not reveal personal health or financial information to someone trying to sell prescription drug policies. They are not authorized to request personal information during marketing activities.
5. Protect your Medicare number the same way you would your credit cards and social security card.
6. Make sure the contract you are signing and providing personal information to, is from a legitimate company. Do not let yourself be pressured into signing something.

The most important safety practice you can develop is to always be aware of what is going on around you, and reduce the risks that you put yourself in. Think about the ways you may be putting yourself at risk, and develop habits to correct them. By being aware of those risks associated with identity theft, you will be able to learn to protect yourself from the con artists that want to take your identity from you.

Denial can be Deadly for Aging Seniors by Comfort Keepers in Troy, MO

Many times we would like to turn a blind eye to the fact that our parents are aging. We want things to be how they always were. But things change and our parents age. As they age they may become more incapable of caring for themselves or doing the things they have always done. Not recognizing that our elderly parents need more assistance could lead to accidents, falls or even fatalities.

Please take a minute to read the following article:

Denial can be deadly with aging parents

If your parents need more help than you can provide in St Louis, St Charles or Lincoln Counties in Missouri, please give us a call.

314-288-0054

Stopping Elder Abuse in Troy, MO from Comfort Keepers Senior Care

Learning to recognise elder abuse is the first step towards stopping it. Abuse takes many forms from physical to financial. Even those we most trust can be the ones abusing our aging parents. Any reputable home care agency does background checks on their employees to gaurd against abuse. Here at Comfort Keepers Senior Care in Troy, MO we go the extra step above and beyond what the state of Missouri requires. I found this article that is very thorough in explaining the different forms of elderly abuse as well as what you can do if you suspect it is happening to an aging friend or relative.



Elder Abuse: Types, Signs, Symptoms, Risk Factors, and Prevention

Make the Bathroom Safer for the Elderly in Troy, MO from Comfort Keepers Senior Care

The bathroom is the number one area in the home for falls. We all want to know our loved ones are safe so some modifications to the bathroom can help give us more peace of mind. Even if there is someone else in the home all the time or your parent needs assistance with their personal care the suggestions in the article below can make the bathroom a safer place.

We,here at Comfort Keepers Elderly and Senior Care in Troy, MO, always do a safety check of the clients home when we sign them up. Many the ideas in the article are things we look for and suggest to the client or family caregiver.

Safety With Style - Bathrooms for Aging Americans