June 2014
“How
much in-home care from Visiting Angels would I be able to have for the same amount
of money I’d have to pay for an assisted living facility or memory unit?”
I get asked this question frequently. There are a number of factors and
considerations one should contemplate when trying to determine the best place
to live, and at the most reasonable cost. The Genworth Insurance Company
conducted a nationwide study of care costs of 2013. It found Massachusetts
is one of the most expensive places for assisted living with the average
cost of a one-bedroom apartment being $4950 per month which typically includes 1/2
hour of housekeeping a week, a brief daily personal care visit if needed and 1
to 2 meals per day. Additional services are charged as extras such as laundry, medication
reminders, filling a pillbox, errands and toileting. The additional per-hour
rate normally ranges from $30-$95 per hour.
If the resident is in a Memory Impaired Unit, a secure floor
for people with moderate to advanced dementia, the monthly rent in the South
Shore area ranges from $7500-$8500 a month.
The
Answer: At the average Massachusetts rate an elder can remain in
their own home and receive 45 hours a week of personalized, one–on-one care. With the addition of a personal
response system, such as a lifeline, round the clock coverage can be assured.
When you compare memory impaired units to home care the
difference is even more dramatic. At the average cost of a memory unit, an
individual could have 76 hours of homecare a week, or put another
way 12 hours of dedicated dementia care a day.
Aging in Place is the term we clinicians use to describe
helping an elder remain home. Research
consistently shows aging in place produces higher levels of client and family satisfaction,
decreased risk of falls, illness and hospitalization. We have helped a number of people transition
to assisted living successfully and there are some very well run facilities in
our area. Yet we have also had a number
of clients who have tried assisted living but found it too restrictive or did
not meet their expectations in terms of the amount of care they received. Often we are called upon each year to provide
our services to residents in assisted living facilities because the facilities often
do not or cannot provide the personalized attention they need.
Choosing what works best for our elders and respecting their
wishes while providing a safe and dignified environment is our optimal goal.
Nate Murray
When Things Heat Up!
Well once again summer has arrived on the South Shore. FINALLY! I know that some of us thought it would never come. But the passing of the summer solstice means that we will soon have conditions that will require us to think carefully about our clients as well as ourselves.
The two most common issues that we need to be aware of are adequate hydration and overheating. As you know, many elders feel cold even on the warmest days. As a result they often will have the windows closed on the hottest and most humid days of the summer. They feel comfortable, but of course it can be potentially dangerous. It is also important in those situations that you, the Caregiver, take care of yourself as well.
What are the signs of overheating? They are profuse sweating, fatigue, and muscle cramps. More advanced symptoms can include headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting and dark urine. This could be the beginning of heatstroke which is a much more dangerous event. These symptoms include fever, confusion, rapid shallow breathing and even unconsciousness.
What is first aid for something like this? Have the person lie down in a cool place. Raise the clients feet about 12 inches. Apply cool, wet cloths to the person’s skin and use a fan to lower body temperature. If they are showing more significant symptoms as noted above call 911.
Dehydration is the real danger in hot weather. Some of these symptoms are similar to heat exhaustion. They include increased thirst, a dry or swollen tongue, headache and confusion. The best way to avoid dehydration is prevention. Make sure that your client and you are consuming enough fluids. Consider sports drinks which contain electrolytes and decrease the likelihood of developing dehydration. Remember our clients especially if they have dementia may not realize they are thirsty. So you may want to encourage them and remind them to drink. Obviously keep in mind any restrictions they may have.
I hope you all have a great summer.
Nate
April 2014
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common dementia affecting
millions of Americans. It impacts many
of our clients as well. Those suffering
with it now are using a number of medications, most of which have been in use
for several years. There is a need for
new medical treatments to manage and hopefully someday eliminate this disease. The process of developing these new medications
can take years of research and clinical trials.
Visiting Angels is pleased to announce we are giving referrals for
clinical trials for investigational medications to treat Alzheimer’s disease in
association with Donald S. Marks, MD, a Board Certified Neurologist, specialist
in Alzheimer’s disease and an Assistant Clinical Professor at Tufts.
We are currently seeking participants for a very
important study. Enrollment in this
Phase 3 clinical trial is in progress.
By participating in the clinical trial, participants will be part of an
effort that may help them improve their mental function. In addition, participants will provide valuable data that
may help others in the future.
To be eligible to participate in the study participants
should have a diagnosis of mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease, have
previously been on or are currently on a stable dose of Aricept (donepezil),
Exelon (rivastigmine), or Razadyne (Galantamine) and be between the ages of 55
and 85. Participants who are taking
Namenda (memantine) are not appropriate for the study.
If you or the person you care for would like to
participate in this clinical trial please call me, Nate Murray, at 781-834-6355 extension 12. I can give you further information and begin
the process of coordinating your introduction to Dr. Marks.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common dementia affecting
millions of Americans. It impacts many
of our clients as well. Those suffering
with it now are using a number of medications, most of which have been in use
for several years. There is a need for new
medical treatments to manage and hopefully someday eliminate this disease. The process of developing these new medications
can take years of research and clinical trials.
Visiting Angels is pleased to announce we are giving referrals for clinical
trials for investigational medications to treat Alzheimer’s disease in
association with Donald S. Marks, MD, a Board Certified Neurologist, specialist
in Alzheimer’s disease and an Assistant Clinical Professor at Tufts.
We are currently seeking participants for a very
important study. Enrollment in this Phase
3 clinical trial is in progress. By
participating in the clinical trial, participants will be part of an effort
that may help them improve their mental function. In addition, participants will provide valuable data that may
help others in the future.
To be eligible to participate in the study participants
should have a diagnosis of mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease, have
previously been on or are currently on a stable dose of Aricept (donepezil),
Exelon (rivastigmine), or Razadyne (Galantamine) and be between the ages of 55
and 85. Participants who are taking Namenda
(memantine) are not appropriate for the study.
If you or the person you care for would like to
participate in this clinical trial please contact Nate Murray at 781-834-6355 extension 12. He can give you further information and begin
the process of coordinating your introduction to Dr. Marks.
The snowy blues...
Even if you love the snow like I do, you have to agree that
this winter we’ve had an awful lot of it. Of course there is still a lot of
winter to go. Some people find winter very difficult, either because they just
don’t like to be cold or they may have a condition called seasonal affective
disorder. S. A. D. Is a clinical condition that essentially mimics depression;
irritable mood, easily moved to feel sad, and sleep disturbance are some of the
hallmark features. It typically begins in September or October and lifts in
April. Most of us experience a some
degree of the blues during the winter. There is a physical reason for this; the
amount of daylight we receive through the retina in our eyes plays a pivotal
role in our mood. As the light begins to decrease in the early autumn our mood
can be affected. Some are affected more than others. As the days begin to lengthen and the sun
become stronger our moods tend to improve.
We can easily forget some of the good things about winter:
The joy of a hot chocolate on a cold day; there are no mosquitoes or snakes; you
can go sledding or skiing; and no worries about how we look in bathing suits!
Here are some things you can do to
improve mood during the winter months:
- Be active outdoors as much as possible.
- Exercise aggressively 3 to 5 times a week
- Socialize-don’t let the cold weather keep trapped in your house
- Eat well, cook with friends
- If your mood is irritable and you're significantly depressed, contact a good therapist
Finally remember one
important fact - Spring is guaranteed to arrive.
You probably
noticed that we are a major sponsor of the Gala
of Giving and Dancing with the Angels.
What is that? The Dancing with the Angels is a fundraiser that we started five
years ago, to celebrate our 10th anniversary and to do something
good for the community. The cause we chose to do raises money for the special
needs funds for Old Colony and South Shore Elder Services. In only five years,
we’ve been able to raise over $75,000 for elders on the South Shore who do not
have the money for basic necessities. These can be things as simple as a pair
of shoes, a tank of oil in the middle of the winter, or assistance with
prescription medication. As part of the Gala of Giving, we also raise money for
the Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra.
Now why
would a private homecare company want to raise money for people that can’t
really afford our services or a community orchestra? Because it’s part of our
commitment and responsibility to our community. This is really very simple, we are all part of
an interconnected web. At Visiting
Angels we feel that it is very important to do what we can for those who are in
an unfortunate position. The Philharmonic is the premier nonprofit cultural
organization on the South Shore. It provides music programs for people of all
ages, and contributes greatly to the community’s sense of connectedness.
I would
encourage you to go to the website www.dancewithvisitingangels.com if you would like to donate to this very
special cause or even better, come and dance on February 8 at the Indian Pond
Country Club in Kingston, MA from 6 to
11 PM. You can purchase tickets from the Pilharmonic website: www.plymouthphil.org.
December 20, 2013
Holiday Musings!
About this time of year it gets awfully hard to be
politically correct. During the holiday
season there are so many ways to innocently offend someone. That’s why for years I have tried an
all-inclusive holiday greeting. It’s the
only way I could figure out how not to inadvertently say the wrong thing to
someone. I don’t want to upset any of my
Christian, Jewish or African friends, or anyone else. So at this time of year I typically wish
people a Happy Chriskwanzuccah! I really
thought that would cover it.
Turns out I was wrong.
As the longest
night of the year and the beginning of the lengthening of days, the
winter Solstice has evolved into a dizzying number of holidays. There’s Bodhi Day
- Day of Enlightenment, celebrating the day that the historical Buddha experienced enlightenment. There is Chalica: A holiday created in December 2005 ,
celebrated by some Unitarian
Universalists. Then there’s
Soyal: a Zuni and Hopi observance and Shabe Yaldā or Shabe
Chelle an Iranian festival. According to Persian mythology, Mithra was born at
dawn on the 22nd of December to a virgin mother. He symbolizes light, truth, goodness, strength, and friendship. But there’s more! In the Late Empire Rome they celebrated Dies Natalis
Solis Invicti (Day of the
birth of the Unconquered Sun) on 25 December.
And of course Festivus (thank you Jerry Seinfeld). There’s about 20 more….at least.
So I think I
will have to return to my childhood roots, and keep it simple. From my heart I wish you all a very Merry
Christmas no matter what you call it. May your 2014 be a year of joy,
prosperity and good fortune ... and for all you Scots out there - Happy Hogmanay!
November 27, 2013
Like many
people, Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. Thanksgiving is a time that is relaxed, full
of good food and a gathering of people we care about and love. Of course it is
also full of family traditions. For years, our mother used to insist on
bringing sweet potatoes mashed up and covered with marshmallows. This would
then be baked in the oven until done. As we got older, we would complain that
it was too sweet. It seemed impossibly old-fashioned. She also insisted upon bringing her coleslaw.
This was a recipe that only she understood, and she was very particular about
how it should be put together. Quite frankly, over the years it became kind of
a running joke and we would tease her about it. In fact some members of the
family would get really upset that she would insist on bringing these items to
every Thanksgiving dinner. But she did,
and since she was a force to be reckoned with, those were always on the table.
It was a little crazy at times. If the dinner was at someone else’s house, like
mine, she would come in and take over the oven. All of a sudden her sweet
potatoes were more important than anything including the turkey. I will admit
it was a little chaotic. Over time she taught my sister how to make the sweet
potato recipe, and one of her grandsons, the coleslaw recipe. It is touching
how jealously they guard ingredients in those recipes.
My mother
passed away several years ago, my Dad 15 years earlier. I miss her and I even
miss the chaos she created when she would arrive, especially if she and Dad
were running a little late. But a funny thing has happened. All of us now make sure every year that we
ask my sister and my nephew to make the sweet potato with marshmallows, and the
coleslaw. Even one of the family members who used to complain bitterly about it
every year requests it. It’s not so puzzling really. The traditions we have
about food, and holidays are tied directly into memories and feelings. Having those two recipes on the Thanksgiving
table, always elicits good stories and a lot of laughs. We retell stories about
our parents and grandparents, and about growing up together. It’s like having a little piece of them all
at the dinner. I know many of you probably have similar food traditions for
Thanksgiving. Perhaps some of you, like some members of my family, like to kid
our parents or grandparents about the recipes they insist on bringing. Yes,
they can drive us a little crazy sometimes. They can upset the order of our
plans. They may be too slow or running late, trying to be bossy. But as I tell
my friends who still have their parents with them when they complain, “you’re
going to miss this.” I know I do.
Happy Thanksgiving
November 13, 2013
Monday November 11th was Veterans Day. We provide assistance and care to many
Veterans from all branches of the service.
To honor their service we created a Certificate of Appreciation for
their service to their country, and I hand delivered them to all our
Veterans. In each visit I took some time
to sit down and ask them about their service years. One gentleman was one of the original
Tuskegee Airmen and we spoke about that experience and how it shaped his life
as a husband, father and successful entrepreneur. Another served in the Army in the Philippines
and we shared a laugh about General MacArthur not letting the Marines into the
Philippines because he was afraid they’d take all the credit! Some of our Vets were
in support and communication roles, critically important pieces of the war
effort. One of our Veteran’s had passed
away a few weeks ago, and we still care for his bride. When I dropped off a certificate for her in
his honor, she was moved to tears. He
had been a ball turret gunner on a B-27 Bomber.
Their daughter was there at the time and was surprised to hear his
position had the highest mortality rate of almost any in the service. He had flown 24 missions over Europe. We chatted about those days and found that he
was only 17 when he enlisted.
While making these
visits, my clinical expertise with Veterans with PTSD came in handy. Many Veterans who were psychologically hurt
by their combat experiences kept those memories, nightmares and panic reactions
to themselves for years. Over the years they functioned very well without help
at home, in work and in their communities.
But for Veteran’s with some form of Dementia, one has to be very careful
when asking them to remember their experiences.
Because of the loss of ability to retain chronological time, they can
experience an abreaction, which is a sudden experience of being back in the
traumatic situation, as if it were happening now. Only
one gentleman I met with began to respond this way, and noticing the trembling
lips and his eyes filling with tears and fear I gently redirected him back to
the present. This is something we teach
our caregivers as well.
It was emotionally powerful to make these visits. It brought back to me my father’s war
experiences which he only spoke about once.
When he did, I was stunned at what he was able to live with and never
really show it. The traumas he and these
other young men, almost boys really, experienced and the terrible scenes they
witnessed are held deep within and are lifelong memories. This is what they sacrificed, and its
something we need to always remember and honor.
October 30, 2013
Man am I getting old or what? When Lou and I started Visiting Angels almost
14 years ago we didn't have any white hairs.
Back then, we were the first and only private home-care practice between
Quincy and Plymouth. Hard to believe
that today where consumers have many choices in private home care, and there
are TV ads for home care, assisted living, day programs, rehabs - lots of
levels of care. But to remain
independent at home, the wish of everyone I have ever spoken to, Visiting
Angels provides in my estimation the best solution. Tailored to the individual needs and schedule
of our clients we provide a flexible affordable and respectful solution. It is an option to living in a large facility
which is not everyone's cup of tea. Visit here often as we will be updating
with information we hope will be helpful to you. And yeh, I do have a few white hairs now. But as my mother once told me, “aging is an
issue of mind over matter; If you don't mind, it doesn't matter!”
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