More and more patients are turning to social networks such Twitter and Facebook for health information, according to a survey by the National Research Corporation.

In the survey of nearly 23,000 people in the United States, 41% said they use social media as a source of health care information. For nearly all of them – 94% – Facebook was their site of choice, with YouTube coming in a distant second at 32%. Eighteen percent of the respondentssaid they turned to MySpace or Twitter for health information.

One in four respondents said what they learned on these sites was “very likely” or “likely” to impact their future health decisions.

The respondents who used social media were 41 years old on average. People in households earning more than $75,000 were more likely to use social media for health care purposes than households earning less.

Another survey out this week found that one in four internet users living with a chronic ailment has gone online to find others with similar health condition.

“The internet enables people to help people in a way we couldn’t help each other before,” says Susannah Fox, author of the report by the Pew Internet and American Life Project. “The internet gives people access to not only information, but also to each other.”

Many of the patients who sought out other patients online have rare diseases.

“They say no one really knows what they’re going through except someone in the same situation,” Fox says. “Those personal tips can make all the difference in the world.”

 Most of the patients in the survey also consulted with their doctors.

 “The oft-repeated fear that patients are using the internet to self-diagnose and self-medicate without reference to medical professionals does not emerge,” according to Fox.

So are you more savy , that you are turning to the internet to find answers to your health concers?

Dementia Patients Face Burdensome

 Transitions in Last 90 Days

ScienceDaily (Sep. 28, 2011) — A new study in the Sept. 29, 2011, edition of the New England Journal of Medicine reports that nearly one in five nursing home residents with advanced dementia experiences burdensome transitions in the last 90 days of life, such as moving to a different facility in the last three days of life or repeat hospitalizations for expected complications of dementia in the last 90 days of life.

Such patterns of transitions are burdensome, particularly since the overwhelming majority of family members state the main goal of care is comfort,” said study co-author Joan Teno, professor of health policy and practice at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University and a palliative care physician. “These transitions reflect the inefficiency of our health care system. Similar outcomes could be achieved by keeping these patients in the nursing home setting.”

An important reason for the prevalence of burdensome transitions might be embedded in the way Medicare pays nursing homes, said Brown health economist and lead author Pedro Gozalo. Nursing homes can earn higher payments for patients who have been transferred to a hospital for three days and they may qualify for skilled nursing services paid by Medicare rather than Medicaid upon their return. The current incentives under Medicare and Medicaid encourage nursing homes to send patients to the hospital, he said.

What makes the transitions burdensome, especially for patients with cognitive impairment, Teno said, is that they are often unnecessary, raise the risk of medical errors, and interrupt continuity of care for patients who can experience significant stress and disorientation when they are suddenly removed from familiar surroundings and people. When the patients become upset, their families experience more stress.

Because these financial incentives, market conditions, and the culture of end-of-life care vary by state, so do the rates of burdensome transitions. The authors, who also include researchers fromHarvardUniversityandDartmouthCollege, found that the overall percentage of patients experiencing at least one burdensome transition was 19 percent. State-level rates varied from 2.1 percent inAlaskato 37.5 percent inLouisiana.

“These burdensome transitions are not only bad for the patient, they also drain the federal treasury, hastening the day when the Medicare trust fund runs out of money,” said economist Jonathan Skinner from Dartmouth College, a co-author on the study.

Blacks and Hispanics were also more likely than whites to experience burdensome transitions, the authors found.

 Amiss before dying

To reach these conclusions, the team analyzed federal databases of nursing home and Medicare records accumulated between 2000 and 2007. In all, they found 474,829 patients who were older than 66, had advanced cognitive impairment, and lived in a nursing home 120 days before their death. Of these, 90,228 residents experienced at least one burdensome transition, defined as either a transfer in the last three days of life, returning to a different nursing home than the one they lived in before they went to the hospital, or multiple hospitalizations in the last 90 days of life.

Often these hospitalizations occur even though the condition prompting the hospitalization — pneumonia, urinary tract infection, or dehydration — could easily be treated in a properly equipped and staffed nursing home.

These variations were particularly wide across different geographic areas. InMcAllen,Texas, 25.8 percent of patients had multiple hospitalizations for urinary tract infections, pneumonia or dehydration, compared to only 1.1 percent of patients inGrand Junction,Colo.

The regional rate of burdensome transitions also correlates with other indicators of poor end-of-life care, Gozalo noted. Compared to patients living in the health care markets with the lowest rates of burdensome transitions, those who lived in the regions with the highest rates were three times more likely to have a feeding tube inserted, more than twice as likely to be in the intensive care unit in the last 30 days of life, and more than twice as likely to have developed an advanced pressure ulcer.

Ultimately, Teno said, all of these problems are signs of care gone awry. The best care for a patient with advanced cognitive impairment near the end of life is often to maximize comfort. The burdens of hospitalization usually outweigh the benefits.

“Our research calls for efforts to reform health care payment that create incentives to improve advance care planning and care coordination,” Gozalo said. “Current reform efforts like accountable care organizations that bundle both the hospital and post-acute care payments could begin to address some of these perverse incentives. We need financial incentives to make sure that people are getting the right care in the right place at the right time.”

In addition to Gozalo, Teno, and Skinner, other authors include Susan Mitchell of the Hebrew Senior Life Institute for Aging Research, Julie Bynum at Dartmouth Medical School, and Denise Tyler and Vincent Mor of the Brown University Program in Public Health.

The National Institute on Aging funded the research.

Burdensome transitions in the last three months of life. Nationally, about 19 percent of nursing home patients with advanced dementia experience a burdensome transition — transfer to another nursing home, unnecessary hospitalizations — in their last three months. The percentages vary widely among the states. (Credit: Brown University)

Alzheimer’s Wine Country Memory Walk 2011!.

Hey Check out our video from this years 2011 Walk to End Alzheimer’s!

Did you walk? IF so which walk did you do?

Help family caregivers through holidays

Give family caregivers a gift this holiday season by inviting them to participate in one of the upcoming “Home for the Holidays” webinars. This hour-long informational session provides family caregivers with information on how to help their senior loved ones manage holiday travel, family gatherings, seasonal depression and other issues that can occur during this busy time of year. The webinar will be offered on:

Tuesday, November 15 at noon Central Time

Click the following link to register for this date and time: https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/316436230

• Monday, December 5 at 7 p.m. Central Time

Click the following link to register for this date and time:

https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/321591990

The “Home for the Holidays” webinar is the next installment in the Caring for Your Parents: Education for the Family Caregiver^SM support series and is moderated by the Home Instead Senior Care^® network, hosted by the American Society on Aging (ASA) and co-sponsored by the National Family Caregivers Association (NFCA) and the National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC).

The Caring for Your Parents: Education for the Family Caregiver support series is another way Home Instead Senior Care^® businesses across the country are building trust in communities and supporting clients and their families.  

Join the effort to detect Alzheimer’s early

The Home Instead Senior Care^® network has joined the Alzheimer’s Early Detection Alliance (AEDA) in a nationwide effort to educate people about the warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease and the importance of early detection.  The AEDA is a group of corporations, nonprofits and government entities under the leadership of the Alzheimer’s Association dedicated to making a difference in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease.

There is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease and no way to prevent it. Early detection allows those living with the disease – and their families – time to plan for the future. The Alzheimer’s Association created the following list of warning signs for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Every individual may experience one or more of these symptoms in varying degrees:

1. Memory changes that disrupt daily life
2. Challenges in planning or solving problems
3. Difficulty completing familiar tasks
4. Confusion with time or place
5. Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships
6. New problems with words in speaking or writing
7. Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps
8. Decreased or poor judgment
9. Withdrawal from work or social activities
10. Changes in mood and personality

If you notice any of these signs in your senior clients, contact the client’s family members immediately.

To learn more about the 10 signs of Alzheimer’s disease, contact the Alzheimer’s Association at www.alz.org/10signs or 877-IS IT ALZ (877.474.8259).

The Elder Care Radio Show – August 2011

KSRO 1350 AM Fridays – 12:30 – 1:00 p.m.

KNEW 910 AM Saturdays – 8:30 – 9:00 a.m

Do older adults disengage as they get older? It may seem that way if it’s hard to get Mom to go out and do things like she used to.  Experts explore the topic of QUALITY OF LIFE in August.  We’ll discuss the importance of helping people connect with a sense of purpose and meaning – even, and especially, when there are health issues or cognitive impairments that compete for “attention.” I hope you will give yourself a 30-minute break each week to tune in to the live show or to a podcast. Take good care, Kira Reginato

Nina Herndon, MA, CMC
Care Manager and Principal of Sage Eldercare Solutions
What can quality of life (QOL) mean if you’re limited physically or mentally?  Nina will share stories of clients who are non verbal, have Alzheimer’s, have physical challenges, and have found interests adapted to them that have returned QOL to them. Learn to build a quality of life plan and/or a therapeutic activity kit for your loved one.

Julie Ann Anderson, Owner
Home Instead Senior Care
What can quality of life mean if you’re living alone?  Julie Ann will fascinate you as she explains their LifeCatching Program, a way to record personal histories to share with others.  She will entice you to enter the Craving Companionship Recipe Contest, too.
 

  Dr. Michael Fraga, Neuropsychologist
Neuropsychological Associates
What can quality of life mean if you have a brain injury, whether from a bicycle accident, stroke or disease?  Dr. Fraga will tell us about his amazing work with patients and the improvements they make to increase their quality of life and regain independence.
 
  

Dorothy McReynolds, Admissions Director
Golden Living Center, Petaluma
What can quality of life mean if you’re in a facility?  What can you expect from an excellent facility?  Dorothy will tell you how their staff goes the extra mile in their “Life’s Simple Pleasures Program.”
Special guest, Diana Gruhl, MSW, will talk about her Elder Active Program.
 
THE ELDER CARE RADIO SHOW THANKS ITS SPONSORS:
SearchSeniorLiving.Com • Dr. Michael A. Fraga, Neuropsychologist • Brookdale Senior Living •
Arcadia Home Care and Staffing • Golden Living Centers • Home Instead Senior Care • Institute on Aging •
Jewish Home of San Francisco • Lifeline Personal Response and Support Services • Dr. Thomas Yatteau, Concierge Medicine • Reliable Caregivers

Happy Monday Morning!

 As CAREGivers caring for seniors in our community, every day we are reminded of no matter how great or small our acts of kindness or helping helping hands enabling older adults to remain independant in their homes… we can make a difference every day!

Here is another great thing I found in this ever shirking Internet world that I thought I wanted to share with you all today.I hope you enjoy these positive words of encouragement…because there are days we all can use some!

remember you have no idea the impact just a smile can make on a strangers life!

Monday Mojo: Today I Will Make A Difference
 
By Tom Tognoli | July 25th, 2011

This week, I’m pleased to bring to you some “guest MOJO,” from our very own J. Shoop.

J. Shoop as one of Intero Real Estate’s  top producing Area Sales Managers for Western Bancorp, he is also an author, coach, and aspiring professional speaker. His first co-authoring project is set to be released on July 15th, and is available now on Amazon.com!
We welcome J’s insights for this week’s installment of Monday Morning MOJO!

Every day we are faced with a multitude of choices.

In my opinion, one of the greatest freedoms human beings enjoy is the freedom to choose our thoughts. We can choose to focus upon and think about what’s right in our world, or we can choose to focus on what’s not.

One of my favorite inspirational authors, Max Lucado, wrote a book over 15 years ago called “On The Anvil.” The excerpt below is from his book.

Today I will make a difference. I will begin by controlling my thoughts. A person is the product of his thoughts. I want to be happy and hopeful. Therefore, I will have thoughts that are happy and hopeful. I refuse to be victimized by my circumstances. I will not let petty inconveniences such as stoplights, long lines, and traffic jams be my masters. I will avoid negativism and gossip. Optimism will be my companion, and victory will be my hallmark. Today I will make a difference.

I will be grateful for the twenty-four hours that are before me. Time is a precious commodity. I refuse to allow what little time I have to be contaminated by self-pity, anxiety, or boredom. I will face this day with the joy of a child and the courage of a giant. I will drink each minute as though it is my last. When tomorrow comes, today will be gone forever. While it is here, I will use it for loving and giving. Today I will make a difference.
I will not let past failures haunt me. Even though my life is scarred with mistakes, I refuse to rummage through my trash heap of failures. I will admit them. I will correct them. I will press on. Victoriously. No failure is fatal. It’s OK to stumble…I will get up. It’s OK to fail…I will rise again. Today I will make a difference.
I will spend time with those I love. My spouse, my children, my family. A man can own the world but be poor for the lack of love. A man can own nothing and yet be wealthy in relationships. Today I will spend at least five minutes with the significant people in my world. Five quality minutes of talking or hugging or thanking or listening. Five undiluted minutes with my mate, children, and friends.

Today I will make a difference.

I’d like to encourage you to start each day reading aloud the words above. I assure you that you will notice an immediate impact in your attitude, and it will fortify you for the day ahead.

Thank you,

J. Shoop

 ~ so well said! Thank you for sharing your wise words & positive insight  to Tom  Tognoli from Intero Real Estate & J.Shoop of Western Bancorp. Happy Monday everyone!!

Jeff Huber, President of Home Instead Senior Care Inc. was recently interviewed and here is a few of Jeff’s words….

Most professionals involved with eldercare are aware that adult children are not prepared to care for their parents when they receive “that call” that throws them into the caregiving role.  But the Home Instead Senior Care network wanted to learn more about that and so in conjunction with The Boomer Project, a study of 600 baby boomer aged adults was conducted. 

The results surprised me:

• Less than 50% were knowledgeable about their parents’ medical history
•  49% were unable to name any of their parents’ current medications
• More than 30% did not know just how many medications their parent(s) was taking
• 34% were unaware whether or not their parent  owned a safety deposit box
• and 36% were unaware of the location of their parents’ financial and legal information

The time to gather this information is NOT when a crisis occurs.  At that time, decisions need to be made quickly, tempers may flare and fights between siblings and other family members can ensue.   Family members can panic and incorrect choices may be made which may cause long term problems for all involved. 

 There will come a point when all of this information will be needed so it’s best to begin to gather it early.

Jeff suggests adopting the 40-70 Rule® which is a program to help bridge the communication gap between adult children and their senior loved ones.  Basically,  the earlier the conversation begins, the less stressful it will be and the more prepared the adult children will be.  The site provides conversation starters and communication tips.

Home Instead is also offering a free “Caring for Your Parents: Senior Emergency Kit” that you can download from our  website www.SeniorEmergencyKit.com.  This kit contains information such important contact information, a medication tracker, an allergies and conditions worksheet and some extra listed resources.

Do something good for YOURSELF and be prepared as your parents age…trust me, you’ll be glad you did!

I don’t have to tell you that Alzheimer’s is a worldwide epidemic.  Currently, five million people in the U.S. have this disease, and there are more than 35 million globally.  By 2030, those numbers will double, and by 2050, they’ll more than triple.  Last year the worldwide cost of Alzheimer’s was more than $600 billion – if it were a country; it would be the 18th largest economy in the world.  That’s because it costs about four times as much to care for a senior with Alzheimer’s.   And there is no cure in sight, sadly.   

But what occurs to me is that until that cure is found, Home Instead CAREGivers ARE the treatment for Alzheimer’s.  Quality home care is the future.  Home Instead trains our CAREGivers to deliver on that care for your family! Our training program is paramount to your parent’s best quality of life & quality of care.  There is no greater differentiators for hiring a Home Instead CAREGiver we could offer today than our specialized Alzheimer’s program. 

  We have partnered with David Troxel, Dr. Amy D’Aprix and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill – to take gathered information and add their expertise to create a training that directly responds to family needs and is custom tailored to our Home Instead CAREGivers.  

If you have a family member suffering from Alzheimer’s and you are looking for some help at home, please visit our web site to learn more about Home Instead CAREGivers or call our office and ask us about our training programs. We’d be more than happy to share our expertize with you. You are not alone, We are your home care & Alzheimer’s Solution!

www.homeinstead.com/sonoma

Nutritional Risks: The Warning Signs

Two of five seniors who live alone (44 percent) have at least four warning signs of poor nutritional health such as eating alone, taking multiple medications and illness, according to research conducted for the Home Instead Senior Care^® network.

“Nutrition is certainly a key factor to an individual’s overall health and well being,” said Sandy Markwood, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a). “If someone is at risk, their health is impacted. When you see the warning signs, it’s indicative of a larger risk. Combine that with loneliness and you’re looking at increased mental and physical health risks.”

Following, from the Home Instead Senior Care network and Markwood, are warning indicators that a senior who lives alone could be in trouble.

1.     The loneliness. Who wants to eat alone? Not only are seniors at more risk of poor nutrition, loneliness can lead to depression, which could make problems worse. More than three-fourths (76 percent) of seniors who live alone eat alone most of the time, according to Home Instead Senior Care network research. Suggestion: Try to make sure your older loved one has companionship at home or in a congregate meal site.
2.      The multiple meds. Nearly three-fourths (71 percent) of seniors take three or more different medications a day, according to research. Suggestion: Talk to your senior’s health care team about how medications might be impacting your older adult’s appetite and discuss with them what to do about it.
3. 3.     The lack of healthy staples. For a number of reasons, important staples for a good diet are not always found in a senior’s kitchen. Nearly half (46 percent) of seniors who live alone consume few fruits, vegetables or milk products, the survey revealed. Suggestion: In season, why not find an affordable, local farmer’s market. Talk with your older loved one about their favorite recipes – or yours – that incorporate healthy products.
4. 4.     The illness. Many older adults are struggling with health conditions. Some don’t feel like eating as a result. Others – 31 percent in the Home Instead Senior Care research – say that an illness or condition has forced them to change the food they eat. Suggestion: Discovering favorite recipes from the recipe box and making mealtime a social event may help.
5.     The physical problems. A fourth of seniors who live alone – 25 percent – can’t always get to the grocery store any more, nor can they shop or cook for themselves. Suggestion: Your local Area Agency on Aging office has staff to help and your local Home Instead Senior Care office can arrange for a CAREGiver^SM. Try, also, to tap into neighbors and compassionate friends. If you know of older adults who live alone, cook extra at mealtimes and take it to them.

1. That smelly fridge. Check out expiration dates of food in the refrigerator when you’re visiting a loved one. Have you noticed an increase in spoiled food? Remember to check the freezer for outdated frozen items or foods that have not been packaged appropriately. Suggestion: Help a senior by packaging food in small portions and labeling in big letters with the date.
2. The suspicious grocery list. If you go to the store for Mom, and the list is mostly sweets, then she may be headed in the wrong direction with her diet. Suggestion: Help her put together a grocery list, reminding her of all the wonderful foods she used to cook for you. Make it a happy time of memories. Why not buy the ingredients and make that recipe together. 
3. Those important details. When you’re visiting a senior, check out things like skin tone – it should be healthy looking and well-hydrated – as well as any weight fluctuations. A loss or gain of 10 pounds in six months could be a sign of trouble. Suggestion: A visit to the doctor can help ensure your senior is healthy.
4. The empty cupboard. An emergency could trap a loved one home for days. Suggestion: Prepare by stocking back-up food, water and high-nutrition products such as Ensure^® in case a trip to the store isn’t possible.
5. The support. Isolation is one of the biggest threats to an older adult. Suggestion: If you can’t be there, develop a schedule of friends and neighbors who can stop by for lunch or dinner. Or call your local Home Instead Senior Care office to enlist the services of a professional CAREGiver.

For more information about the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging, go to www.n4a.org. Learn about the Home Instead Senior Care network’s Craving Companionship^SM program at www.mealsandcompanionship.com.