Home Care Seniors, Elderly Care, Companionship - Sonoma County, CA » Preventive Care Seniors

Our Home Instead CAREGivers make a difference every day. Like helping Starfish.

Julie Ann Anderson — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 17:22:19 +0000

The Starfish Story

Adapted from the Starfish Thrower by Loren Eisley

Once upon a time there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work.

Our CAREGiver, Donna

One day, as he was walking along the shore, he looked down the beach and saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiles to himself at the thought of someone who would dance to the day, and so, he walked faster to catch up.

As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a young man, and that what he was doing was not dancing at all. The young man was reaching down to the shore, picking up small objects, and throwing them into the ocean.

He came closer still and called out. “Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?” The young man paused, looked up and replied, “Throwing starfish into the ocean.”

“I must ask, then why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?” asked the somewhat startled wise man.

To this the young man replied, “The sun is up and the tide is gong out. If I don’t throw then in, they will die.”

Our CAREGiver, Christine

Upon hearing this, the wise man commented, “But young man, do you not realize that there are miles of beach and there are starfish along every mile? You can’t possibly make a difference!”

At this the young man bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it into the ocean. As it met the water, he said “It made a difference for that one.”

Our Home Instead CAREGivers make a difference every day! If you know of anyone who could benefit from our caring services, please contact us so we can start making a difference in someone’s life…today!

Home Instead Senior Care…To us, it’s personal. Simply call our Rohnert Park home care office at 707-586-1516. We serve all of Sonoma County with extraordinary senior home care and companionship services.

Caregivers and RNs: Alzheimer’s and Dementia training with expert Teepa Snow, MS, OTR/L, FAOTA

Julie Ann Anderson — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 16:00:37 +0000

UPDATE 3/8/10: This event only has 20 seats left and is booking fast. Please RSVP today to reserve your seat.

Teepa Snow, renowned Alzheimer’s and Dementia expert, will be in Santa Rosa, CA, on March 22 for an all-day training and dementia workshop on Changing the World of Alzheimer’s. Event will be held 9-4pm at the Scottish Rite Masonic Center and is sponsored by Home Instead Senior Care of Sonoma County and Brighton Gardens. CEU Credits available. Additional senior home care seminar dates the week of 3/22 in San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose and Millbrae.

Teepa Snow, renowned dementia care and Alzheimer’s care expert, will lecture on “Changing the World of Alzheimer’s” on March 22nd, from 9-4pm, at the Scottish Rite Masonic Center in Santa Rosa.

Her training will include:

understanding of dementia (symptoms, progression and support that can help)
demystifying resistance and
coping with challenging behaviors during personal care activities

This all-day educational course is free to general public, and family caregivers, and has been approved for CEUs for registered nurses and health care professionals for small processing fee.

Teepa Snow is an occupational therapist specializing in dementia care and education. In addition to her private practice, Teepa has clinical appointments with Duke University’s School of Nursing and UNC-Chapel Hill’s School of Medicine. She is a frequent speaker on dementia care to gerontology and health care and nursing professional programs throughout the U.S.

In addition, Teepa Snow provides training and education to the Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer Society, state health care provider organizations, professional and caregiver associations.

For health care professionals, this all-day Santa Rosa course has been approved by the California State Board of Registered Nurses (BRN for RNs, LVNs, and CNAs) and is eligible for 6 CEU Credits, provider No. CEP 11967. MFTs and/or LCSWs has been approved by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences as well — 6 CEU Credits, provider No. PCE 987.

This dementia training event is sponsored by the senior in-home care professionals at Home Instead Senior Care of Sonoma County (Rohnert Park, CA) and by Brighton Gardens of Santa Rosa, CA — a Sunrise senior living community.

COST: $40 processing fee for CEU credits per attendee, $15 for CNAs. NO CHARGE for family caregivers or general public. Seating is limited. Lunch is included. Must RSVP in advance of event.

RSVP: For information and pre-registration, call 707.586.1516 which is the Rohnert Park office of Home Instead Senior Care or you can view details online at http://HomeInsteadSonoma.com/events.

Can’t attend March 22 in Santa Rosa? Home Instead is sponsoring additional Teepa Snow events that same week: March 23rd in Oakland, March 24th in San Francisco, March 25th in San Jose, March 26th in Millbrae. Call Home Instead Senior Care of Rohnert Park for more information and contact info for the other events: 707.586.1516.

Plan to live a long time: Average U.S. life expectancy has reached 78 years

Julie Ann Anderson — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 15:10:10 +0000

Seniors are living longer and are more active. Home Instead Senior Care helps them live independent and active lives.

That’s good news! According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the average life expectancy in the United States has reached 78 years, up from 77.7 in 2006. Although the life expectancy rate in the United States is low compared to other industrialized countries (for instance, Canada and Japan), many Americans can look forward to living longer than their parents.

And, not only are people living longer, people are also continuing to lead active lives. Dr. Gary Kennedy, director of geriatric psychiatry at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx, N.Y., notes that not only are people living longer, they’re living better. He says, “Seniors are healthier, more active and economically better off than they ever have been.”

The five leading causes of death are heart disease, cancer, stroke, chronic lower respiratory diseases and accidents. These causes account for 64 percent of all deaths. Nearly half the deaths in 2007 (48.5 percent) resulted from heart disease and cancer. However, fewer people overall died from heart disease-related problems like stroke, diabetes and high blood pressure.

“The risk of dying has dropped to a record low level, and life expectancy has reached a record high,” said Arialdi M. Minino, a statistician at the CDC’s Center for Health Statistics, Division of Vital Statistics. “Ever since the 1960s, the death rate has been decreasing in the United States.” Fewer deaths from heart disease, stroke and cancer are driving the trend, he said.

By 2050, it is projected the number of Americans over 65 will climb to over 80 million. And, seniors over the age of 85 are the fastest growing segment of the over 65 population. Health care expenses is certainly a concern. Seniors aged 65 to 84 spent about $5,000 per year on health costs, while those over the age of 85 spent $16,000. The burden of health care costs is greater for lower and middle-income seniors than for those of higher incomes.

While living longer is generally a positive thing, increased longevity comes along with increased risk of certain illnesses and disorders. Seniors who have good health and habits should fair significantly well. Good nutrition and exercise will make the extra golden years more enjoyable.

Home Instead Senior Care of Sonoma County helps seniors of all ages live in their own homes or independent or assisted living facilities longer by providing a host of homecare services such as medication reminders, transportation, companionship, light housekeeping. For a free homecare assessment, please call our Sonoma County office at 707.586.1516.

If you’d like to read more about this subject, you can click on the following links:

http://seniorhealth.about.com/od/prevention/a/life_expectancy.htm

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/19/us-life-expectancy-at-all-time-high/

Senior Preventive Care: New Resource Provides the Tools to Help Older Adults Live Longer

Julie Ann Anderson — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 18:16:14 +0000

Only about one in four Americans ages 50 to 64 regularly take advantage of preventive services such as screenings and immunizations, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in collaboration with the AARP and the American Medical Association.

“Promoting Preventive Services for Adults 50-64: Community and Clinical Partnerships” focuses on opportunities to improve the health of the growing number of adults in this age range. The report identifies recommended preventive services, such as influenza vaccine, cholesterol screening, breast and cervical cancer screening, as well as preventive screenings for behaviors that could negatively impact health, such as binge drinking.

In addition, the CDC’s healthy aging program provides tools and programs designed to help older adults live longer, more productive and independent lives.

“People aged 50 to 64 need access to preventive services to help them improve their overall health and to live vibrant, productive lives,” said CDC Director Thomas Frieden, M.D., M.P.H. “CDC and our partners AARP and AMA are excited about this new resource because it enables our partners and others to more easily and effectively monitor improvements in health behaviors, screenings and immunizations. Our goal is to enhance the delivery and use of these recommended preventive services.”

To view the report and read about CDC’s healthy aging activities, visit the CDC Web site.

And, remember, if you have an elderly loved one who needs help getting to doctors appointments, or if they need something as simple yet critical as medication reminders, the CAREgivers at Home Instead Senior Care of Sonoma County are ready to help. Just give us a call at 707.586.1516 anytime.