February 23rd, 2009
Yes, it’s fairly miserable out there. Everyday we all hear more negative economic news. No one seems to know how this will play out. The good news is that this is the USA and I do believe we’ll all make it through these very tough times — we just don’t know when.
With jobs being lost daily, it’s a fact that most Americans are holding back on their spending. And that’s a good thing to a degree. Unfortunately, the immediate impact is to exacerbate the already plunging economy. But the uncertainty in everyone’s mind will continue for awhile, so we’re going to have to get used to the bumpy road ahead.
So what does this mean if you have an elder in your life who is requiring more and more of your attention and care? I think many people are “stepping up to the plate” and attempting to save money by helping their elder-in-need themselves. The problem becomes … are you really saving money or is it truly costing you more when you add up your time commitment, the stress involved, and perhaps the lost time from your family and job?
Of all the things to consider “investing” in, the care for your elder loved one may be and should be a priority. It’s hard to put a price on the peace of mind one gets from knowing that there is someone providing top notch care to their loved one while they can continue to attend to their life, family and business.
We, at Barton Home Care, continue to play a major part in families needing elder care at home. All of our clients appreciate the fact that their elder is receiving the same quality care that they themselves would provide. The difference is they still remain the “son or daughter” as opposed to the “caregiver.” That means they can continue with their life and when they do get to see their elder — it’s quality time. Hard to put a price on that notion.
If you or someone you know is considering home health care, Colorado or the Denver metro area, please consider Barton Home Care. You can contact Tom Barton directly at 303.660.5120 or info@bartonhomecare.com. He’ll be happy to answer all of your questions and share his “Caring to Make a Difference” home care philosophy.
Tom Barton
Owner, Barton Home Care
Tags: castle rock elder care, elder care castle rock, elder care littleton, littleton elder care
Posted in Caregiving | No Comments »
January 6th, 2009
Late-life depression may affect about 15% of older people at any given time. This complex problem exists throughout the year, but seems to be more perceptible during the holiday season. A logical explanation is that the holidays may be the only contact that the elderly have with many of their family members and friends. The depression goes unnoticed until such reunions take place. Elderly relatives may seem different than they did in the previous year—more irritable or nervous, quieter, focused on people who have died. The joy of the season may be noticeably lacking. This is particularly common among people who have suffered serious physical challenges like a heart attack, cancer or personal loss. Social networks diminish. All of these types of things combined with pressures of the season and changes in normal routine can trigger depression.
The generations who grew up in the Great Depression are often of a mindset that lets them ignore obvious symptoms like mood swings and appetite loss as just something they need to deal with. Their natural stoicism prohibits them from seeking help. Left unattended, depression can become debilitating. Depending upon its progression, dealing with it can be as simple as reconnecting with people or getting out of the house. If family and friends are unavailable during most of the year, there are other options to help increase social interaction. In-home senior care can help fill this void.
If the depression is more advanced, counseling may be needed or even antidepressants to help the individual cope with daily living. It is important that families closely monitor their older relatives for signs of depression.
Gerri Tyber
Operations Manager, Barton Home Care
Tags: depression in seniors, holiday depression, senior depression
Posted in Illnesses | No Comments »
October 30th, 2008
Recent studies suggest that daytime brightness in care facilities and in homes in general may modestly improve symptoms of dementia. Bodies regulate how much melatonin, a hormone that is produced while sleeping, to produce based on how much light is perceived. The body uses light levels to determine when it is daytime and when it is nighttime.
People usually spend more time inside, where it is darker, as they age. This makes it more difficult for the body to know when to sleep and when to be awake. That affects the amount of melatonin in the system, which in turn affects our circadian rhythms. These are internal rhythms that result because of repetitive biological processes—those that recur every 24 hours. Circadian rhythm can be influenced by a number of factors including the presence or absence of daylight.
Sleep/wake cycles are typically disturbed by dementia which can cause deterioration of mood, cognition and behavioral organization. Research by the University of Sunderland in England has found that regular exposure to safe, low-level infra-red light can improve learning performance and jump start the cognitive function of the brain. In addition, symptoms of depression are reduced. Low levels of infra-red light are totally safe and occur naturally in sunlight.
A prototype cognitive helmet has been developed and is currently undergoing human testing in early stage dementia patients. Experts say that early-stage dementia patients should see an improvement in cognitive function within a month by wearing this lightweight helmet in their homes for ten minutes a day.
In studies performed in the Netherlands, melatonin supplements in combination with bright light reduced aggressive behavior by 9%. Simple measures like increasing illumination in both care facilities and homes can positively impact cognition, behavior, moods, sleep and functional activities with no adverse consequences.
Gerri Tyber, Operations Manager
Barton Home Care
Tags: bright light improves dementia, lighting and dementia
Posted in Illnesses | No Comments »
