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Tuesday, March 15, 2016

Westchester Family Care: Case Study

If you’re lucky enough to have elderly parents, you’re going to need help taking care of them. You could not do better than Westchester Family Care. Almost 2 months ago, my sister and I—who live hours away—saw both of our parents’ frailties, ailments and physical limitations all reach a critical point which resulted in a need for near-constant supervision. Glenn and his team at WFC have given us the precious commodity of peace of mind. Here’s why:

Commitment to excellence. I have not experienced a single instance in which I questioned Glenn’s motivation. He has one and only one goal: to care for my parents and ensure their health and safety to the best of his and his firm’s ability. Along those lines, he took it upon himself to do a close inspection of the house and make recommendations for safety improvement. He has also gone to the trouble of bringing in vendors to get estimates.

Reliability. Glenn is the captain of the ship and sees to it that there is coverage pursuant to the agreed-upon shifts/days/times. And when he says something, you can bank on it. Not once has someone even been late, let alone not shown up. (When I was first researching agencies, mind you, I called a few others. Weeks later, I am still waiting for some of those calls to be returned.)

Caretaker quality. Throughout many years of apartment living, and via word of mouth from friends in my situation, I’ve seen and heard countless instances of aides to elderly individuals whose attention is not on those in their care. Never the case with WFC. Glenn has provided my parents with consistency (a team of the same individuals) which is paramount when “strangers” in the house are intruding upon a lifetime of habit and independence. The aides were selected with great care, with an eye toward who would make the best “match” for  each parent, based on various individual criteria, including gender, temperament and skill set (e.g., driving, cooking). When an elderly client is simply watching television, for example, an aide might opt to sit in the next room or turn her attention to her phone. “J” wouldn’t dare. She sits next to my father and casts an eagle eye firmly in his direction. “V” engages my mother in positive affirmations upon greeting the day. “T” takes my father to meet his friends and knows just the right balance of being there without hovering or being overbearing.

Medical management. Barbara is the nurse in charge and personally implements any change in medication. She first confirms the change with the physician and then makes additions/deletions to the prearranged pills that reflect those changes. Glenn works with us to ensure that my parents are at every doctor’s appointment while Barbara follows up as needed. In the time since WFC became a part of our extended family, there have been two emergencies when paramedics needed to be called. The aides called Barbara who immediately called me to give me an update and discuss the situation.

Inter-agency engagement. Glenn and his nursing staff handled everything for us in terms of bringing in the visiting nurse service and other services such as physical therapy to which my mother was entitled. They handled everything. Not once did we have to pick up a phone to call another agency or Medicare. Anyone who has ever gone this route before understands what a drain it can be both from a time and emotional perspective to have to deal with government agencies on your own.

Administration. WFC’s online portal makes it so simple for me to keep up with invoices and make payments (linked electronically to a checking account). I can also see at a glance a log of the various caretakers’ hours and how they were billed. I find the fees to be reasonable and Glenn exercises the utmost consideration and latitude in assessing how his agency’s services will be billed. (Don’t tell Glenn this, but I’d pay double!) WFC makes the challenging privilege of having elderly parents exponentially easier to bear. When I count my blessings, I now count him and his team among them.

Friday, March 4, 2016

What Are The Signs Of Alzheimer's Disease?

As we age, it’s normal to momentarily forget the name of an actress in a popular film, an item you need in order to make dinner when you’re grocery shopping, or where you put your car keys. We might even joke with friends or family that we are developing Alzheimer’s or dementia.   In fact, there are discernible differences between what is considered typical forgetfulness or confusion and what is cause for concern.  This list published by The Alzheimer’s Association may help you decide if it’s time to talk to a medical professional about Alzheimer’s disease concerns for yourself or a loved one, or if the symptoms you are experiencing have a more common and less serious cause.   

Alzheimers Disease Help

1. Memory loss that disrupts daily life. 

One of the most common signs of Alzheimer’s, especially in the early stages, is forgetting recently learned information. Others include forgetting important dates or events; asking for the same information over and over; relying on memory aides (e.g., reminder notes or electronic devices) or family members for things they used to handle on their own. 

What's typical? Sometimes forgetting names or appointments, but remembering them later. 


2. Challenges in planning or solving problems. 

Some people may experience changes in their ability to develop and follow a plan or work with numbers. They may have trouble following a familiar recipe or keeping track of monthly bills. They may have difficulty concentrating and take much longer to do things than they did before. 

What's typical? Making occasional errors when balancing a checkbook. 


3. Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, at work or at leisure. 

People with Alzheimer’s often find it hard to complete daily tasks. Sometimes, people may have trouble driving to a familiar location, managing a budget at work or remembering the rules of a favorite game. 

What’s typical? Occasionally needing help to use the settings on a microwave or to record a television show. 


4. Confusion with time or place. 

People with Alzheimer's can lose track of dates, seasons and the passage of time. They may have trouble understanding something if it is not happening immediately. Sometimes they may forget where they are or how they got there.

What's typical? Getting confused about the day of the week but figuring it out later.

5. Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships. 

Sign of Alzheimer's
For some people, having vision problems is a sign of Alzheimer's. They may have difficulty reading, judging distance and determining color or contrast. In terms of perception, they may pass a mirror and think someone else is in the room. They may not recognize their own reflection. 

What's typical? Vision changes related to cataracts. 

6. New problems with words in speaking or writing. 

People with Alzheimer's may have trouble following or joining a conversation. They may stop in the middle of a conversation and have no idea how to continue or they may repeat themselves. They may struggle with vocabulary, have problems finding the right word or call things by the wrong name (e.g., calling a watch a "hand clock"). 

What's typical? Sometimes having trouble finding the right word. 

7. Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps. 

A person with Alzheimer’s disease may put things in unusual places. They may lose things and be unable to go back over their steps to find them again. Sometimes, they may accuse others of stealing. This may occur more frequently over time. 

What's typical? Misplacing things from time to time, such as a pair of glasses or the remote control. 


8. Decreased or poor judgment. 

People with Alzheimer's may experience changes in judgment or decision making. For example, they may use poor judgment when dealing with money, giving large amounts to telemarketers. They may pay less attention to grooming or keeping themselves clean. 

What's typical? Making a bad decision once in a while. 


9. Withdrawal from work or social activities. 

A person with Alzheimer's may start to remove themselves from hobbies, social activities, work projects or sports. They may have trouble keeping up with a favorite sports team or remembering how to complete a favorite hobby. They may also avoid being social because of the changes they have experienced. 

What's typical? Sometimes feeling weary of work, family and social obligations. 


10. Changes in mood and personality. 

The mood and personalities of people with Alzheimer's can change. They can become confused, suspicious, depressed, fearful or anxious. They may be easily upset at home, at work, with friends or in places where they are out of their comfort zone. 

What's typical? Developing very specific ways of doing things and becoming irritable when a routine is disrupted. 

This list is only for informational purposes and should not be used as a substitute for speaking with your doctor.  If you have additional concerns, or only experience a few symptoms on this list, a check-up with your doctor may be a good idea anyway. Early detection matters as it provides the best opportunities for treatment, support and future planning.