Join Me In Supporting Alzheimer's Research

More than 5.4 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's disease today, and that number is expected to grow to as many as 16 million by 2050. And that doesn’t even take into account the nearly 11 million people who care for a loved one with the disease.

Again this year I am participating in "2012 Walk to End Alzheimer's" in Lancaster, PA.  The Alzheimer's Association leads the way in research, development, and caregiver support.  Join me in supporting this worthy cause either by walking with me or donating to the cause.  Donating is easy and even small donations can make a big difference. Just go online to alz.org/walk. Click on “Donate” and search for my name, Christy Carpenter, as a walker.

Supporting efforts to find a treatment for Alzheimer's Disease and supporting their caregivers inspires Aging with Ease!

A Story - End of Life

The care of someone who is reaching the end of their life is a difficult process to undergo no matter what their age is.  It is a time of self doubt, constantly asking yourself if you are making the right decisions, wondering if this is what your loved one would want.

Most of us do not think about reaching the end of our lives on a regular basis and what we would want if that time came upon us.  I know that I would want to die with dignity, without pain or discomfort, and surrounded by the people that I love.  In my experiences with helping patients and their families through this stage of life, they all want those things also.

This truly became apparent to me when I needed to provide care for my father-in-law at the end of his life.  I really did not know specifically what he wanted to be done, what his wish was for this last portion of his journey through life.  I was very close to him and tried to put myself in his shoes to try to figure out what I would want if it was me that this was happening to.  Not an easy place to put yourself! 

My father-in-law passed away rather quickly from cancer that had spread from his lung to his liver and to his brain.  His final diagnosis was established in late October 2008 and he passed away in our home in February 2009.  When we were first told the results of his tests, it seemed to me that he was ready to fight to live, but as I look back now at that time, I realize that he knew before the diagnosis was even confirmed that he was in the last stages of his life.  Even with that being said, he agreed to the treatments and followed all the instructions to the letter.  I think he did those things to give the people he loved time to deal and accept the situation that was at hand.  He would have discussions with me and his son (my husband) about certain aspects of possessions he had and wishes for those closest to him, but we never talked about what he wanted for himself when he was no longer able to communicate with us.

In the end, we brought him to our home to be cared for until his last day.  I was constantly second guessing myself.  Is this the right thing to do?  Is this what is best for my family?  Can I do this?  Nothing can prepare you for providing end-of-life care for someone so close to you.  People think that because I am a nurse and have helped many families through this process that it would somehow be easier for me.  I can assure you that having had the experience I had in my work only made it harder.  Having been through this process so many times before with people that were not my family, I knew all the stages and what to expect.  This was the one time in my life when I wished I was more ignorant.  I knew what it meant when the confusion set in.  I knew what it meant to start giving the morphine to control the pain.  I knew what it meant when he could no longer respond to us.  I knew what it meant when that very distinct smell arrived.  I knew what it meant when his breathing changed.  Knowing all these things only made it harder but also reassured me that there was no other place that he should be than with us. 

My father-in-law died with dignity, without pain and surrounded by the people that loved him.  With the help of Hospice, we were able to give him those things in our home, a place that was his second home, a place that he knew well and felt he belonged.

Was it the right thing for my family?  YES!  Was it the right thing to do?  YES!  Is this what he would have wanted?  YES!  Did we make the right decision?  YES!

I only hope that when I find myself in the last stage of my life that I am surrounded by the people that I love the most, that I die with dignity and that my death is peaceful.

Let your wishes be known to those that love you!  Help your family with making these decisions when you can't.  You are never too young to think about these things.  My father-in-law died at the age of 56.  Having some kind of direction from him about his end of life care would have been priceless to us. 

Five Wishes is a great tool for you to use to write down these wishes for your family and take some of the burden off of them.  I would have valued this information in the care of my father-in-law had I known of it then.

Click image to view

Aging with Ease includes preparing for the end of life, not only for yourself but to help your family know your wishes!

Stay Young, Keep Learning!

“Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young.” Henry Ford

This is one of my favorite quotes.  Whenever I feel that there should be more to my life, I find that learning something new makes me feel inspired and young again.  One way you can continue to learn as you get up into those older years is to join groups that offer new learning experiences for you among your peers and at a reasonable cost.

If you live in my area, Southeastern Pennsylvania, then you should check out the Pathways Institute.  They offer many opportunities for older adults to continue to feel young by learning and having new experiences. Click on the below image to view their site and check out their fall schedule!

If you do not live in my area, not to worry.  There are groups like this all over the country, you just need to search for them.  If you are having trouble finding one in your area, send me a message and I will help you try to find one...

Learn something new everyday to maintain Aging with Ease!

Fall Prevention

Are you caring for an older adult who is falling?  Are you yourself an older adult and seem to keep landing on the floor?  This is a serious problem with our older generation.  Falls are the number one contributing factor to hospitalizations of older adults.  Injuries resulting from a fall can lead to extensive recuperation time and even death.

Falling is not a normal part of aging.  You should consult with your physician to be sure that there is not a medical reason that is causing you to fall.  Conditions like low blood pressure, diabetes,  neurological disorders, vision problems, ear problems and medications could be contributing to these falls.

However, there are some simple things you can do around your home to make your living environment safer.  Night time and early morning are the most common times of day that falls occur.  When you sit up in bed from a lying position, you frequently experience some dizziness because of the rush of blood from your head.   When you are older, the urge to use the bathroom can come on quickly so you feel rushed to get to the restroom.  If you do not take the time to regain your balance before you attempt to stand and walk, you are going to fall.  An easy way to avoid this problem is to wait until your head is clear and then continue on with your business.  If that means you need to wear some incontinence protection to bed to give you that time, then do it.  This will keep everything tidy and also keep you from hitting the floor.  Also, make sure to have a light right beside your bed that you can easily reach so you are not doing things in the dark!

Another major cause of falls in the home are those cute, very stylish throw rugs.  We all have them and honestly I would have trouble parting with mine too, but it is important to do away with them - especially if you use a walker or a cane to ambulate.  These throw rugs are a trip hazard waiting to happen.  They can very easily knock you off balance, causing you to fall.

You should also consider that you may need the aide of a cane or walker to improve your balance.  There are many conditions that affect your balance as you age; Parkinson's, vision loss, stroke, just to name a few.  Many people resist the use of these devices, maybe because they think it will make them appear old or that they need help.  In fact, by recognizing this need, they are actually enabling themselves to remain independent longer because they reduce their risk of falling, which can lead to injuries that will the store and buy the cutest device you can find.  You need to be trained how to use these devices correctly and safely.  You should speak to your physician about these devices and ask for a referral for Physical Therapy.   The physical therapists will evaluate your abilities and what device will work the best for you.  They will also train you on how to use them correctly.  Also, by asking for this prescription from your doctor, you should be able to have your new device partially paid by your Medicare plan. "Adjustable Aluminum Cane"

Hugo Elite Rolling Walker 4.0 - Rolling Walkers & Rollators
Lastly, if you live alone, what would you do if you did fall and could not get yourself off the floor to get help?  Be proactive in preventing this terrible situation!  Look into a Home Medical Alert System that you can wear on a bracelet or necklace all the time that will automatically call someone to come and help you just by pressing a button.  There are different ways to obtain these devices.  There are companies that sell their devices and then charge a monthly fee for 24-hour on-call personnel.  These are great if you do not live very close to family or friends who could be the ones to help you.  If you do have family and friends nearby who would be willing to be the on-call person should something happen, then you can purchase these devices at a local pharmacy or medical supply store with no monthly fee.  You can program a specific phone number in them so when you push the button it will dial that number for help.
 


Preventing falls as we age leads to Aging with Ease!

Stay Active, Stay Strong!

Here is a clear example of how to stay active as we age and why being active in life is so vital to Aging with Ease...

Creating Interactive Activities for Seniors. Click image to read article.

Let me know what your thoughts are about this article.  I would love to hear of any activities that you have found that have worked for you to remain active in life...

Grandpa Loving Life!

 

I hope I am still having fun like this when I am that age!

Stroke Victim Care Starts with Rehabilitation

Today I would like to discuss caring for someone who has suffered from a stroke, or Cerebral Vascular Accident (CVA). A lot of what I have written thus far has been pertaining to the care of people with memory loss but there are many other illness that can affect older adults that will leave them with a need to be cared for.  When a loved one has suffered from a stroke, it can affect them in many different ways.  It can leave them with paralysis of one side of their body, difficulty with speech, difficulty with swallowing, changes in personality, memory loss or any combination of these things.  Caring for your loved one can be complex.
It is very important to be extremely involved in their rehabilitation program that should have begun while they are still in the hospital setting.  After their discharge, this program should continue into the home to help ensure that you are able to adequately manage their care.  Do not be afraid to ask questions of these therapists.  This rehabilitation time is very valuable to you and your loved one; it will not last forever and it will then be up to both of you to continue it when they are done.  Typically, initially after a CVA the effects can be significant but with good therapy some of the lost functions can be regained.

 

Physical Therapy (PT) offers the opportunity to increase your loved one's strength, regain their ability to walk, increase their balance and improve their overall movement.  This is important for any stroke victim no matter what losses that they may have.  A stroke, in general, exhausts your entire body and it needs to be built back up again.  PT is especially important if you have suffered paralysis as a result.  Physical therapists will work extensively at regaining your ability to walk.  They have valuable knowledge in devices such as specialized mobility devices that may be needed.  They will also work with their hands, elbows, knees and feet to prevent contractions from developing in their joints by using braces and stretching exercises to maintain their mobility.  It is vital that you learn these techniques so that you continue their treatment when the therapy ends.

Occupational Therapy (OT) focuses on their activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, using the bathroom, and other basic self-functioning skills.  These are especially important when you are ready to go home.  They will come to your home and help you set up your living area so that you can more easily and safely provide care.  Occupational therapists come with a wealth of knowledge of adaptive equipment that can be placed in your home to make the care of your loved one physically easier on you.  Do not hesitate to bring concerns you have to their attention.  Once again, the more involved you are in this rehabilitation program, the more success you and your loved one will have when you are on your own.

Speech Therapy helps your loved one relearn to speak more clearly or to take nourishment safely if their speech or swallowing has been affected as a result of the stroke.  In my experiences with these losses, many patients do regain a lot of what was initially lost.  Speech therapists will do pronunciation drills and oral exercises to improve their tongue and throat muscles.  They will explain what foods and drinks are safe for them to eat.   It is essential that you clearly understand any restrictions that they may have; you don't want to end up back in the hospital with pneumonia because they are silently aspirating food or drink.

This is just an overview of what I have seen in my work.  In my experiences with stroke victims, the families that are the most involved see the best results in the care of their loved one.  It can be managed at home if you are up for the challenge.  Most CVA victims still are very alert and oriented.  Being involved from the beginning with the rehabilitation process increases your chances for success at home.  It will increase their chances of Aging with Ease!