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(Signs of Depression)

Regular exercise, relaxation (stress management), proper sleep (rest), and proper diet can help to lessen the impact of the stress from caregiving. If you require more support, go get it. Avoid “burnout” or worse.

Please take GOOD care of yourself!

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NO MINIMUM HOURS REQUIRED!

May result from the positive effects ‘purpose of life’ is reported to have on immune function and blood vessel health

March 1, 2010 – Individuals who report having greater purpose in their lives appear less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease or its precursor, mild cognitive impairment, according to a report in the March issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

“Alzheimer’s disease is one of the most dreaded consequences of aging, and the identification of modifiable factors associated with the risk of Alzheimer’s disease is a top public health priority for the 21st century, particularly given the large and rapidly increasing aging population,” the authors write in the article.

Relatively few of these risk factors have been identified, but data suggest that some psychological factors – including conscientiousness, extraversion and neuroticism – may be associated with Alzheimer’s disease risk.

“Purpose in life, the psychological tendency to derive meaning from life’s experiences and to possess a sense of intentionality and goal directedness that guides behavior, has long been hypothesized to protect against adverse health outcomes,” write Patricia A. Boyle, Ph.D., and colleagues at Rush University Medical Center, Chicago.

The researchers assessed this quality in more than 900 community-dwelling older adults without dementia who were participating in the Rush Memory and Aging Project.

Participants’ purpose in life was measured by their level of agreement with statements such as, “I feel good when I think of what I have done in the past and what I hope to do in the future” and “I have a sense of direction and purpose in life.”

After an average of four years and a maximum of seven years of annual follow-up clinical evaluations, 155 of 951 participants (16.3 percent) developed Alzheimer’s disease.

After controlling for other related variables, greater purpose in life was associated with a substantially reduced risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, as well as a reduced risk of mild cognitive impairment and a slower rate of cognitive decline.

Specifically, individuals with a score of 4.2 out of 5 (90th percentile) on the purpose in life measure were approximately 2.4 times more likely to remain free of Alzheimer’s disease than individuals with a score of 3.0 (10th percentile).

The biological basis of the association is unknown, but may result from the positive effects purpose of life is reported to have on immune function and blood vessel health, the authors suggest.

The result may have public health implications.

“In particular, these findings may provide a new treatment target for interventions aimed at enhancing health and well-being in older adults. Purpose in life is a potentially modifiable factor that may be increased via specific behavioral strategies that help older persons identify personally meaningful activities and engage in goal-directed behaviors,” the authors continue.

“Even small behavioral modifications ultimately may translate into an increased sense of intentionality, usefulness and relevance.”

This work was supported by grants from the National Institute on Aging, by the Illinois Department of Public Health and by the Robert C. Borwell Endowment Fund. Seniorjournal.com

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Everyone needs help at times. It’s okay to ask for help and to take time for yourself. Try these helpful tips below:

• I can ask people to help out in specific ways like making a meal, visiting the person, or taking the person for a short time.
• I will join a support group to share advice and understanding with other caregivers.
• I will call for help from home health care or adult day care services when I need it.
• I will use national and local resources to find out how to pay for some of this help. Such as: ramp building, home safety devices, transportation, etc.
• I don’t have to do everything myself.

Contact the following for additional help:

National Council on Aging (Benefits Check Up Program)
Phone # 1-202-479-1200

Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Phone # 1-800-827-1000

Social Security Disability Income ( Age 65 or younger)
Phone # 1-800-772-1213

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Signs of unsafe driving
The following behaviors may be signs that it is time to stop driving:

• Forgetting how to locate familiar places
• Failing to observe traffic signals
• Making slow or poor decisions
• Driving at inappropriate speeds
• Becoming angry and confused while driving
• Hitting curbs
• Using poor lane control
• Making errors at intersections
• Confusing the brake and gas pedals
• Returning from a routine drive later than usual. The person may be wandering and getting lost in the car. Consider enrolling the person in MedicAlert + Safe Return.

Steps to take if the person won’t give up the keys
Losing the independence driving provides can be upsetting, and it may be hard to give up the car keys. If the person with dementia insists on driving, caregivers, friends or family members may need to take extra steps, including:

• Encourage law enforcement to issue a citation.
• Ask a doctor to write the person a “do not drive” prescription.
• Control access to the car keys.
• Disable the car by removing the distributor cap or the battery.
• Keep the care out of sight. Seeing the car may act like a visual cue to drive.
• Assure the person that a ride will be available if he or she needs to go somewhere. Have a list of contacts who can provide transportation, such as family members, friends, community transportation services or ComForcare Senior Services.
• Have prescription medicines, groceries or meals delivered, reducing the person’s need to drive.
• Have the person tested by the Department of Motor Vehicles.

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The Caregiver Newsletter

The Alzheimer Caregiver Newsletter

On the other hand, when caregivers take time to care for themselves, good things usually happen:

They stay healthier. They feel better about themselves. They have more energy and enthusiasm and can keep giving care.

Here are some important things that you need to find time to do-just for yourself:

Get some exercise. You may feel better and sleep better if you exercise. One way is to be active in blocks of 10 minutes or more throughout your day and week. Experts say to aim for at least 2½ hours of moderate activity a week.

Fitness: Choosing activities that are right for you

Eat healthy meals and snacks. When you are busy giving care, it may seem easier to eat fast food than to prepare healthy meals. But healthy meals are easy to prepare, and healthy eating will give you more energy to carry you through each day.

Get enough sleep. If you are not getting enough sleep at night, take a nap during the day. Plan to get at least one full night’s rest each week.

Make time for an activity you enjoy-reading, listening to music, painting or doing crafts, playing an instrument-even if you can only do it for a few minutes a day. If you like to go to church activities or take classes, ask a friend or family member to stay with your loved one for an hour or two one or two times a week so you can do those things.

Get regular medical checkups. This includes dental checkups. Even if you have always been healthy, you need to stay healthy. Know about the signs of depression, and watch for them not only in the person you are caring for but also in yourself. If you have feelings of lingering sadness or hopelessness, talk with your doctor.

Feeling frustrated and need some relief?

ComForcare Jax Proudly Introduces: “ComForcare Certified Alzheimer Caregivers”, also known as the CCAC

A selected group of our most skilled and professional caregivers have completed an intensive training program conducted by the Alzheimer’s Association of North Florida. Upon successful completion of this program, the selected caregivers receive the designation of CCAC. The training course includes:

How to Communicate
How to Comfort Family Members
Maintaining an Appropriate Environment
Ethical Issues
Behavior Management
Assistance with ADL’s (Activities of Daily Living)
Stress Management
Medication
Activities

Each caregiver has also passed a thorough background check and is well-informed about the ways to avoid identity theft.

**5 Ways the CCAC Team Will Help Your Loved One Keep His/Her Independence:

1.      Assist with daily tasks such as bathing, grooming and hygiene, meal preparation, bill paying and light housekeeping.

2.      Use memory aids and games such as labels, lists, picture flash cards, “touch and feel” material, puzzles, Sudoku, sing-alongs and many more.

3.      Encourage physical activities including gardening, dancing, painting, sports, or card games to ensure social and mental stimulation.

4.      Provide transportation to medical appointments and assist with occasional shopping and errands.

5.      Review medication profiles to ensure that all medication is taken promptly and in accordance with physician’s orders.

Alzheimer’s disease is always changing your loved one. Some days they are able to perform daily activities and other days, they’re not. Fortunately, during the early stages of Alzheimer’s, there is a window of opportunity during which your loved one can be cared for in the privacy of his or her own home rather than in an Assisted Living Facility.

Benefits of Using our CCAC Team:

-Independence of patient is promoted
-Safety of patient is assured
-Familiarity of surroundings is preserved
-Flexibility of scheduled care is available (from as little as 4 hours up to 24 hours per day)
-Cost of service is much less than “live-in” facility

FOR A FREE ASSESSMENT, PLEASE CALL US AT (904)-232-4407

ComForcare Jacksonville is a Proud Sponsor of The 2009 Memory Walk in Support of the Alzheimer’s Association

ComForcare Senior Services has formed a team of staff, friends and family to walk in the Alzheimer’s Association Memory Walk on Saturday November 14, 2009 at the Jacksonville Landing. We invite you to join us for this event and help raise awareness and funds for the Alzheimer’s Association. 

To register to walk with our team or support the team with a donation, please visit our webpage, http://mwjax09.kintera.org/comforcarejax or call 904-232-4407 for more information.