Families unite and for the first time realize loved ones are in desperate need!
11.24.2009 – (Austin, TX - November 2009) - The holiday season may be one of the few times families get together and realize their elderly loves ones are in deep trouble and need immediate help. Adult children who may not live nearby are often shocked to come home to a holiday heartbreak with deteriorating relatives they weren’t prepared to handle. So this holiday, the family might gather around the kitchen table – not only for turkey and treats - but instead for talk, a big talk, that maps out a plan how to care for ailing, elderly relatives.
“This Thanksgiving and Christmas, thousands of adult children will come home to a sight they never expected to find: Elderly relatives who are lethargic and forgetful. A messy house. Bills piling up. The joy of the season is clouded with the realization that your relatives are suffering and can’t make it alone,” says Frank Hayes, Owner of Senior Helpers, the fastest growing provider of in-home care for seniors. “This is often the best time for family members to hash out care solutions everyone agrees on.”
The owner of the Round Rock Senior Helpers location said the services he and his wife provide will become even more invaluable as the over 65 population doubles by 2030.
Frank and Moire Hayes opened the current location of Senior Helpers, off Hesters Crossing, in August.
Senior Helpers offers companion and personal care. Companion care includes having people to help seniors run errands, cook, shop and complete household chores such as laundry. Personal care includes helping lift a senior out of bed and into a wheelchair, bathing and dispensing medication. Senior Helpers offers hourly, 24/7 and live-in care.
"Our No. 1 goal is to provide the best care for the senior and to figure out how all the partners can work together," Moire Hayes said. "We want to improve the quality of life of our seniors and their families."
Seniors will be greatly affected by the reduction in Medicare funding........
From the WaPO:
A plan to slash more than $500 billion from future Medicare spending -- one of the biggest sources of funding for President Obama's proposed overhaul of the nation's health-care system -- would sharply reduce benefits for some senior citizens and could jeopardize access to care for millions of others, according to a government evaluation released Saturday.
Navigating the Health Insurance Maze for Seniors Call 512-388-4357 for More Info
Learn about the basics of Medicare, Medicaid, Medigap (Medicare supplemental insurance), Medicare Advantage plans, and Medicare Part D prescription drug plans.
Saturday, November 14th, from 10AM -11:30AM
3710 Cedar Street, Austin, 78705
Presenter: Mary Koffend, President of Accountable Aging, is a specialist in eldercare services and government-funded programs. Having served elder and disabled clients for more than thirty years with the Social Security Administration (SSA) throughout Texas, Mary is in a unique position to now help clients deal with two of the biggest challenges related to aging: navigating the benefits maze and understanding healthcare options.
Please pre-register for this seminar. To pre-register or for more information,
please call Bruce Kravitz at (512) 451-4611 or email at bkravitz@ageofaustin.org.
Notwithstanding the contributions by several organizations and governmental agencies, most experts agree that more needs to be done to support boomer women and other family caregivers. The reliance on family caregivers in home settings has increased relative to formal care in recent years, and larger proportions of care
recipients have high levels of disability. Critical as the situation is, rationally there seems to be little sense of urgency or even awareness of the growing needs of caregivers—particularly of boomer women.
The economic value of family caregiving to American society is in the hundreds of billions of dollars annually, amounting to more than twice the amount spent on paid care—even without taking into account the wages and benefits that are sacrificed when people leave their jobs or reduce their hours in order to care for family
members. The value of care provided by families and friends was estimated to be $350 billion in 2006. The contribution of women accounts for the bulk of this amount—the contribution of women providing care is estimated to be between $207 billion and $263 billion.
This caregiving brief reviews the physical and emotional health consequences of providing care by boomer women. Boomers are quite different from previous generations of women in a number of respects, with the potential for significantly greater negative health outcomes. Financial and social consequences of caregiving
on boomer women are also discussed.
CONTACT: Frank Hayes, 512-388-4357, fhayes@seniorhelpers.com
Senior Helpers Offering Free Respite Care for Veterans
Local in-home care provider offering free care to veterans through November 15, 2009
Round Rock, TX – November 12, 2009 – In light of Veterans Day and the recent tragedy at Fort Hood, the Senior Helpers office serving Central Texas in Williamson, Travis, Bell and Burnet counties is offering free respite care to veterans through the end of the week. Senior Helpers is the nation’s fastest growing provider of in-home senior care and provides seniors with the freedom to continue to live independently in their home while still receiving the care they need.
Senior Helpers of Central Texas will provide morning or afternoon respite care for veterans and their family members through Sunday, November 15, FREE OF CHARGE. The only catch is that the office can only continue the program until their resources run out. Also, any requests related to the Fort Hood incident will go to the front of the line. This free service is on a first-come, first-serve basis and Senior Helpers will do everything in their power to honor all requests. Senior Helpers asks that veterans or their families call the office at 512-388-4357 to set up your schedule.
“We are a veteran family ourselves and understand the hardships involved with care,” says Frank Hayes, owner of Senior Helpers of Central Texas. “We are pleased to offer this service to show veteran families how much we care and to spread the word about the different options that are available to seniors. We want to take time to thank veterans for all they have done for our great country!”
For more information about this event or to set up an interview with the sponsor, Senior Helpers, please contact the Senior Helpers office of Central Texas at 512-388-4357.
About Senior Helpers:
Senior Helpers connects professional caregivers with seniors who need extra assistance in the place they call home. The company has 280 franchises in 38 states through the country and offers a wide range of personal and companion care services to assist seniors living independently with a strong focus on quality of life for the client and peace of mind for their families. Senior Helpers strives to be the leading companion and personal care provider that offers dependable, consistent and affordable home care. For more information, please visit: http://www.seniorhelpers.com/.
During the American Revolution, many important political discussions took place in the inns and taverns of Philadelphia, including the founding of the Marine Corps. A committee of the Continental Congress met at Tun Tavern to draft a resolution calling for two battalions of Marines able to fight for independence at sea and on shore.
The resolution was approved on November 10, 1775, officially forming the Continental Marines.
As the first order of business, Samuel Nicholas became Commandant of the newly formed Marines. Tun Tavern’s owner and popular patriot, Robert Mullan, became his first captain and recruiter. They began gathering support and were ready for action by early 1776.
Each year, the Marine Corps marks November 10th with a celebration of the brave spirit which compelled these men and thousands since to defend our country as United States Marines.
Senior Helpers will, until our resources run out (this is the only string!), provide morning or afternoon respite care for veterans and their family members through Sunday this week at no charge.
Call us to set up the schedule at 512-388-4357. It is first come first serve and we will do everything in our power to honor all requests!
We are a Veteran family ourselves and understand the hardships involved.
One other string to note: All Ft. Hood requests will go to the front of the line.
Thank you Veterans for all you have done for this great country!
Consider exercises that pump oxygen and blood to the brain. These include running, walking, bicycling. There are at least 18 research studies showing that exercise can improve memory in people suffering from Alzheimer's disease. Better yet, start exercising now to improve cognitive function.
To read Worried About Alzheimer's? Tip #1 Exercisego here.
Control your Weight
The heavier a person is, the more likely they are to develop Alzheimer's. Scientist found that the brains of older individuals who were obese (with a body mass index over 30) had approximately 8 percent less brain volume than subjects of normal weight (BMI between 18.5 and 25). When brain-volume loss reaches about 10 percent symptoms like memory trouble or confusion appear. If you are obese, big belly in middle age, the chances that you could suffer from dementia are tripled.
To read this interesting article on Reuters -- Big belly in 40s raises Alzheimer's risk in 70s -- go here.
Abstract: We have recently shown that Alzheimer’s disease (AD) transgenic mice given a moderate level of caffeine intake (the human equivalent of 5 cups of coffee per day) are protected from development of otherwise certain cognitive impairment and have decreased hippocampal amyloid-β (Aβ) levels due to suppression of both β-secretase (BACE1) and presenilin 1 (PS1)/g-secretase expression. To determine if caffeine intake can have beneficial effects in “aged” APPsw mice already demonstrating cognitive impairment, we administered caffeine in the drinking water of 18-19 month old APPsw mice that were impaired in working memory. At 4-5 weeks into caffeine treatment, those impaired transgenic mice given caffeine (Tg/Caff) exhibited vastly superior working memory compared to the continuing impairment of control transgenic mice.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - A study conducted by exercise physiologists in the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Human Studies finds that as little as 80 minutes a week of aerobic or resistance training helps not only to prevent weight gain, but also to inhibit a regain of harmful visceral fat one year after weight loss.
The study was published online Oct. 8 and will appear in a future print edition of the journal Obesity.
Unlike subcutaneous fat that lies just under the skin and is noticeable, visceral fat lies in the abdominal cavity under the abdominal muscle. Visceral fat is more dangerous than subcutaneous fat because it often surrounds vital organs. The more visceral fat one has, the greater is the chance of developing Type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
80 minutes per week of either aerobic or resistance training prevents any fat weight gain around the internal organs. This is good news.
"What we found was that those who continued exercising, despite modest weight regains, regained zero percent visceral fat a year after they lost the weight," Hunter said. "But those who stopped exercising, and those who weren't put on any exercise regimen at all, averaged about a 33 percent increase in visceral fat.
It takes at least an hour a day of exercise to prevent weight gain. But 80 minutes per week to prevent the harmful form of weight gain is only 19% of the hour per day amount. So this is a lot easier.
Helping Grandpa Get His Tech On- good article from the NY Times.With the advent of easy to use computers and smart phones it is easier than ever to stay in touch.
Did you know that of the three million Americans age 65 and older who are involved in accidents every year, a majority were injured right in their own homes?
The good news is that many of these accidents can be prevented. With a small investment of time and effort, you can help protect yourself or your loved one from dangers in the home.
A Five Step Plan for Protecting Against Accidents
There is no magic formula for avoiding mishaps in the home. But advanced planning and taking proactive steps can lower the risk. Here is a simple plan to follow for making safety a greater priority:
1. Make a conscious effort to understand the special risks and vulnerability of older adults. Take into consideration changes in balance, strength, and eyesight, as well as use of medications that might cause dizziness or drowsiness.
2. Perform a home safety assessment. Do a careful walk-through of the home, making note of what needs to be repaired or modified. (Go to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Senior Fall Prevention project to download the "Home Safety Checklist for Older Adults").
3. Be sensitive to potential problems. For example, spilling water on the floor or leaving small toys around can be safety issues anywhere. In the home of an older friend or relative, such carelessness can be especially dangerous.
4. Follow up by dealing with the risks found during the inspection. This could be as simple as doing some home improvements or repairs yourself. It might involve arranging for some professional help. Put high-risk problems at the top of the list for immediate action.
5. Perform a periodic follow-up inspection. Needs and situations change, so don't take safety for granted.
Home Security
Unfortunately, older adults are easy targets for burglary and assault. Statistically, they are victimized more often than other age groups. Here are several ways to make the home more secure:
All doors and windows should lock securely.
Exterior lighting should be ample. Cut back shrubbery if necessary to improve visibility from the street and neighboring homes.
All exterior doors should have view holes so occupants need not open the door if they don't know who is on the other side.
There should be at least one phone on every floor in the home and a phone by the bedside for emergencies; keep cell phone charged.
Emergency numbers should be clearly written out and taped on or next to the phone.
Moire & Frank Hayes are the proud owners of Senior Helpers serving Central Texas: Austin, Georgetown, Round Rock, Lakeway, Lago Vista, Marble Falls, Cedar Park and adjacent locales.
Our goal is to deliver quality and affordable in-home personal and companion care that provides the level of care for our clients and families that we would expect for our own mom and dad.
Buy Amazon Products via this Blog to Support Austin Groups for the Elderly (A.G.E)
If you order Amazon products via our search link below a percentage of the purchase price will be donated to Austin Groups for the Elderly (A.G.E.). 100% of earnings via this program are donated to A.G.E to support their services for the elderly in Austin and Williamson County: Adult Day Care, Medical Equipment Lending and much more. So Buy Often!
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