March 31, 2012 - Sponsored by the Metrowest Alzheimer's Partnership

Where do families turn when they realize that a parent’s memory is fading? Dealing with the emotions surrounding the onset of Alzheimer’s disease, which is the most feared illness in the U.S. after cancer, is difficult. The MetroWest Alzheimer Partnership, in collaboration with the Alzheimer’s Association, is hosting an educational program that is free and open to the public on Saturday, March 31st at Whitney Place in Natick.

Concrete help for families can be elusive as they struggle to provide daily caregiving, research local resources such as residential and day programs, and find local support networks. Especially difficult for families is when their loved one starts to exhibit some of the troubling behavior commonly associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

The event features nationally recognized Alzheimer expert, Paul Raia, Ph.D (above right).

Read more ...

Note: The following was published in our monthly column "Living and Loving: Elder Care in the 21st Century" in Gate House News' Concord Journal.  We will continue this theme of elders and emergency preparedness in this blog with periodic articles on the subject.

We are now in the middle of the Holiday Trifecta -- Thanksgiving is past, and the year-end holidays are around the corner.  Holidays can be especially stressful for those of us whose parents may be declining. This covers a wide range -- in some cases, it can be as simple as realizing that you will need to begin to devote regular efforts to help a loved manage through daily life; in others, we might face the grief of knowing, or fearing, that this is probably the last holiday season together.

Because remote family members visit so often during the holidays, we often receive requests at this time of year to help assess whether someone is still safe, and to identify the kinds of help available and what might be needed.  We also notice enormous stress in uncertain adult children hoping to do the right thing with their parents while navigating uncharted waters.  In this column, we will provide holiday visit guidelines, from how to manage a short trip to considering whether a member can continue to live alone, safely and unaided.

Read more ...

On Day 4 without power following our recent late-October snowstorm, a woman in her 90s slowly rolled into a municipally-run emergency shelter at a nearby metro-west Boston town.  Leaning heavily on her walker, she looked at the shelter manager wearily and said, "I'm cold. I want to sleep here tonight."  Her caregiver interjected quickly, "I have to get back home,” eyeing the exit.

The shelter manager quizzed them about the elder's ability to function independently.  How much care was needed, and what type?  It turns out that the caregiver came 3-4 days a week; the senior was a bit confused, not fully independent in several of the activities of daily living, nor could she manage her own medications safely. Just not handling her medications independently was enough of a deal breaker, according to the manager. "I'm sorry, but this shelter cannot accommodate you," said the manager. "You'll have to find somewhere else to stay."

Read more ...

Hi Deborah,
I read your article online about normal forgetfulness and wanted to ask where you would turn if you were 44 and worried about this.  I do live with quite a bit of stress (divorce, own business, a somewhat mentally abusive boyfriend, etc), and have always been a multi-tasker who doesn't like to focus on details.  Since high school, I've been awful with names and memories of long term events.

So it didn't concern me when my boyfriend became concerned I didn't remember seeing a movie (I slept through it), or that we discussed something.  We had a rocky relationship and I thought he was excusing his behavior.  Recently, though, I had an intern work 3 months for me, and when a month later I tried recalling his name, I could not for the life of me remember until I looked it up.  If you think I should worry?  I've mentioned this to my primary and they excuse it to juggling.

On the bright side, I've noticed I am able to remember more things now that I've left the boyfriend, but I want to double check... Thank you!!  -- Signed, Worried

Read more ...

March 22, 2011, 11 am

The Gardner Auditorium

State House, Boston, Massachusetts

Save Adult Day Health Programs from proposed funding cuts.

Adult Day Health (ADH) proposed rate cuts to take effect March 15. Governor’s FY 12 proposed budget would cut $55M in ADH funding and would eliminate “Basic” ADH services . Prevent the loss of 2500 jobs and vital services to 11,000 Seniors.

Here at CCC, we can't say enough positive about good adult day programs.  They cost little money to provide a huge amount of benefit. They not only  provide great care and therapy for seniors, but they provide excellent respite for their families.  They keep seniors in the community and out of far more expensive facilities. They can be nothing short of life-saving -- and life-giving, too.

The new “Homestead Advantage Program” is being offered by Caring Resources of Norwood, MA. This program provides a cost-effective approach to dementia care and is aimed at helping dementia patients, their families and caregivers create the right environment and enable meaningful relationships.

Homestead Advantage encompasses individual caregiver education, support, guidance, care planning and appropriate referral sources to best meet the needs of the dementia client. This program includes a personalized, at-home assessment by a Certified Dementia Practitioner, a Geriatric Psychiatrist, and a Licensed Independent Social Worker to meet the clinical, social, and environmental needs of the dementia client.

Read more ...

Recently, I was honored to be part of a four-person panel at the Wayland Public Library speaking on the topic "What's New in Aging?" We discussed navigating the new terrain of aging in the 21st century, followed by a question and answer session from the audience. Juergen H. Bludau, MD (photo at right), Harvard University and Brigham and Women's Hospital geriatrician, and Carol Sneider Glick, Esq, elder law specialist with Squillace & Associates of Boston, were wonderful fellow panelists. (Part 2 of this talk is scheduled for April 6, 7pm at the same location - register here)

I want to note here high points of the evening, including the excellent questions the audience brought. I felt very much at home in the company of these speakers, all on the front lines of bringing best-quality care in a quickly changing landscape. My fellow panelists as well as the audience of about 45 from Wayland, Weston and beyond were enthusiastic and engaged with every presenter's points.

Read more ...

We meet regularly with other firms serving the Massachusetts elder care and home care market to discuss how we can work together to serve our clients better.  At one meeting recently, I was especially impressed with the elder law firm of Summers and Summers in Acton, MA. They are trying to think about elder law and elder care in new ways to serve a changing market.  This is the kind of thinking required to address the demographic and market changes facing us today.

Summers and Summers has expanded their elder law practice to offer Geriatric Care Management services as well. Attorney Cathleen Summers is a Registered Nurse and a Geriatric Care Manager as well.  We know many outstanding GCMs, but most are independent or work at hospitals or home care agencies.  Combining elder law and geriatric care management is rare -- unique, in our experience -- but makes a great deal of sense.  The job of a Geriatric Care Manager is to look at and to manage the "big picture" of a family's elder care needs.  This usually includes estate planning and other legal services, many of which are offered on a transaction basis without developing a relationship between the law firm and the family.

Read more ...

By Guest Blogger, Paula von Kleydorff, Program Director, Carleton-Willard At Home

(Editor's Note: Caring Companion is proud to be a Carlton-Willard At Home recommended provider; CWatHome members enjoy special pricing or other considerations from recommended providers)

Carleton-Willard At Home is in the forefront of what is being called a “Village Movement.” In 2001, Beacon Hill Village was the first in the country to begin providing comprehensive services to local residents who preferred to remain in their homes as they aged.  Across the United States there are now 54 organizations similar to At Home and another 100 in development.  Some are in the middle of urban areas, others are suburban and one in California covers hundreds of miles.  But all have a common goal – giving local residents the peace of mind and support needed to age in place.

This past November, representatives from many of these groups came together in Philadelphia under the auspices of the Village to Village Network, a national organization launched last year.  Throughout the two day conference, new and developing groups listened to and shared their stories, compared program offerings and brainstormed about ways to operate more effectively and efficiently.

Read more ...

This is a very difficult and emotional topic: what do you do if you suspect (or know) an elder is being abused or neglected? This would include emotional, physical, sexual and/or financial abuse or neglect; self-neglect is also included.  If you're not sure what might be considered elder abuse or neglect, here are some guidelines from the US Administration on Aging.

I always strongly encourage the person with the suspicions or knowledge to report them -- but often the next questions are: how and to whom? Here are four approaches, each based upon my working in Massachusetts. I will also include general info for those reading this concerned about elders living elsewhere in the US.

The most vulnerable members of our community need help from every one of us.  Overwhelmed and frustrated caregivers need help too, which is often what happens when elder abuse or neglect is report. Your report might just be what turns the situation around for everyone.

Read more ...

Topics in this just-published snailmail newsletter:

• Better Care - Lower Cost - Improved Health! Elder Care Remote Activity Monitoring Technology Pilot
• Want to Participate in One of Our Pilots - Free!
• Caring Companion Awarded Home Care Agency Accreditation
• Optimism Connected to a Stronger Immune System

Download this newsletter here: CCCnewsletterv2.1 (if you would like to receive our next newsletter  by email or snailmail -- or to have it sent to a friend, client or family member -- This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with the name contact info).

On February 1 --  despite the start of yet another snow storm! -- a lovely group of professionals gathered to hear Paul Raia, PhD of the Massachusetts Alzheimers Association speak to the Metro West Alzheimers Partnership, hosted at Traditions of Wayland, MA. This was primarily a Q&A session -- what types of questions did we need help answering for ourselves, patients and families?

It was a real treat to have an opportunity for such a free-ranging discussion with Dr. Raia, who is both a delight as a human being, and a master source for such information. Also, it was a chance for group brainstorming of common challenges, gathering the experience and wisdom of all the professionals in the room -- which added together among the 40 or so of us was probably most of the way to the 1,000-year mark!

Read more ...