When we talk about caregivers, we talk about the people we see around us everyday. We see them in stores, churches, banks, shopping malls, our neighborhood or among our own circle of friends. We see them as a person caring for an aging or frail parent or spouse.

It is estimated that there are approximately 22 million American caregivers. They typically are  caring for an aging parent or elderly wife of an elderly husband and vice versa.

Caring for  a disabled loved one or aging parent is  overwhelming and a life changing experience for many.  An example  is when a parent or loved one falls, family members are usually in panic or in crisis.

Here’s a few step by step process to take you through some challenges of caregiving:

1. Identify the needs of your family member who needs the care
2. Getting everyone involved in the decision making
3. Develop an action plan and calling to action your family members and your loved one to get through difficult times
4. Gather information necessary to effectively meet the needs of your loved one
5. Recognize that there are community resources available to meet the needs of your loved ones such as in-home care assistance like Right Accord who can provide help at home.

Marilyn Tait, RN  is the author of ‘The Happy Caregiver”, a new book written for caregivers. She is  an educator and facilitator of the Parkinson Wellness Club and Caregiver Connection given by Sarasota Memorial Hospital conducted every month at the Institute for Advanced Medicine located at 5880 Rand Blvd. Sarasota, FL.  Community Calendar available at www.smh.com

The book  is dedicated to her parents but based on her personal experience as caregiver to her husband and her father. It is simple, fun, easy to read and jam packed with basic caregivers skills that you may implement instantly. This is a great gift for anyone who is doing caregiving for a loved one. This little book is huge and overflowing with fun, fast and easy ways to be a happy caregiver.

Marilyn Tait is having a book signing event on March 9, 2010 Tuesday at 2pm at Savannah Grand of Sarasota Assisted Living located at 7130 Beneva Road, Sarasota, Florida.

To order her book,  you can reach her directly at (941) 321-8700 or email her at marilyntait@comcast.net

Getting older does not necessarily mean a person’s driving days are over. But it is important to plan ahead and take steps to ensure the safety of your loved ones on the road. NHTSA offers free materials to help you learn more about how to recognize and discuss changes in your older loved one’s driving.

If you think you need to have a conversation with an older driver about his or her driving abilities, remember that many older drivers look at driving as a form of independence. Bringing up the subject of their driving abilities can make some drivers defensive. So, be prepared with your observations and questions, and – if necessary – provide possible transportation alternatives.

Answering the following questions may help you decide if you need to initiate a conversation with an older driver about driving safely:

- Getting lost on routes that should be familiar?
- Noticing new dents or scratches to the vehicle?
- Receiving a ticket for a driving violation?
- Experiencing a near miss or crash recently?
- Being advised to limit/stop driving due to a health reason?
- Overwhelmed by road signs and markings while driving?
- Taking any medication that might affect driving safely?
- Speeding or driving too slowly for no reason?
- Suffering of any illnesses that may affect driving skills?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, you might need to talk with an older driver about safe driving.

This article is courtesy of The National Highway and Traffic Administration. For more information visit their website at: www.nhtsa.dot.gov

In Sarasota, there’s a Driver’s Assessment and Re-Education Program given by Sarasota Memorial Hospital.
Designed to evaluate and improve driver safety, the Sarasota Memorial Driver’s Assessment and Re-Education program is coordinated by occupational therapists certified in driver evaluation and rehabilitation.

The program includes:
• Assessment of vision, thinking, visual perceptual, physical skills and reaction time
• Behind-the-wheel exercises in a customized driving program car, beginning in a parking lot and then advancing into more complex traffic. Behind-the-wheel assessments are performed in your community where the area is familiar.

Results of your assessment are sent to your referring physician for follow-up and referrals for further services if needed.

Re-Education & Training
The training and re-education program consists of in-vehicle education and practice in challenging situations, correction of unsafe habits and, if necessary, use of adaptive equipment to facilitate safer driving habits.

Referral
A physician referral requesting a driving assessment and listing a medical diagnosis is required for participation.

Information
We are unable to evaluate and treat people who are obtaining their license for the first time or who must drive while seated in a wheelchair. Individuals must be able to get into and out of a vehicle independently to participate in the program. For information, please call (941) 917-2183.

Functional Capacity Evaluations
A Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE) safely and objectively measures:
• Repetitive lifting capacity at various levels
• Repetitive push, pull, and carrying capacities
• Hand grip strength
• Tolerance for elevated work
• Prolonged trunk flexion in sitting and standing
• Prolonged trunk rotation in sitting and standing
• Prolonged crawl, knee and sustained crouch positions
• Repetitive squat
• Tolerance for prolonged sitting and standing
• Maximum walking, stairs and stepladder capacity
• Balance
• Hand coordination

Results and recommendations are discussed with the patient and the referring physician before a program of rehabilitation is designed.

For more information, please call (941) 917-1385 or visit www.smh.com

If you or your loved one is experiencing difficulty with transportation, our caregivers are able to provide companionship, in-home care assistance and incidental transportation services to keep you or your loved ones at home as long as they possibly can. Transportation to doctor’s appointments, errands, social and personal appointments are travel -assisted by our qualified care providers such as certified nursing asssitants, home health aides or companions.

We provide services in Sarasota, Manatee and its’ neighboring towns such as Longboat Key, Siesta Key, Casey Key, Bird Key, Lido Key, Nokomis, Venice, and Osprey.

Consider the following questions and see which statements express how you think you’d feel if you were near death.

It’s important to me to:

• “Die without pain and suffering”
• “be able to make my own decisions”
• “leave my family with good memories”
• “not burden my family with difficult decisions”
• “act according to my religious beliefs”
• “be with my loved ones at death”

Consider the medical possibilities. Imagine yourself in a coma or unconscious condition, with permanent brain damage or terminally ill.

Then ask yourself which of these statements best describe your feelings:

1. “It is important to me to prolong life, regardless of pain, chances for recovery and cost.”
2. “I prefer to avoid life-prolonging measures if the chance for recovery are not good.”

Discuss your responses with your family and friends, physician, religious leader and your lawyer. Check with your State laws regarding living wills and durable power of attorney for health care. It is always a good idea to have both.

Don’t forget to put your wishes in writing and be specific as possible. Make sure you sign and have them witnessed and notarized. Keep a record in your wallet stating that you have advance directives and where it is located. Give your physician a copy to be kept as part of your medical records. if you use a durable power of attorney for health care, be sure to give a copy to your proxy. Discuss your advance directives with your family, friends, physician and proxy. give copies to a relative or friend who is likely to be notified in the event of an emergency. Inform your physician or proxy if you update or make any changes in your advance directives.

Some common question about advance directives are:

Q. What if i change my mind after I fill out my advance directives?

A. If you are a competent adult, you can always change or cancel your advance directives. In some cases, you may even cancel it verbally.

Q. My relatives has a valid advance directives, can I prevent it from taking effect?

A. No, unless you can prove that the relative is not thinking clearly when he or she created the advance directives.

If you need more information or help in preparing advance directives, you may contact us to refer you to local resources that can assist you.These can include elder attorneys, hospital personnel, hospice, long-term care facilities or home health agencies.

You may also visit www.partnershipforcaring.org or call 1-800-989-9455 for more information about advance directives.

RIGHT ACCORD Private Duty-Home Health Care will be happy to assist you with any questions about advance directives. RNs are available to answer questions and free in-home care assessment should you require more information on how to stay at home with your wishes. Home care services are available to help you at home with assistance from certified caregivers. We provide services in Sarasota, Manatee and neighboring areas such as Venice, Osprey, Nokomis, Longboat Key, Siesta Key, Lido Key, Lakewood Ranch, and Casey Key.

For more information about maintaining your lifestyle right at home, call (941) 366-0801.

All persons have rights. When you become ill,  you as a client or patient have rights.

These includes:

1. The right to privacy – your personal and medical information is confidential. Medical records and communications with your physician must be kept private.
2. The right for informed consent – your physician must clearly explain the advantages and disadvantages as well as risks of any procedures, tests or treatments. You must give your permission to such care. You have the right to refuse any treatment.
3. The right to information about your condition. You must be kept up to date about your medical condition, treatments and chances for recovery.
4. The right to information about advance directives. In most cases, advance directives and your rights as a patient must be explained to you.

Advance Directives can protect people in extreme conditions. These people may be unable to communicate due to a condition such as irreversible brain damage or brain disease which can affect their ability to think as well as communicate.  People can benefit from Advance Directives if they have permanent coma or other unconscious states that can leave someone unconscious and without hope for recovery.   Advance Directives also is used when you have terminal illness or a condition from which a person is expected to die within a short period of  time.

With Advance Directives, you can direct health care providers to limit life prolonging measures when there’s little or no chance of recovery. For example, advance directives may enable patients to make their feelings known about the following:

• Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The procedure used to restore stopped breathing and/or heartbeat.
• Intravenous (IV) Therapy. This is used to provide food, water, and/or medication through a tube placed in a vein.
• Feeding Tubes – are inserted through the nose or stomach to provide nutrition.
• Respirators – are machines used to keep patients breathing
• Dialysis – is a method of cleaning patients’ blood by machine when kidneys no longer work properly.

2 Types of Advance Directives are:

1. Living Wills – are written instructions that explain your wishes regarding health care should you have a terminal condition.
2. Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care – is a written document where you can name a person (called proxy) to make decisions for you if you become unable to do so.

More about Advance Directives on next week posting.

RIGHT ACCORD Private Duty-Home Health Care is an agency dedicated in providing you with in-home care assistance to assist  you in maintaining  your lifestyle and independence at home. Help at home is available 24/7 in Sarasota and Manatee Counties,  or as little as few hours to allow you to stay at your own home instead. Senior care is what we are passionate about doing and we are committed to making you stay right at home a reality.

For more information or to set-up for free consultation call us at (941) 366-0801.

Hurry, time is running out and we can assist you to obtain your required Florida dentistry continuing education for renewal in no time. Click here to start: www.ceuassistant.com

Per Florida Board of Dentistry, Mandatory Continuing Education Information are:

As a condition of the biennial renewal of a license, each licensee shall be required to complete continuing education courses as stated in Rule 64B5-12.013, Florida Administrative Code, which are relevant to, and which enhance the licensee’s ability to practice.

Licensees shall not be required to complete continuing education requirements during the biennium in which they receive initial licensure with the exception of a board approved HIV/AIDS course.

The current biennium is March 1, 2008-February 28, 2010.

Anesthesia permit holders must complete at least four (4) hours of continuing education relating to anesthesia each biennium the permit is held. Effective May 24, 2005, this includes two (2) hours dealing with the management of medical emergencies. These hours would be included in the 30 hours of continuing education required by Section 466.0135(1), F.S.

Dentist – 30 hours of continuing education which must include:

• 2 hours in the prevention of medical errors
• 2 hours in domestic violence (every third biennium)
• In addition to the 30 hours, each dentist must complete a CPR course at the basic life support level, which includes training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) at the basic support level, including one-rescuer and two-rescuer CPR for adults, children, and infants; the relief of foreign body airway obstructions for adults, children, and infants; the use of an automatic external defibrillator (AED); and the use of ambu-bags resulting in certification or recertification by the American Heart Association, the American Red Cross or an entity with equivalent requirements.

HIV/AIDS is required only if this is the licensees first renewal

Dental Hygienist – 24 hours of continuing education which must include:

• 2 hours in the prevention of medical errors
• 2 hours in domestic violence (every third biennium)
• In addition to the 24 hours, each dental hygienist must complete a CPR course at the basic life support level, which includes training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) at the basic support level, including one-rescuer and two-rescuer CPR for adults, children, and infants; the relief of foreign body airway obstructions for adults, children, and infants; the use of an automatic external defibrillator (AED); and the use of ambu-bags resulting in certification or recertification by the American Heart Association, the American Red Cross or an entity with equivalent requirements.

HIV/AIDS is required only if this is the licensees first renewal

Domestic Violence:Section 456.031, Florida Statutes was revised in 2006 to require the two-hour domestic violence (DV) course be taken as part of every third biennial re-licensure or re-certification.

This means:

• If you were already licensed in 2006, the DV requirement is due within 6 years (2012) and then every 6 years thereafter
• If you were licensed in 2007 or after, the DV requirement is due within 6 years of the licensure date and every 6 years thereafter

For acceptable continuing education directly reported to the Florida Board of Dentistry, please click here: wwwceuassistant.com

It is estimated that 5 million Americans are affected with Alzheimer’s Disease.  Ten percent are over age 65 and fifty percent are over the age of 85.

In 1907, Dr. Alois Alzheimer  discovered the disease. A comprehensive physical and neurologic examination  will establish a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease. It is also confirmed by using MRI or CT Scan and documenting the person’s behavior changes over time.

There are different medications used to delay the progression of Alzheimer’s Disease such as Exelon, Reminyl and Aricept. Some doctors prescribe medications for anxiety or  insomnia in order for the client to rest or participate in activities of daily living.

Ten Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s Disease (Courtesy of The Alzheimer’s Association):

1. Memory Loss That Affects Job Skills
2. Difficulty Performing Familiar Tasks
3. Problems With Languages
4. Disorientation of Time And Place
5. Poor Or Decreased Judgement
6. Problems With Abstract Thinking
7. Misplacing Things
8. Changes In Mood Or Behavior
9. Changes in Personality
10. Loss of Initiative

To take care of someone with Alzheimer’s Disease require a great deal of patience and understanding of the disease process and the client.

The most difficult part of caring for clients with Alzheimer’s Disease is when they wander around. Wandering is a very common manifestation of agitated behavior among people with Alzheimer’s Disease. Increase in wandering can be due to frustration, fatigue, fear or discomfort. The person looks for places to remedy their pain, discomfort or suffering by looking for places such as bathroom or a familiar face. Sometimes they wander because they want to escape a noise or tension or  performs old routine such as going to work or pick up a family member.

Right Accord Private Duty-Home Care provides in-home care assistance to seniors in Sarasota and Manatee Counties. The caregivers includes home health aides, certified nursing assistants and companions have undergone training  in Alzheimer’s Disease.  The Administrator is also a Certified Home Health Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders (ADRD) Training Provider.

The good news is, the Sarasota Police Department Project Lifesaver Program has a coordinated program designed to protect the wandering people with Alzheimer’s Disease and brings peace of mind to families, caregivers and the community as a whole in Sarasota County.

The program works by contacting the Sarasota Police Department’s Project Lifesaver Program Administrator to complete an application. Once accepted to the program, a radio transmitter is placed on the person’s wrist.

If the participant is lost or missing, the Sarasota Police Department has a specialized tracking equipment to locate the transmitter the participant is wearing.

For more information on this program, please call (941) 954-7056 or visit www.sarasotagov.com.

To provide assistance to your loved one by providing a one to one care and keeping them safe at home,  please call our care coordinator to set-up a free consultation and assessment for in-home care at (941) 366-0801.

Right Accord Private Duty Home care is available in Sarasota and Manatee Counties and its neighboring towns such as Longboat Key, Siesta Key, Casey Key, Bird Key, Lido Key, Nokomis, Osprey, Venice, Lakewood Ranch and Bradenton area.

It is easier for people with disability or special needs to maintain physically and socially active in today’s society. Many people with disabilities now use scooters and wheelchairs to assist them in their transportation needs.

In addition,  with modern technology, people can now be transported in a specially equipped vans or public transportation vans designed for the handicapped and wheelchair dependent clients. Majority of public places such as restaurants, shopping malls, airport and supermarket are designed to accommodate people with disabilities which makes it more satisfying and comfortable for disabled people to come.

If a senior is ill or hospitalized, the case manager will initially arrange for non-emergency transportation if you require wheelchair or stretcher when you leave the hospital or rehab facility. When admitted to a nursing home,  rehabilitation facility or assisted living facility, a person may also need to be transported to doctor’s appointments and medical procedures. The case manager or social worker or facility scheduler will also arrange for non-emergency transportation.

Right Accord Transport is available in Sarasota and Manatee County to accommodate non-emergency transportation requiring wheelchair or stretcher. Caregivers such as  certified home health aides or certified nursing assistants or companions are available should you require special assistance when traveling to such as medical appointments,  social appointments, visiting friends or family, airport travel or going out of state travel.

At Right Accord Transport, it is our utmost goal to assist you in maximizing your independence and provide you with safety and comfort during your travel.

Our newest state of the art vans are designed to accommodate special mobility needs. The drivers are CPR certified and are very dependable and polite. Our rates are very reasonable and affordable.

To book your next non-emergency wheelchair or stretcher  transport with us, please call (941) 366-0801 or you may book on line by visiting our website at www.rightaccordhealth.com.

Right Accord Transport is available 24/7 in Sarasota and its neighboring areas such as Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch, Siesta Key, Longboat Key, Osprey, Venice, Nokomis, Casey Key, Bird Key.

One of the things is providing information and  resources to educate our seniors particularly in the maze of navigating the health care system.

Medicare Part D is your Medicare Prescription Coverage.  It is a prescription drug option run by private insurance companies approved by Medicare and contracted by Medicare to help cover the cost of prescription drugs. It may help the elderly lower the drug costs and help protect seniors from higher costs in the future.

Seniors are eligible to enroll for  Medicare when they turn 65 years old. You can  enroll  Medicare Part D within the 7 month period that begins 3 months before the month you turn age 65, includes the month you turn age 65, and ends 3 months after the month you turn age 65.

November 15 to December 31 of each year is the enrollment period and the time when you can switch your Medicare prescription drug coverage and coverage begins  on the 1st of January the following year.

Seniors may also enroll between January 1 to march 31 of each year if they already have a Medicare prescription drug coverage. You must stay enrolled for that calendar year starting the date your coverage begins.

There are certain situations where you may be able to switch or drop Medicare plans such as if you move out of the service area, lose other creditable prescription drug coverage or live in an institution.

What you pay is a monthly premium in addition to your Part B, yearly deductible (some plans don’t have deductible) copayments or coninsurance or your share after the deductible.

The actual drug plan costs varies depending on your prescriptions, the plan you choose, whether the pharmacy you use is in the network and whether the prescription drugs are in your plan’s formulary list.

A coverage gap is available with most Medicare drug plans to pay after your plan spent certain amount and you have pay out-of-pocket limit for the year.

Catastrophic coverage is available once you reach your plan’s out-of pocket limit during coverage gap. This can assure you that once you have exhausted your covered drugs and out-of-pocket limit, you only pay a small copayment for the rest of the year.

You may want to check with the State Health Insurance Assistance Program to compare different plans and costs or visit www.medicare.gov for more information on your Medicare benefits.

For in-home care assistance and seniors who prefers to stay at home instead, please contact us at (941) 366-0801 for free consultation and care assessment in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Longboat Key, Bird Key, Casey Key, Venice, Osprey, Nokomis and Lakewood Ranch.

Elderly nutrition and counseling is available in Sarasota, Florida.

How is it possible for someone to look at the person and tell whether that person’s body is well nourished? A well nourished person usually manifest physical evidence such as shiny hair, clear skin, firm flesh and good posture. People with good nutrition also shows more energy and is more alert.

Seniors are more prone to be undernourished due to the fact that they may not have the desire to eat or they may not have the energy to go to the supermarket and prepare themselves nutritious meals. In many cases, the elderly will feed themselves with snacks that are empty caloric foods  or would eat outside which often this type of diets are loaded with excessive fats, salt and cholesterol. Most diseases are aggravated by wrong diet such as hypertension, diabetes, congestive heart failure, etc.

In home care assistance from a home health aide or caregivers from Right Accord Private Duty- Home Care in Sarasota, Florida are trained to provide proper nutrition to the elderly in the community. By utilizing the assistance from caregivers,  seniors are able to receive assistance from doing the food shopping and selecting proper foods and cooking a well balanced diet.

Right Accord caregivers in Sarasota have taken clients to receive nutrition counseling at the Sarasota Memorial for Outpatient  Nutrition Counseling Program and Lifestyle Coaching. Our clients have benefited from this program and improved their nutrition and lifestyle.

Insurance may cover this program therefore it is important to check with your insurance to verify coverage and costs.

The program offers a personalized nutrition counseling from a Registered and Licensed Dietitian such as special meal planning, individualized eating and lifestyle plans, computerized nutrition analysis, review of the senior’s blood work,  recipe make-overs, weight loss strategies, and tips for healthy cooking and dining.

For more information in the Sarasota Memorial Nutrition Counseling and Lifestyle Coaching Program, you may contact:

Sarasota Memorial Institute for Advanced Medicine/HealthPlex at 5880 Rand Blvd., Sarasota, FL. Tel: (941) 917-7468 or visit www.smh.com.

Right Accord Private Duty-Home Care provides in-home care assistance to seniors  in Sarasota and its surrounding areas such as Venice, Longboat Key, Siesta Key, Osprey, Nokomis, Bradenton and Lakewood Ranch area.  For more information about Right Accord Services and schedule a free consultation or assessment, please call (941) 366-0801.

Click here to start the course: www.ceuassistant.com

If you are a CNA license holder and your license is expiring on December 31, 2009, you will need to complete the mandatory continuing education courses approved by the Board of Nursing in Florida in order to renew your license.

Licenses are verified by the board for approved continuing education at random basis and you need to have an approved course of 12 or 24 hour continuing education credits.

If you are running out of time, visit www.ceuassistant.com to complete your required mandatory continuing education for certified nursing assistants with no sweat at an easy, self-paced learning at the convenient of your own home with your fuzzy, bunny slippers and favorite pajama.

Florida Certified Nursing Assistants CNA are taking mandatory continuing education courses with us. We understand your busy work schedule and the demands of health care jobs. That’s why we want to help you achieve your continuing education credits without  too much interruption of your routine.

Where else can you find such a fast and easy way to obtain your CNA  continuing education courses in Florida? Right Accord Private Duty-Home Care offers you the most convenient way to satisfy this mandatory courses.

Visit us at www.ceuassistant.com and click on RIGHT ACCORD HOME CARE and you’ll be on your way to completing your approved Florida CNA Continuing Education Courses before the December 31, 2009 deadline.