Posts By: icepickdev

10 Things Everyone Should Do As We Age (And that your Care Manager Can Help You Carry Out)

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  1.  Identify a trusted person Identify a trusted person or persons to receive your essential documents. We’ll call this person the Information Keeper. This may be an adult child, a long-time friend, or someone who can be counted on as absolutely trustworthy. Set a date for this person to review this checklist.
  2.  Choose one or two people to become your legal and/or durable medical power of attorney (DPOA). Include these names, signed and notarized in the estate plan documents. But it is surprising how many families don’t have one when they need it. A generic DPOA form can also be downloaded free from the internet.
  3.  Have a signed advanced healthcare directive and fill out a Medical Order for Life-Sustaining Treatment (MOLST). Competent elder care attorneys should also include this document in the estate plan. This document is available for free from your physician’s office or from the internet for free. It is vitally important that you express your end of life wishes now, so that family members don’t have to make those decisions for you.
  4.  Make a list of all bank accounts, passwords, investment records and financial planning. The professionals you are working with should be on the list. And you should give permission in writing to each of them, such as your accountant, elder care lawyer, and financial advisor to communicate with your appointed trusted person.
  5.  List all of your insurance policies and provide the location of these written documents. This includes life, disability, health, property, and anything else you own that will protect your heirs. Millions of dollars of life insurance proceeds go uncollected each year because the beneficiaries do not know that the policies exist or that they are the recipients.
  6.  Make a copy of your mortgage statement, other loans and debts, financial statements, and bank statement. These should be updated quarterly as they change and amounts fluctuate. If you become incapacitated, your designated person would need to step in and handle your affairs. Make sure they have the financial information necessary.
  7.  Make a list of all physicians, care providers, medications and allergies you take and give the list to the Information Keeper along with written permission to speak with your doctors. This could be a life-saving measure if you are unable to communicate. This one is simple and won’t take much time.
  8.  Talking about death and your burial wishes to your family is difficult but do it anyway. Create or have on hand information about your wishes for burial or disposition of your remains.
  9.  Update your will and/or trust with your elder care attorney. Laws vary by each state and these need to be current in the state where you now live in retirement. If you’ve never gotten around to updating your will or trust, then make a date and see a lawyer.
  10.  Call a family meeting to discuss the items on this checklist. Transparency is critical to avoid conflicts down the road. Everyone should know your wishes.

Corewood Care Managers are trained nurses and social workers dedicated to providing expert guidance and advocacy to deliver safe and cost-effective long-term care solutions. We understand the importance of delivering solutions that help our clients and their families reclaim their lives and increase their quality of life, all while maximizing independence, safety, and comfort. Our Care Managers will develop a comprehensive, personalized care plan offering you and your family options of how to proceed with both immediate care and long-term care. If you wish to learn more or have any questions about our new operational guidelines, please call our office directly at 301-909-8117.

First Quarter: Corewood Care Giving Back

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First Quarter: Corewood Care Giving Back

At Corewood Care we strive to give back to the community and provide the community with the resources they need. Below is an overview of some of the events we have sponsored this quarter.

Thank you to everyone who has been a part of our events so far this year. Make sure to explore our social media pages to learn about future Corewood Care events!

Parkinson’s Foundation of the National Capital Area (PFNCA) Event – Corewood Care, Kensington Park and Kendra Scott came together to support the Parkinson’s Foundation of the National Capital Area (PFNCA).  The event took place at Kendra Scott in Downtown Bethesda this April. 20% of all proceeds were donated to the PFNCA. Kendra Scott is a woman owned business, offering beautiful and affordable jewelry.

Caregiver Stress Relief Seminar – As part of our community seminar series, our team held a Caregiver Stress Relief Seminar at Brookdale Olney Assisted Senior Living this April.  Our Care Management team spoke to caregivers and individuals who needed support. If you are a caregiver in need of stress relief information, check out the Mayo Clinic’s resources. Learn how respite care and support groups may be of help to you. 

Bowling for Alzheimer’s Event – Corewood Care has joined the fight to end Alzheimer’s and will be participating in the annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s on October 13, 2018. This event is held in more than 600 communities nationwide, and is the world’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research. This inspiring event calls on participants of all ages and abilities to join the fight against the disease. If you are still looking to join a team, consider joining ours!

April is National Stress Awareness Month

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Address and Alleviate Stress as a Caregiver

April is designated as the month to focus on both the causes and cures of stress, which is considered to be a modern epidemic. The Health Resource Network annually sponsors April as National Stress Awareness Month to promote public awareness about stress and the associated risks.  Many of us do not recognize the symptoms of stress and often fail to realize the dangers until it is too late.  While stress is a normal part of life, too much can affect emotions, behaviors, the ability to think, and physical health.  According to the Cleveland Clinic, certain diseases such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, peptic ulcer disease, or cardiac disease can worsen with mental stress.

As the population ages, more caregiving is being provided by family members. Those who care for family members are at an increased risk for stress and adverse health outcomes as a result. Family caregivers are often so focused on their loved one’s health, that they fail to realize their own well-being is at risk. Check out Caregiver Stress: Tips for Taking Care of Yourself for more information on the signs of stress and strategies for coping. Make sure to use National Stress Awareness Month as a time to bring extra awareness to the well-being of yourself and others!

Links:

The Health Resource Network

http://www.stresscure.com/hrn/Default.htm

Symptoms of Stress

https://www.webmd.boots.com/stress-management/physical-stress-symptoms

Clevland Clinic

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/11874-stress

Caregiver Stress: Tips for Taking Care of Yourself

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/caregiver-stress/art-20044784

Emotional Support Animals

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Whether it’s a passenger fearful of flying, someone coping poorly with a past traumatic situation, or a student who gets nervous before taking tests, an increasing number of people are leaning on animals to provide comfort. 

So what animals should qualify as ESA’s? While generally, they are dogs or cats, ESA’s can be any domestic animal, including not only rabbits, mice, ferrets, and guinea pigs, but also snakes, ducks, and potbellied pigs. The only stipulation is that the animal can’t be a health or safety threat to other people and that the owner must be able to keep it under control in public so it doesn’t become a nuisance. The animal also can’t be illegal to own, such as an exotic or wild animal. 

ESA’s do not require special training to do their job. The idea is that their mere presence helps someone with an emotional disability live independently and adapt to stressful situations. 

Many people can benefit from the companionship of an emotional support animal, reducing or eliminating the need to take medication, such as for anxiety or depression. In 2013, the American Heart Association even found that pet ownership was linked to lower blood pressure, heart rate, and blood cholesterol. If you think you have a legitimate need for an ESA the team at Corewood suggests seeing a mental health professional who can evaluate you and provide you with numerous ways to cope. In the meantime, you can always schedule a visit from one of our team members and we might just bring along our therapy dog, Pickle!

Resources for a Better Life

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Need to go to the Dentist but don’t want to spend 40 minutes in a waiting room? Did you know that one can help you with all of your dental needs in the comfort of your own home. Do you want to meet other people in the area who are also experiencing loved ones with Alzheimers symptoms? There are a variety of social and support groups in your neighborhood. The below list is comprised of resources in your community that will help you stay happy, healthy, and at home! Even better, all of the following are local, family-owned, or non-profit organizations.

Resources for Aging Loved Ones

Maryland Department of Aging   |   Phone: 410.767.1100      

Website: https://aging.maryland.gov/Pages/default.aspx

Address: 301 West Preston Street Suite 1007 Baltimore, MD 21201

Mission: A proactive body that provides statewide leadership on diverse senior issues and advocates for practical solutions

Capital Integrative Health   |   Phone: 240.507.5110

Website: https://cihealth.org/

Address: 4701 Sangamore Road, Suite N270, Bethesda Maryland 20816

Mission: to educate, lead and inspire our community towards optimal health and true wellbeing.

Wave Area Village Exchange

Website: https://wavevillages.org/

Address + Phone: Varies by county

Mission: Neighbors helping neighbors, facilitating and participates in the networking, education, charity give-back and collaborative activities for the senior community

District Mobile Dental | Phone: 240.485.8688

Website: https://districtmobiledental.com/

Email: districtmobiledental@gmail.com

Mission: To provide in-home comprehensive oral healthcare to older adults living in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. Trained to provide routine dental cleanings or periodontal maintenance, oral cancer screenings, root canals, fillings, crowns, dentures, and most any other dental services

Sibley Senior Association   |   Phone: 202.364.7602

Address: 5255 Loughboro Road, N.W. Washington, DC 20016

Email: SibleySenior@jhmi.edu     

Mission: To provide the Sibley Hospital Community and Association members with the resources they need as they make important life transitions. The association hosts support groups, activities, discounts on local events, health screenings, exercise classes and seminars.

Seabury Resources for Aging   |   Phone: 202.414.6315

Website: https://www.seaburyresources.org/

Address: 6031 Kansas Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20011

Mission: Seabury Resources for Aging’s mission is to provide personalized, affordable services and housing options to help older adults in the greater Washington, DC area live with independence and dignity.

Live Better Hearing      |   Phone: 443.594.2168

Website: https://livebetterhearing.com/

Address: 19 various locations (MD + VA)

Mission: To employ the top experts in the field, offer only the best hearing technology to the people we serve and be the leading audiology practice in the DC Metro Area.

Law Offices of Clifford M. Cohen   |   Phone: 202.895.2799

Address: 5335 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Suite 440 Washington, DC 20015

Mission: Clifford Cohen has over 30 years of law experience focusing on estate planning, business planning, and elder law. He believes that the best plans are the result of close collaboration with his clients.  He received his Bachelor’s degree from Boston University in 1975 and his Juris Doctorate from the University of Miami Law School in 1981.

Iona Senior Services   |   Phone: 202.966.1055

Website: https://www.iona.org/

Address: 4125 Albemarle St NW, Washington, DC 20016

Mission: Iona supports people as they experience the challenges and opportunities of aging. We educate, advocate, and provide community-based services to help people age well and live well.

Jewish Social Service Agency (JSSA) |   Phone: 301.816.2633

Website: https://www.jssa.org

Mission: Provides emotional, social, and physical support through a wide range of counseling, educational, special needs services, in-home support, hospice and nursing care, and social services.

Memory Cafe, Alzheimer’s Association   |   Phone: 800.272.3900

Website: https://www.alz.org/maryland?set=1

Mission: To be a safe and relaxed place where people with early-stage memory loss, their families, friends and health professionals come together for a unique blend of education and social interaction

Montgomery Hospice   |    Phone: 301.921.4400

Website: https://montgomeryhospice.org/

Address: 1355 Piccard Drive, Suite 100 Rockville, MD 20850

Mission: Our team to include doctors,, spiritual counselors, social workers, bereavement counselors and volunteers works with our patients and their families to provide quality end-of-life care in homes, extended care facilities and at Casey House, our acute care facility.

RenewMe Fitness   |   Phone: 301.385.3192

Website: https://www.renewmefitness.com/

Email: peter@renewmefitness.com

Mission: To provide experienced, friendly, and fun in-home personal training services geared toward older adults (ages 50+) with specialized training and exercise for conditions including dementia, Parkinson’s, heart disease, stroke, joint replacements, and multiple sclerosis

Immunization Awareness Month

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Understanding Vaccine Safety and Efficacy

August marks the beginning of back to school shopping and the last full month of summer.

And with fall peeking its head around the corner, bringing with it the start of cold and flu season, it makes sense that August also marks National Immunization Awareness Month.

Many immunizations for kids are dictated by the school system, but this doesn’t cover all of the preventative immunizations out there, such as the chickenpox vaccination, that exist in today’s medical practices.

As far as adult immunizations go, many aren’t aware of what to get and why. And some immunizations are covered by insurance, while others are not. So, we are here to help our residents navigate the ins and outs of immunizations with the top 6 things you should know:

  • Why get vaccinated? Some infectious diseases are considered “vaccine-preventable,” meaning that a vaccine can prevent the disease, which is much easier and less expensive than treating it. If you’re not immunized, some of these diseases could result in hospitalization or premature death. At the very least, one of these diseases would result in doctor’s bills and missed work. Also, by getting recommended vaccinations you are in effect protecting the future generations, helping to wipe out these diseases all together.
  • Are immunizations safe for babies and children? Some parents believe that there’s a link between autism and vaccinations. It’s said that scientific studies prove that there is no connection. They say that it’s not only safe, but also highly recommended to vaccinate children on schedule.
  • Is it safe for a child to have a number of vaccinations at once? The number of vaccinations has increased immensely over the years as scientists have found more ways to protect children from potentially deadly diseases. Today, it may seem as if babies and young children are faced with so many different shots, and some have combinations of vaccines in one shot.
  • Haven’t most of these diseases, like Polio, been gone for a while? Many diseases, such as polio and whooping cough, have become very uncommon because of vaccinations. But if we stopped vaccinating, they could once again, spread rapidly. These vaccinations will not become unnecessary until the infectious disease has been completely eliminated.
  • Which vaccinations should adults consider? There are many vaccinations out there today designed for adults, from the flu shot to the tetanus shot, and different people will benefit from these preventative measures, depending on stage of life. Your primary health care provider will be the best person to determine which vaccines will be best for you, and it’s always good to ask them at each annual visit.
  • Which vaccinations are covered by most health insurance policies? Starting in July of 2010, new health insurance policies are required to cover certain preventive services without any cost-sharing for the enrollee when delivered by in-network providers. Many, though not all, vaccinations fall into this category.

If you have any questions about the blog please feel free to call our office at 301-909-8117.

Homecare Advantages

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There are many advantages to home care, are you aware of them?

The biggest advantage of in-home care for seniors; it allows older adults to age in place and avoids making the move to an institution. At home, seniors feel most comfortable with the environment they are comfortable with. The significant factor of receiving care at home depends on the level of need by a person.

Benefits of Home Care

In-home care gives families confidence and peace knowing their aging loved ones are comfortable at home and receiving professional, compassionate, and personalized care.

In many cases, it’s the most satisfying form of senior care and sometimes more affordable than other types of care. There are lots of other reasons for the growing demand for our services, too.

Home care offers a person with individual needs to stay home. The services might be for people who are getting older, who are chronically ill, who are recovering from surgery, who live with a disability. Home care services include:

  • Personal care, like help with bathing, washing hair, shaving, or getting dressed.
  • Homemaking, like cleaning the house, yard work, and laundry.
  • Cooking, meal preparation, shopping, picking up medications, or delivering meals.
  • Health care services from a home health aide.

July UV Safety Month

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Embracing UV Safety Month: Protect Yourself During July’s Outdoor Activities

It’s no surprise that UV Safety Month is in July – a month filled with hot days, summer vacations, and plenty of outdoor activities.

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States. Most cases of melanoma, the deadliest kind of skin cancer, are caused by exposure to ultraviolet rays. To lower your skin cancer risk, protect your skin from the sun, and avoid indoor tanning.

Despite ongoing awareness efforts around sun safety, a million cases of skin cancer are still diagnosed every year. One in five Americans will get skin cancer during their lifetime, and it’s the second-most diagnosed form of cancer in 15 to 29-year-olds. When detected early, skin cancer has a 98% survival rate.

Here are the top 10 tips for sun safety and skin health:

1. Make a yearly date with your dermatologist for a skin cancer screening. Check your own body once a month for changes in the shape, size, and color of moles.
2. Don’t forget your ears, hands, feet, and neck when applying sunscreen.
3. Use sunscreen when driving on long road trips because windows do not protect you from the sun!
4. Pack an umbrella AND sunscreen: 80% of UV rays pass through clouds, so wear sunscreen regardless of the weather.
5. Protect your lips! Your lips have less melatonin than the rest of your body.
6. Use a golf-ball-sized amount of sunscreen to be sure your entire body is protected.
7. Make sure everything you wear offers sun protection, from hats to sunglasses to facial moisturizers.
8. Set your watch to watch your back every 2 hours. That’s how often you should reapply sunscreen.
9. Always have a supply of sunscreen with SPF on hand.
10. Remember that the sun never takes a vacation, so apply sunscreen in all four seasons of the year.

June is Aphasia Awareness Month

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What is aphasia?

Aphasia is a communication disorder that results from damage to the parts of the brain that contain language. Individuals who experience damage to the right side of the brain may have additional difficulties beyond speech and language issues. Aphasia may cause difficulties in speaking, listening, reading, and writing, but does not affect intelligence. 

What causes aphasia? 

Aphasia is most often caused by stroke. However, any disease or damage to the parts of the brain that control language can cause aphasia. These include brain tumors, traumatic brain injury, and progressive neurological disorders. 

What are some signs or symptoms of aphasia?

Difficulty producing language:

  • Have trouble coming up with the words they want to say
  • Substitute the intended word with another word that may be related in meaning to the target
  • Use made-up words
  • Have difficulty putting words together to form sentences
  •  String together made-up words and real words fluently but without making sense

Difficulty understanding language:

  • Misunderstand what others say, especially when they speak fast
  • Find it hard to understand speech in background noise or in group situations
  • Misinterpret jokes and take the literal meaning of figurative speech
  • Difficulty reading and writing:
  • Difficulty reading forms, pamphlets, books, and other written material
  • Problems spelling and putting words together to write sentences
  • Difficulty understanding number concepts

How is aphasia diagnosed

The speech-language pathologist evaluates the individual with a variety of tools to determine the type and severity of aphasia. It includes assessment of:

  • Auditory Comprehension: understanding words, questions, directions, and stories
  • Verbal Expression: producing automatic sequences, naming objects, describing pictures, responding to questions, and having conversations
  • Reading and Writing: understanding or producing letters, words, sentences, and paragraphs
  • Functional Communication: using gestures, drawing, pointing, or other supportive means of communication when he/she has trouble getting a point across verbally

What treatments are available for people with aphasia?

There are many types of treatment available for individuals with aphasia. The type of treatment depends on the needs and goals of the person with aphasia.

What can I do to communicate better with the person with aphasia?

1. Get the person’s attention before you start speaking.
2. Maintain eye contact and watch the person’s body language and use of gestures.
3. Minimize or eliminate background noise.
4. Keep your voice at a normal level.
5. Keep communication simple, but adult. Don’t “talk down” to the person with aphasia.
6. Simplify your sentence structure and emphasize keywords.
7. Give the individual time to speak. Resist the urge to finish sentences or offer words.
8. Communicate with drawings, gestures, writing, and facial expressions in addition to speech.
9. Encourage the person to use drawings, gestures, and writing.
10. Use yes and no questions rather than open-ended questions.
11. Engage in normal activities whenever possible.
12. Encourage independence and avoid being overprotective.

Stroke Awareness Month

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May is Stroke Awareness Month, and so we wanted to summarize a few key facts about stroke in one convenient spot!

Read on and spread the word – everyone should know stroke warning signs, the life-altering effects of stroke, and what kind of treatment stroke survivors can do to regain control of their lives!

What is a stroke?

  • An ischemic stroke occurs when a clot blocks a vessel in the brain, which prevents blood supply to any areas of the brain supplied by that vessel.
  • A hemorrhagic stroke, on the other hand, is when a vessel ruptures. Oddly enough, blood is poisonous to the brain, so if any parts of the brain are exposed to blood during a hemorrhage, those parts of the brain will be damaged.

What causes a stroke and how can I avoid it?

  • Many disorders, such as AVM, Moyamoya, and cardiovascular disease (just to name a few) can cause strokes.
  • Lifestyle risks include being overweight and inactive, overuse of alcohol, and use of illicit drugs.
  • Other medical risks include high blood pressure, cigarette smoking, high cholesterol, diabetes, and sleep apnea.
  • What are the symptoms of a stroke?
  • Face drooping: Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile. Is the person’s smile uneven?
  • Arms weakness:  Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
  • Speech difficulty: Is the person unable to speak or hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence, like “The sky is blue.” Is the sentence repeated correctly?

Time to Call 9-1-1:

If someone shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 9-1-1 and get the person to the hospital immediately. Check the time so you’ll know when the first symptoms appeared.

Additional symptoms of a stroke include: trouble seeing in one or both eyes, trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balance or coordination, or a sudden severe headache with no known cause.

What happens after a stroke?

  • Language (speaking and/or understanding; written and/or spoken)
  • Memory
  • Attention
  • Movement
  • Sensation
  • Swallowing
  • Emotion
  • Behavior
  • Judgment

*** This is different for everyone. You may have trouble with one, some, or all the ones listed above.

Regain Control of Your Life After a Stroke

• Therapy has been proven to help recovery. There are many available apps that individuals can use at home in addition to in-clinic therapy.

Call Us: (301) 909-8117