Fell On Floor and Can't Get Up, how to help

About Human Kinetics

Human Kinetics, mission is to produce innovative, informative products in all areas of physical activity that help people worldwide lead healthier, more active lives.

Human Kinetics is committed to providing quality informational and educational products in the physical activity and health fields that meet the needs of our diverse customers.
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So you or your caring partner fell and is having trouble getting back up.

Here is an edited excerpt from Health Professionals’ Guide to Physical Management of Parkinson’s Disease
found on http://www.humankinetics.com/excerpts/excerpts/assisted-floor-transfer-techniques-for-patients-with-parkinsons-disease


"Assisted floor transfer techniques for patients with Parkinson's Disease
By Miriam P. Boelen, PT"

"Assisted Floor Transfer Techniques"

When the caregiver helps the patient up from the floor, both must be kept safe. If this is not possible, additional help such as a medical alert system may be needed. If possible, the gait belt should be snug for better leverage.

Transfers should be coordinated between the patient and caregiver to ensure simultaneous maximal effort and to minimize strain on both. The caregiver can accomplish this by giving instructions such as “On the count of three try rolling onto your hands and knees” or “On the count of three try to stand up.” Because of Parkinsonian symptoms, the patient may not initiate movement at the count of three.

The caregiver should be advised of this possibility so that she or he can delay giving assistance until the patient starts. Coordination of effort will avoid placing excessive strain on the caregiver. Caregivers should be encouraged to use optimal lifting body mechanics. .....

* Assisted side lying to hands-and-knees position. The optimal hand placement of the caregiver is to position one hand under the bottom hip and the other hand under the gait belt. The caregiver pulls up on the patient’s hips as if turning a big wheel (figure 11.6, a and b). The caregiver should flex the knees to facilitate lifting with the legs rather than the back.





* Assisted prone to hands and knees. If the patient has strong arms, the caregiver (with proper body mechanics) can straddle the patient, grab the gait belt, and lean back while pulling up on the belt. At the same time the patient pushes with the arms (figure 11.7). As the patient walks her or his hands backward, the caregiver walks backward and guides the hips into the all-fours position.


* Assisted half kneeling to standing. The caregiver stands on the side of the patient that requires greater support. This positioning allows the patient to assist with his or her strongest side, which reduces difficulties in general. The caregiver places one hand on the gait belt and the other arm under the patient’s axilla (figure 11.8).

What to Do After a Fall

Patients often want to get up from the floor immediately after a fall. This desire may be due to the embarrassment of falling or their concern about their ability to get up. Sometimes patients do not think about the fact that after they have fallen, they cannot fall any farther and should be in no hurry to get up. Bystanders occasionally offer a helping hand, but their help may cause greater destabilization or irritate an already arthritic joint. Educating the patient about how to guide bystanders will help minimize these problems. Here are some general guidelines about what to tell your patient:

1. Do not try to get up right away.

2. Before attempting to get up, mentally note whether any areas feel injured. If you suspect injury, seek medical attention.

3. Attempt to relax for a moment before getting up.
.....

5. Before attempting to get up, someone should bring a chair close to you if needed so that you can use it for support to get up.

6. An additional chair could be placed behind you if you have difficulty turning. After you are standing, you can sit on the chair without having to turn.

This is an brief excerpt from Health Professionals’ Guide to Physical Management of Parkinson’s Disease. found on http://www.humankinetics.com/excerpts/excerpts/assisted-floor-transfer-techniques-for-patients-with-parkinsons-disease

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A gait belt is a device used to transfer people from one position to another or from one thing to another. For example you would use a gait belt to move a patient from a standing position to a wheelchair. The gait belt is customarily made out of cotton webbing and a durable metal buckle on one end. The gait belt is worn around a patient's waist. The purpose for this is to put less strain on the back of the care giver and to provide support for the patient
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Points to Remember: More than one caregiver may be needed. Belts with padded handles are easier to grip and increase security and control. Always transfer to resident's strongest side. Use good body mechanics and a rocking and pulling motion rather than lifting when using a belt. Belts may not be suitable for ambulation of heavy residents or residents with recent abdominal or back surgery, abdominal aneurysm, etc. Should not be used for lifting residents. Ensure belt is securely fastened and cannot be easily undone by the resident during transfer. Ensure a layer of clothing is between residents' skin and the belt to avoid abrasion. Keep resident as close as possible to caregiver during transfer. Lower bedrails, remove arms and foot rests from chairs, and other items that may obstruct the transfer

News from Pleasantries Adult Day Services June 2010

Babies evoke a positive emotional response in most older adults. When our guests are able to hold a baby, their day is better. The interaction is priceless.The smiles shared and the sweet baby talk create a happy environment. We are lucky to have guests whose grand-children visit us.

We have multiple days where children will visit and interact with our guests.

Intergenerational activity is mutually beneficial. While the children experience diminished fear of an older adult and enjoy the contact with our guests, the guest experiences a sense of increased self-worth, and an improved emotional state. My guests are able to carry the positive emotions throughout their day.

Now we know what has been eating our lillies!

At the breakfast table, my guest, Ann said, "There are two animals in the yard." As I looked out, I was amazed to find two deer grazing. We went out on the deck and I was able to capture them on camera as they leaped away. Pretty awesome!

Tammy Pozerycki

Owner & Director

How to make a visit to the physician easier for AD patient.

Pleasantries Adult Day Services - Marlboro, Massachusetts - Alternative Alzheimer’s care
Tammy Pozerycki
Owner & Director
Writes in a Pleasantries A.D.S. newsletter:

It is important that your loved one with Alzheimer's disease have regular visits to his or her physician. These visits should address all medical and behavioral issues which may be related to Alzheimer's disease. In order to experience a productive appointment with the physician, try the following suggestions:

* Choose a "good" time of day for the appointment time (most likely morning will be best.)

* Bring along an activity that your loved one enjoys (books, sorting activity, coloring, etc) as well as a snack and water. This will prepare you for an unexpected wait time.

* Bring a list of all medication including over-the-counter. Create a list of questions in preparation of the minimal time available with the doctor.

* Depending on your situation, it may be helpful to bring someone else with you, such as a close friend or family member.

* Discuss what you can expect for the future and advance directives.

* It is good to take notes as there will be much discussed in a short amount of time.

* Be open and honest. If you are not happy or satisfied with the physician, make he or she aware of your concerns. Switching physicians can be confusing to your loved one and possibly detrimental in the longrun. If discussed, the issues may be resolved.

Raise your hand if you're a caregiver.

How Can Doctors and Caregivers Work Together?

from: HealthBridge's In-Home Care Blog

Dr. Pauline Chen took an insightful look at this topic in her "Doctor and Patient" column in the New York Times. She writes:

For all our assertions about the importance of caring in what we do, doctors as a profession have been slow to recognize family members and loved ones who care for patients at home. These “family caregivers” do work that is complex, physically challenging and critical to a patient’s overall well-being, like dressing wounds, dispensing medication, and feeding, bathing and dressing those who can no longer do so themselves.

Many of these caregiving tasks were once the purview of doctors and nurses, a central component of the “caring professions.” But over the past century, as these duties increasingly fell to individuals with little or no training, doctors and even some nurses began to confer less importance, and status, to the work of caregiving.

nightmare for those with disabilities who are struggling to stay at home.

http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/Columns/2010/February/020110Gleckman.aspx

Howard Gleckman, Senior Research Associate at the Urban Institute

Feb 01, 2010

There are programs run by states and similar projects run out of Washington. This is a particular nightmare for those with disabilities who are struggling to stay at home. If you don’t believe me, try to find a local phone number for elder care assistance.

Death Panels, Alaska | Sarah's "Palin Care For Seniors" Worked Even Better than Death Squads

Why Use Death Squads In Alaska When Sarah Palin Had Palin Care For Seniors That Worked Even Better?

"Sarah Palin is worried about Death Panels but many Alaskans are worried about Palin Care. During her tenure from 2006-2009, 277 elderly died from the poor management under her command! The Anchorage Daily News reported about this story last July, the situation in the state’s Medicare and Medicaid funded in-home elder care program became so bad that the federal government had to step in and force Palin to make the necessary improvements."
"In one 2 1/2 year stretch, 227 adults already getting services died while waiting for a nurse to reassess their needs. Another 27 died waiting for their initial assessment, to see if they qualified for help."

http://ow.ly/169ijf

gift choices | useful, needed and something won't complicate their lives.

TIME GOES BY | Gifts for Elders on Your List... by Ronni Bennett

Gifts for Seniors on Your List....and perhaps as hints for family members who might not know what you would like to have.

The Diabetes Health Care Crisis

http://oregoneldercareservices.com/?p=712

The Diabetes Health Care Crisis
People with Diabetes Don't Have Access to Adequate and Affordable Health Care

* Health insurance policies don't cover basic diabetes needs and reward crisis care, not the continuous care needed to prevent a medical crisis.
* Pre-existing condition exclusions prevent people from enrolling.
* Health insurance premium surcharges for diabetes drive premiums above what individuals and small businesses can afford.
* Medicaid eligibility limits leave many low income people unable to access health insurance.

Health Insurance Options 65 and Above

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The following options may be available to you.

Medicare
Medicare provides health insurance benefits to persons 65 and older, persons under 65 who are disabled, and individuals with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD).

Medicaid
Medicaid provides medical care to certain individuals and families with low incomes and resources.

TAA Tax Credit
TAA is a tax credit available to workers who have lost their jobs or whose hours of work and wages have decreased as a result of increased imports.

Prescription Assistance
Most pharmaceutical companies have established patient assistance programs to help uninsured individuals get the medications that they need to stay healthy.

Medigap
Medigap policies are available to Medicare-eligible individuals. They can be purchased from private health insurance carriers and provide benefits that are otherwise not included in Medicare Part A or B

Additional Resources:

• Health Reform Task Force Recommendations
• Health Care Insurance Options for People with Diabetes
• Discrimination Based on Diabetes
• Coalition of Health and Consumer Advocates' Joint Statement on Delivery System Health Reform and Chronic Care

Sharing bad news with an aging parent

http://oregoneldercareservices.com/?p=712

Crucial Conversations
So, here’s the big question. What can you do to make handing in his car keys something your father wants to do? Or something he is at least willing to tolerate?

Answer: Don’t equate taking away the keys with helplessness, boredom, and the complete loss of independence.

Kerry Patterson is author of three bestselling books, Influencer, Crucial Conversations, and Crucial Confrontations. Read the rest of his answer to this very important question here. http://ow.ly/15X2Vp

Skype lets you talk and video conference over the Internet

"Enjoy the World, hobbies, crafts, creative pastimes, e-mail,web based Conversations, Blogs, Articles"

Skype is a little piece of software that lets you talk and video conference over the Internet with anyone, anywhere in the world for free while viewing each other on your computer screens.

This Listen-Zone describes one of several ways to set up and use Skype

Basic Requirements for Skype
# A high speed Internet connection
# a personal computer (Your computer must have Windows 2000, XP or Vista to run Skype)
# a webcam, a microphone (some web cams have a built in microphone) and speakers attached to your computer). Many lap-tops have built in speakers, some have built in webcam. If you are concerned with the audio being overheard you can use a headset with microphone
# first install the camera's software on your computer
# Then Connect the camera with the USB cable to any of the the computer's USB sockets (ports).
Many computers will automatically recognize that you plugged the webcam in and it will tell you there is a new device on the computer
# With the webcam connected you have also connected the microphone that is built into the webcam to the computer. You can now adjust the audio settings using the webcam controls or wait until you have installed Skype.
# The Logitech installer will guide you through the con figuration of the audio. You may download from the Logitech site or from Skype.
# Skype provides the software free of charge. After you have Skype installed they have additional services that you buy into.
# This article is limited to free services over the Internet to anyone, anywhere in the world for free while viewing each other on your computer screens.
# You will be asked to choose a Skype name
This the name or nickname that people will use to call you (connect with you) on using Skype. The Skype Setup Wizard will appear and guide you through the rest of the installation.
# Make certain peakers are plugged in and volume turned up. (or if using a head set plug it in)
# Now call the Skype Test service. It is an automated service that you call and it calls you back so that you know you are ready to Skype.
# Make your first call
Select your friend's Skype Name and press the big green call button.
# Sign up for a Google Account and for a Google gmail account

Mass. Medicaid program has no job requirements for personal care attendants.

Home-care system leaves elderly at risk, auditor says - The Boston Globe
By David Abel
Globe Staff / October 15, 2009

Massachusetts state program that oversees home health care services for about 18,000 elderly and disabled residents is vulnerable to fraud and has employed personal care attendants who have committed felonies, including manslaughter, assault, and threatening to commit murder, according to a report released yesterday by the Office of the State Auditor.

The report also noted that the Mass. Medicaid program is one of only four out of 238 programs nationwide with no job requirements for personal care attendants.

The audit drew criticism from state health officials because it surveyed only 30 patients, whose cases had been previously reviewed for fraud by the federal government.

But State Auditor A. Joseph DeNucci said the findings illustrate why the state should establish job requirements for attendants, including training, education, and criminal background checks, which nearly every other program in the country requires.

“What we have found is that there are serious problems in the program,’’ DeNucci said in a phone interview. “We have to strengthen protections for vulnerable people. I think it’s very important.’’

The report also found that 14 of the 30 patients had hired attendants who either had been convicted of a felony or a court had found sufficient evidence to find them guilty. Of the 82 attendants who worked for the 30 patients between 2004 and 2008, seven had been in prison, 12 were involved in violent crimes, nine had been convicted of drug offenses, 10 committed robbery, nine had restraining orders against them, and four had outstanding warrants.

In all, auditors found 41 acts of violence, 29 crimes of theft, and 26 drug crimes, including heroin distribution and trafficking cocaine in a school zone.

State Representative Barbara L’Italien, an Andover Democrat and former attendant, introduced a bill this year that would allow patients to run a free criminal background check on attendants they hire, create an online database to help consumers find attendants, and establish a surrogate program to help those who cannot oversee attendants on their own. The bill has yet to emerge from committee.

“David Abel can be reached at dabel@globe.com.

Senior Centers and Adult Day Care activities

Browsing the Web to see what many adult day care programs and Senior Centers were offering. I found the following:

Active floor and table games
Art Therapy,
Arts
Bingo
Card Games
Chair exercises
Chorus & Music Therapy
Cooking
crafts,
Daily Exercise
Discussion groups (books, films, current events)
Discussions: contemporary and devotional
Entertainment
Exercise classes personalized for individual levels of activity and ability.
Gardening
Group discussions on a wide range of subjects
Guest speakers from community organizations
Health awareness talks
health monitoring by a nurse to meet individual needs. There is a
Holiday and birthday celebrations
Horticultural Therapy
individual counseling,
Inter-generational Programs
Kosher Lunch
Local outings.
Mental stimulation games such as BINGO
miniature golf course on site
Music
Musical entertainment and sing-a-longs
nutrition education,
Nutritional Snacks
meals and snacks individualized for specific dietary needs.
field trips,
On Site Library
Organized games of bridge, bingo, cards and trivia,team events
personal care,
Pet Therapy
podiatry care,
Poetry Class
Pottery
quiet rooms with rest areas and television
recreational classes,
Relaxation time
Reminiscing
Spiritual Program
Stretching or other gentle exercise
Student Interns
Tai Chi Class
Talking about current events
Transportation
Volunteers
Weight Loss Club
Woodworking Shop

Grief is a natural part of life–and change–any change can trigger grief.

Grief Starts Early With Alzheimer’s, Ways to Honor The Grief Process «

Ways to Honor Our Grief:

* Take some photographs. See the beauty in vein-riddled hands and silver-white hair. There’s a sense of beauty that comes with aging, I liken it to the beauty and intricacy of a spider’s web. Even when the photographs reveal the ravages of time and disease, there’s something important about acknowledging today–just as it is.

* Dig out some old photographs–baby pictures, grade school, high school, the dating years, wedding photos. Remember who your loved one is–and was. Create a bridge by taking note of each decade, each life event. Display these photos so when grief comes, you can ease its sting by acknowledging what an amazing life journey they’ve had–and you’ve had with them.

* Write letters and share what you’re experiencing. Even if no one ever reads them, you need to write them. Grief is like a suitcase we carry with us–and if we have a place to put it–our thoughts, our worries, our memories–when we write them, we ease our own emotional load.

* Talk to those who share your experience. Call your sister, a cousin, or a friend who has been through a similar situation. Knowing that someone will listen to you, someone you can reminisce with, confide in–makes our grief bearable

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Carol O'Dell's blog speaks to caregivers around the country. Carol offers suggestions, ideas and insights that will help others.

While Carol's blog is supported by Dakim Brain Fitness, Carol is not blogging to promote the Dakim company or products..

Motivation And Improving Health In Older Adults, Medical News Today

Boosting Motivation And Improving Health In Older Adults, With The Use Of A Simple Tool

Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) have identified a tool, the "Getting-Out-of-Bed (GoB) measure" to assess motivation and life outlook in older adults. The study, which appears in the October issue of the /i>Journal of Psychosocial Oncology, shows that the tool has the potential to be an easy-to-use measure to bolster motivation and thus, improve health behaviors and outcomes in the growing population of older adults.

Bathroom Door solutions from The ElderCare Team

Wheelchairs, Walkers, and a Too-Narrow Bathroom Door: 4 Ways to Widen A Bathroom Doorway

Wheelchairs, Walkers, and a Too-Narrow Bathroom Door: 4 Ways to Widen A Bathroom Doorway

If your bathroom doors are wide enough to accommodate a wheelchair or a walker, count yourself lucky. Most aren't, and families do come up with the most ingenious ways to get their disabled loved ones into the bathroom. Moving is a last resort, but some seniors eventually do that, too. There several are ways to make the bathroom door accessible that don't require a moving van

The ElderCare Team! Resources for senior caregivers, articles, resources, books and fellowship with caregivers all around the country.

The site is dedicated to helping everyone involved in - or who will some day be involved in - caring for an aging adult

Reverse mortgages may be the next subprime crisis

Reverse mortgages may be next crisis - The Boston Globe

NEW YORK - Reverse mortgages may be the next subprime crisis, according to the National Consumer Law Center.

Some of the same US lenders that helped drive the real estate boom with loans to home buyers who could not afford the payments are now targeting senior citizens, the center said. Brokers, who are given financial incentives to sell the loans, may be making misleading claims, according to a report titled “Subprime Revisited,’’ released yesterday by the Boston-based NCLC.

“This market is designed to serve seniors, so when we find abuses cropping up and migrating from the subprime market to the senior market, that sounds an especially loud warning bell,’’ said Rick Jurgens, an advocate at the NCLC who contributed to the report.

Reverse mortgages enable people 62 and older who are looking for extra cash to use the equity in their homes and receive lump-sum payments, periodic checks, a line of credit, or a combination of the three. Lenders are repaid from the sale of the home when the borrowers die or move.

<snipped>

Kohl and McCaskill released a government report in June that said some lenders falsely market reverse mortgages as “lifetime income’’ and sell mortgages coupled with other financial products, such as annuities, even though Congress banned so-called cross-selling in 2008.

The center’s study recommended enhancing borrower counseling prior to taking out a loan and holding lenders and brokers to a suitability standard.

Seniors, Care-Partners, take active role in their care

“Doc Tom” Ferguson A Voice of the Patient Engagement Movement

An engaged patient plays an active role in his or her care. Or, as e-patients.net founder “Doc Tom” Ferguson said, “e-Patients are Empowered, Engaged, Equipped and Enabled.”

We who’ve become e-patients don’t wait for our providers to tell us everything; we get it in gear, we ask questions, we do what we can to help.

Trust yourself.
You know more
than you think you do.

Ten Facts About the Child and Dependent Care Credit, IRS Tax Tip 2009-46

Top Ten Facts About the Child and Dependent Care Credit If you paid someone to care for a child, spouse, or dependent, you may be able to reduce your tax by claiming the Child and Dependent Care Credit on your federal income tax return. Below are the top ten things you need to know about claiming a credit for child and dependent care expenses.

1.
The care must have been provided for one or more qualifying persons. A qualifying person is your dependent child under age 13. Additionally, your spouse and certain other individuals who are physically or mentally incapable of self-care may also be qualifying persons. You must identify each qualifying person on your tax return.

2.
The care must have been provided so you – and your spouse if you are married – could work or look for work.

3.
You – and your spouse if you are married – must have earned income from wages, salaries, tips, other taxable employee compensation or net earnings from self-employment. One spouse may be considered as having earned income if they were a full-time student or they were physically or mentally unable to care for themselves.

4.
The payments for care cannot be paid to your spouse, to someone you can claim as your dependent on your return, or to your child who is under age 19, even if he or she is not your dependent. You must identify the care provider on your tax return.

5.
Your filing status must be single, married filing jointly, head of household or qualifying widow(er) with a dependent child.

6.
The qualifying person must have lived with you for more than half of 2008.

7.
The credit can be up to 35 percent of your qualifying expenses, depending upon your income.

8.
For 2008, you may use up to $3,000 of the expenses paid in a year for one qualifying individual or $6,000 for two or more qualifying individuals.

9.
The qualifying expenses must be reduced by the amount of any dependent care benefits provided by your employer that you exclude from your income.

10.
If you pay someone to come to your home and care for your dependent or spouse, you may be a household employer. If you are a household employer, you may have to withhold and pay social security and Medicare tax and pay federal unemployment tax. For information, see Publication 926, Household Employer's Tax Guide.

For more information on the Child and Dependent Care Credit, see Publication 503, Child and Dependent Care Expenses. You may download these free publications from IRS.gov or order them by calling 800-TAX-FORM (800-829-3676).

The older we get, the more we need to tackle clutter

Surf Net Parents is part of the Surfnetkids.com family of kids sites from syndicated columnist Barbara J. Feldman a syndicated newspaper columnist, online publisher, author, mother, wife and Net surfer.

This information was found on Surf Net Parents and helps with the clearing out clutter tasks faced by many caregivers.

Tackling clutter is not always easy, and most people are not really sure how to do it, so the clutter worsens, and it becomes more and more overwhelming to tackle it later. However, there are ways to tackle clutter, and the following tips will help:

Choose a place to start: Honestly, the biggest problem with clutter is people look at it, get overwhelmed by it, and because they do not know where to start, they never do. So, if you want to tackle clutter, choose a place to start. One of the best places to start is whatever cluttered place you see most often, whether that is your room, your kitchen, your bathroom, or wherever. If you want to tackle clutter you have to start somewhere, so pick somewhere to start.

Reduce and simplify: Once you have your starting point, the best thing you can do is start reducing and simplifying. You want to get rid of as much stuff as you can. If you want to get rid of clutter you have to start by getting rid of as much of the stuff causing clutter as possible. So, make "reduce and simplify" your motto. Make sure you get rid of anything you have not used in a while, anything that you do not need, anything that invites clutter, etc.

Most homes have a certain degree of clutter. Book bags get dropped off at the door, mail piles up on the entry table, and drawers and closets are full of things like coupons, clothing, and other items you are certain at some point you will use.

For people who hate to throw things away, or who find sentimental value with many of the items that clutter their home, it can be difficult to get rid of clutter.

Aging in Place Remodeling from Aging in Place Guide (blog)

Aging in Place Guide: Aging in Place Remodeling #1

In a series on the basics of Aging in Place remodeling. The issues are:
1. Getting in and out.
2. Moving around with in the house
3. Safely getting into and out of bed and getting to clothing storage
4. Safe use of the bathroom including ergonomic caregiving
5. Preparing and taking meals
6. Home office function
7. Entertainment- TV, music, reading, guests
8. Enjoying the outdoors

All these issues are not priorities for every client, household or house. It is always important to spend our resources wisely....making sure the problem we set out to solve is taken care of by the work we have done.


Posted by Aging in Place Guide blog

Louis Tenenbaum 's Aging in Place empowers older citizens with Choice and Control, Dignity and Independence - the essentials of happier homes, better lives and more economical housing and care.

Louis Tenenbaum is one of the nation’s leading authority on Aging in Place. He has years of experience helping individual families, builders/developers and communities set the stage for folks to remain safe and comfortable in their own homes.

Contact: louis @ louistenenbaum.com