Archive for year: 2018

A fall is dangerous as it can lead to physical immobility or, in the worst cases, death. The risk is greater with people who are aged 65 years or older, but assisted living facilities have the staff available to help prevent serious falls.

This article will discuss the specifics on dangers related to falling and the statistics for them. It will also examine the role that assisted living facilities play in creating an environment for the elderly where accidents and injuries resulting from falls are greatly minimized, if not eliminated entirely.

The Perils of a Fall

A bad fall can leave someone with broken bones and cause fractures that may not be able to heal completely. When this happens, there is a greater risk for physical immobility.

Statistically speaking, about one out of three senior citizens fall every year. Two-thirds of those who fall, will fall again within six months. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for last year indicate that 2.8 million seniors are being treated in emergency rooms in the United States due to fall-related injuries.

Statistics have also found that men are more likely to die from a fall than women. But women are more likely to be injured from it. Hip fracture rates for women are more than twice what they are for men.

Seniors at Greater Risk

It is riskier for seniors to have a fall because of diminished bone density. The bones are more fragile at this stage in life, making them much more susceptible to breakage.

In medical terms, the conditions related to diminished bone density can be osteoporosis or osteoarthritis.

Osteoporosis is a condition that can cause bones to become fragile, making them prone to fracture. On the other hand, osteoarthritis is defined as a disease that causes damage to the joints.

Apart from fragile bones, there are other consequences to aging that increase the possibility of a fall. Gait and balance are not as they once were in people over 65. Sensory perception won’t be as sharp either. Some forms of medication can be contributory to this.

Fall Prevention

There are a number of ways to mitigate the risk for an elderly member of the family from suffering an injury due to a fall. Some specific tips are listed below.

• Exercise regularly. This increases leg strength as well as improves balance and increases flexibility.
• Review medications with a doctor in order to reduce or eliminate those that cause drowsiness or dizziness.
• Get an annual eye check-up.
• Get daily-recommended levels of calcium and vitamin D.
• Avoid getting up too fast when lying down or sitting.
• Buy an alarm that can be activated in case of a fall.

Those aged 75 and older have a greater probability of falling over constantly. In this regard, they will greatly benefit from becoming admitted into assisted living facilities.

Assisted living facilities are equipped with facilities that allow seniors with limited mobility to live as much of an independent life as possible. Facilities like Fallbrook Assisted Living are staffed by a range of professionals. Some assisted living facilities do have doctors and geriatric nurses on-hand to provide support and care that can help prevent falls or deal with them in a way that minimize painful injury.

It’s important to research and call direct to ensure the facility you’re considering has everything you need. Contact Fallbrook Assisted Living today for more information.

Fallbrook Assisted Living is proud to offer its services to Fremont, NE and surrounding areas and cities: Arlington, Cedar Bluffs, Ames Nickerson, Fontanelle, Arlington, Leshara, Colon, and Hooper

Many people make the mistake of using the terms Alzheimer’s and Dementia. However, these two medical terms are linked to one another. For one thing, both are debilitating conditions. People who have been diagnosed with either of these will quickly lose their sense of independence, resulting in the need to be confined to an assisted living facility.

Understanding both Alzheimer’s and Dementia requires being able to identify the distinct characteristics of each. With that, let’s proceed to discussing them.

Dementia

Dementia is not a disease, but a syndrome. A syndrome is a group of symptoms with no definitive diagnosis. It affects mental cognitive tasks like memory and reasoning. According to the World Health Organization, dementia affects 47.5 million people around the world.

It can be easy to overlook the symptoms of dementia because they are often mild. It usually starts with simple episodes of forgetfulness that may continue to get worse.

Dementia has many causes. Some of the most common are:

• Degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Huntington’s
• Infections, such as HIV
• Vascular diseases
• Stroke
• Depression
• Chronic drug use

Here are some symptoms to look out for:

• People with dementia have trouble keeping track of time and tend to lose their way in familiar settings.
• As dementia progresses, it becomes harder to recall names and faces. Personal care becomes a problem.
• Obvious signs of dementia include repetitive questioning, inadequate hygiene, and poor decision-making.
• In the most advanced stage, people with dementia become unable to care for themselves. They will struggle even more with remembering people and places they are familiar with. Behavior can turn into depression and aggression.

Analyzing Alzheimer’s

Alzheimer’s is a disease that falls within the dementia spectrum. It’s a form of brain disease that impairs both memory and cognitive function.

It is possible to tell if a person has the disease if he or she exhibits any of these symptoms:

• Difficulty remembering recent events or conversations
• Apathy
• Depression
• Impaired judgment
• Disorientation
• Changes in behavior
• Difficulty speaking, swallowing, or walking in advanced stages of the disease

There are over 5 million people in the United States who have Alzheimer’s. The disease also accounts for about 50 to 70 percent of all cases of dementia. Sadly, the exact cause for it remains unknown and a cure for it has yet to be discovered.

Still, there are ways to effectively manage the disease:

• Medications for behavioral changes, such as antipsychotics
• Medications for memory loss including cholinesterase inhibitors donepezil (Aricept) and rivastigmine (Exelon) and memantine (Namenda)
• Alternative remedies that aim to boost brain function or overall health, such as coconut oil or fish oil
• Medications for sleep changes and depression

Expert care for patients

Dementia and Alzheimer’s are a major cause of disability for older adults. They can have a huge impact on the patient and the people that surround him or her. Patients can become an emotional and financial burden on families and caregivers. But this can be overcome by moving the patient to an assisted living facility specializing in care and management for people with these medical conditions.

It would be wise to do your research and compare services before deciding on which facility to choose.

Fallbrook Assisted Living is proud to offer its services to Fremont, NE and surrounding areas and cities: Arlington, Cedar Bluffs, Ames Nickerson, Fontanelle, Arlington, Leshara, Colon, and Hooper

The task of caring for seniors in nursing homes is no small feat. While rewarding, the job can be quite challenging. As a provider of care, it’s important to strike a balance between caring and being a professional. This often involves changes in how duties are carried out, and it doesn’t have to involve significant investment in training and acquiring equipment.

It is the goal of every person at our facility to improve the quality of life of the seniors in our care. Here are ways to do that:

Always treat patients with courtesy and respect

The practice of extending courtesy and respect shouldn’t just stay within the realm of family and friends. This practice should be carried into the caring of senior patients in nursing homes. In other words, they may initially be strangers to you, but they still deserve to be treated with kindness.

While it’s true that the elderly can be grumpy, and you might find yourself being frustrated with the treatment you’re receiving. Even in such trying cases, it’s important to still treat patients with kindness. Even an action as simple as speaking to them in a polite tone goes a long way.

Act with confidence

Residents can make judgments about your abilities by the way you act. They base how they respond to you on their assessments. Taking this into account, it’s important to show that you’re confident in doing your job. If they see that you know what you are doing, they are more likely to respond favorably to what you ask of them.

Make sure to practice hygiene and sanitation

The last thing you want is for a senior patient to mistrust you. They know they are fragile and can’t help being distrustful of those who don’t seem to care about health and sanitation. As such, it’s important that you do your part in assuring them that you adhere to good hygiene and sanitation practices. For instance, you can cover your cough to show to them that you care about not contaminating them.

Take note of your activities with senior patients

You become the point person of your superiors, as well as the patient’s family members, and even the patient’s doctor with regards to the their well-being. It’s important that you be able to answer any pertinent questions they might have about the patient. To ensure that you remember, write down everything that you did with that patient. Doing so gives medical professionals a picture of what your patient is able to do and how they can further help them.

While Fallbrook is an assisted living facility and not a nursing home, we understand the levels of care that seniors need. Senior patients are people with feelings, and it’s important to ensure they have a good quality of life while living in nursing homes. Yes, the task may be challenging but the knowledge of having made someone’s life better is quite rewarding.

Fallbrook Assisted Living is proud to offer its services to Fremont, NE and surrounding areas and cities: Arlington, Cedar Bluffs, Ames Nickerson, Fontanelle, Arlington, Leshara, Colon, and Hooper

There are different living options for seniors, and with shared characteristics between them, making a decision can be quite difficult. When it comes to assisted living, it is important to understand exactly what it is if you are choosing this option or doing so for a loved one.

What assisted living entails

Independent living is another senior living option and just like assisted living, it stresses senior independence. However, the latter is for those who really need help with daily activities, be it remembering medication, keeping up with doctor’s appointments, bathing and grooming.

Assisted living is an option for those who can no longer live alone, but don’t need intensive nursing care yet. Facilities are for seniors who can’t tend to their basic needs, need help in making decisions, and can’t function without assistance.

Although you will be moving into a different space, you are free to treat it as your own. This means you can bring personal possessions and entertain friends and family. And of course even go on trips outside the facility as well.

There is still a level of independence provided in a living facility, but with an added layer of support.

You have your own place and are afforded privacy. If you are an introvert, you can go on living the quiet life. On the other hand, if you like mixing and mingling, there will be lots of opportunities for that as well.

In terms of cost, you can expect assisted living to be more expensive than independent living. Assisted living requires more services to be rendered to ensure the comfort of senior residents.

Is it the right option?

Choosing a senior living option is difficult, whether you’re deciding for yourself or for a family member. Whichever the case, it’s important to consider all the factors before committing to a certain kind of living option.

You can start by asking a few questions.

Is living alone going to be a health risk? If so, assisted living may be the option for you since medical support will be provided by trained staff.

Are you increasingly becoming reliant on others for errands? Are you doing the same for regular needs? Afacility can provide the support you need so you no longer have to wait until your spouse or child is free to help you out.

Are you concerned about performing daily activities? If the thought of walking up a flight of stairs scares you because of the consequences of a fall, then Fallbrook Assisted Living not only provides help but also peace of mind.

If your doctor has expressed concern about you living alone, then it might be best to consider assisted living.

Choosing to live in an assisted living facility doesn’t mean you’re giving up your independence. You are given both the freedom and privacy to live your best life, along with the confidence that there will always be someone there should you need help with daily activities.

Fallbrook Assisted Living is proud to offer its services to Fremont, NE and surrounding areas and cities: Arlington, Cedar Bluffs, Ames Nickerson, Fontanelle, Arlington, Leshara, Colon, and Hooper

If you think that it is quite challenging to communicate with a memory care resident, then you have come to the right place. This is because memory assisted living is not only a place where you put your elderly loved ones, but also a place where communication is one of the priorities.

When it comes to caring for your loved ones with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, communication is key to make your caregiving journey less stressful. Thus, you must take a few notes on how to communicate effectively without getting frustrated or upset.

Establish a Positive Mood

Be aware that even your non-verbal communication can be used to express your thoughts and feelings. Sometimes this is even more expressive than words. So it is best to set up a comfortable atmosphere when making conversation by speaking to your loved one respectfully and nicely. Not only will you be able to show that you care, but you can also reinforce and convey your message by using a positive mood, proper tone of voice, and physical touch.

Ensure To Get Your Loved One’s Attention

Upon having a conversation, try to avoid noise and distractions. If possible, address them by their name and try to use your name to identify yourself. Moreover, you can use nonverbal cues or physical touch so that you can help them stay involved and focused on the conversation. Remember that memory assisted living also requires interesting conversations to get the attention of your loved one.

State Your Message Clearly

Try to speak slowly when talking to your loved one via a reassuring tone. Make use of simple sentences and words that everyone can understand. Do not raise your voice, even when frustration occurs during conversation.

If your loved one didn’t understand the first time you said something, try to repeat your message with the same wording. You also have to use specific names of places or people when conversing instead of using pronouns or abbreviations. This will all help promote memories and make the communication flow more easily.

Go For Simple or Answerable Questions

Instead of asking too many questions in a row, ensure that you only ask one question at a time and give them time to think and answer. For people with memory issues, it is best to establish questions that would require yes or no answers only. It would also help if you use specific words, making things clearer, easier, and simpler to understand.

Provide Direct and Simplistic Instructions

Try to break down tasks into single steps so that you can make things simple. You may use visual clues and instructions to ensure that he or she understands it.

Make Realistic Expectations

Try to answer with affection and reassurance, but avoid using the word “remember”. At the same time, try not to test their memory too hard at a memory assisted living facility. This could possibly upset them, especially if they are in denial about their condition. You may touch or hold their hands to help them respond if they may not be able to do so.

Use Humor to Neutralize Tension

It has been proven many times that laughter can defuse tense conditions almost instantaneously. Take note that people suffering from dementia tend to retain their social skills even if their memory has been diminished. They may even enjoy laughing along with you when you crack a joke or two.

Fallbrook Assisted Living is proud to offer its services to Fremont, NE and surrounding areas and cities: Arlington, Cedar Bluffs, Ames Nickerson, Fontanelle, Arlington, Leshara, Colon, and Hooper