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Our journeys begin with our stories and our stories create the landscape of our lives. Join us as we share our personal stories with you, and become a part of the conversation by sharing your challenges and insights with others.

Independent Senior Living…New Ways to Make it Happen!

Posted May 10th, 2012 by Cindy Laverty

I remember when I was a little girl and my parents would take me to Disneyland (the days when there were still “E” Tickets); one of my favorite things was visiting the house of the future and the AT&T center where you could go in a booth and talk without using a receiver! I thought the future was so exciting and also impossible! And today, the house is no longer there, because everything in it is part of our daily life and well…the phone without a receiver seems almost laughable. But for a little girl, I thought the future was just a fantasy! Well…it’s happened again, only this time, I am no longer surprised at much of anything.

I want to introduce you to INTEGRATED TELEHEALTH EQUIPMENT (iTHE) – truly revolutionary technology because of what it brings to the senior market in terms of safety and communication. Every day I talk to caregivers who are challenged by finding ways to keep their elderly loved ones living independently in their homes as long as possible. Sadly, what happens when someone is a long-distance caregiver or when someone is simply too busy to check on their loved one every day, is that the elder is often put into an alternative living facility before it becomes necessary. But what if you could keep someone home; know what is happening regarding medications, checking blood pressure, ensuring fall safety, and so much more. What if all that was possible? Well, it is!

Integrated Telehealth (iTHE) focuses on improved safety and proactive caregiving solutions while empowering seniors to be in control of their personal health management while implementing easy to use technology – often just a push of a button! There are numerous products available but some are, “Automatic” Fall Detection & Emergency Response pendants,

“Automated” Medication Dispensers,

as well as Monitoring Systems that gather & trend data on Wellness & Activities of Daily Living. For Example: there are wireless blood cuffs to monitor blood pressure, wireless glucometers to monitor blood sugar, wireless weight scales to monitor weight, GPS watches to keep track of “wandering” individuals, and a sensored “Cookstop” to automatically turn off a stove when left unattended – just to name a few.

So how does this technology help you? These products enable the son, daughter, grandchild, friend, etc to check in on their loved ones via Skype or video chat. The devices send automated reminders for medications and calendar events. There are check in calls that deliver messages of important activities of daily living, by connecting the elder to the caregiver in “real time” even if they aren’t in the same town.

This is the future! Baby Boomers have grown up with e-mail, cell phones, and video cameras and Integrated Telehealth Devices are now using all this technology to help Boomers care for their aging parents. Telehealth care is emerging as a viable solution to help treat complex chronic conditions such as heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and to engage older adults in self-care disease management, an important part of keeping a loved one independent. So often seniors become overwhelmed with all the things they need to do regarding self care and these Integrated Telehealth Devices make the process much easier by sending daily or even hourly reminders while keeping in touch with the family when there is cause for concern. Can you imagine how much easier your life would be if you had some of these devices at your fingertips?

Over the next several weeks I’m going to be bringing you specific information about these revolutionary products. Do you remember when you first heard about the cell phone or blue tooth technology? Did you ever imagine you would be able to listen to music from a tiny device with music downloaded from the Internet? Were you an instant believer or did you run out and purchase the latest, greatest piece of equipment to make your life easier? Our lives are busy and I can promise you that Integrated Telehealth Equipment (iTHE) is going to change your world. If you want more information, contact my friends at Evolution Independent Living at 818.879.0240. It doesn’t matter where you live, they will be happy to help you.

Coming soon! An in-depth look at GrandCare Systems – I want one!

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Is Living in Caregiver Overwhelm Wrecking Your Life?

Posted May 8th, 2012 by Cindy Laverty

I’ve had a full day of calls with caregivers who are really struggling, not with just one area of their lives, but with the physical demands; the emotional tug and pull at their hearts; and the void of spirituality in their lives. How can you experience spirituality when you can barely get out of bed in the morning?

My heart aches for each person I spoke to today. (Each person had scheduled a Breakthrough Caregiver Overwhelm Session with me.) Not because of the caregiving per se, but because each one of these beautiful women began the journey as we all do…giving of ourselves to help a loved one in need. And ever so slowly…day by day…hour by hour…one day we wake up and we realize that we have abandoned our own life in the process of caregiving, and that is when the terror, sadness, sorrow, panic and frustration set in. Sadly by the time this happens, you are so caught up in your caregiver duties that you have no idea how to even begin to figure out what to do to change your circumstances. I made a video about this very thing a while ago and if you missed it, here it is again.

But the message I want to impart today is that you have to be serious about YOU! You have to be serious about your life and you have to either figure it out for yourself or get some help. There really are no other options. The problem though, is that most family caregivers either think they don’t need help or the BIGGER and most prevalent issue is, that they don’t think they deserve any help. And that’s the heart-breaking part, thinking that nothing will work and that you don’t deserve to get help…that somehow you would know how to manage this journey through caregiving.

Here’s the thing…the challenges you face are YOURS! If you have convinced yourself that your situation is unique and different and that no one will help you, then you are doomed. You can’t be a 24/7 caregiver for years on end…you can’t do it without help, but somehow you have managed to convince yourself that you have to. I’ve worked with hundreds of caregivers and I hear the same story over and over again, but I am here to tell you that something magical happens the day you realize that are ways to do this, recover your life, welcome it home with open arms and stop living in complete overwhelm. You CAN do this without turning your back on your loved one. I have a special report to share with you. It’s 10 Keys to Reclaiming Your Life Without Turning Your Back on Your Loved One and it’s only available here. It won’t cost you a cent…but it just might save your life. And while I’m writing this post, I just have to ask you this question: What if you decided that you were worth investing in…what would that feel like for you? Can you find your way to LOVE yourself enough to move out of overwhelm?

Leave your thoughts below. I’d love to hear from you.

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Life Saving Information You Must Know!

Posted May 3rd, 2012 by Cindy Laverty

Because of my radio show, I receive literally hundreds of press releases every week. Sadly, most of them are not appropriate guests for my show, but truthfully, I don’t have time to read all of them. Once in awhile a press release catches my eye and jumps off the page. This release from Betsy McCaughey contains information that could actually save your life or the life of your loved ones.

Do you know about C.Diff? If not, you MUST and this press release will give you hope. Betsy’s website is full of information and is an excellent resource.

A KILLER HOSPITALS PRETEND TO FIGHT

May 2, 2012

It’s hard to know which is worse, the dying or the lying.

Four times as many people are dying from a hospital infection called C. diff as a decade ago, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It’s the No. 1 hospitalinfection killer in much of the nation, including New York. It kills more people than dreaded Staph infections, and about as many as AIDS.

What about the lying? Well, hospital personnel often tell patients and families that antibiotics are to blame. Sorry: The real culprit is inadequate cleaning in hospitals.

C. diff spreads through the hospital on nurses’ uniforms, wheelchairs, bed sheets, call buttons and other surfaces. It can survive on surfaces for months. Patients touch these surfaces, then pick up food without washing their hands first, and swallow the germ along with their food. Once in the gastrointestinal tract, C. diff can cause severe diarrhea, sometimes resulting in deadly complications.

How virulent is this germ? According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, a patient who goes into the hospital for one problem and then contracts C. diff is 4.5 times as likely to die as a patient admitted with the same diagnosis who avoids getting C. diff.

A shocking 9 percent of patients with C. diff don’t survive their stay.

Yes, patients on heavy doses of antibiotics are especially vulnerable, because antibiotics kill other bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract that would keep C. diff under control. But antibiotics don’t cause C. diff.

Contaminated surfaces are to blame. Most C. diff victims pick up the germ in the hospital; most of the rest, in a nursing home or doctor’s office or during a previous hospital stay.

There’s an answer. The Mayo Clinic reduced C. diff by 79 percent in a pilot project by doing one thing: wiping the frequently touched surfaces around patients’ beds once a day with a bleach wipe.

You’d think hospitals everywhere would be scrubbing surfaces to duplicate this success. Outrageously, most are not.

The manpower used to mop floors could be redirected to cleaning surfaces doctors and patients touch. Bleach is essential, because the C. diff germ is encased in a hard shell, making it harder to kill on surfaces than the AIDS virus, for example.

Harder to kill on surfaces, but easier to deal with in every other way. It’s a matter of cleaning, not addressing drug addiction or unsafe sex. Keep the surfaces around the patient’s bed meticulously clean, and C. diff can be nearly eradicated. We have the knowledge; what’s lacking is the will.

Although C. diff claims about the same number of American lives as AIDS, the Centers for Disease Control and hospitals are not responding with the passion that tamed the AIDS threat. The CDC says its aim is to reduce C. diff by 33 percent over five years – a pathetically timid goal.

CDC Director Thomas R. Frieden points to the agency’s “6 Steps to Prevention.” Glaringly absent are cleaning patients’ hands or alerting them to clean their own hands if they are able.

The Committee to Reduce Infection Deaths donates printed tray cards for hospitals to remind patients to wash their hands before eating and avoid putting their utensils anywhere except their plate. Shamefully, hospital personnel say they don’t want to tell patients about germs around the bed and the need to take precautions.

If you’re going into the hospital, bring a canister of bleach wipes and a pair of gloves. It could save your life.

Betsy McCaughey is founder and chairman of the Committee to Reduce Infection Deaths (hospitalinfection.org).

If you’re caring for an aging loved one and hospital visits are frequent, be sure you bring bleach wipes to the hospital and wipe down everything. Ask anyone who comes to visit, to wipe down the area around the patient as well. The elderly are particularly for contracting C. Diff.

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Are There Advantages of Living in an Assisted Living Community?

Posted May 3rd, 2012 by Cindy Laverty

One of the biggest challenges for families is making the decision to move a loved one, especially a parent or parents to an assisted living facility. We agonize over what to do; when to do it; how to do it and ultimately, we often become paralyzed and make no decision at all. And then we hope and pray that nothing happens while we’re trying to decide what to do. You all know that I am a huge proponent of keeping our loved ones at home if possible; but what do you do if it’s not possible? What do you do if you aren’t able to provide the highest level of care any longer? What do you do if a house is in need of so much repair that the cost is prohibitive? The list can go on and on and you can find yourself on a runaway train trying to keep someone living at home when the reality is that there just might a better alternative. And YES, it will require you to make a tough decision, but it also might be a salvation for your loved one (s) and you. The Senior Housing Market has changed in order to keep us with our aging population and the demands that the public is making to create alternative housing that is not only safe and clean, but one that also is stimulating, engaging and interactive. Truthfully, some of the places springing up are really little senior paradises.

And YES…there are advantages to assisted living communities; some of them are obvious like social interaction, planned activities, a smaller space to care for, etc. but there are additional advantages that may not spring as quickly and easily to mind. Many of these benefits go far beyond fast access to health care and daily living assistance. These are just a few of the benefits you may wish to consider as you weigh your options and decide whether an assisted living community is the right choice for you.

Safety and Security

There are several reasons assisted living communities are safer and more secure than a stand-alone home for the elderly. First, most assisted living communities are not located in high crime areas. They are also not generally the target of crime sprees. Most of these facilities have trained security staff as well as systems designed to protect against outside aggression and monitor the safety of all residents.

Additionally, there is the security of knowing that health care is a primary consideration in facilities such as these. Every aspect of these communities is there to accommodate and meet the needs of the people who live there. They are well equipped with security rails for support in hallways and bathrooms, automatic doors, and wide ramps to accommodate wheelchairs and/or walkers while also preventing trips and falls that are commonly associated with stairs.

Preservation of Dignity

Today’s assisted living communities are dedicated to preserving dignity of the residents at every turn. Assistance is available when needed but residents are encouraged to do for themselves to the best of their abilities. This is the case in all aspects of their lives. Many residents have limited mobility. Some of this may be due to age while other limitations may be the result of recovery from injury or surgery. Simple tasks such as basic hygiene and even dressing can be difficult. Assistance is available for these tasks in a private and compassionate manner that is available to maximize the quality of life while preserving dignity.

Cooking, Housekeeping and Laundry Services

Many elderly find that there are some tasks that become difficult for them over time. Cooking, cleaning, and laundry are among those tasks. Assisted living communities provide residents with general housekeeping and laundry services so they can keep their homes clear of clutter and have clean clothes to wear despite any mobility issues that might make those tasks difficult. Quite a few assisted living communities have moved away from full kitchens in the homes and apartments and moved in the direction of kitchenettes instead. These communities offer on-site chef-services for three meals each day. Residents have limited meal preparation capabilities in their homes but can ensure that there is food available when they do not feel up to or have no interest in cooking for themselves.

These are a few of the great reasons to consider an assisted living community. There are many more reasons however, that are worth mentioning. Ask the senior community you are considering about what they feel their own advantages are as well. I’ve said it before and I’ll continue saying it: When a loved one moves from home into an assisted living facility, you need to make sure that you are still showing up often and spending time.

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