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!

 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.  

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. 

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. 

I want to give you permission to feel good today – even if everything isn’t perfect in your life. And guess what…  When you allow yourself to feel good, you immediately increase your vibration and become more attractive to the good things you desire…

 So go ahead – feel good today!!!

Is there something in the air? In the last two weeks, I’ve received a lot of “911 phone calls” from family caregivers who are almost at their wits end. This is what happens when we take on too much and we have more than we can handle and we try and do it all alone. Eventually overwhelm creeps in and then it takes over. What troubles me is how so many caregivers spend so much time beating themselves up for not knowing what to do. How could you possibly know this? You did not receive a PhD in Caregiving and your loved one poses challenges that you don’t have the answers to. And you know what? It’s Okay if you don’t have all the answers. And that led me on a mission to create “Cindy’s It’s Okay” list.

Here are some things that are okay.

1. It’s okay to be scared.
2. It’s okay to be angry, lost, sad and even depressed.
3. It’s okay to lose your patience.
4. It’s okay that you don’t want to sacrifice your whole life for someone else. And you shouldn’t.
5. It’s okay that sometimes your self-esteem feels damaged.
6. It’s okay that you make mistakes.
7. It’s okay that you don’t know how to do everything.
8. It’s okay that you don’t have all the answers.
9. It’s okay that you don’t have a cure.
10. It’s okay that you’re not there all the time.
11. It’s okay that you sometimes have extreme feelings towards the person for whom you are caring.
12. It’s okay that you lost your temper.
13. It’s okay that you had to apologize.
14. It’s okay that you’re afraid.
15. It’s okay that you can’t get everything done in a day.
16. It’s okay that you have guilt. All caregivers have guilt.
17. It’s okay that you have compassion fatigue.
18. It’s okay you feel trapped.
19. It’s okay that you took a few days for yourself.
20. It’s okay that you vented to your spouse or friend. 

All of these things are absolutely okay. How you manage them is going to make the difference between becoming an Empowered Caregiver or staying in a place of hopelessness. 

Here are some things that are NOT okay.

1. It’s not okay that you feel like you have to do everything yourself.
2. It’s not okay that you feel like an indentured servant.
3. It’s not okay that you are ignoring your personal needs.
4. It’s not okay that you are ignoring friends and social activities.
5. It’s not okay that asking for help paralyzes you.
6. It’s not okay that you don’t have a plan in place.
7. It’s not okay to feel helpless and hopeless for days on end.
8. It’s not okay that you have stopped doing activities you once loved.
9. It’s not okay that you are afraid to say “no” or “not now.”
10. It’s not okay that your siblings don’t help you.
11. It’s not okay that you don’t have boundaries in place.
12. It’s not okay that you feel unappreciated by your family.
13. It’s not okay that you have lost pride in what you are doing for another human being.
14. It’s not okay to sacrifice your financial security.
15. It’s not okay that you do everything your loved one wants; especially when the demands can be outrageous.
16. It’s not okay that you don’t sleep or eat properly.
17. It’s not okay that you are constantly exhausted when help is available, if you would only seek it.
18. It’s not okay that you are sacrificing your personal health for another.
19. It’s not okay that you are constantly trying to fix everything that is wrong.
20. It’s not okay that you are living your life in crisis.

If any of the above rings true for you, then decide right now that you will get the help you need. Decide that you will live your life in a better way. Decide that you will take the necessary steps to ask for and get answers to the challenges that you are facing. Decide today that you are worth the time, energy and investment to survive, thrive and become an Empowered Caregiver. And if you want to receive my newsletter…go here. 

Walking a mile in someone else’s shoes gives us a broader understanding of what each day is like for that person. This exercise will greatly enhance your understanding of what it’s like to live in a body that has aged.

 Loss of Mobility

Take a handful of uncooked popcorn and put the kernels in your shoes or socks.  Now walk around and do household chores or take a walk outside. This is what it feels like for someone with corns, bunions or general foot pain every day.

 Wrap both knees with ace bandages. Now try walking up and down stairs or bend over and pick up things from the floor or try getting dressed.

 Borrow a wheelchair or a walker. Go to the grocery store and try to maneuver your way through the aisles. Use a public restroom and enter a handicapped stall. And don’t forget to reverse the process.

 Take a straw and breathe through it while taking a walk outside or going up stairs. This will give you a good idea of how it feels to climb stairs or take a leisurely walk outside.

 Loss of Vision

Coat a pair of glasses with Vaseline. If your loved one has cataracts, then add yellow plastic wrap over the Vaseline. Now try and read prescription medication directions, thread a needle, pick out clothes that match, use the microwave or discern different colors like blue and green to determine the difference between medications.

 Use totally blackened glasses to simulate blindness. Walk around your house and try and avoid obstacles.

 Have someone blindfold you and then listen to directions that someone gives you who is speaking fast. Now try and follow them.

 Loss of Hearing

Purchase a set of swimmer’s earplugs and insert them into each ear. Try to carry on a conversation with someone who is speaking in a regular voice. Be sure to keep you glasses on because you won’t be able to read lips. Also try having 2 or 3 people give you directions simultaneously. Have someone call you on the phone and carry on a conversation.

 Loss of Dexterity

Tape a couple of fingers together on each hand and put on a pair of plastic gloves. Now try to button your shirt, zip a jacket, write a check, tie your shoes, open a medicine bottle or thread a needle. Try to sort money and pick up coins.

 Loss of Independence

Purchase a box of Depends. (Yes, you must do this!) Moisten the Depends that you will be wearing and wear it around for several hours underneath your clothes.

 Wear a bib and have someone feed you like a baby.

 Have someone brush your teeth, comb your hair or help you take a shower.

 Have someone else pick out your clothes and get you dressed.

 Do all of these things for one day and see if you don’t have a different outlook about the aging process. Perhaps it does completely okay if your loved one wants to rest, sit or take a nap. And when you have finished this exercise, maybe you won’t feel the need to do so much, so often and you’ll be able to cut yourself and your loved one some slack. We can’t fully understand until we have experienced. 

 Rollators are a type of walker, but there is no comparison to the ease of use. Rollators make are ideal for someone who actually wants to move and many people make the small investment in one, but you know I like to bring you the coolest stuff available on the market today and wait until you see these two state-of-the-art, Scandinavian designed Rollators!

 Let me introduce you to the “coolest” walker/Rollater I have ever seen. Actually there are two of them. Meet Breeze and Active Rollators, truly the ultimate in walking assistance machines! Check out some of their many advantages:

• Adjustable seat that adapts to the user – see above photo
• Easy handle adjustment – no screws or tools required
• Easy and compact folding – again no screws or tools needed
• Unique internal brake system – no cables to snap on things and a 5-year warranty (I dare you to find a cable anywhere!)
• Large removable shopping basket
• Lightweight, stable, corrosion-resistant with a totally modern look!
• Wheels have been optimized for indoor and outdoor use – beats those ugly tennis balls!
• Curb climber – no lifting necessary
• Reflectors in the front and back
• Weighs only 7kg (15lbs for us Americans)

 The Active has even more features, but the true benefit is that it has been designed for the person who wants an active lifestyle. It is incredibly sturdy and the large front wheels make it possible for someone with the Active Rollator to travel anywhere, play golf, and lead an active, involved life.

It’s sturdy design gives someone confidence to be more engaged in life.  Yes, the investment is more than a typical walker or rollator, but if you can bring a sense of confidence and independence to someone…why would you not do that? With the financial help of Medicare, the cost for someone’s diginity is well worth the investment. You can get  The Breeze or the Active here.