Lena and Edwin – Part Two

This blog is the continuation of the story of Lena and Edwin Michales. You can read about their early years here. This is part two of their story.

Edwin Michales grew up poor in the mountains of Pennsylvania. It was something that Lena says he was always ashamed of, and now she thinks about how much of that contributed to the way his dementia presented. His father was a coal miner, and his mother rolled cigars in a cigar factory. Lena says Edwin never felt well-educated, and that’s because, in all honesty, he wasn’t. He lived in a coal mining community, and the schools weren’t great. When Edwin was old enough, he enlisted in the United States Air Force. One of his assignments landed him in a town on the East Coast, where he met Lena.

Throughout their lives, they traveled the world and eventually settled permanently in the Midwest. They both did work they were passionate about, and were raising two children surrounded by neighbors that were like a second family. They’d lived frugally throughout their younger years, planning to spend their golden years after retirement traveling more, visiting their children and grandchildren, enjoying their interests and hobbies. They often spent their evenings enjoying a glass of wine, looking out over their property and the trees Edwin had planted years before when they bought their house.

They both retired earlier than they’d planned to, at the age of 60. First, Edwin who was diagnosed with MS and found himself exhausted all the time. Then, Lena retired a few years later due to a cancer diagnosis that left her without both of her legs. Even so, they were both active, and were looking forward to traveling and more evenings on the porch. When Edwin first started acting odd, Lena chalked it up to the peculiarities of aging. “All of a sudden, he didn’t trust me to do his laundry anymore. I’d been doing his laundry for 50 years”. She noticed it more when his behavior became even odder.

“He would start following me in his car.”

Edwin became afraid that Lena would leave him and that every time she left the house, she was looking for a boyfriend. Whether she was going to a meeting or the grocery store, he was convinced she was searching for a new love. It was bizarre and nothing she’d ever experienced with him before. At first, Lena wasn’t sure what to think. “We had already been married about 50 years when this started, and I thought, he’s just being a fuddy-duddy in his old age. You know, you kind of put it off to that”. And she did put it off to that until his behavior became more intense.

“His behavior became dangerous – he would physically threaten me.”

It was when things wouldn’t work for him that Edwin would become upset. And it was always in the evening. Lena recalls the first time she felt threatened by him. He couldn’t understand how to use their new thermostat. It was connected by an app that they could adjust using their iPad. When Edwin couldn’t get it to do what he wanted it to do, he became furious. Lena would ask him if he wanted help, and she says you could see on his face that the rage was gathering inside him. He raged at her, telling her, “No! I don’t want your help!” before pounding on the wall as close as he could get to her head. Lena recalls thinking, “this isn’t good; there’s got to be something going on.”

Lena says that you could see how the anger in him was going to escalate into punching. She made an appointment with their primary care doctor, who advised her to tell Edwin he was coming in for his yearly checkup. While they were there, the doctor asked Edwin some probing questions and suggested that Edwin see a geriatric physician who could do further testing and maybe put him on medication to help. Edwin refused to make an appointment. Lena says that their doctor’s office told her that his behavior would not stop – it would escalate. And when it got to the point that she was physically in danger, she would need to be ready to call the police. That’s exactly what happened.

“It was when he came after me with the ax that I first took their advice.”

Lena says that the incident started because Edwin couldn’t get into his home office. They regularly kept the office locked with a key, and they both knew where he kept it. They stored his skeet and trap guns inside his office, and although those were in a locked cabinet, they often had grandchildren visiting and took extra precautions. One day, Edwin couldn’t find the key to his office. Lena went to where he usually kept it, and it wasn’t there. So, he had done something with it, lost it, forgot where he’d put it. But he became convinced that she had hidden it from him. His solution? To break the door down with an ax.

Lena didn’t realize that was what he was doing until she heard it. Weary and perplexed, she went to him and suggested they call a locksmith instead of breaking the door down. Suddenly, she says he yelled, “I should use this on you!” and came at her with the ax in his hand. In their home, you can still see the gouges in the walls, their bedroom door, and a side table, where he missed hitting her. Lena recalls thinking in the moment that she needed to figure out a way to calm him down. Luckily, she kept her cell phone in her apron at all times. She heeded the advice given by their doctor’s office and called the police.

The arrival of the police calmed Edwin down.

Lena explained the situation to them. They made an emergency appointment for Edwin at a Geriatric center in their city and told him that if he didn’t go to the appointment, they would come back and take him to jail. This threat of jail from uniformed authorities was enough to get Edwin to agree to an appointment. He was seen by a team specializing in geriatrics, including a psychiatrist, a social worker, a physician, and a group of nurses. He was diagnosed with dementia and put on a regimen of medications.

When asked if Edwin was aware that he had dementia, Lena says she thinks he knew, though he could never admit it out loud. She said he eventually adjusted to her being the only one that drove or paid the bills. In that way, she says, he knew he couldn’t do those things anymore, so he understood at some level. The change in him was heartbreaking. While Edwin didn’t have the best education growing up, he was self-taught. He was a voracious reader, and because he was so well-read, he had a vocabulary that would “knock your socks off.” Lena says he wrote beautifully and was a photographer, as well as an artist. His drawings are hung up around their home. He loved classical music, and Lena called him her “Renaissance Man.”

“He used to quote Marcus Aurelius to me when we were dating.”

As his dementia progressed, Lena lost more and more of the individual she’d had as her partner for over 50 years. Even with his medications and being seen by a team of specialists, she still found herself in physical danger from him. There were so many incidents, all fueled by paranoia, that had become a part of his reality. She says she lost count of how many times he would come at her for different reasons. One time, he had his hands around her throat and told her he could kill her. Another time, he broke a mug full of hot tomato soup over her head while she was ordering groceries online. “He was convinced that I had poisoned it.”

At the time, she didn’t know that he was also struggling with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD).

That diagnosis would come during an inpatient stay at an adult behavioral health center. Lena had him committed after he held a loaded gun to her head. There was a lot of violence that year. When asked how she felt at the time, having to commit her husband for the safety of both of them, she says she wasn’t feeling much. “By that time, I was numb to everything. I just did it.” While Edwin was there, they did brain scans and changed his medications. They found that his dementia had progressed to “moderate-to-severe” and that he had MDD. He was at the center for just under three weeks.

The professionals at the facility had wanted him to stay longer, but Lena was afraid for him to be there. She recalls that when she would be on the phone with him, residents there, especially women, would come and talk to him to try and get him to flirt. And when he wouldn’t, they would get violent with him. Lena was scared that Edwin would react by becoming violent back, though he never did. The incident that caused her to bring him home early? When he called her crying. Someone at the center had shown him the police reports – all of them – that had been made by Lena when he’d become violent with her. He called her, sobbing, asking, “Am I that bad of a man?” Because of his dementia, he didn’t remember any of that happening. They also told him he would become a ward of the state. Lena says she’s not sure who told him those things or why. She assumes it was part of his treatment. But she couldn’t stomach him being in that situation any longer.

“It broke my heart.”

Lena calmed him down and told him, “No, you’re not a bad man.” She called the facility after she hung up with him and told them she was bringing him home. And she did. They were both happy he was home, but that wasn’t the last time Lena would have to step in as Edwin’s advocate. Months down the road, in the middle of a global pandemic, she would have to do so again. This time, she would struggle between what the doctors were telling her and listening to her gut instinct that something was seriously wrong. Check in next week to read the final part of Edwin and Lena’s story.

Dementia is a tragic, life-changing disease that impacts not just the person diagnosed but the people who love them. If you or someone you know is struggling to care for someone they love, reach out to us. We can provide you with professional resources, support, respite, and care.

You can read Part Three of Lena and Edwin’s story here.

The Rings That Shape Our Lives – Stories from Those on the Aging Journey

Today is World Alzheimer’s Day – a day to raise awareness of the disease process that impacts so many seniors and their families across the globe. When in the throes of the disease, it can be difficult for loved ones to focus on much more than the loss they’re experiencing as they watch the person they love become unable to know where and who they are.

It’s true that as we age, a lot of us may experience certain conditions that impact what our day-to-day lives look like. Last month, we recognized National Senior Citizens Day. September is World Alzheimer’s Month. In October, we have World Osteoporosis Day. This seems to be a season of acknowledging older adults and the conditions that may impact them. But, these aren’t the things that define us. It’s our lives, our relationships, and the events that led us to where we are in our journey that define who we are, not our age or conditions. This month, A Place At Home is starting a new blog series – “The Rings That Shape our Lives: Stories from Those on the Aging Journey.” This series aims to reveal the identities of aging adults beyond their current care needs.

Like our logo, the Tree of Life, we all have roots that we came from, and the seasons of our lives have formed rings that tell the story of “us” – who we were, who we’ve grown into over the years, and who we are now.

Enter Lena and Edwin Michales, the first in our series. The Michales have been married for almost 57 years. She was a teacher; he was enlisted in the United States Air Force. They lived all over the world with their two children and spent time visiting the coasts when they were living stateside, and planned to continue traveling once they retired. But, unfortunately, they had no way to predict the way their lives would look at the beginning of their Golden Years. Cancer, MS, and finally, dementia would create some of the most profound rings of their lives.

This is the first part of their story.

Lena and Edwin met in a coastal town on the East Coast. He was in the military, and she had just graduated from college with a degree in Education. The first time they met was at a social gathering, introduced by a good friend of Lena’s. The next time the two would lay eyes on each other would be almost a year later, both participants in the same friend’s wedding party. Lena’s mother warned her to be careful with Edwin, telling her, “that man is looking for a wife, and he thinks he’s found one in you.”

As it turns out, Lena’s mother wasn’t wrong.

Edwin and Lena dated following their friend’s wedding, and though Lena’s parents weren’t supportive of the match, the couple knew that they wanted to start a life together. They approached the church, who told them that they couldn’t wed without their parents’ blessing. That didn’t stop them. The couple eloped and were married on December 26th. A week later, since they had been legally married already, they had a ceremony in the church. When asked which day they chose as “the” day to celebrate their anniversary, Lena says it was different each year. “If we were tired or broke on the 26th, we would celebrate it on the date a week later. We were often tired and broke on the 26th.”

Edwin and Lena were like most young military couples at the time. They had two young kids and a tight budget with which to afford life. When they were living stateside, Lena shares that they never went on extravagant vacations; they would rent a car, and travel to the East Coast, first to New Jersey to visit with her family, and then up the coast to Maine. Though they ended up retiring land-locked in the Midwest, the ocean has always been a theme of their lives.

“Almost every picture we took together over the years, there’s water in the background.”

There were years of their lives that they spent living overseas, living wherever Edwin’s military career dictated. Their favorite assignment was when they were stationed in Aviano, a town at the foothills of the Italian Alps, in Northern Italy. There was no base housing for this assignment. Everyone lived in the village or in farmhouses. They had no television and no phone. “I’d open my shutters in the morning to see the Alps – the Dolomites – to see what the weather was for the day.”

While Edwin’s time in the Air Force dictated where they lived, Lena found that, at times, it also dictated her career.

Growing up, she had a natural affinity for math and science. She was a voracious reader, as well. She read every single book in the children’s section of her hometown library. Once she’d read everything in that section, she got a note from her father that allowed her to read the rest of them. It’s no wonder she ended up going to college to be a teacher, a profession she loved and worked in until she was 60.

While they were living overseas, however, there were times when she wasn’t allowed to work due to restrictions put in place by the Department of Defense. They didn’t allow dependent wives from the US to work. But Lena was tenacious. She says while they were living in Italy, she would walk down to the piazza each morning where Civilian Personnel was located, telling them she wanted a job. Sometimes she went twice a day, every time being told “no.” Eventually, though, her determination paid off.

“They got tired of seeing me, and I finally got a job. I taught full-time, living in Italy.”

Educating children is something that Lena was passionate about when she was younger, and it’s a passion that remained with her throughout her life. She retired from the profession at the age of 60, but not by her preference. In 2002, she was diagnosed with cancer. It was in both of her legs. Though doctors did what they could, in the end, Lena lost both of her legs. Over six years, Lena underwent thirteen surgeries, each one leaving her bed-ridden for eight weeks at a time. Looking back, she says retiring was the right thing to do. She didn’t feel that she could do the job like she thought it needed to be done. Though she admits, it broke her heart to stop teaching.

“I still loved what I did, I still felt good, and I was fit. I had planned on working until I was 70. It didn’t work out that way.”

The tenacity that drove Lena through most of her life didn’t fail her when she lost her legs. At first, she was very dependent on Edwin, something that was a first for both of them. She was non-weight bearing and used a wheelchair. She was in and out of rehab facilities. Edwin was not only assisting Lena heavily, but he was also tackling things like grocery shopping for the first time in their lives together. TV dinners and Prego. “He took good care of me, but it wasn’t easy for him.” It wasn’t easy for Lena, either. She had always been an independent person, not afraid to carve out her path. Over their years together, if she wanted to travel somewhere and Edwin didn’t, Lena would go by herself. He loved her independent spirit.

Even after losing her legs, that spirit stayed with her.

Each day she would pack a lunch, and a van would come to pick her up from her home and take her to a rehab facility. There, she paid privately for the use of their gym and equipment to keep herself strong. After her workout, the van would pick her back up and drop her off at a local elementary school. There, she would spend the afternoon working with first graders. Lena volunteered at this particular school because it was wheelchair accessible, something she needed since she no longer had legs. Eventually, she was fitted with prosthetics, which allowed her to live far more unrestrained than she had been.

Lena remembers the relief she felt when her prosthetist told her she could drive with her new legs. “I became very independent again as soon as I found that out.”

Cleared to drive, she joined a book club in the city closest to her little town. She continued her volunteer work. She started a youth group that grew to be so popular, she had to start a waitlist for the kids that wanted to join. Lena had 33 fourth, fifth, and sixth graders at a time, giving back to their community. They would volunteer their time in homeless shelters, humane societies, hospitals, and more. Lena wanted to meet different people and didn’t want her life to be limited.

While Lena was rediscovering her independence in this new phase of her life, Edwin struggled with it. While her independence was something he had always loved and admired, this time, he seemed suspicious of where she was and upset that she wasn’t at home with him. At the time, she’d chalked it up to the idiosyncrasies of aging. He’d retired himself at the age of 60, diagnosed with MS. Though MS is a progressive disease, Edwin got along fine, for the most part, using just a cane for support. The worst of it was the fatigue it caused him, but even so, he had been able to care for Lena almost exclusively for the six years she battled cancer and through the loss of her legs. This new anxiety about where she was, was not like him.

“Now I look back at it, and it was telling that something wasn’t right. But I had no idea at the time.”

For the next few years, Edwin’s behavior and overall countenance would change so drastically that there was no way to brush it off as idiosyncrasies of aging. Lena would take on the role of Edwin’s caregiver, as he had cared for her when she lost her legs. Together, they would experience the confusion, sadness, and cruelty that dementia inflicts on families. Lena would learn how to interact with her husband in a way that she’d previously used when teaching small children. She would also come to know the significance of being an advocate, especially when Edwin’s disease progressed and he could no longer advocate for himself.

Life is made up of our stories. Our rings are what shape us. For the couple in this week’s series, they spent their lives doing things they loved. They remained each other’s support through it all. Their story reminds anyone who knows of it of the resiliency we all have inside us, no matter what life throws at us. Next week, check-in with us for more about the Michales and how Edwin’s dementia re-shaped their lives. You can read Part Two of their story here.

September is Healthy Aging Month

Healthy Aging Month is about raising awareness about how older adults can live healthier, happier lives.

The start of a new school year is the perfect time to celebrate Healthy Aging Month since people are motivated by back-to-school memories and are more inclined towards starting something new. Seniors are encouraged to stay healthy and learn new things that will improve their physical health and mental capacity during this month-long observance.

Keep reading for senior living tips to empower a positive outlook on aging and to continue to improve your life. 

Take charge of your health

Take charge of your health during Healthy Aging Month. Find out what benefits your healthcare insurance covers, and take the time to set up your annual physical and other health screenings, including examinations by your eye doctor and dentist. For most diseases, early detection can be hugely beneficial so remain diligent about your health, including taking medications as prescribed. If you notice anything unusual, don’t ignore it. While there’s no need to go to the doctor every time you’re not feeling well, know your body and what is normal for yourself well enough to detect if something might be out of line.

Exercise is important for healthy aging. If you are not accustomed to exercise, consult your doctor before starting an exercise routine and be sure to start slowly. Aim for 10–15 minutes of activity 3x a week and increase as time goes on.

Maintaining a healthy diet is also key to staying healthy. Obesity can lead to even bigger health concerns such as diabetes or heart disease. Plus, a slower metabolism means we need fewer calories when we get older, so it becomes increasingly important for us to reduce the amount of unhealthy foods we consume.
Additionally, our Care Coordination Services can help you and your family navigate the complex healthcare system. Our caregivers are not only an advocate for you, but can help with in-home health services. They can attend doctor’s appointments, coordinate with specialists, create a plan for day-to-day care, and pick up medication. We can even provide transition assistance for post-surgery or rehab, and a household safety assessment to avoid re-admittance.

Try new things

Don’t let your age stop you from trying new things (within reason, of course!). Get out there and experiment! Do something that will keep your mind and body engaged each day—it will give you something to look forward to. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

  • Try a new hobby
  • Learn a new skill or language
  • Read new books
  • Join a walking group

Working puzzles, taking up a new hobby like yoga, etc. can help reduce stress levels associated with aging problems. It’s good for both body and mind!

Stay positive

Studies have shown that positive thinking can help you live longer and more successfully manage stressful events. If negative thoughts plague your life, try to “re-train” yourself by replacing them with the silver lining in every situation. Try to be more pos­i­tive in conversation. When you catch yourself saying something negative, switch it around into a positive statement. Try not watching the news for a while to avoid negative reports. Surround yourself with energetic, happy people of all ages to help keep your own mood positive. Your mental health plays an important part in healthy aging, and surrounding yourself with people who make you smile and laugh makes it even easier.

Build a support system

A positive support system filled with friends and loved ones can greatly boost your mental wellbeing. Surround yourself with people who bring you joy rather than bring you down! Instead of feeling lonely and bored, reach out to your friends or family. Get together with them, invite them over for a visit, or even call them over FaceTime. 

Another asset to your support system is in-home senior care. Our in-home care services can be customized to fit your needs and keep your daily routines in the comfort of your own home. Our companions can help you participate in hobbies, help with socializing, and assist with your email and social media. They can also help you manage meals and nutrition, complete household chores, exercise or go outdoors, and provide transportation for errands. 

If you are looking for in-home senior care in Albuquerque, schedule a free consultation with our A Place At Home office. You can expect a quick response about pricing or answers to any questions about our in-home care, care coordination, or senior living alternatives. Our professionals are ready to provide you or your loved one with compassionate care, open communication, and support, and improve overall quality of life. Give our Albuquerque office a call at (505) 316-5440 or schedule your free consultation online today.

A Place At Home – South Portland Advocates for Inclusion in Healthcare

Jerome Philips, owner of A Place At Home – South Portland, is passionate about keeping seniors in their homes longer, with a better quality of life. That mission means providing his clients with safe and effective care and ensuring that his caregivers have a safe and inclusive environment with which to provide that service.

Over the years, Portland has struggled with racial and cultural disparity within its local healthcare system, making providing safe and quality care difficult. In the past, clients and other customers have had the option to say they don’t want care provided by someone with an accent or from a particular ethnic background. And healthcare agencies have had the option of accommodating those requests.

Cooperating with racially driven requests poses several issues. Inclusion, for one.

The first and most obvious issue is that of racism and discrimination in general. Allowing individuals to turn away caregivers because of their ethnic background perpetuates a cycle of unfounded inequity. It also impacts the quality of care that’s available in general. Caregivers are highly qualified and trained to do their job well, regardless of their background. And, from an employment perspective, it’s a problem.

“It’s a huge issue because it’s preventing those employment opportunities for entire communities.” Jerome shares that as soon as they opened their doors, they wrote policies against discrimination for his employees and clients. Even with those policies in place, it’s been necessary to express to some of his clients that they won’t make accommodations for them that are based on racial discrimination. And for families that are blatantly racist or hostile toward individuals? Jerome discontinues services.

“We do terminate services because we won’t make those accommodations. It’s not fair to our caregivers, and our caregivers know that we have their back, that we support them, and we’re willing to make difficult decisions so that they have a safe working environment.”

Thankfully, more often than not, once a hesitant family accepts a caregiver, they end up becoming attached. In Jerome’s experience, the situation goes from something the client may have found uncomfortable initially to a situation where they’ve formed a bond with that person and find comfort in the quality of care they’re being given. In addition, they find the caregivers are highly trained, efficient, and able to help in an invaluable way.

Jerome’s stance on these issues goes beyond how he operates A Place At Home. He’s committed to seeing a change from a higher level. He’s partnered with the Oregon Healthcare Association (OHCA). Together, they’ve advocated for their caregivers. They’ve had discussions with legislators at a state level expressing their concerns. “We’re talking to them and giving them very real stories because they really don’t understand what it’s like for our employees.”

OHCA has been a strong partnership, especially when it comes to fighting against racism and discrimination.

They’ve been long-time champions of DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) in long-term care for clients and employees. They push for person-centered care that is personalized and culturally appropriate. They also push for nondiscrimination policies when it comes to hiring and employment practices. The state has a culturally robust population that includes members of nine native tribes and those who identify as Native Alaskans, American Indians, Pacific Islanders, Asians, Africans, African Americans, Latin, Hispanic, and Black. The state’s population also includes asylum-seekers, refugees, and DREAMers, to name a few. To push DEI interests, the state has issued new guidelines.

These guidelines require agencies to understand the effect that accommodating racially-driven demands has on the greater community.

Operating under the old paradigm undermines the quality of care available. However, the new guidelines offer hope if other agencies get on board. Jerome believes they will, even if that means they’ll have to decline care to those clients who won’t comply. Most clients, he believes, will realize that they can’t determine their caregivers’ race. So they’re going to have to become comfortable with the idea of inclusion. And he believes that agencies changing their practices when it comes to accommodating discriminating requests will positively change the experience of home care for all parties involved.

“If the whole industry enforces these guidelines, change will come.”

Over the last year, the pandemic has brought the concept of care in the home into even greater focus. As a result, several hospital systems are testing models of delivering care to patients in their homes. The idea is that treating people in familiar surroundings will produce better outcomes from a quality of life perspective. We need a skilled, effective, compassionate, and diverse workforce to provide quality care. Inclusion policies are key. Jerome and A Place At Home – South Portland are here for it.

A Place At Home has a mission to provide compassionate care to seniors where and when they need us. If you are passionate about making a difference in the lives of others, we want to speak with you. Reach out to us today to start making an impact.

Dehydration in Seniors: What to Look For and How to Help

There’s a heatwave throughout most of the country right now. With temperatures in the upper 90’s and higher, it’s an excellent time to make sure you know the signs and symptoms of dehydration.

Most people have likely been educated on the benefits of drinking enough water. Our bodies require it to function. For most people, drinking at least eight glasses a day is an easy way to care for ourselves. However, not drinking enough water can lead to dehydration, which can be detrimental to one’s health. The very definition of “dehydration” is “a harmful reduction in the amount of water in the body”. For most of us, that means we may feel sluggish, have a headache, or feel a little ill. 

For seniors, especially those with chronic illnesses, dehydration can be detrimental to their health and overall quality of life.

As we get older, our bodies carry a lesser volume of water at all times. This is a normal part of aging, and generally, getting enough fluids each day can mitigate the risk of dehydration. However, when aging adults become ill with even a minor infection such as a UTI, the risk of severe dehydration goes up. In addition, dehydration poses a significant threat in those diagnosed with chronic conditions, such as diabetes and dementia. 

If dehydration isn’t recognized early enough for a senior, the situation can become severe quickly. It’s beneficial and necessary to be able to identify things that can indicate a senior isn’t getting enough fluid in their body:

  • They may not urinate as frequently as they usually do
  • When they do use the restroom, the color of their urine is darker than it should be
  • They seem confused and disoriented
  • They feel dizzy
  • They’re more tired than usual
  • They are excessively thirsty

If you see any of these symptoms in a senior you love, there’s a good chance they’re dehydrated. If they have difficulty staying awake, have had diarrhea for more than 24 hours, or can’t keep fluids down, it’s time to call a doctor. 

Most of us are fortunate enough to take the ability to keep ourselves hydrated for granted.

However, for some seniors, their health conditions may constantly be working against them. As an example, they may be taking prescribed medications that can increase the risk of dehydration. In addition, some disease processes, like Alzheimer’s, can render someone incapable of recognizing that they need to drink water. Finally, for others, a disability may mean that they are physically unable to fetch their own drink. 

In some cases, a person may be utterly dependent on the help of other to stay healthy and hydrated.

Whether you’re a professional caregiver or caring for someone you love, there are some excellent ways to ensure the person you’re caring for is getting enough water:

  • Offer smaller amounts of water more often throughout the day – seniors can be hesitant to drink a lot at one time, depending on their physical and cognitive condition.
  • Encourage fluid-hearty foods at meal and snack times. Soup with a meal, or watermelon as a snack, for example
  • Water is the best, but an offer of tea, coffee, or natural fruit juice can encourage more fluid intake.

While the risk of dehydration is real for older adults, being aware of the things that signify that the person under your care isn’t getting enough water can help significantly increase the odds that you can address the situation before it becomes an emergency. Especially in those cases where the person isn’t able to take care of their needs themselves. If you or someone you know would benefit from having oversight so that they can stay healthy and independent, reach out to us to see locations near you. Our professional and compassionate caregivers are passionate about the care they provide, and we would be honored to help!

WISH Act May Change the Game When it Comes to Paying for In-Home Care

In news that could affect the care seniors receive as they age, the Well-Being Insurance for Seniors to be at Home (WISH) Act has been introduced in the U.S. House by Rep. Thomas R. Suozzi (D-NY). This new legislation seeks to help seniors pay for long-term care.

Currently, most Americans don’t have the coverage needed to pay for potential long-term care needs. This comes at a time when Baby Boomers are expected to have increased needs as they continue to age. Many rely on federal programs such as Medicaid. Medicaid covers nursing home care for seniors who have meager assets, and families are often faced with spending down their loved one’s assets to help them qualify. In most states, the threshold for assets is just $2,000.

Medicare, on the other hand, provides no coverage at all for long-term care.

Another current option is long-term care insurance. But only 2% of Americans have it, according to Time Magazine, partially because it’s expensive. As a result, their loved ones often try to provide a patchwork of care. However, these unpaid caregivers are untrained in most cases and often end up suffering from depression and stress-related disorders. In addition, many neglect their medical care as they try to provide care for their loved ones.

The WISH Act Provides Benefits and Flexibility.

As this new legislation seeks to help seniors pay for long-term care, it also gives them added flexibility. Instead of just funding nursing home care, the WISH Act would also allow seniors to use their benefits to pay for 6 hours a day of home care and pay for other services.

Monthly cash benefits would be about $3,600 and be indexed for inflation. The money would be funded by a .3 percent increase in the payroll tax for workers and employers.

Seniors who are of full Social Security retirement age and have significant cognitive impairment or need help with at least two activities of daily living (such as bathing or eating) could receive benefits under the bill. Once seniors pay into the system for 1.5 years, they would receive partial benefits. Full benefits would kick in after they contributed to the program for ten years.

Benefits under the new legislation would not be taxable. And seniors who receive benefits under the WISH Act would still be able to utilize other federal benefits programs. Funds from the WISH Act would pay out first, and then other programs, like Medicaid, could be used.

Find Out What Your Current Options Are

To learn about current options to pay for in-home care, find a location near you. We provide compassionate at-home care services that make it easier and safer for seniors to maintain their independence and continue to live at home.

A Place At Home Honors First-Ever National Caregiver of the Year

The 2020 Caregiver of the Year went the extra mile in providing exceptional care.

The 2nd Annual A Place At Home Franchise Convention was held in late September. This event marks a time for franchisees to connect, collaborate, and celebrate the past year. This year also marked the first-ever recognition of the National A Place At Home Caregiver of the Year. Franchisee’s submitted nominations from all over the country for one caregiver that went above and beyond the call of duty, demonstrating an extraordinary commitment to delivering quality care to clients and their families and lives the “We are CARE” philosophy. 

“We received many nominations from all over the country and each one was inspiring. It was difficult to choose just one winner,” said Jerod Evanich, President and Co-Founder of A Place At Home.

However, there was one nomination that painted a detailed picture of how one person went above and beyond the call of duty. The nomination read:

“Dave came on with A Place At Home after decades of working in the insurance business. He wanted to do something more “rewarding” in his 60s. He got his CNA/CMA and began working to make people’s lives better. 
Dave treats all clients like family. He creates a unique bond with each client he works with. He is always on time, never calls out, and makes sure everything is done to his best ability. 
Dave has worked for the past year with a very high acuity client. He instantly bonded with the young client (49) who due to a rare set of circumstances went from a successful businessman to a barely communicative paraplegic overnight. 
He has spent countless hours working as the main caregiver for this client and his family. Not only does he transport the client to his MANY weekly therapy appointments but works one on one with him in his home. Dave is consistently cheering this client on to make his next personal best in his daily bike exercises and always makes notes when a personal best has been reached. 
Dave has worked with therapists at Madonna to learn this client’s individual therapies and continues them at home as well as trains other caregivers working there in how they can help him gain strides. 
When he heard their anniversary was approaching, he took it upon himself to plan a romantic dinner out so the client could surprise his wife. He took the client out to get a card, made reservations at a nice restaurant, planned for a special dessert, and took time out of his off time to transport them over there in the client’s wheelchair van so they could surprise the wife. 
Dave does everything he can to try to relieve some stress off the wife who is also a mother of four and a doctor. Life for her is crazy and Dave makes sure there is always one less thing for her to worry about in his care for the client. Dave’s level of commitment to not only the client but also to our company goes above and beyond anyone I have ever seen.”

Dave walked into A Place At Home – Papillion shortly after they opened their doors in 2019. Dave interviewed for a CNA position and said he was looking for something that would fill his heart. He had retired from insurance and was now searching to do something more meaningful with his time.

“I remember thinking where the heck did this guy fall out of the sky from?” said Rick Perkins, Owner of A Place At Home – Papillion. 

Dave was placed with Don in August of 2019 and the two found an instant connection. They not only share common interests but are also from the same town and attended the same college. It was an unfortunate set of circumstances that brought these two together. But citing six degrees of separation,  Dave said, “There are no coincidences. I’m blessed to be a part of Don’s life.”

As blessed as Dave feels, Don and the A Place At Home team consider themselves equally fortunate to have Dave fulfilling his personal mission: to touch as many lives as possible as a caregiver. 

Dave is firm in his belief that you must have a servant’s heart to work in this industry; you must have empathy, and be able to put yourself in someone else’s shoes. It’s this mindset that awarded Dave Caregiver of the Year. While he was happy to be awarded this honor, it’s his internal compass that drives his actions.

“At the end of the day, I lay my head on my pillow, and I know I made a difference.” 

From Caregiver to Franchise Support: A Caregiver, An Opportunity, A Career Path

Seeing the potential in people is something that A Place At Home co-founders Dustin Distefano and Jerod Evanich are passionate about.

Especially when it comes to their employees, they’ve always envisioned a career path for those under their employ. Before starting a senior care company, Dustin came up professionally through the career path set in place at Enterprise Rental. In their model, everyone started as a management trainee and moved their way into the career. “That was our mindset for all our employees – that we could have caregivers move up through the ranks at A Place At Home.”

Enter Danielle Sloan.

In 2015, Danielle was a 23-year-old first-time mom working as a certified nursing assistant (CNA). When she came across a job posting for an evening on-call position with an emerging in-home care agency, she applied. At the time, she was looking for a way to bring in a little extra money, sharing, “I was just trying to get by in life, honestly. I had just had a baby, and I was just trying to make sure the bills were paid.”

She was hired for the position. Soon after that, she was working full-time with A Place At Home as an in-home caregiver. While neither Danielle nor Dustin could foresee where this would lead in the future, the career path that Dustin envisioned was already set into motion. A few months after Danielle started with A Place At Home, a position as a Senior Services Coordinator opened up. She applied and found herself working in the office full time, matching seniors with their caregivers and managing their schedules.

The role was intensive and required a sharp mind, compassion, professionalism, and stellar organizational skills. All things that Danielle had in spades.

Fast forward a year and a half, Dustin approached Danielle about another opportunity. She had been helping out with billing and payroll for the agency and managed clients, caregivers, and staff well. However, Dustin was seeing more and more potential and wanted her to learn more about the backend of the business. Danielle caught on quickly and was offered the role of Assistant Manager for A Place At Home- Omaha. She accepted the position and eventually moved into the role of Human Resources Director. Then, in 2017, Dustin and Jerod started franchising their model of care. With this, they sold the Omaha office, and Danielle began working under the new owners as their Office Manager and helping the new owners navigate the waters of owning and operating an in-home care business.

None of this was her plan when Danielle first applied to work with A Place At Home. At the time, her career path included ambitions of being a Registered Nurse. She’d already completed all of her coursework to attend the LPN program in Omaha. Under Dustin’s leadership, however, things changed, “Dustin believed I could be more, saw my strengths and grew them. As I started to evolve professionally, I’ve found my niche in operations and finances, and I’m leaning into that path.”

For business owners within the APAH franchise system, it’s been a boon that Danielle has leaned into this path.

Earlier this year, she was offered yet another position within A Place At Home. This time, working in the corporate office as the Operations and Financial Support Specialist. Now, she’s supporting franchisees across the country, helping them with their business operations and finances. It comes as no surprise; she’s excellent at it. She’s working directly with APAH’s Director of Business Performance, William Ogden, who says, “Dani Sloan has been an integral part of A Place At Home for six years now, and now she’s here with us in the corporate office. I can honestly say how excited I am. She is helping me and others; she’s where she needs to be.” The business owners Danielle is working with agree.

“I have to point out that Dani is just a gem. There isn’t a question she can’t answer or a thing she can’t do. She’s held my hand big time over the past few weeks, and no matter what’s going on, she always says she has time for me. If it weren’t for Dani, I’d be losing it, but she’s so knowledgeable and available that it’s made it all doable.” – Dina Jenney, owner of A Place At Home – Philadelphia West.

While Danielle was the first caregiver to move into a different role and work her way up into management within the agency, she won’t be the last. She says that growth for other caregivers within the APAH system is absolutely possible. You can go from being an outstanding caregiver to working in the office if that’s your ambition. Her advice is to let your manager know that you’re interested in moving forward in a different capacity. Offer to learn and be a part of the on-call rotation. But most importantly?

“Don’t be afraid to try new things. Go outside of your box. Go outside of your comfort zone.”

A Place At Home is always welcoming ambitious, compassionate, and empathetic people to our team. If you or someone you know has a passion for helping others and ambitions to make a career out of it, reach out to one of our locations to apply and schedule an interview!

Practicing Self Care is the Best Way to Care for Others

Whether you’re caring for a loved one or you’re a professional caregiver caring for the loved ones of others, prioritizing your self care should be at the top of your list.

The truth of the matter is that you cannot pour from an empty cup. As a caregiver, this means that you cannot effectively care for others in a genuinely beneficial way without first making sure you’re caring for yourself. The effect on one’s physical and emotional wellbeing can be overwhelming. Often, when a person being cared for is under duress, their caregiver can feel it also. That empathy is what drives many caregivers, but it can also lead to exhaustion and burnout. The mental stress experienced regularly can have a negative effect. It’s true. You cannot care for others properly if you’re not putting your own needs first. It’s imperative not only for yourself but for those under your care.

Fortunately, there are some realistic, easy ways to prioritize your mental health.

  • Journaling – Keeping a journal is one of the best ways to improve long-term stress levels and your overall mood. Writing for just 20 minutes a day can have positive, long-term effects, both mentally and physically. It’s one of the most therapeutic actions you can take, and the you can feel the benefits immediately. You can learn more about journaling and all its benefits here.
  • Meditation – Often, people hear the word meditation and immediately think, “I could never stop my thoughts long enough to meditate.” Here’s the kicker – no one can; it’s impossible. That’s not the point. Sitting with yourself in silence allows you to be aware of your thoughts, and instead of reacting to them, acknowledge them without attachment to the feelings they induce. Even ten minutes a day (sometimes less!) produces benefits such as stress reduction, increased concentration, peace of mind, reduced blood pressure numbers, better sleep, and much more. You can find out more about meditation, how to get started, and its many benefits here.
  • Yoga – Yoga is another fantastic way to prioritize yourself before you start giving to others. As with journaling and meditation, it doesn’t take much time out of your day to produce massive benefits. Just 15 minutes a day has effects such as stress reduction, better sleep, more energy, boosts your immune system, and allows you to communicate with your body and how each part of it feels. This quick, 15-minute routine is easy to follow, and it’s enough to have you feeling real results very soon. 

There are many more ways to put yourself first daily.

The practices listed in this article take less than an hour a day in total, and you’ll find the benefits to be exponential. Caring for yourself first allows you to fully serve those you care for, in the most fulfilling and rewarding way possible, for both you and those in your charge. If you do find yourself caring for a loved one and feeling overwhelmed, reach out and let us help you, care for you.

New Hope on the Horizon for Individuals with Alzheimer’s Disease

With June being Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month, it’s fitting that the FDA just approved a new treatment option for those living with Alzheimer’s.

Aduhelm is the first new drug approved for the treatment of Alzheimer’s in 18 years. It’s no wonder the announcement has been so celebrated. The other reason? Aduhelm doesn’t just treat the symptoms of the disease. It is the first drug of its kind that shows the potential to slow Alzheimer’s clinical progression.

Alzheimer’s Disease is a progressive disease that accounts for nearly 80% of all dementia cases. The Disease most often impacts individuals age 65 or older but can be diagnosed earlier in rare circumstances. Symptoms of the condition usually start with mild but noticeable memory loss. Eventually, there’s a total loss of ability to respond to one’s environment at all. Until now, treatment has been limited to managing symptoms.

Aduhelm claims to slow the clinical progression of Alzheimer’s Disease.

How does this option work? While no one quite has the answer to the way Alzheimer’s works, it’s strongly theorized that a specific type of protein clumps together, killing brain cells. These deposits of protein are referred to as amyloid plaques caused by amyloid-beta. Amyloid-beta is naturally occurring in our brains. However, researchers believe it becomes toxic when it groups to form amyloid plaques, causing Alzheimer’s and other dementias symptoms. By targeting these clumps of protein, developers of Aduhelm believe that the drug may lower the amount of them found in the brain.

As a treatment, Aduhelm is administered intravenously once a month. Several trials of the drug have been done in the last few years to get to this point. Close to 3500 total participants have been enrolled. These patients were in the relatively early stages of the Disease when the drug trial began. The results? Mixed. In one study, individuals enrolled did appear to experience a slower loss of function and cognition. However, in an almost identical study, participants experienced virtually no change in disease progression.

With such a clear polarity in trial results, why did the FDA decide to move forward with Aduhelm?

Though one trial showed no significant results, those that did experience a decline in the loss of function and cognition show promise for what the future may hold. With the frustrating lack of forward movement in the treatment and cure for Alzheimer’s and dementia, results like this can’t be discounted. However, this approval isn’t cut and dry. In fact, as studies and treatment progress, the FDA can pull consent for further use of the drug at their discretion. And while results among trial groups have varied widely, Aduhelm is proven to reduce amyloid plaques in the brains of those enrolled. 

Aduhelm does come with a list of warnings and side effects.

Most notably is a temporary swelling of the brain in some areas. This swelling can cause headaches, confusion, vision changes, and nausea, among other things. Do these risks outweigh the benefits? As it stands now, no one knows, and Biogen, the company releasing the drug, has been required to conduct a new randomized, controlled study by the FDA.

With over 6 million Americans affected by Alzheimer’s Disease, forward movement regarding treatment is worth further study and attention. The memory loss and progressive loss of function are devastating to the individual diagnosed. Their family and loved ones are heavily impacted as well. The most recent report done by the Alzheimer’s Association shows that in the US alone, more than 11 million people are active caregivers for a loved one with dementia.

Caring for a loved one with dementia can quickly lead to epic stress levels, burnout, and a loss of quality of life for the person living with the disease and the loved one caring for them.

The A Place At Home system has been supporting families suffering because of dementia for almost a decade. Our professional and compassionate caregivers are empathetic and educated in the mental and physical care needs of those diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease and other dementias. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by your situation, reach out to us. We can help. 

The announcement of a novel treatment that may slow the clinical progression of Alzheimer’s is undoubtedly a historical moment in the fight against this disease. The potential shown with Aduhelm sparks hope for millions of Americans and individuals across the world battling this nightmare of a disease. Of course, we don’t know yet what, if any, impact this new drug will have in the coming years. But this year, its release has brought further awareness to Alzheimer’s and dementia in general. And that alone is something worth celebrating.