Innovative Nursing, Nurses and Sitters

The beginning of a new year is a good time to think ahead about what you need to know to care for the senior and elderly members of your family. We have prepared a number of informational articles addressing different issues that one faces when caring for the elderly in home settings. To see what we have available to help you, go to the index of articles about senior health care and browse some of the titles there. We offer such topics as ways to show your family member that you care for them. Seniors frequently suffer from depression and need compassionate understanding to help them cope with the new challenges they face as they age.

Many elderly persons compound the difficulties they face when they fall, and we provide some ideas about fall prevention precautions that you can take to avoid this complication.

Other articles in our selection address different problems that one might face, all written by our professional staff who has extensive experience in helping seniors coppe with the problems of their later years.

Halloween is upon us, and we all have special concerns with the season. Our children who are in the neighborhood “Trick or Treating” are definitely on our minds, but we cannot forget our elders, who shepherded us safely through the holiday and now are in need of our help and attention.

We have created a short checklist for your use whenever you are thinking about moving your loved one from one location to another. Read over our suggestions for transferring an elder patient safely before you attempt the maneuver. It could save you or your patient from embarrassment or injury!

INS Supervisor Jane Seger spoke to the Case Manager’s Association luncheon today at The Methodist Hospital. About fifty case managers were in attendance and the topic was Managing Chronic Diseases while Avoiding Re-hospitalizations.

Innovative Nurses recommends sending patients home after a hospitalization with an INS caregiver. Our caregivers are specially trained in post hospitaliztion care. We will pick up the patient at the hospital, take her home, pick up new perscriptions at the pharmacy, write an updated medicine list, make follow-up doctor’s appointments, prepare a meal and whatever else is necessary for the patient to have a good start for recovery. Four, eight and twent-four hour packages are available. Click on this link for more information about our Recovery Care program,  or contact us at 713.523.2329 if we can be of service.

Do you have an elder patient in a nursing home, or are you considering having to move your elder parent into a nursing home? One of the main items that you should bear in mind is checking the nursing home environment to ensure that your loved one will be in a safe place.

We have a short checklist available that you can use as a starting point for your investigation. While such a list can never be complete, this list can be the start of a nursing home safety checklist that you can customize to whatever your particular needs and circumstances are.

We have been hearing a lot from the Sandwich Generation this week—individuals who are caring for children at home as well as aging parents. Popular thought suggests that parents are happy to release custody of their children during the day to school. But getting children back into the swing of a new school year takes its toll on parents as well, adding a new regimen and structure to daily life.   When families are also taking care of an elderly loved one, the back to school process can really put the squeeze on. Please see our article Back to School: The Sandwich Generation.

In my own case, I try to bring my sister– for whom I provide care—into the new school year universe.

I show her the new school clothes and the new schedule. We talk about the inordinate amount of assignments and school issues I am concerned about. When I have to spend less time with her, she understands the reasons and can empathize because I brought her into the process. A small bit of communication can make transitions easier for the whole family.

If you’re feeling the back-to-school-squeeze and need assistance with in-home care, transportation or respite care, please contact us 713.523.2329. We are here to help.

Today, Innovative Nurses & Sitters provided a presentation to the case managers at St. Lukes Episcopal Hospital in the Houston Medical Center. “Keeping up with the Changing Medicare Regulations” was the topic. Case mangers from across the hospital system were in attendance.

In recent years, there has been much discussion on reducing Medicare fraud. Did you know that Medicare fraud is suspected to be in the billions of dollars? It may surprise some to know that it is not hospitals, doctors, or even individuals that are responsible for the greatest amount of fraud, but rather groups of criminals that form associations  with the specific intention of defrauding Medicare. The FBI has become involved in seeking out and encarcerating  these criminals. If you suspect an agency or individual is defrauding Medicare, please contact your local FBI office.

It is sad to think of those among us who take from the elderly and disabled for any reason, least of all for their own remuneration. Being vigilant to fraud and reaching out to some of our friends and neighbors who are Medicare recipients is a good antidote. If you need some ideas for reaching out, we have some good ones  in our article ” Valuing Your Senior“.

Fear of falling is a natural fear especially for the aged.  There are many reasons that the risk for falling can increase with age.  If you add the fear of falling to the other causes, the risk goes up even more.  What can you do to reduce the risk of falls and help your senior feel more confident?  Back in February, we shared some tips on our site from a licensed physical therapist on fall prevention.  They are worth revisiting.  Many are commonsense but often overlooked.

Innovative Nurses & Sitters can help in a variety of ways.   These could include:

• doing a visual inspection of the home environment to check for hazards
• noting what assistive aids are in the home or could be added to help reduce falls
• working with clients as they perform routine range of motion exercises, and most importantly 
• being there to walk alongside, provide support where needed, and to observe firsthand issues of strength, balance and gait to prevent falls before they happen.

Thanks to the Internet, there are many excellent articles on this topic.  We would like to share just a sample here.  Here’s an excerpt from Mayo Clinic’s “Healthy Aging” -

Fall Prevention: 6 tips to prevent falls

1. Make an appointment with your doctor: What medications are you taking that could increase your risk of falling? Could your health conditions cause a fall?
2. Keep moving or you will lose your mobility
3. Wear sensible shoes that stabilize you
4. Remove home hazards such as throw rugs and low tables or step stools
5. Light up your living space, especially heavily trafficked areas
6. Don’t be shy or vain about using assistive devices

Innovative Nurses and Sitters provide trustworthy caregivers who will be there for your senior - to be your eyes and ears when you can’t be there yourself.  We can provide in-home care, transportation and respite care, among other services.  Call us today at 713 523-2329 for more information about our in home care services in the Houston area!

I was thinking about independence and how important it is for every adult.   Even before we reached adulthood, we were declaring our independence in a variety of ways, like the first time we said “no” or wanted to do things for ourselves (usually at around age 2).  Most of us take it for granted — our independence — until it starts to slip away.  Growing older is inevitable, but how we grow older varies a great deal from one adult to the next.  Remember that saying — use it or lose it?  Using our brains and our muscles regularly and deliberately can help us all to stay more independent as we age.  

Given the choice, the majority of people would prefer to stay in their homes for as long as possible.  Innovative Nurses & Sitters is your partner in fostering independence.  We help seniors stay independent longer by providing in-home care.  We not only make it possible for them to stay in their homes longer, we also provide respite care so that the primary caregiver gets a much-needed break.

If you know someone who is already struggling with the loss of mobility or memory*, remind them that there are ways to turn things around.   Our bodies and brains can grow stronger with regular use.  I have a friend in her early 90s who inspires me every time I see her.  She is so determined!  She does her regular set of exercises every day, and she grows stronger and more independent, not less.   She lives in her home and she still runs the show, even if she needs a little help from time to time.  The important thing is she does everything she can for herself by herself.   The fact that she does her recommended exercises daily makes a huge difference.   True, they can seem boring, even tedious, but the payoff is so great. 

As a friend or caregiver, you can help in that effort by being the “personal trainer” to work with your senior.  Use light ankle and hand weights to help keep the ol’ muscles tuned up and improve balance.  Consistent effort is the key.  With enough patience and sticktoitiveness, the results may amaze you.

If you’re the primary caregiver in someone’s life, encourage them to strive for maximum independence.   Watch out that you don’t overdo things in your attempts to be helpful.  Don’t feed someone who can feed him or herself.  It might take longer for some seniors to cut their food or get dressed or brush their teeth, but as long as they can still do it for themselves, let them.  Celebrate their independence and encourage it for as long as they can claim it.  And with all that time you’ll be saving, pick up some weights and work on yourself a little, too!

* Memory lapses happen to all of us.  Studies have shown we can help strengthen memory through activities such as crossword puzzles, bridge, sudoku, and other “brain training.”  If your senior is struggling with more permanent memory loss, due to dementia or Alzheimer’s, Innovative Nurses & Sitters can provide added support.

Today, Jane Seger, our Marketing Director, will be sponsoring a birthday bash at Medical Clinic of Houston.
Medical Clinic of Houston is a fine association of physicians and health care professionals that have been serving the Houston community for many years. Our sponsorship of a birthday celebration is for all members of the Medical Clinic of Houston staff.  Innovative Nurses and Sitters is highlighting our transportation services for the elderly, many of whom are served by Medical Clinic of Houston.

Communicating and educating are a big part of what we do at Innovative as a caregiving agency. We hope this blog will be a useful source of information about elder care, senior services, caregiving options, and resources in the Greater Houston Metropolitan Area.

From time to time we may share some caregiving “tips” because, frankly, we all learn from each other. We also welcome comments from those of you who are “in the trenches” so to speak. Being a full or even part time caregiver of a loved one can be a mixed blessing. Let us know what challenges you face and maybe we can help.

Wishing you all a wonderful 2011,

Susan Davis

Administrator