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Senior Helpers Joins the Alzheimer’s Association Alzheimer’s Early Detection Alliance

May 18th, 2010
by Senior Helpers.
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In-home senior care provider to raise awareness of the importance of early detection of Alzheimer’s

Senior Helpers, the nation’s fastest growing provider of in-home care for seniors, announced their participation in the Alzheimer’s Association Alzheimer’s Early Detection Alliance (AEDA). Senior Helpers has become a “Champion” with the AEDA and will work to spread the word about the warning signs of Alzheimer’s.

The AEDA is an Alzheimer’s Association national outreach campaign focusing on the 10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s disease. The goal is to raise awareness of the disease’s warning signs and for organizations to turn to the Alzheimer’s Association as the center for help and hope. The AEDA has developed an online toolkit containing educational information for participating organizations’ use in their promotional efforts that includes posters, brochures, television and radio advertisements, logos, widgets and more.

By becoming an AEDA “Champion,” Senior Helpers has agreed to disseminate educational information to their franchise owners and clients through various on-line activation opportunities provided by the Alzheimer’s Association. This includes placing the AEDA logo on their website, distributing the information on the 10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s and more.

“Joining the AEDA was an easy decision for us at Senior Helpers because of our commitment to educating and helping the senior community,” said Peter Ross, CEO of Senior Helpers. “We are glad to be in a position to aid the AEDA in its efforts to spread the word on the 10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s. This is important to the senior community and their loved ones in order to combat this devastating disease. We look forward to working with our franchisees and clients to help the approximately 5.3 million Americans currently living with Alzheimer’s.”

Alzheimer’s Association 10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s disease:

1. Memory changes that disrupt daily life

2. Challenges in planning or solving problems

3. Difficulty completing familiar tasks

4. Confusion with time or place

5. Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships

6. New problems with words in speaking or writing

7. Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps

8. Decreased or poor judgment

9. Withdrawal from work or social activities

10. Changes in mood and personality

To learn more about the 10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s disease, contact the Alzheimer’s Association at www.alz.org/10signs or 877-IS-IT-ALZ.

To learn more about Senior Helpers, or their involvement with the Alzheimer’s Early Detection Alliance, please visit www.seniorhelpers.com.

Posted in: Alzheimer's Care.

Seniors and coping with Dementia Video

Jun 1st, 2009
by Senior Helpers.
2 comments

Here is a link to a great video on dementia in seniors and coping. The interview focuses on many of the top questions families and caregivers may have including common behaviors, caregiving help, paying for care and taking time for yourself. For St. Louis Dementia Care questions contact Cindy Harvey RN, MS

Posted in: Alzheimer's Care, Senior Care, Senior Care: Did You Know?, St. Louis Caregiver Support.

Alzheimer’s Caregiving Tips

May 26th, 2009
by Senior Helpers.
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Just like everyone else, people with Alzheimer’s disease can have good days and bad days, and their moods can be affected by outside factors. As you approach the task of caregiving, you can take steps to reduce confusion and irritability. By putting your aging parent or loved one at ease and removing cognitive road blocks, you’ll make everyone’s day a more pleasant one.

Alzheimer’s Caregiving Tips:

  1. Plan out your day, and try to stick to a regular routine. Repetition will help your relative stay familiar with their daily activities. Observe if there are times of day that they’re more or less alert and cheerful, and create your schedule accordingly. Since bathing tends to be one of the most difficult activities, do this when the person is at their best.
  2. Speak simply, with short words and sentences. Address your relative by name to keep their attention. However, avoid condescension and speaking too child-like.
  3. Make regular bathroom visits without prompting every few hours to avoid accidents.
  4. Don’t allow your relative to watch violent or disturbing televisions shows or movies. These images might resurface later as real memories and create anxiety.
  5. When eating or dressing, give your relative two or three choices to enable them to have some control without overwhelming them with open ended possibilities.
  6. Consider adult day care or in-home respite care to give yourself a break and make sure that your parent or loved one is cared for and safe at all times.

Visit the National Institute on Aging’s website for a full list of Alzheimer’s caregiving tips.

For more information on options for Alzheimer’s in-home personal care, including respite care when you need to go to work or just need a break, contact Senior Helpers.

Posted in: Aging Parents at Home, Alzheimer's Care, St. Louis Caregiver Support.
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Good article on the “Sandwich Generation” and paying for Senior Care in this Economy

Apr 30th, 2009
by Senior Helpers.
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Paying for senior care in this economy is tough, as retirement funds are diminished and layoffs cut family budgets.  Here’s a good article on paying for senior care.
If you have questions about how to pay for senior care in St. Louis, Contact at 636-695-31404357  for referrals to accessing Veteran’s benefits, reverse mortgage options or private pay options.

Call Senior Helpers in Saint Louis, Missouri, at: 636-695-3140

Posted in: Aging Parents at Home, Alzheimer's Care, Senior Care, Senior Care: Did You Know?, St. Louis Senior Care News.
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Alzheimer’s: Did You Know?

Apr 29th, 2009
by Senior Helpers.
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After attending a recent Alzheimer’s Association event here in St. Louis, I decided that many people may not know some common facts about dementia, especially Alzheimer’s. So, to help educate who I can on the topic, I decided to write about Alzheimer’s today. There are so many things that I feel people should know and may not, so I thought I would share them with you.

Did you know…
60% of individuals with Alzheimer’s will, at some time during the disease, wander away from their familiar surroundings.

Did you know…
Wandering again can be diminished by providing consistent structure of activities that involve familiar surroundings. For example, include seniors in activities like washing dishes, folding laundry, and more. And, with dementia comes interrupted sleep patterns that may be assisted with more lights and a regular, consistent bedtime.

Did you know…
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia.

Did you know…
Most accidents for seniors occur in their home while performing activities of daily living, like bathing and more.

Let me know about how Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia have affected your life or the life of someone you love. You can also find more information about Alzheimer’s caregivers at http://www.seniorhelpers.com/location/2908/alzheimers-dementia-care.

, Senior Care, Senior Care: Did You Know?, St. Louis Senior Care News.
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Medications and Dementia – St. Louis Seminar

Apr 14th, 2009
by Senior Helpers.
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Thursday, April 16, 6:30 – 8 PM
Sunrise Assisted Living, 7920 Clayton Rd., in Richmond Heights, Missouri

The Alzheimer’s Association, St. Louis Chapter, offers a free educational program for families of those experiencing dementia or Alzheimers. Learn about treatment options and new medications, and how to work with your aging parent or loved one’s doctor to find the right prescription. Also hear tips on reducing health care costs and ways to minimize drug side effects.

Register at www.alzstl.org or call 1-800-272-3900.

Posted in: Alzheimer's Care, St. Louis Caregiver Support.
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St. Louis Alzheimer’s Care: Ten Warning Signs

Apr 3rd, 2009
by Senior Helpers.
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The Alzheimer’s Association provides a list of Alzheimer’s warning signs that family members should watch for in their aging parents and relatives.

  1. Memory loss, particularly recent events and newly learned information.
  2. Difficulty performing simple tasks that one normally does every day.
  3. Language confusion, such as using incorrect words or describing things instead of calling them by name.
  4. Extreme disorientation with time and place, such as getting lost in very familiar neighborhoods.
  5. Poor judgment in decision making.
  6. Difficulty with abstract thinking about things like numbers and what they represent.
  7. Misplacing items, such as personal accessories in kitchen cabinets.
  8. Rapid, unprovoked mood swings.
  9. Sudden or progressive dramatic changes in personality.
  10. Loss of motivation or desire for interaction, and increased lethargy.

If you suspect your loved one may be suffering from Alzheimer’s, you may want to monitor them more closely to keep them safe at home. Home care can provide companion visits as a way to check in and assist with activities of daily living.

For assistance with caring for your parent or family member with Alzheimer’s, contact Senior Helpers for St. Louis in-home senior care services.

Posted in: Aging Parents at Home, Alzheimer's Care, St. Louis Caregiver Support.
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