preferred-lifestyle-services

How Is Normal Forgetfulness Different from Dementia?

Wed, 03 Nov 2021 20:37:05 GMT

Benign Forgetfulness begins in middle age. It is part of the normal aging process and does not interfere significantly with daily activities.

Normal forgetfulness DIFFERS from dementia in the following ways:

If an item is lost, we know how to find it. People with dementia have poor recall or may confabulate a story to explain the loss.
If a name or fact is forgotten, it is usually remembered later, along with related information. Dementia patients forget what they want to remember.
Normal forgetting involves distant more often than recent events. In dementia, people forget both what happened recently and long ago.
Normal forgetting includes unimportant parts of an experience but not the whole experience. With dementia, people forget entire experiences.
Normally forgetful persons can use reminders and notes better than someone with dementia. Someone with dementia cannot retain reminders.
Normally forgetful persons retain the capacity to orient themselves. For example, you may forget where you are upon first awakening in a new place, but know how to search for and use clues. Dementia interferes with the capacity to find and use information that helps with orientation.
Benign forgetfulness involves memory lapses and word-finding problems. Dementia causes memory loss & change in personality, behavior, skills.

How Preferred Lifestyle Services Selects & Manages a Care Giver

Fri, 29 Oct 2021 20:02:34 GMT

1. PLS REVIEWS IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS BEFORE INTERVIEWING THE WORKER IN PERSON.

A current certificate for Home Health Aide certification in Florida.
A current certificate for healthcare clearance from a board certified physician stating the worker is free of communicable diseases and is able to move appropriately for all assistance your loved one needs.
A current photo I.D. issued by governmental or licensing organization.

2. PLS DISCUSS YOUR NEEDS AND WANTS WITH THE AGENCY, THEN DISCUSSES THEM AGAIN WITH THE CAREGIVER DURING THE INTERVIEW.

PLS does not assume the agency has communicated our client’s needs to the worker. We start from scratch and outline all expectations and duties you expect to be carried out. We request continuity.

3. PLS SUPERVISES & MANAGES ALL DETAILS OF YOUR LOVED ONE’S CARE, INCLUDING THE CAREGIVER.

PLS regularly reports to & consults with families & physicians.
PLS provides caregiver instructions: MD’s, medications, telephone numbers, food preferences, care directives, enjoyable activities.
PLS continuously re-evaluates your loved one’s needs.

A Comprehensive Program for In-Home Care Management

Fri, 29 Oct 2021 14:06:35 GMT

Our program includes, but is not limited to:

24 hour/365 days a year; same day access in person or via telephone.
Comprehensive written assessment identifies client’s needs & risks.
Create & maintain a Customized Care Plan to improve quality of life:
Clients can remain in their home even if they become ill.
Reduce risk for falls and hospitalizations.
Weekly visits from their Personal Nurse Care Manager.
Interview home care aides, supervise & manage home care.
Medication, Diet & Nutrition Management.
Arrange & manage activities for mental stimulation & socialization.
Schedule & accompany clients to doctors & medical appointments.
Liaison with family & physicians; monthly status reports to family.

Important Questions to Determine if Your Parent is Safe at Home Alone

Mon, 11 Oct 2021 20:19:02 GMT

Judie Rappaport

President & Founder

Preferred Lifestyle Services

Trust Yourself. You Have the Knowledge, Insight,

and Power to make the right decisions for you and your parent. ©

20 Warning Signs that Intervention is Necessary

Mon, 02 Aug 2021 14:34:22 GMT

Aging usually includes emotional & physical changes that do not significantly interfere with our lives. However, if your client exhibits several of these warning signs simultaneously, it’s time for an assessment to help identify the problem and help keep your client safe.

Warning Signs: When to Get Help

Mon, 19 Jul 2021 14:15:51 GMT

Many of us experience emotional and physical changes that do not significantly interfere with our lives. However, if you or your loved one exhibit several of these warning signs simultaneously, ask your physician for help, or for a referral to a care manager for an assessment and plan to help keep you safe.

FINANCIAL WARNING SIGNS

Unopened mail
Unpaid bills
Lapsing insurance
Collection agency calls
Uncharacteristic withdrawals
Increase in number of checks written
Increased reluctance to spend money

PHYSICAL WARNING SIGNS

Increased difficulty with hearing/vision
Speech difficulties: slow/fast/hesitation
Falls, Pain
Self-imposed isolation
Complaints about sleep or health issues
Gait, weight, or appetite changes
Change in personal hygiene, incontinence

MENTAL WARNING SIGNS

Memory Loss/Confusion
Anxiety/Unreasonable fears
Difficulty in concentrating
Paranoia, Suicidal Ideation
Mood changes
Hallucinations/Delusions
Disorientation, Crying
Personality Changes

Judie Rappaport

President & Founder

Preferred Lifestyle Services

Trust Yourself. You Have the Knowledge, Insight,

and Power to make the right decisions for you and your parent. ©

What to do When Behavior Changes Are No Longer Normal

Tue, 13 Oct 2015 19:36:16 GMT

Dear Judie, Years ago, Mom (85) and I had a wonderful discussion about her moving in with my family when she was no longer safe at home. Now she’s refusing to leave her home for my house or to move to assisted living. She says, “I’m staying right here in my own home until something happens that proves I need to move”. I’m thinking something has already happened: she keeps losing weight, isn’t always clean, and doesn’t seem interested in activities with her friends anymore. How do I know if she’s tired and eats less because she’s 85 or needs help?

How To Know If It’s Alzheimers

Tue, 01 Sep 2015 19:02:01 GMT

Dear Judie, My sister and I visited Aunt Lucy at her assisted living community last week. We said, “Hi Aunt Lucy;” she answered, “Come in, how nice to see you again.” Then we kissed her hello and she said “Who are you?” We answered, “Your Brother Bobby’s daughters, Patty and Joan.” She said, “I’m Lucy, but I don’t know Bobby or you.” I haven’t stopped crying since. Joan thinks she’s guilt-tripping us because we don’t visit too often. I think she’s got Alzheimer’s. What do you think?

Coming to Grips with an Alzheimer’s Diagnosis

Tue, 05 May 2015 18:30:34 GMT

Dear Judie: Mom’s (83) doctor kept telling us that Mom’s only problem was that she was “getting old.” I finally got her to a neurologist who tested and diagnosed her with Moderate (Stage 2) Alzheimer’s. I almost screamed “do the tests again, you’re wrong!” But I knew in my heart he was right. She still lives alone and manages pretty well, but she’s terrified and so am I. How long can she live alone?

Getting Started with Long-Distance Caregiving

Tue, 09 Dec 2014 19:49:24 GMT

Dear Judie: Dad(84) has lived independently in his Milwaukee home for years, but he’s not as mobile as he used to be, and lately he sounds a little confused. Bottom line: he needs help and I’m “it.” I don’t want to move to Milwaukee and he doesn’t want to move here. I need a plan to help me get organized before the situation spirals out of control.

Employing a Care Manager to Oversee Your Parent's Care

Thu, 11 Sep 2014 15:44:05 GMT

Primary Rule: If your parent cannot manage and supervise the caregiver, the caregiver is in control of your parent's life and home.

Home Health Aide

Employed by home health provider, hospital, congregate community, insurance company, etc.
Client's primary advocate and resource is high school graduate or GED
Limited training/education mandates narrow approach to client's needs
Education may vary, usually high school diploma or equivalent

Geriatric Care Manager

Objective professional advocate without financial or other obligation to anyone except client.
Client's primary advocate and resource is professional nurse
Total lifestyle approach with equal consideration for quality of life and healthcare needs.
No variation. Preferred Lifestyle Services Care Managers are experienced geriatric professional nurses who have surpassed the State of Florida's highest requirements for dementia training and education.

Find out how Preferred Lifestyle Services sets the standard for keeping your parent safe at home.

Judie Rappaport

President & Founder

Preferred Lifestyle Services

Trust Yourself. You Have the Knowledge, Insight,

and Power to make the right decisions for you and your parent. ©

The Many Truths of Alzheimer's Disease

Mon, 28 Apr 2014 16:11:11 GMT

Judie Rappaport

President & Founder

Preferred Lifestyle Services

Trust Yourself. You Have the Knowledge, Insight,

and Power to make the right decisions for you and your parent. ©

Knowing When to Intervene with Aging Parents

Thu, 03 Apr 2014 19:17:50 GMT

“I know my parents need help and I keep trying but they won’t even let me help them go to the doctor. Pop just says, 'I’ll think about it and let you know in a few days.' He’s been 'letting me know' for six months. The house is a mess and they won’t let anyone in to clean. I can’t believe I’m actually deserting Mom, but I can’t take the stress anymore. No matter how many times I say, ‘Mom, I’ll do that’ or ‘Mom, I’ll take that over’ she says, ’I don’t need help.’’

Long Distance Caregiving: Care Options

Tue, 11 Mar 2014 15:50:48 GMT

The first voice mail was Mom’s doctor saying ‘Your Mother needs 24-hour supervision.’ Next up was my legally blind and deaf Uncle John shouting, ‘Ignore the doctor when he calls. I see her every day, she’s fine.’ Finally, Dad took the phone from Uncle John and added, ‘Don’t worry, Frannie, I’ve got everything under control.’ If the conflicting descriptions of Mom’s health weren’t bad enough, the part about my very demented Dad who could not find his way to the store and back again having everything ‘under control’ was enough for me to buy plane ticket.

OK, long distance caregivers, all together now: “OMG, I went through the same torture so many times.” Good news: You are not alone; at least 200 caregivers have told me they were afraid not to go see their parents because of the potential danger. Bad news: Most caregivers spent a fortune on plane travel, accomplished nothing, and repeated their actions on the next call

(FYI: Einstein’s definition of insanity is repeating the same action multiple times, in the exact same way, and expecting different outcome.)

Most of us are accomplished users of support systems: computer tutorials, car/home service contracts, child care, health insurance, etc. We pay these services because we instinctively recognize the benefits of retaining experts for help in certain areas. We derive peace of mind knowing help is only a phone call, GPS entry, or Google query away.

All you need to create a minimal support system for yourself and your parents is one dependable person where they live:

Best Option: Retain a Certified Geriatric Care Manager (GCM) to visit your parent if you call with a problem. The GCM will report accurately and cost a great deal less than a plane ticket. (Bonus: you can return to using your vacation days for actual vacations instead of caregiving issues).
Alternative: Ask your parent's clergy or friend for the same backup. This may save money; however, it's unlikely anyone but a healthcare professional will have the knowledge to report accurately, accompany mom to the hospital, read the charts, and let you know whether you need to buy that airplane ticket.

Trust Yourself. You Have the Knowledge, Insight & Power to make the right decisions for you and your parent. ©

Do You Need A Geriatric Care Manager? What IS That Anyway?

Thu, 04 Oct 2012 14:27:20 GMT

By T. Weakley, MD

Board Certified Internal Medicine

Stuart, FL

Have you or a loved one had a prolonged hospital stay or, perhaps, multiple hospitalizations within a short time period? Do you or your loved one have a medical “team” comprised of a primary care physician and multiple subspecialists requiring appointments every four to eight weeks? Is your appointment calendar filling up or your medication list starting to resemble a scroll? Is your memory or general health starting to fail you, and there’s no one at home to organize and understand your medications, to attend doctor’s appointments with you, to help you understand and implement your doctor’s care plan for you? If you answered (perhaps emphatically) “yes” to any of these questions, then you need more help than you currently have in place and a geriatric care manager may be helpful.

Who is this geriatric care manager we are speaking of? For some seniors, it is their able bodied and quick-minded spouse or a grown child who lives nearby who does the job just fine. But many seniors live alone without any local family, and this population of people is quite vulnerable when it comes time to manage long term health problems. A geriatric care manager can be hired to step in and be a patient’s advocate both in and out of the hospital, accompany the patient to appointments or ER visits, educate and update the patient and family members about medications and chronic diseases, communicate with physicians, and transition the patient from hospital to rehab and rehab to home. And, by doing all of this, they are good at optimizing patient care which translates to healthier patients, less hospital stays, fewer readmissions, and less wasted expenditures from Medicare. In fact, in 2013 the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Service will penalize doctors and hospitals that have high 30-day readmission rates. Geriatric care managers do not come with a magic wand, but they do come with an education and experience. Typically, these individuals have degrees in nursing or social work and had a career in one of those fields before becoming a geriatric care manager. The few whom I have met are also tenacious I might add – a good personality trait when assembling a winning team.

Where might you look for a geriatric care manager to interview for yourself or your loved one? Start with private home care agencies and follow the leads from there. Word of mouth is still a powerful tool, and the grapevine continues to grow with social networking sites like facebook.

Geriatric care managers are a relatively new solution offered to our aging society, and there aren’t any handbooks to help us navigate what is coming or what is already here. A geriatric care manager can ease the burden.

Hiring Home Care Workers

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 18:58:21 GMT

Now What…?

“I asked the agency for a homecare worker to drive Mom to errands and church. Everything went smoothly until my sister visited and asked ‘Did you check her driver’s license?’ I said, ‘I assumed the agency did that.’ The aide admitted she didn’t have a license, couldn’t read English and had no concept of what the road signs meant. The agency’s B.S. response? ‘She told us she had one.’ Now the aide’s gone, Mom wants her back, I’m stuck driving Mom around, and I haven’t slept in weeks thinking of how many times I put Mom’s life at risk.”

Question: Which items have you ordered online or from a television ad without wondering if the product can meet your expectations?

Answer: Zero. I’m betting you, like most of us, need the security of a return policy guaranteeing complete satisfaction or your money back.

Follow up Question: If trusting the supplier isn’t good enough for a can opener, why is it good enough when Mom’s life is at stake?

True, you won’t get the same guarantee from a home care agency that you get with a can opener, but you can help prevent some basic problems. All you need is a list of the right questions to ask the agency. Here they are:

Ask for proof of a state license or Medicare certification.
Ask for proof of a current healthcare certificate, background check, and government issued photo I.D.
If you can afford it, pay for two hours of the worker’s time for an interview prior to hiring. This allows you to:
Determine if the person is a good fit for your parent and your needs
Ask about problems she encountered with patients like your parent and how she handled them.
Determine if she can communicate clearly with your parent
Confirm your expectations for hours/days you’ll need her, continuity, and for duties you want her to perform

Make this meeting the start of your relationship with the worker: keeping the lines of communication open will help you and your parent have a better experience.

Caregiver Burnout

Mon, 11 Apr 2011 17:53:15 GMT

"Why do they call it 'Burnout'? When a light bulb burns out, I replace it and it's fixed. To fix MY burnout, I'd need a mother who can take can take care of herself for a couple of weeks and a brother who helps instead of saying, 'Caregiving's your job." I'm not 'burned out'; I'm charred beyond all recognition. I have to save myself before you need my dental records to find the person I was two years ago. I'm leaving Mom at my brother's home while he's at work with a note: "Your turn; left town for a while."

First thought: "Wow! That'll wake your brother up to your needs!" (Note option: 'Left town for a while; will return when you commit to sharing the load.')

Second thought: This might not be good for Mom and you may end up suffering emotio nal trauma .

Which lead me to my more-helpful-long-term third thought: How do so many caregivers get into this situation?

Some caregivers help create problems with the "No one can care for Mom like I can" syndrome.

Others are "it" - there's simply no one else to step in.

Too many believe society's brainwashing manta that labels burnout as an 'unavoidable part of the job.' Don't buy into this fable.

Get an attitude!

Tell family members they share an equal responsibility for Mom and you will no longer do this job alone.
You expect them to provide three respite days each week where they or

professional caregivers take over.

If you live with Mom, advise your family you expect them to care for her or hire

professional caregivers for at least one week-end each month while you take time for yourself.

Call the organization most closely matching Mom's illness (Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Heart/Stroke, etc.). Explain your situation and ask for help.

If Mom/Dad is or was a vet, or is a vet's widow/widower, ask the VA for help through their "Aid and Attendance" and their "Geriatric and Extended Care" Programs."

Call your church, synagogue, temple, or mosque for help.
Stand firm and have some fun: Attitudes are useful for payback as well as help!

How Preferred Lifestyle Services Helps Reduce Stress and Increase Peace of Mind

Mon, 14 Mar 2011 14:36:01 GMT

How do elder-caregivers cope in a world where less than 1% of physicians are trained in geriatric medicine? Where Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) are the 4th leading cause of death annually in the U.S., yet fewer than 800 of our 224,000 pharmacists have geriatric training?

Most elder-caregivers know the drill: without orientation, training, significant assistance, “you are expected to know how, when, and how much to intervene, how to manage medications, how to evaluate a nursing home, how to cope with Alzheimer’s Disease, and how to resolve a host of other new and life altering caregiving dilemmas.”

One of the hardest tasks caregivers face is managing their loved ones’ needs while trying to maintain their own quality of life. Add the continuous decrease in services and benefits and the pitfalls of managed care, and it’s easy to see why caregivers quickly become overwhelmed. Education, planning, and professional advocacy are the keys to survival.

Add a Geriatric Care Manager to Your Caregiving Team

Geriatric Care Managers are personal healthcare advocates who function as consultants and liaisons, advocating for clients and their families. As objective professionals working from “inside” the healthcare system to advocate for clients, care managers help eliminate obstacles and contain costs while maintaining a superior level of service delivery to maximize safety, independence and quality of life .

Identification of need: An objective evaluation of your loved one’s condition and ability to function independently in his own environment can significantly enhance the client’s and family’s quality of life by providing the information you need to make informed decisions.
Care Plan: The care manager identifies appropriate benefits and community and private resources; reviews existing plans and costs, and project services and costs for immediate and future needs.
Complete Coordination & Supervision of All Services: 24 hour/7 day access to complete professional coordination and supervision provides continuity in care, helps reduce hospitalizations and accidents, increases quality of life and quality time between family and client.
Cost Containment: Care Managers achieve significant savings by auditing medical documents and bills to increase insurance reimbursements, lower medication costs, hospital and nursing home bills, and reduce out of pocket costs.

Options to Increase Your Quality of Life

Your care manager can manage all your loved one’s needs or focus on specific problems. You can choose from a wide array of services, including:

Comprehensive Evaluation of your loved one’s status
24 hour/7day availability
Complete Coordination & Supervision of medical & quality of life needs, including physician visits, in-home aides, nurses, and therapies
Cost Containment
Plan of Care
Medication Management
Caregiver Training
Transportation Needs
Home Safety Evaluation
Long-Term Care Planning Assistance
Nutrition & Dietary Management
Pre- and Post- Hospitalization Care Coordination
Benefits Coordination, Insurance and Medical Billing Assistance
Auditing Medical, Assisted Living & Nursing Home Bills
Crisis Intervention
Conflict Resolution
Expert Medical File Review
Identify and Reduce Risk of Exploitation

If you’re looking for an advocate to help protect your loved one’s health and quality of life, increase your sense of security, help reduce out-of-pocket costs, help you navigate the health care system, and decrease your stress, your best option is a Geriatric Care Manager.

preferred-lifestyle-services

How Is Normal Forgetfulness Different from Dementia?

How Preferred Lifestyle Services Selects & Manages a Care Giver

A Comprehensive Program for In-Home Care Management

Important Questions to Determine if Your Parent is Safe at Home Alone

20 Warning Signs that Intervention is Necessary

Warning Signs: When to Get Help

What to do When Behavior Changes Are No Longer Normal

How To Know If It’s Alzheimers

Coming to Grips with an Alzheimer’s Diagnosis

Getting Started with Long-Distance Caregiving

Employing a Care Manager to Oversee Your Parent's Care

The Many Truths of Alzheimer's Disease

Knowing When to Intervene with Aging Parents

Long Distance Caregiving: Care Options

Do You Need A Geriatric Care Manager? What IS That Anyway?

Top 7 Questions (& Answers!) for Alzheimer’s Caregivers

Hiring Home Care Workers

Caregiver Burnout

How Preferred Lifestyle Services Helps Reduce Stress and Increase Peace of Mind