Advice for Older People Archives - Page 7 of 11 - Home Care & Home Nursing in Ireland from Myhomecare

Advice for Older People, Caregiver Advice

A bit about Dementia. Myhomecare sponsoring The National Dementia Care Conference Wednesday 15th February.

Dementia Care Conference 15th February

Royal Marine Hotel Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin.

Sponsored by Myhomecare.ie

THE CONFERENCE

The annual conference, which is now running three years, is taking place this Wednesday, February 15th in The Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire. Organised by The Commercial Media Group, the conference will focus on future vision for Dementia care in Ireland and will enable and equip delegates to critically review their approaches to the care of patients with dementia. Representing the myhomecareie.wpengine.com team and attending the conference are Homecare Assessors Jonathan O’Donnell and Susanne Kelly.

Susanne, who has experience nursing dementia patients in the past, said that this is her first time attending the conference and she is looking forward to it. Susanne hopes to improve dementia care and incorporate new guidelines into existing myhomecare plans. On the day, Johnathan and Susanne will be promoting myhomecare by providing information about the brand, distributing materials and products and building relationships with other similar services. They will be speaking to clients and answering the questions of potential clients.

Dementia in Ireland

It is estimated that 42,000 people in Ireland have dementia.

But, what is Dementia? Dementia is not one single disease. It is a collective term used to describe a group of symptoms which cause damage to the brain and impair memory or thinking such as forgetfulness.

What can cause Dementia? Dementia can occur after a stroke, brain tumor or head injury. Age is the most significant risk factor in developing dementia and it affects 1 in 70 people in Ireland aged 65-70 and affects a staggering 1 in 5 people over the age of 80. Genetics is another risk factor that can play a part in the role of developing dementia. Although we cannot control our age or our genes, we can control our lifestyle and evidence shows that our lifestyle habits can increase the risk of developing dementia.

How to prevent Dementia – Lifestyle habits – Diet/Nutrition – high fat contributes to heart disease, high blood pressure and bad cholesterol which are all associated with dementia. Smoking – damages the heart, lungs and vascular system. People who are heavy smokers in their mid-life, double their risk of developing dementia. Alcohol – due to its antioxidants, research shows that drinking a moderate amount of red wine might actually reduce the risk of forming dementia. However, drinking alcohol excessively can increase a person’s risk of developing a form of dementia called Korsakoff’s Syndrome. Exercising – lack of physical activity can cause heart problems and can increase the risk of developing vascular dementia.

Recognizing The Signs

Not everyone with dementia will experience the same signs and symptoms.

Recent memory loss – repeating themselves.

Difficulty completing familiar tasks – cooking a meal.

Difficulty in communicating – forgetting simple words.

Disorientation – getting lost.

Misplacing things.

Changes in mood.

Changes in personality – acting fearful.

Inability to control emotion.

Loss if initiative – no interest in going out.

Fore more information about the Dementia Care Conference visit: http://cmgevents.ie/events/the-national-dementia-care-conference/

For information on myhomecare and dementia plans visit www.myhomecareie.wpengine.com

Advice for Older People

Meet Samantha – Our eHealth Project Co-ordinator

As eHealth Coordinator it is my responsibility to expand eHealth & connected health projects within Myhomecare, and develop new projects to integrate eHealth applications and technology into the routine delivery of home care nationwide.

As eHealth Projects Coordinator, I engage with research organisations to ensure we are developing our ehealth projects in line with best-practice of the National HSE eHealth Strategy.

Responsibilities

To expand Nursebuddy or similar service to clients within Myhomecare.
To promote Myhomecare Connect through partnership development.
To launch, manage and evaluate eHealth pilot projects and to produce recommendations for roll-out through the regional teams to expand the service.
To provide eHealth management with assistance on emerging eHealth projects, including needs assessments, new proposals, policies and procedures, pilot projects, roll-out, and report writing.
To demonstrate commitment to Myhomecare eHealth Vision.

Our latest project is the MyHomecare Connect app, which puts your loved one at the centre of their care. It is a individualised platform bringing clinical and social elements together to enable Client independence. Our App promotes effective communication and Safety reassurance through featured tiles such as;

My Health Record – Where in which health readings are stored. Health Readings are taken by the carer/Nurse in there shift and once they update this in their records it is available for the family immediately.
My Motion Activity- The motion activity Tile is an active live feed to know where in the home your loved one is. The record all of the data comes from ambient devices in the home.
My Calendar- Online calendar of Appointments and Social events that is on locally to encourage socialisation.
My Fitness Plan- Tailored exercise routine videos to encourage activity and movement.
My Circle – Messenger Service for all involved with the client. When there is any change in app notifications highlight the new information.

All information is important when you are providing a supporting circle of care for your loved one. Simple examples, such as the arrival of a carer, knowing your loved one has been up and about through motion detectors or having access to medical readings when they are taking can limit your level of intervening therefore improving client independence.

To learn more about Myhomecare Connect or to speak with Samantha please call Samantha Myles on Freephone 1800 400 900 or email smyles@www.myhomecare.ie

Myhomecare Connect - Homecare from Anywhere

Advice for Older People

Turning your retirement years in to your Golden Years

There comes a stage in life when we will all need to hang up our boots and admit it’s time for retirement. Avoid letting this time slip away, turn your retirement into the time you want. You can now finally achieve all the things you have only dreamed of doing over the past 40 odd years.

Just one thing you need to remember, today, you are as young as you will ever be. Use this, take advantage of your youthfulness. Many people look at retirement and assume it will be a disconnected, meaningless lifestyle. You are in control, you have the power to change this.

Growing older and wiser as our hair turns to silver threads is inevitable, but we can embrace these years ahead and grab as much from them as possible.

Don’t underestimate the Importance of Occupation after Retirement……..

“I’ve often been asked, ‘What do you do now that you’re retired?’
Well..I’m fortunate to have a chemical engineering background and one of the things I enjoy most is converting beer, wine and rum into urine.
It’s rewarding, uplifting, satisfying and fulfilling. I do it every day and I really enjoy it.”

Quoted from: Harold Schlumberg

Harold is an inspiration to us all. Take a leaf out of his book, do something that is rewarding, uplifting, satisfying and fulfilling to you.

As we grow older, we fear our ability to make a difference fades. In these times we need an everyday hero like Harold to remind us that regardless of age or generation, we can make a difference. Become an inspiration to all other retirees, find the courage to do what makes you happy and share it with others.

Make sure you are counted in your retirement, spend time with family, maintain good health (exercise, take up a class,etc.), pass on your years of wisdom or peruse a personal interest. Turn your retirement in to Golden years with memories made of joy and happiness.

Advice for Older People

Preventing Falls Among Older Adults

The Reality

Each year, one in every three adults ages 65 or older falls and 2 million are treated in emergency departments for fall-related injuries. And the risk of falling increases with each decade of life. The long-term consequences of fall injuries, such as hip fractures and traumatic brain injuries (TBI), can impact the health and independence of older adults. Thankfully, falls are not an inevitable part of aging. In fact, many falls can be prevented. Everyone can take actions to help in Preventing Falls Among Older Adults, with some simple steps you can protect the older adults you care about.

Prevention Tips

You can play a role in preventing falls. Encourage the older adults in your life to:

Get some exercise. Lack of exercise can lead to weak legs and this increases the chances of falling. Exercise programs such as Tai Chi can increase strength and improve balance, making falls much less likely.
Be mindful of medications. Some medicines—or combinations of medicines—can have side effects such as dizziness or drowsiness. This can make falling more likely. Poor vision can make it harder to get around safely. Older adults should have their eyes checked every year and wear glasses or contact lenses with the right prescription strength to ensure they are seeing clearly.
Eliminate hazards at home. About half of all falls happen at home. A home safety check can help identify potential fall hazards that need to be removed or changed, such as tripping hazards, clutter, and poor lighting.

Steps for Home Safety

The following checklist can help older adults reduce their risk of falling at home:

Remove things you can trip over (such as papers, books, clothes, and shoes) from stairs and places where you walk.
Install handrails and lights on all staircases.
Remove small throw rugs or use double-sided tape to keep the rugs from slipping.
Keep items you use often in cabinets you can reach easily without using a step stool.
Put grab bars inside and next to the tub or shower and next to your toilet.
Use non-slip mats in the bathtub and on shower floors.
Improve the lighting in your home. As you get older, you need brighter lights to see well. Hang lightweight curtains or shades to reduce glare.
Wear shoes both inside and outside the house. Avoid going barefoot or wearing slippers.