Caregiver Assistance News

Transcription

1 Caregiver Assistance News March March Area Agency on Aging of Dane County 2865 N Sherman Ave, Madison, WI Visit our Website Kira Stewart, BS, CNA Caregiver Program Coordinator (608) stewart.kira@countyofdane.com This month s issue: Letter to Caregivers Proper Body Mechanics Moving a Person Safely Aging and Disability Resource Center Opens Upcoming Events Dear Caregiver, When you feel like the weight of the world is on your shoulders let others carry some for you. Though we can t get rid of that defeated feeling completely, we can break it down so it doesn t seem too big to conquer. Recognize exactly what it is that you re feeling, is it loneliness? Fatigue? Sad? Overwhelmed? or Isolated? Find something you re drawn to, to give yourself relief for a moment, even if it s small. If you are lonely or isolated then treat yourself to lunch with friends, or a coffee/ice cream break. If your not getting any sleep at night or feeling fatigued then get some respite care for your loved one and allow your-self a nap or get a massage. Use muscle relaxation to let go of any built up anxiety or frustration that you hold inside. Eating healthy, well balanced meals will give you a boost physically and emotionally, and drink plenty of water to keep hydrated. Take care of yourself to avoid feeling too overwhelmed. Prioritize your own health and well-being. Sincerely, Kira 1

2 Back Pain Lift Carefully Your automobile and other important equipment work based on mechanical principles. Each part is made to work a certain way and to work with specific other parts. Your body is much the same. Certain parts are for certain activities and perform best when they are used the way they were intended. You have some control over making your individual parts work better and stronger. You also have control over whether or not you use them wisely. The proper use of your body is called Body Mechanics. Body Mechanics involves standing and moving one s body so as to prevent injury, avoid fatigue, and make the best use of strength. When you learn how to move, control and balance your own body, you can more easily and safely control and help or move another person. Back injuries among caregivers are common and many such injuries are preventable. The following hints will help you use proper body mechanics and be safe. Only lift as much as you can comfortably handle. Always let the person you are helping know what you are going to do. To create a base of support, stand with your feet 8 12" apart with one foot a half step ahead of the other. Bend your knees slightly. Keep your spine in a neutral (normal arched, not stiff) position while lifting. USE YOUR LEGS instead of your back to do most of the work leg muscles are stronger muscles than your back muscles. If you are able to adjust the bed, keep the top at about waist level. If it is low or you are tall, put one foot on a foot stool to relieve pressure on your lower back. Don t Fall Be Safe While we do lose muscle as we age, exercise can partially restore strength and flexibility. It s never too late to start an exercise program. Even if you ve been a couch potato your whole life, becoming active now will benefit you in many ways including protection from falls. Note Your Weight Matters Obesity is one of the biggest risk factors for developing back pain and arthritis because it speeds the destruction of joint-cushioning cartilage. Losing weight even just 10 or 11 pounds can cut your risk in half. Source: Harvardhealth 2

3 Helpful Caregiver Advice for Moving a Person These pointers are for the caregiver only. Be sure to get training for the steps for a specific move or a transfer Tell the person what you are going to do. Before starting the move, count with the person, To feel in control, get close to the person you are moving or lifting. Keep your back in a neutral position, knees bent, weight distributed between both feet. Tighten your stomach and back muscles to maintain a correct support position. 2 3 Use your arms to support the person. Again, let your legs do the lifting. Turn, rather than twist, your body. Breathe deeply. Keep your shoulders relaxed. When needing to give a lot of assistance with transfers, tie a strong belt or a transfer belt around the person s waist and hold it as you complete the transfer. In some situations, you may need a lift device, such as a Hoyer lift, to help you. 3 For Less Back Pain Quit Smoking A new study found that patients with severe back pain who quit smoking report less pain and greater improvement than patients who continued to smoke. Also, those who continued to smoke during treatment had no improvement in pain. Nicotine increases pain. Another proof that smoking is bad for you and your back. Source: Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery, December 2012; American Association of Orthopedic Surgeons 3

4 Taking Care of Yourself Daily Back Strengthening Exercises Hug Your Knees Lie on your back with knees bent and soles on the floor. Use your arms to hug one knee at a time to your chest. Ten times each knee. Flatten Your Back Lie on your back with knees bent and soles on the floor. Take deep breaths as you tighten your abdominal muscles and press the small of your back into the floor. Hold to a count of 15 as you continue to breathe deeply. Chest Lift Lie on your stomach in a relaxed position. Put your hands palms down at chest level and raise your head and chest from the floor. Breathe and hold this position for a count of 25. Gradually increase the time you are able to remain in this position. Don t expect miracles; these back strengthening exercises will take time to have an effect, but continue them, even after your back feels stronger. And, no matter how strong your back feels, always use proper body mechanics! Remember to check with your doctor before starting an exercise program. Safety Tips Self-Care for Low Back Pain Sometimes low back pain has an identifiable physical cause, such as a herniated disk, a pinched nerve or arthritis. But more common is what experts call nonspecific low back pain, in which the causes are unknown. Weak muscles in the back and abdomen as well as lack of exercise can be contributing factors, and the risk increases as you get older. Try Ice or heat. Either alone or alternating may help. Over-the-counter pain relievers: acetaminophen, aspirin, naproxen or ibuprofen. Short walks. Bed rest is not a good idea it often makes low back pain worse. If the pain keeps you from moving, stay in bed, for one or two days at most. Resume activities as soon as possible. When lying down, stay on your side with a pillow between your knees. Movement therapies including the Feldenkrais, Pilates, or yoga. Call your doctor if after a few days you are not improving, or if your pain is severe or radiating. Numbness, tingling, weakness in the limbs, bowel or bladder problems, nausea, fever and vomiting are other signs you need immediate help. Inspiration Nature tops the list of potent tranquilizers and stress reducers. The mere sound of moving water has been shown to lower blood pressure. ~ Patch Adams 4

5 Aging and Disability Resource Center Opens A new resource is available for all Dane County residents. Dane County Department of Human Services is pleased to announce the Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) opened in November 2012 to help senior adults, adults with disabilities, their families, and professionals. Seniors and adults with disabilities value their independence and quality of life. When health conditions change or other events occur that threaten a person s ability to live how they want, it can be difficult to know who to call to find out what help might be available. The ADRC is a one-stop shop for information and assistance on resources and services for senior adults and adults with disabilities, regardless of income or assets. ADRC staff are able to provide you with knowledge about services, programs, and solutions for disability and long-term care issues such as living arrangements, health, employment and training for people with disabilities, home maintenance, nutrition, Social Security, and other publicly funded programs. If you ever have a question about resources or services, the ADRC will help you. If we do not know the answer to your question, we will research the answer and call you back. All ADRC services are free and are available to people of all income levels. We want you to call us if you are looking for information on public benefits or if you are looking to private pay for services and want to know what type of resources are available. We are here to assist everyone. We recently helped a family identify resources that will allow their aging mother to continue to safely live in her home. This has always been her goal and the family wanted to honor that but didn t know what help was available. The family called the ADRC and spoke with a staff member who schedule a home visit to learn more. The ADRC staff person sat down with the mother and her family and listened and learned what the concerns were and helped connect them with the resources that made the most sense for their situation. Other ways the ADRC may be able to help is to provide information about government programs that help pay for long term care and information for individuals who are privately paying for services. If you wish, the ADRC will determine for which programs you are eligible. They can provide information about all the options available and help you select the solution best for you. The ADRC is open 7:45 am 4:30 pm, Monday thru Friday. There are many ways to connect to the ADRC. The phone number to call is (608) Check out our website at or come see us at 2865 N. Sherman Avenue, Madison, WI (we are located in the Northside TownCenter shopping center). No appointment necessary. 5

6 Upcoming Events Brain Health for the 21st Century The Madison Senior Center presents a three-part Wednesday lecture series by Thomas Fritsch, Ph.D, Director of the Parkinson Research Institute, affiliated with the Regional Parkinson Center of Milwaukee and Aurora Health Care. He studies neuro -degenerative diseases, such as Parkinson and Alzheimer disease, and cognitive processes associated with normal and diseased aging. Like every organ in the body, the brain changes with age. For some people, the changes are relatively benign, and do not affect their lifestyles in significant ways. For others, brain aging brings with it serious memory and thinking problems, broadly referred to as dementias. Other brain changes can cause motor difficulties, such as those seen in Parkinson disease. Yet, cognitive decline in aging is not inevitable, and science has shown that there are steps we can take to keep our brain fit. The Dementias : What are They? The dementias are a class of diseases that affect memory, thinking, and physical function. Dr. Fritsch will cover the three most common dementias Alzheimer disease, Lewy Body dementia, and Vascular dementia and their impacts on the person and family, as well as treatment approaches. (March 13, 10-11:30 am) Parkinson Disease: A Primer. Parkinson disease is a movement disorder but it also affects the cognition, behaviors, and so-called vegetative functions. Learn about the lesser known aspects of Parkinson disease in this lecture which may explain surprising signs and symptoms of the disease. (April 10, 10-11:30 am) Healthy Cognitive Aging Cognitive Aging. Cognitive decline is believed by most to be an inevitable part of aging. This is patently false. There are substantial differences in the paths of cognitive aging and there are even steps we can take to optimize brain function as we age. (May 8, 10-11:30 am) Register for all three events by calling the Senior Center: (608) There is a $50 fee (cash or check payable to Madison Senior Center ) or register by ing pguttenberg@cityofmadison.com. The center is located at 330 W Mifflin St, Madison, WI Partners include the Alzheimer s Association, Wisconsin Parkinson s Association, Aurora Health Care, and UW-Milwaukee. (4.5 CEH credits are available for professionals.) 6 Grief Support and Educational Opportunities Agrace offers a variety of grief support opportunities that are open to the public and provided without charge. Unless otherwise noted, all groups are held at Agrace, 5395 E. Cheryl Parkway, Madison. Agrace recommends waiting two to three months after a death before joining a grief support group. Kids Grief Support- For elementary through high-school aged children who are grieving the death of a loved one. In addition to receiving grief support, this group discusses concepts specific to children coping with grief, and the children participate in a variety of activities and projects. April 15 May 13 (Mondays), 5:30-7 pm; call Jessie Shiveler ( ). Bridges Grief Support Group- This ongoing, weekly grief support group is for adults who are grieving the death of a loved one. Registration is not required. Wednesdays, 9:30-11 am. Introduction to Grief- This informative session for adults offers suggestions on how to navigate the grieving process and provides information about Agrace grief support groups. Call Mary Severson ( ) to make an appointment. Agrace will host a free educational question-and-answer discussion. A Gift to Your Family: Advance Care Planning will emphasize the importance of making decisions about future medical care and sharing your wishes with your loved ones. Tuesday, April 9, 6:30-8 pm. Call Amy Ketterer ( ) to register.

7 Upcoming Events Alzheimer s and Dementia African-American Caregivers Support Group Monday, April 18, 10 Second Baptist Church 4303 Britta Pkwy, Madison Call Charlie or ( or toll free 888- "Food for the Soul" Caregiver Luncheon Family caregivers are invited to attend the 10th annual Caregiver Luncheon on Friday, April 19 at the Nakoma Golf Club, 4145 Country Club Road, 10:45 am-2 pm. The event includes lunch, entertainment, and the opportunity to share experiences and support with other caregivers and obtain resources from a variety of service provides. Caregivers may visit resource tables 10:45-11:30 am; Dining room seating begins at 11:30 am. Respite and transportation are available. For more info, contact Kira ( or stewart.kira@countyofdane.com). Stepping On - Reduce Falls Risk Afraid of falling? Reduce your falls risk by registering for Stepping On, an evidence based 7-week, 2-hour/class series for senior adults. Led by trained medical professionals, examine medications, home safety, balance and vision, plus learn balance and strength training exercises. This effective series builds confidence and reduces falls. Cost is $35. Surveys from recent Dane County classes show an almost 50% reduction in falls for those who complete the series. Go to or for upcoming classes including: St. Mary s Hospital (begins April 2) Verona Senior Center (begins April 4) Fitchburg Senior Center (begins April 18)...and more. Caregiver Training Classes Join us for the next caregiver training class on March 16th. The class will focus on caregiver stress. The class will also contain information presented by Susan Rutter, Dementia Specialist. She will offer some practical information on how to use communication techniques that reduce anxiety in both caregivers and the family members with dementia to whom they provide care. To register call Jean Mueller at x 112 or jmueller@ccmadison.org. Parkinson s Caregiver Support Group Wednesday, April 17, 4 East Madison/Monona Coalition on Aging (4142 Monona Drive, Monona) Call (608) Take Control of Chronic Conditions Living Well with Chronic Conditions is a six-week evidence-based program that helps adults of any age with all kinds of chronic conditions better manage their lives by learning new approaches, setting goals, and working to meet those goals in a supportive environment. A $20 textbook is optional. Dean Clinic East s class begins April 5, 10:30 am-1 pm Harbor Wellness Center s class begins April 8, 1:30-4 pm (Coventry Village class dates TBA.) Contact (608) to register. Visit for the full spring line-up.

8 Caring for the Caregiver Program Area Agency on Aging of Dane County 2865 N Sherman Ave Madison, WI In an effort to conserve paper AND reduce postage costs... If you have an address and are able to receive the newsletter via , please let us know. If you are no longer interested in receiving this newsletter, please let us know so you can be removed from our mailing list. Thank you! Contact Kira (608) or stewart.kira@countyofdane.com 8