February, 2010

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28
Feb 10

Love your Elderly

How hard is it for an individual to have compassion for their chosen career? We all hear horror stories of Nurses and STNA’s abusing those in their care, yet we hear no reason to their madness. As a human being, I myself have issues with nursing staff purposely hurting elderly, and I am appalled at what I see on the news.

It is time for people to start paying more attention to those loved ones that cannot fend for themselves. If we, as a whole, start asking more questions, doing surprise visits, then we can greatly impact the care that we feel our loved ones deserve.

So many times we get wrapped up in our own lives, that we don’t make the effort to visit our loved ones in a nursing facility. We assume that they are being cared for by the best in the field, but that is not always true.

Remember the old saying “You get what you pay for.” What we pay for are overworked nurses, understaffed facilities, and pissed off STNA’s. If we don’t make the effort, how much effort are total strangers going to make when it comes to the care of your mother, father, aunt, uncle or grandparent.

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22
Feb 10

Reducing Stress and Coping Strategies in the Elderly

One way you can reduce stress is to avoid it or escape the stress if possible. When a stressful event have little or no personal purpose or when there is little likelihood of having a positive outcome of the event, avoidance may be the best choice. It is often simpler and wiser to avoid stress than to endure it. When facing a major stressor, it is wise to eliminate as many smaller stressors as possible so that Energy is available to cope with the Major Problem.

When Stress cannot be avoided, when the person strongly believes he or she can affect the outcome, other methods can be used. Confrontational, Cognitive, and Problem-Solving methods are effective means of dealing with these types of stressful situations.

To use problem solving methods the person must first identify and examine his or her stressors. Once the stressors are identified, the importance to the Elderly Adult can be determined. Only then alternative actions to reduce the stress are Explored.

Examples, (An annoying person riding a train) and live with the consequences Confrontational), (move to another seat on the train (Escape), decrease contact with the stressor (Avoidance), or work to change the person’s attitude toward the annoying person (Emotional Distancing).

Ways to Reduce Stressors in the Elderly:

Concentration Meditation-A variety of activities focusing on breathing, body sensation, may keep the mind from worries and concerns that increase stress.

Movement Meditation-Activities such as yoga, tai chi, walking, or dancing use motions and focused attention to reduce both mental and physical stress.

Prayer and Reflection-Prayers and reflection used with your sacred verses or poems, either alone or in a group can reduce stress.

Message-Focused manipulation on muscles reduces tension, decreases pain, and promotes a bond of caring all of which reduce stress.

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16
Feb 10

Stressful Life Events in the Elderly

Stress and Illness are closely linked. Research has shown that both Mental and Physical Illness results in stress and can increase health problems in the Elderly. An elderly person is less able to cope with additional physical or psychological stressors, which take energy away from them and decrease the ability to Cope, Learn, Function, and Follow through with the Plan of Care.

Decreasing the number of Stressors can Prevent Illness and improve an elderly person ability to cope with Activities of Daily Living (ADL’s).

Stress has been shown to have negative effects on the elderly body system. Stress activates the sympathetic nervous systems (Fight-or-Flight Response) an elderly person under HIGH levels of stress is at increase of Angina, Heart Rhythm Abnormalities, and even Heart Attack.

Stress is in connection with Hypertension and may even increase the risk of having a Stroke. The Immune System is affected, increasing susceptibility to infections such as Pneumonia. Stress may also exacerbate sleep problems and often trigger painful Headaches and Muscle Spasms.

Elderly people differ in their ability to cope with stress. Those who do not learn to cope with normal day-to-day stressors cannot function normally when the stress is HIGH and the Elderly are at a very HIGH risk for becoming Physically and Mentally Ill.

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11
Feb 10

Resident Rights vs. Family Choices

The rights of a Legally Competent Resident always override what the family wants for their love one. If a competent resident choose to withhold any type of medical information from their family they have the right to do so, and they can have the staff withhold information from the family members also. Most residents do not do this but they have the right to withhold information if they choose.

The bottom line is residents have the Right to Privacy and Self-Determination. The family may desire to be informed and involved at all times, but if the resident does not want this the resident have the right to privacy, this may create a very Frustrating Situation, but please understand this from a legal Point of View.

All residents have the Right to Freedom of Religious, (Privacy), Political, and Sexual Practices, unless the resident Violates the rights of others. Family members do not have the federally ensured legal right that residents do.

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10
Feb 10

Signs of Suicide in Nursing Home Patients

While Older Adult age ripen so does the risk of Suicide in Nursing Home Patients. Older European males are at greater suicidal risk with increase of age. Caregivers and Nursing Home Staff should be aware of signs of suicidal behavior in residents. Here is what you should look for, as well as what you should do when you witness these signs and symptoms.

What to look for

  • Loss of Interest in common daily activities and relationships
  • Always feeling Helpless
  • Feeling trapped and having few options and No Good Choices
  • Not having any Hopes and Dreams about the Future
  • Feeling like a Burden to everyone or other thinking people would be better off without you
  • Talking about Suicide (Example: “I wish God would just take me”)
  • Any type of behavior that would Harm the Nursing Home Patient

What to do

If you see your love one showing signs or symptoms of suicide Tell the charge nurse of the nursing home that your love one is in or their doctor right away. The physician will probably put the patient on Suicide Precautions and ask for an urgent psychiatric evaluation.

This is an extremely important situation that you defiantly Do Not want to Ignore, so please if you notice any of the following signs or symptoms that were mentioned above report it immediately you might just save a life.

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8
Feb 10

Signs of Abuse, Neglect, or Exploitation in the Elderly

Being dependent on a caregiver is bad enough; the following symptoms may indicate that Abuse, Neglect, or Exploitation of the care receiver has taken place-a very serious situation. Please by all means take these signs very seriously. Never, ever Ignore these signs:

Physical Symptoms

  • Bruises, fractures, burns, or “impossible” injuries (for example a Dislocated arm in a Bed Rest Patient)
  • Dehydration or malnutrition residents
  • Exposure injuries (for example, Hypothermia)
  • Medication given improperly

Psychological Symptoms

  • Hyper vigilance (“hyper-alertness”)
  • Not concern with what the caregiver wants
  • Develop new fears and phobias
  • Persistent signs of being upset when the caregiver arrives (for example, pleading that you do not leave me alone)

Financial Signs

  • Unexplained withdrawals from checking or savings accounts
  • Disappearance of valuables
  • Unnecessary services have been ordered
  • Change in caregivers legal and financial status
  • Unusual contributions to charities

You have an obligation to report abuse, neglect, or exploitation if you see the signs or symptoms in a caregiver. You will not only protect your love ones you will protect others, future care receivers that might be harmed. If you detect any of the above signs that were mentioned earlier please report it immediately.