The Basics Of Personal Hygiene For Elderly People

Personal hygiene routines are something most of us take for granted. You get up, wash, brush your teeth, comb your hair, etc. But these routines are something that elderly people can find very difficult. Imagine the effect it would have on you if you could not perform your usual hygiene routine. You would start every day feeling dirty and unprepared. In elderly people, this can lead to agitation, frustration and depression. If you are caring for an elderly person, it is very important that you establish their daily personal hygiene routine to avoid these problems.

Washing an elderly person

If you are responsible for washing the person in your care, they you must first establish what your routine will be and then explain it to the person so that they know exactly what to expect. This will help create a trusting relationship, and will help the elderly person to relax.

Reluctance

Understandably, many elderly people are somewhat reluctant to let another person administer their daily personal hygiene routine. Imagine if you had to rely on another person to do everything for you. You may feel that you have lost self-respect and personal dignity. This is exactly how elderly people feel, regardless of their illness and mental state, unless of course they are completely unaware of what happening around them.
It's not unusual for some elderly people to react angrily but again this is completely understandable.

Caring for themselves

Elderly people should be encouraged to carry out their own personal hygiene routines as much as possible. This promotes independence and a sense of purpose in life. Even managing the smallest task is better than nothing at all. However, sometimes elderly people find hygiene routines impossible and may become incontinent.

Establishing a routine for an elderly person

If you have to carry out the personal hygiene for an elderly person, it is important that you establish a set routine. Elderly people find routines comforting. The routine that you establish should include all the basic elements that are normally included. If the elderly person is still active, then showering an bathing may be included. All nooks and nooks and crannies need to be washed, teeth brushed, hair combed and attention paid to finger and toe nails.

Make up for the elderly

Female elderly people may like to put on makeup to feel feminine then you should encourage it as far as possible. It encourages self respect and personal identity.

Looking out for abnormalities

Good personal hygiene routines for the elderly can also be useful in diagnosing abnormalities in physical health. If you are washing someone, you should look out for any lumps, bumps and bruises as well as any bodily changes that may indicate a health problem. If you are keeping a written care plan, it it worth making a note of any changes as these can help future diagnoses by medical practitioners.

Sensitivity

Personal hygiene is definitely one of the most important aspects of caring for the elderly, but also one of the most sensitive areas. However, if handled in the right way, it can help create a bond between you and the person you are caring for.



For more tips on elder care go to: elderlycaretips

Aging Veterans-Who Are They?

Soldiers from conflicts and battles comprise a familiar group of veterans. There are also veterans who served during peaceful times too. As veterans age, unique issues and problems arise. Many are from advancing age and many are related to particular conflicts and service demands.

We salute every veteran. Veterans stepped forward for us. We must now step forward for them.

http://www.gracefulaging.com/dignity/work-jobs/aging-veterans-who-are-they/

When grandpa is an addict: Big spike in senior drug abuse

Substance abuse treatment admissions among 50 and older increased by 70 percent over the last decade

They go around this room at the Hanley Center telling of their struggles with alcohol and drugs. They tell of low points and lapses, brushes with death and pain caused to families. And silently, through the simple fact that each is in their 60s or beyond, they share one more secret: Addiction knows no age.

"I retired, I started drinking more," one man said. "I lost my father, my mother, my dog, and it gave me a good excuse," said another.

A remarkable shift in the number of older adults reporting substance abuse problems is making this scene more common. Between 1992 and 2008, treatment admissions for those 50 and older more than doubled in the U.S. That number will continue to grow, experts say, as the massive baby boom generation ages.

"There is a level of societal denial around the issue," said Peter Provet, the head of Odyssey House in New York, another center offering specialized substance abuse treatment programs for seniors. "No one wants to look at their grandparent, no one wants to think about their grandparent or their elderly parent, and see that person as an addict."

All told, 231,200 people aged 50 and over sought treatment for substance abuse in 2008, up from 102,700 in 1992, according to the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Older adults accounted for about one of every eight seeking help for substance abuse in 2008, meaning their share of treatment admissions has doubled over the 16-year period as other age groups' proportions shrunk slightly.

The growth outpaces overall population gains among older demographics. Between 2000 and 2008, substance abuse treatment admissions among those 50 and older increased by 70 percent while the overall 50-plus population grew by 21 percent. Experts say that's because boomers have historically high rates of substance abuse, often developed three or four decades ago, that comes to a head later in life.

"The baby boom population has some experience with substance misuse and is more comfortable with these substances," said Dr. Westley Clark, director of SAMHSA's center on substance abuse treatment.

Treatment professionals believe the actual number of older people with substance abuse problems is many times larger than the amount seeking help.

'This is now my last shot' While the number of older people with substance abuse problems is booming, relatively few facilities offer treatment programs specifically for their age group. Most pool people of all ages together; many divide by gender. Those that do offer age-specific programs say it helps participants relate to one another and keeps them focused on themselves, rather than mentoring younger addicts.

Provet said some have questioned whether it's worthwhile to target efforts at seniors, who generally have fewer years left to benefit from treatment than younger people. He dismisses that reasoning, comparing it to arguing that a cancer patient should be turned away from chemotherapy or radiation treatments simply because they're 65.

Besides, older participants at Odyssey House have the highest completion rate — 85 percent during the last fiscal year.

"It's almost as if they say, 'This now is my last shot. Let me see if I can get my life right finally,'" he said.

Among those taking that approach is Henry Dennis, who at 70 has used heroin for the past 50 years. He came to Odyssey before, relapsed and was arrested for drug possession. Dennis says he's seen at least a dozen friends die of drug use, but it wasn't enough to make him stop.

Now in his eighth month of treatment, he says he finally has the resolve to quit.

"I'm going to get it right this time," said Dennis, who has worked a variety of odd jobs. "I don't want to die, not just yet."

Dennis' treatment is paid for by the state of New York. Many pay out of pocket. Medicare offers some coverage for outpatient treatment but generally doesn't cover inpatient programs.

Experts have observed a rise in illicit drug use, while treatment for alcohol has dropped even though it remains the chief addiction among older adults. The 2008 statistics show 59.9 percent of those 50 and older seeking treatment cited alcohol as their primary substance, down from 84.6 percent in 1992. Heroin came in second, accounting for 16 percent of admissions in that age group, more than double its share in the earlier survey. Cocaine was third, at 11.4 percent, more than four times its 1992 rate.

Surveys show the vast majority of older drug addicts and alcoholics reported first using their substance of choice many years earlier, like Dennis. That lifelong use can lead to liver damage, memory loss, hepatitis and a host of other medical issues. A minority of people find comfort in drugs and alcohol far later, fueled by drastic life changes, loneliness or legitimate physical pain.

Don Walsh, a participant at Hanley's support group, falls into the latter category. He is among 19 men and women who gather on this day in the room with pale blue walls and the calming whir of a fish tank. One comes in a wheelchair, another with a walker; one dozes off during the session.

Walsh, a 77-year-old lawyer, says he didn't develop a problem with alcohol until he retired a year ago. His relentless schedule of 12- to 14-hour days disappeared into a series of leisurely lunches and dinners where the wine flowed freely. One day, he blacked out in his garage. Had it happened while he was driving home, he thought, he might have killed himself and others.

After six weeks of treatment, Walsh says he no longer craves alcohol.

"I have a new lease on life," he said.

For more info go to msnbc

Why do People with Alzheimer's Wander and What you can do to keep them Safe?

Based on the Google alert, it must be a big number. It happened twice in the last week right here in my area.

Alzheimer's patients are allowed to walk freely on their own all the time. Typically, the caregiver will say well they haven't gotten lost or wandered away. This never happens until it does happen.

I wrote some time ago about a man that lived in Texas who decided to drive to Kansas to visit his relatives. After a few days they found him --in Mexico.

Another Alzheimer's sufferer from Denver was missing. They finally found him three days later when he stumbled, hit his head and was taken to a VA facility in San Diego. This man walked down to the corner and took public transportation to the Greyhound bus station. He then took the bus from Denver to San Diego, wandered around, and nobody noticed or suspected a thing.

I know this. If my mother was capable of taking off, I know where I would look first. In south Philadelphia, where she was born and raised. She says all the time, let's move to south Philly. From Delray Beach, Florida? Gotta laugh.

The Mayo clinic has a very good article that explains wandering, and what you can do to lower the odds of someone with Alzheimer's wandering away.


Alzheimer's: Understand and control wandering

Find out why people with Alzheimer's wander and what you can do to keep them safe.

Alzheimer's disease can erase a person's memory of once-familiar surroundings and make adaptation to new surroundings extremely difficult. As a result, people with Alzheimer's sometimes wander away from their homes or care centers and turn up — frightened and disoriented — far from where they started, long after they disappeared.

Wandering is among the most unsettling and even terrifying behaviors people with Alzheimer's display. Often poorly clad, they leave safety at random hours and strike out into unknown territory, for no apparent reason. But this seemingly aimless activity usually does have a reason. It's often an attempt to communicate after language skills have been lost.

Wandering may communicate something as simple as "I'm feeling lost," or "I feel as though I've lost something." It can also signal such basic needs as hunger and thirst, the need to void, or the need for exercise or rest.

Other causes of wandering:

Too much stimulation, such as multiple conversations in the background or even the noise of pots and pans in the kitchen, can trigger wandering. Because brain processes slow down as a result of Alzheimer's disease, the person may become overwhelmed by all the sounds and start pacing or trying to get away.

Wandering also may be related to:

• Medication side effects
• Memory loss and disorientation
• Attempts to express emotions, such as fear, isolation, loneliness or loss
• Curiosity
• Restlessness or boredom
• Stimuli that trigger memories or routines, such as the sight of coats and boots next to a door, a signal that it's time to go outdoors
• Being in a new situation or environment

Tips to prevent wandering

Although it may be impossible to completely prevent wandering, changes in the environment can be helpful. For example, a woman who was a busy homemaker throughout her life may be less likely to become bored and wander if a basket of towels is available for her to fold.

People with Alzheimer's often forget where they are. They may have difficulty finding the bathroom, bedroom or kitchen. Some people need to explore their immediate environment periodically to reorient themselves.

Posting descriptive photographs on the doors to various rooms, including a photo of the individual on the door to his or her own room, can help with navigation inside the home. Offering a snack, a glass of water or use of the bathroom may help identify a need being expressed by wandering. Sometimes the wandering person is looking for family members or something familiar. In such cases, providing a family photo album and sharing reminiscences may help.

Watch for patterns

If wandering occurs at the same time every day, it may be linked to a lifelong routine. For instance, a woman who tries to leave the nursing home every day at 5 p.m. may believe she's going home from work.

This belief could be reinforced if she sees nursing home personnel leaving at that time. A planned activity at that hour, or arranging for staff to exit through a different door at the end of their shift, could provide a distraction and prevent the wandering behavior.

Make a safer environment

If wandering isn't associated with distress or a physical need, you may want to focus simply on providing a safe place for walking or exploration.

Living spaces will be safer after you remove throw rugs, electrical cords, and other potential trip-and-fall hazards. Rearranging furniture to clear space can help. Childproof doorknobs or latches mounted high on doors help prevent wandering outside. Sometimes a stop sign on an exit door is enough.

Rooms that are off-limits pose a different problem. Camouflaging a door with paint or wallpaper to match the surrounding wall may short-circuit a compulsion to wander into such rooms. Night lights and gates at stairwells can be used to protect night wanderers.



For more go to: alzheimersreadingroom.com

Costs for caring for elderly could triple by 2050

Aging populations will cause spending on care for the elderly to double or even triple by 2050 in the 34 member nations of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, according to a new report by the organization.


OECD said people over age 80 will represent an average of 10 percent of OECD nations by 2050, "up sharply" from 4 percent in 2010 and less than 1 percent in 1950. In some nations the percentage of elderly will be even higher: 17 percent in Japan and 15 percent in Germany by 2050.


That means spending will go up as a percentage of gross domestic spending.


"Spending on long-term care, which now accounts for 1.5 percent of GDP on average across the OECD, will rise accordingly. Sweden and the Netherlands today spend the most, at 3.5 percent and 3.6 percent respectively of GDP, while Portugal (0.1 percent), the Czech Republic (0.2 percent) and the Slovak Republic (0.2 percent) 
spend the least," according to the OECD report.


The report cautioned that governments need to take steps to make long-term care policies more affordable and 
"provide better support for family careers and professionals."


There is not only a need for more long-term care workers, but also a need to increase wages because the current low wages creates turnover in workers, according to the report.


“With costs rising fast, countries must get better value for money from their spending on long-term care,” said OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría. “The piecemeal policies in place in many countries must be overhauled in order to boost productivity and support family careers who are the backbone of long-term care systems.”


Read more:allheadlinenews.com

Senior Safety

Nearly 90 percent of seniors say they want to stay in their home. Doing so gives them a wonderful sense of continued independence.

But having mom or dad live alone can be a source of worry for their adult children. The, “What if?” scenarios can often overwhelm the mind. “What if she falls down?” “What if he forgets something on the stove?” “What if she doesn’t tell me it’s getting harder for her to get around?”

If you feel like this, you’re not alone. In 2007 the AARP surveyed boomer women and found that two-thirds are concerned about their parents’ ability to live independently.

Go to Caregiverstress.com for more info

Boomers: 'Sex, drugs and rocky road' - CNN.com

Boomers: 'Sex, drugs and rocky road'

By Madison Park, CNN

Baby boomers: Too much of a good thing?

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Boomers are less healthy and heavier than their parents were at their age
• They think of themselves as young, but they're aging physiologically faster
• Stress, obesity, health care, brain function, arthritis are top medical concerns

Editor's note: In 2011, the baby boomer generation turns 65. So what can the #boomers expect in their retirement years? This week CNN will bring you special coverage of this generation.

(CNN) -- What plagues baby boomers?

Sex, drugs and a rocky road, said Jim Bacon, author of "Boomergeddon."

Boomers are less healthy and heavier than their parents were at their age. And they pop far more pills than the previous generation; an average 50-year-old man takes four prescription medications daily, according to AARP.

American generations through the years

"Boomers think of themselves as forever young, but they're aging physiologically faster than their parents' generation," Bacon said.

"What's happening to boomers, they're showing a lot of increases in chronic diseases. They haven't reached 75 or 80, but compared to the previous generations at the same age, they're showing more of the chronic diseases."

These include obesity-related diseases, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and others. And they're facing this during economic hardships when they're also responsible for their parents and their kids.

Here are suggestions for dealing with the top health concerns of baby boomers, people born between 1946 and 1964.

Growing heavy

Instead of focusing on superficial cosmetic things, boomers' best bet for positive aging is exercise, said Dr. Sharon Brangman, president of the American Geriatrics Society.

"We as a society are so afraid of aging and we're in a stage of denial," she said.

Baby Boomers will redefine notions of age

Boomers lived through massive changes in the American diet as foods became more processed throughout their lives. "That might have had an impact on our obesity rates," Brangman said. "Food is so accessible and in much more quantity than we need."

How the boomers rocked

Lab shows what it feels like to age

RELATED TOPICS

• AARP
• Aging and the Elderly
• Body Weight
• Paying for Health Care
• Sexual and Reproductive Health

Many older adults are too intimidated to exercise because they equate that to bench pressing or running marathons.

Brangman advised that just 30-40 minutes of exercise during most days can help reduce the risk of depression, lower blood pressure and improve strength, cognition and memory. Exercise also can lower blood sugar and decrease other risk factors.

Let's talk about sex

When boomers have sex, most of them are not protecting themselves with condoms, even when their partners are casual, research shows.

Outside monogamous relationships, the rate of condom use is 28% for men in their 50s compared with 53% for men in their 20s, according to the National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior.

Many reject condoms because they make sex feel dry, according to survey participants. Others said condoms were not needed because becoming pregnant wasn't an issue anymore.

"Lots of times people are concerned about pregnancy, not concerned about infections," said Debby Herbenick, research scientist at Indiana University.

Studies indicate they should be, because of increases in sexually transmitted diseases like syphilis, chlamydia and HIV/AIDS in older Americans. About a quarter of people living with HIV/AIDS are age 50 and older, according to CDC statistics.

"Older people generally are able to be more frank when they're talking about sex. I would encourage them being frank about sex," Herbenick said about talking about safe sex with partners.

Boomers should talk to health care providers about sexual issues such as vaginal dryness, erectile issues and how to have more pleasure, experts said. With medication like Viagra, Levitra, Cialis, hormonal supplements and vaginal moisturizers, sexual challenges can be addressed.

The sex survey showed that boomers have all sorts of sex: oral, vaginal and masturbation, and also experience orgasms. Herbenick, author of "Because It Feels Good," reported that a few men into their 90s continued to have sex.

Stressing out

Boomers find themselves taking care of both their parents and their children in tough economic times.

Their parents are living longer, but may be disabled or dependent on them for care. And 20% of people age 45-64 have care-giving or financial responsibilities to a parent, older family member or adult child, according to AARP.

Many boomers had children later in life, and those kids may be in college or financially dependent on them, the AARP said.

"This is the classic sandwich generation," said Cheryl Matheis, senior vice president for policy at AARP. "It's a real juggling act that people are engaging in. Many people are not psychologically prepared. Their biggest concerns from surveys of our boomer members are their finances and health."

But not all is doom and gloom.

"For people who are able to have health care, this sort of bonus period of life can be very productive and rewarding because you see more generations and help younger generations ... it's very satisfying for people."

Where's my health care?

Many baby boomers don't have pensions as their parents' generation did. Once they hit 65, many rely on public-funded programs like Medicare.

Without major changes to Medicare, experts have said the government program is unsustainable, especially as baby boomers age. The number of people expected to enroll in the program will surge as the population ages and health care costs continue to grow far faster than inflation, CNNMoney explains.

On top of that, baby boomers have done a poor job of saving, said Bacon. Many based their retirement on housing prices that plummeted.

In terms of health, boomers are getting chronic conditions such as hypertension, high cholesterol and other ailments. They may need prescription drugs and to find different sources of income to stay afloat.

Can I get rid of my hypertension medication?

Brain/Cognitive function

Experts said the keys to keeping the brain vibrant and healthy can be boiled down to three concepts: Exercise, socialize and learn.

Like many other doctors, Bryan James, assistant professor in the department of internal medicine at Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, extols the virtues of exercise.

"The brain is just an organ that needs oxygen. Good cardiovascular exercise is good for your brain and preventing dementia," he said.

Keep your mind mentally stimulated by reading and by learning new and complicated things, James suggested.

Maintain friendships, socialize and get out of the house, he said. People who didn't leave their house or only strayed as far as their driveways were twice as likely to develop Alzheimer's as the people who went out of town and socialized, he said.

"The most socially active people are going to be less likely to develop problems with thinking or to have their cognition decline, as compared to people who are least socially active," he said.

Arthritis/Mobility

Boomers are feeling aches and pains as they get older -- 29.8% reported doctor-diagnosed arthritis, according to 2010 CDC data.

While exercising and maintaining healthy weight may not necessarily forestall arthritis, it could help people remain more functional by keeping the muscles strong between the joints.

Evidence suggests the heavier a person, the more he or she is prone to osteoarthritis. Some factors of arthritis may be genetic, but it is important to keep exercising, said Dr. Eric Ruderman, clinical practice director for the rheumatology clinic at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

"The more exercise you do, the stronger your muscles, and it could relieve some of the pain," he said.


Boomers: 'Sex, drugs and rocky road' - CNN.com