Guest article by Denise Valerio, Owner, Valerio Care Management

 

According to Alzheimer’s Disease International someone in the world is diagnosed with dementia every three seconds. Defined as a “chronic or persistent disorder of mental processes,” medically speaking it is an umbrella term that addresses a composite of cognitive disorders that carry a range of symptoms such as sundowners syndrome. 

 

Also known as “sundowning” as many as 20 percent of those with Alzheimer’s experience an amplified state of confusion or aggression, typically between the hours of 4:00 and 7:00 PM. Behaviors such as extreme agitation, sadness, hallucinations, and delusional thinking are some of the symptoms, with violent episodes occurring in extreme cases. As a professional care manager with over 30 years of experience, I’ve witnessed a spectrum of aberrant symptoms, some of which are more “textbook” than others.

 

In my book The Stemwinder: Stories of a Faithful Care Manager, I go in-depth about two of my clients who have dementia (one with Lewy Body, a more severe form). After years of observation, I’ve concluded that past trauma plays a role in cognitive decline later in life. Exemplary warriors, these women share emotional hardship and hindrances while coming from two entirely different backgrounds. Their paths have never crossed, but each has lived her own darkness as I discovered through my work with them.  

 

Bella, who I tag “The Gentle Soul,” exemplified grace beneath the cloudiness and confusion of dementia:   

 

It took a solid six months to get Bella on the right combination of meds. Achieving that equilibrium not only required medicinal efficacy, it also was contingent upon finding the right people who were willing to work with me… Bella had 24-hour care divided into two shifts. Joycelin was with her during the day. The aide who took the night shift needed to be extra vigilant. A few times Bella snuck out of the house in the middle of the night, right out the door and down the street, occasionally stopping a passing car. Fortunately, these were infrequent close calls but I had to install a deadbolt that was out of her reach, a necessary safeguard that made her angry and combative. Anyone who’s been around someone with dementia knows it’s not a matter of saying to that person “it’s okay” or “calm down.” Keen awareness of behavioral abnormalities such as aggression, anxiety psychosis and sleep disorders, is essential. 

 

I recall a couple of visits that coincided with one of these episodes, and my appearance seemed to momentarily suspend her disturbed state. “It’s you! Where have you been? I haven’t seen you in months.” Bella always made that endearing inquisition. You’ve been absent from my world. How come? It always buoyed me up, even if her short-term memory didn’t accurately track the timing.

 

Though Bella’s aggressiveness seemed to spike in the overnight hours, she didn’t fall neatly into the category of a sundowner, as her primary aide observed erratic behavior during the day. A couple of shopping trips became disorienting experiences to the point that the authorities intervened. Familiar with Bella’s triggers, the aide developed a protocol to de-escalate these episodes. For caregivers and family members who’ve been confronted with sundowners syndrome, mitigating psycho-emotional distress is critical.

 

Senior Living offers some tips to achieve this, such as:

 

• Minimizing any environmental disturbances 
• Maintaining a regimented routine throughout the day 
• Conversing with the person in a soothing tone
• Recognizing patterns of behavior to better anticipate episodes 

 

The right meds work in tandem with open dialogue, consistency of routines, and if possible, documenting the duration and frequency of sundowning. Of these, engaging in consistent, meaningful dialogue with the person is one of the best antidotes as evidenced in my work as a professional care manager. Hands down, it is the most rewarding part of my job and the inspiration behind The Stemwinder.

If you’re a senior or the caretaker of a senior, you may have heard about long-term care, also known as LTC. Long-term care refers to the type of care that’s needed when an individual can no longer live independently. It encompasses both medical and daily activities, such as eating and getting dressed. LTC can be necessary for a disabled person of any age after an accident or illness, but it’s commonly required for seniors with diminished mobility or dementia.

Continue reading “How to Prepare for Long-Term Care Before You Need It” →

If you’re thinking about aging in place, it’s a good idea to start early. Establishing a plan when you — and your home — are in good shape can buy you time, save you money, and make for a more convenient transition in the future. From deciding whether to stay or go to making home modifications, there are a lot of things to consider while planning to age in place.

While many people choose to stay in their current home, others may choose to downsize to save time and money on heating, cooling, and maintenance. Whichever you choose, the home where you will grow old will more than likely need some upgrades. Read on to learn more about features that can help you age at home, safely and comfortably.  

 

General Features

While you can’t predict what your future needs will be, you can plan to make your home accessible no matter what the future holds. Some features to consider in your home to improve accessibility:

• Wide Hallways: A hallway at least 42” wide is ideal as it allows space to navigate with a wheelchair or walker.
• Wide Doorways: For reasons similar to why a wide hallway is recommended, internal door widths should be at least 34” wide, while the door for the home’s entry should be at least 36” wide.

• Lever handles on the doors: Replacing door knobs with ADA-compliant lever handles makes opening doors easier since it doesn’t require gripping a knob. If you have arthritis, or your hands are full carrying things, opening a door with a lever handle is easy.
• Good lighting and high contrast spaces: Prevent trips and falls by making sure your home has good lighting so you can see more clearly, as well as contrast between the walls and floors to more easily orient yourself.
• Easy to maintain, non-slip flooring: In addition to making sure your floors aren’t too slippery, be careful with small area rugs as they can be a tripping hazard.
• No-step entryway: Fewer steps mean less risk of tripping and falling and prepares your home in case of a wheelchair or walker.
• Bedroom and bathroom on the first floor: As stairs become more difficult to climb, having a bedroom on the first floor allows you to stay in your home longer.

 

Bathroom Specific

The bathroom can be one of the most dangerous rooms in the house for slips and falls. Here are a few features that will make your bathroom safer:

• Comfort height toilet: Along with strategically placed grab bars, a taller comfort height toilet makes it easier to raise and lower yourself to use the bathroom.
• Walk in shower: Without a barrier to step over while getting in and out of the shower, you are less likely to lose your balance and fall.
• Handshower: Adding a hand shower to your shower offers you greater mobility. With a hand shower you can easily adjust where the water is directed and bring the stream to you. Paired with a shower seat, a handheld showerhead can make you safer and more comfortable.
• Grab Bars: Grab bars are an inexpensive and simple upgrade to start the aging in place process. Great for use in the shower, and alongside the toilet to assist in standing up and lowering yourself, grab bars are available in a wide range of styles and finishes so they can be easily incorporated into your bathroom decor.
• Shower Seats: Showers can be slippery places, and a shower seat is great for keeping you safe, comfortable and supported while showering.

There is a lot to consider while planning to age in place. By planning ahead and considering what upgrades you may need to make moving forward, you can be prepared for whatever the future holds.

 

Bio

Marion Endsley is the Content Manager at #GRABDASHBAR where she writes and maintains a blog that focuses on preparing your home to age in place.

 

Photo by Michael Browning on Unsplash

There is no doubt among its practitioners that yoga is one of the best ways to improve yourself — mind, body, and soul. As the popularity of yoga grows, so does the age range of those choosing to get into it. Seniors, maybe more than any other age group, can truly benefit from this amazing form of exercise.

 

Continue reading “Yoga and Seniors: How to Get Started and Why You Should Do It Today” →