Fifty-two year old Carolyn hated to admit that she was overwhelmed. She often felt on the verge of tears. Her near-perfect life had become a roller coaster. Standing in front of the mirror, she took stock.   Working, while managing her family, had come easily. Lately, however, her family complained about her unavailability.

The transition to mayhem started when her mother, Eva, suffered a broken hip at home. While Eva was in the hospital and rehab, Carolyn struggled to visit her before and after work.  The visits rarely went well. Her mother hated rehab and would indignantly refuse physical therapy. She wondered how they could possibly manage without help at home. Deeply loving her mother had still not made for an easy relationship. Mainly because she and her mom shared an undesirable trait: Each wanted to control everything.

Her usually helpful husband, now traveling for work, had adamantly ruled out Eva living with them. Her long distance brother was obviously no assistance. She asked herself:  Who will help me? What would be her daily plan? She’d get up at 5:30 a.m., and with Bill away, she’d do the necessities and drive the children to school. She’d go to Eva’s to get her up, dressed and fed. And, she’d still be at work for meetings she really couldn’t miss. Reality sunk in:  Who am I kidding?  Something had to give.

She related her concern to a colleague who told her about a local agency that provides specializes in eldercare and care management. It was available through the company’s Share The Care program. All she had to do was call them.

Carolyn spoke with a certified geriatric care manager, related their issues and she felt a burden lifting. They set a time for an assessment of her mother’s needs for a smooth transition back to home.

They both wanted to provide her mother with security, comfort, safety and to help restore her independence. The care manager would help manage Eva’s medications and assure doctor’s appointments were attended while Carolyn worked.

An excellent caregiver suited to her mother’s strong-will now provides personal assistance, help around the house and meal preparation. The caregiver reminds Eva to take her meds correctly and even shops for groceries. They play cards and create photo albums to pass the afternoons.

After a few weeks, she called to say how grateful she is that the caregiver is in their lives. She arrives at work on time, got her promotion and she hasn’t missed a single soccer match or school program. She makes it to Yoga and Pilates, her book club and church on time. She added that the peace of mind is the best part.

Her only regret is that she didn’t call the care manager sooner.

Click here to view, Definition, Vision, and Initiatives.

1. Nutrition and Hydration problems
2. Personal Hygiene and Home Maintenance begins to slip
3. Medication errors are occurring and causing problems
4. Undiagnosed medical problems due to missing appointments with doctors
5. Home Safety is in peril due to clutter or poorly maintained home systems.

For more detailed information watch this:

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If you were not able to attend our Women and Power Series with Anita Zucker, CEO of The InterTech Group last week, grab your favorite beverage and find time to watch the interview. Jennet Robinson Alterman, Executive Director of The Center for Women, interviews what the Financial Times named as one of the 50 most prominent business women in the world.

Are your aging parents in good spirits?

Are your aging parents having difficulty getting around?

Johns Hopkins Health Alert

Making the Distinction: Parkinson’s or Essential Tremor
For many older adults, the involuntary shaking of the hands, head, or any other body part conjures up fears of Parkinson’s disease — a progressive and incurable movement disorder, the most recognizable symptom of which is tremor. But the more likely explanation is a condition called essential tremor. While Parkinson’s disease and essential tremor both share the symptom of tremor, that’s just about all they have in common.
The nature of the tremors of essential tremor is quite distinct from that of the tremors of Parkinson’s disease. “Parkinson’s tremor is a resting tremor — it comes on when the hands are completely rested and goes away with directed movements,” Zoltan Mari, M.D., assistant professor of neurology at Johns Hopkins and the Director of the National Parkinson’s Foundation Center of Excellence, explains. “On the other hand, essential tremor goes away when the hands are rested and comes on when your hands are in posture or during movement, such as lifting a cup or using a fork.” Tremor with Parkinson’s disease usually begins or is more prominent on one side of the body, while essential tremor tends to affect both sides equally.
People with essential tremor also have none of the other prominent symptoms that accompany Parkinson’s disease. These include unusual slowness of movements (bradykinesia) and increasingly stiff and rigid muscles, a condition known as cogwheel rigidity.
The causes of Parkinson’s disease and essential tremor also are likely dissimilar. Parkinson’s disease stems from a deficiency of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the brain.
While the exact cause of essential tremor remains unknown, it’s thought to be the result of a distortion of neurological impulses somewhere in the brain. This, experts think, leads to oscillations that cause the tremor.
Still, for reasons that are unclear, people with essential tremor are at higher risk for developing Parkinson’s disease later in life.
Essential tremor often worsens with age, but a change in the character of the tremor can indicate the early onset of Parkinson’s disease. That is a rare occurrence, however. “Oftentimes, with advanced age an essential tremor patient’s hands or head may not shake in a rapid, fine-movement pattern as it did before, and the tremor will become slower and coarser,” Dr. Mari notes. “This can make the tremor seem more prominent, causing many people to think they are developing Parkinson’s while it’s really only a worsening of essential tremor.”

Posted in Healthy Living on February 23, 2011

Medical Disclaimer: This information is not intended to substitute for the advice of a physician

Here are some detailed warning signs to look for:

· Spoiled food that doesn’t get thrown away
· Missing important appointments
· Lost documents—tax information
· Unpaid essential bills—electric, water turned off for non-payment
· Unexplained bruising = falling!
· Trouble getting up from a seated position
· Difficulty with walking, balance and mobility
· Uncertainty and confusion when performing once-familiar tasks
· Forgetfulness –forgets to call you; forgets to take medications; forgets to eat.
· Unpleasant body odor; infrequent showering and bathing
· Strong smell of urine in the house —dirty dishes piling up—pet needs not met
· Noticeable decline in grooming habits and personal care —wears soiled clothing
· Dirty house, extreme clutter and dirty laundry piling up
· Stacks of unopened mail or an overflowing mailbox
· Late payment notices, bounced checks and calls from bill collectors
· Poor diet or weight loss—lives on sugary and other empty foods
· Loss of interest in hobbies and activities—becoming a hermit
· Changes in mood or extreme mood swings—angry outbursts, overly weepy
· Forgetting to take medications – or taking more than the prescribed dosage
· Unexplained dents and scratches on a car –must not be ignored!
· Diagnosis of dementia or Alzheimer’s
· Refuses to go to doctor. Breaks appointments after weeks of waiting.