• Assessments by our nurse or social worker
• Trained and monitored caregivers for personal assistance, med reminders & transportation

Call 843-852-9090.

Of the approximately 350,000 hospitalizations annually in the U.S., due to hip fractures alone, a strikingly high ninety percent (90%) are the result of falls. Among the elderly, only one in four recovers completely and/or sufficiently enough to return to their usual routines.

Forty percent (40%) will require skilled nursing facility care and may never return to their former lives or activity levels. Fifty percent (50%) will need a cane or walker to support ambulation and increase safety when moving about. The death rate for hip fracture patients is higher than for other people of the same age who do not sustain the injury. The grim statistic is that 24% of those over age 50 will die within 12 months of the injury.

Extensive studies show that the danger of falls in the elderly are shocking in their outcomes and are giant red flags to the elderly and their families to assure falls precautions are taken. It is helpful to have a pair of objective eyes assess the safety of the home and whether the elderly person needs a walking stick or walker to assure safety when ambulating.

Devastation of family life due to the care needs of the person who has fallen and fractured a hip can occur. Everyone in the family is impacted. The extra expense of providing care in the home following hospitalization, that possibly included surgery and subsequent rehabilitation in a facility can wipe out cash reserves in a short time.

Although modern orthopedic care and surgical technology assist satisfactory bone healing, most hip fracture patients require extended periods of rehabilitation. Most who previously lived independently will require assistance from their family or home care. Forty percent of hip fracture patients 65 and older are discharged or transferred from hospitals to long-term care facilities. All hip fracture patients require walking aids for several months after injury, and nearly half will permanently require canes or walkers to move around their house or outdoors.

The current annual cost to the U.S. health care system for acute and convalescent care for patients with hip fractures is more than $12.6 billion. That’s an average of $37,000 per patient.

The expected hospital stay is almost two weeks. Continuing care, including nursing homes, paid caretakers, and assistance from family members, etc., greatly increases the expense of hip fractures beyond that of hospitalization and surgery.

Adult children with careers outside the home are particularly affected when their aged loved one is recovering from a hip fracture because they often must take time off from work to provide hands-on care, attend doctors’ appointments and, generally assure that their loved one is safe at home with proper hydration and nutrition.

Employers of family caregivers definitely feel the effects in lost productivity due to that employee’s absences, tardiness and distraction at work that prevents their focusing on the work at hand. Some corporations are beginning to recognize the needs of employees who are caregivers, and are developing partnerships with care managers and homecare agencies who offer assistance at home but also provide information of grants and benefits that many qualify for to aid with the costs of homecare.

Share The Care TM is a niche program designed and implemented locally by Care For Life to serve as a vehicle to provide work-life solutions to employees through consultations and educational workshops. Employees find it difficult to maintain their high level of productivity in their careers while carrying the burden of eldercare alone. Eldercare gets added to already overwhelming schedules. Many employed baby boomers are still rearing school-aged children when an aging parent suddenly becomes chronically ill, has a stroke and is impaired, is diagnosed with dementia or involved in an injury that incapacitates them even for a short term.

Here are steps from the CDC website that you can take to protect your loved one’s independence and reduce their risk of falling There is no perfectly safe environment, but they can: Exercise using programs that increase strength and improve balance. Review all medicines with a medical professional to reduce side effects and interactions. See a vision specialist at least once a year. Improve the lighting in the home. Have a professional assessment by a geriatric care manager of falls hazards in the home. Remove clutter and clear walkways.

Hire a professional geriatric care manager to assess your loved one’s home and review the daily routine. Begin to put into place every possible preventive measure you can in order to empower and enable your elderly parent to remain at home safely and independently for as long as possible. Every family has its own dynamics and ways of communicating. Preventing injuries, distress and costs caused by falls is a smart place to start a conversation. It might even save the life of your loved one. Time is of the essence.

TIPS FOR SENIORS STARTING AN EXERCISE REGIMEN:

Get clearance first – Before you begin, have a check-up and talk with your doctor or
healthcare practitioner about any special conditions you might have.
If something hurts, stop doing it — If you have a persistent pain when you exercise,
take a break. If you are sick, you should go easy or skip a few days. When you
resume, start slowly again.

Know that there are some warning signs that mean you
should stop what you are doing and consult a doctor:
· Chest pain or pressure
· Breathing trouble or excessive shortness of breath
· Persistent or sharp muscle or joint pain.
· Nausea
· Unusual balance difficulty
· Severe illness

Start Slowly – Start with 10 minutes a couple times a day if you can. Go slow and be
consistent.

Be Comfortable – Wear comfortable, non-restrictive clothing, supportive shoes and
layers so that you can adjust as your body temperature rises.

Keep It Easy – Moderation is key, don’t overexert yourself.

Breathe – Remember to breathe consistently throughout your exercise.

Hydrate – Drink plenty of water before, during and after your activity.

Warm Up & Cool Down – Always ease your body into and out of exercise.
Walk slowly or stretch for at least 5 minutes.

Build Up – Gradually increase the time and intensity of your activity. It will become
easier as you exercise consistently.

Mix It Up – Vary the type of activity you do. Try a new sport or take a tai chi or yoga
class for variation. Doing new things will help you remain interested.

Make It Fun – Get active with friends, listen to music or take up an active hobby to. Keep it fun and interesting.
The tips are for information only and not intended to be medical advice. PLEASE SEE YOUR DOCTOR.

Geriatrician: A doctor who has additional training in the care of aged adults.

S ATU RD AY, O C T OB E R 3 1
10 am to 3 pm
At Care For Life Plaza
1033 Wappoo Road, Charleston, SC

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The Independent Transportation Network ITN is a nonprofit, membership organization dedicated to helping seniors (65 and older) and the visually impaired with their transportation needs. Using private automobiles and both volunteer and paid drivers, the ITN will transport these community members 24 hours a day, seven days a week anywhere within the ITN service area. Known as ITNCharlestonTrident™, the initiative offers door-through-door, arm-through-arm, dignified transportation service to seniors and the visually impaired, and peace of mind to their families.
read more about ITN

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1. Does your geriatric care manager have the right credentials?
The National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers has strict requirements for membership. Members must have a Masters degree in a relevant field like nursing or social work, supervised experience, and certain accreditations. Members of this association are usually a good bet. Care For Life’S Founder Mary Peters Is A Certified Care Manager And Member Of NAPGCM.

2.  Get referrals.
Asking for referrals from nurse professionals, therapists, rehab practitioners, attorneys, friends, and geriatricians is always a good idea – you can learn a lot from other people’s experiences.

3. Look for relevant skills
If your elder has a lot of medical issues you might want to find a care manager with a nursing background. But if there are social issues, a social worker background might be more useful. [Care For Life Has Two Nurses On Staff To Oversee Our Caregiving.]

3. A consultation or an assessment
Most geriatric care managers charge by the hour or by the project. You could begin by arranging a consultation to help you get started evaluating the care needed for your elder.
From there a geriatric care giver might provide you with a more detailed assessment. That will give you a baseline to see if the elder’s current facility is the right place for him or her, plus a care plan for your elder.  If a move is recommended, they can help you find a qualified facility that suits your loved one.

4. Nurse Care Manager as your elder’s advocate
All elders need an advocate acting on their behalf. The care manager can be especially useful as an interface between the assisted living facility and family members. For example, is your loved one getting the right help with daily tasks, preferred recreation, and medical issues. So if you can’t be there to oversee these mattes, the geriatric care manager can provide a valuable resource to help improve your elder’s quality of life and care.

5. Flexible service as you need it
Some families use geriatric care managers to manage extra care help. For example, the elder might need help getting to meals, dressing, or bathing. Or they just might be lonely and need someone to visit with them.  [Care For Life Has Screened, Trained And Compassionate Caregivers On Staff.]

For further reference:
New York Times article: “When Elder Care Problems Escalate, You Can Hire an Expert“