Quarterly Newsletter
Spring is here and with spring we have some good news to share with you. Hearts of Gold Caregivers is now licensed to provide non-medical home care services in Washington State. In Washington, our service catchment area now extends as far east as Goldendale, to the north Trout Lake and to the west Stevenson. We’re very excited to be able to offer services to our neighbors across the river. We are commited to provide the same high quality care that many folks in Hood River and Wasco Counties have enjoyed.
This is the first issue of our newsletter that will be distributed in Washington so we thought it would be appropriate to let let people know some basics about home care.
Most people don’t want leave their home for an institutional residential setting. Home care is a wonderful alternative for folks who have reached the point in their lives when they need a little extra assistance. With the help of our caring, compasionate companion aides we can enable seniors to maintain their independence and in their own homes for as long as possible. Our services include but are not limited to those listed under the Caregiver Profile article on the left of this page. We tailor individual care plans according to the specific requirements of each client. We pride ourselves on being flexible to suit the needs of our clients so if changes to the care plan are necessary we do what we can to accommodate.
There are private caregivers out there, but consider hiring an agency for your home care needs for the following reasons:
Y We are licensed by the States of Washington & Oregon
Y We are bonded and insured
Y We thoroughly screen our caregivers (criminal background, drug screening, etc.)
Y We train our caregivers
Y We bring in a replacement caregiver should a regular caregiver become ill or takes a vacation. Call us today for a free, no obligation assessment.
Best wishes,
Faith & Thomas Keolker
Owners, Hearts of Gold Caregivers
Be Warm & Healthy In Cold Weather
Stay Warm, Save Money, Be Healthy
If your home is drafty or not well-insulated it could cost you hundreds of dollars a year as you attempt to stay warm. It may also affect your health.
“Your normal body temperature can drop after prolonged exposure to cold drafts,” says Andrea Tannenbaum, president of Dynamic-Living.com. “The elderly and those who have compromised immune systems need to protect themselves because a decrease in the body’s natural temperature can lower resistance to germs.”
Tips to Help You Stay Warm During the Cold Weather Months
Here are a few tips that will help you handle drafts and stay warm at the same time.
Stay warm by plugging up drafty windows and doors with inexpensive insulation and draft stoppers:
If you have older windows, they might not keep the heat in very well. Plastic sheeting can be affixed over the whole window to provide a layer of insulation without blocking the light. The plastic helps you stay warm by stopping drafts and cold that just seeps through the window pane itself.
If you can see daylight through the edges of your doors that means there are air leaks. You can’t cover doors with plastic sheeting, but a storm door will probably pay for itself within a few heating seasons. There are also inexpensive insulation kits for doors that have foam, magnets or fleece to seal the edges, and weather stripping to put along the bottom.
Get draft stoppers for the base of doors and windows. You can also make your own. Sew a fabric tube and fill it loosely with dried beans or popcorn kernels. Want to recycle? Cut the sleeve off an old shirt or fill pantyhose you aren’t using anymore.
If you have double hung windows, check each one to ensure it is fully closed on both the top and bottom. They sometimes slide down a little bit during the warmer months and will cause a draft if not closed properly.
How to deal with drafts you can’t stop:
Try rearranging your furniture to stay warm. If you feel a breeze on you while you sit in your favorite chair, consider rearranging the room to avoid drafts in the locations where you sit regularly.
Ceramic space heaters are very cost effective for heating a small area and cost much less to run than trying to heat your entire home. For safety from accidents, make sure that your heater has a timer on it or remember to unplug it when you leave the room.
Most of us use our ceiling fans only in summer, but try using the ceiling fan when the weather is cold too. Most styles have a reverse switch on them that will push down the warmer air that collects at the ceiling to help you stay warm.
Bundle up to stay warm:
Wearing several thin layers of clothes will help you stay warm in cold weather. The warmth from your body will get trapped in the air pockets between the layers. Long underwear is particularly good for helping you stay warm and dry.
Keep a throw blanket handy to cover your feet, lap or shoulders to help you stay warm. Fleece blankets and throws are particularly useful, because they are incredibly warm but lightweight and less bulky than most other fabrics.
Wearing fleece slippers around the house can help keep your feet warm. Look for non-skid bottoms because they prevent slipping and possible falls.
Heat from external sources can be helpful. If you use a heating pad for warmth, limit the length of time it’s close to the skin to avoid a burn and always turn it off if you are sleepy. Some heating pads come with safety shut-off switches, which will turn off automatically after a set period of time. There are also wraps or pads that you can heat in the microwave. They provide temporary warmth and you don’t need to remember to turn them off.
If you have felt cold drafts in your home, these simple ideas can help you stay warm.
“Stopping drafts will not only keep your energy costs lower but will also help you stay warm and healthy,” Tannenbaum says. “Exposure to drafts can lower your resistance to all viruses and make you feel stiff, uncomfortable and run-down. So plug up those drafts, bundle up, and increase your chances of staying healthy.”
By Sharon O'Brien, About.com Guidehttp://seniorliving.about.com/od/healthnutrition/a/stay_warm.htm
A man had been married to his wife for over 50 years. She was a compulsive hoarder. They had separate rooms in their home. His was meticulously clean; hers was absolutely jam-packed with junk. He took care of his wife when her health went into decline. As she was dying, her last words were not something like "I love you," instead, her last words were "please don't touch my stuff."
Hoarding is defined as the acquisition of, and inability to discard items, even though they appear to others to have no value. People with compulsive hoarding syndrome have immense difficultly throwing things away, even items of little or no value such as old newspapers, bits of string, worn-out clothes, and junk mail.
A person who is a compulsive hoarder has a variety of thoughts going through his or her mind. Items may be perceived to have sentimental value, and "If I throw it away, I am throwing away part of myself." Hoarders have a difficult time making decisions, so they will save an item to avoid making the "bad choice" of getting rid of it. Hoarders may feel responsible for those around them, so they will save items "just in case I or my loved ones need them."
Hoarders also have control issues. They may feel that the moment they throw something away, they are no longer in control, and what happens to this item is in the hands of others. Hoarders are also afraid of forgetting what something looked like, or its content, and fear that "once the item is gone, it's gone forever." There is also a fear of "letting go." For example, a hoarder may fear that once she has thrown something away, that part of her life, no matter how insignificant, is gone forever.
Hoarding also creates safety issues. Excessive clutter causes fire and tripping/fall hazards. People have trapped themselves in homes and apartments, and floors have collapsed due to the weight of hoarded materials.
Hoarding also creates a stress for family members, who may feel embarrassed, frustrated, or resentful of the hoarding behavior. They are ashamed of the clutter, but are forced to live amidst chaos. Family members often resort to "self-help" methods by attempting to clean or organize without the consent of the hoarder, which leads to arguments and fights.
Compulsive hoarding is considered to be a form of obsessive-compulsive disorder(OCD). There are two forms of treatment: medications and behavioral techniques. People working with compulsive hoarders should encourage them to find a psychiatrist or therapist who is experienced in the treatment of OCD who can prescribe appropriate medications and help teach the person to gradually begin to discard items.
By Geoff Bernhardt, Elder Law Attorney
Reprinted from: www.theseniorresourcenetwork.com
In light of the Haiti tragedy, it is important to remind every individual to prepare for a disaster and put plans in place. By evaluating your own personal needs and making an emergency plan, you can be better prepared for any situation. Seniors have certain specific issues to consider.
· Consider how a disaster might affect your individual needs.
· Identify all resources you use on a daily basis and what you might do if they are limited or not available.
· Get an emergency supply kit.
· Identify the shelter nearest to your home.
· Plan in advance for shelter alternatives that will work for you (and your pets); consider loved ones or friends outside of your immediate area who would be willing to host you in an emergency.
· Consider electronic payments for federal benefit recipients. Keep in mind a disaster can disrupt mail service for days or even weeks. For those who depend on the mail for their Social Security benefits, a difficult situation can become worse if they are evacuated or lose their mail service. Switching to electronic payments is one simple, significant way people can protect themselves financially before disaster strikes
Create a Support Network
· If you anticipate needing assistance during a disaster talk to family, friends and others who will be part of your personal support network.
· Write down and share each aspect of your emergency plan with everyone in your support network.
· Make sure everyone knows how you plan to evacuate your home or workplace and where you will go in case of a disaster.
· Make sure that someone in your local network has an extra key to your home and knows where you keep your emergency supplies.
· Teach those who will help you how to use any lifesaving equipment, administer medicine in case of an emergency.
· Practice your plan with those who have agreed to be part of your network.
Additional Supplies and Documents:
Medications and Medical Supplies
If you take medicine or use a medical treatment on a daily basis, be sure you have what you need to make it on your own for at least a week, maybe longer.
· Make a list of prescription medicines including dosage, treatment and allergy information.
· Talk to your pharmacist or doctor about what else you need to prepare.
· If you undergo routine treatments administered by a clinic or hospital or if you receive regular services such as home health care, treatment or transportation, talk to your service provider. Work with them to identify back-up service providers and incorporate them into your personal support network.
· Consider other personal needs such as eyeglasses, hearing aids and hearing aid batteries, wheelchair batteries, and oxygen.
Emergency Documents
Include copies of important documents in your emergency supply kits such as family records, medical records, wills, deeds, social security number, charge and bank accounts information and tax records.
· Have copies of your medical insurance and Medicare cards readily available.
· Keep a list of the style and serial number of medical devices or other life-sustaining devices. Include operating information and instructions.
· Make sure that a friend or family member has copies of these documents.
· Include the names and contact information of your support network, as well as your medical providers.
· If you have a communication disability, make sure your emergency information notes the best way to communicate with you.
· Keep these documents in a water proof container for quick and easy access.
Reprinted from: http://www.ready.gov/america/getakit/seniors.html
