Senior Care Chapel Hill: Adapting Homes to Seniors' Changing Needs

By Helen Antipov

The reason why we love what we do here at Comfort Keepers is that we provide families that are looking at senior care, elder care or Alzheimer's care in Chapel Hill and Durham an option. Because more Americans are choosing to "age in place." That is, they opt to stay in their homes rather than move to alternative retirement settings.

But that often means they must modify their home, so it's not a danger to their safety and health when their physical abilities change.

A new career field has risen to address this need: the Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS), a program of the National Association of Home Builders. Certified individuals assess homes to identify and recommend modifications to prevent injuries from falls and other risks.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), one-third of Americans age 65 and over fall each year. The CDC adds that environmental factors lead to about half of all falls that occur at home. In addition to tripping hazards and poor lighting, these factors include a lack of needed modifications, such as bathroom grab bars, handicapped showers, stair railings and ramps. The organization offers a checklist to make sure an older adult's home is as safe as possible.

Home modifications help seniors maintain quality of life. They often prevent injuries that lead to a loss of independence and early admission to an assisted living or long-term care facility.
The following are examples of commonly recommended modifications:

• Install grab bars for toilets and tubs and install a walk-in tub and/or tub seat
• Remove unnecessary throw rugs and fasten down rugs or floor runners to prevent slipping
• Move furniture to create clear walking paths
• Keep objects off the floor and coil or secure cords to the wall to prevent tripping
• Replace doorknobs with lever door handles
• Apply non-slip tape on uncarpeted indoor and outdoor steps
• Replace standard light switches with rocker-style switches
• Increase the width of doorways and hallways to accommodate wheelchairs and, where possible, lower sinks and countertops
• Move often-used items to lower cabinets to avoid the need for step stools
• Repair or replace loose handrails and install adequate lighting in stairways
• Install an elevator or chair lift
• Install an elevated dishwasher or one with drawers for easy access
• Replace old stoves with induction cook tops to help prevent burns
• Replace ceramic tile floors with hardwood or vinyl for safe standing

Shedding Light on Home Modification
When modifying a home for a senior, don't forget the importance of good lighting. Seniors need two to three times as much light in order to see as well as younger people.
Good lighting -- in the form of natural light -- provides seniors safety and other advantages:

• Sunlight provides a good dose of vitamin D, which helps the body absorb more calcium to strengthen teeth and bones. Choose window treatments that let in sunlight, without glare, to enhance the health of seniors, many of who get outside less than they used to.
• Daylight also improves psychological health. It lessens the energy-zapping effects of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and other forms of depression.

At Comfort Keepers of Durham and Chapel Hill, we understand the stress that caregivers go through. We are here to help you and give you the support you need when dealing with a loved one and in finding senior activities that can make a difference in their daily life. Call us at 919-338-2044 or visit us at online. We provide elder care, senior care, in home care, Alzheimer's care and dementia care in Chapel Hill and Durham.

Senior Care and Elder Care in Chapel Hill and Durham: At-Home Care Assists With Senior Mobility

By Helen Antipov


When looking for an at-home care provider (senior care, elder care, alzheimer's care or dementia care), Comfort Keepers® of Chapel Hill and Durham is here to help. According to the International Journal of Nursing and Midwifery, mobility is an important factor in the quality of life for the elderly. Even basic mobility, such as the ability to move about one's home, significantly contributes to the physical, mental and emotional well-being of our older loved ones.

Often times, chronic ailments, illnesses and injuries hinder the mobility of the elderly. To help ensure that mobility is regained quickly and maintained to the highest level possible, Comfort Keepers offers many at-home care services to help increase and maintain mobility for seniors. These services include mobility assistance, transferring and positioning and companionship services such as fitness and exercise.

Comfort Keepers' at-home care mobility services include assisting seniors with a range of physical abilities to move about the home, both indoors and outdoors. As many seniors with illnesses or injuries may be reluctant to venture out of a comfort zone, such as a particular room in the house, up or down stairs, or outside the home for fear of falls or an inability to get back home safely, Comfort Keepers alleviates this problem by offering services on a part to full-time basis. At-home care providers assist seniors so that they can move about comfortably and with the peace of mind of knowing that someone is available to offer support in a time of need.

Other services offered by Comfort Keepers at-home care providers include transferring and positioning. For seniors who have limited mobility and must remain in a laying or sitting position, care providers assist with positioning to alleviate pressure off of a particular part of the body, aiding in proper muscle movement, digestion and breathing.

Finally, Comfort Keepers at-home care providers also offer companionship services. This assists in mobility in that care providers take seniors shopping, to the park, on walks around the neighborhood and to any other number of activities. Active seniors tend to have a higher level of physical and emotional well-being than those who are inactive, and with a partner or another person to converse with on a regular basis, seniors are more likely to maintain a mobile routine.

At Comfort Keepers of Durham and Chapel Hill, we understand the stress that caregivers go through. We are here to help you and give you the support you need when dealing with a loved one and in finding senior activities that can make a difference in their daily life. Call us at 919-338-2044 or visit us at online.

Veteran's Benefits in Chapel Hill and Durham: Can they pay for Senior Care

By Helen Antipov

Working with seniors in Chapel Hill and Durham, I often get the question of whether senior care services can be paid for by Veteran's Benefits and there is a way with the Veterans Administration Aid and Attendance Pension Benefit. Veterans and their surviving spouses may qualify for this and it can be used to cover some of the cost of in-home care. A veteran or a surviving spouse of a veteran who served at least 90 days on active duty with one day during a period of war may be eligible for the VA’s non-service connected disability pension.
Attorney Doug Keonig talk with me about the process and how to start the paperwork to get considered for this.

At Comfort Keepers of Durham and Chapel Hill, we understand the stress that aging can have on a family especially if you are providing senior care or elder care at home.  We are here to help you and give you the support you need when dealing with a loved one and senior and eldercare issues. Call us at 919-338-2044 or visit us online.

Senior Care in Chapel HIll and Durham: Creative Senior Activities

By Helen Antipov

As we provide Senior Care in Chapel Hill and Durham we see that illness, loss of mobility, or limited physical abilities resulting from aging can be a source of stress for senior adults. Individuals who had once had full control over their lives suddenly find that they need the help of medical professionals and caregivers. Stress can be heightened during and after a hospital stay, and this can increase the person’s risk of being readmitted to the hospital. As medical professionals seek solutions to improving patients’ outcomes, many are turning to complementary therapies  to help patients overcome the psychological and emotional factors that may impede their progress. One such therapy is art therapy.

Senior Activities, especially art therapy has been shown to have a direct impact on individuals’ wellness and can help the elderly adapt to changes and loss brought on by age and/or illness. By engaging in creative activities such as painting, drawing, clay work and sculpting, jewelry making, scrap booking, and so forth, seniors have a channel for expression. Some studies have demonstrated that individuals involved in art activities needed to see their doctors less often, used less medication, and had a better outlook on life overall.

Here in this area we have a range of resources for our seniors so they can be active and stay active. In Orange County we have the two centers that have a range of activities. Visit the county site for a schedule of activities including art, dance and many others. As you sign up for these, often their is even lunch available. More information on the site will help you with that. Here are the 2 centers in Orange County - The Central Orange Senior Center in Hillsborough and the Seymour Center in Chapel Hill.

Central Orange Senior Center

103 Meadowlands Drive

Hillsborough, NC 27278

Phone: (919) 245-2015

Fax: (919) 732-2239

Hours:

M - Th: 8:00 am - 8:00 pm

F: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Sa: 9:00 am - 11:00 am

Robert & Pearl Seymour Center

2551 Homestead Road

Chapel Hill, NC 27516

Phone: (919) 968-2070

Fax: (919) 968-2093

Hours:

M, W, Fr: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Tu, Th: 8:00 am - 9:00 pm

Sa: 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

In Durham, we have 3 options with a 4th closed for renovations:
WD Hill Senior Center is located in a Durham Parks and Recreation facility and offers a wealth of programs and services. Older adults here participate in exercise classes, arts & crafts instruction, walking groups, games, and guest lecturers in health or adult education. Additionally, older adults enjoy a lunch program, holiday events, community performers, and much, much more!
1308 Fayetteville Street (W.D. Hill Recreation Center)
Lawanda Lewis, Manager 
Monday - Friday
8:30am - 1:30pm
Ph: 919.688.9158


Durham Center for Senior Life is located downtown at 406 Rigsbee Avenue and is a dedicated senior center, serving adults of Durham County. The senior center is operated by Durham Center for Senior Life (DCSL), an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and operates from 8:30am-5:00pm, Monday through Friday.

This is what the information they offer from their website:
The downtown senior center offers a variety of on-going programs, special events, and fun activities. Whether you are interested in lively exercise classes or learning a new skill, you will find that and everything in between here! Check out our monthly calendar for all of the details.

The Senior Center has a computer lab, exercise equipment room, arts & crafts area, TV lounge and game room with a Wii, pool table and ping pong table. In addition, there are several rooms for classes, meetings and exercise space.
Art can help dementia and stroke patients communicate nonverbally and can uncover hidden abilities that seniors may not have known they had. Working on a creative piece can give seniors who may feel as though they no longer have any control over their lives the ability to take charge, be responsible, and have control over the outcome of their work. The finished creative piece stands as a reminder that they can still learn and adjust to life’s circumstances and that they still have abilities and resources. This has the effect of instilling hope and confidence in a person who may have been defeated by feelings of dejection.

Lastly, the Little River Senior Center is located in the Little River Community Center in Bahama, which is situated in the northern part of Durham County. Seniors at Little River enjoy many programs including exercise classes, health education seminars, holiday activities, special events in partnership with local businesses, a daily lunch program, and much, much more! The facilities include not only the senior center, but also a gymnasium, quilting room and ceramics studio.

8305 Roxboro Road
(Little River Community Complex, Bahama)
Corrie Smith, Manager
Monday - Friday
08:30am - 1:30pm
Ph: 919.477.6066

Even if seniors do not have direct guidance from a licensed art therapist, they can still benefit from creative activities. Well-trained caregivers can choose creative activities that take advantage of seniors’ strengths and abilities, enabling them to successfully produce works they can be proud of and that give them joy. Caregivers can share in this pursuit by assisting when seniors need help, for example aiding the senior with detail work during jewelry making if the senior has failing eyesight or problems with dexterity. Seniors can find companionship and a personal connection with caregivers by sharing their own experiences and knowledge as they work on the creative piece.

Focusing on the creative process serves to alleviate stress by providing seniors who are struggling with physical limitations with a sense of purpose. In turn, the decrease, or even the perception of a decrease, in stress levels may be just what the doctor ordered to allow the senior to successfully recover at home.

At Comfort Keepers of Durham and Chapel Hill, we understand the stress that caregivers go through. We are here to help you and give you the support you need when dealing with a loved one and in finding senior activities that can make a difference in their daily life. Call us at 919-338-2044 or visit us at online.


References:
Chancellor, B. Duncan, A. & Chatterjee, A. (2014). Art therapy for Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, 39, 1–11. DOI 10.3233/JAD-131295.

Edmonson, D., Green, P., Ye, S., Halazun, H.J. & Davidson, K.W. (March 2014). Psychological Stress and 30-day all-cause hospital readmission in acute coronary syndrome patients: An observational cohort study. PLoS ONE 9(3): e91477. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0091477.

Johnson, C.M. & Sullivan-Marx, E.M. (2006 ).Art therapy: Using the creative process for healing and hope among African American older adults. Geriatric Nursing, 27(5), 309–316. DOI: 10.1016/j.gerinurse.2006.08.010.

Alzheimer’s Care Chapel Hill and Durham: Communication Tips

By Helen Antipov

In providing Alzheimer's Care in Chapel Hill and Durham we see the most debilitative and indicative symptom of Alzheimer's disease is the gradual loss of words. Where it can be frustrating for you, realize that the Alzheimer's patients realize there is a problem, even though they may not have the capacity to understand what is happening. This can cause instances of confusion, fright and frustration for the person with Alzheimer's disease as well as for loved ones and caregivers of those with Alzheimer's.

In an effort to help those dealing with seniors with Alzheimer's, the Alzheimer's Association suggests the following tips to achieve better communication.

First, it is important to learn to recognize the changes in communication and behavior in those with Alzheimer's. Second, caregivers and family members need to learn how to assist in communication and to identify and adapt their own communication styles to those of the individual Alzheimer's sufferer.

It is important to be patient and supportive when trying to communicate. Take the time to listen with no interruptions or criticisms. Try to offer encouragement and reassurance that he or she take the time needed to try to form thoughts into proper words and try to resist correcting misused words. Many times there is meaning behind those words and if you take the time you may discover the intended meaning. Focus on the emotion that may lie within the words. Nuances in voice tone as well as hand gestures and facial expressions can all be critical in fully understanding the senior.

At times you may become angry or frustrated, yourself, but understand that criticizing or arguing only serves to increase levels of discomfort and agitation for those with Alzheimer's. Instead, practice patience and offer occasional suggestions for words they are trying to speak. When appropriate, retreat to a quiet place to communicate. Noise and crowds may intimidate the Alzheimer's patient, resulting in increased frustration and anxiety as well as decreased verbalization. Sometimes, all the person needs is a bit of quiet to organize their thoughts and correctly verbalize them.

If your senior is in late stages of Alzheimer's there are other measures you can take to improve communication efforts. Let the person know who you are to create a sense of familiarity. Use simple words and sentences and speak slowly in a lowered tone of voice. Be prepared to repeat your questions or information you are imparting, and also be prepared for those with Alzheimer's to repeat themselves. Be respectful, calm and caring in your actions and tone of voice. Using signals or written words to communicate or as reminders can be extremely helpful.

Above all, try to remain positive even in the face of this difficult condition. Alzheimer's disease is extremely trying for the patient and the caregiver, family members and friends who are dealing with a loved one with Alzheimer's disease. Remember, the challenges are neither your fault nor theirs. Patience, understanding and compassion on your part can mean the difference between failure and success in effective communication.

At Comfort Keepers of Durham and Chapel Hill, we understand the stress that caregivers go through. We are here to help you and give you the support you need when dealing with a loved one and Alzheimer's. Call us at 919-338-2044 or visit us at online.


References
Alzheimer's Association. Communication and alzheimer's. Retrieved on November 8, 2010 from alz.org/care/dementia-communication-tips.asp.

Senior Care in Chapel HIll and Durham: Adapting Homes to Seniors' Changing Needs

By Helen Antipov

Options in senior care in Chapel Hill and Durham often turns to choosing to "age in place." That is, they opt to stay in their homes rather than move to alternative retirement settings.

But that often means they must modify their home, so it's not a danger to their safety and health when their physical abilities change.

A new career field has risen to address this need: the Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS), a program of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF HOME BUILDERS. Certified individuals assess homes to identify and recommend modifications to prevent injuries from falls and other risks.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), one-third of Americans age 65 and over fall each year. The CDC adds that environmental factors lead to about half of all falls that occur at home. In addition to tripping hazards and poor lighting, these factors include a lack of needed modifications, such as bathroom grab bars, handicapped showers, stair railings and ramps. The organization offers a CHECKLIST to make sure an older adult's home is as safe as possible.

Home modifications help seniors maintain quality of life. They often prevent injuries that lead to a loss of independence and early admission to an assisted living or long-term care facility.

The following are examples of commonly recommended modifications:

• Install grab bars for toilets and tubs and install a walk-in tub and/or tub seat
• Remove unnecessary throw rugs and fasten down rugs or floor runners to prevent slipping
• Move furniture to create clear walking paths
• Keep objects off the floor and coil or secure cords to the wall to prevent tripping
• Replace doorknobs with lever door handles
• Apply non-slip tape on uncarpeted indoor and outdoor steps
• Replace standard light switches with rocker-style switches
• Increase the width of doorways and hallways to accommodate wheelchairs and, where possible, lower sinks and countertops
• Move often-used items to lower cabinets to avoid the need for step stools
• Repair or replace loose handrails and install adequate lighting in stairways
• Install an elevator or chair lift
• Install an elevated dishwasher or one with drawers for easy access
• Replace old stoves with induction cook tops to help prevent burns
• Replace ceramic tile floors with hardwood or vinyl for safe standing

Shedding Light on Home Modification

When modifying a home for a senior, don't forget the importance of good lighting. Seniors need two to three times as much light in order to see as well as younger people.

Good lighting -- in the form of natural light -- provides seniors safety and other advantages:

• Sunlight provides a good dose of vitamin D, which helps the body absorb more calcium to strengthen teeth and bones. Choose window treatments that let in sunlight, without glare, to enhance the health of seniors, many of who get outside less than they used to.
• Daylight also improves psychological health. It lessens the energy-zapping effects of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and other forms of depression.

At Comfort Keepers of Durham and Chapel Hill, we understand the stress that caregivers go through. We are here to help you and give you the support you need when dealing with a loved one and Alzheimer's. Call us at 919-338-2044 or visit us at online.

Senior Care in Chapel Hill and Durham: Adult Day Care Helps Seniors and Their Families

By Helen Antipov

When looking at Senior Care in Chapel Hill and Durham, adult day care centers offer a dual solution. They help family caregivers who need a respite from caregiving responsibilities as they provide seniors health-promoting opportunities to socialize with other seniors.

Open during daytime hours, adult day care centers provide a safe, supportive environment for older adults who need assistance with independent living as they receive essential mental and social stimulation through the center's organized activities. At the same time, the centers offer family members peace of mind that their loved one is in good hands when they are involved with work or other responsibilities.

Adult day care centers promote well-being and quality of life by providing social and health-related services. They also offer nutritious meals and snacks to accommodate special diets.

Activities provided at adult day care centers may include:

• Arts and crafts

• Musical entertainment and singing

• Games that provide mental stimulation

• Exercise appropriate to ability

• Local outings

• Discussion and reminiscing

• Are alone during the day while family members are at work or taking care of other responsibilities

• Need companionship, social stimulation and functional assistance

• Are physically or cognitively challenged but do not require 24-hour supervision

• Are in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease.

• Can not be safely left alone at home

Some adult day care centers also coordinate programming with children to provide intergenerational opportunities for the seniors and children, and some have special programming for persons in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease and other dementia-related conditions.

Additional services provided by some centers include transportation to and from the center, counseling and support groups for caregivers, and health screening and monitoring services for the seniors.

According to the National Adult Day Services Association (NADSA)there are about 4,000 adult day care centers in the U.S. The growth in adult day care in the past 20 years has been driven by the tremendous growth in the nation's senior citizen population and seniors' increasing preference for in-home and community-based services over institutionally-based care.

Adult day care is appropriate for seniors who:

Adult day care services are not covered by Medicare. However, Medicaid will assist with the costs of licensed adult day care for persons who have limited income and assets. Some centers offer services on a sliding fee scale, based on income.

Some private medical insurance policies cover a portion of adult day care costs when licensed medical professionals are involved in the care. In addition, some long-term care insurance may pay for adult day care services, and dependent-care tax credits may be available to caregivers in some cases.

At Comfort Keepers of Durham and Chapel Hill, we understand the stress that caregivers go through. We are here to help you and give you the support you need when dealing with a loved one and Alzheimer's. Call us at 919-338-2044 or visit us at online.