May is Older Americans Month, a good time to highlight how seniors can make a difference in your community.

This year’s theme for Older Americans Month, “Never Too Old to Play,” celebrates the accomplishments of older Americans and encourages them to find even more ways to stay engaged.

May 7-11, 2012, is also Senior Corps Week, which recognizes the service of the more than 300,000 Senior Corps volunteers.

This month, the Home Instead Senior Care® network will be honoring 50 state Salute to Senior Service volunteer winners and a national honoree. Their stories can be found at SalutetoSeniorService.com.

In his proclamation about Older Americans Month, President Barack Obama said this: “Our seniors have devoted their entire lives to building the future their children and grandchildren deserve. During Older Americans Month, we celebrate their successes and recommit to supporting them as they shape America’s next great generation.”

For more about Older Americans Month, visit http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/05/01/presidential-proclamation-older-americans-month-2012.

For more about Senior Corps Week, go to http://www.getinvolved.gov/grantees/sc_week/index.asp

For personal home care in Indianapolis, Beech Grove, Cumberland, East Indianapolis, Irvington, Lawrence, Oaklandon, and Wanamaker, please call us at  (317) 357-5411.

Home Care Indianapolis provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Indianapolis, Beech Grove, Cumberland, East Indianapolis, Irvington, Lawrence, Oaklandon, and Wanamaker. Call us today at (317) 357-5411.

The family caregiver – whose spouse has Alzheimer’s disease – or other forms of dementia that challenge millions of seniors and their families each day.

Symptoms of Alzheimer’s are varied and change with the stage of the disease, but many times leave families and their caregivers frustrated, confused and frightened.

A new ground-breaking training program now offers help for the many families who are dealing with the challenging behaviors that characterize Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, enabling them to remain at home longer.

The Alzheimer’s Disease or Other Dementias CARE: Changing Aging Through Research and Education^SM online educational course removes some of the dread associated with these diseases. The no-cost program provides an innovative approach that helps families make the most of a senior’s life journey – including that individual’s history, passions and hobbies – in helping to manage challenging behaviors associated with dementias.

“CARE is a wonderful hands-on approach that helps caregivers deal with the behavioral changes that too often accompany these disorders – one of the biggest stressors for caregivers,” said Dr. Jane F. Potter, chief of the Division of Geriatrics and Gerontology at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. “There was previously no good program available using adult education techniques to provide hands-on practice in learning how best to help people who suffer from dementia. This is huge.”

In the featured video at the top of this newsletter, Dr. Potter helps family caregivers understand Alzheimer’s disease and the changes that family caregivers can expect to see.  HelpforAlzheimersFamilies.com provides even more information about how to make the most of living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias, giving caregivers hope for a brighter future.

For personal home care in Indianapolis, Beech Grove, Cumberland, East Indianapolis, Irvington, Lawrence, Oaklandon, and Wanamaker, please call us at  (317) 357-5411.

Home Care Indianapolis provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Indianapolis, Beech Grove, Cumberland, East Indianapolis, Irvington, Lawrence, Oaklandon, and Wanamaker. Call us today at (317) 357-5411.

A recent study from the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior suggests that using yoga to engage in brief daily meditation can lead to lower levels of depression for caregivers of those with Alzheimer’s disease. Many of your readers know that loneliness, exhaustion, fear, stress and depression takes a toll on caregivers.

Dr. Helen Lavretsky, professor of psychiatry at the UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, and her colleagues report a further benefit: a reduction in stress-induced cellular aging.

On average, the incidence and prevalence of clinical depression in family dementia caregivers approaches 50 percent, Dr. Lavretsky said.

While medication can improve depression, many caregivers may be opposed to the use of medication because of the associated cost and drug side effects. That consideration motivated Dr. Lavretsky and her colleagues to test a brief mind-body intervention for stress reduction.

Often depression sneaks in slowly, as breathing patterns change from too much stress, age, or illness. The deep, invigorating breath techniques of Yoga bring large amounts of fresh oxygen to the brain and other parts of the body.

A regular practice of Yoga will protect you from depression and help you stay bright-minded, while recognizing the signals that depression is giving you. To begin with, choose three exercises that appeal to you, and do them every day. Then, as you get more comfortable, expand your routine to give yourself more of a challenge and increase the beneficial effects.

Family caregivers who are tending to senior loved ones with Alzheimer’s or other dementias can turn to a Home Instead CAREGiver in the Indianapolis area who is specially trained for the task – call (317) 357-5411.

For more about Alzheimer’s and other dementias, go to http://www.helpforalzheimersfamilies.com/.

Home Care Indianapolis provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Indianapolis, Beech Grove, Cumberland, East Indianapolis, Irvington, Lawrence, Oaklandon, and Wanamaker. Call us today at (317) 357-5411.

Dementia can test the unity of even the most cohesive families, and many know that well. “Alzheimer’s is very stressful because of the behavioral changes,’’ said caregiving expert Dr. Amy D’Aprix, who served on an expert panel to develop content for the Home Instead Senior Care network’s Alzheimer’s Disease or Other Dementias CARE: Changing Aging Through Research and Education Training Program.

Here are tips for families to share when dealing with Alzheimer’s disease:

Get an accurate diagnosis

Communicate regularly

Confer with professionals

Learn skills and techniques

Expect change and learn to manage it

Ask for help if you’re the primary caregiver

Tune into the main caregiver’s needs

Assign tasks for family members

Consider the family legacy

Tap into resources

Remember you don’t have to go solo while trying to care for a senior loved one who has Alzheimer’s and living in Indianapolis.  A Home Instead CAREGiver can help with medication reminders, light housekeeping, meal preparation, transportation, errands and companionship. For personal home care in Indianapolis, please check with your local office by calling (317) 357-5411.

For more resources to help Alzheimer’s and other dementias, go to http://www.helpforalzheimersfamilies.com/.

Home Care Indianapolis provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Indianapolis, Beech Grove, Cumberland, East Indianapolis, Irvington, Lawrence, Oaklandon, and Wanamaker. Call us today at (317) 357-5411.

Memory loss is unusual forgetfulness, according to the National Institute of Health. The cause determines whether amnesia comes on slowly or suddenly, and whether it is temporary or permanent. Normal aging may lead to trouble learning new material or requiring a longer time to remember learned material. However, it does not lead to dramatic memory loss unless diseases are involved.

Memory loss refers to:

• Not being able to remember new events,

• Not being able to recall one or more memories of the past, or both.

In some cases, memory loss among seniors may be due to so-called “silent strokes,” research suggests. Such strokes, which may not cause noticeable symptoms, result in small pockets of dead brain cells and are found in about 25 percent of older adults, according to a study.

The research, which was funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health, appeared in the journal Neurology. Participants underwent MRI brain scans, as well as testing to gauge capacities in memory, language skills, thinking speed and visual perception.

The brain scans revealed that 174 of the 658 participants had experienced silent strokes, and the investigators found that these seniors did not perform as well on the memory exams.

Researchers said that study results also support stroke prevention as a means for staving off memory problems.”

Home Instead CAREGivers helps seniors who has memory loss in many ways, including companionship, light housekeeping, meal preparation, medication reminders and transportation or errands in Indianapolis, please check with your local office by calling (317) 357-5411.

For more help and understanding about dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease, check out HelpforAlzheimersFamilies.com – Changing Aging Through Research and Education Training Program, which includes a free Family Caregiver Training.

Home Care Indianapolis provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Indianapolis, Beech Grove, Cumberland, East Indianapolis, Irvington, Lawrence, Oaklandon, and Wanamaker. Call us today at (317) 357-5411.

Seniors with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias should strive to continue to do as much as they can for as long as possible and home might be just the place. “The preferred environment for those with dementia is generally at home,” said Dr. Jane F. Potter, chief of the Division of Geriatrics and Gerontology at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.  “At home, they will be engaged in self-care and will be more active.”

These tips could help them manage dementia while at home:

Help seniors do as much as they can, but don’t expect them to do what they can’t. Start an activity and simplify the task, then ask the senior loved one to help or join in.

Simplify the task. When dressing, put that senior in a position to do as much as possible. Make it easy for them to do that by laying out clothing in sequential order.

Start an activity and then ask the senior to help. If your mom has forgotten how to make that favorite family recipe, start the process and have her help with whatever she can.

Coming soon, an interactive educational course, brought to you by Home Instead Senior Care, gives caregivers instructive information about Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, valuable insight for providing better care, and techniques to help improve the quality of life for both you and your loved one experiencing memory loss. Visit HelpforAlzheimersFamilies.com to learn more.

Our CAREGivers are trained to care for your senior living with Alzheimer’s disease. They help with light housekeeping, meal preparation, medication reminders and transportation needs. For personal home care in Indianapolis, please check with your local office by calling (317) 357-5411.

Home Care Indianapolis provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Indianapolis, Beech Grove, Cumberland, East Indianapolis, Irvington, Lawrence, Oaklandon, and Wanamaker. Call us today at (317) 357-5411.

Caregiving for a loved one with Alzheimer’s or other dementias is a journey that best begins with information and education. Listed below are the 10 warning signs that could indicate Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. “It’s safe to say that the thing that Alzheimer’s and other dementias have in common is a high risk of behavioral disorders – change in personality, people behaving in ways counter to their prior personality,’’ noted Dr. Jane F. Potter, chief of the Division of Geriatrics and Gerontology at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. “But normal old age does not cause dysfunction.”

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, these are 10 warning signs of Alzheimer’s:

Memory loss that disrupts daily life.

Challenges in planning or solving problems.

Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, at work or at leisure.

Confusion with time or place.

Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships.

New problems with words in speaking or writing.

Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps.

Decreased or poor judgment.

Withdrawal from work or social activities.

Changes in mood and personality.

Coming soon, an interactive educational course, brought to you by Home Instead Senior Care, gives caregivers instructive information about Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, valuable insight for providing better care, and techniques to help improve the quality of life for both you and your loved one experiencing memory loss. Visit HelpforAlzheimersFamilies.com to learn more.

For personal home care in Indianapolis, please check with your local office by calling (317) 357-5411.

Home Care Indianapolis provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Indianapolis, Beech Grove, Cumberland, East Indianapolis, Irvington, Lawrence, Oaklandon, and Wanamaker. Call us today at (317) 357-5411.

Regular walking, a favorite exercise for seniors, is one of the most effective forms of activity that delivers substantial health benefits and improves heart health, the American Heart Association has said. The latest addition to the American Heart Association’s tools for persuading people to exercise is MyWalkingClub.org – walking clubs, which are being formed across the United States.

Walking is easy to start and continue, and it has the lowest dropout rate of any physical activity. By joining an American Heart Association Walking Club, participants can connect with others who share their goals, lifestyles, schedules and hobbies – and do it for free.

According to an American Heart Association survey, only 15 percent of American adults achieve the association’s recommended level of moderate aerobic exercise, which is 150 minutes per week. Walking for as little as 30 minutes a day will improve circulation, lower cholesterol and blood pressure, and promote weight loss.

Additional Benefits of Walking:

1. Lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (the “bad” cholesterol)

2. Raise high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (the “good” cholesterol)

3. Lower your blood pressure

4. Reduce your risk of or manage type 2 diabetes

5. Manage your weight

6. Improve your mood

7. Stay strong and fit

Be sure to bring along a friend for the walk. This is a great way to socialize while getting some exercise. Walking partners can make the walk seem very short and enjoyable. The same goes for pets. Take the dog for a walk each day. The pet will benefit, and so will you!

Your local Home Instead Senior Care office in Indianapolis can find a caregiver who will walk with your senior or help him or her find a walking club. Our CAREGivers also help with light housekeeping, meal preparation, medication reminders and transportation needs. For personal home care, please call (317) 357-5411.

Home Care Indianapolis provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Indianapolis, Beech Grove, Cumberland, East Indianapolis, Irvington, Lawrence, Oaklandon, and Wanamaker. Call us today at (317) 357-5411.

With severe weather season upon us in the U.S., older adults may be among the most vulnerable victims when disasters strike. That’s why Home Instead Senior Care, the international caregiving company with more than 800 locations in 15 countries, has issued a disaster safety preparation checklist to help prepare seniors for the possibility of natural disasters.

Home Instead Senior Care’s Disaster Prep Checklist For Seniors:

____Tune in. Contact the local emergency management office to learn about the most likely natural disasters to strike your area. Stay abreast of what’s going on through your local radio or television.

____Take stock. Decide what your senior can or can’t do in the event of a natural disaster. Make a list of what would be needed if a disaster occurred. For example, if your loved one is wheelchair-bound, determine an evacuation strategy ahead of time. Prepare for whatever disaster could hit the area.

____ To go or to stay? When deciding to evacuate, older adults should go sooner rather than later. By waiting too long, they may be unable to leave if they require assistance.

____ Make a plan. Schedule a family meeting to develop a plan of action. Include in your plan key people – such as neighbors, friends, relatives and professional caregivers – who could help.

____ More than one way out. Seniors should develop at least two escape routes: one to evacuate their home and one to evacuate their community. The local emergency management office can tell you escape routes out of the community.

____Meet up. Designate a place to meet relatives or key support network people outside the house, as well as a second location outside the neighborhood, such as a school or church. Practice the plan twice a year.

____Get up and “Go Kit.” Have an easy-to-carry backpack including three days non-perishable food and water with an additional four days of food and water readily accessible at home. Have at least one gallon of bottled water per person per day. Refresh and replace your supplies at least twice a year. And don’t forget the blanket and paper products such as toilet paper.

____Pack extras and copies. Have at least a one-month supply of medication on hand at all times. Make ready other important documents in a waterproof protector including copies of prescriptions, car title registration and driver’s license, insurance documents and bank account numbers, and spare checkbook. Also take extra eyeglasses and hearing-aid batteries. Label every piece of important equipment or personal item in case they are lost.

____Your contact list. Compile a contact list and include people on a senior’s support network as well as doctors and other important health-care professionals.

____If you can’t be there. If you’re not living close by to help your loved one, enlist the help of family or friends, or contact a professional caregiving company.

For personal home care in the Indianapolis area, please check with your local office by calling (317) 357-5411.

Home Care Indianapolis provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Indianapolis, Beech Grove, Cumberland, East Indianapolis, Irvington, Lawrence, Oaklandon, and Wanamaker. Call us today at (317) 357-5411.

At Home Instead Senior Care, we are actively changing the face of aging. What does that mean?

It means we are working to abolish perceptions about the burdens of growing older and tapping in to the talents and contributions of older people such as wisdom and experience. It also means we are enhancing the lives of aging adults and their families.

Paul Hogan, Founder and Chairman of Home Instead Senior Care, serves as a member of the World Economic Forum Global Agenda Council on Aging and leading the Home Instead charge to help people around the world age with more dignity and respect.

As part of its efforts to celebrate the successes associated with aging, Hogan and his fellow Council members recently released a book titled, Global Population Aging: Peril or Promise?

According to the Council:

“Current demographic changes require comprehensive responses. However, much of the discussion focuses on the challenges occasioned by an aging society rather than on the opportunities. These negative scenarios need not be our fate; there are significant benefits to an aging world, but they require smart policies. This Council focuses on healthy aging and the discourse on aging to facilitate healthy and participative living in age-friendly environments and to realize the social and economic potential of elders.”

Paul Hogan co-authored Chapter 7, Social Capital Lifelong Learning and Social Innovation (page 39), with Simon Biggs, Professor of Gerontology and Social Policy at University of Melbourne (Australia), and Laura Carstensen, Director of Stanford Center on Longevity. Read Chapter 7 Social Capital, Lifelong Learning and Social Innovation.

Hogan also penned Chapter 12 (page 61), Design and Operation of Health Systems in Developing Countries, with Linda Fried, and Jack Rowe, from the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University. Read Chapter 12 Design and Operation of Health Systems in Wealthy Industrial Countries.

The old face of aging is isolation; the new face is companionship

The old face of aging is institutionalization; the new face is having the choice to age at home

The old face of aging is fear; the new face is hope – Paul Hogan

Home Care Indianapolis provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Indianapolis, Beech Grove, Cumberland, East Indianapolis, Irvington, Lawrence, Oaklandon, and Wanamaker. Call us today at (317) 357-5411.