Classic Residence of Pompano Beach will be hosting a lecture by Viki Kind “Empowering Caregivers to Make the Best Decisions” on January 20, 2011, 11- 1:30

Classic Residence of Pompano Beach will be hosting a lecture by Viki Kind “Empowering Caregivers to Make the Best Decisions” on January 20, 2011, 11-1:30. RSVP to make your lunch reservation.

1371 South Ocean Beach
Pompano Beach, FL 33062
Tel: 888-494-2177
E-mail: mktgpompanobeach@viliving.com
Web site: www.viliving.com/communities/pompanobeach

For residents of Classic Residence, exceptional amenities and services are not considered extras. Whether you are savoring a freshly prepared meal prepared by our executive chef, taking a swim in the pool, dining with friends in the penthouse dining room or enjoying the music in our piano lounge, our amenities and services are included to enrich your life every day.

Just Steps from Your Door
Art studio
Auditorium
Boat dock
Club-style dining room
Computer center with high-speed Internet access
Fitness center
Heated pool, whirlpool and sundeck
Library
Ocean and beach access
Piano lounge and dance floor
Picnic area
Private dining room for entertaining family and friends
Wellness center

We Take Care of the Details
Concierge assistance
Access to health care resources at the on-site wellness center
Maintenance of home, buildings and grounds
Move-in coordination
Physician referral services
Scheduled transportation for community-sponsored trips and outings
Weekly laundering of bed linens
Weekly light housekeeping

Many additional services, such as a salon, dry cleaning pickup and drop-off, and guest accommodations/meals are available at an additional charge.

Seeking Family Caregivers of Veterans for a New Study – (thanks for the update – The California Coalition of Caregivers)

The National Alliance for Caregiving is Seeking Family Caregivers of Veterans for a New Study

This study will provide an opportunity for caregivers of Veterans to be heard and improve services for caregivers and Veterans now and in the future. If you are a family caregiver of a Veteran or know of one, and wish to take part in this study, please sign up at: www.gwsurvey.com/caregiversofveterans.html

The National Alliance for Caregiving is seeking participants for a new study of family caregivers of Veterans. This study is intended to determine how caregivers of Veterans are coping and what community and VA services, resources, and programs would support and assist them with their caregiving activities.

Caregivers are defined as those providing unpaid assistance, such as personal care, bathing, dressing, feeding, help with medications and other treatments, transportation to the doctors’ appointments, and arranging for services. Caregivers of Veterans from World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War through the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan will be included in the study. Caregivers include relatives and friends.

The study will use discussion groups, telephone interviews, and an Internet survey of caregivers of Veterans. The National Alliance for Caregiving is recruiting many family caregivers of Veterans from across the United States, and especially caregivers for the discussions groups living in or near: San Diego, San Antonio, and Washington, DC.

Cash incentives will be available for study participants and Veterans who refer them. Information obtained from the discussion groups, telephone interviews, and Internet survey will be confidential and will not be connected to the individual caregivers participating in the study.

Thank you for your consideration to participate in a study that could make a difference in the lives of caregivers of Veterans. Please contact Kathy Cameron at kathleen56@caregiving.org for more information.

This project is funded by a grant from the United Health Foundation.

March is Brain Injury Month. For more information: www.biausa.org

Thanks to the Brain Injury Association website http://www.biausa.org for the following information: Check out their site for more information and resources.

March is Brain Injury Awareness Month

In recognition of March as Brain Injury Awareness Month and the Brain Injury Association’s ongoing commitment to sports and concussions, BIAA and its nationwide network of 44 Chartered State Affiliates is launching a year-long, nationwide education and advocacy campaign: “A concussion is a brain injury. Get the facts.” The campaign will launch in March with radio and print public service announcements, awareness proclamations and special events. A state advocacy effort to introduce legislation to train coaches and protect youth athletes will continue throughout the year along with ongoing nationwide education.
A concussion is a brain injury period. BIAA believes coaches of every school athletic team and every extracurricular athletic activity should be trained to recognize the signs and symptoms of brain injury, including concussions and second impact syndrome. BIAA also believes young athletes who appear t have sustained a concussion should have written authorization by a health care professional before returning to play.
A concussion is caused by a bump, blow or jolt to the head, or from a blow to the body that causes the head to move rapidly back and forth. Most concussions occur without a loss of consciousness and according to the CDC, a lack of proper diagnosis and management of concussion may result in a serious long-term consequences, or risk of coma or death. Signs and symptoms may be noticeable immediately, or it may take days or weeks before they are present.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 3.8 million sports- and recreation-related concussions occur in the United State each year. Of that estimate U.S. emergency departments treat approximately 135,000 sports- and recreation-related traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), including concussions, among children ages 5 to 18.
To support year-long education and awareness efforts, click on the downloadable materials below to distribute throughout your community today! BIAA encourages the use and distribution of these materials throughout 2010.
To learn more about these initiatives or to learn more about awareness and advocacy events taking place in your state during the month of March and throughout the year, or to learn how you can get involved, contact your Chartered State Affiliate today! For more information on media materials contact the Brain Injury Association of America at 703.761.0750, ext. 622.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) an estimated 1.6-3.8 million sports and recreation related concussions occur in the U.S. each year. Concussions occur even if an athlete doesn’t lose consciousness and in fact, is the most common type of brain injury sustained in sports.
What is a traumatic brain injury?
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is defined as a blow or jolt to the head or a penetrating head injury that disrupts the function of the brain. Not all blows or jolts to the head result in a TBI. The severity of such an injury may range from “mild,” i.e., a brief change in mental status or consciousness to “severe,” i.e., an extended period of unconsciousness or amnesia after the injury. A TBI can result in short or long-term problems with independent function.
How many people have TBI?
Of the 1.4 million who sustain a TBI each year in the United States:
• 50,000 die;
• 235,000 are hospitalized; and
• 1.1 million are treated and released from an emergency department.1
The number of people with TBI who are not seen in an emergency department or who receive no care is unknown.
What causes Traumatic Brain Injuries?
The leading causes of TBI are:
• Falls (28%);
• Motor vehicle-traffic crashes (20%);
• Struck by/against (19%); and
• Assaults (11%).1
Blasts are a leading cause of TBI for active duty military personnel in war zones.2
Who is at highest risk for TBI?
• Males are about 1.5 times as likely as females to sustain a TBI.1
• The two age groups at highest risk for TBI are 0 to 4 year olds and 15 to 19 year olds.1
• Certain military duties (e.g., paratrooper) increase the risk of sustaining a TBI.3
• African Americans have the highest death rate from TBI.1
What are the costs of TBI?
Direct medical costs and indirect costs such as lost productivity of TBI totaled an estimated $60 billion in the United States in 1995.4
What are the long-term consequences of TBI?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that at least 3.17 Million Americans currently have a long-term or lifelong need for help to perform activities of daily living as a result of a TBI.5

According to one study, about 40% of those hospitalized with a TBI had at least one unmet need for services one year after their injury. The most frequent unmet needs were:
• Improving memory and problem solving;
• Managing stress and emotional upsets;
• Controlling one’s temper; and
• Improving one’s job skills.6
TBI can cause a wide range of functional changes affecting thinking, language, learning, emotions, behavior, and/or sensation. It can also cause epilepsy and increase the risk for conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and other brain disorders that become more prevalent with age.7,8

For more resources:

Guide to selecting legal representation for brain injury cases
https://secure.biausa.org/OnlineDirectory/Pdf/SelectingLegalRepresentation.pdf

A Guide to Selecting and Monitoring Brain Injury Rehabilitation Services
https://secure.biausa.org/OnlineDirectory/Pdf/SelectingRehabServices.pdf

Have a kind and respectful day.

February 14th-21st is “Alzheimer’s and Dementia Staff Education Week”

February 14th-21st is ALZHEIMERS AND DEMENTIA STAFF EDUCATION WEEK

This week is designed to bring awareness to the importance of both staff educators and their direct care staff being trained and certified in dementia care. For more information and free Tool Kit (download), visit www.nccdp.org, National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners.

I want to thank all those who take such good care of our loved ones and who strive to be educated and updated about the new research and best practices in dementia and Alzheimer’s care.

Take time this week to acknowledge those experts who are making a difference in your loved one’s lives.

Have a kind and respectful day.

Life’s Simple 7 from the American Heart Association – February is American Heart Month

February is American Heart Month.

The American Heart Association has a new feature and tool on their website called: Life’s Simple 7.

1. Get active
2. Eat better
3. Lose Weight
4. Stop smoking
5. Control cholesterol
6. Manage blood pressure
7. Reduce blood sugar

I would encourage you to take the 7 minute assessment to take control of your heart health.
http://mylifecheck.heart.org/PledgePage.aspx?NavID=5&CultureCode=en-US

Then take the pledge to embrace Life’s Simple 7 at “My Life Check” at
http://mylifecheck.heart.org/Default.aspx?NavID=1&CultureCode=en-US

Have a kind and respectful day.

Moira Fordyce’s recommends the resources on the American Geriatric’s Society website

I was speaking with Moira Fordyce from the California Coalition for Caregivers and she told me about the wonderful resources available at the American Geriatrics Society website. http://www.healthinaging.org/public_education/index.php The great thing about this website is that you know you can trust this information because it is coming from physicians who specialize in helping the aging patient and their loved ones.

You may also want to take a look at the California Coalition for Caregivers as they are an advocacy organization and are fighting to make sure that resources and protections are in place for our aging population. http://www.californiacrc.org If you live in California, they will send you alerts when it is time to contact your local representatives about an upcoming bill or iss

Lastly, you might want to download some of the legal handbooks for senior care from Bet Tzedek Legal Services at  http://www.bettzedek.org/publications.html#guides.

Below I have listed the topics from the American Geriatrics Society’s site. They have Tip Sheets, What to Ask Your Doctor, and General Aging Topics. It is like having a trusted friend to turn to for help. Have a kind and respectful day and enjoy the resources.

Latest Foundation Tip Sheets

Caregivers

Guide to Advance Directives

Tips For Avoiding Caregiver Burnout

Healthy Aging

Advice for Improving Your Memory

Cognitive Vitality

“Geriatric Syndromes”

Good Health in Later Life for Older Men

Good Health in Later Life for Older Women

Improving Communication with Your Healthcare Provider

Overcoming Challenges to Healthy Aging

Persistent Pain Tips

Holidays

Tips for Beating the Holiday Blues New!

Top 10 Healthy New Year’s Resolutions for Older Adults New!

Safety

2009 H1N1 Flu (“Swine Flu”) Tips

Emergency Preparedness Tips

Falls Prevention Tips

Home Safety Tips

Hot Weather Safety Tips

Safe Travel Tips

Safe Sex Tips

Safety Tips for Seniors Considering Visits to Retail Medical Clinics

Walking Tips

Winter Safety Tips

Spanish

Spanish Language Health Tip Sheet: “Manejo del “Dolor Persistente” en la Tercera Edad”/“Managing Persistent Pain In The Elderly”

Surgery

Hip and Knee Joint Replacement Tips

Vaccinations and Medications

Avoiding Overmedication and Harmful Drug Reactions

Vaccination Tips

What to Ask?

Questions for Your Healthcare Provider

How We Age
• Physical Activity
• Prevention
Health Care Decisions and Issues
• Health Assessment
• Health Care Settings
o Community-Based Care
o Hospitalization
o Nursing Home Care
• Complementary and Alternative Medicines
• Drug Treatment
• Elder Mistreatment
• Ethical and Legal Issues
• Pain Management
• Palliative Care and Hospice
• Rehabilitation
Elder Health at Your Fingertips
• Cancer
• Diabetes
• The Digestive System
o Disorders of the Digestive System
o Disorders of the Mouth
• The Heart, Lungs, and Blood and Circulation
o Anemia and Other Blood Disorders
o Breathing Problems
o Fainting (Syncope)
o Disorders of the Heart and Circulatory System
o High Blood Pressure
• Hormone Disorders
• Joints, Muscles, and Bones
o Back Pain
o Falls
o Foot Problems
o Osteoporosis
o Walking Problems
• Mental, Neurological, and Psychological Conditions
o Anxiety
o Delirium (Sudden Confusion)
o Dementia
o Depression
o Diseases of the Nervous System
o Dizziness
o Mental Retardation
o Personality Disorders
o Psychological and Social Issues
o Psychoses (Delusions and Hallucinations)
o Sleep Problems
o Substance Abuse
• Nutrition
• Sexuality and Sexual Concerns
o Gynecological (Female) Disorders
o Prostate Disease
o Sexual Problems
• The Senses
o Hearing Loss
o Vision Loss and Other Eye Diseases
• The Skin
o Pressure Ulcers (Bed Sores)
o Skin Diseases
• The Urinary System
o Kidney Problems
o Urinary Incontinence

Topics at a Glance

How We Age
• The Aging Process
• Trends in the Elderly Population
• Physical Activity
• Prevention
Health Care Decisions and Issues
• Talking to Your Healthcare Providers
• Health Assessment
• Health Care Settings
o Community-Based Care
o Hospitalization
o Nursing Home Care
• Complementary and Alternative Medicines
• Drug Treatment
• Elder Mistreatment
• Ethical and Legal Issues
• Insurance, Financing, and Costs of Health Care
• Pain Management
• Palliative Care and Hospice
• Rehabilitation
Elder Health at Your Fingertips
• Cancer
• Diabetes
• The Digestive System
o Disorders of the Digestive System
o Disorders of the Mouth
• The Heart, Lungs, and Blood and Circulation
o Anemia and Other Blood Disorders
o Breathing Problems
o Fainting (Syncope)
o Disorders of the Heart and Circulatory System
o High Blood Pressure
• Hormone Disorders
• Infectious Diseases
• Joints, Muscles, and Bones
o Back Pain
o Falls
o Foot Problems
o Osteoporosis
o Problems with Joints, Muscles and Bones
o Walking Problems
• Mental, Neurological, and Psychological Conditions
o Anxiety
o Delirium (Sudden Confusion)
o Dementia
o Depression
o Diseases of the Nervous System
o Dizziness
o Mental Retardation
o Personality Disorders
o Psychological and Social Issues
o Psychoses (Delusions and Hallucinations)
o Sleep Problems
o Substance Abuse
• Nutrition
• Sexuality and Sexual Concerns
o Gynecological (Female) Disorders
o Prostate Disease
o Sexual Problems
• The Senses
o Hearing Loss
o Vision Loss and Other Eye Diseases
• The Skin
o Pressure Ulcers (Bed Sores)
o Skin Diseases
• The Urinary System
o Kidney Problems
o Urinary Incontinence

Interview with Julie Hall, author of “Boomer Burden: Dealing with your parent’s lifetime accumulation of stuff,” on February 19th, 9AM pacific. www.BlogTalkRadio.com/kindethics

Join me as I interview Julie Hall, the Estate Lady. She is the author of “Boomer Burden: Dealing with your parent’s lifetime accumulation of stuff,” on February 19^th, 9AM pacific. www.BlogTalkRadio.com/kindethics

The Estate Lady^®, professional estate liquidator Julie Hall, knows what to do. Whether your parents are still alive or you’re in the middle of a crisis, The Boomer Burden has solutions. Hall provides trustworthy counsel on how to:

• divide your parents’ estate with peace of mind
• minimize fighting with siblings during the estate settlement process
• clear out the family home in ten days or less
• identify potential items of value in the home
• have “that conversation” with your parents
• prepare your own children for the future

The Estate Lady^® offers guidance for any executor, heir, or beneficiary, sharing some of her most fascinating stories as well as helpful checklists of the things that need to be done now and at the time of your loss.

IF YOU HAVE PARENTS, THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU.

The Boomer Burden gives you practical, effective steps for liquidating and distributing your parents’ assets in a way that both honors them and promotes family harmony for generations to come.

Julie Hall, known as The Estate Lady^®, is a professional estate contents expert and certified personal property appraiser who specializes in estate liquidation. With more than seventeen years of experience with families from the southeastern United States, Julie has successfully assisted thousands of individuals in the daunting and often painful process of managing their deceased parents’ affairs. In addition to her hands-on experience, she is a speaker to civic groups, retirement communities, churches, and professional organizations. She has also written a monthly column, “Ask the Estate Lady^®.” Julie resides in Charlotte with her husband and daughter.

Have a kind and respectful day.

Caregiver Heroes

The other day, my 7-year-old nephew said to my husband, “I wish I had a super power, even if it was a pathetic one like folding towels.” Of course we had a good laugh about it when he shared it with me later that day. This kid has always had a magic way of expressing himself.

Later that day, my husband said to me, “Everyday things can be super powers. Like being able to have a caring heart or feeling empathy for someone’s suffering.” I realized that this is the daily journey of caregivers. So many caregivers wish they had super powers to get through their days. When in reality, you don’t have to be a superhero; you are already an everyday hero.

Have a kind and respectful day.