What is Dementia?
Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe the loss of cognitive or intellectual function. Many conditions can cause dementia. Dementia related to depression, drug interactions, and thyroid and other problems may be reversible if detected early. That’s one of the reasons it’s important to obtain a professional assessment, so that the actual cause can be identified and proper care provided. Several other diseases also cause dementia, such as Parkinson’s, Creutzfeldt-Jakob, Huntington’s, and multi-infarct or vascular disease, caused by multiple strokes in the brain.
What is Alzheimer's?
Alzheimer's disease (pronounced Alz-hi-merz) is a progressive, degenerative disease that attacks the brain and results in impaired memory, thinking and behavior. It affects an estimated 4 million American adults. When it was first diagnosed by German physician Alois Alzheimer in 1907, Alzheimer's disease was considered a rare disorder. Today, it is recognized as the most common cause of dementia. Alzheimer's disease is distinguished from other forms of dementia by characteristic changes in the brain that are visible only upon microscopic examination. Another characteristic of Alzheimer's disease is the reduced production of certain brain chemicals, especially acetylcholine, but also including norepinephrine, serotonin and soma-tostatin. These chemicals are necessary for normal communication between nerve cells.
What are the warning signs of Alzheimer’s?
The Alzheimer’s Association has developed a list of warning signs that include common symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease (some also apply to other dementias). Individuals who exhibit several of these symptoms should see a physician for a complete examination.
1. Memory loss that affects job skills. It’s normal to occasionally forget an assignment, deadline, or colleague’s name, but frequent forgetfulness or unexplainable confusion at home or in the workplace may signal that something’s wrong.
2. Difficulty performing familiar tasks. Busy people get distracted from time to time. For example, you might leave something on the stove too long or not remember to serve part of a meal. People with Alzheimer’s might prepare a meal and not only forget to serve it but also forget they made it.
3. Problems with language. Everyone has trouble finding the right word sometimes, but a person with Alzheimer’s disease may forget simple words or substitute inappropriate words, making his or her sentences difficult to understand.
4. Disorientation to time and place. It’s normal to momentarily forget the day of the week or what you need from the store. But people with Alzheimer’s disease can become lost on their own street, not knowing where they are, how they got there, or how to get back home.
5. Poor or decreased judgment. Choosing not to bring a sweater or coat along on a chilly night is a common mistake. A person with Alzheimer’s, however, may dress inappropriately in more noticeable ways, wearing a bathrobe to the store or several blouses on a hot day.
6. Problems with abstract thinking. Balancing a checkbook can be challenging for many people, but for someone with Alzheimer’s, recognizing numbers or performing basic calculations may be impossible.
7. Misplacing things. Everyone temporarily misplaces a wallet or keys from time to time. A person with Alzheimer’s disease may put these and other items in inappropriate places — such as an iron in the freezer or a wristwatch in the sugar bowl — and then not recall how they got there.
8. Changes in mood or behavior. Everyone experiences a broad range of emotions — it’s part of being human. People with Alzheimer’s tend to exhibit more rapid mood swings for no apparent reason.
9. Changes in personality. People’s personalities may change somewhat as they age. But a person with Alzheimer’s can change dramatically, either suddenly or over a period of time. Someone who is generally easygoing may become angry, suspicious, or fearful.
10. Loss of initiative. It’s normal to tire of housework, business activities, or social obligations, but most people retain or eventually regain their interest. A person with Alzheimer’s disease may remain uninterested and uninvolved in many or all of his usual pursuits.
What is Parkinson's disease?
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a degenerative neurological disorder of the brain related to a depletion of a neurotransmitter called dopamine. PD strikes people of all ages and ethnic groups. The average age of diagnosis is 60. However, 10 - 20% of persons with PD develop it before the age of 50. About half of these are diagnosed before the age of 40. The cause of PD is still under investigation, however there may be multiple factors including genetic predisposition and exposure to environmental toxins. Symptoms can include: Rigidity or stiffness of arms, legs or neck Tremors, mostly in the hands (at rest) Instability in posture or balance Slowness in movement Secondary symptoms may include facial "masking", depression, confusion, difficulties in speech or swallowing. PD affects individuals differently, but if managed carefully, each person can live well.
What are our Residential Options?
Independent Living
For seniors able to determine their own activities of daily living (ADL) … this is similar to apartment dwelling for retirees.
Assisted Living
For seniors no longer able to care for themselves in daily needs such as grooming, medication management, continence, feeding or physical movement, assisted living helps with these tasks. Silverado Senior Living communities go far beyond mere ADL care needs by engaging our residents with activities of their choice, surrounding them with sensory experiences, and enlivening them with pets, children, laughter and love.
Skilled Nursing
For those rehabilitating from some kind of medical condition (stroke, operation, etc.), skilled nursing facilities are typically hospital-like settings. Silverado now offers Skilled Nursing units in a few of our communities, allowing those needing rehabilitation services to reside in an uplifting and engaging environment.
Home Care
Home care is a way for families to enable their loved ones to safely remain in their home environment, through the assistance of hourly or live-in caregivers. Silverado At Home brings their Care Plan Program to this option, which includes creating an individualized care plan that collaborates the client, family, geriatric care manager, caregiver, and other invested parties (doctors, lawyers, other family members, etc.)
Hospice
Hospice is palliative end-of-life care. Palliative means comfort care, and the purpose of Hospice is to ease pain, and bring relief to the patient and their family. The process of life includes this journey. Hospice utilizes interdisciplinary teams including medical, spiritual, and psychosocial aspects, each bringing their own level of care and expertise to your loved one. Silverado Hospice additionally offers dementia care expertise to their list of specialties.
What are our Residential Options?
Independent Living
For seniors able to determine their own activities of daily living (ADL) … this is similar to apartment dwelling for retirees.
Assisted Living
For seniors no longer able to care for themselves in daily needs such as grooming, medication management, continence, feeding or physical movement, assisted living helps with these tasks. Silverado Senior Living communities go far beyond mere ADL care needs by engaging our residents with activities of their choice, surrounding them with sensory experiences, and enlivening them with pets, children, laughter and love.
Skilled Nursing
For those rehabilitating from some kind of medical condition (stroke, operation, etc.), skilled nursing facilities are typically hospital-like settings. Silverado now offers Skilled Nursing units in a few of our communities, allowing those needing rehabilitation services to reside in an uplifting and engaging environment.
Home Care
Home care is a way for families to enable their loved ones to safely remain in their home environment, through the assistance of hourly or live-in caregivers. Silverado At Home brings their Care Plan Program to this option, which includes creating an individualized care plan that collaborates the client, family, geriatric care manager, caregiver, and other invested parties (doctors, lawyers, other family members, etc.)
Hospice
Hospice is palliative end-of-life care. Palliative means comfort care, and the purpose of Hospice is to ease pain, and bring relief to the patient and their family. The process of life includes this journey. Hospice utilizes interdisciplinary teams including medical, spiritual, and psychosocial aspects, each bringing their own level of care and expertise to your loved one. Silverado Hospice additionally offers dementia care expertise to their list of specialties.
What is the process for obtaining service through Silverado Senior services?
Most new clients begin by receiving a comprehensive assessment in the home setting that covers all aspects of functioning as well as safety considerations within the home. This process takes approximately 2-3 hours and is conducted by a geriatric care manger (usually an MSW or RN). The results of the assessment are used to develop a service plan with the client. The service plan usually involves some level of home care accompanied by some level of geriatric care management services.
How do you promote quality care in private home setting?
All clients receiving home care service are assigned a professional geriatric care manager to monitor the care plan through regular communication with care companions and families. This arrangement provides a real resource for care companions as questions arise. It also provides immediate support for family members who may have changing perceptions about care needs and services.
Will long term care insurance cover home care and/or care management?
Policies need to be reviewed on an individual basis. Most polices provide a daily rate of reimbursement for services that cover home care. It is becoming more common for Long Term Care insurance (LTC) to have additional coverage for care management built into policies.
What are your hours of availability?
Silverado Senior Services has a 24 hour on-call service that allows for rapid response to service requests. This includes weekends, evenings, and holidays.
"What makes Silverado “the memory care experts?"
The answer is multi-faceted. It begins with Silverado’s specialized focus on memory care, which has always been a part of our mission. All Silverado staff receive training specific to understanding the needs of those experiencing cognitive difficulties.
One of the core founding values of Silverado is to continue to improve the level of memory care services, setting the standard of care for persons with memory impairment and providing continuous innovation in the delivery of those services. This commitment is backed up by training programs that have won several state awards for their effectiveness.
What is the role of the Geriatric Care Manager?
Our Geriatric Care Managers take on the responsibility for the success of each home care case, so you don’t have to worry about it any longer. Initial assessment, ongoing consultation, and oversight of direct care, plus on-call 24 hour access, enable you to help build a plan and have consistent contact.
How can I initiate services today?
Click here on Contact Us for a branch nearest you.
How do I know when it's time to seek help for the care of my loved one in order to maintain my own health?
A study of elderly spouse caregivers, aged 66 to 96: found that caregivers who experience mental or emotional strain have a 63% higher risk of dying than non-caregivers. Caregivers are often so concerned with care for their relative’s needs, that they lose sight of their own well being.
Please use the caregiver self-assessment questionnaire below to help assess your need for help. Please take just a few minutes to answer the following questions.
Answer Yes or No
During the past week or so, I have…
1. Had trouble keeping my mind on what I was doing |
Yes |
No |
2. Felt that I couldn't leave my relative alone |
|
|
3. Had difficulty making decisions |
|
|
4. Felt completely overwhelmed |
|
|
5. Felt useless and unneeded |
|
|
6. Felt lonely |
|
|
7. Been upset that my relative has changed so much from his/her former self |
|
|
8. Felt a loss of privacy and /or personal time |
|
|
9. Been edgy and irritable |
|
|
10. Had sleep disturbed because of caring for my relative |
|
|
11. Had a crying spell or spells |
|
|
12. Felt strained between work and family responsibilities |
|
|
13. Had back pain |
|
|
14. Felt ill (headaches, stomach problems or common cold) |
|
|
15. Been dissatisfied with the support my family has given me |
|
|
16. Found that my relatives living situation to be inconvenient or a barrier to care |
|
|
17. On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being "not stressed" to 10 being "extremely stressful,"
please rate your current level of stress |
|
|
18. On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being "very healthy" to 10 being "extremely ill," please
rate your current health compared to what it was this time last year. |
|
|
To determine the score total the number of "yes" responses. Chances are you are experiencing a high degree of distress if your total score is 10 or more; you answered "yes" to questions 4 and 11 or your score on either question 17 or 18 was 6 or higher.
Next Steps:
Consider seeing a doctor for a check-up for yourself.
Consider having some relief from care giving. Contact the Silverado Senior Living community nearest you. Short respite care is also available, and every Silverado community offers support groups with free respite care during the program at no charge to you.
Consider joining any support group!
|
