Empowering Individuals at Home: The Impact of Wearable Technology on Home Care

Visit any critical care unit, childrens hospital, or other specialty inpatient facility, and youll find a common feature: therapy dogs. For decades, healthcare practitioners have understood the surprisingly positive effects on patients of time spend with cute and cuddly dogs. Therapy dogs reduce stress, improve mood, and can help patients reframe their outlook on whatever condition ails them. The positive effects of patient interactions with therapy dogs are a well-documented fact of the medical world. Senior citizens with limited mobility and other health conditions also benefit from the companionship of dogs. Owning a pet reduces feelings of loneliness among seniors living at home or in a retirement facility, which in turn greatly reduces the risk of diseases associated with loneliness and isolation. Pets can also decrease the number of stress hormones in a persons blood, lower blood pressure, and contribute to a more positive outlook on life. Dogs and other pets, it seems, have tremendous healing powers!Since Alzheimers patients cannot adequately care for a pet, owning one is out of the question. Considering the nature of Alzheimers dementia, it is easy to assume that a loved one may not benefit from a pet since they will not remember the interaction. Researchers, convinced therapy dogs would have a positive effect on Alzheimers patients, put this question to the test: Do Therapy Dogs Help Alzheimers Dementia Patients?Short-Term Benefits of Therapy Dogs for Patients with Alzheimers Dementia.A study conducted in the early 2000s looked carefully at the subject of therapy dogs and Alzheimers dementia patients. They measured the incidence of behavioral disturbances among patients in a nursing home for a period of four weeks, then introduced therapy dogs. Their initial findings showed that the dogs helped to reduce behavioral disturbances in the short term, meaning they helped to immediately calm patients. The short-term effects proved that therapy dogs do have a positive effect on patients with Alzheimers disease, particularly in regards to anxiety, anger, and changes in behavior associated with the disease.Long-Term Benefits of Therapy Dogs for Patients with Alzheimers Dementia.The same study did not stop at the short-term effects of therapy dogs on Alzheimers patients. Previous assumptions suggested that since patients would not remember their encounters with the therapy dogs, the effects of spending time with them would vanish from one day to the next. Not true, the study authors found. Although most of the patients did not remember their interactions with the therapy dogs (some did), the behavioral disturbances noted in the four weeks prior to the study reduced. In fact, the longer and more frequently patients interacted with the therapy dogs, the less they exhibited behavioral disturbances.Therapy Dogs As A Long-Term Therapy.The study findings confirmed what clinicians suspected all along: dogs are an excellent long-term therapy for persons with Alzheimers dementia to reduce the incidence of behavioral disturbances. Therapy dogs also had the same effect on Alzheimers patients as they do on other kinds of patients, including reduced stress and anxiety, lower blood pressure, better appetite, and fewer feelings of loneliness. These effects continued to increase the longer and more frequently patients interacted with the dogs.What Makes Dogs Such Good Therapy?Dogs are wired to give unconditional love and devotion. They can provide physical and social contact where it is missing, and they are not picky. what sets dogs apart, particularly those trained as therapy dogs, is that they will approach anyone regardless of their physical or mental deterioration, and initiate contact. Patients can pet, hug, and cuddle dogs unlike any other kind of pet. These positive interactions provide a distraction to the other goings-on around them and provide relief for those suffering from sadness, anger, or angst.The Takeaway.Dogs have a tremendous healing power. While studies have focused specifically on Alzheimers dementia patients, their positive effects will benefit anyone suffering from general dementia. Families of patients will feel relief that their loved ones have fewer outbursts of anger, sadness, or angst. While dementia impairs memory, it does not interrupt the long-term benefits of regularly interacting with a therapy dog. In fact, the more they interact with a therapy dog, the fewer behavioral problems they exhibit.

A kitchen is often the central gathering place in the home. Family dinners, special occasions and time shared together all happen in the heart of the home. Making sure the kitchen a safe, happy place is important. On a daily basis, many of us spend time in our kitchens, and it is easy to forget that the kitchen can be a place where dangerous accidents are not uncommon especially for seniors.When it comes to senior adults and kitchen safety, the numbers show where potential issues can occur: The National Fire Protection Association reports that three (3) in ten (10) home fires start in the kitchen, more than any other room in the house.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 76 million cases of foodborne illness occur each year, including 5,000 fatal cases. Older adults, due to a natural decrease in their immune systems, can succumb to food poisoning more easily and have a harder time fighting it off if they do.Kitchens are also areas with high fall-risk areas: items stored out of reach, slippery floors, and the likelihood that meals are carried to eat in another room.The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reports that people over the age of 65 have a 2.7 times greater risk of dying in a kitchen fire than the general population. For those that want to ensure that the kitchen is as safe as possible for their senior loved ones, there are three key areas to consider:Fire prevention and safety  The primary cause of kitchen fires is unattended food seniors should never leave the kitchen when food is cooking. Automatic shut-off devices are a great tool to help seniors that have memory issues but like to spend time cooking. Loose clothing, kitchen towels and potholders can all catch fire if too close to the stove, so it is good to be mindful about fabric near flames. And, on a regular basis, a qualified electrician should check wiring and outlets to ensure safety compliance this is a common cause of fires in older homes.Foodborne illness prevention  Because of the ways our bodies change when we get older, foodborne illness can become a much more serious issue. This can be prevented by properly storing food, checking fridge temperatures often, properly reheating food, cleaning old items out of the fridge and pantry often and checking expiration dates.Reduce fall risks  When seniors need to reach an item, whether stored too high or too low, it can cause a balance issue that may lead to a fall. Keeping cooking items within reach is critical. Clutter on counters should be removed, bright lights are helpful, and the heaviest objects should be stored at waist level. Water is often a problem in the kitchen possible issues include spilled water from the sink, leaking refrigerators and pipe leaks. Spilled water can make kitchen floors slippery, so adding mats and checking water sources often is important.The kitchen can be a joyful place in the home, with intentional action to minimize the risk of accident or illness. Being safe in the kitchen is not just common sense and revisiting safety tips for the kitchen is never a waste of time. Comfort Keepers can help. About one-quarter of Americans over age 65 need help with everyday activities such as eating, cooking, and getting in and out of bed or a chair. Our trained caregivers can help with these and other tasks, while engaging clients in activities that improve quality of life. They can also provide support for physician approved diet and exercise plans, provide transportation to appointments and community events and can assess a home for safety issues and reducing fall hazards. For more information on how we can help, contact your nearest Comfort Keepers office today.

When someone you love needs extra care, it's time to think about a nursing home. This can be a tough decision, but there are ways to make it easier. Let's look at how to pick a good nursing home that will take great care of your family member.Location and BuildingThe first thing to think about is where the nursing home is. It's best if it's close to you so you can visit often. When you go to see the nursing home, look around carefully. Is it clean? Does it look nice outside? Are there places where your loved one can go outside for fresh air?Look at the rooms too. Make sure you see all kinds of rooms, not just the fancy ones. Ask yourself if the rooms feel cozy or if they look too much like a hospital.Staff and CareThe people who work at the nursing home are very important. You want to make sure there are enough workers to take care of everyone. Ask how many nurses and helpers there are for each patient. Also, find out if the same people work there for a long time. If workers stay at their jobs, it usually means they like working there.It's also good to ask how the workers are trained. Do they know how to help older people with different health problems? Make sure they know how to take care of your loved one's special needs.Daily LifeA good nursing home should help your loved one have a nice day every day. Ask about what kind of activities they have. Is it just bingo and movies, or do they have other fun things to do? Can your loved one go on trips outside the nursing home?Food is important too. Ask about the meals and snacks. Can your loved one eat whenever they want, or are there set meal times? Try to taste the food if you can.Some nursing homes let people help out with small jobs if they want to. This can make your loved one feel useful and happy. Ask if they have chances to do things like help deliver mail or read to other people.Respect and ChoicesIt's important that your loved one is treated with respect. They should be able to make some choices about their day. Can they decide when to wake up or what to wear? Can they eat in their room if they want to? Make sure the nursing home respects your loved one's likes and dislikes.Visitors and FamilyCheck the rules about visitors. Can you come anytime, or are there special visiting hours? It's good if you can visit often. Also, ask if your loved one can make video calls to family and friends.Money MattersNursing homes can be expensive. Many people think Medicare will pay for everything, but that's not always true. Medicare only pays for some types of care, and only for a short time. You might need to pay for some of the care yourself.Ask the nursing home how much it costs and what kinds of payment they accept. Some places might help you make a plan to pay over time.Keep Asking QuestionsEven after you choose a nursing home, keep asking questions and staying involved. Visit often and pay attention to how your loved one is doing. If you see anything that worries you, talk to the people in charge.Remember, the most important thing is to find a place where your loved one will be safe, happy, and well cared for. By asking lots of questions and looking carefully at different nursing homes, you can find the best place for your family member.