Providing care and assistance to a loved one is not easy. Many adult children and spouses struggle with the dilemma of not enough energy or hours in the day to juggle work, home life, and caring for their aging loved one. You may even feel a range of emotions such as anger, guilt, fear, sadness, worry, stress, and overwhelmed. As you wear the many hats of a caregiver it's easy to lose yourself to the point where it can negatively affect your work and harm your health and relationships. There may even be times when this caregiving role does not always feel loving or satisfying to you. Whether your loved one lives at home or in a facility, nearby or far away, an Aging Life Care Professional (formally known as a geriatric care manager) can be very helpful.An Aging Life Care Professional is trained and experienced in any several fields related to care management, including, but not limited to social work, nursing, or gerontology with a specialized focus on issues related to aging and elder care. They are professionally trained to evaluate the medical, social, psychological, and spiritual factors of your entire situation to make sure everyone is receiving the help they need. Aging Life Care Professionals provide an objective point of view. They give you up-to-date information needed to make informed decisions, enhance communication between family members, and optimize your care with the coordination and monitoring of services specifically tailored to your unique circumstances.An Aging Life Care Professional can also be particularly helpful when solving complex situations. For example, all of the family members may not be in agreement about how an aging loved one should be cared for and what the best care should be. This often results in a break-down in communication and strained relationships. Some Aging Life Care Professionals also provide families with classes, support groups, and counseling to gain clarity, strength, and hope as you adjust to changes in lifestyle, health, and family roles.Many people hire Aging Life Care Professionals to serve as their eyes and ears, help cope with emotional feelings, enhance communication between family members, provide outside assessments, as well as the coordination, implementation, and monitoring of direct services. To find a qualified Aging Life Care Professional in your area contact the Aging Life Care Association at (520) 881-8008 or visit their website at "www.aginglifecare.org"Editors Note: This article was submitted by Colleen Daugherty, MSW, NCG. Colleen is an Aging Life Care Professional with Senior Life Solutions providing care management and counseling in Northern Colorado. You may reach Colleen at 970-282-7975 or by email at colleen@srlifesolutionsllc.com

LONG TERM ACUTE CARE HOSPITALS (LTACHS)PROVIDE specialized medical, nursing, and rehabilitation services for patients who need more advanced care for their recovery process, but who no longer require services in a traditional acute care hospital. Patients typically have a chronic or medically complex medical condition that requires hospitalization for an average of 25 days or more in a facility that offers a 24/7 specialized treatment program.LTACs are Post-Acute Care hospitals they are not to be confused with Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs).Appropriate conditions treated in the Long Term Acute Hospital are:Medically ComplexRespiratory Disorders including TracheostomyVentilator DependentCardiac/Cardiovascular ConditionsRenal DiseaseWound CareReconstructive and Extended Post-Surgical CareRehabilitation Related Diagnosis with Complex or Tertiary NeedsOncologyThe top admitting diagnoses in the Long Term Acute Hospital are:Respiratory Failure (Ventilator weaning, high flow oxygen)Infectious Disease (IV antibiotics, infection monitoring)Extensive Wound Management (Ulcers, Fistulas, Surgical)Parenteral Nutrition (Abd. wounds, Post-op)Multiple Trauma (Multiple fracture/deconditioning/malnutrition)Head Injuries (CVAs, TBIs)Dialysis (ESRD, ATN)Medically Complex PatientsThe following differentiates LTACs from other levels of care:Attending Physician and Consultants:Daily Hospitalist RoundingPulmonologistsNephrologistsSurgical SpecialistsPhysiatrists (PM&R)Procedures:DialysisBronchoscopies & Chest Tube ManagementX-RayLine Placement (Central lines, PICC lines)Telemetry/ Cardiac Monitoring & Continuous Pulse OximetryWound DebridementMedicationsPharmacist on siteIV therapies (abx, etc.)IV DripsInsulinPressors (Dopamine, Levophed, etc.)LasixJoint Commission Accreditation Therapies:RespiratoryTherapists on-site 24/7Speech TherapyDietitianPhysical & Occupational TherapistsWound Care NursesEditors note: This article was written by Daniel Asadi, DO, Diplomat, American Board of Internal Medicine & Medical Director at Northern Colorado Long Term Acute Hospital, Johnstown, CO. The NCLTAH team of professional can be reached at 970-619-3663

Hospice is not a place, but a philosophy of end-of-life care. Hospice does not hasten nor prolong death but uses symptom management such as pain control to allow for the highest quality of life possible. The goal of hospice is to maintain dignity and peace for the patient and family for as long as life continues. Hospice treats the person rather than the disease or illness. Hospice is ordered by the patients physician when cure is no longer possible but there continues to be a need for comfort care. Comfort care is also known as palliative care.. The hospice team can care for a patient anywhere they call home; i.e.: private home, skilled nursing facility, assisted living, or independent living. The hospice team consists of the Medical Director, RNs, LPNs, Certified Nurses Aides, Social workers, Spiritual care coordinators, volunteers and bereavement counselors as well as the complimentary services such as massage, music, pet, and aroma therapies .The hospice bereavement counselor will offer support to the survivors for up to 13 months after the death.All hospices that are Medicare and Medicaid certified must operate using the same regulations. There is no difference between for- profit and not-for-profit hospices as far as following the Medicare/Medicaid guidelines and caring for the patient/ family. Medicare, Medicaid and most insurance will pay for the hospice benefits which include medication, equipment, supplies, nursing and other services that are used for the comfort of the patient.All hospice care is developed around the physicians orders, patient needs, family involvement and the living environment. The patient is qualified for hospice with a physicians certification of life expectancy of 6 months or less. The RN will prepare a plan of care with the patient, family/caregiver, physician, hospice team and the Medical Director of Hospice. This plan will determine the needed pain control, symptom management, personal care (bathing, linen change, skin care, meal preparation when needed. Hospice care also includes medication management, medical equipment, nursing visits, counseling, spiritual care and social worker as requested. Volunteers are trained to sit with patients, provide comfort and companionship as desired by the patient and family/caregivers. Other services such as the music and massage therapy are offered to the patients through out their care.Hospice staff members are available 24/7 for questions, problem solving and crisis management. Hospice can assist your family/caregiver with the sometimes daunting challenges of your loved ones final passage.Editors Note: This article was written by Pamela Farrell RN, PHN, BSN, MSHA, Administrator of Mountain Valley HealthCare and Hospice, an AccentCare company serving northern Colorado to northern DenverFor questions concerning Home Health or Hospice, please call 970-346-9700

Betty White. Leslie Jordan. Oprah Winfrey. Arnold Schwarzenegger. George Takei. Baddiewinkle. What do all these wonderful people have in common? They are all seniors and they have millions of followers of all generations on social media. A good percentage of their followers are under the age of 40.There is a misconception that seniors are averse to technology. Nothing could be further from the truth! Many seniors are embracing the internet, smartphones, and other devices with ferocity. Their kids and grandkids are all over social media. More and more businesses that everyone uses, including many services that are intended for seniors, are only available online. They want to feel relevant; they dont want to get left behind. But technology can feel overwhelming for some. Helping seniors learn to understand technology can be a great bonding opportunity. We have some tips for how to teach seniors technology and get them connected.Tip #1: Teach seniors the language of technologyIt is so important to be patient in our approach for how to teach seniors technology. There are words that we throw around when were talking about our wifi being down, or a new app that makes our faces look like cartoons, or a critical software update that our iPhones need to protect them against a very dangerous spyware flaw. We know the difference between hardware, software, and an app. What a hotspot is, or a firewall, or how to navigate our devices to change our system preferences.This can all seem completely overwhelming to a senior, whos memory or cognitive abilities may not be quite what they used to be. Use the words sparingly at first, while youre walking them through their smartphone, and encourage them to ask questions. Make it fun and connect the words to the actions. If teaching the senior in your life about technology is proving frustrating for you, there are a number ofclasses for seniors onlinethat can take the anxiety out of it for both of you. Remember, when they are curious, they are engaged. Dont do too much at once, either! You want them to remember it!Tip #2: Research devices for seniors and show them they workThere are a number of great resources available to find seniors technology trends. They may need a smartphone with a bigger screen, or simply to be shown how to select a font and size that makes the words and numbers big enough for them to read easily. Maybe they received a health check-up and their doctor is recommending physical or memory exercises. Introduce them to wearable tech for seniors, to track their exercise and heart rate. From helping them learn how to set up a phone or tablet screen with the colors they like, to software features that they will value, like how to create a Word Doc to write a letter. Remember, taking it slow will help seniors to feel supported, inspire their curiosity, and encourage them to explore their phones, tablets, or computers.Tip #3: Demystify the internetOnce youve gotten the senior in your life to a point of reasonable comfort with some of the language we use when were talking about technology, and introduced them to their gadgets, now its time to take a drive on the World Wide Web! This is where you and your kids can have a lot of fun showing them the content that is out there just for them. Whether its memory games for seniors online, chair yoga for seniors online, orseniors online dating sites, you get to help them widen their world and ease the isolation they feel as they age. Help them learn how to use a search engine by picking their brains. Do they enjoy cooking? Help expand your seniors recipes list with dishes they always wanted to try. Is your mom or dad showing signs of struggle with memory? Enlist your kids to help them find and playmemory games for seniors onlinewith them, or make videos together to post on YouTube or TikTok. Leslie Jordan shouldnt get to have all the fun!Tip #4: Teach seniors the dangers of the internetSadly, there are too many scams and viruses out on the internet, that any one of us might fall prey to. For a senior whos thought skills have slowed down, they might not be savvy enough to pick up on the cues we are familiar with, that an email, text, online offer or phone call can sometimes have ulterior motives. Take some time to teach your senior loved ones about thetelltale signs of a scam, and what to do when they encounter one.Dont click on a link sent to you by email.Dont ever give anyone your private security information.Dont ever send someone you dont know money.Dont give anyone your passwords/use secure passwords.Use secure or verified websites.If you meet someone online and want to meet them in person, choose a neutral, public location.Tip #5: Show seniors the benefits of being connectedMom and dad are going to get frustrated with all the new words and bad people to look out for when theyre on the internet. So, you and the grandkids have to keep reminding them of how easy it is to stay connected. Point out the benefits, such as sharing pictures from family gatherings or old pictures from when you were a kid, talking on video chats and even watching a movie together, or playing an online game together. Researchers are studying the benefits for our beloved seniors to staying connected with their favorite people and the evidence is overwhelming that it helps them stay present and engaged. Technology is just one more tool to accomplish that.Technology Programs In Place TodayIn the Cadence Connections program we offer nationally, we have a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) continued learning Signature Program in which the area of study changes every month. Among other things, residents talk about the types of technology in this program that can help to improve their daily lives. Our current months program is focusing on Augmented and Virtual Reality and residents will go to an arcade with virtual reality games to fully immerse them in this new technology.Another popular program in several of our communities is a Tech Class called Wireless Wednesdays. In a recent class, residents brought their tablets, laptops and smartphones and we helped them navigate with step-by-step directions to make these tools easier for them to use. Our communities are always engaging with our residents on a one-to-one basis too when they have questions about their smart devices or in-room technology. Our location in Woodbridge has recently partnered with the Chinn Park Regional Library through the Prince William Public Library System to talk about technology with our residents. We are excited to welcome a librarian and a technology trainer to come in and work with our residents on a wide variety of technology topics.It is a good time to come and visit one of the Cadence Living communities, to see what we have to offer that can support the care of aging parents for you and for them. We have accommodations for independent living, assisted living and memory care. We also offer activities that meet your physical and social wellness needs, as well as spaces and programs designed specifically for memory care needs. Give us a call to schedule a tour today!