Caring Options Vol2 Ed1

A free publication brought to you by Caring Senior Service

THE FACTS Alzheimer’s Disease

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s our population ages, Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and other forms of Dementia have become a focal point for American families and healthcare providers alike. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, it is the 5th leading cause of death in individuals 65 and older and 5.3 million Americans are currently living with AD. In fact every 70 seconds, someone 65 and over is diagnosed with this disease. Unfortunately, families dealing with this disease are burdened with increased health costs and face emotional and physical strains as they care for their loved ones. One in every three family caregivers suffer from depression and face other health issues as their lives become more strained. While there is not a known cure for AD, knowing what to expect and what support is available will allow families to stay in control of their own lives.

Know what to expect. More than a loss of memory. While the most common symptom of this disease is the inability to create new memories, it eventually begins to affect common activities of daily living such as walking and eating.

Combined Care Needs. Most individuals with AD also suffer from at least one other medical condition which complicates management of their overall health. Hospital trips become more frequent and more medications become administered.

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Take control with support. Manage care needs. The responsibility of properly integrating required treatments and other care needs as AD progresses does not have to fall entirely on family caregivers. Utilizing supportive, non-medical services that are trained to administer care in the home can help ease the burden on families and improve the overall health of individuals with the disease. Non-medical, homecare agencies can create care plans to properly integrate the required care needed to ensure quality of life as the disease progresses. These services help people with AD maintain independence in their homes and adjust to daily challenges of the disease. Moving from the home for treatment can sometimes cause disruption and even more confusion. For more information on homecare services, call your local Caring Senior Service.

Homecare for Seniors Know your options for staying healthy, happy and home.

2009 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures

Athens, AL (256) 206-7002

Bergen County, NJ (201) 930-8888

Austin, TX (512) 310-2273

Midland, TX (432) 897-1432

Decatur, AL (256) 274-4201

Raleigh, NC (919) 386-0522

Corpus Christi, TX (361) 883-9494

New Braunfels, TX (830) 629-0509

Huntsville, AL (256) 278-4046

Middleboro, MA (508) 946-3306

El Paso, TX (915) 843-1119

Odessa, TX (432) 580-6523

Phoenix, AZ (602) 944-0100

Dayton, OH (937) 886-4284

Georgetown, TX (512) 686-0939

San Antonio, TX (210) 227-9494

Scottsdale, AZ (480) 342-9985

Chattanooga, TN (423) 826-0266

Houston, TX (281) 893-6699

Victoria, TX (361) 575-1117

Canton, OH (330) 754-0133

Nashville, TN (615) 724-1488

Kerrville, TX (830) 895-3111

Galesburg, IL (309) 228-4222

Amarillo, TX (806) 223-0132

McAllen, TX (956) 687-9494

Dorothy Janis

King

Silent film actress and wife of legendary big band leader, Wayne King

After living extraordinary life, Hollywood actress chooses to age at home.

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stay in control Thank you for taking the time to read our Caring Options magazine. With all the changes in health care happening, one thing has not; elderly continue to want to age in place. With proper information, seniors and their families can make remaining at home their first choice. We recognize that the aging process brings change, but change can be good, especially when you are in control. Making informed decisions is a key to that control and can make the process easier. Another area we want to help with is isolation of seniors, which is why we’re focusing more on community partnerships that can make a positive change to lives of seniors. One of our partnerships is with Shades of Green in San Antonio, TX to provide monthly easy maintenance gardening tips under the Caring Gardens section of our website. These tips offer a great way to break the isolation and allows seniors to participate in enjoyable activities. The first of these tips debuts in this edition as well. In coming issues we’ll share inspiring stories, tips to avoid isolation of seniors, healthy aging information as well as provide you with additional ways to make the aging process more manageable for both seniors and their families. We hope you find the information useful as you learn about your homecare options and discover new ways to stay healthy, happy and home. We welcome suggestions you may have and we would love to hear your Caring story. Please feel free to visit our website at www.caringseniorservice.com or email us at caringviews@caringinc.com.

Important benefits of Daily Exercise Regular physical activity boosts your overall quality of life by increasing your physical strength and decreasing various health risks. Find activities that you enjoy, such as gardening or walking, and make them part of your daily routine. Some physical activity is better than none at all and will help you live a much stronger life. It is never too late to reap the health benefits of exercise.

Joint Assistance

Better sleep quality Exercise can cause your sleep to be deeper. After sleep you will feel more refreshed and you will be less likely to wake up during the night.

Exercise moves your joints and helps keep them as flexible as possible. Exercise actually keeps your bones, muscles, and joints healthy.

Better Immune System

Prevention of Dementia

Exercise reduces the body’s vulnerability. It also fights off illnesses and infections by giving the body a boost in production of cells that attack bacteria.

Exercise increases blood flow to the brain and reduces the risk of conditions that are associated with dementia.

Lifestyle Makeover Diaries “I have a new zest for life.”

“Find the seed at the bottom of your heart and bring forth a beautiful flower” Shigenori Kameoka

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Fred Hafner didn’t let his age stop “I have a new zest for him from adding a fitness program to his routine. Even at age 97, you will find him at Beardsley Fitness Center working out with his personal trainer twice a week. Excited about his progress Fred shares, “I have a better appetite and attitude; my balance and strength has improved; and I have a new

zest for life.”

life.”

Fred’s program is designed to build muscle, increase flexibility and improve cardiovascular strength. Introducing physical activity into a lifestyle at any age can lead to a healthier life. Make sure you consult your physician before starting a fitness program.

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where to start

Never Too Late To Get Active Too often older adults surrender to aging because they feel it is too late to become physically active. Incidently, staying active is one of the keys to a healthier life. It is never too late to get moving, and even those who are limited in movement can improve their health with moderate daily activity.

Jeff Salter, CEO of Caring Senior Service

One of our missions is to help educate so that seniors and their families make remaining at home their first option. Our education is not just about caring for someone physically but about other aspects of care including social needs and environmental security. I’ve experienced a lot of unique situations in the 18 years our company has helped families as they navigate the challenges of caring for a loved one at home. Oftentimes the sudden need for care can leave families in turmoil and indecision. Caring for a family member can be meaningful but it can also put the family caregiver through an intense amount of stress.

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evaluating your

Homecare Needs Care may fall in the lap of the closest child or even the only child, but it doesn’t have to become a burden for that person to bear alone. It can help to take a step back, reevaluate the needs and get others involved in the discussion. While the need for a third party to provide assistance may be necessary, quality care can be achieved with a combination of direct care and healthcare technology. Today, healthcare technology helps achieve a “presence” without having to be intrusive. Even a simple medical alert button can provide peace of mind that allows families to be involved without interfering. Combine a medical alert button with third party care that provides a few hours of help every day and families can find a happy medium between a loved one’s needs and a family caregiver’s personal life. Ongoing assessment is important to reevaluate the needs. This allows adjustments to be made and can avoid unnecessary problems. A family’s first choice is to keep Mom or Dad living at home, and with the right combination of personal involvement, third party care and technology it’s easier today then ever before. If you have questions about what the right amount of care is or if you are considering using technology to assist you, feel free to visit our care blog - CaringSeniorService. com/caringviews or write me at jeff@caringinc.com.

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Understand the exact needs through a comprehensive care consultation or needs assessment. This should include an assessment of the physical, social and environmental needs.

Create a plan that meets the needs of the family member receiving care as well as the needs of the family caregivers.

That doesn’t have to stop you or your loved ones from enjoying gardening, no matter where you live or what limitations you may face. The key is to focus on keeping things simple and managing what you can. Potted plants offer this ease and can be just as rewarding. You can turn your house and patio into nature’s escape without the physical demands needed for larger gardens. According to Wendy Meyer, co-manager at Shades of Green Nursery in San Antonio, TX, a number of leafy plants and flowers do well indoors and require little care. “Don’t be afraid of growing colorful flowers indoors. For instance, Orchids and Begonias do well indoors because they need very little light or water,” says Meyer. “Flowering plants may need to be replaced every few months, but that just allows you to change up the colors in your home.” Find what gardens are available in your community. Family members or caregivers can enjoy the beauty of large community gardens with you or your loved ones. Some gardens will allow you to help maintain the grounds which can be a great method of exercise, but doesn’t require your constant attention or much physical demand. Gardening can remain a part of your life; just remember to keep things simple.

EXPERT TIPS: Keep your plants close and easy to tend. You can have an array of colorful flowers and greenery in all shapes and sizes that will turn your house and patio into fresh, inviting environments.

Don’t ‘unearth’ your plants in a potting transfer, just place the original container inside a decorative pot. Many decorative containers do not allow for proper drainage and you can over water easily. This also prevents you from a messy gardening experience indoors.

Keep large, leafy plants shiny and dust free. Dust tends to build up on indoor plants which reduces the amount of visible light available them.

Avoid bending or stooping. Plants can be placed on table tops and hung from low ceilings to allow you to work at elbow level and reduce chances of injury.

For more information on indoor and patio gardens, visit our Caring Gardens page online at CaringSeniorService.com. Every month we will feature a different potted plant with care instructions, good indoor and patio gardening tips from Shades of Green Nursery, as well as suggested books on easy-to-maintain gardening you can share with your loved ones.

Determine if the plan can be done with family or should involve a third party care provider. When bringing in third party care, compare providers based on quality of service and ability to provide required care.

You can find out your homecare needs with our Care Needs Assessment online at CaringSeniorService.com. 4

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caringgardens find answers through

trusted advisors We recently conducted a national survey of what we call ‘seniors’ trusted advisors’ which included Social Workers, Discharge Planners, Home Health Administrators and Nurses. All of these individuals are involved with care at multiple points in the care continuum. These advisors are responsible for making sure their patients receive the most appropriate care to ensure their health and safety. The top three questions that these advisors wanted to know were: 1. Are they affordable? 2. Can they provide immediate care? 3. How do they provide quality service? As a consumer, it’s important to know that your trusted advisors are asking questions that help you make well informed decisions. You should consider asking the same questions.

Are they affordable?

Potted plants make for a great alternative as you consider downsizing your garden.

Keep things simple and easy to manage It is inspiring to watch a plant grow from infancy

into its blooming, mature state. Whether it be vegetables or flowers, it’s hard to deny a sense of accomplishment as you nurture plants into healthy, beautiful creations. Vast gardens donning a variety of blooms and colors offer beauty and purpose to any landscape leaving you proud for all to witness. 8

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But just as impressive as gardens often are, so are the physical demands of maintaining them. As you age and mobility becomes more challenging, the amount of work put into large gardens to maintain their stature can become a daunting task and often requires unsafe practices.

Care at home compared to the cost of assisted living is extremely affordable. Be careful, however, that you compare apples to apples. As the old adage goes; you get what you pay for so don’t hire an agency because they are the cheapest. To charge a lower rate, companies often cut important services such as a personalized caregiver introduction and regular supervision. Also you want to know if your charge rate provides the caregiver with a good living wage. You wouldn’t want to trust the care of your loved ones to the cheapest you could find.

Can they provide immediate care? The need for immediate care is important to today’s sandwich generation; Typically devoted daughters who find themselves juggling between taking care of mom’s needs and their own children’s needs. They need to know care is available for their mother when needed so they can continue to balance their dual roles.

How do they provide quality service? Quality of service may be more important than price when you’re considering care for a loved one. With personal care, quality starts with the caregiver. Find out what the hiring process is like and how they screen staff. Also discovering the way the company introduces and supervises caregivers can be integral to positive outcome. Be sure to find out if they are required to be licensed by their state and that they have current insurance and bonding. Ask the right questions and you’ll learn what you need to make an informed decision. It may take a little time to search but the investment will pay off in the long run. There is no substitute to hiring a high quality service with great caregivers that will help give you peace of mind.

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Dorothy Janis King

(born Dorothy Penelope Jones) rode a train out to California in the late 1920’s to visit a cousin who was working a film for Fox. While on set, Dorothy’s undeniable beauty caught the casting director’s attention. He convinced her to audition for the film, and the life of Dorothy Janis began. Metro-Goldwyn-Meyer, the leading producer of silent films, changed her last name to Janis because they didn’t want to compete with the cowboy star Buck Jones. She was introduced as an 18-year-old “half Cherokee”. It didn’t matter than she was actually 15 and had no Native American ancestry.

“The studio controlled our lives,” said Dorothy, “They paid me $50 a week, and I was always on call.” She is most famous for her role as “Native Girl” in The Pagan (1929), where she acted opposite romantic idol Raymond Navarro. In the film, Dorothy played a Native American girl adopted by a trader. A Native American man, played by Navarro, kidnaps Dorothy’s character and they fall in love. The studio sent the entire cast and crew to film on location in Tahiti.

Wayne “The Waltz King” King and Dorothy Janis King were married in 1932. He built fame as a big-band leader, rubbing elbows with the likes of Bing Crosby.

Dorothy Janis Filmography Lummox (1930) .... Chita The Pagan (1929) .... Tito The Overland Telegraph (1929) .... Dorothy Fleetwing (1928) .... Thurya Kit Carson (1928) .... Sings-in-the-Clouds

A special thanks to the King family and Jane and Richard Daume for contributing photographs and allowing us to share this wonderful story. 6

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“There wasn’t a lot to do after a day’s work,” King said in the book Broken Silence. “We went to several native feasts and enjoyed the dances. We were entertained on a French ship that was in port at Papeete. Otherwise we had very little time for anything but work. No one seemed to mind. I guess we all enjoyed being on that beautiful island.” Not long after returning, Dorothy went to Chicago to visit an aunt. There, at the Aragon Ballroom, she met Wayne King. His band headlined the Aragon for many

Dorothy Janis

King

years. Fireworks ignited between the two and Wayne asked Dorothy to marry him. However, Wayne’s boss said they would have to wait until summer because of the band’s contract. “I told Wayne goodbye, because nobody was going to tell me what to do,” she says. Dorothy went back to films and Wayne focused on his music, but they never stopped thinking of one another. Dorothy did a few more silent films, but the ‘talkies’ were emerging. Dorothy viewed sound with trepidation because she felt her Texas accent and her perceived lack of stage experience would limit her career. However, she decided to give it a try. The studio cast her as Chita in the film Lummox (1930), which would turn out to be her last film to be released. Dorothy was cast for White Captive, a film set in Southeast Asia and Japan. She spent six months overseas with a crew of over 30 to film the movie for Universal Studios. However, the director went well over the production budget and was fired. The studio found the footage shot unusable and never released the film. While in Asia, Dorothy sent friendly letters to the bass player in Wayne’s band. She knew that Wayne distributed the band’s mail and wanted him to see the letters. “I went back to Chicago to visit, and of course I went to the Aragon Ballroom,” she says. “During the performance, I was sitting in the balcony, and Wayne looked up and saw me. He said, ‘See that girl up in the balcony? I am going to marry her.’”

and their family kept her settled during his long tours – sometimes 5 or 6 months out of the year. Homelife became her new art form. She created a home, not only as a place of refuge from the city lights, but one that instilled strength and values. “My parents were divorced, which was unheard of at the time, and it was hard on me and my brother and two sisters,” Dorothy says. “I determined that would not happen in my marriage.” Now 100 years old, Dorothy is able to live in her home she built with her husband in Paradise Valley, AZ with the help of Caring Senior Service. Though Wayne passed away in 1985, she is still surrounded by the life and legacy she and Wayne built together. Their son, Wayne Jr., lives in nearby Phoenix, and daughter, Penny, lives in nearby Scottsdale allowing her to see her 6 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren often. Though Dorothy may have become an accidental movie actor, she is more proud of her lasting role – devoted wife and mother.

The two were married on March 21, 1932. From that day on, Dorothy set her sights on being the best wife and mother she could be. Her devotion to Wayne

Since 2004, Dorothy King has enjoyed care from Caring Senior Service of Maricopa County in Paradise Valley, AZ. The care provided by Richard and Jane Daume, owners of Caring Senior Service of Maricopa County, and their staff has given Dorothy and her family the control to help her stay healthy, happy and home.

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