SUMMER 2015 • THE PATIENT’S ‘MAGIC WORD’ • RECOMMENDED READING • NUTRITION TIP • HOME LIGHTING BRIGHT IDEAS
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Recommended Reading
A different take on the reality of dementia It can be second nature to take over when a loved one with dementia begins to struggle. But this well-meaning instinct can also encourage dependence. Instead, occupational therapist Lanny D. Butler and physical therapist Kari K. Brizendine encourage caregivers to ‘enter the patient’s reality.’ Their approach is called Dementia Possible Care©, relying on residual memories to complete tasks more successfully — and for longer. Their short book, My Past Is Now My Future, covers all seven defined stages of dementia. The authors shine a light on patients’ thoughts and behaviors and suggest tactics to help keep patients oriented and capable. A worksheet exercise is included at the end of the book to aid readers who want to try this approach. For caregivers who want to do more, this glimpse into the reality of dementia can help them enable their loved one. For more information on dementia caregiving, and other helpful resources for patients and caregivers, visit the Residential Home Health blog at blog.residentialhomehealth.com.
Bright ideas
in home lighting
Low vision is a functional impairment that is relatively common with age. Improving your home lighting set-up could translate to better visibility, improved safety and mobility, and efficient completion of daily tasks. An in-home occupational therapist can help simplify the process — because every situation is unique, this kind of hands-on help can be the ideal way to identify problems and get advice to meet your specific needs.
To improve your home lighting, REMEMBER THESE TIPS: • Add more light, everywhere. The ideal lighting level might be more than you think. Add task-specific lighting (like a bright lamp or low-voltage under-cabinet lights) to assist with essential activities like reading and meal preparation. • Keep it consistent. Uneven lighting in a room can create shadows or blind spots that increase the risk of injury. Adjust or add lights until the entire room is evenly lit. • Abolish glare. Not only is glare painful, it can worsen eye strain. Use window coverings to block the sun at peak hours, and proper lamp shades and careful placement to avoid direct exposure to light bulbs. • Manage nighttime risks. In the middle of the night, darkness can hide tripping hazards or other dangers. Consider improvements such as nightlights, motion-activated lights, glow-in-the-dark switches, and strategically placed flashlights. residentialhomehealth.com
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the ‘MAGIC WORD’ in patient care When a child wants something, we may ask, ‘What’s the magic word?’ As adults, getting the attention or results we want is not always so easy. But for patients coping with serious disease, there is such a magic word: ‘palliative care.’ Most patient treatment is ‘curative,’ intended to help the body heal. But some chronic conditions come with other challenges, like pain, difficulty eating, stress, or side effects of curative treatment. The purpose of palliative care is to tackle these immediate symptoms and improve quality of life, working in tandem with existing treatments. (Importantly, palliative care is different from hospice care, whose primary focus is providing comfort, dignity, and companionship at the end of life, without any curative treatments.) Qualified Medicare patients are 100% covered for palliative care services, which include managing pain, combating side effects, and providing emotional support and education. And it all starts with the magic word.
Is Residential Home Health’s ComfortPath palliative program right for you? Call (866)902-4000 or visit residentialhomehealth.com/pain-and-symptom-management to learn more.
real-life
results A new diagnosis or treatment can come with intimidating new instructions and routines, tempting us to stick to old habits that feel ‘safe.’ For one Residential Home Health patient, the support and encouragement of her dedicated care team helped her make a big change for the better. The patient’s health history included many diagnoses, treatments, and hospitalizations. She had been sedentary for the past few years; in fact, she would call out to her daughter just to bring her a drink of water from the next room. These deeply ingrained habits kept the patient resistant to beginning an exercise plan. In fact, her first physical therapy session was cut short after walking about twenty feet made her ill. The patient later phoned her physical therapist to cancel future sessions; however, she was not about to allow fear or discomfort to get the best of her. An empowering conversation about her goals led her to give therapy another try, and the results were life-changing. By the end of her care plan, the patient was exercising daily as well as doing many household chores herself. The encouragement of her Residential Home Health Care Team gave her the motivation and tools she needed to gain back much of her independence — even going out for dinner with family again. residentialhomehealth.com
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Nutrition Tip At the grocery store, you may wonder whether to spend extra on organic produce. The primary concern is how much residue remains from pesticides and chemicals used in the growing process. If these concentrations are high, buying organic is recommended. The following lists show fruits and vegetables that should be bought organic due to high concentrations of chemicals and pesticides (left), as well as produce that typically does not have such high concentrations, and does not necessarily need to be organic (right).
Buy Organic Non-Organic OK
Apple Peach Nectarine Strawberry Blueberry Celery Cucumber Grape Tomato Sweet Bell Pepper Hot Pepper Spinach Kale Collard Greens White Potato
Cantaloupe Grapefruit Kiwi Pineapple Mango Papaya Avocado Onion Cabbage Cauliflower Asparagus Sweet Corn Sweet Potato
For more diet and health tips, as well as healthy recipes, visit the Residential Home Health blog at blog.residentialhomehealth.com.
residential service
spotlight
Did you know that the exclusive Residential Nurse Alert mobile alert system is not only for current Residential Home Health patients? In fact, anyone can enjoy the assurance of our ANYTIME - ANYWHERE - ANYTHING emergency assistance as well as speedy and convenient physician/care team access!
Mobile: Cellular-enabled technology means you’re covered well beyond just your home Available 24/7: Easily connect to a nurse whenever needed Convenient: Two-way communication through the pendant or belt clip Personalized: Provide specific instructions for emergency response and caregiver notifications Risk-free: No contract required and the return shipping cost is covered Easy: To set up, just push the button; to charge, plug into an electrical outlet
Call (866)902-4000 at any time to talk with a nurse about Residential Nurse Alert, or if you want your Residential Home Health Care Team to come out and care for you again. residentialhomehealth.com
phone: (866) 902-4000
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Editor’s Note At Residential Home Health, we aim not only to provide care, but also to educate and equip our patients to maintain their best health in the safety and comfort of home. This issue of Residential Review is no exception — with information that can come in handy for food shopping, nighttime safety, finding the right level of care for you, and more.
Should you ever need home care, call (866)902-4000 to speak with a Residential nurse — 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can also visit us online at residentialhomehealth.com for additional resources, videos, and articles.
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