Helping People Move Forward with Their Lives.
Helping People Move Forward with Their Lives.
a hard time to stay hydrated, so use a calendar or water bottle to track water intake.
If you do fall in your home, the best approach is to ease up on elbows and then on to hands and knees. Crawl to a firm surface such as a chair to use as a support. Face the chair and come up to standing. Turn and ease into the chair. Consider a wearable system, such as Lifeline, in order to immediately access help.
It is important to maintain activity during the winter months. During winter months seniors often limit the amount of exercise and daily activities, which leads to weakness and decreased endurance. If the weather makes it difficult to get out, try an exercise workout to do at home.
To avoid falling outside during the winter months, consider these suggestions:
• Clear steps and walkways of ice and snow. Better yet, hire someone to do it!
• Wear footwear with non-skid soles to prevent slipping or try a shoe cover like a Yak Trak.
• Use icepick type attachments for your cane for traction.
Special Concerns for Those with Alzheimer’ s
As winter approaches, those caring for someone with Alzheimer’ s and other forms of dementia should be on notice that snow and extreme temperatures may present special problems. Wandering is one of the most frequent and challenging problems that caregivers face. Six out of 10 people with Alzheimer’ s will wander. In frigid weather, a person with dementia may not know it’ s cold and leave the home with just light clothing and no shoes. Wandering can be triggered when a person with dementia tries to search for familiar objects, surroundings or people when they no longer recognize their environment. They may believe that they need to go to work or take care of a child. They may be searching for something specific such as food, drink, the bathroom or companionship.
Never assume that being at home with someone who has Alzheimer’ s makes wandering less of an issue. It only takes a moment for someone to leave the house, and the confusion and disorientation that accompany the disease means a friend or loved one can get hopelessly lost in a matter of minutes. Medic Alert + Safe Return is a 24 hour nationwide emergency response service for individuals with dementia or have a medical emergency. Enroll your loved one in this program by calling the Alzheimer’ s Association’ s Helpline: 800- 272-3900 or register online: medicalert. org / safe return.
Medicare Open Enrollment
Medicare open enrollment is currently underway and continues through December 7th. If you have not yet enrolled, the following are a few reminders:
• Make sure to read your“ annual notice of change” letter to help determine if you want to change your Medicare or Prescription plan.
• Are your medications covered next year on your current plan? Is your new doctor in the plan? To find out, go to www. medicare. gov.
• Do you qualify for extra help paying for Medicare? To find out, call 1-800 Medicare and ask for SHIP( State Health Insurance Assistance Program).
• Check each plan’ s star rating. 1 = Poor 5 = Excellent
• If your current plan still meets your need for next year, then you’ re done.
Contributors: Jay Breneman, LSW, LIFE. NWPA, 814.456.5433 Amy Chevalier, Mercy Hilltop Center, 814.824.2214 Terry Pytlarz, Meals on Wheels Erie, 814.452.6930 Lori Davidson, Scales Law Offices, LLC, 814.392.3750
Debbie Wisinski, Alzheimer’ s Association Greater PA Chapter, 814.456.9200
Ron Crist, Hubbard. Bert, Inc., 814.453.3633
Emily Kaminske, LECOM Health VNA of Erie County, 814.454.2831
Julie Hartmann, Gannon University, 814.871.5723
The Niagara Network is a group of business professionals affiliated with the human services industry. If you would like to join or find out more information about the group and its members, visit the Niagara Network’ s web site at http:// www. NiagaraNetwork. net.
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