#Water, water, all around

    

Photo by Rebepoi

Water, water, all around, how much should you drink?

 

Everybody knows that drinking water is important, especially in a warm climate like ours in California.  And you know that encouraging your client to drink water is also very important.  But after pouring them a nice cool glass of water, or iced tea, or some juice, are you making sure that they are drinking it???  Try adding flavoring if straight water doesn’t appeal to you or your client, but do pour some water for each of you, and enjoy it together.

Many of us don’t recognize we’re thirsty, thinking instead that we are hungry.  Food does contain a certain amount of water, but even if we are not thirsty, consuming water is essential to our well-being – it keeps our bodily systems working correctly, our skin hydrated and supple, and drinking replenishes the liquid we lose when we perspire.  Water is approximately 60% of every individual’s body mass!  If you are not drinking straight water, you are not getting enough!  If your client is not drinking straight water, they are not getting enough.  Six glasses a day is recommended, but even three or four glasses a day is good.  We recommend that water at room temperature is even better than ice-cold because it is easier to drink more of it.  To your good health!

 

 

Ideas to help people with dementia get into the shower:

This is Hadas, I am one of the owners of CarenetLA. I am also a gerontology certified registered nurse. One of the common issues many people with dementia face is a fear of water. It is not something anyone has been able to explain, but, for some reason, it is something that a great majority of people with dementia face. 

 

Getting an adult person with dementia into the shower can be a challange. In order to make it easier, make sure the bathroom is warm, the door is closed (privacy is very important), the towel and clean clothes are ready, and the time of day is convenient for the person getting bathed. Body language and tone of voice are very important when suggesting the person get into the shower. Stay positive, offer rewards (an outing or a favorite snack following the shower), and be calm. If the person with dementia refuses to get into the shower, try again at another time.

 

Stay tuned for more good tips on this and similar topics!

LINDA TAYLOR JOINS OUR OFFICE STAFF

Please help me in welcoming Linda Taylor to our office staff.  Linda is also my wife and the mother of our daughter, Hadas whom you all know.  She recently retired from a long and successful career with a non-profit agency.  Linda has been a member of our Board of Directors since the beginning of our company and brings with her many years of experience which we will all benefit from.  So, when you hear her English accent on the phone, don’t think that it is a wrong number.  Linda is originally from London, England.  She has been in this country for over 25 years.  Linda will be calling clients to introduce herself and see where improvements can be made to our operating procedures. 

Happy Thanksgiving from CarenetLA!

The CarenetLA Family would like to wish you and your family a very special Thanksgiving holiday!

Tips to Help #SeniorCitizens Cope During the #Holidays!

The holidays is supposed to be about companionship and sharing good times. However, sometimes senior citizens need help to cope with the loss of loved ones or being alone during the holidays. 

This video by Alvarado Hospital's Dr. Hanid Audish, provides tips for helping seniors better cope with the holiday blues.

7 Essential Do’s and Don’ts for People Caring for Caregivers

By Lisa Lopez

(Page 1 of 3)

One year ago, my father was diagnosed with Wernicke–Korsakoff syndrome, a form of dementia resulting from chronic alcohol abuse. My dad, who worked hard his entire life, raised a family and built a strong reputation in his community, spent the last 10 years of his life succumbing to this terrible disease that befalls so many.  After the official dementia diagnosis, I was appointed his guardian and my family and I made the excruciating decision to place him in an assisted living facility. This past year, I’ve experienced everything from anger to guilt, from optimism to despair.

Since becoming one of my dad’s caregivers, the people I’ve leaned on the most are my friends. Somehow, my friends just get it. I don’t need to tell them what questions to ask, when to ask them or when to leave me alone. In the beginning, however, my husband and some other close family members had to be reminded how to react to the very fragile and stressed side of me. I am happy to report that after a few meetings of the mind and heart, my own circle of caregivers, including husband and family, is right on track. I decided to write this article to provide some tips to the wonderful people who are caring for caregivers.

The Do’s and Don’ts:

1. DO LISTEN - It may seem like a simple concept; but for some people, the idea of listening can be a hard job. Once, early on in my dad’s journey, I returned home from one of the worst days of my life. The day involved a neurologist, an escape attempt by my father and a deputy sheriff. You get the picture.  

When I walked into my house that evening, I was distraught and grief-stricken. My poor husband had no idea how to react to me.  When I tried to describe the day, his response was, “Well, you’re home now. Don’t worry about it.” He then proceeded to watch TV. After a little yelling and a lot of crying on my part, we came to an understanding. A word of advice to those caring for caregivers:  when your loved one is stressed or wants to talk about their day, just listen. Stop what you’re doing and give them your full attention. You don’t even have to speak. A hug every once in a while wouldn’t hurt either!

2. DON’T OFFER UNSOLICITED ADVICE –This is another toughie for the folks who love and care about caregivers. It’s hard because you hate to see your loved one in pain. Each time the caregiver in your life comes to you with another problem or unpleasant situation, you try to fix it. It’s very common and well-intentioned. In my case, a few family members were very eager to give unsolicited advice.

Read the full article

This article is brought to you by Today's Caregiver.

A Jewelry Candles #Giveaway! Open to US. Ends: 12/2/12 *For Two Winners*

CarenetLA really enjoys sharing these Jewelry Candle Giveaways! This one is LIVE and you are welcome to enter this giveaway by submitting your entries in the Rafflecopter form provided down below. We hope you are gearing up for the Thanksgiving Holiday week and we wanted to give our readers, guests, and caregivers a chance to win 1 of the 2 prizes being put up as prizes by Elitemama. Good Luck to You!

Giveaway sponsored by Elitemama

Jewelry Candles was inspired by the famous classic movie, Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Instead of having golden tickets inside of a chocolate bar, you will find jewelry in all natural soy candles. 

Inside of all the candles there is a hidden jewel that can be worth anywhere from $10 to $7,500. You could find a ring, necklace, pendant, bracelet, or even a pair of earrings. You never know what you will get inside of your candle, but you will always find a gorgeous piece of jewelry =)

Jewelry Candles are made with 100% natural soy and premium quality fragrances are used so they all smell great. The candles are huge! They are 21 oz and have a burn time anywhere from 110 hours to 150 hours so you get a lot of bang and fragrance for your buck. Each candle is hand poured with love from Louisville, Kentucky.

Elitemama's Review:

The best part about the Fall season is the beautiful smells. The smell of the leaves fill the air as they hit the ground and the air becomes crisp. Fall is the perfect season to have your scented candles going. The joy of filling your house with fall scents gives you a warm feeling inside. Well, for me it does =)

The candle I received for review was the Pumpkin Spice candle.

The Pumpkin Spice candle smells amazing! When I had opened the candle for the first time, the smell right away reminded me of pumpkin pie. My husband loves the smell of the candle. The smell traveled from one room to another leaving a heavenly pumpkin smell lingering in the house. There times where I had walked outside, stepped back in the house and I could smell the candle. The candle is not over-powering, pungent, or harsh. It gives your senses the illusion that you are actually making some pumpkin pie.

Well, after about 2 hours or so, the goodies started become visible in the candle.

The corner picture on the top left shows you the ring wrapped in the plastic baggie. I tried getting a picture of the foil showing through the wax when it was in the candle, but my phone was being weird, lol. Anyways, once I removed the ring from the little baggie, I rinsed the ring off because it was covered in wax. There was no issue cleaning it because the wax was still moist so it was easy to maintain.

Once the ring was cleaned, it was beautiful! As you can see from the pictures above, it has a blue gem in the center and then there is a leaf like design on the side. The gem, depending on the lighting and how you look at it can either look blue, black or purple. The details on the side like I said looks like a leaf and when you look closely at it, you can see little diamonds in it. It is a gorgeous ring!

Giveaway:

There will be two winners! One winner will receive a mystery Jewelry Candle and the second winner will receive a mystery jewel from Jewelry Candles. To enter, fill out the rafflecopter form below. You must be 18 years or older to enter. Giveaway begins 11/18 and ends 12/2. Open to the United States only. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Oral Health for Senior Citizens

Oral health and dental maintenance for senior citizens continue to be important as well. It is important that they see their dentists as often as prescribed to insure good teeth and gum health. In this video by the American Dental Association, they explain the importance of good oral health and hygiene.

Diabetic Foot Care Tips

By Dr. Tamara D. Fishman

1. Never soak your feet.
   
   
2. Never apply heat of any kind to your feet.
   
   
3. Never cut your own toenails, refer to a podiatrist or medical doctor.
   
   
4. Never go barefoot.
   
   
5. Never assume that the circulation or sensation in your feet is normal.
   
   
6. Never use strong medications on your feet (be careful of over-the- counter preparations).
   
   
7. Never allow corns or calluses to go untreated.
   
   
8. Never perform bathroom surgery on your feet.
   
   
9. Never wear shoes that do not fit properly.
   
   
10. Always wear white socks, as colored socks contain dyes.
    
    
11. Wear acrylic fiber socks, which are actually more absorbent than cotton as it "wicks" moisture way from the skin.
    
    
12. Never keep your feet too moist or dry.
    
    
13. Seek medical attention immediately if you have any questions about or problems with your feet.
    
    
    

    This article is brought to you by Today's Caregiver.

Happy #Veterans Day 2012! (Observed)

Happy Veterans Day

To: All Who Served

From: The CarenetLA Family