Unleash the Power of The Press

dementia

Paul Raia, PhD Speaks About “Alzheimer’s Perfect Storm” at Old Colony Elder Services

May is Older Americans Month and the Administration on Aging (AoA), an agency of the U.S. Administration for Community Living, has announced that this year’s theme is “Unleash the Power of Age”.

According to the AoA, “People across our nation are achieving remarkable things in later life. Many older adults are experts in their fields, have years of valuable experience, and are using that knowledge to improve the lives of others.”

In honor of Older Americans Month, Old Colony Elder Services (OCES), a private, non-profit agency designated as an Aging Services Access Point (ASAP), hosted a talk by Paul Raia, PhD, an innovator and renowned expert in the field of dementia.

Dr. Raia spoke to OCES staff and board members about the “Alzheimer’s Perfect Storm”; he shared definitions and demographics, current research and Habilitation Therapy, an approach that he developed more than 20 years ago that is now accepted as the best standard of care.

Dr. Raia has been directing patient care and family support at the Alzheimer’s Association for over 22 years, and now serves as vice president of clinical programs at the MA/NH Chapter. He developed the Habilitation Therapy approach to dementia, which focuses on the patient’s emotions and their remaining capacities. As a frequent contributor to various publications and journals, Dr. Raia has written primarily on dementia as a treatable condition. He serves on the Editorial Board of the American Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease and frequently appears as an expert on Alzheimer’s for television, radio and print news media. Dr. Raia has been recognized by several organizations for his distinguished service receiving awards from The Massachusetts Gerontology Association, the Massachusetts State Legislature, the Alzheimer’s Association, the Massachusetts Bar Association and the Massachusetts Homecare Association.

“Dr. Raia is a pioneer in the field of dementia and we were very fortunate to have him as a guest speaker to share his vast knowledge of Alzheimer’s Disease, research and Habilitation Therapy,” noted Diana DiGiorgi, Executive Director of OCES.

About OCES

Founded in 1974, OCES serves 20 towns in Plymouth County as well as Avon, Easton and Stoughton. OCES is a private, non-profit organization located in Brockton and designated as one of 27 Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The organization’s mission is to support the independence and dignity of elders and individuals with disabilities by providing essential information and services that promote healthy and safe living.

The agency has 169 employees and operates more than 15 programs serving elders, individuals with disabilities, their families and caregivers. For more information call (508) 584-1561 or visit the website at www.oldcolonyelderservices.org.

Paul Raia, PhD Speaks About “Alzheimer’s Perfect Storm” at Old Colony Elder ServicesRead More

Aging Parent Needs Assistance? Right At Home Advises of the Top 10 Signs and Online Assessment Tool

Libet Callahan, RN, BSN, president of the South Shore office of Right at Home
Holiday visit or wellness check? The answer is both. The holidays are often a time for happy reunions with aging parents, aunts and uncles who you haven’t seen in months or perhaps even years. A holiday visit is the perfect time to assess how your loved one is doing because you are able to look for visual clues indicating signs of decline that you would not be able to glean through a telephone call.

Libet Callahan, RN, BSN, president of the South Shore office of Right at Home, providers of non-medical in-home care services to seniors and disabled adults throughout the South Shore, advises family members of the 10 signs to watch for that are a cause for concern:

Weight loss

Not maintaining his/her personal appearance and hygiene

Not remembering when to take medication and not knowing what condition each medication is treating

Not eating nutritious meals or not eating at all

Food in the refrigerator or on the shelves that is past its expiration date or molding

Not maintaining the home by doing chores such as cleaning bathrooms, washing floors or regular vacuuming

Not paying bills – unpaid or unopened piles of bills are a red flag

Not taking proper care of a pet

Avoiding or having difficulty ascending/descending steps

Limiting contact with or lacking an interest in the outside world

According to Ms. Callahan, “Ultimately, a single, isolated sign doesn’t necessarily mean your loved one is in trouble. Sometimes you can just feel a change in a person even if you can’t articulate it. If there are numerous signs and you believe that your loved one may be having difficulty, you need to address it with your loved one and other close family members. Your aging loved one may be in need of a number of services – from companionship to personal care and homemaking – and Right at Home can help.”

Single-service care options such as meals-on-wheels or an adult daycare may be enough. But, oftentimes a multi-service provider such as Right At Home is needed to provide the companion, homemaker and personal care services that enable seniors and those with disabilities to remain in the comfort of their home for as long as possible.

If you have concerns about a family member, take Right At Home’s online Care Assessment by visiting http://www.rightathome.net/southshore/. For questions or more information, contact Right At Home at 781-681-3545.

About Right At Home

Right at Home provides non-medical in-home care services to seniors and disabled adults throughout the South Shore. Right At Home is among the first in the state to earn Accreditation from the Home Care Alliance of Massachusetts. As a private-pay home care agency, Right At Home can provide services in settings other than the home, such as in assisted living facilities, continuing care retirement facilities, skilled nursing facilities, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers and hospitals.

Right at Home provides care services of companionship, homemaking, physical assistance, hygiene and wellness. In addition, Right At Home accommodates clients in special care situations providing home care for Alzheimer’s and other dementia, osteoarthritis, hypertension/stroke, diabetes, heart disease, neuromuscular diseases and disorders, cancer recovery, hospice/palliative care support, mental health, traumatic brain injury and paraplegia/quadriplegia. All Right At Home caregivers are fully insured and bonded, must pass a vigorous background check, complete a training program and pass a competency test before being placed with a client.

The company serves the following areas: Abington, Braintree, Bridgewater, Brockton (East Side), Carver, Cohasset, Duxbury, East Bridgewater, Halifax, Hanover, Hanson, Hingham, Holbrook, Hull, Kingston, Marshfield, Middleboro, Milton, Norwell, Pembroke, Plymouth, Plympton, Randolph, Rockland, Scituate, Wareham, Weymouth and Whitman. Right at Home has offices located at 800 Hingham Street, in Rockland, MA and 38 Resnik Road in Plymouth, MA. For more information contact 866-681-3545 or visit the website at http://www.rightathome.net/southshore/.

Aging Parent Needs Assistance? Right At Home Advises of the Top 10 Signs and Online Assessment ToolRead More

Beverly Moore, RN, CS, founder of StilMee, The Leader in Alzheimer Coaching Serves as Keynote Speaker at Caregiver Conference in Orlando

DATELINE: QUINCY, MA AND ORLANDO, FL…

Beverly Moore, RN, CS, founder of StilMee, The leader in Alzheimer coaching of Quincy, MA and author of the book Matters of the Mind…and the Heart, recently gave a keynote speech at the annual Share The Care caregiver conference held at Rosen Plaza Hotel in Orlando, Florida.

Moore, whose company has coached more than 1,400 families in the care of a person with Alzheimer’s or a related disorder and who has more than 40 years of experience teaching and training professionals and para-professionals who specialize in behavior management, presented to an audience of approximately 200. Her presentation, entitled “Circles of Care” focused on family caregivers relinquishing the “me only” attitude and being open to others in sharing in the care of a loved one with dementia. During her presentation, Moore addressed caregivers’ need for validation and the importance of sharing their caregiving responsibilities with those who want to travel the “caregiver journey” with them.

“Although the conference was not specific to Alzheimer’s, I found a large percentage, perhaps 85-90 percent of caregivers were most stressed by behaviors of those with a cognitive disorder, whether due to Alzheimer’s, stroke, Parkinson or the developmental delay of now grown children,” explained Moore. “I’m not sure who received the most; the audience or me. Caregivers are a phenomenal group of people.”

Moore is a professional speaker and is available for educational public presentations, CEU programs, staff training and in-services. Her book for caregivers, Matters of the Mind…and the Heart sold out at the conference and is available online at Advantagebookstore.com.

To schedule a presentation or to learn more about Beverly Moore and StilMee, The leader in Alzheimer coaching, visit www.StilMee.com.

Alzheimer’s Coaching

StilMee, The leader in Alzheimer coaching (formerly Alzheimer Coaching Services) was founded in January of 2000 by Beverly L. Moore, R.N., C.S., who has more than 40 years of experience teaching and training professionals and para-professionals who specialize in behavior management.

The company has coached more than 1,400 families in the care of a person with Alzheimer’s or a related disorder. All coaches are trained, experienced, compassionate professionals who have worked extensively with individuals with dementia and their families and caregivers.

The company serves families throughout eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island area and is headquartered in Quincy, MA. For more information, contact (617) 328-3440 or visit the website at www.Stilmee.com.

Beverly Moore, RN, CS, founder of StilMee, The Leader in Alzheimer Coaching Serves as Keynote Speaker at Caregiver Conference in OrlandoRead More