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Happy New Year!

Sticking to New Year Resolutions

Now that 2012 is finally here, the first thing that comes to mind is "What is my New Year Resolution going to be?" We all make resolutions to lose weight, stop smoking, save money and travel the world, yet many of us end up breaking our resolutions just as quickly as we make them. Here are a few tips that may help you stick to your New Year's Resolution and making 2012 the best year yet.

1. Be Realistic

Don't make a resolution that isn't suitable for your lifestyle. Make one that you can incorporate into your schedule, even if you have to work a little harder to make it work. Remember, these resolutions are supposed to make you happy! Set goals for yourself that aren't too far fetched.

2. Set Specific and Measurable Goals for Yourself

When you make specific goals, it is easier to track your success (or setbacks) and keep yourself on track. For example, don't just say, "I want to lose weight". A specific goal would be, "I will lose 10 pounds this month". Keep a journal of your weekly workouts or eating habits so that you may track your progress more effectively.

3. Share your Resolution with a Friend

Anything can be fun if you do it with the right person. Friends keep us inspired and enthusiastic about accomplishing our goals. If your resolution is to try new things, for example, sign up for a cooking lesson together. It will feel less like a resolution and more like quality time with a good friend.

4.Come up with a Plan Before New Year's

When you map out your resolution before January rolls around, you're able to mentally and physically prepare yourself. It will be much easier than diving right into it and not knowing what to expect, which will likely lead to immediate failure.

5. Keep your Goals in Sight (Literally)

If your resolution is to budget yourself better, keep a little index card in your wallet with a message saying, "Do I really need this?". That will save you from those impulse purchases. If you're trying to quit smoking, hang a picture of a black lung on your bedroom door. Get creative!

As a caregiver, you may want to share a resolution with the person you care for. If your resolution has anything to do with improved health, click here for information on keeping a senior active and healthy. 

Presently, there are five FDA-approved Alzheimer's drugs that treat the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease- temporarily helping memory and thinking problems in about half of the people who take them. But these medications do not treat the underlying causes of Alzheimer's.

In contrast, many of the new drugs in development aim to modify the disease process itself, by impacting one or more of the many wide-ranging brain changes that Alzheimer's causes. These changes offer potential "targets" for new drugs to stop or slow the progress of the disease. Many researchers believe successful treatment will eventually involve a "cocktail" of medications aimed at several targets, similar to current state-of-the-art treatments for many cancers and AIDS.

Researchers are looking for new ways to treat Alzheimer's disease. Current drugs may help mask the symptoms of Alzheimer's, but do not treat the underlying disease. A breakthrough Alzheimer's drug would treat the underlying disease and stop or delay the cell damage that eventually leads to the worsening of symptoms. There are several promising drugs in development and testing, but more volunteers are needed to complete clinical trails of those drugs and increase federal funding of research to ensure that fresh ideas continue to fill the pipeline.

 -Alzheimer's Association

Click here to learn more about the treatment of Alzheimer's.

9 Tips on Caring for the Caregiver

In every 10 households, at least one of the family member's is a caregiver. In the United States today, there are 34 million of them. 

Over half are women and many are children! They're looking after someone who can't fully take care of himself or herself. In some cases, it's a temporary disability. In other cases, it's a progressive disability, like Alzheimer's disease. In many, it is terminal. And in almost every case, the caregiver makes a huge and commendable effort looking after the care-receiver.

Caregivers are magnificent and generous people, but they stubbornly look after themselves last, very much to their detriment. Here are some helpful tips that may improve your health conditions.

1. Compromise

It's not always easy, but work hard to avoid family fights and resentment. Don't let old wounds or issues pull your family apart. This is a time to stick together and make compromises.

2. Coordinate

If you're a family member or close friend, consider offering your services if you have a particular skill that might be helpful. Perhaps you are familiar with submitting insurance claims or the complexities of Medicare or Medicaid? If you are a caregiver, allow your neighbor to shop or run errands when they offer. Take advantage of the extra time and do something special for yourself.

3. Encourage

Encourage the caregiver to find some type of professional support. If he or she is not comfortable with in-person support groups, suggest online support. There is a wide variety of resources available in most communities. Do the research for them and then pass it along. If you are a caregiver, consider for a moment that although your experience is unique, others have traveled a similar path and might offer inspiration and strength.

To review the last six Caregiver Tips, click here now.

ElderCare at Home encourages our caregivers to really help our clients as well as their families. Part of care giving involves keeping your loved one happy. Here is a simple craft project that caregivers can perform with someone that has Alzheimer's disease.

Clipping coupon is a great way to pass the time, stimulate the mind, and save some money.

Materials: Coupon books, newspapers, safe scissors, envelopes

Instructions:

1. Go through each paper and pull out the inserts and ads. Check carefully for any coupon inserts. Check the whole paper because sometimes there may be extra inserts stuffed in there that you weren't expecting.

2. Now, sort them into separate stacks by the insert

3. Label the envelopes by the kind of coupons you are clipping. For example some categories may be: Cleaning supplies, Dinner food, Frozen food, etc.

4. Carefully clip the coupons with kid safe scissors and put it in the appropriate envelope.

ElderCare at Home CNA Spotlight

Rosemonde Josephat 

Rosemonde Josephat has been a Certified Nurses Assistant (CNA) at ElderCare at Home since January 2011. The CNA Spotlight should definitely be awarded to Rosemonde. She is the epitome of what an ElderCare caregiver should be! 

   Holiday Fundraiser Winner

Each year, ElderCare at Home sponsors and participates in the Alzheimers Association's Memory Walk. The Memory Walk raises money that goes towards research for eventually finding a cure to Alzheimer's disease. 

This event could not be any closer to ElderCare's heart. We want to raise as much money as possible to put towards finding our clients a cure to this disease and return them to enjoying a better quality of life. 

ElderCare at Home started fundraising in December by selling raffle tickets to win a Christmas tree decorated with $100 worth of lottery tickets! We picked a raffle ticket on December 23rd, 2011 and the winner was..................

 

Sandra Guerrier

 

  Click on the photo to view more

 

Congratulations Sandra (she ended up winning $65.00 from the Lottery Tree) and thank you to everyone who made a donation. If you would like to make a contribution to the ElderCare Memory Walk Team, please contact us at 800-209-4342. We would love for you to help us find a cure for our clients.