Assisting Angels Masthead Revised2
CARING Connections June 2011

In This Issue

 

 For the First Time in Almost 3 Decades: New Alzheimer's Diagnosis Criteria  

 

"Sleeping In" Bad for the Brain? 


Government Report Shows Elder Abuse on the Rise

 

Top Father's Day Tech Gifts for Seniors 

The Generational Gap

 

Mind the Gap
Mind the Gap

Watch this poignant award winning video on how misunderstandings between generations can lay the foundation for stereotypes and how with ageism, there are two sides to every story.

Watch Video

 

fathersdayTop Father's Day Tech Gifts for Seniors

 
 

As technology becomes increasingly intuitive, seniors are really starting to embrace some of these user-friendly gadgets.

Father's Day is coming up soon, so check out this list of gift ideas for Dad from Eldergadget.

Recipe of the Month

 

June is "Dairy Month," so I am sharing a recipe with you that uses dairy products, and it is oh, so tasty. Enjoy!

White Chicken Enchiladas

CHICKEN ENCHILADAS WITH WHITE SAUCE 

 

Ingredients:

2 whole chicken breasts, cooked and shredded

1 lb. Monterey Jack cheese, grated

1 (3 oz.) can (mild) chopped green chilies

2 cans cream of chicken soup

1 pt. sour cream

1/2 lb. Cheddar cheese, grated

1 dozen flour tortillas

 

Toss together chicken, Jack cheese, and chilies. Mix together soup and sour cream. Heat vegetable oil in a fry pan over medium heat. Fry each tortilla very quickly on both sides (only to soften).

 

 Put about 1/4 cup of chicken filling in center. Add 1 tablespoon soup mixture. Fold sides in, then roll. Place, seam down, in oblong baking dish. Repeat with each tortilla. Spread the remainder of soup over all. Top with Cheddar cheese.Bake at 350°F for about 45 minutes.

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Greetings! 

Note: We are resending this to you with minor corrections. Our apologies.

Assisting Angels is proud to introduce our newest staff member.
 
Brad CloseBrad Close,
Registered Nurse 

Prior to coming to Assisting Angels Home Care, Brad Close graduated from Brigham Young University/Idaho with his Associates of Science degree in Nursing. As the head lab lead he taught sterile technique to 160 students and managed 8 lab tutors with their teaching abilities and protocols. Although he enjoyed the freezing temperatures, he likes the weather in Boise much more. He has lived in California, Idaho and Ghana (a small country in West Africa). 

Currently, he is working on his Bachelors of Science in Nursing degree online. He is also preparing for his and his wife Ashley's first baby that is due in mid-November. He enjoys spending time with his wife, the "bun in the oven," and his in-laws, as they live here in the Boise area. His hobbies include hiking, fishing, hunting and home-improvement and, of course, if you have seen or met him, basketball!.

Warm regards,

Assisting Angels Home Care

alzheimersFor the First Time in Almost 3 Decades:

Diagnosis

New Alzheimer's Diagnosis Criteria

 New guidelines for diagnosing Alzheimer's disease were recently published by several expert workgroups under the direction of the National Institutes of Aging and the National Institutes on Health.  The research done by these groups provides a new definition for Alzheimer's and may even move researchers closer to being able to detect the disease at earlier stages. It also breaks the disease down into three progressive phases with Alzheimer's indicators that begin years earlier than those in previous research.

 This article from the Alzheimer's Reading Room provides an overview of the published research and a breakdown of some of the key points of the new diagnosis criteria.

sleeping"Sleeping In" Bad for the Brain?

sleeping_badWe all know how important a good night's sleep is, but what you may not realize is that according to research, getting less than six or more than eight hours of sleep a night is associated with a decline in brain function. Participants in a British sleep study were thoroughly tested and questioned about their sleep patterns, and over the course of several years, those who reported that their sleep patterns increased to eight or more hours or decreased to six or less scored lower on a number of cognitive tests. The conclusion is that sleep, like diet and exercise, is all about balance.

For more information on sleep research and cognitive functions, read this article from Caring.com.

To view an abstract of the study or purchase the entire report, click here.

Government Government Report Shows Elder Abuse on the Rise

AbuseAccording to recent surveys, approximately one in seven seniors in the U.S. has been physically, emotionally, or financially abused. This terrible issue was brought into the spotlight recently when elder Hollywood star, Mickey Rooney, came forth to tell Congress about the abuse he experienced at the hands of a family member.

MMickey Rooneyr. Rooney told the Senate Special Committee on Aging, "Even with [my] success, my money was stolen from me by someone close. I felt trapped, scared, used and frustrated. Above all, I felt helpless." Unfortunately, financial elder abuse like Mr. Rooney experienced is far too common, with nearly $2.6 billion in elders' savings and investments being mishandled or stolen in 2010.
 

While Rooney's public revelation brought elder abuse into the light, there may still be a long road ahead in obtaining significant legislation. State agencies are overwhelmed with the growing number of cases as more people live to more advanced ages. But Rooney's case may have helped other victims, those who are usually too proud or humiliated to come forth, to speak out and get help if they find themselves in a similar situation.

To read more about Mickey Rooney's testimony and the government's response, click here.

Read the full report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office.

 
 

Brenda Critell, President / CEO
Certified Senior Advisor (CSA)®
A native of Boise, Idaho and a 4th generation Idahoan.





Skip Critell, Executive Vice President Director of Operations for the Treasure Valley.





Brad Close
Bradley Close, RN
Provides care plans for direct care services, and is the nursing supervisor for direct care services.

                        

Sonya Harris

 

Sonya Harris, Client Care Coordinator

Provides quality client care and supervision of direct care services for the Treasure Valley.

 

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About Assisting Angels Home Care  

Assisting Angels Home Care Partners, prides itself on being at the cutting edge of high quality services for the elderly who choose to remain at home in Idaho and is locally owned and operated by Brenda Critell and Skip Critell. Assisting Angels Home Care  encompasses life enrichment for the elderly and for the organization's exceptional caregivers. The Assisting Angels Home Care experience is about extraordinary, long-term relationships based on trust, consistency and a unique social model of aging and care.

Visit www.AssitingAngels.biz or call 208.344.7979 (Boise), or 208.733.2550 (Twin Falls) for more information.