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The Growth of One Alzheimer's Caregiver. I Wish.....  

Alzheimer's Reading Room By Bob DeMarco

 

~ Carrie Snow  

Farewell Vilma!  

Vilma E. Beyer, 91, wife of the late Walter E. Beyer, died Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at MidState Medical Center. Born in Meriden on March 22, 1920, she was the daughter of the late George and Mary (Bizon) Homich and was a lifelong Meriden resident. She graduated from Meriden High School, Class of 1938 and attended Miss. Marchand's Secretarial School. Mrs. Beyer was employed by the Greater Meriden Chamber of Commerce for 26 years, retiring in 1982.

She was a parishioner of St. Mary Church and was a member of the Church Council. She was also a member of the St. Elizabeth Society, Meriden Council of Catholic Women, AARP Chapter 2654, and was an avid traveler, having visited most of the European countries, as well as Central America and the Islands. She was a volunteer for the Humane society for many years.

She is survived by her niece, Sara Sue Wells and her husband Collis of Northport, AL; nephew, Lt. Col. George H. Homich, USAF Ret., and his wife Karla of Mathews, VA; two grand nieces, Lauren Giddings of Gloucester, VA and Ashley Kizler of Alexandria, VA; grand nephew, George H. Homich, Jr. of Portsmouth, VA; two great-grand nieces, Emily Denton and Hannah Rose Denton; and great-grand nephew, Alexander H. Giddings, all of Gloucester, VA. Vilma was predeceased by a brother, Lt. Col. George E. Homich, USAF Ret., and her sister, Mary M. Homich.

Up and Dancing Bright and Early! 

How Pets Help Senior Citizens

  By Rebecca Sweat 

Animals Provide Family and Friendship

"Pets are an important form of social contact," says Dr. Alan Beck, director of the Center for Human-Animal Bond at the School of Veterinary Medicine at Purdue University. "For older people who may be less mobile and who have few or limited companions, animals provide family and friendship, something to care for and to be recognized by."

Everyone, young and old, he says, has a real need to nurture something or someone. "This need to nurture does not stop when our children are grown or are no longer babies, or when our grandchildren are grown," Beck says. "The nice thing about a pet is that she may grow older, but she will never grow up. She will always be your baby."

Studies Show Pets Boost Physical Health

A growing number of researchers believe that pets also help boost physical health. Over the last two decades, studies have linked pet ownership with increased chances of survival after a heart attack and reducing blood pressure. Others have shown that pets can sometimes help people with Alzheimer's.

According to Dr. Lynette Hart, associate professor at the University of California

"Nick has brought a lot of love into my life," says Mary Miller, a retired schoolteacher from Phoenix, Ariz. "Even if I'm having a really bad day, I always feel better after a few minutes of snuggling on the sofa with Nick."

There are hundreds of thousands of other senior citizens across the country who feel the same way about their pets. But the scientific community has also started weighing in on the subject-and its praise almost equals that of the owners.

 Read full article... 

"blessed is the person who has earned
the love of an old dog"  

~ Sidney Jeanne Seward  

KUDOS from Kelly

 By Kelly McNamara     

Stella Asante  Stella had the privilege of being V B's caregiver for the past year and also her final caregiver. She brought so much life into what turned out to be V B's final year. The extra special holiday celebrations with her wonderful family joining her and V B for the festivities. A new large tree at Christmas, a sumptuous Thanksgiving feast, a puppy to cuddle and sleep on her lap. The wonderful food she prepared every day since she is such an amazing cook was much appreciated by V B. Her weight during Stella's care was at an all time high! And finally, sharing V B's final night and staying with her through the ambulance ride and being with her when she died. Caring for VB for a year then making sure she did not die alone but in the company of someone who cared about her so much defines excellence in care giving. Thanks Stella for dong such a wonderful job!

 Providers We Love   

We are privileged to have received referrals from and be able to coordinate care with many Assisted Living facilities, rehab facilities, and Medicare Home Care and Hospice agencies. Our growth is in large part due to the trust the staff in these organizations have put in our caregivers.  We are likewise impressed with them and we are committed to referring to them on a regular basis. 

We are always proud to refer our clients to Vitas Hospice. Their beautiful new acute care inpatient unit at St Mary's is just another reason to refer folks there who are struggling with their family members café under hospice. Vitas has distinguished itself on its response time, its amazing and unique Veterans program and its commitment to providing continuous care (24 hour care by Vitas staff LPNs or CNAs at Medicare's expense). Continuous Care is provided by Vitas when clients are actively dying or need short-term symptom management. The vast majority of people have expressed their desire to end their lives at home in peace and comfort. Vitas excels in this area. We are proud to be a referral partner.

Emeritus also has facilities in Woodbridge, South Windsor, and Rocky Hill.They were recently voted the Best Assisted Living Communities in CT. It is easy to see how they earned this award. All their facilities boast lovely exteriors, inviting interiors, personable, helpful and competent staff, great food, and varying levels of care to meet the specific needs of an aging population.

We take our recommendations of providers very seriously. Please consider our favorites in deciding care for yourself or your family members. We would choose any of them for our loved ones.