Greetings!
As a new year begins, it is natural to cast a wide view on the previous year's accomplishments while trying to predict the innovations ahead. This is an exciting time in which to live, with technological and medical advancements for seniors and health care happening all around us. At the same time, Aunt Ann's Home Care would like to remind you to take a look at the power of the small, everyday actions that make such a difference in seniors' lives. Make a resolution this year to spend extra quality time with a cherished senior. It will certainly be a promise you won't regret.
In a spirit of sharing and community, we hope you will find the following articles in this month's newsletter informative and beneficial.
Thank you,
Vicki Paul
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 OT House Calls
Aunt Ann's Home Care is pleased to introduce OT House Calls, www.othousecalls.com. OT House Calls is an in-home therapy company comprised of licensed occupational therapists, trained to help people live safely and independently in their own home. OT House Calls will assess the daily activities that are important and necessary to each client. Their therapy service is unique due to the fact that they work with their clients prior to a health problem, fall or injury with the mutual goal of prevention.
Contact Sarah Eggen-Thornhill @680-464-4429, DeeDee Clarke @ 650-868-9438 or email othousecalls@hotmail.com. Check-out the yummie cookie recipe below, provided by Sarah!!
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 2011 Top Medical Innovations: Detecting Alzheimer's
Each year the Cleveland Clinic selects the Top 10 Medical Innovations. For 2011, a new molecular imaging biomarker for early detection of Alzheimer's disease tops the list. It is the discovery of a new radioactive compound that allows doctors to "see" inside of a patient's brain that makes this finding such an important discovery. Currently, positive diagnosis of Alzheimer's is only possible upon autopsy.
Read the Top 10 Medical Innovations for 2011.
Visit the Cleveland Clinic.
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 Remote Monitoring Future is Now
Sensor networks placed in homes made their debut in hospitals and assisted living centers and are now available and affordable in homes to help remote family members keep track and communicate with aging parents.
There are a variety of systems available which can monitor many things, from motion in specific areas to alerts and reports on medicine compliance.
One article from the Oregon Center for Aging & Technology believes that, for a senior, monitored life will become the norm.
Read the full article here.
"Patient Education: Future Family: Life In The Digital Age", Part 2 is a great video on remote monitoring and also includes a segment on the new GPS shoes. This is a long video (13 minutes) but worth it. Other systems in addition to the Grand Care system that is mentioned in the video are BeClose and Well Aware.
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 Is it a plane? No, it's Super Granny
Enjoy some photos from a French photographer whose initial goal was to help his lonely 91-year old Hungarian grandmother smile. Sacha Goldberger wanted to cheer her up, so he suggested a photo shoot to get her out of a depressed and lonely feeling.
These may be more professional than you could do, but the idea to get creative while spending time with a loved senior can take many forms. The photos were so popular, they have gone viral, so there is a second posting with even more to enjoy.
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 Prescription and Over the Counter Med Info
Resources for looking up prescription as well as over the counter drug information allow for in-depth information on side effects, new drugs available and clinical studies.
www.rxlist.com
www.drugwatch.com
Assistance Paying for Medicines
Two resources for finding help meeting the cost of medicine.
www.needymeds.org
www.pparx.org
Best buys for medications
Research is available through Consumer Reports' online system:
www.consumerreports.org/health
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