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 Angel News
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September 2009
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The White House Declares War on Alzheimer's
Because
5.3 million Americans and their families confront this disease every
day, an Office of the National Alzheimer's Project has been added to
the White House. The office will coordinate all research, clinical care
and services for the prevention and cure of Alzheimer's disease, the
sixth leading cause of death in the United States.
The intent in
establishing this office in the White House is to accelerate the
development of cutting edge medical treatments to fight Alzheimer's and
improve patient care.
Get more information here.
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Long Term Care Calculator
Select
a
state and city to get long-term care costs calculated at the link
below. The calculator is designed to help estimate the cost of
long-term
care in specific areas to help in retirement planning.
Try out the calculator here.
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What's Good for the Heart is Good for the Brain
A
new study has found that having borderline to moderately high
cholesterol at midlife could significantly increase a person's risk of
developing dementia later in life.
For
middle-aged people with moderately high cholesterol (200-239 mg/dl),
the risk of developing vascular dementia--the second-most common form
of dementia after Alzheimer's--increases by 52 percent. This new study
adds to a growing body of evidence linking cholesterol to Alzheimer's.
Read more here.
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Greetings!
Getting older doesn't necessarily mean feeling "old". Recent studies
are reporting that "old age" may merely be a perception and that
emotional health often actually improves with age! Couple this with
some interesting new technology and a positive report on the fight
against Alzheimer's disease for some reading we feel sure you'll find
informative and beneficial. Presented in a spirit of sharing and
community, keeping up with the latest advances and information in the
field of senior care is something Visiting Angels of Central Burlington & Mercer Counties takes to heart. We
hope you enjoy the following articles.
Thank you,
Visiting Angels of Central Burlington & Mercer Counties
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Emotional Happiness Improves With Age
 Citing
a 23-year longitudinal study looking at three groups of people, each at
different stages in their lives, researchers who spoke at the 117th
Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association reported
that except for people with dementia-related diseases, emotional health
generally improves with age. Since the fastest-growing segment of the
population is people over age 85, and that population is considered the
most at risk for dementia or frailty, this is great news.
Research
has also shown that older adults exert greater emotional control than
younger adults, meaning older adults are more likely to actively avoid
or limit negative, stressful situations than do younger adults.
However, older adults who are dealing with chronic stressors, such as
caregiving, report high rates of physical symptoms and emotional
distress. Other key reports from the study:
- It acknowledged the importance of social relationships on longevity.
- It
noted that age-related declines in the ability to understand spoken
language are often the result of a decline in hearing, rather than a
decline in brain function.
- It reinforced the findings that even relatively small increases in education pay off in the quality and length of life.
Read more here.
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Strong Muscles Reduce Hospital Visits
 Exercise
programs designed to increase muscle density in the elderly could help
reduce rates of disability and hospitalization, new research published
in the July 2009 issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics
Society suggests. The findings actually suggest that exercises that
improve physical function could help keep more vulnerable seniors out
of the hospital.
People most likely to be hospitalized were those
who scored lowest on measures of physical function, such as walking
speed, ability to stand up from a chair repeatedly, grip strength and
leg strength.
Get more information here.
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A Directional "Smart Cane" in the Works
 Determining
direction and traveling freely from place to place are the biggest
challenges for the more than 1 million people in the United States who
are visually impaired, according to the National Center for Health
Statistics. A group of engineering students have designed a "Smart
Cane" device that detects obstacles and provides navigation cues by
using Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology, the same
technology that some major retailers use to tag merchandise to prevent
theft.
The Smart Cane has an ultrasonic sensor mounted on it and
a messenger-style bag that is worn across the shoulder. A miniature
navigational system inside the bag and the Smart Cane work together to
detect RFID tags located on mini flags sticking out of the ground.
The goal is to develop and implement a fully functional system at Central Michigan University.
Read more here.
To learn more about engineering and technology programs at CMU, visit http://www.et.cmich.edu/.
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Old Age in the Eye of the Beholder
 Not
unexpectedly, younger people tend to have the perception that getting
older happens at a younger age than seniors tend to believe. Some other
recent findings in a national survey completed by the Pew Research
Center to gauge Americans' views on aging:
- People over the
age of 50 tended to answer the survey that they felt as if they were 10
years younger; one third of people 65 to 74 said they felt 10-19 years
younger, and one sixth of people over 75 felt 20 years younger.
- On
average, people believed that old age begins around 68, but
surprisingly few people over 65 agreed - they believed old age began at
75. Interestingly, people under 30 typically said 60 marks the time
when old age starts.
Read more about the study here.
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What's Happening at Visiting Angels
"The Visiting Angels Difference": Lunch & Learn at St. Francis Medical Center
 We successfully presented a "Lunch & Learn" entitled "The Visiting Angels Difference" at St. Francis Medical Center in Trenton. These "Lunch & Learns" are part of an ongoing effort by us to inform case managers, social workers and nurses in hospitals throughout Mercer and Central Burlington Counties of the many unique strengths of our company in delivering exceptional home care.
The presentation, which was given by the "Angels Team" of Nora de Cárdenas and Rudy Tervooren, Co-Owners and Directors, was followed by a lively question and answer session, which made it clear that our unwavering focus on providing top quality care was recognized and well appreciated by all attendees.
Wiley Mission Golf Outing
 Dave Sebra, our Director, Sales & Operations, will be out on the green on September 29th for the Wiley Mission Golf Outing at Little Mill Country Club in Marlton. There will be a gala dinner and silent auction as well. Visiting Angels is donating a prize for the auction. The events are expected to attract more than 150 participants. All proceeds benefit Wiley Mission and Wiley Adult Day Services, Inc.
Wiley Mission, Inc. is a non-profit organization with a continuing care retirement facility and nursing home in Marlton, NJ.
"Angels with Bagels" at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital  As a variation on the "Lunch & Learn" format, we conducted a breakfast meeting ("Angels with Bagels") for social workers and nurses at Robert Wood Johnson Hospital in Hamilton. This format enabled the RWJ staff to start their day in an informal setting over breakfast and discuss specific areas of interest with Visiting Angels representatives, Rudy Tervooren, Director and Co-Owner, and Dave Sebra, Director of Sales and Operations. The meeting was highly appreciated by all and will be held again in six months.
 Searching for in-home care for yourself or a loved one, but can't decide which type to choose?
In Nora de Cardenas' latest elder care article appearing in the September 2009 issue of Mercer County Woman®, the various types of in-home care are defined and the real risks to you of hiring a caregiver directly, rather than through an agency, are unveiled.
Check out our Facebook® page! Become a Fan of "Visiting Angels of Central Burlington & Mercer Counties" today and enjoy informative articles, staff photos, and much, much more. Simply click below to become a "Fan" and gain access to everything.
Pick up a copy of the October issue of South Jersey Magazine®! Our very own Nora de Cárdenas, Co-Owner & Director, will be featured in their Special "Women in Business" section! Bravo, Nora!!!
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Visiting Angels of Central Burlington & Mercer Counties:
About Our Care
Visiting Angels of Central Burlington
& Mercer Counties is a New Jersey-licensed, non-medical home care company
committed to going well beyond the "industry standard" to provide an
exceptional level of security, comfort and peace of mind to our clients and
their loved ones. Our "Angels", all certified home health professionals, are ready to
provide compassionate and dependable assistance with the activities of everyday
living to seniors, the disabled, those recovering from surgery and to those who
are simply frail. Our services include such simple tasks as light
housekeeping, meal preparation, errands and shopping to more personal tasks
such as hygiene assistance, bathing, dressing and grooming.
Visiting Angels' in-home
care helps make it possible for seniors and adults with special needs to
continue to live at home and maintain the independence of their daily routines
and familiar surroundings, for as long as they can do so safely. We truly
understand how challenging and alien the entire home care selection process can
be ... and we are experienced in working with families; with loved ones
"resistant" to receiving care; and with third-parties payors (such as insurance
companies and the US Dept. of Veterans Affairs) to help insure that the best
interests of the family and their loved ones are met. Visiting Angels' services
help families spend more mutually-rewarding and meaningful time with their
loved ones and also helps provide comfort and peace of mind to those who face
the challenge of long-distance caregiving.
For more information, please
visit our website, www.VisitingAngels.com/Burling-Mercer; call us at
609-883-8188; or contact us by email at
info.VisitingAngels@comcast.net.
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