In This Issue

Featured Article: Alzheimer's Caregiver Lament - This is Not the Person I Knew

A word to the Wise for all Seniors: GET MOVING!

Casey the Wonder - Gone but Never Forgotten

Kudos From Kelly

Providers We Love

WELCOME

NEW STAFF!

Nadia Facey

(Office Assistant)

Photo above: Newest family member
Kelly's new puppy Max!

"A dog is the only thing on this earth that loves you more than he loves himself."

~ Josh Billings

Above Photo: Jessica Krumenacker and Lillian
taking a break from the water.

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Featured Article:

Alzheimer's Caregiver Lament -
This is Not the Person I Knew

By Bob DeMarco, Alzheimer's Reading Room

In order to communicate effectively with a person living with Alzheimer's disease you need to come to an understanding that they are now living in a new world - I often refer to this place as Alzheimer's World

When I hear these words - this is not the person I knew, I am greatly saddened.

I hear these words on television, read them on the Internet, and in the newspaper. I hear these words in person.

In most cases the person speaking these words is angry, in a constant state of angst, or confused.

The look on their face tells the story. The tone of their voice sounds like a cry for help.

This is not the person I knew.

It is not hard for me to understand how an Alzheimer's caregiver might come to this conclusion. Alzheimer's disease is difficult to understand, hard to accept, and is disconcerting.

The behavioral changes that come with Alzheimer's disease cause the caregiver to experience a range of negative emotions that come on with a power that is equivalent to a human tsunami.

Anger, sadness, feelings of hopelessness, and the inability to "cope" are common. Resultant depression is common.

Concluding or believing that the person you know, is not the person you know, is an easy way to make sense of something that is very difficult to understand.

Read Full Article

"It takes courage
to grow up and

turn out to be who
you really are."

~ e.e. cummings

Above Photo: Mary Dolan and her daughter Grace
and her stuffed animal "bear" doing Yoga together!

A word to the Wise for all Seniors:

GET MOVING

By Marlo Sollitto - Agingcare.com

According to the American Academy of Family Physicians almost all older people can benefit from additional physical activity. Regular exercise protects from chronic disease, improves mood and lowers chances of injury.

With age, the body does take a little longer to repair itself, but moderate physical activity is good for people of all ages and of all ability levels. In fact, the benefits of your elderly parents exercising regularly far outweigh the risks. Even elderly people with chronic illnesses can exercise safely.

Many medical conditions are improved with exercise, including heart disease, diabetes, colon cancer, high blood pressure and obesity. Regular exercise improves:

Immune Function: A healthy, strong body fights off infection and sickness more easily and more quickly.

Cardio-Respiratory and Cardiovascular Function: Regular physical activity lowers risk of heart disease and high blood pressure.

Bone Density/Osteoporosis: Strength training can dramatically reduce the loss of bone mass, help restore bones, and contribute to better balance and less fractures.

Read Full Article

Casey the Wonder Dog...
Gone but Never Forgotten

2002-2013

Casey, our company (and our family's) 11 year old Golden Retriever, died peacefully in the presence of her family on the deck of her home overlooking the lake she so loved and in which she spent so many joyous hours.

To say that many will miss her is a grand understatement. In addition to her immediate and extended family and friends, she is well known to many of our clients whom she visited in their homes and facilities. Certified as a Pet Therapy dog, she was a welcome visitor for many of our referral sources.

She logged countless hours in her quest to bring company to the lonely, joy to the saddened and presence to those who thought they were alone but were not for long.

She was at my mother's bedside while she was in her final stages of Alzheimer's. Somehow she always knew her place.

Casey Dog's Paw Like us, her specialty was dementia clients

and hospice folks at the end of life. It seemed fitting therefore that she died in peace while being cared for at home on hospice.

She has left an enormous void in or lives. ■

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Kudos from Kelly

KUDOS from Kelly

By Kelly McNamara

Benter Okuom

Benter is one of our longest-term employees. She is mature, gracious, very experienced and also quite creative. She has been a world traveler and often shares her stories with our clients who have also had worldwide adventures. Her clients always benefit from her wisdom, patience and encouragement. She is a valuable part of the care team for E Z. As a weekend caregiver, she provides consistency of care as well as being a great resource for the other caregivers on the case. She thoroughly enjoys both this client as well as his wife and has devised clever and effective solutions to a few care challenges. She even taught them how to use Skype to allow them to communicate with their grandchildren who live out of state. Being a tech whiz is just one of her many talents. Thanks Benter for all you do!

Nadia Facey

Nadia is a new part time employee, on summer hiatus right now from her job in the school system. She has managed to translate her considerable skills in working with special needs children to helping out our elderly clients. As an office assistant, she is responsible for transporting staff to assignments as well as helping out with clients. She has done a wonderful job of driving clients to appointments, both medical as well as fun/social events as trips out to lunch and to visit their friends. She will keep clients company for a few hours while their live in caregivers attend appointments. Clients enjoy her company very much. Caregivers who appreciate the support she provides also like Nadia. Thanks Nadia. It's great to have you aboard!

All caregivers mentioned in this column will receive a gift card and our sincere appreciation! Many many thanks to all of you for once again extending yourselves to ensure that we are of course Always There...!!

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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

All About You Home Care Services,
Naugatuck, East Haven and Torrington

All About You has dedicated professionals, specializing in providing quality home health care. RN's, LPN's, nurse's aides, homemakers, social workers and speech, physical and occupational therapies are all available to meet any needs. They also provide case management to help patients and families navigate the health care system. Medicare and all insurance plans cover their services. They will handle your particular requirements in a professional, confident manner. Every patient and family has unique needs their dedicated personnel can provide families with an individualized care plan reflecting all their health needs. For our clients and friends, high quality physical and occupational therapy and rapid response service on weekends especially are essential elements of a great Medicare home care agency. It is a privilege to be referral partners with All About You Home Care.

Seabury Active Living Retirement Community, Bloomfield

One of Connecticut's first retirement communities, Seabury has grown impressively from its original facility. The sprawling campus now boasts several individual residences, from apartments to substantial single homes. Their memory care unit is superb. The surroundings provide lovely views in all seasons. An immense fitness facility, including a large pool promotes continued fitness of older adults. Seabury boasts an impressive participation of its residents in the fitness facility. Seabury also has an innovative Life Care program and Seabury at Home service. Their home care program provides both Medicare as well as home private duty services for the community and surrounding area. Their health care center boasts state of the art short-term rehab in a beautiful setting. There is excellent coordination with their Home Care agency, which provides nursing, and all therapies, following a comprehensive home safety assessment prior to discharge. It is a privilege to work in co-operation with them.

We depart with tradition a bit this month to bring to everyone's attention pet services provided at home. A very sick dog/family member, some pressing engagements and a desire to have Casey die at home sent us searching for vets and pet sitters to provide the best in animal home care. We are pleased and proud to share our results with all our readers...