CARING Connection

June 2014

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Brenda's Blog

In This Issue

New tests for Alzheimer's

Things you should question

Elder Abuse

Ninety year old caregiver

Video of the Month

What our clients are saying

Recipe of the Month

Electric Ballroom

Spectacular Salsa - Paddy & Nico - Electric Ballroom | Britain's Got Talent 2014

What Our Clients Are Saying About Us:

Home Care Pulse, an independent quality management agency, randomly surveys our clients on a monthly basis. Here's what one of them had to say last month:

"The caregiver always says hello to my husband. She makes it a point to acknowledge him. She is always compassionate."

--G. H.
Boise, Idaho

"The caregiver is always very helpful! Anything I needed she was right there for me."

--Anonymous

Peanut Butter for Breakfast

Ingredients:
Serves 1
1 bagel thin, toasted
2 tbsp. peanut butter
1 banana, sliced
½ tbsp. chia seeds

Directions:
Spread each slice of toasted bagel thin with 1 tbsp. peanut butter. Top peanut butter-topped bagel thin with banana slices. Sprinkle with chia seeds.

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Among the many things to enjoys this month: Dairy Days, National Ice Tea Month, Idaho Wine Month--we hope you drink well and enjoy the season before the weather hits triple digits.

If you were forwarded this issue of CARING Connections, or you are viewing it on our website, you can sign up for your own subscription by clicking here.

Thank you,

The Team at Assisting Angels Home Care

New Test to help diagnose Alzheimer's

Early treatment is paramount in the battle against Alzheimer's. A new blood test may

UF researchers find that 'peanut butter' test can help diagnose Alzheimer's disease

be able to predict the disease up to three years before the onset of symptoms.

However, it is only ninety percent accurate--meaning a positive result may be given to individuals who never develop Alzheimer's.

A graduate student at the University of Florida, center for smell and taste, has discovered a possible method to discover the disease less expensive and quicker than current methods. Watch the video to learn more.

Things you should question

It is not prudent to place one hundred percent of your health decisions and recommendations solely in the hands of your physician.

Even if you have complete trust in your doctors' care--they are at least limited by information you, as the patient, may or may not give them.

But how do you know what decisions to question? The American Geriatrics Society has compiled a list of ten things you (and your physician) should question.

Choosing Wisely has an additional, and very valuable, resource compiled by consumer reports which you can navigate for specific concerns.

Stay informed so you can increase dialog with your physician to prevent overuse of needless or improper tests.

Elder Abuse

According to the National Center on Elder Abuse, ninety percent of elder abuse comes from family members.

This makes it difficult for the elder to report their abuse, either because they are unable--or they do not want to see a loved one punished.

Griswoold Home Care lists five warning signs of abuse and offers a free Elder Abuse Awareness Guide.

For additional elder abuse awareness and prevention resources, see Brenda's Blog.

Caregiver is older than her clients

This delightful "young" woman,

Mary Poole Hartstock, is ninety years old.

She recently received honor as a caregiver, a new field she began at the age of seventy-nine.

She still works more than twenty hours a week. But she does plan to retire, "one of these days..."

Brenda Critell, President / CEO
Certified Senior Advisor (CSA)®
A native of Boise, Idaho and a 4th generation Idahoan. Brenda founded Assisting Angels Home Care in 2006.

Skip Critell, VP/COO
Director of Operations and Community Liaison for the Treasure Valley

Sherry Atwell, Office Administrator
Manages Operations and Scheduling of Direct Care services

Rebekah Calkins, CFO

Manages billing, payroll and financial affairs

Sonya Harris

Sonya Harris, Client Care Coordinator

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

About Assisting Angels Home Care

Serving the state of Idaho, Assisting Angels Home Care, Inc. has been providing personalized care at home with supporting services since 2006. Assisting Angels uses certified personnel for supervision and monitoring of all direct services, has no minimum requirement for hours for accepting clients, and does not charge separately for travel to and from the job location. All employees are bonded and insured. Complete screening and thorough background checks are performed prior to any person having contact with one of our clients or patients. Assisting Angels provides a wide spectrum of personalized in-home care services, including live-in care, general homemaker, personal care, and private duty nursing for all ages.

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