Five Tips for Getting a Handle on Your Senior’s Medications

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Medications are a complicated situation for most older adults.

If your senior is taking more than a few medications, it’s difficult to keep up with all of the different side effects and possible contraindications. Add in over-the-counter medications and things get more complicated very quickly. Medicine management now becomes an important option for your senior.

Medication dispenser in Perryville MO: Pill Dispenser

Medication dispenser in Perryville MO: Pill Dispenser

 

Learn as Much as You Can about Your Senior’s Medications

When your senior was younger, she might have felt as if just having a prescription from her doctor was all she needed to know about the medication. But it’s vital for you both to understand as much as you can about the prescriptions her doctor recommends. Side effects, contraindications, and possible interactions all matter a lot.

 

Stick to One Pharmacy, if Possible

By filling all of your senior’s medications at one pharmacy, her pharmacist is going to have a better overview of everything she’s taking. Your senior’s pharmacist can be on the lookout for potential interactions and other issues. Often your senior’s pharmacist can warn you about things her doctor even forgot to mention regarding medications.

 

Be on the Lookout for Side Effects

As your elderly family member starts taking a new medication, be sure to stay on the lookout for side effects. Side effects can be subtle or they can be pretty intense. If you notice anything unusual, make sure to take notes about what you’re seeing and how it’s affecting your senior. Anything that seems severe probably is. Contact your elderly family member’s doctor right away.

 

Consider a Medication Dispenser

Medications dispensers can be a fantastic solution. When you load up a programmable medication dispenser, your senior has multiple days’ worth of medication doses ready for her, depending on the dispenser’s capacity. Medicine management is an important part of your senior’s daily life. Most come with a reminder function and if you want or need a medication dispenser with monitoring, that can be a good idea, too.

 

Schedule Regular Medication Management Reviews with Your Senior’s Doctor

It’s absolutely imperative to periodically review your senior’s medications with her doctor. This allows you all to refresh yourselves about what she’s taking and why. If dosages need to be adjusted or if the medication is no longer doing what it is supposed to do, then it’s time for a change.

By being as knowledgeable as possible about your senior’s medications, you’re there for her when she needs you the most. Preparation through medicine management helps you and your elderly family member to make the best decisions you can about her medications.

 

If you or an aging loved-one are considering choosing a Medication Dispenser in Perryville MO, please contact the friendly staff at Around The Clock Medical Alarms.
Call Us: 877.449.5566

 

Medical Alarms in St. Louis MO: Senior Falls

Falls Revisited in Community Living – By Les Tainter

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Statistics: How the Numbers Add Up

  • Recent studies suggest that 29% of adults over the age of 65 will fall at least once annually.
  • 10% of these “falling seniors” will fall at least twice annually.
  • After a fall, 25% of older adults will restrict their activity for at least a day or seek medical attention.
  • More serious injuries such as fractures, joint dislocations, sprains or strains, and concussions occur in approximately 10% of falls.
  • Rhabdomyolysis, (a breakdown of skeletal muscle tissue) can develop in people who are unable to get up after a fall and remain “down” for a long period of time.
  • 47% of senior adults who fall must have help from another person to get up.
  • After the fall occurs, a fear of falling again develops in 21-39% who previously had no such fear. Senior adults who fear falling again may restrict their activity and therefore will have a reduced quality of life.

 

The “Why” of Falls

Most falls result from a combination of intrinsic risks (such as balance impairment) and extrinsic risks (such as a trip or slip). Deficits in gait and balance are the greatest intrinsic factors. Medications, (including over-the-counter drugs), Alcohol, Visual problems, and impairments of cognition and mood remain among the top causes of falls.

 

Evaluation

Annual screening is recommended for all seniors in community-based living. This is important because seniors do not volunteer information about a previous fall. Screening questions should include information about the number of falls during the past year, as well as whether or not a fear of falling has limited their daily activity.

The Mayo Clinic has developed a very simple fall risk evaluation. Place the test subject in a chair with a mark 10 feet in front of the chair. On command, the subject will rise, go to the mark, and return to a seated position. If the subject completes the task in less than 10 seconds they are considered “normal” for fall risk. 10-20 seconds places the subject in a “moderate risk” for falls and greater than 20 seconds places them in a “high risk” category for falls.

Exercise should be encouraged in all seniors if they can. Those seniors who participated in fall prevention exercises were found to reduce their risk of falling by 23% as compared to a control group that did not exercise. Other studies show that exercise may reduce the number of falls resulting in fractures by as much as 27%.

Tai chi has been proven to be effective in reducing fall rates by as much as 19% when participants used tai chi 1-3 times per week for at least 13 -48 weeks.

Surprisingly, walking is included in many exercise programs but on its own has not been shown to prevent falls.

Assessment

Assessment of gait, strength, and balance is an important early step in fall evaluation. A thorough medication review is also highly recommended. Medications which cause sedation, confusion, or orthostatic hypotension, (a sudden drop of blood pressure when standing) are leading causes. Eye exams are recommended every 1-2 years for adults over 65 years old. Evaluation of cognition and mood are needed to assess fall risk in seniors. Bone density studies are recommended especially for women over the age of 65. Osteoporosis is a major contributing factor to fall which results in hip or other fractures.

Overall, the senior adults in community-based living are at no more of a risk for falls than those that still live at home. They do have a support structure that, if evaluation, assessment, and preventative exercise are properly used can significantly reduce the risk or falling as well as breaking the cycle of fall-fear falling- fall again. This fear of falling cycle can greatly reduce the quality of life and can also make the risk of falling even greater than before. Proper exercise which focuses on increasing strength, balance, and range of motion can be a major force in reducing falls. It should be the focus of all senior living communities to keep seniors “upright” and enjoying these “Golden Years” of their life with as much smiling, love, and happiness as can be humanly possible.

 

If you or an aging loved-one are considering choosing Medical Alarms in St. Louis MO, please contact the friendly staff at Around The Clock Medical Alarms.
Call Us: 877.449.5566

Medical Alarms in Town & Country MO: Sandwich Generation

Are You a Member of the Sandwich Generation?

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Members of the sandwich generation are the “filling” in between the “bread” of older adults who need them now and younger people, often children, who need plenty of care, too.
If you’re someone in a sandwich situation, you already know that life can feel really complicated from day to day. There are some solutions you can put into place, though.

 

Medical Alarms in Town & Country MO: Sandwich Generation

Medical Alarms in Town & Country MO: Sandwich Generation

 

You’ve Probably Got a Lot of Responsibilities

Because of the nature of the “sandwiching,” you’ve likely got multiple responsibilities to multiple people in your life. This means you might feel as if you’re constantly running from one situation to another, helping as you can and finding solutions. You probably also feel as if you’re spread pretty thin, which can be a difficult feeling.

 

Make Sure You’re Taking Care of Yourself

The first step to getting a handle on all of this is to make sure that you’re taking the best care of yourself that you can. When you’re getting plenty of sleep, eating nutritious meals, and moving as much as you can, that gives you the energy and the stamina that you need to keep up with everything. Depriving yourself only means that it’s more difficult to take care of others.

 

Use Tools that Help Keep Your Senior Safe

It’s vital that you also start to use tools that help you and the other people in your life. In the case of your senior family member, a medical alarm system can be the key. Medical alarms enable your aging family member to get help almost immediately if something should happen. Many also offer optional features, like fall detection and medication reminders or wellness check-ins.

 

Keep Evaluating What’s Working and What Isn’t

It helps immensely if you focus on taking some time out now and again to evaluate what’s working for you and the people you care for and what isn’t. When you find that some of the solutions aren’t working as well or needs have changed, you’re going to find it a lot easier to pivot and find new solutions. Waiting until everything collapses doesn’t do anyone any good, so, be as proactive as you can.

Taking care of more than one person is a lot of responsibility, especially for one person trying to hold it all together for everyone. Make sure that you’re doing everything you can to get help and to lean on tools that offer valuable assistance.

 

If you or an aging loved-one are considering choosing Medical Alarms in Town & Country MO, please contact the friendly staff at Around The Clock Medical Alarms.
Call Us: 877.449.5566

 

Medical Alarms in St. Louis MO: Senior Care Spotlight

Senior Care Spotlight: 360 Quality Care + Transport Services

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360 Quality Care + Transport Services is, as its name suggests, more than just a transport company.

Medical Alarms in St. Louis MO: Senior Care Spotlight

“We provide the ultimate in first-class specialty transportation services for those living with mobility challenges”, says Steve Newman, the company’s co-owner. Steve and his wife Debbie started 360 just over four years ago after researching the availability and service standards of senior care transport services in the St. Louis area. “We received feedback from home care agencies, hospital case managers, social workers, senior living admissions managers, and a host of local individuals and families”, Steve said “And all of them told us horror stories. At the time, my wife had been providing care and companionship services to seniors for almost twenty years and every one of her clients absolutely loved her. She had built a thriving business based entirely on referrals, and all because her of her amazing ability to care about, and for, others. Honestly, anyone who knows Debbie will tell you she is the most caring and giving person they’ve ever met”. Steve added, “So we decided to take the plunge into starting our own business with the goal of raising the bar on transport options for the mobility challenged”. Today, the company has a fleet of fourteen ADA-compliant vehicles and has completed over 27,000 transports. “The greatest testament to the work we’ve done over the last four years is the amount of testimonial phone calls and emails we receive each week. We certainly haven’t completed our mission, but it’s a great feeling to know and hear so frequently that we have succeeded in raising the bar for so many”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Passenger Service – the 360 “secret sauce”

360 Care + Transport’s service includes door-thru-door or bedside to bedside wheelchair, ambulatory or stretcher transportation. “Most transport companies only focus on curb to curb service and they fit multiple people into their vehicles at one time,” said Steve. “That requires them to pick-up and drop-off using a pre-assigned route structure that might take an hour or more for patients to get to their medical appointments, then another hour or two to get back home. And in the heat of the summer or the cold of the winter, they might be waiting outside for a long time before their ride would even arrive. It’s just not a good system, especially for those who are already vulnerable or not feeling well. So we designed our service to be one patient at a time. We’ll go into the home, or up to the hospital room with our own wheelchair. We’ll assist the patient and family in transferring the patient to the wheelchair, then we’ll gently move them out of their room or home and secure them carefully into the back of our van using a four-cornered restraint system that also includes a lap belt and shoulder harness. Our drivers are all hired for their caring and compassionate backgrounds and once the patient is comfortable in our van, we get the opportunity to get to know them a little bit.” Seventy-five percent of 360’s patients are repeat customers so they get to know both the patients and their families. “Our patients often become an extension of our own families,” says Steve, “We’ve been transporting many of them for several years on a very regular basis and it’s wonderful to have conversations with them about their children, where they used to live, the cars they drove, and the work they did”.

 

Smooth riding, ADA compliant vehicles that are ripe for conversation

While conversation is important, another key component of 360’s success is the vehicles they use. “All of our vehicles were purchased new and are now no more than four years old. They are all clean, well maintained, and sanitized after every transport. But it’s not just the appearance of our vans, it’s the practicality and suitability of them to provide the difference we want to make that makes them such a good fit for us. We utilize a fleet of Dodge Grand Caravan’s or Toyota Sienna’s, so all our vehicles are all mini-vans. With a rear-entry, fold-down ramp, we mitigate problems with cranky or jumpy hydraulic lifts especially in the winter when snow and salt can wreak havoc with the lifts that some of our competitors use. Any of the wheelchair-accessible conversion firms will tell you that the most common equipment breakdown is the hydraulic lift, so we immediately eliminated that problem with our vans”. Once inside the 360 vans, patients are secured in what before the conversion, would have been the middle row seat. “Our passengers get to sit close to us, just like our own families do when they travel with us. And being mini-vans, they ride comfortably and they are quiet, so our drivers can hear our passengers and they can hear us.” Steve goes on to say, “When we first looked into buying wheelchair accessible vehicles, we looked at the big delivery trucks but aside from the hydraulic lift, we also didn’t like the fact that the patient would ride all the way in the back and was about ten feet away from the driver. We always wanted to have conversations with our passengers and we knew that as far back as they were in those vehicles, they wouldn’t be able to hear us. So we went the minivan route instead, and we’ve never regretted it”.

 

Caring and Compassionate drivers – the heartbeat behind every 360 ride

360’s drivers undergo a rigorous hiring process. Most are former caregivers or former service professionals with experience in customer service and/or compassionate care. Steve says, “Since Covid, we’ve taken a close look at other struggling industries to see where we might be able to offer some help. For example, the hospitality industry and the foodservice industry have been decimated by Covid. Thousands of quality individuals, who have been trained at high customer service levels, have lost their jobs and can be excellent driver candidates. In addition, while many of our drivers have previously worked in-home care or at skilled nursing facilities, we also provide a great fit for retired or semi-retired professionals who are bored sitting at home, love and miss the daily interaction of the workplace, enjoy the role of being a communicator and making a difference in people’s lives, and can use the additional income. It’s the perfect part-time or full-time role for people who have a history of being reliable, caring, and compassionate”. Steve’s wife, Debbie, goes a step further, “Our drivers are the heartbeat and the face of our company and we empower them to always ‘do the right thing’ for every passenger we transport. As a result, they are proven difference makers who have the authority to make real-time decisions to make and keep our passengers and their families happy”.

 

The million-dollar difference – Employees, automation, and “Live” real-time dispatching

While quality service is paramount, so too is 360’s commitment to technology. Whereas many wheelchair transport services operate using just a “pen and a sheet of paper”, 360 drivers utilize a state-of-the-art driving app that, in addition to assigning their next transport, also scores their driving performance. Drivers earn bonuses for safe driving habits and overall driving performance, as well as for testimonials the company receives. In addition, the dispatching application shows 360’s dispatchers exactly where each vehicle is throughout the region in real-time. This allows them to dispatch “on the fly” and adjust schedules promptly to accommodate doctor’s appointments that might be running late, or hospital discharges that need immediate transport home or to rehab. Steve adds, “The fact that our drivers are employees is also very important. Unlike independent contractors who are paid by each transport leg, 360 drivers are paid by the hour. So when a driver is sitting in a lot waiting for a patient to finish their appointment, our drivers are still getting paid, and because they are being paid, we can re-assign them “on the fly” to another pick-up point quickly in order to keep our schedule on track. Contractors who are paid by the transport leg don’t want to give up a transport, so if one leg is delayed, then every ride thereafter also gets delayed, and further delays continue to add up throughout the day. It’s kind of like an airplane – when one plane is delayed early in the day, then everything after is impacted. With our system, we can adjust on the fly, in order to keep the rest of our schedule on-time.” As a result, almost 99% of 360 Care + Transport’s pick-up times operate within 15 minutes of their scheduled pick-up time – including return trips from doctor appointments.

360 Care + Transport has truly raised the bar by bringing to market a unique blend of healthcare and good old-fashioned Midwestern hospitality. For yours, or your family’s next wheelchair, ambulatory assisted, or stretcher transport, contact 360 Care + Transport at 636-735-3860 or visit their website at www.360careandtransport.com. 

Guest Article contributed by:  Steve Newman, Owner

If you are no longer mobile and are seeking service providers to assist with your transport needs, it may be time to consider a medic alert, as well. These systems can provide peace of mind to you, and/or your family, that you are never alone and can get help for any reason — even if you cannot speak! Regardless of your age, or medical condition, a PERS (Personal Emergency Response System) can enable you to maintain your independence and home safety at the push of a button!

You are NEVER Alone and can get HELP any day, time, or reason — Around the Clock!

 

If you or an aging loved-one are considering choosing Medical Alarms in St. Louis MO, please contact the friendly staff at Around The Clock Medical Alarms.
Call Us: 877.449.5566

Fall Detection in Jackson MO: Fall Detection Importance

Why Is Fall Detection So Important?

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Older adults who fall one time often don’t tell their doctors about the fall.

They’re also twice as likely to experience a second fall, and that one might be even more serious in terms of injuries and long-term effects. The tools your senior relies on can make a big difference, even in the face of those statistics. One of the easiest tools to add to your aging family member’s plan is a device with built-in fall detection.

 

Emergencies Happen

You never know when an emergency is going to happen, so using fall detection technology ensures that your senior has a way to access help if she needs it. Accurate fall detection ensures that even if your elderly family member isn’t able to press a button to ask for help, she still gets the help that she needs. That’s crucial in case she hits her head or suffers another type of medical emergency that causes her to fall.

personal emergency response system in St Louis, MO: Medical Alarms

personal emergency response system in St Louis, MO: Medical Alarms

The Basics of Fall Detection Technology

But how do these devices detect falls? Fall detection technology involves using accelerometers to detect when someone wearing the device has fallen. Many devices have more than one accelerometer to help ensure that the fall detection process is as accurate as possible. When body motion changes abruptly, the algorithms calculate instantly whether this was due to a fall or something else.

 

Ultimately it Needs to Be Easy to Use

For your aging family member’s purposes, fall detection devices absolutely need to be easy to use above all else. If the device is complicated or clunky, your senior is not going to wear it and that’s going to defeat the purpose of having it. Look for fall detection devices that are waterproof to ensure that your elderly family member is protected even in the shower.

 

Fall Detection Devices Are Just Part of the Plan

Fall detection devices are an incredible tool, but they won’t on their own solve the fall problem for your senior. They’re a big part of what needs to be a complete fall-prevention plan. Assess your senior’s environment and look at ways to reduce clutter and to make sure your senior’s environment is safe overall. There are other safety tools and devices that you might want to consider, too, like grab bars and walking tools.

Used as a part of a comprehensive plan for preventing falls, fall detection devices can be the technological tool that your senior relies on most often.

 

If you or an aging loved-one are considering choosing Fall Detection in Jackson MO, please contact the friendly staff at Around The Clock Medical Alarms.
Call Us: 877.449.5566

 

“Would You Be My Valentine?”

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On Thursday, February 4, 2021, our client, R. “Lou” K., was called to be reminded that it was time for her monthly test of her medical alert button.  She is a “95 year-young” lady who has been our subscriber for the past eight years.  Since we have talked to her every month, we consider her FAMILY!

When she picked up the phone, I asked her, “Would you be my Valentine?”  She hesitated and replied, “Well, I may have to think about that….”   THEN, she had the AUDACITY to laugh!!!  Oh Yes, She Did!!!!! 

When I told her that I felt like she threw me under the bus, she chuckled and responded, “Oh, Linda!  You know I LOVE YOU!”

Today, Les and I took a detour on the way home and took Lou a small bouquet of flowers to thank her for the ability to assist her with her medical alarm system needs. We asked her again to “Be our Valentine,” and snapped this picture to remember her reaction! Trust us, she was all smiles!  (Being a private person, she asked us not to post her picture on the internet, but we could crop photo of the flowers and her hands….)

Lou signed up for our service in January 2013.  Shortly after she began, she had to use her medical alarm.  As you will read, she locked herself out of her home and did not have her cordless phone with her to call for help.  Yet, she was able to get the help she needed.  

Following is her account of the event, as per her testimonial: 

They Came Even Though I Was Not Able to Respond…

I would like to tell you some things about having a medical alarm system. I had heard about them for years but never thought about getting one. My son and nephew changed my mind, they said, “You are getting one!” My nephew contacted Around the Clock Medical Alarms.

When I called them, they explained all that it could do for me, so I decided to take it. Just to let you know, I consider them wonderful friends now.

A few weeks ago, I went out the back door onto the patio, started back in, and the door was locked. Here I was out without a coat and it was a cool morning. I know all other doors and windows were locked. I pushed the button on my Medical Alert, but couldn’t hear them answer. I thought it doesn’t work…. I ran to my neighbor across the street, she came to the door and wanted to know what I was doing out there. I said, “I’m locked out of the house”. I went in to call my nephew, who has keys, and had just sat down when I saw a truck with 2 men pull up in front of my house. Out I ran home. The men wanted to know if I lived there. I said “yes, and I’m locked out!” They were from the Rescue Squad and had gotten a call from my Medical Alarm that something was wrong at my home, since I didn’t answer them back. In just a minute here came the ambulance, but it wasn’t needed. Thank goodness. They got my storm door unlocked and I was able to get back in my house. I wouldn’t do without my Around the Clock Medical Alarm. ~ Lou K., Missouri

Our mission is to assist our subscribers to remain independent in their homes — as safely as possible.  A medical alarm gives them the ability to get help at the push of a button.  If they are alone, have health issues, or are prone to falling, a medical alert system could be the solution to the problems you face.  We are humbled to assist seniors and their families.  Our purpose is to help them to have “peace of mind” and the confidence to experience a better quality of life — as long as possible! 

  • Lou has experienced a lot of life, since she has been our client.  She was diagnosed with cancer and completed chemotherapy.  Thankfully, she recently told me that she is still cancer free.
  • Sadly, last year, she lost a lifelong friend who used to watch all the Cardinal /sporting games on TV with her, they would go out to get groceries together, and to eat out every day.  This man was the widower of her best friend and they used to do “couple vacations” together throughout their married lives.  Both became widows and they decided to “stay friends” and were able to help each other to not be alone.
  • Covid-19 has affected her social life because she has not been able to attend church “in person.”  She has had to forego her weekly card games with her lady, neighbor  friends.  Additionally, the holidays were quite different, since her family was concerned about visiting her due to the pandemic.  Unfortunately, this seems to be the consensus for many of our subscribers.  If you, or your loved one, find these “new norms” in your pandemic life, remember that you are never alone with an Around the Clock Medical Alarms system.  
  • Lou still lives in the home that she shared with her husband.  She has had a couple rehab stints over the past few years, but she continues to be able to return to the home she loves.
  • Because she is such an avid Cardinal fan, she and Les talk about sports every time they can.  Her latest comment concerning Nolan Arenado was “He BETTER be worth all that money!”  As always, she is biting at the bit for baseball season to start….  But, today, she WILL BE watching the Super Bowl — cheering on the Chiefs!

If you, or an aging loved one, are looking for a #medicalert system, visit us online at www.AroundTheClockMedicalAlarms.com or give us a call at 573-334-7233.

 

Medical Alarms in St. Louis MO: Aging In Place

What’s Your “Hot Button?”

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  • Do you “LIVE ALONE?”
  • Do you have “HEALTH CONDITIONS” that could require immediate medical attention?
  • Is it important to you to continue to “LIVE INDEPENDENTLY?”
  • Are you a “FALL RISK?”
  • Do you, or your family, worry about your “SAFETY?”

If you are like most people, you want to remain in your own home for as long as possible.  This is especially true if you become widowed, have health concerns, or are prone to fall. The fear of not being able to get help in an emergent situation is real.

Living Alone Can Be Scary.  If you cannot get to a phone to call for help, or are inside your home with all the doors and windows closed, you may not be able to get the help you need in an emergency.

Having a Health Condition, such as heart disease, epilepsy, diabetes, etc. can mean that you need immediate medical attention IF/WHEN an emergency happens.  The ability to do so can be the difference in life and death!

It Is Human Nature to Want to Be Independent.  However, if you live alone or have health issues, you may fear that you cannot continue to do so.

Falling or the “Fear of Falling” is Real!  We have all heard stories of someone falling and laying there for hours or days.  Unfortunately, when this event happens, many are not able to stay home, because their health is compromised, or their families say “that won’t happen again….”  Many times the person finds themselves in a hospital/rehab setting for quite some time following the event and are placed in Assisted Living or Skilled Nursing Facilities following this situation.  Although a medic alert device will not prevent a fall, or other emergent health event, it will allow the subscriber to get help if/when it happens to them.  This prevents them from becoming the statistic we have just described above.

Our Home Safety is Paramount.  Not only is it the human desire to remain independent, but to do so SAFELY is just as important.  

As we age, we become less agile.  Additionally, our health may deteriorate and we pray for the best, but fear the worst.  

If any of these “problems” are a concern to you, or your family, a medical alarm system might be the “peace of mind” that you are looking to find. Although a Personal Emergency Response System (PERS) CANNOT PREVENT AN EMERGENCY,  IT CAN GET HELP — Even IF you cannot speak!

 

  1. Live Alone?  KEEP CALM AND PUSH BUTTON!
  2. Have Health Condition(s)?  KEEP CALM AND PUSH BUTTON!
  3. Is Living Independently Important to you?  KEEP CALM AND PUSH BUTTON!
  4. Falling or “Fear of Falling?”  KEEP CALM AND PUSH BUTTON!
  5. Concerned for Your Home Safety?  KEEP CALM AND PUSH BUTTON!

Around the Clock Medical Alarms will allow you to get HELP — at the push of a button. Our EMD Certified Response Center is available Any Day, Any Time, for Any Reason. Have peace of mind that you can be Safe AND Independent — Around the Clock.

 

If you or an aging loved-one are considering choosing Medical Alarms in St. Louis MO, please contact the friendly staff at Around The Clock Medical Alarms.
Call Us: 877.449.5566

How Can You Talk To Your Aging Family Member About Medical Alarms?

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Medical alarms might not seem to be a hot button topic until you actually bring them up with your senior.

The problem is that your senior might associate these devices with being old and dependent, which may be things she’s trying to avoid associating with herself. But you do need to talk with her about medical alarms and you both might have some good points. There’s a process that can help, especially if your senior has been resistant to the idea.

 

Medical Alert in Dexter MO: Right Medical Alarm

Medical Alert in Dexter MO: Right Medical Alarm

 

Be Careful with Your Timing

All big conversations with your aging family member rely a bit on timing. If you’ve been thinking about a medical alert system but something just happened that made it more important to you, right after that incident is probably bad timing. You and your senior need to talk when you’re both calm and able to talk rationally about something that might inspire some emotions in both of you.

 

Talk about What a Medical Alert Would Mean to You

When you find the right time to talk, share what you’re feeling and thinking with your senior. It might sound backward to focus on how a medical alert makes a difference for you, but that might be what gets through to your senior. If you’re focusing too much on changes that your senior needs to make, that can cause her to dig in her heels.

 

But Be Sure to Listen, Too

After you’ve had your say, make sure your elderly family member has time to talk, too. Listen to what she has to say and what concerns she has about having a medical alarm of her own. Many of those concerns are likely to be related to other fears that she has, but don’t try to talk her out of them yet. First, you need to understand why she objects so that you can help her to see whether those are truly valid issues for her.

 

Offer to Help Her Explore Her Options

Rather than trying to convince your senior to see it your way, try offering to help her to look at the options. If she’s open to looking at the various types of medical alert devices and learning about how they work, she might be more likely to realize for herself that some of her objections were about something else entirely.

There are so many different types of medical alert devices available now that your senior has options available for any situation.

 

If you or an aging loved-one are considering choosing a Medical Alarm in Dexter MO, please contact the friendly staff at Around The Clock Medical Alarms.
Call Us: 877.449.5566

 

Senior Care Spotlight: Care Management, Advocacy, and Support

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Care Choice Care Management

“Our commitment is that everyone we serve experiences concierge-level care and attention.”

 

About Us:

Our team of experienced professionals can assist you in answering all of your questions and be your advocate as you navigate the healthcare, mental health, or legal maze for yourself or a loved one. Our team consists of Social Workers, Gerontologists, Nurses and professionals who each have 20+ years of experience. Care Choice Care Management provides care coordination through Care Management.

 

What is Care Management:

Care Choice helps families through challenging times, negotiates conflict, coordinates benefits, recommends services, advocates for those in the hospital and long-term care communities, and provides ongoing or short-term support for those we help. We will customize a plan that meets your needs. Care Choice provides a FREE information visit or call for anyone about our services and what makes us different and unique.

 

Here are some questions to ask yourself, and if you are struggling you may benefit from hiring a Care Manager:

● Are you overwhelmed with the responsibility of caring for your spouse or parents?
● Do you or someone you know need an advocate in navigating the health care, mental health, and/or legal system?
● Is your family in conflict and need an objective professional to facilitate communication amongst family members while providing 24-hour care for your loved one?
● Have you been assigned as Trustee, Legal Guardian, Conservator, and/or Durable Power of Attorney for someone, but have no idea how to meet their day-to-day needs — such as getting them to take their medications, attend medical appointments, take care of personal hygiene needs, pay bills, grocery shopping, housekeeping/laundry, and prepare meals?
● Are you worried you’re taking too much time off work and need someone to attend your loved one’s medical appointments to ask questions, advocate, provide transportation, drop off/pick up any prescriptions, schedule any tests/appointments with specialists, and/or provide a summary of the visit?
● Would you like to have an experienced professional provide a thorough assessment followed by a detailed written Care Plan of you and/or loved one and then have them be available on an ongoing or PRN basis to assist with any needs that arise while aging in place at home or in a community?

 

Why We Started Care Choice:

There is a void in society and in health care of quality customer service. Our goal is to provide that level of care and support that all deserve. Health care is often fast-paced and so often things are missed, fall through the cracks, or are just forgotten. We strive to not allow those things to happen to you or your loved one. Care Choice was founded on these principles by Maria and Steve Miskovic. Both have been social workers for over 25 years and worked in various capacities at hospitals, rehab facilities, non-profits, dementia care, and case management. We have grown our team over the last 9 years to be able to support anyone at any point in their life journey, whether 18 or 108! We recognize that growing older (or living with an illness) is not easy, but it does not have to be done alone. Our commitment is that everyone we serve experiences concierge-level care and attention.

 

Please find us online at www.carechoicestl.com, call at 636-288-1764, or email us at info@carechoicestl.com


  Guest Article contributed by
Steve Miskovic, MSW, LCSW, CMC

 

 

 

As you try to navigate the overwhelming choices of services available for yourself, or an aging loved one, a care manager can assist to determine and establish the service(s) you need. Their expertise and knowledge can make life a lot easier!

At the point that you are trying to manage care (and find service providers to help), please consider a medic alert system as well.


You are NEVER Alone and can get HELP any day, time, or reason — Around the Clock!

 

  If you or an aging loved-one are considering choosing Medical Alarms in St. Louis MO, please contact the friendly staff at Around The Clock Medical Alarms.
Call Us: 877.449.5566

 

National Pie Day: January 23, 2021

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Two weeks ago, I went to visit one of our clients who is a farmer. Harlan, has cows, sheep, barn cats, and a beagle-mixed (aka “mutt”) female dog named “Buddy” that he tends to daily.
 
While there, I noticed that he had a Wal-Mart sack of cracked pecans — that he was eating as fast as he could shell. I sat there and visited and we managed to get them all picked from the shell. When we finished, he asked if I knew how to make a pecan pie. “Of course,” I replied. He asked if he could send enough nuts for me to make 20 pies — to which I stated that I’d be happy to make two…. A few days later I dropped off two pies that were from the nuts we shelled together.
 
On January 23, 2021, appropriately enough, Harlan called and I asked him how he liked the pies. In the fashion of a two-year-old kid (instead of an 88-year-old man) he enthusiastically replied, “They were gooder than good!” What an awesome slice of humble pie!!!! This totally made my day…!
 

If you or an aging loved-one are considering choosing Medical Alarms in St. Louis MO, please contact the friendly staff at Around The Clock Medical Alarms.
Call Us: 877.449.5566

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