Here’s Why 15% of Seniors Want To Leave Home



Lack of support can lead to isolation.
Choosing where an aging parent will live is one of the most difficult and emotional decisions many of us will ever have to make. Eighty-five percent of seniors want to remain in their own homes, known as “aging in place.” They might live in the only home they’ve known for years, maybe where they shared a life with a spouse or even where they raised a family. They feel comfortable in familiar surroundings and want to hold on to their memories.

We Provide Care for Our Critically Ill Daughter. Can We Be Compensated for This?

Caregivers often need physical, emotional and financial help.

A reader recently wrote: “Our daughter is on disability and has been for several years. She has been critically ill since June 15, 2014. I have had the full responsibility  of her care her whole life but especially these last few months. We are completely tied down and have been the whole summer. Can I be compensated for the care I give her?”

Our best wishes go out to anyone in this situation. We know providing lifetime care to a family member is not only physically and emotionally draining, it takes a financial toll, too.

The Scoop on Adult Diaper Brief Banks

Marlene Ceragno and her organization,
The Adult Care Brief Bank in New Jersey. 
Have you heard of Adult Diaper Brief Banks? They are similar to a diaper bank for infant and baby diapers, but cater to the adult need for absorbent products. 

Marlene Ceragno runs an organization called The Adult Care Brief Bank in New Jersey. For many years before starting her organization she had never heard of a diaper bank. Then her daughter’s high school did a competition between grade levels to see who could build the biggest diaper wall. The diapers were donated, and this fundraiser was done to benefit a local woman’s shelter. This was a well-known fundraiser and the community really got behind it. Through this fundraiser she realized the need, and saw that it went beyond babies and toddlers.

Are Your Inflamed Bowels Causing ABL?

Could inflamed bowels cause ABL? 
Could inflamed bowels cause ABL? Inflammatory bowel disease of IBD impacts the GI tract. There are different types of IBD, all with similar symptoms, such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. 

Crohn’s most commonly affects the end of the small bowel (the ileum) and the beginning of the colon. However, it could impact any part of the GI tract. Whereas ulcerative colitis is limited to the colon (large intestine). They are different diseases, but both lead to ABL.

Regardless of the specific type, inflammatory bowel disease means an inflamed GI tract that could cause problems such as chronic or persistent diarrhea, bleeding from the rectum, urgency in bowel movement, abdominal pains and cramps, the sensation of incomplete evacuation, bowel obstruction and constipation.

Why You Should Care About Adult Diaper Brief Banks

Marlene Ceragno and her organization,
The Adult Diaper Brief Bank in New Jersey
Millions of Americans have incontinence. Incontinence is when the bowel or bladder leaks. This is accidental, unexpected leaks that can lead to discomfort, isolation, health problems and more. One of the ways people manage this condition is with absorbent products or incontinence supplies. In other words, with adult diapers and similar products. 

Unfortunately, the cost of adult diapers is roughly $100/month and Medicare and most insurance companies do not cover this expense. This can make getting the products needed cost prohibitive for many adults.

How Pelvic Floor Dysfunction Leads to ABL, and What You Can Do About It

Pelvic floor dysfunction can lead to ABL. 
The pelvic floor is made up of muscles that do a number of things. They help hold organs in place. They help control the bladder and bowel. And more. When they do not function properly it can lead to ABL. 

Abnormalities of the pelvic floor muscles and nerves, also called pelvic floor dysfunction can lead to ABL in a number of ways, including:


Does Your Loved One Need a Medical Alert System?

Guest post contributed by Charlie Kimball and medicalcarealert.com


Falling is one of the most serious threats to elderly people living independently. It’s not a matter of if your loved one falls, it’s a matter of when. It’s best to be prepared in advance. Ask yourself these questions:
  • Will you be there when they fall? 
  • Will your loved one be able to access a phone when they fall? 
  • Will your loved one be cognizant enough to tell the EMT important medical information? 

Adult Diaper Brief Banks: Your Guide to Helping and Getting Help


Marlene Ceragno and her organization,
The Adult Brief Diaper Bank in  New Jersey
Have you ever heard of a diaper bank? Most people have, but in regards to babies. Unfortunately, over 13 million Americans suffer from incontinence and need adult diaper briefs. And many of those who need them simply can’t afford them. 

Medicare and most insurances will not cover the cost of absorbent products unless the individual is living in a care facility. If they live at home, the individual often must shoulder the responsibility of cost for adult diaper briefs themselves. For many seniors and disabled individuals this means going without other necessities because their fixed income can only stretch so far. It also means wearing products too long, compromising comfort and skin health, as well as confidence, in order to make adult diaper briefs affordable.

But fortunately, there are places individuals with incontinence can turn to for help with affording supplies. Adult Diaper Brief Banks are a relatively new resources, but offer aid to those who need it.

Day Trips or Holiday Travel, September Sweepstakes Prizes Make Staying Mobile Safer and Easier


Enter for a chance to win a Stander Metro Walker!
Because we created the “Helping You Get On With Life” monthly sweepstakes to help seniors live independently and make caregivers’ jobs easier, it seems only fitting to address the common frustration of travel. While we can’t save anyone from hair-tearing holiday stress, we can help you stay on the go — safely, comfortably and with a smile.

This month, our readers can enter for a chance to win a compact folding walker and disposal bags perfect for incontinence products.

The walker for stress-free travel
The Stander Metro Walker is possibly the world’s smallest folding walker, making it the ideal travel companion. Folded, it measures just 6”x4”x32” — compact enough to slip in a vehicle back seat or trunk or under an airplane seat. It’s easy to fold and unfold, even for those with limited mobility or dexterity. The 19” base easily maneuvers through tight spaces, while 4" diameter wheels glide over most surfaces. Height easily adjusts from 32" to 36" to fit users 4'10" to 6'8". The Metro weighs just 6½ lbs. yet supports up to 250 lbs. This prize is valued at $150.


Heaven Scent for discreet disposal and versatility
Heaven Scent premium scented bags are perfect for the discreet disposal of incontinence,
Scented bags offer discreet disposal.
feminine hygiene or baby products — or even picking up after pets. The secret is in the powder scent that masks unpleasant odors and the opaque design to hide contents. These bags are ideal for carrying in a purse, pocket or carry-on bag, so they're truly an on-the-go solution. The winner receives a package of 50 bags, valued at $12.95.

Increase your chances of winning by entering!
For a chance to win this month’s prize package, e-mail us at info@caregiverpartnership.com or mail a short statement explaining why the prize would be useful to you or a loved one. We will accept entries through Sept. 30, 2014, and will notify the drawing winner the first week of October.

To learn more about the two easy ways to enter and preview upcoming giveaways, visit our “Helping You Get On With Life” sweepstakes page. And don’t forget to look for our exciting prize announcements the first week of every month right here on our blog!

Read more travel tips:

About The CareGiver Partnership. The CareGiver Partnership helps caregivers and their
Call us. We're here with answers and personalized help.
loved ones with answers to their caregiving questions, including information about home health care products and supplies, from our Wisconsin-based team of Product Specialists who are all current or former caregivers. The company’s Web site provides the largest online library of resources on subjects most important to caregivers — from arthritis to assisted living, and Parkinson’s to prostate cancer — as well as access to more than 3,000 home care products for incontinence, skin care, mobility, home safety and daily living aids. The CareGiver Partnership was founded in 2004 by Lynn Wilson of Neenah, Wis. Visit http://www.caregiverpartnership.com to learn more or call 1-800-985-1353. Help support this ad-free blog by answering several questions about caregiving
here. It will take just two minutes.

 Watch this video on how Metro can make living easier.

Are Your Leaks Hemorrhoids Related?

Hemorrhoids is one of the unexpected causes of ABL. 
If you are experiencing accidental bowel leakage (ABL) you are not alone. One in five women over forty experience ABL, and the numbers for men are not much smaller. Millions of Americans experience light to moderate ABL, and for a variety of reasons. And about half of them do not talk about it. Not even to their doctors. Despite the cause. 

One of these causes is unexpected. Hemorrhoids and rectal prolapse, the condition where the lower part of the bowel extends outside the anus, can be one of the causes of this leakage.