For family caregivers and those associated with caregiving. Helpful and timely information and resources across a range of the most sought after issues confronting each of us as caregivers.
If you have questions, we are only a phone call away.
1-800-985-1353 M-F 9-4 CST.
When news broke that actor and comedian Robin Williams showed signs of diffuse Lewy body disease, it sparked new interest and coverage in the condition, according to the Lewy Body Dementia Association (LBDA). Read on to learn what it is and how it can be managed until a cure can be found.
What is Lewy body dementia?
Lewy body dementia (LBD) is a progressive brain disorder that affects behavior, cognition and movement. LBD is an umbrella term for two closely related clinical diagnoses: Parkinson’s disease dementia and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB).
LBD causes are not yet fully understood. Multiple factors might make someone susceptible to LBD, including genetic and environmental risk factors combined with natural aging processes. Symptoms can include impaired thinking and memory, changes in sleep and behavior, problems with physical movement, and even hallucinations.
Doctors use patient history, examination, and possibly blood tests and brain scans to rule out other causes of dementia. LBD cannot be diagnosed with absolute certainty except through an autopsy, so any diagnosis is “probable.”
Caregiving and full time work:
A tough balancing act.
Are you someone who has an older family member, but are also working full time? Perhaps you currently work full time, but need to leave from time to time to take care of your loved one. Sometimes it may feel like you are abandoning your responsibilities at work or your responsibilities to your relative. This is a tough balancing act to handle. Following are five pragmatic steps you should take.
Don't let incontinence stop you from holiday travel.
While many of us look forward to going on holiday and visiting family and friends, it can be stressful for those managing urinary or bowel incontinence. With a little planning and the right products, everyone can enjoy the holiday season. Keep these five tips in mind next time you plan a trip.
The stuffed turkey simmering. The corn-on-the-cob roasting. The family chuckling, clustered around the newest board game. The magic of overflowing packages under the tree and that perfect bar room New Year’s kiss. Hollywood has photoshopped the holidays, and too many caregivers inadvertently fall into supporting roles. As the expectations pile up, so does the stress. So the dominoes fall: stress, worry, depression.
The buck stops here. Consider four simple tips to stave off the holiday blues.
We’re ending our 2014 sweepstakes with two great prizes: a combination tray and mobility handle and a package of three premium-quality skin care items formulated for your unique needs.
Assist-A-Tray by Stander
Prize No. 1: Assist-A-Tray by Stander
The Assist-A-Tray by Stander is a 2-in-1 mobility handle and tray. The sturdy, ergonomic handle helps a senior safely get in and out of a sitting position. The height-adjustable tray with cup holder and utensil compartment conveniently swivels out of the way to allow full mobility. The Stander product is ideal for anyone with limited mobility or impaired balance. We also recommend this product to anyone with back pain or who has undergone surgery, or anyone who just wants a tray nearby for mealtime, crafts or games, using a laptop and more. A $209.99 value!
7 warning signs to help you identify Alzheimer's disease or dementia.
How can you tell if a loved one has dementia or Alzheimer’s disease? If mom keeps forgetting where she put her keys or if dad looks confused these days, does this mean they have dementia? Not quite. Only a qualified physician can diagnose a patient with this illness. Memory loss is a common symptom for Alzheimer’s disease, although just because a loved doesn’t remember certain things, it doesn’t mean they’re sick. We all forget things every now and then, whether we’re 25 or 75.
In a yearlong study of family caregivers conducted by The CareGiver Partnership in 2004, caregivers self-described themselves as being frantic, frazzled and frustrated. · Frantic because they are usually thrust into their caregiver role as the result of an emergency – such as a fall or stroke.
· Frazzled because most are women who work full and part time. They may be juggling a job, a home and a family -- all while trying to provide care for a loved one.
The baby boomer generation, a colorful, noteworthy slice of the American population is oft referred to in the media and with good reason. Between the years of 1946 and 1964, seventy six million babies were brought into this word, and quite literally, the baby boomers were born. Today it is estimated that those over 50 comprise of about 45% of the US population.
As the first boomers approach age 65 and subsequent retirement, there are many issues that affect this group that will have major ramifications for everyone else as well. The joint federal and state Medicaid and Medicare programs were designed with a much smaller senior demographic in mind and growing the program exponentially into the future, needless to say, will not be an easy task.
Caregivers are those that care for others because they either can’t care for themselves or need assistance to carry out everyday tasks. Caregivers are often related to the people they are caring for, and the person being cared for is frequently a cherished loved one.
Help support this ad free blog by answering several questions about caregiving here. It will take just two minutes.
About The CareGiver Partnership. The CareGiver Partnership helps caregivers and their 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, Wisc. Visithttp://www.caregiverpartnership.com to learn more or call 1-800-985-1353.
Prevents bladder leaks rather than absorbing them.
Poise Impressa has been in test in Kansas City since September 2014.
Kimberly-Clark is rolling this new product nationally with the first couponing support on September 13. It is already in many stores including Walmart and Target.
We believe Impressa will create a new segment of non-absorbent over the counter devices that use mechanical means to prevent, not absorb stress urinary incontinence (SUI).
Based on results from the Kansas City test, we believe Poise Impressa revenue could grow to $75 million over time. The trial kit will initially be the key revenue driver as women identify the correct size which best fits their anatomy.
It’s our favorite time of month: announcing the “Helping You
Get On With Life” sweepstakes prizes! This month, our readers can enter to win
a two-prize bundle from Prevail incontinence products. The Prevail brand stands
for hope, trust and dignity — the perfect complement to our mission at The
CareGiver Partnership, which is to help people live life with normalcy and
dignity.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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?
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.
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 Walkeris 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
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.comor 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!
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.
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.
Guest Post contributed by Edward Francis and Foresthc.com
With the aging population today, more and more parents end up needing help from their children as they get older. This switch from the earlier life roles can be difficult for both parties. It can also lead to conflict between siblings, as they may have differing opinions on what would be best, or they may not all carry the same share of the load. If you are in a situation where you need to provide care for an aging parent, here are some tips.
A huge percentage of the US population live below the federal poverty line, and the fastest growing segment of that population is individuals over 85. This means that those who are often the most vulnerable and need the most assistance have the least amount of resources to get what they need. The lack of aging population services is a big problem in our country, and one area is that of incontinence supplies.
Incontinence supplies can be very costly, and are not usually covered by Medicare or insurance. For seniors on fixed incomes, the need to buy incontinence supplies could be causing them to go without other essential things.
If you are a caregiver to an adult with incontinence, senior or otherwise, and are finding it challenging to fund the need for absorbent products, consider diaper banks. Here are the seven things every caregiver should know about adult diaper banks.
Improve your symptoms and protect from dribbles and leaks.
Prostate cancer is the most common form of male cancer. When an individual with prostate cancer receives treatment, possibly robotic prostate surgery, the goal is to only destroy cancer cells. Unfortunately, sometimes healthy cells and tissue are also destroyed, and one of the common side effects of this is urinary incontinence.
Because the urinary sphincter is surrounded by the prostate gland, it is often damaged in surgery. While the incontinence that results is usually only temporary, and most men regain complete control within 18 months or so, those months of recovery can be challenging.
What can you do to protect yourself from incontinence after robotic prostate surgery?
Protect yourself with these 7 adult incontinence product tips.
Do you have incontinence? You are not alone. Millions of adults have bladder or bowel incontinence. 1 in 8 men will experience some kind of bladder leakage in their life, many as early as 40 years old. Women have even higher risks due to pregnancy and childbirth.
The fact is, many men and women suffer from incontinence in some degree, and often need absorbent products to help protect against leaks, odor, and embarrassment.
Weak or damaged pelvic floor muscles
can be a common cause of ABL.
ABL is a common ailment that tens of millions of people in the US suffer from. It can occur in anyone, male or female, and at any time. In fact, one in five women over age 40 experience ABL, and half of them don’t speak up about it.
Why? Why are men and women so afraid to talk about a problem that is so inconvenient? It is embarrassing, but it is often treatable. ABL has many common causes, and speaking with a doctor to determine the cause, and come up with treatments and solutions can lessen symptoms and increase quality of life.
Incontinence supplies do not have to be confusing.
Do you or someone you know have incontinence? Have you faced the sometimes overwhelming task of trying to select incontinence supplies that provide great fit, comfort, protection, odor control, and discretion? You are not alone. According to Kimberly Clark, makers of Depend and Poise, customers buying incontinence products for the first time waste an average of $130 trying products before finding what they need.
And it is not surprising. There are so many different brands, styles, sizes, absorbency, and features that just trying to sort it all out in your mind can be a challenge, let alone find the best product for your situation and condition.
However, incontinence supplies do not have to be confusing. There is help. And you don’t have to waste hundreds of dollars to find the products that are going to work best for your needs. The CareGiver Partnership offers three unique services to cut through the confusion and provide solutions to your incontinence supplies needs.
The proper incontinence products will provide confidence.
Do you or someone you know struggle with feeling confident because of incontinence? Incontinence is a common condition, impacting millions of Americans. However, despite the prevalence, lost control over bowels or bladder can lead to loss of confidence, especially in social situations. Many people with incontinence will isolate themselves to avoid embarrassment.
Don’t let this happen to you or someone you love. Having the right incontinence products can really help. The proper products will provide protection, coverage and confidence by reducing or eliminating leaks, reducing odor, and providing solutions to common incontinence problems (such as discretion).
All family caregivers want their older loved ones to get the right medical care. But doctors are often lacking key medical information at the time they see your aging relative. The solution: setting up and using a personal health record (PHR).
This is a big step up from what many families do, which is to create an “in-case-of-emergency” packet. Such medical information packets usually include a list of medications, chronic conditions, and allergies, along with the names of next-of-kin and perhaps a POLST form.
Take charge and regain control of incontinence after prostate surgery.
If you are experiencing incontinence after prostate surgery, know that you are not alone. Millions of men experience bladder leakage after prostate surgery. Statistics show 1 in 8 men experience leakage at some point in their life, and 1/3-1/5 of men will experience temporary incontinence after prostate surgery.
The prostate gland sits just below the bladder and encircles the urethra at the point where it leaves the bladder. When the prostate gland is removed or receives radiation therapy, damage can occur to the urinary sphincter. Depending on the extent of the damage, temporary or permanent incontinence can result.
If you are experiencing incontinence after prostate surgery, take charge, and regain control by doing the following:
Support can help a loved one improve quality of life.
by Dianna Malkowski, Physician Assistant & Nutritionist
Diagnosis of a neurological disease often brings a heavy
emotional burden that includes fear and depression. Setting up a support system
is an essential part of managing these and other serious health conditions.
A step by step guide to make sure your loved one's products aren't mismanaged.
Because long-term care facilities have a high percentage of residents with some degree of incontinence, it is important to recognize there is a potential for mismanagement of incontinence products and supplies.
Incontinence supplies, on a national average, make up about 8% of the care facility’s spending each year. As residents are the ones who pay for those expenditures, it is worth knowing how to monitor and insure your care facility is not mismanaging your loved one’s products. Here is your guide for doing so:
Incontinence impacts millions of Americans in varying degrees. From light incontinence such as LBL to more severe cases, or even total incontinence, there are absorbent products available to meet every need. The trick is figuring out which is which, and knowing what best suits your body type, size, and absorbency needs.
Because there are tons of brands, sizes, and styles, it can be confusing and overwhelming. Which is why we are providing you with a 2014 update on the most absorbent urinary incontinence products available right now, as well as some tools to help you find, try, and buy the best products for your needs:
Type 2 diabetes and obesity can increase the risk factor for ABL.
Do you have accidental bowel leakage? Do you feel anxious about social situations because you never know if you are going to leak? Accidental bowel leakage or ABL impact millions of Americans but is often untalked about.
In fact, for many of those with ABL, treatment of diseases or conditions such as diabetes, obesity, and celiac can help to reduce or eliminate ABL symptoms.
People with diabetes, celiac, and other health concerns commonly experience problems with controlling their bladder and bowel. This can interfere with work, social life, and personal and sexual relationships.
Choosing the right incontinence products is one way
caregivers can improve their own peace of mind.
If you are a caregiver to someone with incontinence, limited mobility, or any of the myriad of other conditions that often face seniors, consider the following five tips for increasing comfort, health, and safety for your loved one while also improving your own peace of mind.
Your care facility may be mismanaging your loved one's product needs.
Are you seeing inconsistency in product usage from month to month? Are your absorbent product costs higher than you expect? Are you unsure of how products are managed, tracked, and accounted for? Your care facility may be mismanaging your loved one’s product needs.
Warning signs to look for that the care facility is
mismanaging absorbent product uses.
Do you have a loved one in a care facility? Is that loved
one incontinent? You are not alone, in fact the CMS stated recently that over
half of the population of care facilities experience some degree of
incontinence.
This means that there are lots of absorbent products used,
and a lot of potential for mismanagement. Because care facilities spend nearly
8 billion dollars a year on disposable incontinence products, taking steps to
insure your loved one’s products are not mismanaged can help you, and other residents
save big.
Eliminate stress and worry and improve care for your loved one.
Caregivers often find themselves stressed and worried about their senior loved ones. Even when they provide great care, it can be hard to be there all the time, to catch all the little things, and to recognize red flags for what they are.
Fortunately, caregivers are not alone, there are many tools, resources, and services available that can help to eliminate stress and worry and improve care for the seniors.
The follow are 7 steps caregivers can take to reduce worry and stress while improving quality of life and care for their loved ones:
by Lynn
Wilson, Founder of The CareGiver Partnership
The CareGiver
Partnership is carrying the new Discreet line by Always. Always Discreet for
women signifies Procter & Gamble’s re-entry into the disposable
incontinence category.
Ask the right questions to insure your loved one's products are managed properly.
According to recent information from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), over half of the nursing home population experiences some degree of incontinence. This implies that care facilities use a great deal of absorbent products for incontinence management. And there is a lot of room for mismanagement of those said products. Asking the right questions can help you insure your loved one’s products are managed properly.
The following are 10 questions you should ask your care facility about their product management:
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