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.
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.
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