Six Principles of Care

By Sharon A. O'Brien
SC; RN, PG; BSW, RSW; CG 
Executive Vice-President of Policy & Education 
Senior Watch 

The tests have been done. The tentative diagnosis has been made. Your loved one has Alzheimer Disease. You are devastated. You now must face the reality of your fears.

Each day will bring new realities and new challenges. You accept the challenge. This is the person you have known and loved for 25-40-55 years. The love is deep and the commitment goes well beyond any difficulties encountered over the years.

There are six principles of care that need to be considered as you accept the challenge to provide appropriate care. 

1. As difficult as it may be sometimes, remember how the person behaves is a direct reflection of the disease. The person has no control over behaviour. It is not a deliberate attempt to shock you nor is it “stubbornness” or “childishness”.

2. The person with Alzheimer Disease deserves the same dignity and respect as before the disease struck. As the caregiver, you must protect the person from disrespect. Remind family, visitors, and professionals of the life journey and the accomplishments of your loved one. 

3. Stress the positive. Build on abilities. The person with Alzheimer Disease needs to be encouraged to continue with favourite activities as long as possible. Included may be playing cards, golfing, curling, and family gatherings. 

4. The family is an integral part of the Circle of Care. Encourage family members to learn all they can about the disease. The Internet, the Alzheimer Society, and local education programs are available. 

5. It is important to build partnerships with other members of the care team; e.g., caregivers, the family physician, the pharmacist, the spiritual adviser, friends offering respite care, etc.

6. The sixth principle should probably be the first principle. Look after yourself. Schedule breaks. Accept support. You are one member of the care team. Allow others to help you provide appropriate care. This experience will change you. You have the opportunity to make a huge difference in the life of a vulnerable loved one.

Aging is a Family Affair

By Sharon A. O'Brien, SC; RN, PG; BSW, RSW; CG 
Executive Vice-President of Policy & Education 
at Senior Watch 

Are we ready for the unexpected? There is not one of us who can say with certainty that we know what is "around the corner" or as some say, "what is coming down the tube". For years we have heard the Boy Scouts proudly declare, "Be prepared". How prepared are we, whether we are at 28 or 82, for the curves life may throw our way?

How many of us have wondered who would take charge if something happened to us or how we would respond if we were suddenly required to provide care to a loved one? Again the question needs to be asked by the person who is 28 as well as the person who is 82 or older. Many caregivers today, both men and women, are well into their 80's. Who will be in control of the care received? What practical steps can be taken now to prepare? 

What is a person saying to us when they drop hints such as "there is an envelope in the desk drawer I want you to read if I become ill"? What could we do now to prepare ourselves for the moment we have to fulfill the wishes of that envelope and we become the caregiver for a loved one? 

There are three main tasks for all of us to undertake: 

1. We must come face to face with the reality of our mortality. Life just does not go on forever. We need to know what to expect and what we can do now to help make our older adult years enjoyable and comfortable.
2. We must communicate our hopes and our dreams, our wishes and our fears to those who care about us. Whether it be a daughter, a son, or a spouse who assumes the responsibility of caring, we must be fair and provide the road map we have chosen.
3. We must begin now to prepare for the challenging times ahead. How can we do this? Where can we turn? 

Senior Watch Inc. has developed sessions to assist both family caregivers and those requiring care to prepare for what can be a very rewarding experience. These sessions focus on the changes and challenges of aging and the steps that can be taken now to reduce the risk of later problems. Opportunities are given to identify community resources. Caregivers are challenged to acknowledge the impact of caregiving on various family members, and to develop practical ways of providing appropriate care, while the issue of "self-care" is kept in the forefront.

What is around the corner? None of us knows. However, we do know we can have some degree of control in what happens. It really does pay to be prepared! Want to deal with the issues? Give us a call...506.634.8906 or Toll Free: 1.800.561.2463

Mending Fences

By Sharon A. O'Brien, SC; RN, PG; BSW, RSW; CG 
Executive Vice-President of Policy & Education 
at Senior Watch 

Family rifts are nothing new!  Remember Cain and Abel? Few families escape unscathed, and unfortunately, there seems to be no easy solution. One thing for sure, years do not necessarily mend breaks in family fences.

If we find ourselves in this situation, perhaps a new insight can help us take a new look at our fences!

Often, as we get along in years, we feel a need to make things better. If there are any doubts as to the benefits of taking the risk, be assured that even if we are rebuffed, we will know we at least tried.

The real key is to FORGIVE! Contrary to popular thinking, we do this for ourselves and not for the other person! This involves letting go of grudges that we’ve carried around for too long! It also may involve forgiving ourselves for some dumb remark made 30 years ago!

Remember the line in a Robert Frost poem: “good fences make good neighbours”? They make good families as well!

Mending and maintaining good family fences makes good sense at any age. Simple steps like making sure our wills are current, explaining decisions to appropriate family members, preparing a list of items to be left to specific people, informing relatives of preferred funeral arrangements and involving those concerned in decision making are all important.

Do you have some family fences that need to be mended or maintained?

AD Strikes Next Door!

By Sharon A. O'Brien, SC; RN, PG; BSW, RSW; CG 
Executive Vice-President of Policy & Education 
at Senior Watch 

Alzheimer Disease affects an estimated 200,000 Canadians.  Perhaps a neighbour is one of its victims.

All too often families struggle to cope on their own.  They juggle work schedules, place their own mental and physical health at risk, or become isolated.  What can you do to help?

First, you can become aware of the challenges of caring for a person with Alzheimer Disease.  Information is available from a local Alzheimer office.  Talk to the caregiver about his or her situation and together identify the specific ways you could offer support.

The next step requires courage and commitment.  Let your neighbour's family know you are serious about your offer of support.  A phone call or a visit to encourage the caregiver will mean more than you can ever imagine.  Offer to stay with the family member while the caregiver runs errands, keep appointments or have lunch with a friend.

If you are making cookies, biscuits or a meal, prepare a little extra and offer it to the caregiver.  You could offer to look after a car maintenance appointment, to pick up items needed or even to plan a special time for the caregiver away from the home.  A little creativity can go a long way!

Until you have been “the caregiver” you cannot imagine how much even the smallest gesture of support can mean.

The Struggle to Grasp Health Information

By Sharon A. O'Brien, SC; RN, PG; BSW, RSW; CG 
Executive Vice-President of Policy & Education 
at Senior Watch 

You have just been given information on a medication, a diagnosis, or a necessary procedure and you do not have a clue what it means.  You are not alone!

A recent issue of the Canadian Nurse stated that “60% of adult Canadians lack the capacity to obtain, understand, and act upon health information and services and to make appropriate health decisions and maintain basic health”.  This is a scary statistic.  Then again, it could make us feel we are not alone as we walk out of the appointment in a fog!

Have you ever had a surgeon explain the eight things that could go wrong should you decide to go ahead with the surgery he/she is recommending?  Have you ever had a diagnosis elaborately explained along with the treatment options, but you tuned out when you heard the word “cancer”?    

It is critical to our overall health and our recovery that we understand what is happening to us. There is nothing wrong with requesting a slower, clearer, simplified explanation! 

What can we do. We can start by taking responsibility for our health.  We need to take a trusted friend with us to remind us of questions we wanted to ask and to take notes.  We need to advise the health professional of “invisible” disabilities; e.g., hearing problems.  We need to be honest and admit when we feel confused about the directions being given.  We can even ask to have a procedure or a medication be written down for us.

As consumers of the health system we must be active participants in service delivery.  We need to help those who are serving us to understand our need to grasp the information being given to us.  Our health providers care deeply and they depend on us to play our role in our journey towards wellness.

How to Choose Home Care Services

By Sharon A. O'Brien, SC; RN, PG; BSW, RSW; CG 
Executive Vice-President of Policy & Education 
at Senior Watch

It seems with each day new agencies are springing up in our communities. This is an era of entrepreneurship and many are looking at the mushrooming senior market.

How does one choose an agency to provide the assistance needed?

To start, it would be good to remember that in most cases, you are inviting total strangers into your home. You will want to know that the staff are insured and have been trained with the skills needed to meet your specific need. Not everyone knows how to boil an egg!!

It would be wise to ask friends, your family doctor, or family members if they know about the organization. What is the company's reputation? How long has it been in business? How qualified are its leaders? What is the quality of supervision?

Have questions ready for the representative with whom you speak. If you are timid, ask a friend or family member to make the call.

Home Services are not a "last resort" - they form a vital part of the continuum of care available in New Brunswick. These services are part of the preventative care program, allowing older people to continue quality lives in the residence of their choice.

Choosing a suitable provider of service is something that can be planned before the need arises. It is a decision that is best made when stress is minimal!