Who is Touching Hearts Senior Care?

Touching Hearts Senior Care is a privately owned company that specializes in offering aid and assistance to seniors to help them maintain their independence.  THSC provides in-home non-medical services to seniors and those with disabilities.  As such, THSC's caregivers can help with anything ranging from light housekeeping and laundry to bathing and dressing needs to incidental transportation.  The caregivers may also assist with medicine reminders and meal preparation.  All THSC caregivers are thoroughly screened before hire and are licensed, bonded, and insured.  Caregivers are available for the above services for time frames ranging from one hour to around-the-clock care.

THSC also specializes in Elder Care Case Management.  With these services, THSC Case Managers are able to help older adults and their loved ones with all of the following:

CARE MANAGEMENT

As Elder Care Managers, Touching Hearts Senior Care works with older adults and their loved ones to develop a plan of care and services that promotes autonomy and independence, and keeps them safe.   We assist with Long-term Care Policy Reviews, Asset Protection Planning, Alabama Medicaid Exempt Trust Accounts, and Medicaid/VA Eligibility.

FAMILY MEDIATION

We work with the older adult and his or her loved ones to facilitate communication and informed decision making.  This process can help avoid expensive and emotionally taxing court involvement.  Voluntary mediation can help families confidentially settle disputes concerning:

·        Care assessment and assignment of responsibilities

·        Living arrangements

·        Who should be appointed power of attorney, health care proxy, etc.

·        How finances should be managed

·        Estate and trust planning and administration

DAILY MONEY MANAGEMENT

We encourage individuals to remain in control while receiving the right amount of support in an effort to avoid errors that could potentially lead to both financial loss and loss of independence.  We can assist you or your advisor with any of the following:

·        Paying bills and resolving billing discrepancies

·        Identifying need to create or update important legal documents

·        Inventorying documents and data for monthly budget and year-end tax planning

·        Negotiating with creditors

MEDICAID AND VETERAN'S BENEFITS

We can help in accessing public and private benefits and entitlements, and can answer the following questions:

·        How can I qualify for Medicaid and still protect my home and assets?

·        How do I possibly avoid Medicaid spend-down and understand look-back periods?

·        What is a Medicaid Exempt Trust and how does it benefit me?  (Available in Alabama only)

·        Do I understand VA benefits and what is Aid & Attendance?

·        Do I understand what my long-term care policy provides?

PATIENT NAVIGATION

Have you or a loved one just been released from the hospital?  We can help you identify and prioritize your unique needs such as utilizing employee benefits and health and long-term care insurance claim reconciliation.

 

Questions?  Please contact Certified Senior Advisor Gina Germany

Phone 251.445.4204  Fax 251.445.4205

3263 Demetropolis Rd., Ste., 10 Mobile, AL 36693

gina@touchingheartsseniorcare.com

TOUCHINGHEARTSSENIORCARE.COM

Alzheimer's and Dementia Caregiver Support Group

Gulf Coast Dementia Services (GCDS) is a non-profit supporting individuals and their families who suffer from Alzheimer’s and Dementia. 

 

One avenue GCDS provides assistance to individuals and their families is by our Alzheimer’s/Dementia Support Group. 

 

Our support groups are designed to provide educational, emotional and social support for family and friends of individuals suffering from the disease.  We encourage individuals to share their experiences and ask questions they may have to help develop solutions to their concerns or challenges.

 

All information, discussions, and situations are strictly confidential.

 

Meeting information:

The third Tuesday of each month at Touching Hearts Senior Care’s offices located at 3263 Demetropolis  Rd., Ste. 10, at the Quadrangle Business Center, Mobile, AL  36693.  For more information, please contact Gina Germany at 251-421-4888 or 251-300-0250.

Alzheimer's Dementia Support Group

The Alzheimer’s Association’s

Caregiver Support Groups are designed to provide emotional, educational and social support for

caregivers through regularly scheduled meetings. They help participants develop methods and

skills to solve problems. The groups encourage caregivers to maintain their own personal, physical and

emotional health, as well as optimally care for the person with dementia.

 Call 251-445-4204 or 1 800 272 3900, or visit us at  www.alz.org

• To attend  this support group
• To find a support group in another area
• To learn about other Alzheimer’s Association programs and services
• To access our services day or night
• To volunteer your time and energy to achieve a world without Alzheimer’s disease

 

 

Sponsored by Touching Hearts Senior Care and Brookside Retirement Community
Presented by Alzheimer's Association
Held the 4th Tuesday of every month at 11:30 am - 1:00 pm
Please join us at 11:30 am for lunch brown bag or purchase lunch at Via Support Group will begin at 12:00 pm NOON
Via Senior Center - TV Room
1717 Dauphin St.
Mobile, AL

For more information call Gina Germany 251-445-4204

Many people who are caregivers of those suffering from Alzheimer’s or dementia often feel as though they have no support, they don’t know what to do, or they feel as though they are drowning.  Alzheimer’s and dementias are beginning to be diagnosed much more frequently due to more research and the fact the aging population is growing and living longer.

The disease is devastating to a family unit, leaving most with a ghost of a loved one they once lived with and enjoyed life with.  Experts have found that most Alzheimer’s patients go through seven stages of the disease progression.  The duration and symptoms might vary, but the general decline of Alzheimer’s remains the same.

1. No Impairment Individuals at this stage show no marked decline in their cognitive function. No memory problems show up on a regular basis. 2. Very Mild Impairment Forgetfulness begins. The patient begins to forget names and small details, like where they put their glasses or if they took their medication that morning. 3. Mild Decline At this point, family and friends begin to notice the symptoms. Losing things is more common, and the patient might begin having performance issues at work. 4. Moderate Decline The problems are now clear in medical interviews. The patient begins forgetting personal history, recent events, and how to handle complex tasks, such as planning dinner or paying bills. They could begin acting withdrawn or subdued in social situations. 5. Moderately Severe Decline While the patient may remember their own name and the names of those important to them, they begin to forget basic information, such as the current date, time, or season. Day-to-day tasks like cooking may no longer be safe. 6. Severe Decline In this phase, the patient needs more help with basic activities like dressing and using the toilet. They might also experience behavioral changes, such as feeling suspicious or experiencing hallucinations. Someone at this stage might engage in repetitive behaviors or wander away, only to become confused and lost. 7. Very Severe Decline In this final stage, the patient may lose the ability to speak coherently. They may need help with general hygiene, and may eventually lose muscle coordination and the ability to control movement. Their muscles typically grow rigid, the reflexes become unpredictable, and eventually even swallowing could become impaired. Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s or dementia can be exhausting and frustrating, but you don’t have to go it alone. There are many services that can help, such as Touching Hearts Senior Care.  Our caregivers go through extensive training for Alzheimer’s and dementia.  At Touching Hearts we feel it is imperative that our caregivers know how to respond appropriately to an individual suffering with dementia.  A Caregiver support group has been formed by the founder of Touching Hearts Senior Care, Gina Germany, the group meets every third Tuesday of each month at 6 pm – 7 pm at the Business Innovation Center, 1301 Azalea Rd., Room 204, Mobile, AL  36693, phone 251-445-4204.

 

Courtesy of PsychCentral

Stress, Depression Reduce Brain Volume Thanks to Genetic ‘Switch’

By Rick Nauert PhDSenior News Editor
Reviewed by John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on August 13, 2012

Scientists have known that stress and depression can cause the brain to retract or lose volume, a condition associated with both emotional and cognitive impairment. Now, a new study discovers why this occurs.
Yale scientists have found that the deactivation of a single genetic switch can instigate a cascading loss of brain connections in humans and depression in animal models.
Researchers say the genetic switch, known as a transcription factor, represses the expression of several genes that are necessary for the formation of synaptic connections between brain cells. The loss of connections, in turn, can contribute to loss of brain mass in the prefrontal cortex, say the scientists.
“We wanted to test the idea that stress causes a loss of brain synapses in humans,” said senior author Ronald Duman, Ph.D. “We show that circuits normally involved in emotion, as well as cognition, are disrupted when this single transcription factor is activated.”
In the study, the research team analyzed tissue of depressed and non-depressed patients donated from a brain bank and looked for different patterns of gene activation.
The brains of patients who had been depressed exhibited lower levels of expression in genes that are required for the function and structure of brain synapses.
Lead author and postdoctoral researcher H.J. Kang, Ph.D., discovered that at least five of these genes could be regulated by a single transcription factor called GATA1.
When the transcription factor was activated in animal models, rodents exhibited depressive-like symptoms, suggesting GATA1 plays a role not only in the loss of connections between neurons but also in symptoms of depression.
This finding of genetic variations in GATA1 may help researchers identify people at high risk for major depression or sensitivity to stress.
“We hope that by enhancing synaptic connections, either with novel medications or behavioral therapy, we can develop more effective antidepressant therapies,” Duman said.

How to recognize a stroke!

The Most Common Stroke Symptoms

How do you know if someone is having a stroke? Here are the most common signs of stroke in both men and women:

·         Numbness. You may suddenly feel weak or numb in your face, arm, or leg. Typically the weakness is on one side of your body, you also may feel numbness around your mouth.

·         Speech problems. You may have trouble talking. Your speech may be slurred or you may not be able to speak at all,

·         Confusion. You may become confused and have trouble understanding what people are saying to you.

·         Vision problems. You may experience double vision or difficulty seeing out of one or both eyes. It can seem like a shade has been drawn over one eye.

·         Dizziness. You may feel dizzy and have trouble with balance and coordination. You walk like you’re suddenly drunk.

·         Head pain. You may have a headache that comes on suddenly, like a bolt out of the blue. Your severe head pain may be accompanied by vomiting.

The National Stroke Association says a good way to recognize the warning signs of stroke in another person is to think “FAST”:

·         F is for face. See if one side of the face droops when you ask that person to smile.

·         A is for arms. When trying to raise both arms, does one drift downward?

·         S is for speech. Is the person speaking clearly or is there slurring?

·         T is for time. If you observe any of these signs, immediately go to the ER for an evaluation. The sooner the person gets treated, the lower the risk of permanent damage.

Stroke Symptoms Unique to Women

Women may experience any of the most common signs of stroke listed above for both genders, but they are also likely to experience a unique set of symptoms that come on suddenly, including:

·         Hiccups

·         Nausea

·         Chest pain

·         Shortness of breath

·         Racing of the heart or heart palpitations

·         Fainting or loss of consciousness

CAREGIVER BURNOUT!

Caring for someone, particularly someone with Alzheimer's Disease, can be an overwhelming task. Care giving can be physically demanding, emotionally draining and may cause stress and conflict with your other responsibilities. As a caregiver it is important that you take care of your own physical and mental health and learn about the signs of care giver burnout. Alzheimer's caregivers often overlook their own health, because they are focusing so much attention on their loved one.

Common signs of caregiver stress include the following:

• Feeling sad or moody
• Crying more often than you used to
• Having low energy level
• Feeling like you don't have any time to yourself
• Having trouble sleeping, or not wanting to get out of bed in the morning
• Having trouble eating, or eating too much
• Seeing friends or relatives less often than you used to
• Losing interest in your hobbies or the things you used to do with friends or family
• Feeling angry at the person you are caring for or at other people or situations

If you recognize any of these symptoms in yourself or other family members, professional help should be sought immediately to prevent caregiver burnout. Talk with your family doctor about your feelings and stay in touch with your friends and family. Ask others for help but remember to be specific when asking for help, don't expect others will know what you need. Early attention to symptoms of caregiver burnout - through exercise, a healthy diet, positive support of family and friends, or consultation with a trained health professional may help to prevent you developing a serious depression.

Families often experience anxiety and pain at seeing unsettling changes in a loved one, and this increases as the disease progresses. As an Alzheimer's caregiver you will commonly feel guilty over not being able to do enough. The prevalence of reactive depression among caregivers is disturbingly high--Alzheimer's caregivers are chronically stressed and are much more likely to suffer from depression than the average person. Also when a caregiver has been forced to retire from their job or other activities outside the home, they can feel progressively more isolated and no longer productive members of society.

The emotional and physical burden of caring for someone with Alzheimer's can be overwhelming. Keep in mind that it is normal to feel angry, frustrated, or depressed from time to time. The following strategies will help when you find yourself experiencing care giver burnout:

• Remove yourself from the situation by walking away, even if it's just around the house
• Talk to someone with whom you feel close
• Call a hot line
• Talk with your doctor or other health professional
• Write down your feelings in a journal

If you find that you are frequently angry or depressed or that your emotions are getting out of control, you may benefit from a combination of counseling, respite, caregiver support groups, and supportive in-home services. Joining an online support groups will also give you the added convenience of being able to receive support without having to leave home.

Always remember you can call Touching Hearts Senior Care and talk with Gina Germany, Certified Senior Advisor for recommendations, suggestions, or just to have an ear to share.

251-445-4204