Here’s some facts to share with seniors in Webster Groves MO.

Memorial Day, originally called “Decoration Day”, is a day of memories for all those who have passed away in our nation’s service. You can find quite a few stories as to its actual early stages, with over two dozen metropolitan areas and towns laying claim to being the origin of Memorial Day. There is also data that organized women’s groups in the South were decorating graves before the end of the Civil War: a hymn published in 1867, “Kneel Where Our Loves are Sleeping” by Nella L. Sweet beared the dedication “To The Ladies of the South who are Decorating the Graves of the Confederate Dead” (Source: Duke University’s Historic American Sheet Music, 1850-1920). While Waterloo N.Y. was officially declared the birthplace of Memorial Day by President Lyndon Johnson in May 1966, it’s challenging to confirm clearly the source of the day. It is much more likely that it had many independent beginnings; each of those towns and every planned or unplanned assembling of people to honor the war dead in the 1860′s identified the common human need to honor our dead, each assisted honestly to the growing movement that culminated in Gen Logan giving his official proclamation in 1868. It is not crucial who was the very first, what is important is that Memorial Day was established. Memorial Day is not about division. It is about getting back together; it is about joining together to honor those who gave their all.

Traditional observation of Memorial day has diminished over the years.

Many Americans today have overlooked the significance and customs of Memorial Day.

Since the late 50′s on the Thursday before Memorial Day, the 1,200 soldiers of the 3d U.S. Infantry place small American flags at each of the more than 260,000 gravestones at Arlington National Cemetery. They then patrol 24 hours a day during the weekend to ensure that each flag remains standing.

In 1951, the Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts of St. Louis began placing flags on the 150,000 graves at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery as an annual Good Turn, a practice that continues to this day. More recently, beginning in 1998, on the Saturday before the observed day for Memorial Day, the Boys Scouts and Girl Scouts place a candle at each of approximately 15,300 grave sites of soldiers buried at Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park on Marye’s Heights (the Luminaria Program). And in 2004, Washington D.C. held its first Memorial Day parade in over 60 years.

To help re-educate and remind Americans of the true meaning of Memorial Day, the “National Moment of Remembrance” resolution was passed on Dec 2000 which asks that at 3 p.m. local time, for all Americans “To voluntarily and informally observe in their own way a Moment of remembrance and respect, pausing from whatever they are doing for a moment of silence or listening to ‘Taps.”

The Moment of Remembrance is a step in the right direction to returning the meaning back to the day. What is needed is a full return to the original day of observance. Set aside one day out of the year for the nation to get together to remember, reflect and honor those who have given their all in service to their country.

The caregivers at Anchor Health Care are available to talk with you and your family about your senior care needs. Anchor Health Care is an elder care agency providing quality and affordable senior care Webster Groves MO, and the surrounding areas. Call 314-843-6616for more information.

May is Older Americans Month, a perfect opportunity to exhibit our thankfulness for the older adults in our towns.

The topic for Older Americans Month 2012, “Never Too Old to Play…”
prompts older Americans to remain busy, energetic and interested in their own lives and in their areas.

Here are some tips for Older American’s Month

Physical Activity

Here are some physical activity ideas:

- Wii bowling tournament. Wii bowling is a well-liked physical activity among older adults, and a smart way to interest elders and young people in an intergenerational lesson of energizing activity that promotes fitness and fosters intergenerational connections.

- Miniature golf. Miniature golf is a terrific sort of light exercise and amusement for people of all ages. For your Day of Play think about an outing to a local miniature golf course. Call beforehand to see if there is a group rate or senior discount. To make this an intergenerational event ask the older adults to bring along a friend from another generation such as a child or grandchild.

-Choreographed fitness. There are many possibilities for fun group exercise activities for older adults. For your Day of Play you may wish to put together classes in one or more of these exercises in movement:

-Tai chi is a group activity in which participants move slowly and gently in unison. Tai chi improves balance and strength.

-Water aerobics is exactly what it sounds like. The gentle resistance of the water in a pool intensifies this low-impact aerobic workout. And exercising in a pool reduces the risk of injuries from falls.

-Yoga uses stretching and breathing to relax the mind and body, and it’s very good for circulation.

-Dancing improves balance and coordination. Plus, it’s a great creative outlet and way to meet new people.

The caregivers at Anchor Health Care are available to talk with you and your family about your senior care needs. Anchor Health Care is an elder care agency providing quality and affordable senior care St. Louis MO, and the surrounding areas. Call 314-843-6616for more information.

All over the United States, registered nurses are being commemorated.

On May 6, 2012, we are joining the American Nurses Association in remembering Nurses: Advocating, Leading, Caring, as part of National Nurses Week, which is held May 6-12, every year. The aim ofthe week long observance is to draw attention to of the significance of nursing and  help with educating everyone with regards to the role nurses engage in in meeting the health care goals of the American people.

In honor of the dedication, commitment, and tireless commitment of the nearly 3.1 million registered nurses coast to coast to promote and manage the wellness of the US, the American Nurses Association is happy to recognize registered nurses far and wide on this particular day for the caregiving and top quality effort they provide seven days a week, 365 days a year.

To honor Nursing: Advocating, Leading, Caring, all registered nurses in America are encouraged to proudly wear the official ANA “RN” pin or any other pin that evidently identifies them as registered nurses, and/or their nurses uniform on May 6, 2012.

Nurses: Advocating, Leading, Caring

Quite often illustrated as an art and a science, nursing is a line of work that accepts special individuals with many different pursuits and interests,  because of all the possibilities the profession supplies. Nurses are caregivers, work in emergency rooms, school based clinics, and homeless shelters, among others. They have many responsibilities – from staff nurse to educator to nurse practitioner and nurse researcher – and perform all of them with desire for the occupation and with a commitment to patient safety.

National Nurses Week History    

National Nurses Week gets started each year on May 6th and ends on May 12th, Florence Nightingale’s birthday.

These solid dates improve organizing and pose National Nurses Week as an organized recognition occurrence. As of 1998, May 8 was designated as National Student Nurses Day, to be recognized yearly. And as of 2003, National School Nurse Day is celebrated on the Wednesday within National Nurses Week (May 6-12) each year.

The nursing line of work has been supported and approved by the American Nurses Association (ANA) since 1896.

Each of ANA’s state and territorial nurses associations promotes the nursing profession at the state and regional levels. Each conducts celebrations on these dates to recognize the contributions that nurses and nursing make to the community.

If you know a registered nurse, be sure to thank him or her for their service during National Nurses Week 2012. 

The caregivers at Anchor Health Care are available to talk with you and your family about your senior care needs.  Anchor Health Care is a home care agency providing quality and affordable caregivers in Kirkwood MO, and the surrounding areas. Call 314-843-6616 for more information.

Are you providing senior care in Crestwood MO for an aging loved one?

Here are some options on how to to spread the energy of gardening in your community.

Plant a Row for the Hungry at a Local Community Garden

In this land of abundance it’s very difficult to consider not having access to good food at a sensible cost. Even so, for a lot of Americans, obtaining a healthy meal is not always simple. It’s projected almost 33 million people, including 13 million children, make use of emergency food because they cannot buy the food they need.

Participate In a Plant Swap at a Nearby Church

The greatest plants aren’t always from your nearby garden center or seed catalog. Instead they are assembled through quick cuttings or by gathering up seeds from the garden of a friend or family member. These “pass-along plants” render both splendor and feeling to your garden.

Have a Spring Cleaning Green Up Day at a Senior’s Home

Spring cleaning — indoors and out — is a ritual that marks the end of winter and  the start of a brand-new season, and similar to many activities, it’s more fun when you share it. A senior’s home, your street, neighborhood, town park, and any other public space could use some greening up; it just takes someone to organize a small group.

Yard Sale Philanthropy

The arrival of spring, accompanied by longer days and higher temperatures, conjures up visions of green oases teeming with tomatoes and brimming with beans. Spring is also a time for cleaning out. This year, celebrate National Garden Month in an unexpected way-by visiting yard sales in search of second-hand stuff that every senior’s garden needs.

Organize a Garden Visit with Senior Friends, Over Tea!

Gardeners grow more than plants – every one of us has stories to share. For a change, why not share them in over tea? Socialization and admiration of another person’s garden brings joy to everyone.

Other suggestions for celebrating with seniors in your community:

-Organize or join in a town beautification day.

-Check out your neighborhood farmers’ market.

-Flatter a neighbor on his or her garden.

-Gather with neighbors to purchase compost and mulch in bulk quantities.

-Volunteer to plant and maintain a garden at your town library.

-Present a gardening article or essay to your area newspaper.

-Arrange to Talk With an elder to learn what foods his or her family grew when he or she was a child.

-Seek out neighbors from various ethnic groups to learn about their native cuisine and gardening techniques.

-Green up your street or a local park by picking up trash.

-Share a cutting of one of your favorite landscape or houseplants with a senior neighbor.

-Look at your gardening gear (e.g., pots, seeds, stakes) and contribute the excess to a area gardening program, assisted living facility or school garden.

-Celebrate other important “green” holidays: Earth Day (April 22) and National Arbor Day (April 26).

-Volunteer at your local school’s garden.

-Volunteer at a local senior center’s garden.

-Start a neighborhood garden club.

-Share your garden’s bounty with a senior neighbor.

-Have fun doing a gardening project with a senior.

-Deliver houseplants or flowers to a nursing home, assisted living or children’s hospital.

-Donate past issues of gardening magazines to your library, or buy the library a gift subscription.

The caregivers at Anchor Health Care are available to talk with you and your family about your senior care needs.  Anchor Health Care is an elder care agency providing quality and affordable senior care Crestwood MO, and the surrounding areas. Call 314-843-6616 for more information.

Parkinson’s disease (PD) follows the same mold as a group of conditions called motor system disorders, which are the effect of the loss in dopamine-producing brain cells.

The four principal symptoms of PD are tremor, or trembling in hands, arms, legs, jaw, and face; rigidity, or stiffness of the limbs and trunk; bradykinesia, or slowness of movement; and postural instability, or weakened balance and coordination.

As these signs grow to be more pronounced, patients may have difficulty walking, talking, or completing other simple activities.

PD usually strikes men and women over the age of 50.  Initial warning signs of PD are slight and occur slowly.  In some folks the disease moves forward much quicker than in others.

As the disease advances, the shaking, or tremor, which affects the majority of Parkinson’s Disease patients may begin to hamper with routine.  Other indicators may include depression and other emotional changes; difficulty in swallowing, chewing, and speaking; urinary problems or constipation; skin problems; and sleep disruptions.

There are at present no blood or laboratory tests that have been verified to aid in diagnosing sporadic PD.  For that reason the diagnosis is based on medical history and a neurological examination.

The disease can be hard to diagnose properly.   Physicians may in some cases ask for brain scans or laboratory tests in order to rule out other diseases.

Is there any cure?
At present, there is no cure for Parkinson’s Disease, but a selection of medications supply spectacular ease from the indications.

Homecare and Treatment
In early stages, Parkinson’s disease may not substantially upset your life. But for most individuals, the disease gets more disabling over time. Homecare can assist patients as they adapt, and as the disease moves along. This naturally, can help them to continue to be self-sufficient for as long as possible. The high quality of their life may be dependent in part on their proficiency to continue working, take care of a home, care for their family, and remain independent. They may want adaptive devices such as canes or walkers as the disease advances.

Elements of Private Duty Homecare that are valuable for an individual with PD include things like:

• Changing their activities and their family home, including improving their day to day responsibilities and shifting the place of furniture so that they can hang on to something as they move around the residence.

• Consuming healthy foods, including plenty of fruits, vegetables, grains, cereals, legumes, poultry, fish, lean meats, and low-fat dairy products.

• Exercising and doing physical therapy, which have benefits in both early and advanced stages of  the illness.

• Dealing with tremor, which may include putting a little weight on the hand to help reduce tremor and restore control.

• Improving speech quality by working with a speech therapist (also called a speech-language pathologist).

• Reducing problems with eating and drooling by changing how and what they eat.

• Dealing with “freezing” by various means, such as stepping towards a specific target on the ground.

• Managing depression. If they are feeling sad or depressed, ask a friend or family member for help. If these feelings don’t go away, or if they get worse, talk to their doctor. He or she may be able to suggest someone for you to talk to or give them medicine that will help.

• Addressing dementia. Dementia is common late in Parkinson’s disease. Symptoms may include confusion and memory loss. If a family member notices that they are confused a lot or have trouble thinking clearly, talk to their doctor. There are medicines that can help dementia in people with Parkinson’s disease.

The caregivers at Anchor Health Care are available to talk with you and your family about your homecare needs.  Anchor Health Care is an elder care agency providing quality and affordable homecare Afton MO, and the surrounding areas. Call 314-843-6616 for more information.

Do you need home care in Ladue MO for your aging loved one?

Occupational therapy enables folks of all ages to enjoy life by aiding them to promote health, prevent—or live better with—injury, illness, or disability. It is a practice deeply rooted in science and is evidence-based, meaning that the plan designed for each individual is supported by data, experience, and “best practices” that have been developed and proved over time.

If a senior in your life is receiving home care services, you might also consider asking their physician about Occupational Therapy services that are often covered by Medicare.

Occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants focus on “doing” whatever occupations or activities are important to the particular person. It is occupational therapy’s purpose to get beyond difficulties to the treatments that assure living life to its fullest. These solutions may be variations for how to do a task, changes to the surroundings, or helping folks to redefine their own behaviors.

When making use of an occupational therapy practitioner, methods and alterations are individualized for each particular person to resolve difficulties, boost function, and aid everyday living actions. The mission is to maximize potential. Through these therapeutic methods, occupational therapy assists folks design their lives, build needed skills, adjust their environments (e,g., home, school, or work) and build health-promoting habits and regimes that will make it easy for them to flourish.

By taking the full picture into account—a person’s psychological, physical, emotional, and social makeup as well as their environment—occupational therapy assists clients to do the following:

• Meet goals
• Perform at the highest possible level
• Focus on what matters most to them
• Maintain or rebuild their self-sufficiency
• Take part in daily endeavors that they need or want to do.

Founded in 1917, the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) represents the interests and concerns of more than 140,000 occupational therapists, assistants and students nationwide. The Association educates the public and advances the profession of occupational therapy by providing resources, setting standards including accreditations and serving as an advocate to improve health care. Based in Bethesda, Md., AOTA’s major programs and activities are directed toward promoting the professional development of its members and assuring consumer access to quality services so patients can maximize their individual potential. For more information, go to www.aota.org.

The caregivers at Anchor Health Care are available to talk with you and your family about your home care needs.  Anchor Health Care is an elder care agency providing quality and affordable home care in Ladue MO, and the surrounding areas. Call 314-843-6616 for more information.

(ARA) – For some, spring suggests the budding of flowers and longer days filled with warm sunshine. But for one in five people, spring also means that allergies are in full scope.

Seasonal allergies, also termed allergic rhinitis, cause cold-like signs and symptoms such as itchiness in the nose, roof of the mouth, throat, eyes and ears, along with watery eyes, runny nose, congestion and sneezing. But unlike a cold, allergies aren’t brought on by a virus; they are brought on by an allergic reaction to outdoor or indoor allergens, such as mold, trees, pollen and pet dander.

Allergies, which impact an estimated 60 million people in the United States both young and old, can genuinely take a toll on your daily schedule, and they are a pest both in daily life and professionally. Regardless of whether you’re bothered year-round or during a specific season, knowing how to manage allergy symptoms can be important to repairing your comfort and well being.

This disorder can also be expensive to control . From 2000 to 2005, the expense of treating allergic rhinitis nearly doubled from $6.1 billion to $11.2 billion, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. the majority of that was spent on prescription and over-the-counter medications. Experts suggest patients get store-brand, over-the-counter medicines as an helpful means of coping with both the allergy concern and its included prices.

“There are a number of very effective over-the-counter treatments to address the symptoms of seasonal allergies,” says Dr. William Berger, professor of allergy and immunology at the University of California, Irvine. “In fact, to help patients save money, I would recommend many of the store-brand, non-sedating antihistamines sold at leading retailers and pharmacies, such as Cetirizine or Loratadine. These products are approved by the FDA, but cost significantly less than the brand names.”

According to Berger, numerous allergy sufferers may find greater relief of their symptoms by trying one of these newer, more effective treatments now obtainable in the aisle, like Fexofenadine, which just switched from prescription to over-the-counter in 2011.

“Effective management with medicines, ideally before the allergy symptoms start, is key,” he says.

When an aging loved one requires elder care, know of the interactions between over-the-counter medications and the elderly person’s prescription drugs.

You may think that over-the-counter (OTC) medications are always safe and sound. But if you are  a senior  and additionally taking prescription medications, this kind of believing can get you into some trouble.

“The average number of prescription medications taken by people over 65 is five or six,” says Michael H. Perskin, MD, an assistant professor of medicine and an internist at the New York University Langone Medical Center. “As you get older, it increases and so does the potential for drug interactions.”

So how can you find effective and protected aid from arthritis and other pain, and cold or allergy symptoms? “When in doubt, ask your pharmacist,” Perskin says. “If you have taken the medication before, it’s probably OK. But if it’s new or your other medication regimen has changed, check it out.”

You can find more information and facts about the symptoms and treatments for allergic rhinitis at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (www.aaaai.org), or the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (www.acaai.org).

The caregivers at Anchor Health Care are available to talk with you and your family about your home care needs.  Anchor Health Care is an elder care agency providing quality and affordable elder care in Webster Groves MO, and the surrounding areas. Call 314-843-6616 for more information.

Some states are now requiring driving tests for seniors or for individuals who have been in three or more collisions in one year, mandatory. This is because elderly drivers are more prone to either being injured or killed. Statistically, the elderly are more regularly in dangerous or fatal wrecks than any other ages. The best way to efficiently make sure that the unsafe drivers are off the roads is for them to be mandated to take a test to see who should and who shouldn’t be driving. Some see this as bias, while some others see it as a peace of mind and a way to know for sure that their loved one will be safe while on the road. Many people, especially those with older family members, are already cognizant of the possible hazards.

A nice substitute for keeping your elderly parent or loved one safe is to use a home care agency that supplies transportation. Home care agencies not only provide transportation but more to the point they provide the possibility for folks to keep their independence. This also prevents isolation and allows them to continue to get around to their own doctor appointments as well as run their own errands.

There are a number of unique ways to find out how to get help in your community. Get in touch with your local Area Agency on Aging. If they do not offer transportation, they can point you in the right direction in order to find someone who does. There are also door-to-door services in most areas and driver volunteers. The door-to-door service do require you to call and give them notice on what your plans are but this may offer the most range of flexibility.

However, if you are more interested in paying a fee for each designated stop you should ask about a fixed route. The fees charged are discounted at senior citizen rates and in some cases are actually free. The option available with driver volunteers usually is a great option for people who need to be taken to a specific place at certain times such as doctor appointments or senior centers. For more information you can call the National Transit Hotline Toll Free at 1-800-527-8279, they can provide you with a list of local home care agencies that can help you find the right alternative to fit your specific needs.

The caregivers at Anchor Health Care are available to talk with you and your family about your home care needs.  Anchor Health Care is an elder care agency providing quality and affordable home care in St. Louis MO, and the surrounding areas. Call 314-843-6616 for more information.

Caregivers appointed through an agency are pre-trained, screened and in case they call in sick, a back-up will be available to fill in. They are trained to be mindful of potential risks and safety concerns with regard to medication, falls and aid in daily activities.

Identifying potential risks is vital and ought to be at the top of the list when it comes to senior care. A caregiver will be able to check on the recipient daily to make sure everything is in order and if there are any medications that need to be taken, it’s done so in a timely manner. They will also have the ability to ensure that there aren’t any fallen objects or tripping risks lying around your home that could cause a safety challenge. CPR and first aid is also a requirement for someone in this field and will be an asset in case an emergency arises.

Performing daily chores can become a difficult feat for some seniors. Tasks like changing light bulbs, getting the mail in icy weather, grocery shopping, cleaning, and meal preparation can all be difficult. Finding the suitable companion will give the care receiver and the family peace of mind that they can still live in their own household, yet have assistance in achieving these activities that they can now not do on their own.

A companion will also be able to assist in personal care needs. These may include toilet help, bathing, dressing and aiding in their mobility. Caregivers can also offer companionship to seniors living on their own. It’s easy to be doing the easiest of things and have an incident. By having a caregiver supply continuing daily care, the care receiver will feel at ease and feel less stress knowing that another person is looking out for their best interests and making them their top priority.

Companions are trained and know specifically what to look for and take care of to be sure your loved ones are safe, secure and provided with only the best care.

The caregivers at Anchor Health Care are available to talk with you and your family about all of our home care services.  Anchor Health Care is an elder care agency providing quality and affordable caregivers in Creve Coeur MO and the surrounding areas. Call 314-843-6616 for more information.

With a home care agency, knowing when to take medications on time will be a lot less difficult–to say the least. This is due to
the fact that a home care agency will grant you with the necessities to do what is mandatory, relating to your medications. One of the basics that you will be given is a companion, and although your companion will not be able to administer your medications for you, he or she will be there to remind you to take them on time, as well as to assist you if you need help. Not only that, your helper will be there to help you keep track of your medications by making note of what you took and when you took it, ensuring that you are staying with your physician’s orders and that you are not getting off schedule or taking too much.

True, your helper will not be accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week, but that is okay. You are able to get your scheduled medication reminders through an automated system, which is a phone call that will be made at predetermined times. This means that you do not have to stress about being hounded with calls throughout the day, and you do not have to worry about carrying on a conversation when the calls are made, considering that the calls will not be made by a live representative. Instead, the computerized voice can either tell you your medications or ask you if you are feeling well. If the answer is yes, you will be instructed to push number one; if the answer is no, you will be instructed to push number two.

Aside from receiving medication reminders and phone calls on how you are feeling, you are going to receive the amount of care that is needed to keep you healthy and alert. Because of this, you can sleep well at night, knowing that your medications are taken and that you are being cared for.

The caregivers at Anchor Health Care are available to talk with you and your family about your home care needs.  Anchor Health Care is an elder care agency providing quality and affordable home care in Ladue MO, and the surrounding areas. Call 314-843-6616 for more information.