Tuesday, July 21, 2015
How to Pick a Walker
Greetings all. Laura Barish here to talk with you about the selection and use of walkers. Walkers are a great assistive device and can help ensure safe ambulation. Unfortunately most of the people I see using walkers are pushing them ahead of themselves and are hunched over because the walker is too far in front of them.
I believe there are two reasons for this. First, most people are not taught how to properly use a walker. The walker is provided and hopefully the height has been adjusted so it is properly set to the individual. Rarely, however, does someone receive the training or work with an occupational therapist on how to properly walk with their walker; and so we see them hunched over as they stroll along. Sometimes the 'hunch' is due to physical decline but many times not. This hunch, however, can end up throwing off the body's alignment and creating physical pain associated with an incorrect walking pattern.
The second reason we may see the hunch is due to a poor walker design. On many rolling walkers the seat impedes the natural swing through of the leg resulting in the walker being pushed forward to ensure enough.
So, how do you pick a walker that meets all your criteria. My suggestion is to go to a medical supply store in your area that offer many different types of walkers. Try them all. Are you able to stand straight upright and walk in a relaxed manner or are you having to push the walker forward in order to walk?
There is one walker that I have found that meets most of my criteria for a good design. It is a rolling A frame walker with a fold down seat. The hospital A frame walker is, in my opinion, the best designed walker on the market. However, it is limiting for some adults who find the lack of 4 wheels and hand brakes to be problematic. And then there is the lack of seat and storage that comes with many rolling walkers. The rolling A Frame does not have storage but a bag can easily be attached. The walker is safe, stable, and very adjustable.
Regardless of the walker you choose, select one that will allow you to stand up straight and walk comfortably.
One of my favorite places to look for walkers is Accucare in Escondido. www.accucaremedical.net. 941 East Valley Parkway. 760-746-2331. AltaGolden clients get a 10% discount.
Do you need some help at home? Give AltaGolden a call. Our in-home support and adult day care for people living with dementia provide great services for all our clients. Just call to see how we can help. 858-779-9254. www.altagolden.com
Monday, July 20, 2015
A Prayer for the World
Greetings and happy July 20th. Today I was working with a client and they had a wonderful prayer posted on their refrigerator. I thought it would be nice to share:
A Prayer for the World
Let the rain come and wash away
the ancient grudges, the bitter hatreds
held and nurtured over generations.
Let the rain wash away the memory
of the hurt, the neglect.
Then let the sun come out and
fill the sky with rainbows.
Let the warmth of the sun heal us
wherever we are broken.
Let it burn away the fog so that
we can see each other clearly.
So that we can see beyond labels,
beyond accents, gender or skin color.
Let the warmth and brightness
of the sun melt our selfishness.
So that we can share the joys and
feel the sorrows of our neighbors.
And let the light of the sun
be so strong that we will see all
people as our neighbors.
Let the earth, nourished by rain,
bring forth flowers
to surround us with beauty.
And let the mountains teach our hearts
to reach upward to heaven.
Amen.
by Rabbi Harold S. Kushner
May your day be blessed and refreshed.
Laura Barish
AltaGolden
Do you need help at home? Give us a call and see how AltaGolden can help.
Do you have a friend of loved one living with dementia? Perhaps our wonderful day program in Rancho Bernardo is a good fit for you. Join us for a free half day and try the program with no obligation. Just call for an appointment: 858-779-9254
A Prayer for the World
Let the rain come and wash away
the ancient grudges, the bitter hatreds
held and nurtured over generations.
Let the rain wash away the memory
of the hurt, the neglect.
Then let the sun come out and
fill the sky with rainbows.
Let the warmth of the sun heal us
wherever we are broken.
Let it burn away the fog so that
we can see each other clearly.
So that we can see beyond labels,
beyond accents, gender or skin color.
Let the warmth and brightness
of the sun melt our selfishness.
So that we can share the joys and
feel the sorrows of our neighbors.
And let the light of the sun
be so strong that we will see all
people as our neighbors.
Let the earth, nourished by rain,
bring forth flowers
to surround us with beauty.
And let the mountains teach our hearts
to reach upward to heaven.
Amen.
by Rabbi Harold S. Kushner
May your day be blessed and refreshed.
Laura Barish
AltaGolden
Do you need help at home? Give us a call and see how AltaGolden can help.
Do you have a friend of loved one living with dementia? Perhaps our wonderful day program in Rancho Bernardo is a good fit for you. Join us for a free half day and try the program with no obligation. Just call for an appointment: 858-779-9254
Tuesday, July 14, 2015
Keep Dancing!! A holistic approach to keeping dementia at bay.
Greetings and welcome! Today's topic is about healthy aging and was written by my sister, Dr. Maxine Barish-Wreden. Max is a certified Alternative Medicine doctor in the Sacramento area. She entitled this article, "Keep Dancing!!" Enjoy!
Want to avoid your risk of dementia holistically? Besides controlling your weight, blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugars and decreasing your intake of inflammatory foods, what else can you do? Start dancing! Dancing has been shown to have numerous health benefits in various studies. The most obvious are increased socialization and improved physical functioning. Two recent studies conducted by University of Missouri researchers found that participation in dance-based therapy can improve balance and gait in older adults. This can reduce the risk of falls and injuries in this population.
Studies also have shown a strong link to a decrease in the development of dementia among participants who danced. A study funded by the National Institute of Aging and published in 2003 in the New England Journal of Medicine showed a significantly reduced risk of dementia in older adults who danced frequently. The study looked at almost 500 adults aged 75 and older, tracking their activities and incidence of dementia for 5 years. It showed a surprisingly strong correlation between dancing and reduction in dementia -- a whopping 76 percent. Dancing was also the only physical activity that reduced dementia. There was, for example, no reduction in the development of dementia among those who golfed frequently. Other physical activities studied included playing tennis, swimming, bicycling, walking for exercise and doing housework.
Some mental activities that did reduce the risk of dementia were reading and doing crossword puzzles. Why does dancing help maintain the brain? The principle of Neuroplasticity hypothesizes that we continue to rewire synapses in the brain with continuous activity. This is literally a "use it or lose it" phenomenon. When we are dancing, we are using our cerebral cortex and hippocampus, which are critical to dancing. These areas of the brain are remarkably plastic, and they rewire themselves based upon their use. Researchers hypothesize that perhaps this greater cognitive reserve and increased complexity of neuronal synapses keeps dementia at bay.
Published by Drs. Maxine Barish-Wreden and Kay Judge for The Sacramento Bee The Daily news Online.
So, I guess the message is to shimmy up to your loved one and go out and dance, dance, dance! It will work both your brain and body.
I hope you have enjoyed the article. Check back for more topics of interest related to health, caregiver issues, and support.
Do you need help at home to help maintain your independence? Just give us a call and we'll see how AltaGolden can help you. 858-779-9254
Take care and have a blessed day! Laura Barish
Want to avoid your risk of dementia holistically? Besides controlling your weight, blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugars and decreasing your intake of inflammatory foods, what else can you do? Start dancing! Dancing has been shown to have numerous health benefits in various studies. The most obvious are increased socialization and improved physical functioning. Two recent studies conducted by University of Missouri researchers found that participation in dance-based therapy can improve balance and gait in older adults. This can reduce the risk of falls and injuries in this population.
Studies also have shown a strong link to a decrease in the development of dementia among participants who danced. A study funded by the National Institute of Aging and published in 2003 in the New England Journal of Medicine showed a significantly reduced risk of dementia in older adults who danced frequently. The study looked at almost 500 adults aged 75 and older, tracking their activities and incidence of dementia for 5 years. It showed a surprisingly strong correlation between dancing and reduction in dementia -- a whopping 76 percent. Dancing was also the only physical activity that reduced dementia. There was, for example, no reduction in the development of dementia among those who golfed frequently. Other physical activities studied included playing tennis, swimming, bicycling, walking for exercise and doing housework.
Some mental activities that did reduce the risk of dementia were reading and doing crossword puzzles. Why does dancing help maintain the brain? The principle of Neuroplasticity hypothesizes that we continue to rewire synapses in the brain with continuous activity. This is literally a "use it or lose it" phenomenon. When we are dancing, we are using our cerebral cortex and hippocampus, which are critical to dancing. These areas of the brain are remarkably plastic, and they rewire themselves based upon their use. Researchers hypothesize that perhaps this greater cognitive reserve and increased complexity of neuronal synapses keeps dementia at bay.
Published by Drs. Maxine Barish-Wreden and Kay Judge for The Sacramento Bee The Daily news Online.
So, I guess the message is to shimmy up to your loved one and go out and dance, dance, dance! It will work both your brain and body.
I hope you have enjoyed the article. Check back for more topics of interest related to health, caregiver issues, and support.
Do you need help at home to help maintain your independence? Just give us a call and we'll see how AltaGolden can help you. 858-779-9254
Take care and have a blessed day! Laura Barish
Thursday, May 14, 2015
Social Group for Seniors
Good morning all.
Last night AltaGolden hosted our monthly support group. A gentleman who attended talked about his loneliness and feeling of isolation now that his wife is no longer living with him. I told him that I would reach out to some of our clients that might value a new friend.
After he left I realized that perhaps when I need to do is to start a social group for older adults that have lost their partner in one way or another. Please give me a call if you would be interested in coming to a social group to meet people and establish new friendships. If we get enough interest I will start the group.
Laura Barish
AltaGolden
858-779-9254
Saying goodbye to a special client
Good morning all. AltaGolden works with a lot of incredible people but every once in a while someone truly special walks into our loves. Fred was one of those people.
Fred came to us because he was dealing with moderate dementia and had severe breathing issues due to lung disease. We helped him at home and he came to our Adult Day Program. Fred was one of the kindest people I have ever known. He married his wife 50+ years ago and raised her three young children (from her first marriage) as his own. He adored all of them and was greatly adored by them in return.
A couple of weeks ago I was driving Fred from the Memory Center and I asked him what he did that day. He replied that they learned how to grow things and that he went to the bathroom several times--and that was probably the most important thing. Then he cracked up. He looked over at me and said, "you know, there are times you guys are driving me home and all I'm doing is thinking to myself, 'hurry, hurry!'" At that point t we both lost it.
This Monday Fred's daughter called me to let me know that Fred passed away Sunday night. We all loved Fred so much and his great humor, kindness, and grace will be missed by all. Fred was one of those rare human beings who bless everyone by his mere presence.
So farewell to you, our good friend and ...
Fred came to us because he was dealing with moderate dementia and had severe breathing issues due to lung disease. We helped him at home and he came to our Adult Day Program. Fred was one of the kindest people I have ever known. He married his wife 50+ years ago and raised her three young children (from her first marriage) as his own. He adored all of them and was greatly adored by them in return.
A couple of weeks ago I was driving Fred from the Memory Center and I asked him what he did that day. He replied that they learned how to grow things and that he went to the bathroom several times--and that was probably the most important thing. Then he cracked up. He looked over at me and said, "you know, there are times you guys are driving me home and all I'm doing is thinking to myself, 'hurry, hurry!'" At that point t we both lost it.
This Monday Fred's daughter called me to let me know that Fred passed away Sunday night. We all loved Fred so much and his great humor, kindness, and grace will be missed by all. Fred was one of those rare human beings who bless everyone by his mere presence.
So farewell to you, our good friend and ...
Fair winds and following seas,
may forever you feel, upon your cheek, the salty breeze.
Your spirit lives on in many a heart,
your words captured, and never to depart.
May your loved ones have the comfort in knowing,
to heaven is where you are going.
For all that they have to do is look above,
and they will be reminded of your love.
May your days also be blessed by a 'Fred'.
Have a wonderful day filled with joy and gratitude.
Laura Barish
AltaGolden In Home Services and Adult Day Program
858-779-9254 - call if you'd like to discuss how we can help you or if you'd like to try a free half day at our adult day program
May your days also be blessed by a 'Fred'.
Have a wonderful day filled with joy and gratitude.
Laura Barish
AltaGolden In Home Services and Adult Day Program
858-779-9254 - call if you'd like to discuss how we can help you or if you'd like to try a free half day at our adult day program
Sunday, March 29, 2015
Another wonderful client review...
Thanks to Gerri Beth Borga for this wonderful review...
Honey bear is a beautiful white standard poodle who keeps the clients company as well. All in all, a well rounded, outstanding program!!
Thank you for all you do for my parents....and me!!
Laura some how always has the energy and finds the time to make that personal connection and check in with clients and family members. Not sure how she does it, but very, very much appreciated!! I am already looking forward to volunteering again!!! Gerri Beth Borga, daughter of client
Wow!!
I am so, so, so happy to have found this wonderful place with it's
outstanding people! Everyone goes above and beyond for the care, safety,
health and happiness of the clients. Not only do we have their
caregivers going to my parents home, my dad attends the memory center!! I
have accompanied him on several occasions and it is a blast!! The
clients are engaged, happy, active and safe!! A really wonderful
program.
Honey bear is a beautiful white standard poodle who keeps the clients company as well. All in all, a well rounded, outstanding program!!
Thank you for all you do for my parents....and me!!
Laura some how always has the energy and finds the time to make that personal connection and check in with clients and family members. Not sure how she does it, but very, very much appreciated!! I am already looking forward to volunteering again!!! Gerri Beth Borga, daughter of client
Saturday, March 21, 2015
Client Review - Tricia L (we work with her mom--our caregiver is amazing!)
In 2008 my mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. She already lived
with us and was able to care for herself during the day while my husband
and I were at work. We noticed mid way through 2012 that the disease
was causing her to decline and she was becoming unable to initiate daily
living tasks (bathing, eating, picking up after herself). We made
daytime as easy as possible with easy premade food items that could just
be taken out of the fridge and consumed, which she still found
difficult to do. We started to engage mom in discussions to get some
help for her during the day while we were away. The discussions did not
go well and she did NOT want a "stranger" to help her during the day.
I finally had to realize that I was now in the parental role and that I
needed to start acting on what needed to be done for her health and
safety and stop asking for permission. My husband actually found AltaGolden online by searching for in home assistance for seniors. We had
the difficult discussion with mom that we had engaged AltaGolden and
they would be coming to the house to meet us and discuss our needs.
Both Laura and Nancy came to the house and it didn't take more than 10 minutes for us to realize we made the right decision to engage them. They were both incredibly warm and friendly and immediately put all of us at ease with the process. Even mom was excited! It was immediately obvious that this isn't just a business to them, they genuinely care about helping seniors live life to the fullest and to insure that they are able to stay in their homes as long as possible with kind, loving, skilled care. I loved the fact that unlike other similar businesses, they didn't just have a pool of people ready to be "assigned." I was very honest with them about my expectations of the type of individual I wanted them to try to find and they absolutely understood. It took them only a few days before they contacted us with their excitement regarding the individual they found. They wanted to arrange a meeting so both mom and we could meet her and see if we felt she would be a good fit. The meeting could not have gone any better than it did and we immediately felt comfortable with their choice. I think the importance of this is that I have heard horror stories from people about companies who just have people that they "dispatch." May not be the same person every day and it is a job to these individuals. Alta Golden makes sure that they provide a caregiver that becomes part of your family and someone who truly has the best interest of the senior at heart.
Needless to say we started the service immediately and a little over two years later we cannot express how happy we have been with every aspect of AltaGolden. They make a personal visit once a month and send notes regarding any changes to mom's environment that they feel may be needed. They email articles they feel might be of interest to us. They provide memory games that they swap out monthly so mom has some fun games to play with "her Vickie." Yes mom refers to her caregiver as "her Vickie" and several times a week she will comment how she loves her dearly. Vickie helps with appointments, they do light housekeeping, she makes mom lunch every day, they share stories about their families, look at pictures and of course I love receiving the "selfies" they send to me at work. If laughter is the best medicine than I know mom is getting some healthy doses each day. Her demeanor when Vickie is there will warm your heart.
If you are reading this review because you are starting your own journey to find the best care for your aging parents or other relatives, I would strongly encourage you to let AltaGolden into your lives to provide this care. You will not regret your decision and you will know without a doubt that you made the right decision once you meet Laura and her staff. If I could rate AltaGolden more than five stars, I would.
Both Laura and Nancy came to the house and it didn't take more than 10 minutes for us to realize we made the right decision to engage them. They were both incredibly warm and friendly and immediately put all of us at ease with the process. Even mom was excited! It was immediately obvious that this isn't just a business to them, they genuinely care about helping seniors live life to the fullest and to insure that they are able to stay in their homes as long as possible with kind, loving, skilled care. I loved the fact that unlike other similar businesses, they didn't just have a pool of people ready to be "assigned." I was very honest with them about my expectations of the type of individual I wanted them to try to find and they absolutely understood. It took them only a few days before they contacted us with their excitement regarding the individual they found. They wanted to arrange a meeting so both mom and we could meet her and see if we felt she would be a good fit. The meeting could not have gone any better than it did and we immediately felt comfortable with their choice. I think the importance of this is that I have heard horror stories from people about companies who just have people that they "dispatch." May not be the same person every day and it is a job to these individuals. Alta Golden makes sure that they provide a caregiver that becomes part of your family and someone who truly has the best interest of the senior at heart.
Needless to say we started the service immediately and a little over two years later we cannot express how happy we have been with every aspect of AltaGolden. They make a personal visit once a month and send notes regarding any changes to mom's environment that they feel may be needed. They email articles they feel might be of interest to us. They provide memory games that they swap out monthly so mom has some fun games to play with "her Vickie." Yes mom refers to her caregiver as "her Vickie" and several times a week she will comment how she loves her dearly. Vickie helps with appointments, they do light housekeeping, she makes mom lunch every day, they share stories about their families, look at pictures and of course I love receiving the "selfies" they send to me at work. If laughter is the best medicine than I know mom is getting some healthy doses each day. Her demeanor when Vickie is there will warm your heart.
If you are reading this review because you are starting your own journey to find the best care for your aging parents or other relatives, I would strongly encourage you to let AltaGolden into your lives to provide this care. You will not regret your decision and you will know without a doubt that you made the right decision once you meet Laura and her staff. If I could rate AltaGolden more than five stars, I would.
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