Memorial Day, first called “Decoration Day”, is a day of remembrance for individuals who have perished in our nation’s service. You will discover numerous stories as to its actual origins, with over two dozen cities and towns laying claim to being the birthplace of Memorial Day. There is also evidence that organized women’s groups in the South were adorning graves previous to the end of the Civil War: a hymn published in 1867, “Kneel Where Our Loves are Sleeping” by Nella L. Sweet offered 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 difficult to prove without doubt the origins of the day. It is much more likely that it had many individual beginnings; each of those towns and every scheduled or spur-of-the-moment meeting of people to honor the war dead in the 1860′s established the normal human need to honor our dead, each added honestly to the expanding movement that culminated in Gen Logan giving his official proclamation in 1868. It is not vital who was the very first, what is vital is that Memorial Day was established. Memorial Day is not about division. It is about compromise; it is about coming together to honor those who gave everything they had.

Traditional observation of Memorial day has diminished over the years.

Many Americans these days have forgotten the importance 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.”

For those providing senior care to veterans, this is a great time to get them involved in a remembrance tradition. Ask them if they would like to place flags or gather with some old friends.

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.

If you would like information about senior care in the Bryn Mawr area, contact our caregivers at Right At Home. We are dedicated to provided quality and affordable care to our loved ones. Call (610) 624-5442.

Around the United States, registered nurses are being commemorated.

On May 6, 2012, we are joining the American Nurses Association in commemorating Nurses: Advocating, Leading, Caring, as part of National Nurses Week, which is held May 6-12, each year. The goal of the week long observance is to raise awareness of the importance of nursing and assist with educating people about the role nurses perform in meeting the health care goals of the American people.

In tribute to the dedication, and tireless commitment of the nearly 3.1 million registered nurses countrywide to enhance and sustain the health of the US, the American Nurses Association is honored to recognize registered nurses anywhere on this given day for the caregiving and excellent work they provide seven days a week, 365 days a year.

In honor of Nursing: all registered nurses in America are inspired to proudly wear the official ANA “RN” pin or any other pin that distinctly recognizes them as registered nurses, and/or their nurses uniform the week of May 6, 2012.

Nurses: Advocating, Leading, Caring

Quite often identified as an art and a science, nursing is a career that connects with serious persons with distinct likes, skills and passion because of the many options the profession suggests. Nurses are caregivers, work in emergency rooms, school based clinics, and homeless shelters, amongst others. They have many jobs – from staff nurse to educator to nurse practitioner and nurse researcher – and serve all of them with devotion for the career and with a commitment to patient safety.

National Nurses Week History  

National Nurses Week commences annually on May 6th and ends on May 12th, Florence Nightingale’s birthday.

These dates enrich organization and make National Nurses Week a nationally recognized event. As of 1998, May 8 was designated as National Student Nurses Day, to be recognized once a year. And as of 2003, National School Nurse Day is celebrated on the Wednesday within National Nurses Week (May 6-12) each year.

The nursing profession has been endorsed 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.

Right at Home can help provide caregivers for your aging loved one in Norristown and the surrounding area. We are dedicated to providing quality and affordable home care in our communities. Call (610) 624-5442.

The benefits of exercise are not restricted to people who have full mobility. In fact, if injury, disability, illness, or weight problems have limited your mobility, it’s even more important to experience the mood-boosting effects of exercise. While there are many challenges that come with having mobility issues, by adopting a creative approach with help from senior care assistance, you can overcome your physical limitations and find enjoyable ways to exercise.

Limited mobility doesn’t mean you can’t exercise
When you exercise, your body releases endorphins that energize your mood, relieve stress, boost your self-esteem, and trigger an overall sense of well-being. If you’re a regular exerciser currently sidelined with an injury, you’ve probably noticed how inactivity has caused your mood and energy levels to sink. This is understandable: exercise has such a powerful effect on mood it can treat mild to moderate depression as effectively as antidepressant medication. However, an injury doesn’t mean your mental and emotional
health is doomed to decline. While some injuries respond best to total rest, most simply require you to reevaluate your exercise routine with help from senior care, your doctor or physical therapist.

If you have a disability, severe weight problem, chronic breathing condition, diabetes, arthritis, or other ongoing illness you may think that your health problems make it impossible for you to exercise effectively, if at all. Or perhaps you’ve become frail with age and are worried about falling or injuring yourself if you try to exercise. The truth is, regardless of your age, current physical condition, and whether you’ve exercised in the past or not, there are plenty of ways to overcome your mobility issues and reap the physical, mental,
and emotional rewards of exercise.

What types of exercise are possible with limited mobility?!
It’s important to remember that any type of exercise will offer health benefits. Mobility issues inevitably make some types of exercise easier than others, but no matter your physical situation, you should aim to incorporate three different types of exercise into your routines:

• Cardiovascular exercises that raise your heart rate and increase your endurance. These can include walking, running, cycling, dancing, tennis, swimming, water aerobics, or “aquajogging”. Many people with mobility issues find exercising in water especially beneficial as it supports the body and reduces the risk of muscle or joint discomfort. Even if you’re confined to a chair or wheelchair, it’s still possible to perform cardiovascular exercise.
• Strength training exercises involve using weights or other resistance to build muscle and bone mass, improve balance, and prevent falls. If you have limited mobility in your legs, your focus will be on upper body strength training. Similarly, if you have a shoulder injury, for example, your focus will be more on strength training your legs and abs.
• Flexibility exercises help enhance your range of motion, prevent injury, and reduce pain and stiffness. These may include stretching exercises and yoga. Even if you have limited mobility in your legs, for example, you may still benefit from stretches and flexibility exercises to prevent or delay further muscle atrophy.

read more from helpguide.org

Let Right At Home help your aging loved one with senior care at home. We provide many different levels of home care service to help your loved one stay comfortably at home! Call (610) 624-5442 today!

Here are some helpful and fun ways to spread the heart of gardening in your neighborhood.

Plant a Row for the Hungry at a Local Community Garden

In this land of plenty it’s difficult to imagine not having access to high quality food at a reasonable cost. Even so, for numerous Americans, obtaining a healthy meal is not always easy. It’s projected almost 33 million people, including 13 million children, try to use emergency food because they cannot find the money for the food they need.

Host a Plant Swap at a Nearby Church

The finest plants aren’t always from your nearby garden center or seed catalog. As a replacement they are collected through quick cuttings or by collecting seeds from the garden of a friend or family member. These “pass-along plants” supply both natural beauty and sentiment 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 beginning of a brand-new season, and just like many things to do, 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 and seniors and those providing senior care will appreciate neighbors stopping by! Yet another way to meet your neighbors.

Yard Sale Philanthropy

The appearance of spring, accompanied by lengthier days and higher temperatures, gives you ideas 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 things that every senior’s garden could use.

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 area:

• Prepare or take part in a town beautification day.
• Check out your nearby farmers’ market.
• Flatter a neighbor on his or her garden.
• Get together 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 nearby newspaper.
• Talk to an elder to learn what foods his or her family grew when he or she was a child.
• Search for 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.
• Inventory your gardening gear (e.g., pots, seeds, stakes) and offer the excess to a local community 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.

If you or an aging loved one need help with senior care, contact the caregivers at Right At Home. We provide many levels of service to help your loved one live a healthy and comfortable life at home. Call (610) 624-5442.

Parkinson’s disease (PD) involves the malfunction and death of vital nerve cells in the brain, called neurons. Parkinson’s primarily affects neurons in the an area of the brain called the substantia nigra.

The four main symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease 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 symptoms progress, patients may have problems walking, talking, or completing other simple tasks.

PD usually impairs people over the age of 50.  Early indicators of PD are subdued and occur little by little.  In some people the disease takes its toll  faster than in others.

As the disease moves forward, the shaking, or tremor, which affects the majority of Parkinson’s Disease patients may begin to Interfere with daily activities.  Other symptoms 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 assist in diagnosing sporadic Parkinson’s Disease.  As a result the diagnosis is based on medical history and a neurological examination.

The disease can be difficult to diagnose exactly.  Physicians may at times obtain brain scans or laboratory tests in order to rule out other diseases.

Is there any treatment?
Currently, there is no cure for PD, but a variety of medications provide extraordinary comfort from the signs or symptoms.

Home Care and Treatment
At the beginning, Parkinson’s disease may not interfere with your life. But for a lot of people, the disease turns out to be more and more disabling. Private Duty Home Care can assist patients as they adjust, and as the disease moves progresses. Home care helps them to stay independent for as long as possible. Quality of life may be dependent upon their ability to continue working, take care of a home, care for their family, and remain independent. They may need to have customizable devices such as canes or walkers as the disease goes on.

People with Parkinson’s Disease can find help from home care with the following:

• -Changing their activities and their family home, such as simplifying their routine and shifting the placement of furniture so that they can grasp something as they navigate around the home.
• -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.
• -Dealing with 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.
• -Dealing with 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.

For more information about how home care can help your loved one suffering from Parkinson’s Disease, contact Right At Home. Call (610) 624-5442 today!

Occupational therapy allows individuals of all ages to enjoy life by enabling them to boost 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 proven 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 relevant to the person. It is occupational therapy’s reason to get past troubles to the methods that assure living life to its fullest. These treatments may be adaptations for how to do a task, changes to the surroundings, or supporting individuals to change their own behaviors.

When making use of an occupational therapy practitioner, approaches and changes are tailor-made for each individual to resolve issues, boost function, and help everyday living tasks. The target is to maximize potential. Through these therapeutic methods, occupational therapy assists consumers style their lives, develop needed skills, adjust their environments (e,g., home, school, or work) and build health-promoting habits and exercises that will enable them to progress.

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
• Retain or rebuild their self-reliance
• Participate in daily interests 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.

For information about how Right At Home can help your senior loved one with home care services, call our caregivers at (610) 624-5442 today.

(ARA) – For many people, spring represents the budding of flowers and longer days filled with warm sunshine. But for 1 in 5 individuals, spring also means allergies are in full swing.

Seasonal allergies, also described as allergic rhinitis, cause cold-like signs such as  itchy nose, roof of the mouth, throat, eyes and ears, along with watery eyes, runny nose, congestion and sneezing. But different from a cold, allergies are not caused by a virus; they are brought on by an allergic response to outdoor or indoor allergens, such as mold, trees, pollen and pet dander.

Allergies, which have an affect on an estimated 60 million people in the United States both young and old, can genuinely have its effects on your daily routine, and they are a problem both in daily life and professionally. Regardless if you’re bothered year-round or during a specific season, finding out how to cope with allergy symptoms can be very important to helping with your relaxation and quality of life.

This condition can also be expensive. 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. Many experts advise patients purchase store-brand, over-the-counter medicines as an effective means of dealing with both the allergy ailment and its linked fees.

“There are a number of 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, many allergy sufferers could find greater relief of their symptoms by taking one of these newer, more beneficial 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 must have elder care, understanding of the interactions between over-the-counter medications and the elderly person’s prescription drugs is very important.

You may think that over-the-counter (OTC) medications are always harmless. But if you are elderly and prescription medications, this kind of thinking can get you into some distress.

“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 comfort 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.”

Elder care caregivers can help find out about the drugs you are taking and help with contacting your pharmacist to make sure there are no interactions. You can find more info 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).

If you or your aging loved one would like information about how elder care at home can help your family, contact Right At Home. We help many seniors, veterans and disabled in Norristown and the surrounding communities by providing quality and affordable home care. Call (610) 624-5442.

In some states, driving tests for older people or for men and women who have been in three or more accidents in one year are  mandatory. This is because elderly drivers are more vulnerable to either being injured or killed. Statistically, the elderly are more regularly in dangerous or fatal wrecks than any other ages. The only sensible way to make certain that unsafe drivers are off the road is testing.  A few see this as inequity, while others see it as a comfort and a way to know for sure that their loved one will be safe while on the road. Those with senior family members are already mindful of the possible risks.

A good choice for keeping your older parent or loved one safe is to use home care services that can offer help with transportation. Home care services not only offer transportation but most importantly they provide the opportunity for our seniors to keep their independence. This also helps prevent seclusion and provides aid for them to get to doctor appointments as well as run their own errands.

You’ll find many different ways to get assistance 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. There are also door-to-door services in most areas and driver volunteers. The door-to-door services do require you to call and give them notice on what your plans are but this may offer the most overall flexibility.

If you are more interested in paying a fee for each designated stop you should ask about a fixed route. These fees are discounted at senior citizen rates and in some cases are actually free. With driver volunteers, this 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 services to help you find the right alternative to fit your specific needs.

For more information about how the caregivers at Right At Home can help your family with home care services, call (610) 624-5442. We are a home care agency providing quality and affordable home care services in West Chester and the surrounding areas.

If you are concerned that your aging loved one can no longer navigate their own home safely, it may be time for you to hire a caregiver. Caregivers provide safety, care, support and dependability, all from the comfort of the seniors home. This can also help diminish stress and anxiety the rest of the family may be feeling. Here are some pros to hiring a caregiver.

Caregivers hired 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 aware of possible dangers and safety concerns with respect to medication and falls and aid in daily activities.

Recognizing possible dangers is crucial and really should be at the top of the list when it thinking about senior care. A caregiver can check on the care recipient daily to make sure everything is in order. They check to see if there are any medications that need to be taken and that it’s done so in a timely fashion. They also have the capacity to ensure that there aren’t any obstacles or tripping dangers lying around your home that could cause a safety concern. CPR and first aid is also a requirement for someone in this field and will be an asset if an emergency occurs.

Carrying out daily chores can become a challenging task for some seniors. Activities like changing light bulbs, getting the mail in icy weather, grocery shopping, cleaning, and meal preparation can all be demanding. Employing a caregiver will give the care receiver and the family peace of mind that they can still live in their own home, yet have guidance in conducting these jobs that they can no longer do by themselves.

A caregiver will also be able to assist with personal care needs. These may include help in the bathroom, bathing, dressing and help with mobility. Aides can also offer companionship to seniors living on their own. By having a professional supply continual daily care, the care receiver will feel comfortable and have less anxiety knowing that someone is looking out for their best interests and making them their top priority.

Right At Home can help provide your family with a caregiver to help your aging loved one stay safe and comfortable at home.  We are a home care agency providing affordable and quality care in your neighborhood. Call (610) 624-5442 for more information.

One of the options provided by a home care agency is medication reminders. Knowing when to take medications on time will help someone who wishes to remain in their home as long as possible. Home care agencies will provide you with the necessities to do what is mandatory regarding your medications. One of the basics that you will receive is a caregiver, and although your caregiver will be unable to administer your medications for you, he or she  will be around to remind you to take them when they’re due, as well as to aid you if you need help. In addition, your companion 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 sticking with your doctor’s orders and that you are not getting behind or overdosing.

True, your home care aid will not be accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week, but that is fine. You can acquire your scheduled medication reminders through an automated system, which is a phone call that will be made at preset times. A 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 and will be connected to someone or contacted soon thereafter.

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

For more information about how a home care agency can help you stay healthy at home, contact Right At Home. We provide caregivers for many different levels of service in the West Chester area to help you live comfortably. Call today, (610) 624-5442.

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