Click here to view the embedded video.

In this video, certified senior advisor Mary Alexander from Home Instead Senior Care explains Alzheimer’s and other dementia and offers specific techniques for coping with a loved one who has dementia.

Many family caregivers care for a parent or spouse who is suffering from some sort of dementia, which requires a great deal of time and patience. Caring for a dementia patient can cause great stress to the family caregiver, particularly as memory loss progresses. This video provides tips for minimizing that stress.

In addition to these tips, a professional caregiver can also help. Visit our website or call us today at 804-527-1100 to learn more.

The headlines are sensational and often sound unbelievable.

Possessions block the windows of a compulsive hoarder's home.

“Woman suffocates and dies under collapsed piles of clothes.”

“Male trash hoarder dies in labyrinth of garbage tunnels.”

These stories seem extreme and isolated. But according to research from the University of Michigan Health System, hoarding presents a real danger, not only for those who do it but also for their neighbors — creating fire hazards, as well as unsanitary, unsafe conditions.

Most of us save things – memorabilia, collectibles, and items from our childhood or from our children. But for more than an estimated one million Americans, the saving may get out of hand and cross over to a psychiatric condition known as compulsive hoarding.

What follows is a story of hoarding and how the condition impacted the lives of the hoarder(s) and their children.

To Some, Hoarding Is A Way Of Life

Source: University of Michigan Health System (2009, March 10). Compulsive Hoarding Poses Safety And Psychological Risks. ScienceDaily.

The condition seriously impacts the quality of life the hoarder lives in a very negative way. Compulsive hoarding causes clutter and impairment to basic living activities that include the hoarders’ ability to move in their home, cook, clean, shower or even sleep.

For one adult child of hoarders, growing up in such an environment numbed her to the reality that her parents had a serious problem. Even though Elizabeth Nelson was raised in an upper-middle class suburb, she felt a deep sense of shame about her living conditions growing up. The spacious basement where she rode her Big Wheel at age 3 was filled to the brim by the time she was 8.

She was so used to piles, it took Nelson years to realize her mom’s compulsion to collect and save was a psychiatric condition. She recounts a visit to her parents’ home as an adult.

“My dad was using portable urinals in the living room because my mother had blocked his access to the bathroom,” Nelson says. “I got really concerned.”

People who engage in hoarding put themselves and neighbors in danger, say experts at the University of Michigan Health System. Their living conditions can present a fire hazard and are often unsanitary and unsafe. Hoarders face the real prospect of becoming buried under an avalanche of trash.

It is easy to see how such a condition could imperil the health and safety of senior citizens living alone. With the added impacts of limited mobility and dementia that often accompany old age, the opportunities for hoarding issues to arise are increased.

Family members are often challenged to keep up with the daily needs of their own lives, as well as those of an aging loved one.

Employing a trained Home Instead Caregiver can bring relief to a stressful, and potentially dangerous, situation by providing regular monitoring of the signs that a hoarding problem may be forming. By offering help with such simple tasks as sorting through mail and newspapers, organizing photos and keepsakes, and keeping food storage containers organized and clean, a Home Instead Caregiver is a simple preventative to a potentially dangerous and deadly problem.

For more information on the helpful companionship that Home Instead Senior Care of Richmond can provide to keep you or your loved ones living independently, give us a call at 804.527.1100. You can also view our digital brochure at http://hisc189.digbro.com.



We often bemoan the curse of contemporary technology and its insidious assault on our time and attention. The distractions are endless – ringing cell phones, beeping text messages, and buzzing Twitter alerts.

But let’s face it; if you were a long-distance caregiver, or even a local one with a full time job, wouldn’t the prospect of being able to be in two places at once intrigue you just a little?

By now, you’ve probably heard of Skype, even if you’re not exactly sure what it is or how it functions. You may have witnessed how advertisers have used it peddle cookies where a young boy and his father share a goodnight ritual across three continents.

Skype allows subscribers to make free voice and video calls via the Internet, making it the perfect application to offer relief to the long-distance caregiver to help bridge the miles between themselves and their loved ones.

A recent article from the New York Times Health blog explained how a Skype-enabled video of Nancy Crawford, age 100, in Charlotte, NC and visiting her doctor was joined – from his workplace in Montgomery, AL six-hours away — by her grandson Johnnie Crawford. The geriatric care manager who’d accompanied Mrs. Crawford to the appointment provided the Skype link, bringing along a laptop with a Web cam.

Mr. Crawford, frustrated by his inability to drive the 400 miles to Charlotte as often as he’d like, appreciated the connection. “I’d do it again,” he said, “to impress upon my grandmother that I care, to show the people who care for her that I’m involved, to ask the kind of questions I’d like to ask. I hope I’m representing her the best I can.”

The addition of a Home Instead Caregiver can make the arranging of transportation to and from medical visits a headache-free procedure for the long-distance family caregiver. We can assist in finding more ways that having a home care helper can enable a family, separated by distance, to maintain an active role in the lives of their elderly loved ones.

For more information on how Home Instead Senior Care of Richmond can provide care and companionship to help aging loved ones in the Richmond and Northern Neck areas remain living independently in their homes, please give us a call at our Richmond (804.527.1100) or Tappahannock (804.443.4883) home care offices any time, or view our digital brochure at http://hisc189.digbro.com/.

Here at Home Instead Senior Care of Richmond, we are always on the lookout for events in the Richmond community that relate to senior health and wellness. Here is a great event sponsored by the Alzheimer’s Association:

On Tuesday, July 20th, there will be a free special screening of the HBO documentary “The Alzheimer’s Project” at the historic Byrd Theater. This documentary provides a personal look at the country’s second most feared disease through the voices of Alzheimer’s patients, caregivers, family members, and the scientists who are working every day to look for a cure.

At this special screening, you will also get the chance to hear from Mary Ann Johnson — program director for the Alzheimer’s Association, and author/ former caregiver Robert B. Schaefer.  Caregivers, friends and family of Alzheimer’s patients, and supporters of Alzheimer’s disease research are encouraged to attend. The event is open to the public and free, so bring your friends, questions, and personal experiences.

Where:  The Byrd Theatre, 2908 West Cary Street, Richmond, VA 23221

When: Tuesday, July 20, 2010, 5:30-7:30 PM

REMEMBER! Wear something purple to the event to show your support, and be entered to win a door prize!

Also, here are some links for more information on:

• “The Alzheimer’s Project” – an interactive site where you can watch the films, learn about the disease, and get help from organizations like the Alzheimer’s Association or the National Institutes of Health.
• The Alzheimer’s Association – Greater Richmond Chapter
• The Byrd Theatre

And as always, for more information on how our Home Instead Senior Care of Richmond can provide Alzheimer’s care and companionship to help you or a loved one remain living independently, call us in our Richmond home care office at 804.527.1100 today.

Click here to view the embedded video.

The Greater Richmond Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association posted this video to their YouTube channel yestersday.  It is a PSA that Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell recorded to promote the Alzheimer’s Association and the need to support family caregivers in particular.

Home Instead Senior Care of Richmond is very involved in promoting the activities that raise awareness for Alzheimer’s disease, including this year’s Memory Walk.  If you’d like to participate, please call our Richmond home care office at 804.527.1100.

Genworth Financial believes in actions, not just words. That’s why they’re proud to salute people whose actions change the world around them, and, in turn, the world at large. Join them in recognizing moms, dads and grandparents for being there when it mattered most.  For caring.

Celebrate someone you know and share your story at http://www.facebook.com/genworthcelebrates

Home Instead CAREGivers can be there to help elderly loved ones when family can't

According to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS), simply falling at your own home is the leading fatal injury for people 65 and older. Nearly 50 percent of all fall-related fatalities are caused by traumatic brain injury. 

In 2008, nearly 8.6 million Americans of all ages suffered accidental falls. 

Gail L. Rosseau, M.D., AANS spokesperson and a Chicago neurosurgeon, states “Many head injuries occur at one’s residence – whether it is a home or a nursing home facility – and involve falling and bumping one’s head, resulting in mild concussions to severe and even fatal traumatic brain injuries.” 

Among people ages 55 and older, most head injuries were related to flooring, wheelchairs, canes, crutches and walkers. But falls can happen in so many ways — stumbling on stairs, slipping in bathtubs, falling off ladders and step stools, and tripping over garden hoses, dog leashes, and household appliance cord. It’s really easy to accidentally fall — at any age. 

And, you must be extra careful with any head injury. What seems like no big deal can turn out to be something much more. Consider actress Natasha Richardson, who fell during a skiing lesson in March 2009. Her fall was not “big” or unusual, and her head hit snow. Although she did not appear to be injured at the time, she died soon after from a fatal brain injury. 

Some easy changes around the home can help Seniors prevent falls and head injuries: 

• Secure loose electrical cords
• Remove articles on the floor that someone could trip on (rugs, footstools, grandchildren’s toys)
• Buy bath mats and rugs with slip-resistant backing
• Install grab bars and handrails for the frail and elderly
• Improve lighting in the home (this is so very important as vision worsens as we age)
• Check all stair railings and steps
• Wear proper shoes with slip-resistant soles
• Do not wear clothing that can interfere with your vision

Another way to help Seniors avoid falling is through fall prevention programs, which typically include a review of the person’s medications, reduces risk factors in their home and provides safety modifications, education, and an exercise program. Studies show fall prevention programs reduce falls by 30-50%. 

Tai Chi, a martial art using slow movements, also helps Seniors lower the risk of falling. Tai Chi teaches people to relax, slow down, coordinate their mind and body, and improve posture. The strength and balance that Tai Chi and other exercises make seniors feel stronger and more confident as they move.  You can read more about how Tai Chi can help at this article:  Tai Chi May Combat Seniors’ Fear of Falling 

Home Instead Senior Care provides in-home care to Seniors in the Richmond and Northern Neck areas.    While we can’t always be there to prevent a fall, we can help Seniors live more independently by being there when they need a hand, by helping them with meal preparation or light housekeeping so they don’t have to, by driving them to a doctor’s appointment or shopping so that they don’t have to go alone.  

And we can be there when it’s just not possible for family members to be there and that can easily reduce stress on the family caregiver(s).  If you are caring for an elderly loved one — or if you perhaps are a Senior yourself — and you could use an extra pair of caring hands, simply call our Richmond senior care office at 804.527.1100.  We’ll be there when you can’t because…  to us, it’s personal.

Caring for an elderly Mom or Dad who has even early stage dementia can be a challenge. Let Home Instead offer you easy solutions.

Probably not a surprise as we’ve been hearing so much in the news these days about dementia and Alzheimer’s, but it’s true.  After age 85, nearly half of all seniors will have some cognitive impairment or dementia, typically Alzheimer’s disease.  This brain disorder makes it difficult for people to remember, learn and communicate and over time makes it increasingly difficult for seniors to take care of themselves. 

Victims of dementia suffer symptoms such as memory loss, a decline in the ability to perform routine tasks or learn new ones, and a loss of language, judgment, and planning skills.  Alzheimer’s can even bring about personality changes — for instance, in the case of a formerly social senior who might stop going to parties, church and other events.

Dementia can interfere with the care of a loved one in a number of ways.  People with dementia may eat poorly and irregularly and ignore exercise and social activity, all functions that would likely improve their health.  Family caregivers are usually the first to recognize that dementia may be developing and should seek medical evaluation as soon as symptoms are recognized.

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common — and often heartbreaking — form of dementia, afflicting only about 5 percent of seniors between sixty-five and seventy-four.  But nearly half of those over the age of eighty-five may be affected.  The disease usually begins slowly with mild memory loss and develops gradually into crippling brain damage with symptoms that can include paranoia. 

Alzheimer’s victims typcially live for eight to ten years after being diagnosed with the disease and sometimes for as long as twenty years.  So far, no medication or treatment has been successful in reversing or stopping Alzheimer’s, although medications are available that may help delay progression of some of the symptoms.  It remains perhaps the most difficult condition to come with in a family setting.

This information has been provided to you through the recent book written by the founders of Home Instead Senior Care, Paul and Lori Hogan, specifically chapter 15 on Complicating Ailments and Issues.  The book is entitled Stages of Senior Care: Your Step-by-Step Guide to Making the Best Decisions. 

If you’re ready to take the next step with caring for your elderly loved one now, then simply call Home Instead Senior Care of Richmond and we’ll be glad to review your home care needs with a free, professional in-home assessment.  We give you many ways to contact us including any time by phone, 804.527.1100, or through our website at http://HomeInstead.com/Richmond-VA.  We serve the entire greater Richmond area, including Chesterfield, Goochland, Hanover, Henrico, Powhatan and more, along with the Northern Neck as we have a second office in Tappahannock.