Home Helpers Home Care expounds on the benefits of keeping family in the home, however we, more so than others know caring for an aging loved one or disabled or handicapped child comes with unescapable challenges. Coping with one crisis after another can leave little time to appreciate or acknowledge what’s working and going well. Today, many caregivers are turning to Mindfulness – based stress reduction for family caregivers.

“People with dementia often have declining cognitive function and increasing behavioral problems over many years. For caregivers, this decline can lead to increasing stress, frustration, anxiety, depression, and health problems. Giving caregivers skills to manage the daily chronic stress and the emotional challenges of caregiving may provide a long-term benefit to the caregiver.” ¹

Mindfulness is defined as: “A mental state achieved by focusing awareness on the present, while acknowledging and accepting feelings, thoughts and physical sensations.” Achieved by focusing awareness on the present, applications based on mindfulness have been employed by clinical psychology and psychiatry to reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety, treat drug addiction and stem patterns of disruptive behavior. Mindfulness – based stress reduction classes can now be found in brick and mortar establishments; near or within chiropractic offices and massage therapy salons

Why mindfulness for caregivers? Because self-care matters. Caregivers cannot confidently accept or face the challenges of caregiving over an extended period of time if they fail to put their self-care and well-being first. When flying with a child, the flight attendant instructs the adult to put their oxygen mask on first – “Because if you run out of oxygen, you can’t help anyone else with their oxygen mask.” The same holds true for caregivers. Beyond eating healthy meals, exercising when time permits and seeking guidance and support when needed, caregivers must know themselves psychologically and be mindful of the challenges (and successes) of caregiving.

Mindfulness can help in identifying expectations and separating the realistic from the unrealistic. The caregiver will be more grounded, more attentive, a better communicator and improved listener. Feeling rushed, overwhelmed and unappreciated will dwindle as positive aspects of caregiving are reinforced. Reducing caregiver burnout and fatigue, mindfulness offers a meditative calming effect, teaching the caregiver to concentrate on one thing at a time, to be fully engaged in their patient and mindful of each duty assigned and task performed.

Mindfulness includes meditation and breathing, something many shy away from due to time restraints;

 “I don’t have time to sit with my eyes closed and breath in and out!  I have too much on my mind and too much do.”

Meditating and breathing is a ritual, not a time- filled constraint. Standing in the shower or sitting the tub, getting dressed in the morning or waiting for the coffee to brew; even lingering in a waiting room or siting in the car a caregiver can breathe deeply, feel their lungs fill with air, and slowly let it go – a five-minute breathing exercise with enormous benefits, far beyond getting the oxygen flowing. With just five minutes of focusing on breathing he/she can reduce stress, anxiety and negative emotions, increase resistance to anger and temper flares, boost the immune system and sharpen concentration.

“Science is just beginning to provide evidence that the benefits of this ancient practice are real.  Studies have found, for example, that breathing practices can help reduce symptoms associated with anxiety, insomnia, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and attention deficit disorder. Consciously changing the way you breathe appears to send a signal to the brain to adjust the parasympathetic branch of the nervous system, which can slow heart rate and digestion and promote feelings of calm as well as the sympathetic system, which controls the release of stress hormones like cortisol.” Lesley Alderman, The New York Times

Caregiving is a big challenging job with a never-ending list of duties, responsibilities and on-going challenges. Today there are over 65 million women, men and children in the United States providing in-home patient care. Beyond providing medical care, personal care, meals and household tasks they advocate on behalf of their patient ensuring physiological and psychological needs are being met.

Being mindful [mindfulness] is just one way in which a caregiver can improve brain function, boost energy levels, increase emotional stability and promote self-care. Five minutes to a better you can be had – and your patient might appreciate it also.

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3709844/

“Everyone and everything that I love will change, and I will be separated from them.” …….. Buddha

“We may intellectually know that all things change, yet we desperately deny this truth; a denial that leads to anxiety, fear and confusion.”

A national holiday for remembering and honoring people who died while serving in the military, Memorial Day has become a day of remembrance of relatives, loved ones, comrades and friends; a day to visit graves, to honor the memory of loved ones, and show his/her life is not forgotten. As Memorial Day approaches however, many of the loved ones and patients we care for can experience anxiety, fear and confusion. For older seniors, veterans and the elderly Memorial Day can trigger symptoms and signs of dissociative disorder. “Dissociation is the process through which individuals experience a disruption of discontinuity in one or several aspects of their psychological functioning. The affected functions typically include memory, perception, consciousness, identity and motor control.”

It’s estimated only 2% of people are diagnosed with dissociative disorder, however, 50% of adults experience at least one derealization episode in their lifetime. In the older, senior and veteran populations, particularly those diagnosed with a life-threatening illness or psychological disorder, a disconnection between thoughts and memory can be brought-on by the significance of Memorial Day. Recent studies “demonstrated that the level of dissociation was significantly high in service- men/women with combat – related PTSD. In addition, combat-exposed subjects without PTSD had higher dissociation levels than healthy subjects without combat experiences.”

Mental health problems such as depression, anxiety and thoughts of suicide, feeling detached from thoughts, and a numbing to emotions can be symptoms of dissociative disorder. Recalling those who have gone before them, military friends and comrades who died in battle, or experiencing PTSD can trigger suppressed memories locked in the back of the brain. Memorial Day is a time for the entire family to come together, remember, honor and celebrate. As you gather family and friends for parties, cook-outs and bar-be-ques, watch for symptoms of mental health problems in your loved ones and patients, particularly the older, senior or veteran patient.

The life of a caregiver isn’t an easy one, that’s why Home Helpers is here to help. If your family wants a holiday getaway, your patient is in a senior, long-term care or hospital facility, or you just need some assistance, guidance and support Home Helpers provides 24/7 round the clock care.

HOME HELPERS VETERANS & MILITARY FAMILIES INITIATIVE

Service, integrity and commitment are values shared by veterans, their families and Home Helpers Home Care.  It’s a common drive to put others first and sacrifice for the greater good. At Home Helpers, we don’t have a veteran’s program. Our Commitment to those who serve our country flows out of our foundational mission.  We build our company on these shared values.  They are integral to what we do and who veterans are.

“I’ll be home for Christmas, if only in my dreams.”  A familiar line to a much-loved song, however, for seniors and the elderly suffering from mental, behavioral or psychotic disorders, the things they see, hear, taste and feel might be more serious than a dream; they might be hallucinating. The holidays bring sights, smells and sounds which trigger memories – memories which might lead to hallucinations. A side effect of dementia, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease, depression, psychosis, epilepsy, Schizophrenia, cancer, kidney failure and some medications, hallucinations are false sensory perceptions while awake and conscious. Telling someone they are hallucinating will not change or alter their perception. In many cases confrontation results in agitation leading to fright or flight. If the hallucinator is suffering a serious mental illness they can experience paranoia, creating a dangerous environment for themselves and for those around them.

There is a difference in hallucinations or delirium and a healthy person sensing a smell, a sound or an apparition of a loved one sitting on the end of a bed. Many experience the presence of a long-time spouse who has recently passed, or the smell of a favorite dessert. Smelling smoke from a fireplace or hearing a familiar tune on the radio can trigger a dream state – pleasant, yet acknowledged being unreal. Identifying the difference can save a loved one’s life. If the hallucinator is engulfed in the hallucination, misinterpreting the intent of those around them, feeling cornered, hearing loud voices or attempting to escape you should respond with the appropriate level of force. If law enforcement is called, list any mental, behavioral or psychotic disorders and the type of hallucination being experienced. Caffeine, drug abuse, migraine headaches, epilepsy, and alcohol withdrawal can trigger hallucinations; yet, it is more common in Alzheimer’s and Dementia patients.

 “While reinforcing reality seems like the logical and kind thing to do, this natural instinct can be wrong. Family caregivers can ensure they’re prepared to handle these challenging behaviors by learning the differences between them and proper coping techniques for each one. Hallucinations, delusions, and paranoia are symptoms of the disease and not a normal part of aging. While they may seem similar, they are actually very different. Hallucinations are false sensory experiences that can be visual, auditory and/or tactile. These perceptions cannot be corrected by telling a patient that they’re not real. Delusions are fixed false beliefs that are not supported by reality. They are often caused by faulty memory. Paranoia is centered around suspiciousness. Elderly individuals often project hostility and frustration onto caregivers through paranoid behaviors.” www.agingcare.com

Including seniors in holiday events, decorating, shopping, gift wrapping, and meal planning keeps them mentally active and engaged. Display memorabilia that is real, ask them to share stories of past holidays and “intentionally” include them in family discussions. Hallucinations are a known side effect of many physical, mental, behavioral and emotional diseases and disorders.  Regular mental health check-ups by a psychiatrist or mental health specialist will lead to early and diagnosis and treatment. The more you know and understand what they are going through, the more help, guidance and support you can give.

Home Helpers In-home Care Services can provide the support you need during the busy holiday season. We are around the clock, 24/7 home health care provider. Call us to learn more about our reliable Alzheimer’s and Dementia care services in Tulsa, OK.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, “hopes to empower women to commit to breastfeeding. This month we focus not just on the reasons why it’s important to breastfeed, but on how to make breastfeeding work for you and your baby.” Research suggests babies who are breastfed (exclusively) for the first six month develop fewer if any ear infections, have less symptoms of diarrhea and are less likely to develop childhood obesity. Despite findings that breastfed babies are smarter and healthier, as of 2014 only 79% of new mothers breastfed from birth and only 62% of the 79% were breastfeeding at six months. In Washington, Oregon, Montana and California over 90% of new moms breastfed, with West Virginia and Louisiana reporting less than 60%. Though they came in at 90%, Vermont had the highest rate of breastfeeding at six months – more than 60%, at 12 months – more than 40%, and the highest rate of new moms exclusively breastfeeding at six and 12 months.

“Improving the health of Americans is a primary goal of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Breastfeeding, with its many known health benefits for infants, children, and mothers, is a key strategy to accomplish this goal”. Despite the CDC’s reporting and ongoing efforts, breastfeeding is a personal choice. Moms who adopt, who travel extensively for work or have serious illnesses can find it hard and at times impossible to breastfeed. New moms who have a history of drug and alcohol abuse, are living in poverty stricken unhealthy environments, are homeless or suffer psychological, behavioral or mental disorders might choose not to breastfeed. Pumping isn’t always possible, and few employers provide breastfeeding rooms. When breastfeeding in public, people stare. As women’s health moves into the forefront obstacles such as these will be overcome however, like other social advances this will take time.

In an attempt to avoid the frowns, dirty looks (when a bottle is pulled from a diaper bag) and pushback from the nay-sayers moms continually give it one more try, harming themselves physically, mentally and emotionally. In Parenting Magazine’s online article, The Breastfeeding Police we read: “Andrea Gideon dreads shopping for infant formula. “Haven’t you even tried breastfeeding?” cashiers have chided. And once while perusing the store, with formula in her basket and her son nestled cozily in a sling, she encountered another mother whose baby was also in a sling — at the breast. The two made eye contact, but instead of returning Gideon’s smile, the woman said, “Don’t you know you’re feeding your baby artificial crap?” Researches report 2% of women fail to produce enough milk to breastfed; mothers displaying psychiatric and behavioral disorders are often counseled ‘not’ to breastfeed, and others lactate poorly due to postpartum surgery.

If you choose to breastfeed, can breastfeed, and you and your baby are healthy celebrate the month with millions of other mothers worldwide. If you choose or have been told not to breastfeed, hold your head high and live proudly with your decision. Breastfeeding is important, however what’s more important is the mental, physical, psychological and emotional health of mom and the health and wellness of baby.