Senior Care for 2018 A New Year

A NEW YEAR

How can it be that another year has gone by? It seems we go to sleep a couple of times,wake up and another year is gone. We did a recap recently of all the goals that were met for 2017, with our clients and families and we are pleased to announce that with your help, our community or Orange County, St Jude Hospital, Hoag, Placenta Linda hospital, APS, and many social workers, case managers and physicians we helped serve over 2,000 seniors last year.

We have many NEW goals for this year in our community of care and the providers that reach out to Care Pathways for help and assistance in moments of need. Our common bond and a shared vision is what sets Care Pathways apart from , just another referral service. We look forward in the coming year to serve our senior care community with compassion and hope. We also will be touring new programs and evaluating new facilities in Orange County to make sure they meet our standard of care for your loved one.

Always at the heart of Care Pathways since 1999 we are care driven, with a seniors needs coming first and foremost, assessment and follow up care for as long as needed. Happy New Year to all and many Blessings to you. MK

Care for Seniors

I have been asked many times what it takes to provide care for a senior with multiple medical needs. The answer is one that must fit the unique needs, as no two persons are alike. Not one size fits all.

Some persons do very well living in their home with assistance, while others may need a higher level of care. The difference in care depends on many factors, as well as family support, the monies to fund this care, and or medi-cal in California, which will pay for long-term care but only in skilled nursing if the senior meets the medical guidelines. Requiring assistance with dressing, bathing, incontinent care, walking, dementia care.  Many other factors come into play with options for a more active senior that is private pay, assisted living, or a smaller Care Home which, is centered around a more hands on approach.

Whatever the situation you need more than just a referral to a facility, you need to know all options as well as location, ratings of facilities, do they provide an on-site nurse, is their awake at night caregivers, how is medication handled. Is transportation provided to and from doctor appointments, what activities are provided.

When choosing an agency, are they local or a nation wide referral service that just provides a data base. Most persons are not aware that facilities need to be monitored and known well by the referring agency. Care Pathways is located in Orange County and has provided families and seniors with concrete services and information for over 20 years. We are the only service that provides Social Workers as well as RN’s to assess and determine what will meet your loved ones needs. We also provide ongoing case-management services for seniors as needed. For real time help contact us at (714) 743-6309 24/7

Senior Referral Agency

Care Pathways

 

When you need someone to speak for you

 

Senior Referral Agency

Geriatric Assessment

When you need someone to speak for you

When families do not live close to their loved one, or there is no family, we can step in and be there for the older person to make certain their care needs are met wherever they are; at home, in a retirement home or in a nursing home. We can also make regular visits, monitoring the person’s wants and needs. We keep the family updated on the condition of their loved one through telephone and written communication.

As a senior, where can you go for advice?

The seniors’ care system is riddled with contradictions, confusion and misinformation. Add to that, other people may be telling you they have a say in what you decide because we work directly with you and your family to help you determine what is the best solution to your unique situation. We look at all aspects of your care needs, as well as your wish’s in helping you decide what is best for you or a loved one alongside your physician. You’ve always prepared and planned your path. Retirement and the future of your loved ones deserve the same attention to planning. Our consultants will work with you to determine your future goals and help you with just what you and your loved ones desire and what is available in the Orange County area. For more information contact us at (714) 743-6309 we are available 24/7 to answer your care questions.

 

 

 

 

 

Living A Life of Integrity

Living A Life of Integrity
A person who has integrity lives his or her values in relationships with all people. Honesty and trust are central to integrity. Acting with honor and truthfulness are also basic tenets in a person with integrity

People who demonstrate integrity draw others to them because they are trustworthy and dependable. They are principled and can be counted on to behave in honorable ways even when no one is watching .

Integrity is another fundamental value that you recognize when you see it in the behavior of those who we trust and call friends and family. It may not seem like it at first blush, but living with integrity is easier than living a deceitful life. Living with integrity brings wholeness and peace. Your conscience can rest easy, and you can look at yourself in the mirror and always say I did the right thing. Even when doing the right thing may be painful.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year, new day, and new programs that only Care Pathways will be offering to Orange County this year.

Our senior population and the needs are great and with that said we continue to provide the services and dedication based upon compassion, care and an commitment to serve. It will be 17 years soon that we began Care Pathways. Born out of a need for better care and a vision to provide that care and time to seniors and families in need and I am happy to say we have fulfilled our Mission. May God bless each and every person in need to find the answers they need in the coming year.

Sincerely,
Mary Kay Evans
Director Social Services

Seniors and Holidays

Senior Referral Agency

Care Pathways

When the cooler weather arrives our thoughts turn to the holidays, family and spending time with those we love. I have found so many fond memories myself of times gone by and gatherings with friends, family and the people we love. But there is also another side to this time of year for many. Being alone, depression and anxiety that is brought on by living in isolation. You see many seniors today have little or no family to spend this time with, or have suffered the loss of a spouse or health concerns that the Holidays can be a reminder of all that is past. When seniors who live alone or have begun to isolate the toll can be great.

So what can be done in our community to help seniors that live on their own and have little or no family present to visit with? We have a program that fills the needs of seniors at the Holiday time where we visit, bake cookies, pies, bring special care packages and just set and spend some time with seniors that live alone, we plant seeds of care and compassion and follow up with other community resources that a senior may need. There is much work to be done this year. We are at present making our lists of seniors who are in need. If you would like more information on our Paths to Care program please contact us. We are here to help and here to listen. 

 

Behaviors and Dementia

Senior Referral Agency

Care Pathways

People with dementia may sometimes behave in a challenging way, for example aggression or shouting out. This can be very distressing. By understanding what may cause this type of behavior and learning how to deal with it, you make sure it happens less often and that you feel able to manage when it does.

There are number of reasons why a person with dementia may act aggressively, and it is important to recognize that being in a hospital environment can make this behavior worse. Recognizing these reasons and providing person-centered care can very often begin to alleviate behavior. Reasons may include:

An unfamiliar environment and people, changes in care practice and the stress of hospitalization, along with an inability to articulate this.

An expression of unmet need, for example pain, dehydration or boredom.
Feeling frightened or humiliated.
Feeling frustrated at being unable to understand others or make themselves understood.
The physical effects of dementia, which may have eroded their judgement and self-control.
Loss of inhibitions and decreased awareness of rules about appropriate behavior.
Any form of aggression can be upsetting, but the most important thing to remember is that the person is not being aggressively deliberately. The behavior may appear to be targeted at you, but that is also not true.

It’s important to remember that all behavior is a form of communication. If you can establish what the person with dementia is trying to communicate, it may prevent them from feeling frustrated and acting aggressively.
Although the emotion at the root of the aggressive may persist, the person with dementia will probably quickly forget individual incidents.
A person with dementia may behave aggressively if they are in physical discomfort or pain or simply thirsty, hungry or want to go to the bathroom.
Try to stay calm and don’t enter into an argument. Reassure the person and try to distract their attention.
If the person is physically violent, give them plenty of space. Unless it is absolutely necessary, avoid closing in or trying to restrain someone as this can make matters worse.
Ask yourself if whatever you are trying to do for the person really needs to be done at that moment. If you are able to give them a little space, come back in five or ten minutes and try again gently − you may be able to avoid a confrontation.
Watch out for warning signs, such as anxious or agitated behavior or restlessness, and take action immediately to help the person feel more calm and reassured.
Try to work out what triggers any aggressive behavior by communicating with colleagues and the care givers. It may be something that can easily be addressed such as changing a battery in a hearing aid so the person with dementia can hear your explain you are going to undress them for a wash.
Talk to the person with dementia about what is upsetting them and involve care givers where possible, be patient and reassuring.
It is not an easy road sometimes and every person is different.

Being ill and not being able to communicate if you are in pain, hungry or feel the urge to go to the bathroom think how hard it may be for that person. Especially when a loved one is uncomfortable and you as the adult child or spouse do not know what to do. I suggest to anyone caring for a loved with this disease to make sure you educate yourself on what to expect.

And find support for yourself with your local Alzheimer’s Association you can find your local chapter by calling here The Alzheimer’s Association 24/7 Help line provides reliable information and support to all those who need assistance. Call the toll-free anytime day or night at 1.800.272.3900.

When Does Caring Become a Burden

Senior Referral Agency

Care Pathways

When does caring become a burden? Do you ever feel like you’ve had enough? Most people do not discuss the anger and bitterness that can come for caring for someone. They put on a face that appears to all the world that everything is fine. They experience anxiety, depression, health concerns and eating disorders as well as a whole host of other symptoms and illness.

It is not something that is talked about much, unless you are in a care group and not even than sometimes. You see people feel shame and guilt as well as “I should be able to do this without ending up hating the one I am caring for.” Sadly life does not always work this way. Many families are being hard pressed to care for loved ones that they are starting to resent it. Why? Some families are fragmented and do not have the social support that used to be. Families live out of area and sometimes you will find one adult child trying to do it all without the other adults involved. Most people hold full time jobs or have medical concerns of their own and asked to take on the care of a senior that was not involved in their life as child.

There are situations where persons have divorced and the well spouse has taken on the care of the person who walked away from them years ago and now in their time of need, stepped up to be the caretaker. If there was abuse in this marriage it may be a time of trying to resolve old hurts and come to terms with your past. ( A word of caution, while some persons can do this, many are unable and can become bitter, resentful and endanger their own health.)

The reasons are many, the answers are not easy. Cost is the biggest factor when a person is the caretaker. Parents have either not planned or monies have been lost to the recession and there is no one but you to take this on. There are many loving persons who feel they have made a promise to a parent or a spouse to care for them and now feel they must honor this. What I tell my families the promises you made at the time maybe 10 or 20 years ago are sometimes hard to keep. Not because you do not wish to but because lives have changed, needs have changed and while you made that promise in all good faith, you now find yourself unable to fulfill that promise. It’s okay, we all have made promises that at the time we felt we could do. But there comes a time of reality check, and the reality is Mom, Dad and a spouse needs more than you can give.

I know this from a professional level as well as a personal one. Unless you have been there and cared for a loved one it really is hard to understand all the stress’s and pain that can come along with the caring.

Care Pathways was founded for this very reason to give you the tools and information on caring, placement and services that can help you the caregiver. We are located in Orange County and not a nation wide data service. We provide real time help to seniors and families who are in need.. For more information contact us at 714-743-6309 or the form on this site.

Get in touch with us!