Using the Elderly Mobility Scale (EMS) to Assess Mobility
What is the elderly mobility scale (EMS)? The elderly mobility scale (EMS) is a standardized test used by health professionals, like physiotherapists, to assess the level of mobility in older adults. They might use EMS to measure the success of physiotherapy or an exercise program in improving mobility in frail seniors. The therapist or trainer […]
The Importance of Medication Management
What is Medication Management? These days, medications play an important role in the treatment of a wide variety of medical issues for elderly individuals. Having the right prescriptions and over-the-counter meds can either reduce or eliminate the patient’s symptoms to greatly improve their quality of life. But the effectiveness of medications varies from one patient to the […]
What is Polypharmacy
What is polypharmacy? Polypharmacy is the use of multiple prescription and non-prescription medications due to the presence of multiple illnesses. It is especially common among older individuals. Scientists disagree about the exact definition of polypharmacy. How many medications are too many medications? When elderly patients have been diagnosed with multiple illnesses (multi-morbidity), it is common […]
Home Health Aide Dos and Don’ts
Home Health Aide List of Dos Here is a list of things you should do when you’re caring for your home health aide clients. 1. Report all changes in your patient’s health status to the nurse and your agency When working with a client, you’ll have information about their underlying health conditions and what sort of […]
Cultural Awareness for Caregivers
How do you show cultural awareness? As a caregiver, there are many different ways to show cultural awareness, and though some ways may seem small or subtle, even the slightest demonstration of awareness can make a significant difference toward having positive intercultural interactions and relationships with patients. While cultural awareness seems like a simple adjustment on […]
Caregiver Skills
What skills do you need to be a caregiver? There are certain skills that are particularly important for caretakers to have in order to get good results from patients. Some of these skills come naturally to certain caregivers while others can be learned Most professional caregivers are strong at certain skills and a little weaker in regard […]
Taking Care of Your Parent With Alzheimer’s
What is Alzheimer’s Disease? Alzheimer’s is the name of one of several diseases whereby there is progressive decline of one’s mental faculties. According to www.alz.org there are 5.7 million Americans who have Alzheimer’s, and 5.5 million of them are over the age of 65. This translates into one out of ten, or 10% of people over 65 […]
Caring For Someone With Alzheimer’s
Caring For Someone With Alzheimer’s Practicing Individualized Care Because Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease that affects different people in different ways, it is extremely important to recognize that there is no one-size-fits-all approach for quality Alzheimer’s care. Each person will have a unique set of needs, preferences, and impairments to take into account. It is also vital to periodically […]
Duties of a Home Care Aide
What does a home health aide do? Traditional home health aides assist with the “activities of daily living,” which are defined as mobility, hygiene, and nutrition. The exact tasks vary and will depend on the patient’s particular needs and preferences. CDPAP aides especially focus on individualized care, paying close attention to the patient’s requests. For example, a visually impaired person may ask an aide to […]