Springhill Care Group

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9860430/Inheritance-stealth-tax-to-fund-care-for-the-elderly.html The Treasury is set to freeze the amount that people can inherit free of tax instead of increasing it in line with inflation. The allowance will be frozen at £325,000 despite George Osborne, the Chancellor, just eight weeks ago saying that he would increase the amount in two years. The rate will now not go up until at least 2019, according t The Sunday Times, meaning that thousands of families will be £95,000 worse off than if the allowance had risen. The measures would see 5,000 more people paying inheritance tax and are expected to contribute about £1 billion over the next five years towards the cost of care home bills for the elderly. Under those plans pensioners with savings of up to £123,000 are to receive state support with their care costs under Government plans. http://springhillcaregroup.net/

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/as-senior-citizens-savour-care-homes/137658/ With increasing neglect by family and friends, coupled with the pressure of making ends meet, a growing number of elderly people are resorting to care homes to spend their final days on earth. Chiemelie Ezeobi writes The woman in the picture now lives at the Regina Mundi Home for the Elderly in Mushin, a Lagos community. She was abandoned by her family. "Isolation, discrimination, neglect and poverty are forcing elderly people to live a dismal life in care homes across the country," says Olubunmi Owosho, a social psychologist. At Regina Mundi Home for the Elderly, some of the people at the home were abandoned by their families in their old ages while some actually arrived there with the help of their family members who could no longer cope with caring for their needs. "It is important to make the elderly feel that they are still very relevant to the society. Some of them have worked for years and have contributed their quota to the society but were abandoned in their old age," says Anthonia Adebowale, a reverend sister. "Some have children whom we have to practically force to come and see them while others have irreconcilable differences with their relatives. "The elderly are often seen as the reservoirs of knowledge and the voice of wisdom whose fountain of experience are often needed to steer the ship of life. With the blessing of old age often comes the maturity to handle issues and therefore deserve to be supported and made happy and comfortable in the twilight of their ages," she explained. Reports suggest that there is evidence that the traditional practice of caring for parents began to erode under harsh economic conditions in urban areas across the country. For instance, there is absence of a social security system and only a minute percentage of the population older than 60 receives pensions before death. Analysts say, rapid urbanisation has displaced the

http://www.zimbio.com/Springhill+Care+Group/articles/OBWSq8l9gq3/Home+Care+Group+Springhill+Blog+Reviews+Technology?add=True There's no place like home - especially when it comes to helping older people and those with care needs to maintain their wellbeing and independence within their communities. This is why there's a growing drive to integrate housing provision with health and social care. But how exactly can housing providers ensure they deliver the right facilities and support for vulnerable people, to help build integrated and sustainable communities? I believe the housing sector's skills and resources will be key to helping social care and health providers sustain services while budgets are reducing, and provide a better experience for those with long-term needs. http://www.slideshare.net/allanbrooks03/home-care-group-springhill-blog-reviews-technology-helps-elderly-to-stay-at-home

Prescriptions for psychotropic drugs, including those sometimes referred to as the "chemical cosh", soar amongst elderly people who are admitted to residential care homes, a new study shows. The study, in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, looks at the prescribing of drugs to calm anxiety and sedate, as well as the antipsychotics which are supposed to be prescribed for severe mental health conditions such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder and only for dementia as a last resort. The researchers, from Queen's University Belfast, carried out the study using information from the Northern Ireland prescribing database relating to over 250,000 people over the age of 65, but, they say, the pattern they found holds good for the whole of the UK. They discovered that only 1.1% of elderly people living in the community in their own homes or with relatives were taking an antipsychotic - the so-called "chemical cosh" drugs, which the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) warns are not appropriate for most people with dementia.

It is normal for aging people to have a physical and mental decline and it happens in varying rates and this varying case sometimes needs a higher level of support. Those elderly who chooses to stay at their own home for as long as possible need somebody to constantly assess whether they are actually coping. And their children should do so but if the children live in a very far place this cant be possible so they need to assign somebody who is in regular contact with them to do the monitoring. But how can you determine if they need to be transferred to home care? Forgetfulness about household matters, it is sometimes normal but if it can costs their lives it is about time.  Going out and leaving the house unlocked  Losing keys and valuables  Stoves and ovens not turned off  Failure to place trash cans out for collection  Newspapers lying uncollected on the front lawn  Uncollected mail spilling out of the letter box  Household chores not attended to  The yard not kept tidy  Inability to care for the needs of a pet Lack of attention to personal care, if they let go of this they already need help.  Clothes not laundered as frequently as necessary  Inability to match colors when dressing  Dressing in inappropriate clothing for the time of day  Failure to keep scheduled medical appointments  Medication not being taken  A refrigerator containing mostly contaminated and unusable food  Weight loss due to illness or lack of proper dietary intake  Outdoor safety, if they are being a risk to themselves and to others it is time to get help.  Driving ability likely to cause accidents  Wandering around the neighborhood aimlessly  Getting lost  Forgetting where they live Inability to manage personal affairs  Bills that are unpaid  Leaving cash lying around the home  Losing money  Not getting to the bank to obtain cash for necessary purchases  Losing checkbooks and other documents Decline

http://springhillcaregroup.net/archives/251 Yoga is very much popular nowadays and we all know it benefits while others think that it is hard to do and much more to elderly. The question is; can seniors, above 65, do yoga asanas? And the answer is of course, it is actually can do good for them as much as it can do well for any age. All ages and from all walks of life to utilize the techniques of yoga for creating a harmonious and joyful existence.Older people can do asanas. Union of the various aspects of our existence like body, breath, mind etc is the basic premise in yoga. The word yoga comes from a Sanskrit root 'Yuj meaning 'to unite'. But they can only do so provided they keep some guidelines in mind. The kind of asanas one should do as age progresses are the following: * Substitute warm-ups with brisk walking and joint movements. * Standing Yoga Poses Triangle Pose (konasana series) and Standing Spinal Twist (Kati chakrasanas) * Sitting Yoga Poses Butterfly Pose, Cradling (if possible), body rotation, Cat stretch and Child pose (Shishu Asana). * Yoga Poses lying on the back or stomach Focus on repetitions rather than holding any posture such as the Cobra Pose (Bhujangasana), the Locust Pose (Shalabhasana) or the Knee to Chin Press (Pawanmuktasana). * Yoga nidra is by far the most essential part of any yoga practice, and as age progresses, it becomes even more essential to help assimilate the effect of the asana practice into our system. There is also some easier exercise for seniors like, Sukshma Yoga. This can be practiced independently or in a group to be a part of a larger yoga plan. All ages can do the exercise and can receive its benefits for only within 20-30 minutes. It consists of simple and gentle exercises for the eyes, tongue and jaws, neck, hands, feet, knees, ankles and hips. Seniors should practice yoga asanas by following some guidelines. The Patanjali Yoga Sutras identify asana as "sthira sukham asanam" that define as st

http://news.springhillcaregroup.net/2013/05/02/patient-outcomes-improve-under-single-home-health-aides/ According to a recent study by SAGE Publications, individuals receiving home health services stand to experience better outcomes if cared for by the same aide day in and day out. According to the study Continuity in the Provider of Home Health Aide Services and the Likelihood of Patient Improvement in Activities of Daily Living, patients who see the same home health aide across a series of visits have a higher likelihood of improving in various activities of daily living (ADLs) compared to patients whose care is provided by multiple aides. Visiting Nurse Service of New York (VNSNY) is a large, urban, non-profit Medicare certified home health agency. Base from their studies, they found that individuals who were cared for continuously by the same aide had a 93% chance of improving their ADLs. Those who experienced low-continuity of care were roughly 14%-15% hardly to recover their ADLs involving home health admission and discharge than persons who were constantly visited by the similar aide. Those who experienced low-continuity of care is implying to care was spread out among a variety of aides over the course of a home health service period. Furthermore of note in the report, cases where patients had moderate-continuity did not considerably fluctuate from higher permanence cases in their likelihood of ADL development. Researchers note that the odds of improvement among cases with high continuity are greater than those for low continuity even if a greater part of cases in the study's populace enhanced in the figure and severity of ADLs between admission and discharge. "Ideally, patients should receive services from a single aide over the entire period of home care," writes the study's lead author David Russell, Ph.D, Center for Home Care Policy & Research at VNSNY. "However, a number of staffing constraints and operational obstacles often presen

http://springhillcaregroup.net/archives/273 We are used to a tradition of flooding of food during holidays, eggnog on Christmas, stuffing on Thanksgiving, or latkes on Hanukkah. A get together without food, that won't do. The holidays are traditionally a time for big meals with predictable main courses and side dishes, but for those with dietary restrictions, each meal brings a challenge. Sofie McConnaughay owner of a skin care studio that caters to people with allergies and sensitivities in Boise, Idaho said, "There is an old family dinner roll recipe that is completely out of the question for me." And she added, "It's sad, because they're my favorite part of the holiday meal experience!" Many people are on strict diet and among these is Ms. McConnaughay who must stick with a gltuen-free, nut-free, dairy-free, and more-even during this festive time of year. "Special diets can really effect people over the holidays," said Christie Korth, a holistic nutritionist and Founder and CEO of Happy and Healthy Wellness, Inc. She is also the author of "The IBD (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) Healing Plan and Recipe Book" (IBD is an acronym for). Mashed potatoes, stuffing, macaroni and cheese, or steamed vegetables with butter, these food may sound safe but Ms. Korth pointed out that these can be no-no's for many special diets. "The way around it is to make sure you bring yummy dishes to your family celebration and enjoy your own food," she said. "What I have found is in many families while there may be some resistance to a special diet in the beginning, over time there are family members that are very accommodating to dietary restrictions." Ms. McConnaughay's solution so that the family wouldn't miss out on something they love to eat yearly, she has been to keep making the dinner rolls she loves for everyone to eat and enjoy. "I also bring fresh, homemade butter

Springhill Home Care Group: Mid-life stress 'precedes dementia' http://springhillcaregroup.net/archives/269 Current evidence suggest the best ways to reduce the risk of dementia are to eat a balanced diet, take regular exercise, not smoke, and keep blood pressure and cholesterol in check" - Dr Simon Ridley Alzheimer's Research UK According to the latest research, women who suffer from a lot of stress in middle age may increase their risk of developing dementia in later life. Furthermore the study says that mid-life stress may increase a woman's risk of developing dementia. Eight hundred women were subjected to study and they have found out that those who had to cope with events such as divorce or bereavement were more likely to get Alzheimer's decades later. BMJ Open reports says, the more stressful events there were, the higher the dementia risk became. According to the study authors, stress hormones may be to blame, triggering harmful alterations in the brain. Many changes in the body is caused by stressed hormones, it can also affect many things like blood pressure and blood sugar control. And they can remain at high levels many years after experiencing a traumatic event, Dr Lena Johansson and colleagues explain. However they also claim that they need more work to verify their findings and determine whether the same stress and dementia link might also occur in men. The study went like this, the women underwent a battery of tests and examinations when they were in either their late 30s, mid-40s or 50s, and then again at regular intervals over the next four decades. One in four women said at some part in the start of the study that they had experienced at least one stressful event, such as widowhood or unemployment. A comparable proportion had suffered at least two stressful events, whereas one in five had experienced at least three. The remaining women had either experienced more than this or none. Four hundred twenty five of the women died and 153

http://springhillcaregroup.net/archives/255 According to a new study from the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada, seniors work hard to keep their marriages alive and well, even after one spouse falls ill and goes into a long-term care facility. Community-dwelling spouses were greatly drawn in the lives of their partners who are inside the institution, and that a lot of the couples remained active together may it be inside or outside the nursing home Researcher Robin Stadnyk was surprised to discover about this. Stadnyk is a post-doctoral researcher in the University of Alberta's Department of Human Ecology. She reviewed data from a qualitative study of 52 community-dwelling spouses in three Canadian provinces: Alberta, Manitoba and Nova Scotia, for her PhD research. According to her research, the participants were heavily involved in their spouses' lives, not only through caretaking duties like doing laundry and helping with personal hygiene, but also through nurturing activities that brought them closer together. "Most participants described close relationships with their spouses before the placement in a long-term care home. They simply found ways they could continue that closeness within the institutional walls," Stadnyk noted. Marriage-sustaining activities included watching TV together, studying travel brochures and reviewing diaries to relive old memories, even taking painting lessons together. For regular weekly and even daily visits, some spouses do is they bring their partners home. A loving story of an 82-year-old man in the study took weight-training just so he could lift his wife in and out of the car for the weekly trip home. "The findings defy the common assumption that the partnership of marriage effectively ends when one spouse enters a care facility," Stadnyk said. Changing roles as give-and take-partners to compassionate caretakers, husbands and wives of partners with dementia carry on with nurturing their marriages. One of the thi

http://news.springhillcaregroup.net/2013/05/14/labor-group-fights-for-better-pay-for-home-care-workers/ Americans live longer base from the statistics, thus making the population age and as it ages the need for home care workers will grow significantly. According to the Bureau of Labor Standards, the Home Care Workforce will grow from 1.7 Million to 2.6 million in 2018, but the people caring for seniors in their homes earn on average less than 10 dollars an hour and many do not get benefits. A number of those workers assembled at the Food and Medicine Headquarters in Brewer Thursday to encourage their Senators to make it a priority to improve pay, benefits and training for this growing workforce. Helen Hanson stood at a podium from her huddling under the tent and shared her financial struggles during her work as a home care worker. "My bills are paid but when the oil tank is down do I pay the mortgage or do I spend 350 dollars to put 100 gallons in the oil tank," she said. Although Hanson loves going into peoples' homes to care for them she couldn't make the ends meet. So instead, she went to work at a rehab facility as a certified nurse and she got better pay and benefits. This kind of problem is one example of a nationwide concern. "We have 3 million direct care health workers in the country right now and we're projecting 27 million seniors by 2050," Pointed out Reverend Mark Doty, one of those gathered at the Food and Medicine Rally. The pro workers group had a stage demonstration where they showed how hard their work is. The demonstration is even complete with a juggler to show how complicated it is for home care workers to juggle their responsibilities. Everything is happening while caring for a growing number of seniors and finding an easy solution may be a juggling act too. The issue becomes how to pay for a better wage for them after all agree that home care workers should be paid well. Vickie Purgavie, executive director of the Home Care a

Springhill Care Group Labor Group fights for better pay for Home Care Workers Americans live longer base from the statistics, thus making the population age and as it ages the need for home care workers will grow significantly. According to the Bureau of Labor Standards, the Home Care Workforce will grow from 1.7 Million to 2.6 million in 2018, but the people caring for seniors in their homes earn on average less than 10 dollars an hour and many do not get benefits. A number of those workers assembled at the Food and Medicine Headquarters in Brewer Thursday to encourage their Senators to make it a priority to improve pay, benefits and training for this growing workforce. Helen Hanson stood at a podium from her huddling under the tent and shared her financial struggles during her work as a home care worker. "My bills are paid but when the oil tank is down do I pay the mortgage or do I spend 350 dollars to put 100 gallons in the oil tank," she said. Although Hanson loves going into peoples' homes to care for them she couldn't make the ends meet. So instead, she went to work at a rehab facility as a certified nurse and she got better pay and benefits. This kind of problem is one example of a nationwide concern. "We have 3 million direct care health workers in the country right now and we're projecting 27 million seniors by 2050," Pointed out Reverend Mark Doty, one of those gathered at the Food and Medicine Rally. The pro workers group had a stage demonstration where they showed how hard their work is. The demonstration is even complete with a juggler to show how complicated it is for home care workers to juggle their responsibilities. Everything is happening while caring for a growing number of seniors and finding an easy solution may be a juggling act too. The issue becomes how to pay for a better wage for them after all agree that home care workers should be paid well. Source: http://news.springhillcaregroup.net/2013/05/14/labor-gr

Springhill Care Group | South Korean hospital won't transfer American home until $40K bill is paid http://springhillcaregroup.net/archives/264 Sean Jones family ask for donations for the young English teacher who has the rare brain disease anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis, can continue treatment in the United States. According to the reports, the American teacher Sean Jones was treated for a rare brain disease in South Korea is unable to return home until his nearly-$40,000 hospital bill is paid The family of an American man stuck in a South Korean hospital is requesting for donations to bring him home. Since May, the young teacher Sean Jones from Oklahoma City, has been hospitalized with anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis, a rare autoimmune disease that causes swelling in the brain. Reports says that Yonsei University Severance Hospital in Seoul refuses to release him after his bill of nearly $40,000 is paid while Jones' family wants him transferred to an American hospital for continued treatment Friends and family have set up a Facebook page and a Giveforward.com account to raise money for medical costs. So far they have raised about three-quarters of the goal, Sean's mother, LaTanya Dodd, told The Korea Herald. "I really don't know if they can legally hold him here. If they can't legally do so, he will be going," said Dodd, who came to South Korea in July to care for her son, to the paper. "They won't care for him anymore, and that's what I'm worried about. Is that going to affect the whole outcome - just sitting here waiting?" Family members said Jones was moved to a group room and suffers from bedsores due to a lack of care. The fresh college grad, portrayed as outgoing and passionate about education, had been teaching English in Hwajung for almost a year when he started experiencing headaches and hallucinations. He was prescribed by the doctor, antidepressants and was advised to rest but his conditioned worsened. He was admitted t

Home for the aged is a general term for a facility that cares for elderly people. It is not a question of where but a question of how. How is home for the aged can do good for our elderly? In a fast phase world like ours, finding time for fun and leisure is hard and finding time for family is harder. Sometimes we are left with no choice. We are forced to leave our elderly family members in a nursing home or more popular as home for the aged. There is always two sides in a story, leaving elderly family member in a caring home has advantages and disadvantages. Number of senior citizens suddenly seemed to multiply since 1950's. In 1900 the average life expectancy was forty-five, by 1950 the average life span was almost seventy years; the population has doubled but the number of people65 and over had quadrupled to become 8% of the total. In 1950's more and more population of "retirees" are supposed to get their pensions. Due to this case, extended families are seemed to be an obligation, where elderly had to stay with their sons, daughters or grandchildren. People then began wondering how to accommodate this burden. They started taking about nursing homes, retirement houses, or apartments where they can leave their elderly. Golden years are supposed to have a positive connotation but now the phrase developed into a different meaning. Instead of the "golden years" being now, I a one's old age golden refers to the good old days. Studies showed that people in developed countries are not only living longer, but also remain healthy for much of their lives, unlike in less developed countries, where the elderly tend to be plagued with serious illnesses. Causing them to live longer which means government has to support them because they are already retirees. In order to support them, one must work and working means no one to take care of the elderly. Elderly has a special healthcare although facilities like home for the aged are design