Springhill Care Group

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.

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

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.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/

1. A Home Caregiver Can't Provide the Expertise and Level of Care a Senior Nursing Facility Can. A 24/7 care can be provided by a quality home care, this include round-the-clock check-ups of vital signs and caregivers monitoring medications of the elderly. A home health caregiver is able to pay all his attention to his patient because he is just responsible to a single patient. In turn he will always be present in any emergency and the best thing is that they are trained professionally in dementia care. Grooming and hygiene are never a problem since they practice one is to one caregiver-patient relationship, you are sure that your love one is well taken care of. Their nursing services also include grooming, bathing, transportation, housekeeping, diet management, and senior companionship.

Tip O'Neill is known for his declaration: "All politics is local." Well, some politics is local. But some politics is national. And, nowadays, some politics is global. Tip is right in that most of us are focused on our neighborhoods, on our taxes, the crime rate and our job security, for example. However there are national issues that transcend localism. The debt ceiling and a declaration of war are hardly "local." We deal with these issues remotely by electing senators and representatives, hoping that they pay attention to local issues as well as national problems. That hope is being strangled these days. The approval rating of Congress is in single digits. Think of the corruption of Senate majority rule by misuse of the filibuster.

THE future of the Home and Community Care Services (HACC) program in Bundaberg is up in the air with Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service (WBHHS) considering privatising the service. It could come as soon as March this year, with the final decision resting with the Federal Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA). WBHHS chief executive officer Adrian Pennington said transferring the delivery of HACC services to another provider was still a proposal but the change could affect about 800 clients in the Bundaberg region and 600 in the Fraser Coast. Mr Pennington said while clients could expect to receive similar or equal level of care under a new provider there were no guarantees the service would remain free. "While it would be our preference for our clients' sake to keep the service free, we are unable to speculate what fees, if any, would be applicable in future as this would be determined by the new provider," he said. "These clients will be notified of changes to the service via a letter this week." HACC provides many services including meals on wheels, transport and nursing care to support older people to stay at home and be more independent in the community. When the NewsMail asked how many jobs could be at risk Mr Pennington said: "As the consultation process with staff is ongoing, at this time I consider it premature and inconsiderate to discuss publicly staffing matters relating to HACC services." He said a meeting had been held with staff last week to provide help including contact details for organisations including the Employee Assistance Scheme. "We recognise this is a deeply unsettling time for people and I want to offer my assurance that we will support all staff and clients affected," he said. He said the details of the proposal were still to be finalised. "We are yet to properly liaise further with the Federal Department of Health and Ageing and the Queensland Department of Community Safety (DCS) as to what a transfer of

THE future of the Home and Community Care Services (HACC) program in Bundaberg is up in the air with Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service (WBHHS) considering privatising the service. It could come as soon as March this year, with the final decision resting with the Federal Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA). WBHHS chief executive officer Adrian Pennington said transferring the delivery of HACC services to another provider was still a proposal but the change could affect about 800 clients in the Bundaberg region and 600 in the Fraser Coast. Mr Pennington said while clients could expect to receive similar or equal level of care under a new provider there were no guarantees the service would remain free. "While it would be our preference for our clients' sake to keep the service free, we are unable to speculate what fees, if any, would be applicable in future as this would be determined by the new provider," he said. "These clients will be notified of changes to the service via a letter this week." HACC provides many services including meals on wheels, transport and nursing care to support older people to stay at home and be more independent in the community. When the NewsMail asked how many jobs could be at risk Mr Pennington said: "As the consultation process with staff is ongoing, at this time I consider it premature and inconsiderate to discuss publicly staffing matters relating to HACC services." He said a meeting had been held with staff last week to provide help including contact details for organisations including the Employee Assistance Scheme. "We recognise this is a deeply unsettling time for people and I want to offer my assurance that we will support all staff and clients affected," he said. He said the details of the proposal were still to be finalised. "We are yet to properly liaise further with the Federal Department of Health and Ageing and the Queensland Department of Community Safety (DCS) as to what a transfer of

http://www.zimbio.com/Springhill+Care+G roup/articles/p6_lrMaEFVZ/Springhill+Car e+Group+Alzheimer+Most+Feared?success=Yo ur+edit+was+saved . Free Alzheimer’s Training Available in all 50 States to Support Family Caregivers Alzheimer’s disease is a fatal, progressive and degenerative ...

Free Alzheimer's Training Available in all 50 States to Support Family Caregivers Alzheimer's disease is a fatal, progressive and degenerative disease that destroys brain cells. It is the most common form of dementia. Alzheimer's disease is not a normal part of aging. Symptoms include having difficulty remembering things, making decisions and performing everyday activities. These changes can affect the way a person feels and acts. There is currently no way to stop the disease, but research is improving the way provide care and will continue to search for a cure. Americans fear developing Alzheimer's disease more than any other major life-threatening disease, including cancer, stroke, heart disease and diabetes according to OMAHA, Neb. - November 13, 2012 - Home Instead Senior Care®, the world's leading provider of home care services for seniors, announced new survey results. More than 1,200 Americans was designed to gain perspective on the most pressing concerns associated with Alzheimer's, including diagnosis and the difficulties of caring for a loved one with the disease, according to the survey of Marist Institute for Public Opinion. According to Jeff Huber, president and chief operating officer of Home Instead, Inc. "The survey confirmed what our franchise owners had been hearing from their clients and their families - the majority of Americans feel unprepared to care for a loved one diagnosed with Alzheimer's. The need for support and education for these families is critical." Additional survey highlights include: o Nearly two-thirds of Americans (63 percent) have had a personal experience with someone with Alzheimer's and/or a serious memory loss problem. o 61 percent of Americans feel unprepared to care for a loved one diagnosed with the disease. o If diagnosed with the disease, Americans most fear the inability to care for oneself, and burdening others (68 percent); followed by losing memory of life and loved ones (32 percent). o

Free Alzheimer's Training Available in all 50 States to Support Family Caregivers Alzheimer's disease is a fatal, progressive and degenerative disease that destroys brain cells. It is the most common form of dementia. Alzheimer's disease is not a normal part of aging. Symptoms include having difficulty remembering things, making decisions and performing everyday activities. These changes can affect the way a person feels and acts. There is currently no way to stop the disease, but research is improving the way provide care and will continue to search for a cure. Americans fear developing Alzheimer's disease more than any other major life-threatening disease, including cancer, stroke, heart disease and diabetes according to OMAHA, Neb. - November 13, 2012 - Home Instead Senior Care®, the world's leading provider of home care services for seniors, announced new survey results. More than 1,200 Americans was designed to gain perspective on the most pressing concerns associated with Alzheimer's, including diagnosis and the difficulties of caring for a loved one with the disease, according to the survey of Marist Institute for Public Opinion . According to Jeff Huber, president and chief operating officer of Home Instead, Inc. "The survey confirmed what our franchise owners had been hearing from their clients and their families - the majority of Americans feel unprepared to care for a loved one diagnosed with Alzheimer's. The need for support and education for these families is critical." Additional survey highlights include: o Nearly two-thirds of Americans (63 percent) have had a personal experience with someone with Alzheimer's and/or a serious memory loss problem. o 61 percent of Americans feel unprepared to care for a loved one diagnosed with the disease. o If diagnosed with the disease, Americans most fear the inability to care for oneself, and burdening others (68 percent); followed by losing memory of life and lov

http://news.springhillcaregroup.net Free Alzheimer's Training Available in all 50 States to Support Family Caregivers Alzheimer's disease is a fatal, progressive and degenerative disease that destroys brain cells. It is the most common form of dementia. Alzheimer's disease is not a normal part of aging. Symptoms include having difficulty remembering things, making decisions and performing everyday activities. These changes can affect the way a person feels and acts. There is currently no way to stop the disease, but research is improving the way provide care and will continue to search for a cure. Americans fear developing Alzheimer's disease more than any other major life-threatening disease, including cancer, stroke, heart disease and diabetes according to OMAHA, Neb. - November 13, 2012 - Home Instead Senior Care®, the world's leading provider of home care services for seniors, announced new survey results. More than 1,200 Americans was designed to gain perspective on the most pressing concerns associated with Alzheimer's, including diagnosis and the difficulties of caring for a loved one with the disease, according to the survey of Marist Institute for Public Opinion. According to Jeff Huber, president and chief operating officer of Home Instead, Inc. "The survey confirmed what our franchise owners had been hearing from their clients and their families - the majority of Americans feel unprepared to care for a loved one diagnosed with Alzheimer's. The need for support and education for these families is critical." Additional survey highlights include: o Nearly two-thirds of Americans (63 percent) have had a personal experience with someone with Alzheimer's and/or a serious memory loss problem. o 61 percent of Americans feel unprepared to care for a loved one diagnosed with the disease. o If diagnosed with the disease, Americans most fear the inability to care for oneself, and burdening others (68 percent); followed by losing memory of life and lov

http://springhillcaregroup.net/ Time is very essential to everybody. We will never know when were going to loose it.

Time is very essential to everybody. We will never know when were going to loose it. Today everyone seems to be very busy, everybody has to live and in order to live one must work for them. But we cannot work and take care of our parents or grandparents who's getting older and requires more care and attention. We became more concern about their safety at home. It's not an easy task caring for the elderly, especially if you are trying to do it alone. And aside from work, there comes a time when you will need a break, or just some time alone for yourself. With the constant worry that something may go wrong, the respites and personal time become nonexistent. Sometimes we are left with tough decision, whether or not an elderly family member should move into an assisted living facility is often one of the key questions. Home care for the elderly is an option for caregivers who need extra help while offering the elderly person a good quality of life for the rest of their years. To make your decision a lot easier, these advantages of letting elderly live in Home care might help you decide: 1. Seniors are getting more sensitive than usual. One advantage of leeting them stay in home care can give them the sense of freedom, and freedom for them could mean maintaining dignity, dignity which is something seniors feels like loosing as they age. This freedom would not be possible in an assisted living residence. This freedom could also mean that those who receive homecare can come and go as they please-for whatever reason. They can also choose their own meal times so they can eat whenever they are hungry unlike if meals are served to them, they might feel like prisoners. They are left with the feeling of they can decide for themselves. 2. It is proven that caring for pets can reduce stress levels and was also proven to have health benefits for seniors. Homes allow elderly to keep their pets and even beloved possessions with them for these possessions are tied

Purchasing and owning a home is one of the biggest financial investments you'll ever make, and no doubt you'll have many questions regarding the process. First-time buyers enjoy some special privileges and opportunities. Some banks will offer first-time buyers a bond above 100% to help you cover the transfer and legal costs as well as the purchase price. And almost all institutions now offer a 30 year bond repayment period, to make the monthly costs more accessible, an option which banks created specifically for first-time buyers. Make that very clear on your application that you're a first-time buyer. It is a general rule, make a quality purchase, buying a house is a big decision so you have to decide wisely. When house hunting you can follow this tips.

Livejournal News - Patients with sickle cell disease move from pediatric to adult health care because they now depend more on the emergency room, says researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Reported at the American Society of Hematology's annual meeting in Atlanta, more than 3,200 patients with sickle cell disease demonstrates that emergency room visits tripled from age 15 to age 24 this is according to the study of Medicaid data. According to hematologist Morey A. Blinder, MD, associate professor of medicine, "There seems to be a breakdown in medical care during the transition from childhood to adulthood. Not only emergency department usage, but hospitalizations go up during this time as well." Blinder further added that one possible explanation for the increased reliance on emergency care is the relative lack of adult health care providers with experience caring for sickle cell patients. Alarming similar issues are arising for other pediatric diseases, such as cystic fibrosis and hemophilia. The said illnesses were previously fatal. What is more sad about the problem is over the past few decades the number of children and teenagers are living into adulthood with these conditions increased. What makes the matters worse is there often aren't enough primary care physicians who can provide care for these adult patients. Many are not familiar to the understanding of the sickle cell disease. It refers to a number of inherited genetic conditions the "sickle" shape red blood cells aren't normal, they are suppose to be normally round, disk-like red blood cells. The problems with these malformed red blood cells are prone to clogging smaller blood vessels and they do not carry oxygen to the body as well as healthy cells. The condition often causes pain in places the cells block blood flow that sometimes causes more severe complications include blindness, strokes and pneumonia. Medical patients from five states

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

The decision of US to let the blind human rights activist Chen Guangcheng return into China's fold following his escape from authorities is straining ties between the two countries as diplomatic dialogues opened in Beijing. The 40-year old Chen who is now considered a dissident became an international human rights inspiration to many Chinese after earning the ire of the local government for exposing forced abortions in line with the country's one-child policy. The self-taught lawyer took to the US embassy after his escape, apparently to ask for help but was eventually ushered into the Beijing Hospital. According to a senior official's statement to Springhill Care Group, Chen has indeed went into the embassy that day and has requested for medical treatment for his injured foot. American medical personnel have then conducted medical tests and made appropriate treatment during the time he was there. Immediately after the incident, the Chinese government has expressed its disapproval about the entire affair, demanding an apology from the US for taking Chen in. "What the U.S. side should do now is neither to continue misleading the public and making every excuse to shift responsibility and conceal its wrongdoing, nor to interfere in the domestic affairs of China," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin. This incident came just when the US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton is visiting Beijing in a meeting with Chinese officials on security and trade talks. And although no one mentioned Chen's name, it is evident in their statements that the incident is on the spotlight as the 2 nations struggle to maintain common ground. Clinton said in her opening statement, "The United States believes that no state can legitimately deny the universal rights that belong to every human being - or punish those who exercise them. A China that protects the rights of all its citizens will be a stronger, more prosperous partner for the United State

"Springhill Care Group - Spain's borrowing costs on its 10-year government bonds fell to the lowest level since January on Thursday. At its latest debt auction raised 4.8 billion euros and saw strong demand from investors for the bonds maturing in three and 10 years' time. Madrid has been able to more easily sell its bonds at lower rates of interest since the European Central Bank announced its bond-buying plan. Trader Ignacio Blanco with Bankinter said: "Over the last month and a half bond interest rates are down more than two percent, since Draghi spoke at the end of July. There was strong demand in the days before the auction and today too. They were buying bonds before, they continued to buy today, and the initial operations after the auction were good." Many analysts have warned Spain's borrowing costs could skyrocket to unsustainable levels unless Rajoy asks for an international bailout, at which point the ECB would start buying Spanish bonds. The country's economic crisis is exposing deep fault lines with the wealthy, but heavily indebted, region of Catalonia calling for tax breaks. Catalonia, which is in northeastern Spain, generates one fifth of the country's economic output and is home to 16 percent of Spaniards. More than half of Catalans say they want a separate state, and hundreds of thousands marched in Barcelona last week - the biggest such show of separatist fervor. The upsurge in Catalan separatism is founded on a conviction that Madrid is draining the region financially. The central government collects most taxation payments then redistributes them to Spain's 17 self-governing regions, which run their own schools and hospitals. Each year Catalans say they pay 16 billion euros more in taxes than the regional government spends. The region's debts have made the Madrid government's task of balancing the budget more difficult. Rajoy has threatened to intervene in regions that cannot control their budgets. Catalonia is li

Springhill Care Group - Spain's borrowing costs on its 10-year government bonds fell to the lowest level since January on Thursday. At its latest debt auction raised 4.8 billion euros and saw strong demand from investors for the bonds maturing in three and 10 years' time. Madrid has been able to more easily sell its bonds at lower rates of interest since the European Central Bank announced its bond-buying plan. Trader Ignacio Blanco with Bankinter said: "Over the last month and a half bond interest rates are down more than two percent, since Draghi spoke at the end of July. There was strong demand in the days before the auction and today too. They were buying bonds before, they continued to buy today, and the initial operations after the auction were good." Many analysts have warned Spain's borrowing costs could skyrocket to unsustainable levels unless Rajoy asks for an international bailout, at which point the ECB would start buying Spanish bonds. The country's economic crisis is exposing deep fault lines with the wealthy, but heavily indebted, region of Catalonia calling for tax breaks. Catalonia, which is in northeastern Spain, generates one fifth of the country's economic output and is home to 16 percent of Spaniards. More than half of Catalans say they want a separate state, and hundreds of thousands marched in Barcelona last week - the biggest such show of separatist fervor. The upsurge in Catalan separatism is founded on a conviction that Madrid is draining the region financially. The central government collects most taxation payments then redistributes them to Spain's 17 self-governing regions, which run their own schools and hospitals. Each year Catalans say they pay 16 billion euros more in taxes than the regional government spends. The region's debts have made the Madrid government's task of balancing the budget more difficult. Rajoy has threatened to intervene in regions that cannot control their budgets. Catalonia is lik

""Springhill Group Seoul Korea" - SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - North Korean fishing boats crossed the Koreas' tense western sea boundary and retreated soon after being warned Wednesday in the second such violation this year, South Korea said. No fighting erupted though the border is one the North has long refused to recognize. A North Korean government boat briefly crossed the boundary while trying to guide the seven fishing boats back to North Korean-controlled waters, a South Korean Defense Ministry official said on condition of anonymity, citing office rules. Later Wednesday, seven North Korean boats again violated the boundary, but they all sailed back after a warning was broadcast, the official said. It wasn't clear whether they were the same seven boats that earlier crossed. Seoul says North Korean fishing boats last crossed in April. The disputed sea boundary is not clearly marked, and incursions by North Korean military and fishing boats are not unusual. Violence often erupts in the seafood-rich waters, and three naval clashes since 1999 have taken a few dozen lives. After the Korean War ended nearly 60 years ago with a truce, not with a peace treaty, the U.S.-led U.N. Command divided the Yellow Sea without Pyongyang's consent. The boundary cut North Korea off from rich fishing waters, and Pyongyang has contested the line ever since. North Korea shelled a front-line South Korean island near the boundary in November 2010, killing four people. Earlier in 2010, an explosion ripped apart a South Korean warship in the area, killing 46 sailors. Seoul said Pyongyang torpedoed the vessel. North Korea denies responsibility."