In This Issue
FEATURE ARTICLE: Sleep Medications for Alzheimer's and Dementia Patients
Kudos From Kelly
Welcome New Citizens!
Alan Weiss on School Safety
Lonely 90-year-old woman asks neighbor to be her friend
Providers We Love


Photos in top banner: Phylis with her caregiver Tanya and Mishelle, visiting with her mom Angie, our community liaison ; Future super model Bella! (Jessica's daughter); Our friend Gloria out and about.

 














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Regina McNamara RN, MSN President & Kelly McNamara, Chief Operating Officer



Here at Always There Home Care, we are grateful you are slowing down to read our newsletter full of items that relate to home care, home health care, aging and eldercare, as well as some useful tips for daily living. Please enjoy in the spirit of community and cooperation in which this newsletter was sent.
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Also, see our beautiful new video,  here!!!
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Featured Article: Sleep Medications for Alzheimer's and Dementia Patients  
  I often have family caregivers request medications to help people living with Alzheimer's and related dementia to sleep.
 
By: Rita Jablonski  |   Alzheimer's Reading Room
 
Medications have their place in Alzheimer's care, but only AFTER all of the suggestions listed below have been followed.

It may seem exhausting to the caregiver to have to engage in all of these activities; but, the results could lessen exhaustion, frustration, and stress in a manner of days.

Rule Out Physical Problems First 
There are many medical conditions that contribute to problems sleeping.

Some of these medical conditions include: 
* over-active thyroid, 
* congestive heart failure, 
* and restless leg syndrome.

Check with your healthcare provider to see if there are medical problems that require attention.

Review Prescribed Medications 
Likewise, a lot of medications can interfere with falling asleep and staying asleep.

These medications include: 
* high blood pressure pills  
* and, some antihistamines (allergy medications).

Medications that may interfere with sleep can be given earlier in the day or possibly swapped out with a similar medication that does not cause sleep problems.

Some medications, like anti-depressants, do cause sleepiness. 
 

Kudos from Kelly
 KUDOS from Kelly  
  By Kelly McNamara 
  
To Our Unstoppable, Dedicated Snow-Covered Super Caregivers,  We are all very grateful!

Carol Bernard, Khalina Davis, Camillia Campbell, Dora Oduro, Dawn Reed, Athena Ausikaitis, Shelly Ann Daley Kerr, Linda Acheamfour, Jennifer Drouin, Jasmin Flowers

Only the most naïve and  optimistic among us would herald the Month of March as a sign that spring is about to begin.  Not in New England.  This week and last, we endured a total of 3 snow days.

Teachers and their students rejoiced at the thought of yet another day off from school.

Many day care centers closed as well. Some banks and other businesses closed. But for a very important group of people, their stormy mornings consisted of starting out early, equipped with warm clothes, boots, shovels and other necessary winter equipment.

They were on a mission.  Their clients awaited.  A day of very important work awaited them.  Some traveled in their own cars, some in ride sharing vehicles or were transported by family members.  Some had children who needed home coverage and had arranged it in advance.  Some were long term veterans of Always Their Home Care, accustomed to never missing a case, others are relatively new to us but they prepared early and set out to care for their very important clients.


Welcome New Citizens!
By: Regina McNamara

 
We are a country of immigrants.  On a more local level, Always There is a proud company of immigrants.  They comprise the majority of our caregiver population. As legal permanent residents, they are eligible to become  citizens.  But the barriers are many...Waiting time, government requirements, and of course financial.  There is much talk at state and national levels of immigration, it has been a topic of our representatives in Washington for many previous administrations with no meaningful legislation enacted. It now appears to be a priority. We anxiously await some resolution. But lost in these discussions are the millions of hard working immigrants who live in this country legally but are not yet citizens.  We encourage our caregivers to take the steps required for citizenship and we reimburse them the expense involved.  It is, we believe the right thing to do for us and for our most important asset, our caregivers.

This is an excerpt from a speech given by House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy at a naturalization ceremony in September in Bakersfield, California. For anyone who has not attended a naturalization ceremony where formerly legal immigrants become full-fledged American citizens, it is a joyful experience.  I highly recommend it.


 Alan Weiss on School Safety '

It's hard to escape-nor should we seek to escape-the horror of school shootings. This is not a reality that is acceptable in any decent society. But the important thing in my view is to stop them by finding cause and not blame. Making the immediate solution about gun control will not work. The immediate need is to stop armed people (whether for revenge, mentally unstable, or terrorists) from entering schools.

The TSA-type approach has worked globally in airports with millions of travelers. To protect our children, this country can support the expense of placing such security at the entrances which are deemed important to keep open. (This is done right now in courthouses, museums, legislative buildings, national monuments, and so forth.)

We have time to work on such issues as better identification and treatment of the mentally ill, and automatic weapons in public hands. We don't have the time to wait to protect our kids in an environment which should be absolutely safe. For the moment, I don't believe this is about the second amendment, the NRA, or the deputy who didn't enter the building. All of that will be debated.

But while they are debated we have to protect the kids, and we know how to do that right now.

Alan is a colleague, mentor and friend. He is a successful international business consultant ■

Lonely 90-year-old woman asks neighbor to be her friend in a heartbreaking note
 
t's difficult making new friends at the best of times. Making friends as an elderly person is even harder.
But a neighbor in California just showed us that we can all do something a little extra to help older people combat the isolation and loneliness they experience by becoming their friends.
Marleen Brooks of Missouri came home to a heartbreaking note from her neighbor. The 90-year-old from down the street wrote to her to let her know she was lonely. She asked if the two of them could be friends.

Brooks then shared the note with a news anchor at KTVU, who shared the note on his Facebook page.

"Would you consider to become my friend.
  I'm 90 years old- live alone.
  All my friends have passed away.
  I'm so lonesome and scared.
  Please I pray for someone."

Brooks went over to her elderly neighbor's house in the evening to introduce herself. She brought cupcakes.

"She's such a sweet lady! And she was over the moon when we came over."

Here's what the 90-year-old woman, Wanda, said during their visit:

"I hope you didn't think I was stupid for writing you, but I had to do something. Thank you so much for coming over. I've lived here for 50 years and don't know any of my neighbors."


Providers We Love We are privileged to have received referrals from and be able to coordinate care with many Assisted Living facilities, rehab facilities, and Medicare Home Care and Hospice agencies. Our growth is in large part due to the trust the staff in these organizations have put in our caregivers. We are likewise impressed with them and we are committed to referring to them on a regular basis
 
Seabury Active Living Retirement Community, and Seabury at Home, Bloomfield One of Connecticut's first retirement communities, Seabury has grown impressively from its original facility.  The sprawling campus now boasts several individual residences, from apartments to substantial single homes.  Their memory care unit is superb.  The surroundings provide lovely views in all seasons. An immense fitness facility, including a large pool promotes continued fitness of older adults. Seabury boasts an impressive participation of its residents in the fitness facility. Seabury also has an innovative Life Care program and Seabury at Home service. Their home care program provides both Medicare as well as home private duty services for the community and surrounding area. Their health care center boasts state of the art short-term rehab in a beautiful setting.  There is excellent coordination with their Home Care agency, which provides nursing, and all therapies, following a comprehensive home safety assessment prior to discharge.  It is a privilege to work in co-operation with them...

McLean Hospice and Palliative Care , Simsbury
McLean Hospice is dedicated to improving patients' comfort and supporting their families. Their team in helps patients you live as fully and comfortably as possible so your last days may be spent with dignity and quality. Our goal is to provide satisfying days, fear-free nights and the richness of time with your loved ones, surrounded by a supportive team. Hospice nurses are available to you 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Their hospice team includes highly experienced, board-certified nurses, medical social workers, spiritual counselors and dedicated volunteers all committed to improving the end-of-life journey through comfort-focused patient care and support for grieving families. Bereavement services and support are available for up to 13 months... 


 About Always There Home Care

Always There Home Care provides compassionate, dependable and professional one-on-one care for seniors who need assistance in the comfort of their homes or residential care communities.  Services from highly qualified and trained caregivers range from companionship, meal preparation and incidental transportation to personal care, medication management and RN-directed case management. Available 7 days a week, services range from a few hours a day to 24-hour care.

Always There Home Care understands that every situation is unique and creates individualized care plans to help improve a client's quality of life.

Even Longer Dotted Divider Line
 
Our Caregivers

Our caregivers are totally committed, highly qualified and carefully selected individuals who are personally and thoroughly screened, bonded and insured. Most are Certified Nurse Assistants or Home Health Aides. Most importantly our caregivers are dependable and extraordinarily caring of others. In addition to their previous experience, our caregivers receive continuous training that includes dementia, hospice care, home safety, nutrition and other topics related to seniors. These highly qualified and trained caregivers are ready to help you and your loved ones with a variety of daily activities such as:

Personal care    /  Meal planning and preparation
Transportation to doctor appointments and other errands
Caring companionship    /  Light housekeeping
Medication reminders  /    Information and referral services

Our personalized, nurse- supervised services are available 7 days a week and
can range from a few hours a day to 24 hours and live in care.

Even Longer Dotted Divider Line

For more information or service needs, call 24 hours a day at:
800.348.0485
or visit www.AlwaysThereHomeCare-CT.com.  
We are Always There!