Archive for July, 2012

Congratulations to our 2012 Silver Star Caregiver, Loretta Burwell!

Loretta earned this award by being an above-and-beyond employee. In the five years that Loretta has worked for Continuum, she has become a caregiver who can be relied on and who our clients love to see. One client shared that Loretta is “wonderful, very reliable, and has a terrific work ethic,” and we absolutely agree. She is an excellent caregiver who cares for her clients with compassion, does her best to exceed expectations, is quick to fill in at the last minute, and does so cheerfully. She is a fantastic representative of our company and we are so glad to have her as part of our Continuum team!

Respite Care for a Good Night’s Sleep

Aside from the increased risk for the aging loved one, sleep deprivation for family caregivers can also have noticeable consequences such as poor concentration, inability to perform tasks or process information easily and quickly and a decreased capacity of perceptual skills. Family caregivers must get rest so they can be recharged for the demands of daily caregiving of a loved one. This is another reason to consider professional respite caregiving.

For more information about sleep disorders in the elderly and the importance of adequate sleep for the family caregiver, call Continuum at (314) 863-9912.

Top 10 Signs of Heart Failure

Because the symptoms of heart failure (sometimes called congestive heart failure) can be difficult to identify and describe, it is often diagnosed quite late. If you or the person you’re caring for has risk factors for heart disease, such as being a smoker or a former smoker and having high blood pressure or coronary artery disease (CAD), it’s a good idea to be on the lookout for heart failure. Taken by themselves, any one of the symptoms listed here probably isn’t cause for alarm, but two or more are good cause to call your doctor for an evaluation.

  1. Shortness of breath, particularly when sleeping or lying down
  2.  A feeling of chest pressure or “drowning”
  3. Clothes and shoes that feel tight
  4. Heart-rhythm problems
  5. Loss of appetite
  6. Dizziness and light-headedness
  7. Anxiety
  8. Coughing
  9. Tiring easily or feeling exhausted all the time
  10. Any unexplained changes in behavior

For details about these symptoms, please read the rest of this article from Caring.com.

The Dangers of Sleep Deprivation in the Elderly & How to Get a Healthy Night’s Sleep

Aging related diseases can be difficult to deal with on their own; however, when coupled with sleep disorders, the effects can be devastating. Mentally, lack of sleep can cause confusion, distortion of memory, depression and decreased mental capacity. Long-term insomnia affects an individual’s ability to react appropriately to stress, which increases the risk of developing mental illness. Studies report insomniacs are 3 times more likely to have a mental disorder. In the aging population, this can impact the severity of dementia and paranoia.

Physically, lack of sleep also has its effects. Commonly seen are diminished muscle strength and endurance, increased wear and tear on the vital organs, heightened sensitivity to pain, disruption of insulin production and sugar metabolism, increasing risk of diabetes and perhaps most importantly, a weakened immune system, which decreases defenses against illness.

If you believe you or an aging loved one is suffering from a sleep disorder or sleep deprivation, it is important to contact a doctor or sleep specialist for a proper diagnosis. Here are some other sleep tips that can put one on the path to a healthy, restful night’s rest:

  • Maintain a regular bed and wake time schedule, including weekends
  • Establish a regular, relaxing bedtime routine
  • Create a sleep-conducive environment that is dark, quiet, comfortable, and cool
  • Sleep on a comfortable, supportive mattress and pillows
  • Use the bedroom only for sleep
  • Finish eating at least 2-3 hours before bed
  • Avoid caffeine close to bedtime
  • Avoid nicotine
  • Avoid alcohol close to bedtime

For more information about sleep disorders in the elderly and the importance of adequate sleep for the family caregiver, call Continuum at (314) 863-9912.

More information about ‘Alive Inside’

“Music imprints itself on the brain deeper than any other human experience. Music evokes emotion and emotion can bring with it memory” and “brings back the feeling of life when nothing else can.”
—Dr. Oliver Sacks, world-famous neurologist

Read an article about Alive Inside, including video clips, here.

Visit the Music & Memory (creators of the Alive Inside documentary) homepage here.

Sleep Disorders in the Elderly

The National Sleep Foundation has reported that 24% of people aged 65-84 have been diagnosed with four or more medical conditions. In general, people with poor health or chronic medical conditions have more sleep problems. The study demonstrated this by reporting that 80% of the people in the study who had medical conditions also reported having a sleep problem. While a chronic medical condition itself can contribute to sleep deprivation, so too can sleep deprivation exacerbate the symptoms of a chronic medical condition.

Continuum wants to raise awareness about how important it is to recognize and treat sleep disorders in the senior population. Recognizing sleep disorders associated with aging can immediately help improve quality of life, both mentally and physically. A good night’s sleep can go a long way towards increasing strength, lifting mood, and increasing the body’s ability to fight infection. The following represent the most common sleep disorders affecting seniors:

  • Insomnia – According to the National Sleep Foundation’s Sleep in America poll, 44% of older persons experience one or more of the nighttime symptoms of insomnia at least a few nights per week or more. Insomnia is often related to an underlying cause such as a medical or psychiatric condition. If you are wondering if a loved one is suffering from insomnia, look out for symptoms like excessive daytime sleepiness and difficulty concentrating.
  • Snoring/Sleep Apnea – Loud snoring can be a symptom of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and is associated with high blood pressure and other health problems. With OSA, breathing stops – sometimes for as long as 10-60 seconds – and the amount of oxygen in the blood drops. OSA can be a sign that there are other things going on as well. In fact, HealthCentral.com reports one of the characteristics of dementia is sleep disordered breathing. More than 80 percent of dementia patients have sleep apnea. Untreated sleep apnea puts a person at risk for conditions such as headaches, memory loss, depression and cardiovascular disease, among others.
  • Gastro esophageal reflux disease (GERD), Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD), Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS), and Advanced Sleep Phase Disorder (ASP) are other common causes of sleep problems in the aging population. On the flip side, existing conditions can also affect good sleep. Diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, Multiple Sclerosis and Alzheimer’s and their associated symptoms commonly cause problems sleeping.

Sleep deprivation symptoms mirror other common signs of aging or disease, making it difficult to notice or diagnose a sleep disorder. Having a professional assessment and respite care during evening hours can go a long way in helping families get to the root of a hidden problem. After all, keeping an aging loved one at home is about improving quality of life. If you have any questions or would like to speak with us to learn more about sleep disorders associated with aging, please call Continuum at (314) 863-9912.

Barth Holohan in the St. Louis Business Journal

In 2007 Barth Holohan was awarded the St. Louis Business Journal‘s 40 Under 40 Award for his growing business, Continuum. In the spirit of celebration of our 10 year anniversary, we’d like to invite you to read about the early years of our company. Though years have passed since this article was written, the mission and dedication of both Barth and Continuum remain the same!

If you have not had the opportunity to read the article, here is the full text:

When Barth Holohan was growing up, he owned a landscape business and had many senior customers.

He said he enjoyed talking with them and was struck by the kinds of lives many of them had lived. That inspired him to use his free time to volunteer in retirement homes.

“Mostly I enjoyed the wisdom and experiences that they would share,” said Holohan, 34. “I could see that many of them felt lonely and isolated, but they had a lot of experiences to share. I discovered many of them were alone because their spouse and friends had died, and in some cases their family lived out of the area. A lot of people didn’t have the support systems that they needed.”

Nearly 20 years later, Holohan still owns a business, but instead of landscaping, he now takes care of senior citizens. As founder and CEO of Continuum in St. Louis, his No. 1 mission has remained helping those who have difficulty caring for themselves, he said.

Holohan created the company, which provides in-home assistance to seniors, in 2002. The first services offered included companion care, transportation and meal deliveries.

The business has quickly grown as more people in the area have reached older ages yet want to stay in their own homes. Continuum has added services such as care management assistance, nursing assistance and bill payment. It has more than 150 employees after only four years of existence. Holohan declined to disclose revenue but said its growth is projected to be 100 percent for 2006.

“He is the most dedicated person I know,” said Cathy Pasierb, director of care for Continuum. “He keeps everyone in the business focused on keeping the customer No. 1. He’s successful because that always comes first.”

Holohan began his career as a health-care consultant for Ernst & Young. But he said he missed the direct interaction with seniors he had when he volunteered in retirement homes, so he returned to school, focusing on gerontology and obtaining master’s degrees in social work and business administration from Washington University. Holohan worked in retirement communities before founding Continuum.

He serves on the boards of directors for The Long Term Care Ombudsman Program and the ALS Association. He also has mentored a student through an entrepreneurship program at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. In addition, he serves on the Gerontology Advisory Committee for the George Warren Brown School of Social Work at Washington University.

Text taken from this page.

Raising Awareness of Sleep Disorders

Whether you are a family caregiver or an elderly person with trouble sleeping, it is important to know the symptoms and consequences of sleep disorders. Sleep disorders can have devastating effects, increasing chances for complications of illness, sensitivity to pain, and increased risk of diabetes, coronary heart disease and a weakened immune system. Understanding the risks and knowing when to seek medical attention is crucial to caring for yourself or a loved one with a sleep issue.

Many times families dealing with the day to day challenges of caregiving for an aging loved one are caught up in treating diseases, making doctor appointments and keeping everyone safe and happy. Sleep disorders are commonly overlooked, because if the disorder is not such that it is keeping the caregiver awake, the family caregiver is resting during those times when the lack of sleep might be noticed.

For this reason, Continuum is providing some useful information on sleep disorders associated with aging and helpful tips on how to get back on track for a good night’s rest. This is important information for our local community and family caregivers. To start, read this Caring.com article “Seven Surprising Reasons You Wake Up Tired” for information on why you might be sleeping poorly, what your symptoms mean, and ways to wake up refreshed and well-rested.

If you have any questions or would like to speak with us to learn more about sleep disorders associated with aging, please call Continuum at (314) 863-9912.

Alzheimer’s “Village”

Image courtesy of Good Morning America

From the article “Alzheimer’s Disease: Dutch Village Doubles as Nursing Home”:

A Dutch village dubbed “The Truman Show” for dementia patients is getting praise from Alzheimer’s experts in the U.S.

The tree-lined streets of Hogewey, a tiny village at the edge of Amsterdam, boast shops, restaurants, a movie theater and a hairdresser. Its 23 apartments are carefully crafted to feel like home to 152 residents.

But Hogewey is not a real village; it’s a nursing home.

“Our director compared it to a theater,” said Isabel van Zuthem, Hogewey’s information officer. “The frontstage is what all the residents experience as a normal way of living, their normal home. But backstage, we are a nursing home. Everything is arranged to give all residents all the care they need. But they feel like they’re living a normal life, and that’s what we think is very important.”
The supermarket cashier, the restaurant manager: all staff who work incognito, specially trained to care for people with dementia. Most of the residents think it’s a real village.

“Many times, a nursing home is very institutional: nurses walk around in white clothes; people sit together in big rooms to eat meals. We decided that’s not how we would like to live when we get old,” said Van Zuthem, adding that Hogewey residents are more at ease and need less medication because they feel at home.

“The ‘deception’ is really adjusting our reality to allow the person with dementia to be in a place that is comforting and safe,” said Cynthia Barton, a nurse practitioner at the University of California at San Francisco’s Memory and Aging Center. “It is unrealistic to think that they will be able to retain new information or remember our repeated attempts to correct them, so we emphasize strategies to make people feel safe and well cared for.”

Read the rest of this fascinating article here.