Eye To Eye: Quality Elder Care At Less Cost

Our care giving dilemma derives many of its frustrations and heartaches from our parents’ and society’s centuries-old expectations that care giving for the elderly “is the children’s job.” This assumption is still the status quo even though you have no medical or gerontological training. It assumes that you will know the following:

-when, how and how much to intervene

-how to manage insurance benefits

-how to evaluate a nursing home

-how to cope Alzheimer’s disease

-how to resolve a host of other new and life altering care giving dilemmas.

1. Between 2001-2006: an average of 129 Americans 65 and older were treated in emergency departments each day for injuries from falls involving walkers and canes.

2. Fractures are the most common fall injury associated with walkers and canes.

3. People are seven times more likely to be injured in a fall with a walker verses a cane.

4. More than half of fall injuries associated with walkers and canes happen at home.

But wait…We are the first generation, ever in the entire history of the world, to face the difficulties of living in a time where we may spend more years caring for elderly parents than we spent caring for our children.

How do elder-caregivers cope in a world where less than 1% of doctors are trained in geriatric medicine? Where up to 140,000 deaths annually occur from Adverse Drug Reactions yet only 720 out of our 200,000 pharmacists have geriatric training? And the entire care giving system relies on poorly paid workers with only 40 hours of training for effective and compassionate care? Add to this the inherent determination of most parents to keep their adult children from knowing anything about their medical needs or financial status and it’s easy to see why continued attempts at intervention may seem like a waste of time. They’re not. Education, planning, and communication can help overcome much of our parents’ resistance to our help.

Most elder-caregivers know the drill: without orientation, training, or significant assistance, “you are expected to know how, when, and how much to intervene, how to manage medications, how to evaluate a nursing home, how to cope with Alzheimer’s Disease, and how to resolve a host of other new and life altering caregiving dilemmas.”

One of the hardest tasks many caregivers face comes at the beginning of the care giving cycle: knowing whether or not to intervene, how to go about it, and which responsibilities should you take over?.

Of course, you want to be a responsible adult child, and since you love your parents, you do want to make sure they are well cared for. However, you will not do anybody good in the long term if you do not accept some help when you need it. If you are feeling the strain, do not be afraid to look into sources of help.

We don’t have safety and efficacy issues because those recommending products are well versed in the issues. We need to encourage professionals to learn more about the devices they recommend so they can match the device to user needs and conditions.

Resource Author Francisco R. Higueras
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oral irrigator

Gingivitis is a general term used to describe inflammation of the gums. This is caused by the growth of bacteria between the teeth and the gums. These bacterial biofilms (plaque and tartar) can be minute; in fact they can be microscopic and still cause this type of inflammation. Halitosis or bad breath is one of the side effects of this inflammation and although having bad breath is not life-threatening, it is able to cause embarrassment, social isolation and low self-esteem.

If gingivitis is left to worsen, deep cavities between the teeth and the gums are formed. It can affect the bone of the jaws which support the teeth meaning the teeth become loose and will more than likely require extraction. An ozone generator may be of great value in this regard. It is vital therefore to ensure that the teeth are correctly maintained, in order to prevent severe infection from happening.

Regular teeth brushing aside, it is important to regularly visit your dental hygienist or dentists to have your teeth professionally cleaned. When the dentist cleans your teeth they remove the plaque. You may be able to reduce the plaque build up through use of an oral irrigator. Once this has been removed the cause of the inflammation is also removed.

Plaque takes approximately three months to grow again, so if you have recurring bouts of gingivitis, you will probably be advised to have your teeth professionally cleaned every 3 – 4 months. The norm is every 6 months, but it may be necessary to do this on a more regular basis in order to prevent re-infection. One useful device is the hydro floss, which should not be confused with the hydro pulse – they are two different instruments. Tartar is able to start forming again as little as 24 hours after you have had your teeth professionally cleaned.

A well developed gingivitis condition is able to cause all kinds of problems. The bacteria can infect the gums and even enter the bloodstream. You may not even notice this happening but if this bacteria enters the bloodstream the body can become prone to varying general inflammations. Links have been found between this condition and pancreatic cancer, long term heart disease, arteriosclerosis and osteoporosis. Although a citation is required, we have even seen that gingivitis has a connection with low birth weight and pre-term births.

Disclaimer: This article is for information purposes only. It does not intend to diagnose, advise or treat and type of health problem. If you have or think you might have a health problem visit your doctor or periodontist for advice, diagnosis and treatment. The USFDA has not evaluated statements about products in this article.