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CARING IN DuPage
JUNE 2019
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IS YOUR ELDERLY LOVED ONE PREPARED? Before You Leave for Vacation
A round this time, many people start parent or relative, is making sure they’ll be taken care of while you’re gone a part of your planning? Just like creating a packing list based on what you might need, you can plan for everything that could happen with your loved one while you’re gone. to account for any situation that could occur while you’re gone. Many seniors carry a few days’ worth of medication with them. Are their backup meds somewhere in the house? If the senior has a major allergy, where is the Epi-pen kept? What conditions can trigger their chronic conditions? What OTC medicines interact with their prescriptions? Are the smoke detectors in working order? If they have grab bars in the bathroom, are they sturdy? Do they have an emergency medical alert device? What if they take it off? Do they have a doctor’s appointment while you’re gone, and if so, how will they get there? Who is the emergency contact while you are out-of-country or out-of- state? Planning for the unlikely scenarios is just as important as planning for the likely ones. The most important thing you can do is build a support network for your loved one to rely on while you’re gone. The more people you invite to help you take care of your loved one, the more assured their safety and well-being will be while you’re away. This could mean asking another relative planning their summer vacations. If you are the primary caretaker for an elderly Ensuring that a loved one is taken care of is more than just getting their medications in order. Try
or a neighbor to check in on your loved one at their house, pick up groceries or medications for them, or maybe even
take them to their doctor’s appointments. If you want to make sure they’re getting nutritious meals, there are a number of services you can call ahead of time to deliver meals to their homes. At the same time, pharmacists can organize your loved one’s medications in advance and can even call their house to check in on them if necessary.
Your loved one’s need for human connection is an incredibly important element to consider before you go on your vacation. As members of your support network make sure your elderly relative is staying physically healthy, their interactions with them will ensure that the human connection your loved one normally experiences through you will not suffer while you’re away.
JUST LIKE CREATING A PACKING LIST BASED ON WHAT YOU MIGHT NEED, YOU CAN PLAN FOR EVERYTHING THAT COULD HAPPEN WITH YOUR LOVED ONE WHILE YOU’RE GONE.”
Taking care of an elderly relative is hard work, but you don’t have to do it alone, and you shouldn’t let it disqualify you from a well-deserved vacation. Make sure you’re prepared for every possible scenario that could happen and that you have a group of people you trust to take care of your loved one while you’re gone.
—Monica Labrot arketing and Custome Support Manager
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When you think about martial arts, a few images come to mind: Mr. Miyagi, possibly nunchucks, and people breaking objects using impressive disciplined strength. But one of the most powerful martial arts you may not immediately picture is tai chi. This ancient Chinese form of combat in slow motion is an internal martial art that works from the inside out by developing the body’s internal energy, known as qi, or “chi.” In Chinese medicine, balanced qi is essential to good health. Hundreds of studies demonstrate the mental and physical benefits this quiet martial art provides. Because of its focus on posture, tai chi is particularly helpful for balance. In Harvard’s analysis of 20 different studies, tai chi was shown to improve cognitive function and slow the progression of dementia more than other forms of exercise. While the movements appear mild, the practice of tai chi requires discipline and strength. That’s part of the reason why it provides a powerful punch of health benefits and also why less than 5 percent of people stick with it. Some teachers say it takes three years to learn the basic movements of tai chi — and more than a lifetime to master.
WHY TAI CHI IS COOLER THAN YOU THINK
BETTER BALANCE WITH THE INTERNAL MARTIAL ART
Success Story
Have You Heard the Good News?
Words cannot express the professionalism and compassion our family experienced with Flora, the CNA who cared for our mom during her last three days. Flora brought a sense of calmness and serenity to what I know will be one of the most difficult experiences I will ever endure. She was the angel in the room who provided light and unity for our family. God bless Flora for her beautiful voice as she sang "Amazing Grace" to mom as we prayed together. Flora was more, much more, than a caregiver. Flora became part of our family, and she always will be. Peace to you forever, Flora! –Debra
Flora is one of the most compassionate and gentle people I know. She made the family feel comfortable and my mother-in- law was cared for with dignity and grace. After Flora arrived, a calm peace could be felt throughout the room. She not only did her job well but went a step beyond by making sure the family was supported, even after my mother-in-law's passing. Flora is a great asset to her employers. –Bonnie
John 20:8-9 — Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. Mark 11:24 — Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 2 Thessalonians 3:5 — May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.
Ephesians 1:18 — I pray that the eyes of your heart may be
enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE THE SAME QUALITY CARE, GIVE US A CALL AT 630-260-5300 AND SPEAK WITH ONE OF OUR PROFESSIONALS.
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Physical training, combined with the internal meditative aspect of tai chi, are the reasons martial arts legend Jet Li has turned to the exercise in recent years, even campaigning to make it an Olympic event. In an interview, Li explained his push to make tai chi a more widely recognized and accepted exercise: “In our attempts to push ourselves, we’ve lost sight of an important part of the sporting mindset: balance.” For anyone setting out on a mission to age gracefully, tai chi can help reduce your risk of falling with its focus on posture. An ounce of preventive tai chi may be worth a pound of cure; the Center for Disease Control reports that people pay an average of $35,000 in health care costs every time they fall. Many community centers and health and wellness
A New Defense Against Alzheimer’s: BRUSHING YOUR TEETH?
Could preventing Alzheimer’s be as simple as brushing your teeth twice a day? It’s probably not quite that simple, but a team of researchers at the University of Louisville School of Dentistry did find that the DNA of a bacteria responsible for a common gum disease is present in elevated levels in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients. Porphyromonas gingivalis is one cause of periodontitis, a very serious gum disease. The DNA of this bacteria is found in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients, along with a toxin secreted by P. gingivalis , called gingipain. The mere presence of the bacteria’s DNA and toxin in the brain proves at best a tenuous connection between Alzheimer’s and gum disease, but that wasn’t all researchers found. By infecting mice with the bacteria, they found that the disease spread from the mice’s mouths to their brains, indicating that there might be a similar pathway for P. gingivalis in humans, possibly through the nervous system. The researchers administered an experimental drug to the infected mice, called COR388. The drug decreased the amount of P. gingivalis in the mice’s brains, and it is now on its way to a phase one clinical trial to see if it can prevent Alzheimer’s. Even though the research and experimental drug sound promising, the theory is a far cry from being widely accepted as true. One alternative explanation for the presence of P. gingivalis in the brain is that mental deterioration in Alzheimer’s patients makes them more susceptible to bacterial infection, instead of the other way around. That being said, the relation between various bacterial and viral infections and Alzheimer’s is a relatively new area of study that has received a lot of interest. Even if the idea is mostly speculation at this point, every experiment brings us one step closer to curing Alzheimer’s for good. And though it shouldn’t be the primary reason to keep up your dental hygiene, it’s a good reminder to brush your teeth.
facilities offer opportunities to learn tai chi, from free community classes to entire tai chi facilities. Go see for yourself why this is the martial art everyone should practice.
• 1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter • 3 russet potatoes (about 1/2 lb.), peeled • 1 tsp Kosher salt, plus more to taste • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste • Pinch of cayenne pepper, plus more to taste NO. 1 DAD HASH BROWNS Inspired by Bon Appétit INGREDIENTS
INSTRUCTIONS
1. In a small saucepan, heat butter over mediumheat until foamy. Reduce heat if needed to avoid browning. Skimoff white milk solids tomake clarified butter. Transfer to a bowl and reserve. 2. Using the large holes on a box grater, grate potatoes. Transfer to a large bowl of cold water and stir until water becomes cloudy. Rinse potatoes under cold water, then squeeze out liquid using cheesecloth or a kitchen towel, removing as muchmoisture as possible. Season potatoes. 3. In a large nonstick skillet, heat butter tomedium-high. Add potatoes and cook until a crust forms underneath, about 5 minutes. Using a rubber spatula, break up potatoes and continue to cook, addingmore butter (or ghee) if potatoes begin to stick. 4. Cook until golden brown and crisp, about 8 minutes. Drain on paper towels; season with salt, pepper, and cayenne to taste. Serve.
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CARING IN DUPAGE SUBSCRIPTION
INSIDE
Planning for Every Situation and Building Your Support Network 1 Why You Need to Add This Exercise for Better Balance Testimonials 2 Hash Browns for the Best Dad A Potential Link Between Dental Hygiene and Alzheimer’s 3 A Few Dads Who Went Above and Beyond the Call of Duty 4 Kids often look up to their father as one of their greatest heroes. There are the long drives to sports tournaments, the late-night movies, and the sweets when Mom isn’t looking. We probably all have some reason to look up to our dad as one of our biggest influences. It’s Father’s Day this month, a special time of year when we take a moment to think about the sacrifices the father figures in our lives have made for us. Most dads are pretty great, but some go above and beyond the fatherly call of duty. Let’s take a look at some heroic dads who risked everything to keep their families safe. Brad Lewis: Over the Ledge Life can change in a split second, and how you choose to react in a moment of peril can define your legacy forever. Few people know this as well as Brad Lewis. When Brad and his young son, Oscar, were deeply entrenched in an intense Nerf battle, he surely didn’t think the situation would turn as dangerous as it did. When a few darts missed his father and landed on the balcony, Oscar ran after thembut soon
If you know someone in need of home care or more e-learning materials, contact monica.labrot@brightstarcare.com.
HEROIC DADS WHO DIDN’T BACK DOWN Being a Parent Isn’t Always a Walk in the Park
found himself teetering on the balcony’s
ledge, 12 feet above the ground. Thinking fast, Brad grabbed his son just before he fell over, both taking the plunge while protecting his son with his own body. Just as he’d intended, Brad absorbedmost of the blow. While Oscar sustained serious wounds, his father’s injuries were more severe. Brad was left fighting for his life in the ICU, with severe fractures to his skull and vertebrae. Thankfully, Brad is expected tomake a full recovery and has made serious strides since the accident. He and his son will live to play another day.
screams of his son intermingled with the roars of an unknown assailant, beckoning Greg to his son's tent. There, he found his son Gabriel being attacked by a bear. The bear had his son by the head and was dragging him away. Greg jumped on the bear’s back, desperately trying to take attention away fromGabriel. Amazingly, it worked, and in the end, the bear ran away. Gabriel was left with serious cuts to his head, but thanks to his dad’s heroism, the two were able to walk away from that campsite and back to their lives together. The important thing to remember is that you don’t have to take a leap of faith or fight a bear to be a hero in your family’s eyes. Just be yourself, show some support, and do the best you can. Happy Father’s Day, everybody.
Greg Alexander: Couldn’t Bear to See His Son Hurt
While camping in Great Smoky Mountains National Park in June 2015, Greg Alexander awoke to the sound of a nightmare. The
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