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Help for working caregivers3/28/2023  How to find caregiving resources When it comes to caring for a loved one, most families don't have a plan until there is a problem. But as many working caregivers have discovered, the stress of making caregiving arrangements in crisis mode can be overwhelming. Many caregivers try to go it alone but caregiving does not need to be a “DIY” process. Talk with your employer It’s called the “Sandwich Generation” for a reason. Many people are caregivers for elderly parents as well as for young children so this is not an unusual problem for workers and many employers provide family-friendly policies. Understand the Family and Medical Leave Act The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) entitles certain workers to take unpaid leave for up to 12 weeks per year, without losing job security or health benefits, to care for a spouse, child, or parent who has a serious health condition. Seek help and help others Caregivers understand each other. Reach out to friends and family to find other caregivers who may be willing to share information and resources. Learn more Visiting Nurse Association of Northern New Jersey (VNA) can help with many services, including Grant-Funded Caregiver Support Programs. The AARP website is also a good resource for caregiver information, including the article at this link about caregiver rights, planning, and resources: Caregiving While Working. Did you know that Visiting Nurse Association of Northern New Jersey (VNA) is the longest-serving VNA in the state of New Jersey? So we know a thing or two about helping seniors “age in place” to avoid hospitalization and nursing homes, and also what services people need to recover from illness and surgery at home. We suggest that you learn more about our home health care services and make a plan to age at home before you have a health emergency. Medicare and supplemental insurance often do not cover all the end-of-life care our hospice patients and caregivers need. If you would like to help, please call 1-800-WE VISIT (1-800-938-4748) or visit our Donation page. The Visiting Nurse Association of Northern New Jersey (VNA) is a leading provider of comprehensive home health care services in Morris, Hunterdon, Sussex, Warren, Somerset, and Passaic Counties in Northern New Jersey. Established in 1898, generations have known that just one call to VNA opens the door to quality, patient-centered home health care solutions that allow patients to remain in the comfort of their homes with dignity, health, and independence. © All content on The Visiting Nurse Association of Northern New Jersey's website, including blog posts, may be reproduced only if attributed to our organization with a link to vnannj.org.
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Movement tips to avoid injuries3/21/2023  Improper movement is often the cause of falls and injuries As we age, we often fall into poor movement patterns to compensate for diminished mobility and pesky aches and pains. But those poor movements may have serious consequences in muscle strains, bad balance, and falls. Here are suggestions for just a few of the most common movement issues. Rounding the back The most common mistake is rounding the back when picking something up from the floor. Many people find squatting difficult so they bend from the waist and round the back to reach the floor. This strains muscles and ligaments, leading to back pain. It also throws the center of gravity forward, encouraging falling forward. Instead, keep your back straight and bend from the hips and knees. This uses your core muscles and keeps your center of gravity over your hips and feet, maintaining balance. If you find this difficult hold onto a counter or stable chair for extra stability and practice the movement until you can easily pick something up from the floor. Squat using your hips first Following up on the squats described above, make the movement easier by keeping your shoulders back and hinge from the hips first by pushing your bottom back as if you are going to sit, and only then begin bending your knees. Sitting and standing from a chair Squatting using your hips first is also the properly controlled way to sit in a chair. Many people lean forward, round their backs, and fall back into a chair, then lean forward again to get out of the chair. This movement throws your center of gravity forward, encouraging back strain and forward falls. Instead, practice the squat technique above, sit softly into the chair, and then adjust your position. To get up, move forward in the chair, place feet hip-width apart, and hinge from the hips, keeping your shoulders back and your center of gravity over your hips and feet. Keep your hands free Keeping your hands free when you move is essential. It’s not just seniors who need this advice. Using your phone and holding items in your hands while you walk distracts your attention, throws you off balance, and makes serious injuries from falling more likely. Instead, put your phone in a pocket while you move and use a shoulder bag to carry small items or a wheeled cart for heavy items. This helps to center your balance, improves your attention to potential obstacles, frees your hands to use railings and other supports, and helps avoid head injuries should you fall. Plan ahead Did you know that Visiting Nurse Association of Northern New Jersey (VNA) is the longest-serving VNA in the state of New Jersey? So we know a thing or two about helping seniors “age in place” to avoid hospitalization and nursing homes, and also what services people need to recover from illness and surgery at home. We suggest that you learn more about our home health care services and make a plan to age at home before you have a health emergency. Medicare and supplemental insurance often do not cover all the end-of-life care our hospice patients and caregivers need. If you would like to help, please call 1-800-WE VISIT (1-800-938-4748) or visit our Donation page. The Visiting Nurse Association of Northern New Jersey (VNA) is a leading provider of comprehensive home health care services in Morris, Hunterdon, Sussex, Warren, Somerset, and Passaic Counties in Northern New Jersey. Established in 1898, generations have known that just one call to VNA opens the door to quality, patient-centered home health care solutions that allow patients to remain in the comfort of their homes with dignity, health, and independence. © All content on The Visiting Nurse Association of Northern New Jersey's website, including blog posts, may be reproduced only if attributed to our organization with a link to vnannj.org.
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Is snoring dangerous for health?3/14/2023  Snoring can be a sign of something more serious. What is snoring? Nearly half of U.S. adults admit to snoring, at least occasionally, making it one of the most common health issues. When we sleep, the soft tissues in the mouth and throat relax, just as our muscles relax. When we breathe, those soft tissues may vibrate, making the sounds we call snoring. Simple. But sometimes snoring is a sign of a more serious health problem. Sleep apnea is a common disorder for seniors. Sleep apnea is when the soft tissues relax so much that they obstruct the airway causing a person to stop breathing. Poor sleep caused by apnea is linked to a number of health issues like high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, obesity, diabetes, and dementia. When to get help. Snoring may be annoying, but it does not commonly interfere with restful sleep. If you wake up often during the night, don't wake up feeling refreshed, or feel tired throughout the day, you may have a sleep apnea issue and you should talk to your doctor. There are a number of ways to address apnea, from noninvasive treatments including lifestyle changes and using a device while you sleep, to surgery. Get to know Visiting Nurse Association of Northern New Jersey (VNA) now, and all the home health services available to you and your loved ones, before you have a health emergency. We are proud to be the longest-serving VNA in the state of New Jersey, so we know a thing or two about helping seniors. Medicare and supplemental insurance often do not cover all the end-of-life care our hospice patients and caregivers need. If you would like to help, please call 1-800-WE VISIT (1-800-938-4748) or visit our Donation page. The Visiting Nurse Association of Northern New Jersey (VNA) is a leading provider of comprehensive home health care services in Morris, Hunterdon, Sussex, Warren, Somerset, and Passaic Counties in Northern New Jersey. Established in 1898, generations have known that just one call to VNA opens the door to quality, patient-centered home health care solutions that allow patients to remain in the comfort of their homes with dignity, health, and independence. © All content on The Visiting Nurse Association of Northern New Jersey's website, including blog posts, may be reproduced only if attributed to our organization with a link to vnannj.org.
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 5 Tests to Assess Aging Issues Here at Visiting Nurse Association of Northern New Jersey (VNA), one of the most frequent questions we get from families is, “How do I know when home care is the right choice?” In June of 2021, there was an excellent article in AARP by Barbara Stepko, titled How to Assess When an Older Adult Requires Caregiving Assistance. Following is a short recap of the article, but we recommend clicking on the link to read the entire piece. Often, age-related changes happen gradually. The article suggests these simple tests to help evaluate the ability of someone to safely age in place (at home). Mobility: Mark a line about 10 feet from a chair. Ask your loved one to stand up from the chair, walk at a normal pace forward to the line, turn, walk back to the chair, and sit down. On average, people who take 12 seconds or more to complete the test are at a high risk of falling, which happens to one in four elderly people. If mobility is an issue, physical therapy by VNA and home safety measures may help to avoid a life-altering fall. Mental Health: Everyone feels down sometimes, but for the elderly, changes in attitude and behavior may indicate more serious health concerns. Take note of changes in energy level, irritability, anger, difficulty sleeping or staying awake, and loss of appetite. This may be treatable depression. Difficulties with basic activities like cooking, bathing, driving, and managing finances and medications may indicate a more serious problem that requires VNA assistance. Money Management: Watch for unusual money transactions and stacks of unopened mail and unpaid bills. Helping to manage finances may be all that is needed, but trouble keeping up with money management may indicate a more serious cognitive decline, requiring more proactive home care services. Driving: The article points out that seniors are outliving their ability to drive safely by an average of seven to 10 years, according to AAA (American Automobile Association). Multiple accidents or tickets, even minor ones, indicate a potentially dangerous situation for your loved one. This may be an early and more obvious indication of a cognitive problem or vision difficulty and time for a medical evaluation. Changes in Appearance: Has your loved one gained or lost a significant amount of weight? Are they neglecting personal care and cleanliness? These problems may be improved with home care services or may indicate more serious issues like depression and dementia. The most important thing is to pay attention to your loved ones, note their ability to cope with aging at home, make a care plan, and act early before a fall or health decline seriously impacts their quality of life. Learn more about the services available to you at: VNANNJ.com Medicare and supplemental insurance often do not cover all the end-of-life care our hospice patients and caregivers need. If you would like to help, please call 1-800-WE VISIT (1-800-938-4748) or visit our Donation page. The Visiting Nurse Association of Northern New Jersey (VNA) is a leading provider of comprehensive home health care services in Morris, Hunterdon, Sussex, Warren, Somerset, and Passaic Counties in Northern New Jersey. Established in 1898, generations have known that just one call to VNA opens the door to quality, patient-centered home health care solutions that allow patients to remain in the comfort of their homes with dignity, health, and independence. © All content on The Visiting Nurse Association of Northern New Jersey's website, including blog posts, may be reproduced only if attributed to our organization with a link to vnannj.org.
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