Money matters are often intensely private. And no one wants to infringe on a family member’s independence. Yet it is through (sometimes expensive) financial mishaps that you may learn of changes in your parent’s memory and thinking.

Signs of a problem

Diseases that affect memory also tend to impair arithmetic skills and reasoning. That’s why money trouble can suggest the onset of dementia. Be alert for the following changes:

- Difficulty counting change or balancing a checkbook
- Frequent late payment of bills
- Confusion about banking transactions
- Unusual or repetitive purchases
- Accusations that others are stealing from them
- Investing in sweepstakes or other “get rich quick” schemes

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For more information about Hospice & Palliative CareCenter, visit http://www.hospicecarecenter.org!

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It is wise to be cautious about crime. But extreme fear traps some elders at home unnecessarily, undermining their quality of life.

If you are concerned about the person you care for, these tips can help you support your relative’s safety and address his or her anxiety.

The facts about seniors and crime show that

- fear is out of proportion. Older adults are the victims of crime far less often than are people in other age groups.

- violent crimes are uncommon. Seniors most fear assault and rape. But older adults are rarely the victims of such crimes.

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For most family caregivers, frustration and guilt are common, as is anxiety. These feelings are normal and reasonable under the circumstances. And it’s not realistic to eliminate negative emotions. Caring for an ailing family member IS emotionally taxing, especially in the case of memory loss.

But you can avoid amplifying a downer mood. According to stress and coping research, you can reduce your distress by concentrating on the present moment, the here and now.

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For more information about Hospice & Palliative CareCenter, visit http://www.hospicecarecenter.org!

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June 15 is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. Exploitation of seniors is an issue none of us likes to think about. But it’s a growing problem. Well over a half-million incidents of elder abuse are reported each year.

Elder abuse includes intentional acts of malice, as well as simple acts of neglect or ignorance.

There are seven types of abuse:

• Self-neglect. When a mentally confused elder’s actions threaten his or her health or safety. For example, not eating or not bathing because of dementia.

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Consider taking your career in a new direction!

We are searching for compassionate and caring people to become a part of the HPCC team.

Spotlight positions for this week are:

- Community Outreach Coordinator
- Hospice Home Care Nurses
- Hospice Inpatient Facility Nurses

For more information about Hospice & Palliative CareCenter, visit http://www.hospicecarecenter.org!

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Source: SeriousIllness.org

Technologies abound to help us stay connected with loved ones. There are also many options to support your relative in living independently. Here are some options in the areas of safety and health.

Personal safety and home security

• Personal medical alert: Wearable devices that call for help. Most require the push of a button. Some can detect a fall automatically. Others can be used even when away from home.
• Fall detection: Video systems that scan the bottom 12 inches of a residence. This protects privacy but reveals if a person has fallen to the floor.

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Source: SeriousIllness.org

Even those of us who enjoy cooking have days when it seems like just another chore. And when you are juggling the needs of an ill relative, it can be an even greater challenge to maintain enthusiasm.

Cooking for Caregiving recognizes that caregiving is love and that food is how we often show our love. The goal of this nonprofit organization is to present options that mean less cooking hassle for you as a family caregiver and healthier meals for your relative.

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For more information about Hospice & Palliative CareCenter, visit http://www.hospicecarecenter.org!

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Source: SeriousIllness.org

“Life after eighty rarely ends suddenly and unexpectedly in our sleep,” states Dr. Dennis McCullough, in his book My Mother, Your Mother. Instead, caring for an aging relative is more commonly a journey of many years. As a geriatrician and care provider to his late mother, he knows this terrain well.

McCullough outlines eight “stations” in the journey of late life. For each one, he offers insights and tips to help you counter the modern system of “fast medicine” with personalized solutions he calls “slow medicine.”

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For more information about Hospice & Palliative CareCenter, visit http://www.hospicecarecenter.org!

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In this season of growth and blossoming – consider taking your career in a new direction!

We are searching for compassionate and caring people to become a part of the HPCC team.

Job Fair – All Clinical Departments

Date: Wednesday April 27, 2011
Location: Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home, Multi-Purpose Room
101 Hospice Lane
Winston-Salem, NC  27103
7:00am – 9:00am
4:00pm – 6:00pm

Please visit our website at www.hospicecarecenter.org to view our open positions and complete an online application.
EOE

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Source: SeriousIllness.org

National Healthcare Decisions Day is April 16, a day when all Americans are encouraged to complete or review their advance directive.

The advance health care directive allows you to name someone to act as your “agent” if you become unable to speak for yourself.

That person becomes your “medical power of attorney.”

Your family member should have an advance directive. So should you!

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For more information about Hospice & Palliative CareCenter, visit http://www.hospicecarecenter.org!

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