Studies demonstrate that improving nutritional status in older adults is possible, but only with intensive training that should usually involve family caretakers. Malnutrition among community-dwelling, elderly patients proves hard to treat because it tends to stem from geriatric decline in physical and cognitive function. The increasing effort required for normal home tasks contributes to over-reliance on convenience foods while cognitive decline hampers meal planning. One solution is long-term home care, especially long-term home care that combines aide support with as-needed skilled nursing. While adhering to a nutritional or therapeutic diet falls within a home care aide’s services, nutritional training exceeds the aide’s scope of practice. Home care’s model of repeated home visits fits the examples of successful nutritional training in the research. Then aides, who visit more often, can assist with meal planning and preparation. Aides can report non-adherence to the nurse care planner. With McKenney Home Care, aides can even do the grocery shopping for clients.
If you have a friend or loved one at risk of pressure ulcers, McKenney Home Care can assist with nutrition and more:
• Nutrition
• Skin care – especially assistance with moisturizing
• Bathing
• Routine Observation of Skin Condition: McKenney Home Care aides are trained to recognize stage 1 pressure ulcers.
When ulcers form, they can notify family and physicians in a timely fashion and trigger a response to prevent ulcer progression.
• Ambulation and transfer assistance to keep patients active and reduce pressure on problem areas
• Incontinence management
• Repositioning for bed-bound patients
• Assistance with implementation of pressure-reducing devices
If you have a patient, friend or loved one with pressure ulcers, please consider an evaluation for home care needs. Signs of a need for home care include slow gait, slow transfers, malnutrition, dehydration, family caregivers complaining of no support, cognitive decline, and more.
McKenney Home Care in Naples, FL hosts a Lewy Body Dementia Support Group the first Wednesday of every month in Naples. This is an ongoing support group approved by the Lewy Body Dementia Association in Atlanta in affiliation with the Parkinson’s Association of SWFL and the Alzheimer’s Support Network.
McKenney Home Care provides exceptional in-home health services and client-centered care. With a passion for maximizing the quality of life of their clients and families, they are driven to ensure social engagement and specialty services during all stages of life.
For individuals with neurodegenerative disorders, McKenney Home Care delivers enriched specialized training for its caregivers working with Dementia Patients. In addition to specialized videos and manuals, McKenney educates the caregivers through the use of a Virtual Alzheimer’s App. This virtual reality experience helps caregivers understand the feelings and experiences of those suffering from Alzheimer’s and other forms of Dementia.
If you or someone you know would like more information about McKenney Home Care or the LBD Support Group, please call McKenney Home Care at 239-325-2273 or visit mckenneyhomecare.com
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239-325-CARE (2273)
9655 Tamiami Trail North #201
Naples, FL 34108