Southwest Florida's Health and Wellness Magazine Health and Wellness Articles
While many people express a preference to be directly involved in the care of chronically and terminally ill spouses and parents and state that the experience is rewarding, it is easy to underestimate the physical and emotional toll of the caregiving role. Family caregivers of patients with advanced illness experience a high risk of depression. The depression caused by the demands of being a family caregiver is known to continue even after the family member has died and to last longer than the caregiver role lasted. In addition to the negative health effects on the caregiver, this depression can affect the care of the patient. Doctors and families should concern themselves with the physical and emotional health of both the patient and the family caregiver(s). Research by doctors Patricia Theileman and Norma Conner demonstrates how providing spousal caregivers with caregiving support and social support mitigates the caregiver’s risk of depression.
Dr. Thielemann and colleagues studied surveys from 164 spousal caregivers of patients with advanced illness. They found that the caregiver’s perception of social support (i.e. people available as confidants and/or for assistance with chores) correlates with the risk of depression. Moreover, Theilmann and colleagues demonstrate that decreasing levels of caregiving demand (i.e. activities of daily living, preparing and administering medication, nutritional care, etc.) correlates with improved perception of social support and lower risk of depression. When a need to reduce caregiver demand or a perception of inadequate social support is detected, tell caregivers about McKenney Home Care. McKenney Home Care can improve both the caregiving demand and social support in a number of ways. Nurses provide caregiver education so caregivers feel more prepared to provide care to loved ones. Studies demonstrate that a caregiver’s perceived preparedness correlates with perceived burden and reported quality of life. Additionally, McKenney nurses prepare medications, administer medications, assess patient status, and report important changes to the physician. Nurse aides provide hands-on assistance with activities of daily living such as bathing, feeding, transfers, grooming, dressing, etc. Nurse aides also help with instrumental activities of daily living such as laundry, food preparation, housecleaning, running errands, etc. McKenney caregivers are trained to listen to and support family caregivers. Additionally, when home care aides relieve family caregivers of some of their demands, family caregivers have additional opportunity to leave the house for personal time and social activities.
The Private Home Care Agency You Can Recommend
Guided by high professional standards, ACHC accreditation, and a world-renowned medical advisory board (see left), McKenney Home Care stands apart as the private home care provider doctors, hospitals and families can trust. McKenney operates as a state licensed home health agency, providing nurse-supervised care from directly employed, meticulously trained home health aides. Our nurses also provide private duty nursing for both long-term and short-term care. Founded in 2013, McKenney Home Care has already grown to be more than 75 caring professionals strong. We stand prepared to help you protect your friends and loved one’s health and quality of life.
McKenney Home Care, in Naples, FL will be hosting a Lewy Body Dementia Support Group, starting in January 2018. This will be an ongoing support group approved by the Lewy Body Dementia Association in Atlanta, and in affiliation with the Parkinson’s Assocation of SWFL, Alzheimer’s Support Network, and the Alzheimer’s Association.
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 their 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 the Virtual Alzheimer’s App. This virtual reality experience helps caregivers understand the feelings and experience of those suffering from Alzheimer’s and other forms of Dementia.
Along with their medical expertise, McKenney Home Care is a certified Music & Memory Agency. Providing help for Dementia Patients; this specialized music therapy program is highly personalized and has been shown to reduce the need for anti-anxiety and antipsychotic drugs by up to 50%, while brining joy to the lives of patients who have 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
