Maria V. Ciletti's Blog
July 24, 2015
Blog: Dealing with Change
Blog: Dealing with Change"I'm not so sure where I have been
I don't know just where I'm going
Hard as I hold it in my hand
I can't stop the wind from blowing …"
Melissa Etheridge: "Change".
"Change", by Melissa Etheridge is one of my favorite songs. The refrain of the song, "the only thing that stays the same-is change" rings true in all aspects of life. It's easy, almost magical to watch a baby grow into a toddler, then a child moving into their teens followed by young adulthood. As parents we know we have done our job if our kids make it to adult hood with very few scars. As time goes on, other changes take place. One of the most difficult changes to witness is watching someone you love become ill and sometimes changing into someone we don't recognize. It doesn't seem fair and sometimes it doesn't seem real.
Wouldn't it be nice if things remained the same? If our loved ones didn't age into oblivion but instead stayed healthy and happy once they reached their age of maturity. When I was a kid, I think I thought this was how the world worked. But unfortunately, it doesn't. The only thing you can count on is that every once in a while you will get thrown a curve ball and life as you know it will never be the same.
So how do you deal with change? Mental health professionals advise living in "the moment." That seems like good advice, but what if you "moment " is a living hell? What if you are caring for an aging parent or sick child? What if you are battling your own health issues? Where do you get the strength to deal with the fear, anger, sadness and frustration that normally result from these situations? The answer is actually inside of you and here is how to find it. First, take a deep breath. Try to look at the situation as someone on the outside looking in. What would other's think or feel if they were in your shoes? Would you expect them to be scared? Angry? Depressed? Those all seem to be normal reactions to the type of change they are experiencing, right? So why do we beat ourselves up when we feeling this way? Is it because we feel inadequate? Do we feel weak? Those are normal feelings too, especially if you are not accustom to taking care of someone or if you have been doing it for a long time and are simply running out of gas. If you are feeling these things, it is okay to feel them. However, it is not ok to dwell in those feelings for too long. The key to dealing with all this is to feel the feelings then move on.
Change makes us feel out of control. So many of us have been taught to always be in control. For many of us, it has become our security blanket, but in some cases it does more harm than good. We need to let go the notion that we have control, because realistically, we don't have control over very much that happens in our lives. Fighting change leads to frustration. Frustration can lead to anger. Anger turned inward can lead to depression. Once we learn that we don’t have to control what is happening to us, believe it or not, things will begin to feel better. If we look at change as an opportunity instead as another road block thrown in our path, some interesting things may start to happen.
In Melody Beattie's book, The Language of Letting Go, Melody states " Controlling is self-defeating. It doesn't work. By over extending ourselves to make something happen, we may actually be stopping it from happening. Force yourself to let it go. Put as much energy into letting go as you have into trying to control the situation. "
There will be many times in our lives when we don't understand why things are changing. But the best way to deal with this is to trust that whatever is happening is meant to be and that it is a process that will make us stronger and take us to something good. Let's face it, we have all gone through changes in our lives; major changes and we have survived. We may be a little older, a little more tired and a bit weary, but we can still get through even the toughest times if we continue to believe in the process and believe in ourselves.
Having a difficult time dealing with change or have you found a new way of dealing with it? I'd love to hear about it. Email me at mariaciletti@mariaciletti.com.
The Language of Letting Go by Melody Beattie: http://www.amazon.com/Language-Letting-Meditations-Codependents-Meditation/dp/0894866370/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1437653437&sr=8-1&keywords=melody+beattie+the+language+of+letting+go
I Have to Leave You Now: http://www.amazon.com/Have-Leave-You-Now-Caregivers-ebook/dp/B00OJJIAKA/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1437654611&sr=1-1&keywords=i+have+to+leave+you+now
June 28, 2015
Writing as Therapy

Maria V Ciletti
“Writing is not life, but I think that sometimes it can be a way back to life.”
-Stephen King, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft.
In June of 1999, Stephen King was walking near his home in North Lovell, Maine and was struck by a minivan. His injuries were serious and his recovery was long and difficult. He credits writing as the thing that helped him get through that difficult time. You don’t have to be a New York Time’s Best Selling author to write. All you need is a pen and paper or lap top or IPad, or whatever you choose as your instrument and a private place to gather your thoughts and write. Sometimes it doesn’t have to be a private place. I have written in the back seat of the car on vacation, on a crowded flight to Italy and in a Hospice while taking care of my mother-in-law.
Writing is something you do for you. No one has to see it unless you want them to. Writing is a safe way to purge your frustrations and can help you get some insight about your feelings. I have kept a journal of my writing for many years. I like keeping a journal because it gives me a place to look back on when I am going through a rough patch. I can look back in my journal and see how I was feeling in the past and what I did at the time to feel better or to resolve the situation.
During my mother’s illness, I didn’t know how to cope with the feelings of resentment and anger that were bottled up inside of me. Even though these feelings are common when you are a caregiver, especially if you have been a caregiver for a long time, I didn’t feel comfortable talking to family or friends about how I felt because I was embarrassed and felt ashamed. I turned to journaling and found a way to safely and effectively get those feelings out and work through them.
Studies have shown that writing your feelings down can be just as effective as talking it out and it’s a way to vent your feelings privately without hurting anyone. Being able to see on paper the cause and effect of what is going on in your life increases your ability to successfully deal with those issues.
The writing will come slow at first, like the trickle of a faucet, but then it will come faster and soon it will be like that faucet has been open full blast. It’s most effective when you can write like no one is going to see it because that is when the deepest darkest feelings come through. It’s very cathartic. You can keep your writing in a private journal or tear it up when you are finished. Some people find that writing out their thoughts and then setting them on fire ( safely of course) is a way of releasing their pain.
Writing as therapy is available 24 hours a day, you don’t need an appointment and there is no copay. Writing is another tool in our tool box for dealing with what life throws our way. Writing can be a way of finding ourselves and finding our way back to a happy life.
Maria V Ciletti
“Writing is not life, but I think that sometimes it can be a way back to life.”
-Stephen King, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft.
In June of 1999, Stephen King was walking near his home in North Lovell, Maine and was struck by a minivan. His injuries were serious and his recovery was long and difficult. He credits writing as the thing that helped him get through that difficult time. You don’t have to be a New York Time’s Best Selling author to write. All you need is a pen and paper or lap top or IPad, or whatever you choose as your instrument and a private place to gather your thoughts and write. Sometimes it doesn’t have to be a private place. I have written in the back seat of the car on vacation, on a crowded flight to Italy and in a Hospice while taking care of my mother-in-law.
Writing is something you do for you. No one has to see it unless you want them to. Writing is a safe way to purge your frustrations and can help you get some insight about your feelings. I have kept a journal of my writing for many years. I like keeping a journal because it gives me a place to look back on when I am going through a rough patch. I can look back in my journal and see how I was feeling in the past and what I did at the time to feel better or to resolve the situation.
During my mother’s illness, I didn’t know how to cope with the feelings of resentment and anger that were bottled up inside of me. Even though these feelings are common when you are a caregiver, especially if you have been a caregiver for a long time, I didn’t feel comfortable talking to family or friends about how I felt because I was embarrassed and felt ashamed. I turned to journaling and found a way to safely and effectively get those feelings out and work through them.
Studies have shown that writing your feelings down can be just as effective as talking it out and it’s a way to vent your feelings privately without hurting anyone. Being able to see on paper the cause and effect of what is going on in your life increases your ability to successfully deal with those issues.
The writing will come slow at first, like the trickle of a faucet, but then it will come faster and soon it will be like that faucet has been open full blast. It’s most effective when you can write like no one is going to see it because that is when the deepest darkest feelings come through. It’s very cathartic. You can keep your writing in a private journal or tear it up when you are finished. Some people find that writing out their thoughts and then setting them on fire ( safely of course) is a way of releasing their pain.
Writing as therapy is available 24 hours a day, you don’t need an appointment and there is no copay. Writing is another tool in our tool box for dealing with what life throws our way. Writing can be a way of finding ourselves and finding our way back to a happy life.
May 31, 2015
Blog: Any LGBT Caregivers Out There?
Maria V. Ciletti. I had the pleasure of having breakfast with the cousin of a dear friend who was taking care of his 90 year old mother who was in advanced stage Alzheimer's disease. He had read my book and contacted me through Facebook. Soon after that, we made plans to meet for coffee the next time he came to town. That Sunday morning we met at Panera. It felt like I was meeting an old friend. He and his husband had been taking care of his mom for several years. We traded caregiver war stories. The circumstances may mave been a little different but the story was the same. Even though we had other siblings and family members who could pitch in and help, the majority of the caregiving duties fell on our shoulders. My partner Rose and I experienced this first hand with her mother and my mother and several aunts and uncles, who had children of their own. We seem to be the go to people when some one needed taken care of.
So why is it that the gay kids are usually the ones in the family who end up with the care giving duties?" Is it that we are more sensitive? More compassionate? More organized? I used to think that maybe it was a family thing. Rose and I are both from Italian families. It's almost an unspoken rule that the girl in an Italian family is responsible for taking care of the ailing parents and quite frankly anyone else in a twenty mile radius. But I don't think it's just our Italian heritage that puts us in this position.
I remembered sitting in oncology several years ago with my aunt, who was just starting chemo for breast cancer. We sat in the waiting room with 2 other patients and their caregivers -both gay men. One caregiver, a college professor type was sitting next to his father. His father , who also looked like a professor, wore an impeccably pressed white dress shirt and gray slacks with razor sharp creases down the front. They sat quietly reading the paper as they waited to be called for the older man's first visit with the doctor. The second caregiver, younger man came in holding the hand of a woman with perfectly coiffed flaming red hair. She wore a bright pink velour track suit and a nasal canula attached to a small green green oxygen tank, which was slung over her shoulder with a shoulder strap.Both care giver's set off my gay-dar. The six of us sat in the waiting room with our loved ones. We smiled friendly hellos and secretly acknowledged we all belonged to the same club.
Week after week, we learned a little more about each ones situation- the professor- he really was a retired economics professor-was getting treatment for metastatic prostate cancer. The cancer had spread to his spine and liver. The treatment (chemo and radiation) were palliative. The red headed woman, a breast cancer survivor of 6 years was starting treatment again because she now had an inoperable lung tumor. The beautiful red hair was eventually replaced by a platinum blonde wig. But the caregivers determination didn't waiver. We are there through every treatment. Every victory, every setback and remain true to the very end - no matter how difficult- no excuses.
I still haven't been able to completely figure out why so many lgbt kids end up as caregivers. But I did figure out that even though caregiving, no matter if you are gay or straight-is one of the hardest things will ever do and it is the most honorable and loving things we can do for the people we love. If you are an lgbt caregiver, I would love to hear your story. You can contact me at my website: http://www.mariaciletti.com.
Take care,
Maria
May 10, 2015
Your Loved One is Diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease-Now what?
Maria V. CilettiCaregiving in Early Stage Alzheimer’s Disease
Your loved one has just received a dementia diagnosis. The shock hasn’t quite worn off yet but reality is slowly starting to sink in. Doctor appointments, medical tests, prescriptions for medications you’ve seen advertised on TV, as well as the uncertainty of what the future holds, swirl around you in a whirlwind of confusion and anxiety. Your world has been turned upside down and you don’t know what to do first. These are common feelings for anyone being thrust into the tumultuous world of Alzheimer’s disease. The first thing to do is take a breath. Actually, take a couple of slow deep breaths. It will help calm your mind and body. Okay. Now that you are a bit calmer, let’s take a look at what lies ahead.
As you know, Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive terminal illness. There is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease. The only treatment available for the disease is treatment of the symptoms. Some people, if started early enough get good benefits from medications like Aricept and Namenda. The reason for starting these medications early on is because the medications’ actions are supposed to slow down the progression of the disease. They won’t improve your loved one’s functioning, but supposedly they will keep them functioning at the same level for a while longer than if they didn’t take the medication. My mother took those medications for 24 months and got good results from them. After the 24 months, they seemed to lose their effectiveness on her and her condition quickly deteriorated. Some people do better for longer periods of time on these medications and some people don’t get any benefit from them at all. Like everything else with Alzheimer’s disease, what works for one person might not work for another. Personally, I think the medications are worth a try. Even if they require multiple dose adjustments, I think it’s well worth the effort to help our loved one’s feel better.
The main goal in caring for anyone with a terminal illness like Alzheimer’s disease, is to obtain the best quality of life possible for the stage they are in. To do this we must keep in mind what behaviors are effected in each stage of the disease. So what behaviors should you be looking for in the early stages? Someone newly diagnosed with AD may still be able to function pretty well in their daily lives. Hallmark symptoms of early stage AD are: Memory loss, especially not being able to remember information recently learned. Trouble with vocabulary- difficulty understanding words as well as finding the right words for common things. Difficulty doing daily tasks like following a recipe, writing out checks to pay bills as well as having difficulty finding their way home from familiar places. Many early stage AD patients require only support and direction- for a while at least. The one sure thing about Alzheimer’s disease-the symptoms are constantly changing and no two people will experience it the same way.
So what can you do to prepare for a fight with an opponent that keeps changing the rules of the game?
1. Educate Yourself about the Disease
The more you learn about your loved one’s disease and how it will progress over the years, the better you’ll be able to prepare for the future. In the early stages of Alzheimer’s, for example, your loved one will still be pretty independent. Encouraging your loved one’s independence and self-care, will be a your main objective. But it is important to keep in mind that even though they are still able to function pretty well, cognitive changes are still taking place. Just because your loved one is functioning well today doesn’t mean he will be able to maintain this level of functioning next month or next week. Don’t be lulled into a false sense of security. Eventually your loved one ‘s cognitive and physical regression will mean he or she will ultimately require 24-hour care. Though it may be hard to think about such a bleak outlook, the sooner you put plans for care in place, the more your loved one can be involved in the decision-making process.
2. Plan for the future
Long term care options should be looked into in early stage. Visit long-term care facilities in your area before you need them. That way you can take your time and research the facilities in your area. Most care facilities welcome visits and can be very helpful with obtaining benefits you loved one may be entitled to down the road. Also contact your Area’s Agency on Aging for other resources that may be available in your community. Having something in place before you actually need it will be a blessing when the time comes.
Paying for long-term care can be a major source of stress as well, so it’s important to research all your options as early as possible. Estate planning, as well as other legal and financial issues should be addressed early on. If your loved one is applying for Medicaid benefits, there is a six-year look back period where the state will take any assets your loved one has available, including their home. Consult with your accountant or family attorney as well as other family members to make legal and financial arrangements and determine the long-term care options that are best suited to you and your loved one. This is also a good time to make sure documents like Living Wills and Medical Powers-of-Attorney as well as a Durable Power of Attorney are in place. There is a link below to a website that can help you with Medical POA’s and Living Wills in your state. Although in some states you can draft your own durable POA’s, I advise you to seek help from an attorney. Getting these documents in place early, when your loved one can participate in developing them will give you peace of mind when the time comes that you will need to use them.
3. Accept the Things You Can Not Change
During my mother’s illness, I recited the Serenity Prayer A LOT! You can’t stop what is happening to your loved one, but you can make the journey one that is loving and memorable. Learn to let go of what you have no control over. In early stage, your loved one will be the most capable of functioning and enjoying life. Take advantage of that time. Share the things that are important to you and your loved one. Take short trips. Take pictures of your fun times and create a memory book to share later on. Having a sense of humor helps. You will find yourself in situations you never thought your would be in. Having a sense of humor about it will help get your though many of them. Sometimes just stepping back and looking at the situation differently can be very enlightening.
4. Join a Support Group
The average life expectancy of someone diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease is 6-10 years. That is a long time. Care giving can consume your entire life if you let it. If you take one thing away from this Blog it’s that you can’t do this alone. Reach out to one of the many support groups in your community or on-line. The Alzheimer’s Association http://www.alz.org can help you find support groups in your area. Knowing that you are not the only one dealing with this disease can be enough to get you through the toughest of times. On line support groups like Memory People ™ http://www.facebook.com/pages/Memory-... or Alzheimer’s and Dementia Caregivers Support Group on Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/groups/263401... can be extremely helpful as they have people in these groups experiencing the disease in all different stages.
Being thrust into the role of caregiver doesn’t come with an instruction manual, but there are books and website resources that can teach you the skills you need. The following are some I have found helpful. If you have any questions or comments, I would love to hear them. Send me an email at mariaciletti@mariaciletti.com or visit my website: http://www.mariaciletti.com
Caregiver Resources
Alzheimer’s Association
National Office
225 N. Michigan Ave,. FL. 17
Chicago, IL 60601
Email: info@alz.org
Phone: 1.800.272.3900
Website: http://www.alz.org
The 36-Hour Day: A Family Guide to Caring for People Who Have Alzheimer’s Disease, Related Dementias, and Memory Loss.
by Nancy L. Mace and Peter V. Rabins
http://www.amazon.com/36-Hour-Day-Alz...
TheAlzheimerssite.com: http://blog.thealzheimerssite.com/its...
I Have to Leave You Now: A Survival Guide for Caregivers of Loved Ones with Alzheimer’s Disease.
By Maria V. Ciletti
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_nos...
Click on the link https://www.createspace.com/4881872 to order your copy. When you get to the Amazon CreateSpace E-store add I Have to Leave You Now to your cart. Below the cart under Options and Discounts enter the special caregiving blog discount code: 9XU5XDJD in the box and click enter discount to receive $5.00 off the retail price of $16.95
Living Will and Medical Power of Attorney: http://www.caringinfo.org/i4a/pages/i...
While I Still Can
By Rick Phelps
http://www.amazon.com/While-Still-Can...
April 1, 2015
Blog: How to Get the Most from Your Doctor Visits
Maria V Ciletti

How to Get the Most from your Doctor Visits:
As many of you know, I am a medical administrator and work for a family practice physician’s office. My job is to field complaints and issues patients have regarding their care. Whether it be treatment received by the staff or physician or problems with insurance. It’s my job to get to the bottom of the issue and resolve it. One of the most frequently asked questions patient’s ask is “What’s the best way to get the most out of my time with the doctor.” I get this question a lot from caregivers, because many of them feel invisible when it comes to taking their loved one in to see the doctor. Many of them feel they don’t have a right to step in and ask questions on their loved one’s behalf. Caregivers have every right to ask questions regarding their loved one’s heath care. Many times they are the only voice their loved one has.
Getting your loved one to the doctor’s office can be difficult in it’s self. People with dementia don’t like changes in environment and waiting in a crowded room for an extended period of time can be stressful. Whether the appointment is for you or your family member, there are steps you can take to lessen the stress associated with doctor's appointments while also insuring that you're provided with treatment and information you need for you or your loved one at the appointment.
Below are 8 tips to help you prepare and get the most out of your doctor’s appointment:
1. Come prepared: Write down your questions and concerns. Has anything changed with your or your loved one’s health? Tired, aches and pains? Shortness of breath? A skin rash or mole that has changed or bleeds? Difficulty with bowel or bladder. Unable to sleep at night? No appetite? Unintended weight loss or weight gain? Write your questions down before your appointment, so you don’t feel rushed. At your appointment, give the list of questions to your doctor at the beginning of your visit. That way they will be addressed right off the bat. This information will also give the doc an idea what is going on with you or your loved one and will direct the visit towards those issues.
2. Bring your medication bottles: All of them: vitamin supplements, over the counter medications, even the ones from other doctors who are treating you. This is very important. Your doctors need to know what medications you are currently taking in order to avoid any drug interactions. Common vitamins and dietary supplements can interfere with other medications you may be taking. One example is Tums, a common over- the- counter remedy for indigestion can reduce the effect of Cipro (an antibiotic used to treat urinary tract and lung infections) by 40% by limiting the antibiotic’s absorption, which could result in inadequate treatment or may cause other complications.[Frost RW, Lettieri JT, Noe A, et al. Effect of aluminum hydroxide and calcium carbonate antacids on ciprofloxacin bioavailability. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 1989a;45:165. Cited 12/23/2014]
3. Be on time: If you are not there at your appointment time, that will delay your appointment as well as back up the schedule for someone else. No one likes to sit in a crowded waiting room for a long period of time. Contrary to the common opinion, doctors are aware of this and are also aware of how valuable your time is. Granted, things do come up like emergencies in the office or at the hospital. Physicians are dealing with people, and sometimes they need more than the allotted appointment time for their treatment. Sticking to the schedule may be difficult sometimes but for the most part, doctors make an effort to keep on time with their schedule. If your loved one has difficulty sitting in a crowded space for an extended period of time, you can call the office 30 minutes before your scheduled appointment and ask if the doctor is on time. That way arrangements can be made for you to come in later or reschedule if need be. Please be aware that in some facility's if you are more that 20 minutes late for your appointment you may be asked to reschedule as a courtesy to patients who are scheduled after your appointment.
4. Leave the family/neighbors/friends at home: If you are an adult and do not suffer from dementia, it is best for you to be the only one in the exam room in order to avoid interruptions from another person. This is your appointment. It’s your time with the doctor. If you do require someone with you or if you want someone there as a second set of ears to hear what the doctor is saying regarding your treatment, ask them to please be courteous of your time and the doctor’s time by not asking the doctor questions relating to their own medical issues. If the doctor needs to address someone else’s medical problem during your visit, it will take time away from your care and will infringe on the next patient’s visit. These are probably the most difficult and sensitive situations for physicians to deal with. Most people think it should be no problem for the doctor to treat them at your visit. After all, he’s your doctor too so why can’t he look at the rash on your back or go over your lab work from three weeks ago or call in a refill for medication that was prescribed to you by another physician. It’s not that doctors don’t want to help- they do. But people need to realize that treating another patient on top of the one that is already scheduled takes additional time and resources. It takes time away from your visit and will take time away from the patient waiting in the waiting room. There is so much more to treating a patient than patient’s are aware of. There are important protocols that must be followed in order to provide quality care. If your family member or person accompanying you to your doctor visit is sick or has a concern, it is best for them to schedule a separate appointment. That way they will receive the doctor’s undivided attention to their medical issue with out taking time away from your appointment.
5. Bring your driver’s license or other government issued form of identification and your current insurance information: In order to make sure you receive the benefits your are entitled to, the billing staff needs a copy of your current insurance card. With the Affordable Care Act in full swing, many insurance networks are narrower, which means the doctor you saw last year may not be on the plan this year. Knowing your insurance coverage helps the medical staff direct your care to the providers who are on your plan. If your insurance has changed, you need to make sure the billing staff knows and that the physician you are seeing is a provider for your current insurance. It is important that you are aware of this because you may ultimately be responsible for any charges incurred at the visit. You can call the insurance company or call the doctor office to verify this information. Verifying that your doctor is on your current plan will help you will get the most out of your benefits.
6. During Your Visit: If this is your first visit to the doctor make sure you not only have a current list of your medications (Preferably the actual medication bottles), you should have a list of any allergies-medication as well as non-medication allergies. This information is extremely important in regards to your health care. For example, patients who are allergic to eggs should not receive the flu vaccine because one of the base ingredients is eggs, so it’s important for your doc to know what, if anything you are allergic to. Also, if this is the first time you are seeing this doctor, you will need to know your medical history and your immediate family’s history as well, including any surgeries or serious illnesses. Immediate family is your parents, grandparents, and siblings. If this is a follow- visit, be sure to let your doctor know how previous treatment worked or not. This will help your doctor decide what treatment will need changed or if staying the course is appropriate.
7. Communication: If at anytime during your visit, you don’t understand the treatment your doctor is prescribing, don’t be afraid to say “I don’t understand”, or “could you explain that in a little more detail.” It is imperative that you understand what your doctor is prescribing and how it is going to help. It is also important to understand what if any side effects may occur. This is especially important when it comes to medication dosage changes or new medications being prescribed. Also, be sure to tell your doctor if you need refills on any of your medication. This is the best time to address your need for refills since your doc will have you chart right there and will be able to go over your medications with you while you are still in the room. Because most physicians are using EMR’s (electronic medical records) chances are at the end of your visit your prescriptions will be sent electronically to your pharmacy. This is a security issue put in place to help safeguard against prescription fraud and abuse.
Before you leave the office, you will be presented with a print out of your care plan or a summary of the visit. In that care plan will be all the details of your visit including a list of your medications and any changes made. This is a valuable tool since you can take it home and refer to it as needed.
8. After Your Visit: If you feel like the treatment isn’t helping or you are feeling some ill effects from the treatment do not hesitate to call your physician’s office and report any adverse reactions to medication or other treatment. Below is a guideline of symptoms and when to call:
Shortness of breath, itchy rash, lightheadedness, dizziness, sedation, fast heart rate ( tachycardia), heart palpations or a drop in blood pressure upon standing (orthostatic hypotension) call your doctor immediately. If it is after hours, go to the emergency room or urgent care as this may be a serious or life threatening complication.
GI Upset, headache, fatigue. These are some of the most common side effects of medication, but they can also be related to a new or worsening illness. If any of these are an issue for more than a few days, call the doctor’s office and let them know what's going on.
Fever: If you have been treated in the office for upper respiratory infection, urinary tract infection or are experiencing abdominal pain and develop a fever above 100.8 please call your doctor. You should not experience fever once on antibiotics and a spike in temperature may be a sign that something else is going on.
As a caregiver, it is important to take care of yourself as well as your loved ones. It is important for your to have periodic check-ups with your physician and to address any medical issues that may come up. Caregiver’s health is the first thing to go by the wayside while taking care of someone who is suffering with a chronic illness like Alzheimer’s disease. Caregivers have a tendency to think that their well being doesn’t matter or their need to address their medical issues doesn’t compare to their loved ones need because their loved is more seriously ill. If you don’t take care of yourself, then who will take care of them if you can’t? Developing a good relationship with your family doctor is essential to receive the best care possible. Don’t be intimidated by the white coat. Medical personnel want to help. But they can’t do it alone. You have to be an active participant in your own care. If you don’t speak up for your self, who will?
(What are some of your concerns when going to the doctor? Comment here or email me at www.mariaciletti@mariaciletti.com)
How to Get the Most from your Doctor Visits:
As many of you know, I am a medical administrator and work for a family practice physician’s office. My job is to field complaints and issues patients have regarding their care. Whether it be treatment received by the staff or physician or problems with insurance. It’s my job to get to the bottom of the issue and resolve it. One of the most frequently asked questions patient’s ask is “What’s the best way to get the most out of my time with the doctor.” I get this question a lot from caregivers, because many of them feel invisible when it comes to taking their loved one in to see the doctor. Many of them feel they don’t have a right to step in and ask questions on their loved one’s behalf. Caregivers have every right to ask questions regarding their loved one’s heath care. Many times they are the only voice their loved one has.
Getting your loved one to the doctor’s office can be difficult in it’s self. People with dementia don’t like changes in environment and waiting in a crowded room for an extended period of time can be stressful. Whether the appointment is for you or your family member, there are steps you can take to lessen the stress associated with doctor's appointments while also insuring that you're provided with treatment and information you need for you or your loved one at the appointment.
Below are 8 tips to help you prepare and get the most out of your doctor’s appointment:
1. Come prepared: Write down your questions and concerns. Has anything changed with your or your loved one’s health? Tired, aches and pains? Shortness of breath? A skin rash or mole that has changed or bleeds? Difficulty with bowel or bladder. Unable to sleep at night? No appetite? Unintended weight loss or weight gain? Write your questions down before your appointment, so you don’t feel rushed. At your appointment, give the list of questions to your doctor at the beginning of your visit. That way they will be addressed right off the bat. This information will also give the doc an idea what is going on with you or your loved one and will direct the visit towards those issues.
2. Bring your medication bottles: All of them: vitamin supplements, over the counter medications, even the ones from other doctors who are treating you. This is very important. Your doctors need to know what medications you are currently taking in order to avoid any drug interactions. Common vitamins and dietary supplements can interfere with other medications you may be taking. One example is Tums, a common over- the- counter remedy for indigestion can reduce the effect of Cipro (an antibiotic used to treat urinary tract and lung infections) by 40% by limiting the antibiotic’s absorption, which could result in inadequate treatment or may cause other complications.[Frost RW, Lettieri JT, Noe A, et al. Effect of aluminum hydroxide and calcium carbonate antacids on ciprofloxacin bioavailability. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 1989a;45:165. Cited 12/23/2014]
3. Be on time: If you are not there at your appointment time, that will delay your appointment as well as back up the schedule for someone else. No one likes to sit in a crowded waiting room for a long period of time. Contrary to the common opinion, doctors are aware of this and are also aware of how valuable your time is. Granted, things do come up like emergencies in the office or at the hospital. Physicians are dealing with people, and sometimes they need more than the allotted appointment time for their treatment. Sticking to the schedule may be difficult sometimes but for the most part, doctors make an effort to keep on time with their schedule. If your loved one has difficulty sitting in a crowded space for an extended period of time, you can call the office 30 minutes before your scheduled appointment and ask if the doctor is on time. That way arrangements can be made for you to come in later or reschedule if need be. Please be aware that in some facility's if you are more that 20 minutes late for your appointment you may be asked to reschedule as a courtesy to patients who are scheduled after your appointment.
4. Leave the family/neighbors/friends at home: If you are an adult and do not suffer from dementia, it is best for you to be the only one in the exam room in order to avoid interruptions from another person. This is your appointment. It’s your time with the doctor. If you do require someone with you or if you want someone there as a second set of ears to hear what the doctor is saying regarding your treatment, ask them to please be courteous of your time and the doctor’s time by not asking the doctor questions relating to their own medical issues. If the doctor needs to address someone else’s medical problem during your visit, it will take time away from your care and will infringe on the next patient’s visit. These are probably the most difficult and sensitive situations for physicians to deal with. Most people think it should be no problem for the doctor to treat them at your visit. After all, he’s your doctor too so why can’t he look at the rash on your back or go over your lab work from three weeks ago or call in a refill for medication that was prescribed to you by another physician. It’s not that doctors don’t want to help- they do. But people need to realize that treating another patient on top of the one that is already scheduled takes additional time and resources. It takes time away from your visit and will take time away from the patient waiting in the waiting room. There is so much more to treating a patient than patient’s are aware of. There are important protocols that must be followed in order to provide quality care. If your family member or person accompanying you to your doctor visit is sick or has a concern, it is best for them to schedule a separate appointment. That way they will receive the doctor’s undivided attention to their medical issue with out taking time away from your appointment.
5. Bring your driver’s license or other government issued form of identification and your current insurance information: In order to make sure you receive the benefits your are entitled to, the billing staff needs a copy of your current insurance card. With the Affordable Care Act in full swing, many insurance networks are narrower, which means the doctor you saw last year may not be on the plan this year. Knowing your insurance coverage helps the medical staff direct your care to the providers who are on your plan. If your insurance has changed, you need to make sure the billing staff knows and that the physician you are seeing is a provider for your current insurance. It is important that you are aware of this because you may ultimately be responsible for any charges incurred at the visit. You can call the insurance company or call the doctor office to verify this information. Verifying that your doctor is on your current plan will help you will get the most out of your benefits.
6. During Your Visit: If this is your first visit to the doctor make sure you not only have a current list of your medications (Preferably the actual medication bottles), you should have a list of any allergies-medication as well as non-medication allergies. This information is extremely important in regards to your health care. For example, patients who are allergic to eggs should not receive the flu vaccine because one of the base ingredients is eggs, so it’s important for your doc to know what, if anything you are allergic to. Also, if this is the first time you are seeing this doctor, you will need to know your medical history and your immediate family’s history as well, including any surgeries or serious illnesses. Immediate family is your parents, grandparents, and siblings. If this is a follow- visit, be sure to let your doctor know how previous treatment worked or not. This will help your doctor decide what treatment will need changed or if staying the course is appropriate.
7. Communication: If at anytime during your visit, you don’t understand the treatment your doctor is prescribing, don’t be afraid to say “I don’t understand”, or “could you explain that in a little more detail.” It is imperative that you understand what your doctor is prescribing and how it is going to help. It is also important to understand what if any side effects may occur. This is especially important when it comes to medication dosage changes or new medications being prescribed. Also, be sure to tell your doctor if you need refills on any of your medication. This is the best time to address your need for refills since your doc will have you chart right there and will be able to go over your medications with you while you are still in the room. Because most physicians are using EMR’s (electronic medical records) chances are at the end of your visit your prescriptions will be sent electronically to your pharmacy. This is a security issue put in place to help safeguard against prescription fraud and abuse.
Before you leave the office, you will be presented with a print out of your care plan or a summary of the visit. In that care plan will be all the details of your visit including a list of your medications and any changes made. This is a valuable tool since you can take it home and refer to it as needed.
8. After Your Visit: If you feel like the treatment isn’t helping or you are feeling some ill effects from the treatment do not hesitate to call your physician’s office and report any adverse reactions to medication or other treatment. Below is a guideline of symptoms and when to call:
Shortness of breath, itchy rash, lightheadedness, dizziness, sedation, fast heart rate ( tachycardia), heart palpations or a drop in blood pressure upon standing (orthostatic hypotension) call your doctor immediately. If it is after hours, go to the emergency room or urgent care as this may be a serious or life threatening complication.
GI Upset, headache, fatigue. These are some of the most common side effects of medication, but they can also be related to a new or worsening illness. If any of these are an issue for more than a few days, call the doctor’s office and let them know what's going on.
Fever: If you have been treated in the office for upper respiratory infection, urinary tract infection or are experiencing abdominal pain and develop a fever above 100.8 please call your doctor. You should not experience fever once on antibiotics and a spike in temperature may be a sign that something else is going on.
As a caregiver, it is important to take care of yourself as well as your loved ones. It is important for your to have periodic check-ups with your physician and to address any medical issues that may come up. Caregiver’s health is the first thing to go by the wayside while taking care of someone who is suffering with a chronic illness like Alzheimer’s disease. Caregivers have a tendency to think that their well being doesn’t matter or their need to address their medical issues doesn’t compare to their loved ones need because their loved is more seriously ill. If you don’t take care of yourself, then who will take care of them if you can’t? Developing a good relationship with your family doctor is essential to receive the best care possible. Don’t be intimidated by the white coat. Medical personnel want to help. But they can’t do it alone. You have to be an active participant in your own care. If you don’t speak up for your self, who will?
(What are some of your concerns when going to the doctor? Comment here or email me at www.mariaciletti@mariaciletti.com)
February 26, 2015
Blog: Gratitude the Healing Attitude
Maria V. Ciletti
Blog: Gratitude: The Healing Attitude
"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity. It turns problems into gifts, failures into successes, the unexpected into perfect timing, and mistakes into important events. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow." - Melody Beattie
I saw the above quote on the website, www.Caregivingwithapurpose.com. I have been a long time fan of Melody Beattie and have read many of her books. One of my favorites is The Language of Letting Go, a book of daily meditations that I found very helpful in some of the most difficult times in my life. Melody's quote here so well describes one of the best ways to open up our lives and to help us be thankful for what we have right in front of us-today even if what’s in front of us is not what want or even asked for.
Many of us have been put into the position of caregiver by default. Many of us feel guilty because secretly, we don’t want to be in that position. It’s not that we don’t care about our loved one- we do care- very much. Many of us have put own lives on hold in order to care for those who can no longer care for themselves. The problem is that most of us have been doing this a long time and quite simply, we have run out of gas. Many of us feel we are missing out on living our own lives because of the monumental responsibilities of care giving. But the truth is that taking care of our loved one’s is a part of our life. For what ever reason, this is where we are supposed to be right now, even if it isn’t where we planned to be at this time of our life.
Melody’s quote reinforces that attitude is everything. Being a caregiver is hard. Lets face it, there are very few high points to it. We as caregivers can’t help but see the future as bleak because when this is over, when our care giving responsibilities are finished, our loved one will be gone. Doesn’t sound fair does it? Well, it isn’t. That is why in order to get through this difficult time, we need to change our way of thinking. Chances to feel grateful can be found almost anywhere if you look close enough. It doesn’t have to come from big revaluations or breakthroughs. I learned to be grateful when my mother safely made it though another day. I learned to be grateful when she didn’t burn the house down while she smoked her Salem cigarettes. I learned to be especially grateful when we both slept through the night. The new medicine that is helping your loved one sleep or eat better or making them more comfortable is something to be grateful for. Gratitude can be found in the fact that your loved one is still able to dress or feed them selves. Some days you might really have to look really close to find those moments of gratitude, but I assure you- they are there. Something as simple as the sound of your loved one’s laughter, the smile on their face, or a brief moment of clarity, can be all you need to turn things around. A good sense of humor helps too.
Dealing with any illness is a journey. Dealing with a terminal illness is a journey no one wants to take. It’s usually a journey where we know how it ends but are unsure of what will happen along the way. This can be the scariest part - the not knowing what’s going to happen day to day. This is where our change in attitude is needed the most. Instead of being hyper-vigilant and trying to fix everything that seems to be going wrong, we need to step back and look at each change in our loved one’s condition as an opportunity to understand the disease. Not only will looking at it this way help you to learn how to handle the changes better, it will teach you that sometimes what is happening is totally out of your control. Knowing what is going on and why can give you peace of mind. In a way it helps you to pick your battles, so to say, to the point where you will know what needs to be addressed and what does not. Knowing this will allow you to relax a bit and just be with your loved one when nothing else can be done. Sometimes. that is all they really need from us anyway. The opportunity to be close to your loved one and to share their journey is a gift and something you and your loved one will both be grateful for.
Blog: Gratitude: The Healing Attitude "Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity. It turns problems into gifts, failures into successes, the unexpected into perfect timing, and mistakes into important events. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow." - Melody Beattie
I saw the above quote on the website, www.Caregivingwithapurpose.com. I have been a long time fan of Melody Beattie and have read many of her books. One of my favorites is The Language of Letting Go, a book of daily meditations that I found very helpful in some of the most difficult times in my life. Melody's quote here so well describes one of the best ways to open up our lives and to help us be thankful for what we have right in front of us-today even if what’s in front of us is not what want or even asked for.
Many of us have been put into the position of caregiver by default. Many of us feel guilty because secretly, we don’t want to be in that position. It’s not that we don’t care about our loved one- we do care- very much. Many of us have put own lives on hold in order to care for those who can no longer care for themselves. The problem is that most of us have been doing this a long time and quite simply, we have run out of gas. Many of us feel we are missing out on living our own lives because of the monumental responsibilities of care giving. But the truth is that taking care of our loved one’s is a part of our life. For what ever reason, this is where we are supposed to be right now, even if it isn’t where we planned to be at this time of our life.
Melody’s quote reinforces that attitude is everything. Being a caregiver is hard. Lets face it, there are very few high points to it. We as caregivers can’t help but see the future as bleak because when this is over, when our care giving responsibilities are finished, our loved one will be gone. Doesn’t sound fair does it? Well, it isn’t. That is why in order to get through this difficult time, we need to change our way of thinking. Chances to feel grateful can be found almost anywhere if you look close enough. It doesn’t have to come from big revaluations or breakthroughs. I learned to be grateful when my mother safely made it though another day. I learned to be grateful when she didn’t burn the house down while she smoked her Salem cigarettes. I learned to be especially grateful when we both slept through the night. The new medicine that is helping your loved one sleep or eat better or making them more comfortable is something to be grateful for. Gratitude can be found in the fact that your loved one is still able to dress or feed them selves. Some days you might really have to look really close to find those moments of gratitude, but I assure you- they are there. Something as simple as the sound of your loved one’s laughter, the smile on their face, or a brief moment of clarity, can be all you need to turn things around. A good sense of humor helps too.
Dealing with any illness is a journey. Dealing with a terminal illness is a journey no one wants to take. It’s usually a journey where we know how it ends but are unsure of what will happen along the way. This can be the scariest part - the not knowing what’s going to happen day to day. This is where our change in attitude is needed the most. Instead of being hyper-vigilant and trying to fix everything that seems to be going wrong, we need to step back and look at each change in our loved one’s condition as an opportunity to understand the disease. Not only will looking at it this way help you to learn how to handle the changes better, it will teach you that sometimes what is happening is totally out of your control. Knowing what is going on and why can give you peace of mind. In a way it helps you to pick your battles, so to say, to the point where you will know what needs to be addressed and what does not. Knowing this will allow you to relax a bit and just be with your loved one when nothing else can be done. Sometimes. that is all they really need from us anyway. The opportunity to be close to your loved one and to share their journey is a gift and something you and your loved one will both be grateful for.
January 24, 2015
The Cheese Stands Alone- When Family Members Refuse to Help
I Have to Leave You Now: A Survival Guide for Caregivers of Loved Ones with Alzheimer's Disease
“In our ability to think about something differently lies the power to make it different.”
― Marianne Williamson
Without a doubt, care giving is a difficult job and all too often it can be a lonely job too. The number one struggle care giver’s experience is lack of help and support from family. Care giving is a 24/7 job with no vacation time, no breaks or holidays. There is nothing glamorous about care giving. It is hard work, but it is necessary work. In a perfect world, when a loved one is diagnosed with such a devastating disease as Alzheimer’s disease, family members would pull together and work for a common good- taking care of their loved one. Everyone would share in the responsibility of managing and PARTICIPATING in their family member’s care. Some families do pull together in difficult times but unfortunately many do not.
In many families, there is one person whom all the care giving duties fall upon. They have been deemed the caregiver because they are married to the person needing care, or they are single, or retired, or don’t have children to take care of, or simply because they are female. Sometimes they are elected because they are the one who lives the closest to the loved one needing care. Many times this person is thrown into the caregiver role unwillingly or by default because there is no one else to take on the responsibility. Regardless of how they got there, they are now the person responsible for their loved one’s health and well being. They are now responsible for almost every aspect of their loved one’s life. They are the person who picks up prescriptions, manages medications, juggles doctor’s appointments, prepares meals, grocery shops and keeps up the house.They are the person who has to leave work to take their spouse or ill parent or other family member to doctor’s appointments or therapy sessions. They are the one’s who are called out of important meetings to come home to calm their loved one down because their loved one has becoming belligerent, demanding to be taken home and trying to leave, when they in fact are home and don’t realize it. The caregiver is the one who may need to quit their job in order to take care of their loved one. Caregiver’s are the one’s who sit vigil for hours in waiting rooms, waiting to talk with physicians regarding the outcome of their loved one’s procedures as well as their prognosis, which will dictate the next set of challenges they will need to take on. Caregivers are the one’s who must convince their loved one’s that it is time to take a shower and in the process wrangle the clothes that they have been wearing for a week away from them so they can be washed. Caregivers are the people who are awakened in the middle of the night to clean up explosive diarrhea, find lost dentures in the bed sheets or, one of the most frightening, take a late night trip to the emergency room. The caregiver is the person whom the ill family member moves in with when they can no longer live by themselves.
Caregivers give up huge chunks of their lives in order to care for their loved ones. Caregivers are the people who put their own health on the back burner in order to take care of their loved one’s health needs. They are the one person the entire family counts on and assumes will take care of what ever comes up, because they have done it for so long and so well. That fact is why the notion that the caregiver may not want to do this or would need help doesn’t even cross the other family member’s minds.
When I hear about family members refusing to help I think of the song “The Farmer in the Dell.” In the song, everyone pairs off and leaves, leaving the cheese to stand alone. That’s how most caregivers feel- like the cheese- alone. I know thats how I felt many times, when others were too busy to help, too clueless to know help was needed or just didn’t want to be bothered. Some family members simply live too far away to help. But that doesn’t mean they have no responsibility for their loved one’s care. Many family members feel they are filling their care giving obligations with plenty of “ advice and suggestions” for how YOU as the caregiver can do the job better. But usually none of those suggestions comes with any “hands on” help on their part. Not only does this add fuel to the fire of a difficult situation, it can build a wall of resentment that may never come down.
Some family members want to help and make a genuine effort to do so. Some want to help, but don’t know what to do. A way to remedy this is to ask them for what you need and accept what ever they have to offer. I think it’s important to accept what ever they have to offer, even if it isn’t exactly what we asked for because it is something and quite possibly could lead to more. Also, if we don’t ask for help, how else are they going to know what we need? From their point of view, their loved one is being cared for and everything is going along smoothly. Trust me, they have no idea what you are going through.
Even if they just offer to go to the grocery store, or sit with your loved one for a hour while you run errands or take a bath or just drive around town alone in your car because it’s the only place you can find peace and solitude- let them. It may seem like a small thing, but it is something. Accept the gift graciously. Try not to condemn your siblings, spouses, children whom you perceive to be useless or insensitive because of their lack of inaction. Instead, take a step back and try to see what’s really going on with them. Not everyone has it in them to take on the huge responsibility we as caregivers have taken on. Tenacity, perseverance, dedication, patience and unconditional love are our superpowers- not everyone has that. I, for one am guilty of downplaying family and friends offers to help. My first thought is that they really don’t mean it and they are only offering because it seems like the polite thing to do. Secondly, I feel that I am the only one who can do this they way it needs to be done. So it is just easier for me to do it myself. But in a way, isn’t that a bit egotistical? Many of us suffer in silence. And that really isn’t helping anyone. We need to speak up and tell those close to us what we need from them. Give your family a chance to help. Provide them with the information and tools that they need to step into your shoes once in a while. Even if only for one chore, one doctor appointment or one afternoon visit. It’s something and might help you not feel so alone in all this.
Anger and resentment are normal feelings in this situation.When we as caregivers spend hours, days, weeks, and in some cases- years, caring for someone that we may or may not have had a good relationship with in the first place, things can get dicey. Resentment comes from the fact that we as caregivers feel saddled with this huge responsibility and do not have the freedom to enjoy our lives like everyone else. Caregivers often feel like they are missing out on some of their most important years and the joys those years should bring. Not only do they feel like they are missing out, they feel guilty for feeling that way. After all, their loved one is dying. What gives them the right to want to enjoy life when their loved one no longer can? Feelings of anger and resentment may be normal in this situation, but after a while, feeling this way doesn’t help you or your loved one. These feelings can sap any positive energy you can muster in a situation were we need all the positives we can get.
If after you tell family members what is needed and they refuse to help, the best thing to do is move on. Don’t put anymore energy into trying to convince them that you need their help or their loved one needs their help. Move on and look for another solution. Lets face it, we can not control what others say or do or don’t do. The only person we have control over is ourselves. Each moment we spend bitter, resentful or angry is a moment wasted over something out of our control. Is it fair that we as caregivers are burdened with all the responsibility of our loved one’s care?- absolutely not. But in order to do what has to be done- we have to let go of our anger and move on. You have to believe in your self and know that in reality, the only person you can depend on is you. I found out near the end of my Mom’s life that I just didn’t have the energy to waste on people who didn’t care. It got to the point where I felt if you aren’t here to help, get out of my way so I can do what needs to be done. The last year of my mother’s life was extremely difficult. Her behavior became aggressive and almost impossible to deal with. No one wanted to be around her. Because I was still working, we employed a in home caregiver to stay with her during the day, which helped for a while. Then because of safety issues, we had no other alternative than to place her in a locked Alzheimer’s facility. Placing a family member usually creates an upheaval from other family members who feel you should do everything you can to keep your loved one in their home, especially if you promised to do so in the very beginning. (A promise no one should make because it is almost impossible to keep.) This brings on a ton of guilt for the caregiver who has to make the decision on placement. Many caregivers, me included, feel like they have failed their loved one when they can no longer keep them at home. But it’s definitely not a sign of failure. Placement is often the next step in the care giving process and is one of the hardest decisions to make. This is where believing in yourself comes in. You have to believe that you are doing the right thing for your loved one even if it isn’t the most popular decision. When others criticize, but offer no other solution, they give up their vote. It’s as simple as that.
When you are dealing with a terminal illness, time is precious. Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive disease. It’s destruction moves forward every day and nothing can stop it. Wouldn’t it be better to find as much joy in the days our loved one’s have left than drown in the misery of the situation? Granted those moments may seem few and far between, but isn’t finding some joy better than not finding joy at all? Any one who has taken care of a loved one with Alzheimer’s knows that at times, our loved ones experience tiny moments of clarity. We went through months when Mom didn’t know who we were or what was going on, then all of the sudden-it’s like a wire reconnected in her brain and she was a lucid as she was ten years ago. It only lasted a few moments- but they were precious moments. Those are the times we need to cherish and pay attention to.
Caring for someone with dementia is one of the most difficult things you will ever do. But it can be the most rewarding thing too. Everyone wants to throw in the towel from time to time. I certainly did-more than I care to admit to. There will be many times when you will feel like the cheese. Don’t be the cheese. Doing the best you can with the resources you have is all anyone can ask. There are many resources out there. ( See links below.) Once I spoke up and found people who were willing to help, it gave me the chance to recharge and gave me the strength to get back at it. Nothing is more loving than helping our loved ones on their journey in this dark and scary place find comfort and peace. It is my hope that all caregivers find comfort in knowing they are doing the best that they can with what they have and that it is enough. Compassion is the greatest gift we will ever give to our loved ones and most importantly it’s the greatest we can give to ourselves.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Memory...
http://www.ohioaging.org/default.aspx
http://www.alz.org
http://www.medicare.gov/campaigns/car...
http://www.caregiver.com/regionalreso...
http://www.comfortkeepers.com/
http://www.homeinstead.com/ppc/hisc-s...
December 18, 2014
Caregiver's Guide for getting through the Holidays
I Have to Leave You Now: A Survival Guide for Caregivers of Loved Ones with Alzheimer's DiseaseMaria V. CilettiDragonfly Publications
Caregiver’s Guide for Getting Through the Holidays
The holidays can be a stressful time for many people. Holidays can be especially stressful for people with Alzheimer’s disease. It can also be a difficult time for their caregivers. Dementia patients have a routine, need a routine to cope with day to day living. Any interruption in that routine can cause major set backs. During the holidays, there will be interruptions. With family and friends coming by, excited children running around, Christmas music playing everywhere, flashing lights, different smells and different faces, these things are bound to cause some anxiety for the person with AD and in turn will cause stress for the caregiver. The first and most important lesson a caregiver needs to learn is to take care of yourself first. I know I have said this before and now you are saying to yourself, yes, right, I hear you but in reality how do I do that when everyone around me needs me? The answer is you have make the time, find the time, treat it like it is just as important as giving your loved one his or her medication. If you don’t make time to take care of yourself, your body will take the time for you, with or with out you having any input in the decision.
On Christmas Day 2007, Rose and I had just finished hosting our family’s Christmas day brunch. Since Mom was unable to host the holiday events any longer, as the oldest sibling I felt it was my duty to take on the tradition and host my family. That morning, I woke up with a splitting headache and despite taking two Advil a couple of times during the day, the headache seemed to get worse as the day went on. I brushed it off, thinking it was probably a result of lack of sleep and the extra hustle and bustle of the holiday season. In the back of my mind though there was a little voice in side of my head telling me that this may be a sign of something more serious.
The last of the relatives left at 7:00 p.m. After a vigorous round of “Where’s my lighter-where’s my purse?”, I took Mom home and got her settled in for the night.
When I got back home, I was helping Rose clean up the kitchen. But my head hurt so much now that my vision was blurred and I felt sick to my stomach. I sat down at the kitchen table and rested my head in my hands and told Rose I wasn’t feeling well. Then I burst into tears.
“What’s wrong?” Rose asked.
My body trembled and my head pounded.“My head…I’ve never had a headache this bad. I think I need to go to the emergency room.”
Rose, knowing that I never complained about much, especially not feeling well, figured that when a nurse says something like that, it’s serious. So without hesitation, she put me in the car and took me to the hospital. When we got to the emergency room, the first thing they did was take my blood pressure—it was 160/100! My normal blood pressure ran about 90/60, so this was abnormally high. Now I was convinced that something serious, a stroke or an aneurysm, was the cause of my elevated blood pressure. I was terrified that something terrible was happening and I was also angry that I had no control over it. Why is this happening now? My mother needs me! My family needs me! Those were the thoughts running through my mind a mile a minute as they wheeled me toward radiology for a CAT scan of my head. When the tests was finished, a radiology tech wheeled me into a curtained cubicle to await the results. As we waited for the results, I went over in my head everything that needed done that was in danger of not getting done: Mom had an appointment with the rheumatologist on Monday and the podiatrist on Thursday. I needed to get a refill on her Aricept and Seroquel before she ran out a the end of the week. Rose’s mom had an appointment with her oncologist on Tuesday. But we needed to get her lab work first so we would know if she would need yet another blood transfusion before she received more chemo. She also needed groceries and bag lunches put together for the week. Because neither Rose or I could leave work to make her lunch during the day. It was also year end and I needed to close out the books for our business and get things in place for the new year. The more I thought about all the things that needed done and the chance that I would be incapacitated and not able to do them, the sicker I felt.
Twenty minutes after my CAT scan, the emergency room doctor stepped inside my cubicle.
“Your CAT scan and lab work are perfectly normal,” the ER doctor assured me after all tests had been completed.
Instead of feeling relief, I looked up, bewildered, my head still throbbing and asked. “So what’s going on? Why is my pressure up and why do I feel so lousy?”
“Have you been under a lot of stress lately?” he asked.
“Nothing I can’t handle,” I answered.
The ER doctor looked at me over the metal chart in his hands. Suddenly a light bulb went off in my head. Maybe I couldn’t handle the stress of caring for everyone as well as I had thought.
Stress takes its toll on our bodies and our minds. Unfortunately, the holidays, which should be fun and exciting, can add extra stress to our already stressful lives. I never realized until that moment how much stress managing Mom’s care, helping Rose take care of her mother, and trying to hold down a full-time job had caused. There was no time to contemplate how I was feeling, I had others that depended on me, seriously ill people who could not care for themselves any longer. So I did what many caregivers do: I put my head down and plowed through the doctor’s appointments, medication changes, explosive diarrhea brought on by those medication changes, urinary tract infections, looking for lost eyeglasses glasses, lost shoes and lost keys for the hundredth time. Dealing with behavior issues and temper tantrums requiring the same skill set as a hostage negotiator as well as middle of the night emergency room visits for fever so high it brings on hallucinations or bronchitis on the brink of turning into pneumonia. Some of these things all happening in the same day.
I surely didn’t think I would be the one to land in the emergency room- but here I am. How was it that I had always been able to manage things like this before, but couldn’t I do it now? This is ridiculous, I thought as I laid on the gurney in my hospital cubicle. I must not be trying hard enough. What a slacker!
The doctor gave me medication to lower my blood pressure and a prescription for Xanax. Within an hour my blood pressure was coming down, the headache felt more like a hang over now, and in spite of the embarrassment I felt coming here for what I now felt like was nothing, I was feeling better. I took the prescription for Xanax home but didn’t get it filled. I was sure I didn’t need drugs in order to cope with my life. I’d figured it out on my own like I always had. I thought having to take medication was a sign of weakness, and I was tougher than that. -Two weeks later, I found myself curled up in the fetal position on an exam table in my doctor’s office experiencing the worst panic attack of my life.
Don’t be stubborn like me. Pay attention to the signs that you need a break:
1. You can’t remember the last time you felt happy.
2. You are exhausted, but can’t sleep.
3. If you do sleep, you dread waking up in the morning.
4. Feel only anger towards your loved one or lose your temper frequently.
5. Experiencing physical symptoms like headache, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, choking sensation or shakiness.
Any of these symptoms may be a sign that you need a break. Depression is a real threat to caregivers. Caregivers are high on the list for developing depression. It's important to remember that depression is a medical disorder that can be successfully treated. Depression is not a personal weakness, nor a sign that you are unable to care for your loved one. It can be a sign that you are running out of gas and need a break or need to find a different way to do things. Taking care of yourself is the foundation that will give you the strength to care for your loved ones.
During the holiday season, take advantage of others being around. Ask family that are visiting if you can step out for a while to run errands or anything else you want to tell them in order for you to get away for a while. Not only will it give you a chance to take a breather, it will give them direct insight into what you down twenty-four hours a day- seven days a week. This may prompt them to become more actively involved in their loved one’s care or it may scare them off all together. Either way, its worth a try and you will know who you can truly count on and who you can’t. No chance at leaving the house? Find a safe room. I can’t you how many times I have locked myself in the bathroom or have gone into the garage and sat in my car just to get away for a while. Sometimes you gotta do what you’ve gotta do.
The holiday season will be here and gone before we know it. That maybe good news to most caregivers. Try not to let the added stress ruin any chance for joy and the opportunity to make new and pleasant memories with your loved one. Any one who is caring for someone with Alzheimer’s dementia knows how progressive this awful disease is. Next year, things may be a lot different that this year. We are losing our loved ones with every passing day. There is not a holiday or birthday that goes by that I don’t wish I had one more with mom. It’s important to cherish the time we have left with them. Take time away from the crowd for you and your loved one. You may be the only familiar thing for them in the holiday chaos and not the only one who needs a break from the crowd. It will be a comfort to them and may turn into a treasured moment for you as well.
Happy Holidays
December 5, 2014
Patient Advocacy- Dealing with Insurance
I Have to Leave You Now: A Survival Guide for Caregivers of Loved Ones with Alzheimer's DiseaseMaria V. CilettiPatient Advocacy- Dealing with Insurance Benefits
Health care is expensive. It can be extremely costly when you are dealing with a long term illness like Alzheimer's Disease. Patient advocates are responsible for making sure their loved one is receiving all the health care benefits that are available to them. Medical services as well as medications, even with insurance coverage can be very expensive. In order for the advocate to make sure their loved one is receiving all the benefits they are entitled to, the advocate will need to become familiar with the private and public agencies that provide those services.
Dealing with health insurance can be a challenge. The first thing you need to do is make sure your loved one is signed up for the program he/she are eligible for. At age sixty-five, it is mandatory that everyone sign up for Medicare. If you don’t sign up for Medicare at age sixty-five you may incur financial penalties until you do sign up. There is one exception in avoiding the penalty: if you already have credible coverage, which means health care coverage from your employer or your spouse’s employer and those employers have more than twenty employees. Here is a little more information about Medicare:
Medicare: Medicare is a federally run program for people age 65 or people who are disabled. You must sign up for Medicare at age 65 or you might incur a10% penalty for each year you haven’t signed up. There are four parts to Medicare that you will need to familiarize yourself with. They are:
Medicare Part A covers hospital inpatient services, home health, durable medical equipment and hospice visits. Medicare Part A has no premium. If you were employed during your lifetime, you already paid into the Medicare program. Medicare Part A does have a $1,216 deductible each year. ($1,260 in 2015)Days 1-60: $0 coinsurance for each benefit period ($0 in 2015)Days 61-90: $304 coinsurance per day of each benefit period ($315 in 2015)Days 91 and beyond: $608 coinsurance per each "lifetime reserve day" after day 90 for each benefit period (up to 60 days over your lifetime) ($630 in 2015)
Medicare Part B has a premium of $104.90 per month. It covers doctor visits and other outpatient services. There is a $147.00 annual deductible to be met as well as a 20% copay after the deductible has been met. You can purchase Medigap insurance to cover both the deductible and copay. Please be advised that if you wish to purchase Medigap insurance it must be done when you sign up for Medicare at age 65. After that time you will be unable to sign up for Medigap and my need to choose a Medicare Part C plan instead is you want deductible and copay to be covered.
Medicare Part C-(Managed Care Medicare) Takes the place of your regular Medicare benefits. Part C covers everything Medicare Part’s A, B & D cover. This is your one stop policy. This coverage is provided by a commercial insurance company ( Anthem BCBS, Humana, Aetna, United Health Care, Cigna, and several other commercial insurers.) Coverage for managed care Medicare policies allow the patient to have a low flat rate copay for doctor visits and another tiered copay for specialists as well as prescription drug coverage. But, just like any other private insurance, Managed Care Medicare policy holders are also limited to which providers they can see for treatment. The one thing to make sure of is that if you pick a managed care Medicare policy for your coverage is that your current doctors and hospitals are in network with the plan. Even though some managed care Medicare policies have out- of- network benefits, many don’t. So if you see a doctor that is not in the network, you may be responsible for the entire bill with out any discounts as if you saw an in network provider. Each year members get a chance to change their Part C policy. Open enrollment for Managed Care Medicare plans is October 15- December 7th. This is a good time to re-evaluate your current plan and shop around for one that may be more suitable to your needs.
Medicare Part D is prescription drug coverage. The monthly premium for Medicare Part D is calculated from 2 years of income reported on your tax return. If you made $85,000 or less and are single or made $170,000.00 or less jointly, all you would pay for coverage would be your Part- D premium. If your annual income was higher than $85,000.00 for single/ $170,000.00 jointly, you will pay a higher premium.
Medicare is the main insurance most people over sixty-five will be dealing with. Others may include:
Public Employee Retirement Systems (PERS) takes the place of Medicare. It provides health insurance, retirement, disability and survivorship benefits to employees who have worked for the state, county, town or city. Most of theses plans are underwritten by commercial insurance companies and will require you to see health care providers with in their networks.
Medicaid is a government funded health care program for individuals as well as families of lower income who cannot afford health insurance. Medicaid can be used alone as primary insurance if you are under sixty-five and financially qualify or with Medicare as a secondary insurance to pay Medicare’s deductible and twenty percent co-insurance. Medicaid will be important when your loved one is admitted to a nursing home or other LTC facility. With the Affordable Care Act in full swing, many states have expanded their Medicaid programs, opening the doors for many more people can qualify for Medicaid coverage through the Market Place on the health care exchange at https://www.healthcare.gov/ Open enrollment ends 12/15/2014 in order to get coverage starting January 1, 2015
Private Health Insurance is insurance you buy on your own if you are under age sixty-five. There is no government link to this insurance except if you would purchase it on the government health care exchange where you may qualify for a tax subsidy based on your income. Private Health Care Insurance companies administer the benefits and set their own guidelines on premium and claim payments. When looking for a private insurance, its best to research the policy to make sure that your physicians are in the network. Some private policies have low premiums but limit the health care providers that you can see. Always consult the provider directory before signing on with an insurance company.
Tricare ( formally CHAMPUS) / CHAMP VA: While the two programs bear similarities, such as being government-backed and serving those who have served, they are in fact quite distinct from each other. Tricare is insurance for active duty and retired members of the armed forces and is managed by the state department. CHAMPVA is a health coverage program for eligible veterans’ families ran by the VA Health Administration Center.
It is not only important to make sure your loved one has the coverage they are entitled to, but that you understand the benefits and how they work. With the ACA in full swing as of January 2014 there are many benefits that are low or no cost to the patient. Many of these benefits are preventative services including annual wellness visits and wellness procedures like mammograms, annual well woman exams, and pneumonia and flu vaccines. Alzheimer's disease not only takes a toll on the patient’s brain, it takes its toll on the patient’s body too. That's why it's important to keep up on preventable diseases like the flu and pneumonia and more serious conditions that can be better treated when detected early.
Here are five links that will help explain the benefits that are available:
www.medicare.gov/.../preventive-visit...
www.hhs.gov/healthcare/prevention/
www.medicare.gov/pubs/pdf/10110.pdf
https://www.healthcare.gov/
http://champvabenefits.com/champva-ch...
If you have questions regarding health insurance, feel free to contact me at http://www.mariaciletti.com and I will be happy to answer your questions.
November 2, 2014
Why Patient Advocacy is So Important
I Have to Leave You Now: A Survival Guide for Caregivers of Loved Ones with Alzheimer's Disease
>Maria V. Ciletti
Here is a Good Example of why Patient Advocacy is Important
One afternoon, my mother, who was in the advanced stages of Alzheimer’s disease suddenly started vomiting large amounts of blood. The nursing staff at the nursing home appropriately called a squad and sent her to the nearest hospital. Unfortunately the hospital they sent her to was not the same hospital where she was usually treated.
I was at work, so when the nursing home called me to let me know what happened, it took me about thirty minutes to wrap things up at work and to get to the hospital. When I got to the ER, the receptionist told me mom had arrived and was in treatment bay 1. I walked over to bay 1, a curtained area across from the nurse’s station and inside I heard someone say in a not-so-pleasant voice, “C’mon Grandma- hold still while I get this gown off of you.” Then I heard- “Oh no we are not gonna fight about this Grandma- you are gonna do what I say and we will get along just fine.”
>Maria V. Ciletti
Here is a Good Example of why Patient Advocacy is Important
One afternoon, my mother, who was in the advanced stages of Alzheimer’s disease suddenly started vomiting large amounts of blood. The nursing staff at the nursing home appropriately called a squad and sent her to the nearest hospital. Unfortunately the hospital they sent her to was not the same hospital where she was usually treated.
I was at work, so when the nursing home called me to let me know what happened, it took me about thirty minutes to wrap things up at work and to get to the hospital. When I got to the ER, the receptionist told me mom had arrived and was in treatment bay 1. I walked over to bay 1, a curtained area across from the nurse’s station and inside I heard someone say in a not-so-pleasant voice, “C’mon Grandma- hold still while I get this gown off of you.” Then I heard- “Oh no we are not gonna fight about this Grandma- you are gonna do what I say and we will get along just fine.”
I immediately pulled back the curtain and found my mother half dressed in a blood soaked gown, crying and a nurse’ s aide struggling with her to get her out of it. The aide jumped back and seemed stunned by my abrupt entrance.
“What was going on? I asked.
“Grandma here won’t let me help her out of these messy clothes.”
“She is not your grandma,” I said (This woman calling my mother grandma seemed derogatory to me).
“She’s my mother and she has dementia,” I said. I walked over to mom and held her hand- she was trembling.
“Talking to her that way is scaring her.”
“What way?" the aide said, her voice indignant. “I didn’t do anything wrong,” she said. “She just won’t do what I tell her to do.”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing! How could this person be working in an emergency room? You can’t tell me this is the first person with dementia she has ever encountered. I took a deep breath.
“She doesn’t understand what you want her to do. You have to talk to her-slowly- softly and gently,” I said.
The aide looked at me as if I were from another planet. “Well then if you think you can do a better job- I will leave this up to you,” she said and then walked away.
I felt my face heat up with anger. My plans were to report this incompetent aide- and I would do that soon- but right now Mom needed taken care of and apparently I was the only one she could count on here. I got Mom calmed down, undressed and into a clean gown. Shortly after that a lab tech came in and drew several vials of blood. An hour later, mom was wheeled down to radiology for a CAT scan of her abdomen. After about a two hour wait in the ER, Mom’s lab work came back showing that she was severely anemic and in need of a blood transfusion. They still did not know where she was bleeding from because the CAT scan results were negative. Mom would need admitted to have the transfusion overnight and a GI consult was ordered to find out the source of the bleeding. Six hours went by until finally a bed became available on a general medical floor.
It was after midnight by the time I got mom in her room and settled. A medical resident came in and performed a history and physical on her. He said that someone would be in to draw more lab work so they could type and cross match Mom’s blood, so they could order the blood she needed from the blood bank and then they would start the transfusion. He estimated by how low her blood count was (Normal blood count is 14 gm- Mom’s was 5 gm!) she would probably need two units of blood. I asked him when the GI doctor would be in to see her. He said probably not until the morning when he makes his rounds. This took me back a bit. Obviously mom was bleeding from somewhere- enough for her to require two units of blood. Granted she hadn’t vomited blood in the last few hours, but wasn’t it important to find out what was going on? Mom was getting weaker as the hours ticked by.
At one o’clock the type and cross match bloodwork was drawn. Hopefully this would get things started.Three o’clock- no blood transfusion.
Four o’clock- no blood transfusion.
Finally I went out to the nurse’s station to see what the hold- up was. The ward clerk looked up the lab results and told me they were still “pending.” As soon as the results were back someone would be in to start her transfusion. At six o’clock-the sun came up but still no blood. I went back out to the nurse’s stations where a fresh shift of nurses had just arrived. I told one of them that Mom was in room 1123 and was supposed to get a blood transfusion last night, but still had not and could she look into it. She assured me she would as soon as she got report. I never saw her again.
Mom slept off and on through the night, but now seemed more restless and was having difficulty breathing. I felt for her pulse- it was 130 and thready (weak). She was receiving two liters of oxygen through a nasal cannula, but that wasn’t doing much good as she was totally mouth breathing now. Around nine-o’clock mom’s IVAC beeped because the IV had gone dry. I let it beep hoping that someone would eventually come in and take care of it. Finally a nurse came in and hung a new bag of IV fluids and checked mom’s vitals. Her BP was 60/40.
“Does her blood pressure always run this low?” the nurse asked.
“No-her blood count is low and she was supposed to get a blood transfusion last night. Is the blood ready yet?
The nurse flipped through her notes. “Looks like we are still waiting on the type and cross match,” she said.
“They drew that at one o’clock last night- how long does it take to run a goddamn lab test?” I snapped.
The nurse took a step back.
“Look, I’m sorry. I’ve been here all night. No one has so much as brought my mother a glass of water. Can you find out what is going on? She’s bleeding from somewhere and the ER doc ordered a GI consult. Can you find out when the GI doc will be here?”
“I’ll call down to the lab and find out about the blood. I don’t know when the GI doc will be in-sometime this morning I would imagine,” she said and left the room.
I dozed off in the chair next to mom’s bed but then suddenly woke to a severe pain in my neck and the overwhelming smell of hospital food. I looked over at Mom. She was sleeping. Noisily breathing with her mouth wide open. I looked over at the IVAC pole-still no blood. I looked at my watch- it was noon. I had had enough.
I marched out to the nurse’s station and asked to speak to the nursing supervisor. I was told she was in a meeting.
“Ok then I want to speak to the medical director,” I said.
“Is there a problem?” the ward clerk asked.
“My mother is in room 1123. She has been in this hospital for nearly twenty-four hours. She is severely anemic-bleeding from somewhere that no one seems to care about. Her pulse is weak. Her blood pressure is low. She was supposed to have a blood transfusion last night- that never happened.”
“Ok-ok, I’ll get her nurse,” the ward clerk said.
Mom’s nurse-another nurse I had never seen before but who was now deemed “Mom’s nurse” appeared at the nurse’s station. I went through my spiel again. She said she would check on everything and let me know.
I snapped- that answer might have worked last night but it wasn’t working now.
“Look--I want my mother transferred out of here,” I said. “You people obviously do not know what you are doing. And because my mother is elderly and demented you don’t think she deserves your time. I want her out of here- I want her transferred to her regular hospital and I want her out of here now.”
The nurse and the ward clerk looked at me as if I were about to take them hostage. I knew by the looks on their faces that they now saw me as a problem- an irrational, possibly dangerous, over protected family member-the hospital staff's worse nightmare! But my behavior got results. Although it took them another two hours to process the paperwork, Mom was transferred safely to her regular hospital.
The actual transfer took thirty minutes. Once at mom’s regular hospital, she was taken to the GI lab for a STAT endoscopy. There the GI doc found two huge bleeding ulcers in her stomach that he was able to cauterize. He then admitted her to a medical floor where UPON ARRIVAL to the floor she received two units of blood. After the blood transfusion, her vital signs improved. She even woke up a bit and was more alert-something we hadn’t seen in quite some time. In two days she was discharged back to the nursing home.
Thankfully Mom had a good outcome. Had I not insisted that she be transferred from the previous hospital, I knew she would no longer be with us.
This is why patient advocacy is so important. Not only for our loved ones with dementia, but anyone who is ill. Whether you are taking a family member to the emergency room or you are going there for treatment yourself ALWAYS have someone there with you. Everyone needs an advocate who can speak up for them. Especially when they can not speak for themselves.
Not all hospitals are like the first hospital Mom was admitted to. The majority of hospitals employ competent, caring staff. During Mom’s illness she received wonderful care from most of the facilities she was treated in. But there will always be one event that you need to be on the look- out for. If you see something that doesn’t seem right- speak up. This is the time to ask questions and ask for clarifications. Do not feel intimidated. Do not feel you are bothering the staff. It is your right and your loved ones right to know what is going on. Dealing with health care professionals should be comforting- not confusing. When your loved one is being treated you should feel confident that they are being treated right. If you don’t speak up, the consequences can be devastating.
