In our day-to-day lives outside of aged care, this is not something many of us give much thought to.

But in aged care, how the residents are approached requires sensitivity and thought.

The health conditions many residents live with, such as dementia, can cause some residents to become easily surprised or alarmed. They may feel more easily threatened, or they may have compromised spatial awareness.

It may be easy to startle a resident if they are not wearing their hearing aid.

For these reasons, the way residents are approached by care staff is vitally important.

If a resident is approached in the wrong way, they may fall, or they may even lash out and hit the person who has inadvertently startled them.

So what is the best way to approach an older person?

• Always approach residents slowly and from the front. If you approach them from behind, you may be coming upon them completely unexpectedly – causing them to take fright or become confused or upset.

• Try to minimise noisy distractions before you approach the person. For example, you might want to turn down or turn off the radio or television.

• Say hello to the resident and use their name. Tell them who you are, and what you are going to be doing so they know what to expect.

• Maintain eye contact. Always try to sit or stand in front of them when you are speaking to them.

• Use simple language and speak clearly in a calm and gentle voice, but don’t use ‘baby language’. Treat the person with dignity and respect.

• Treat each person as an individual. Understand their situation, and take their individual circumstances into account. Treat them with empathy.

• Take the time to listen to what the person may be trying to communicate to you. This may mean pausing, listening and watching attentively. Look for signs they may be uncomfortable or in pain, and see if you can help them.

• Be aware of your body language, which can be just as communicative as words. Move slowly. Your gestures can reinforce what you are saying. Make sure your tone of voice is encouraging, calm and positive.

• Don’t be rushed, anxious or annoyed as the person may pick up on it.

• Don’t argue or contradict the person.

• If you try to approach someone and they don’t respond, maybe try again later when they might be feeling more responsive. Don’t force residents to talk to you if it appears they don’t want to.

• If you need extra support on these points, ask your supervisor or mentor.

If you follow these tips, when you approach a resident in aged care you are less likely to cause them alarm, and the path to communication and helping them will be much easier.

The post What is the Best Way to Approach an Aged Care Resident? appeared first on Autumn Aged Care.

From making sure that organisational systems are working smoothly and schedules run on time, through to ensuring that all the boxes have been ticked regarding policy changes, a lot is going on.

Yet at the heart of all the bustle, it is arguably those on the front line, the carers and nurses working in the daily routine that bring and see a much needed quality, humanity.

Scientific studies that have taken a look at the lives, input and wisdom of carers, have only fortified the notion that the people who are actually doing the work, are the ones that know what works and what doesn’t.

Changing Landscapes

A recent study was published in The British Journal of Social Work that investigated the changing policy landscape for aged care and the front line staff who are tasked with seeing change implemented.

The study looked at the impact of the introduction of consumer-directed care and its aim  to provide residents with greater autonomy and choice over their care services.

The study looked closely at front line staff and their perceptions about the changing policy, including  its impacts on facilities and residents.

What the study found was that carers had keen insight into what was working and what elements were causing frustration and confusion.

Insight

The study highlighted that carers found that the coordination of care, communication and the consistency of care delivery, were extremely important components affecting consumer directed care (CDC).

These components they saw impacting client relationships and quality of care.

Understanding carer insight and adjusting both the process of information gathering and policy creation, is where aged care organisations and policy makers can benefit most from the keen insight that carers can provide.

The study displayed the ability of carers to identify key areas of consideration when deliberating on changes to aged care and community care.

There is arguably a central role for carers in the process of policy creation, as they are integral to cultivating positive relationships, ensuring consistency and continuity in care, and managing the needs and expectations of clients.

Additionally, it is carers that are consistently facilitating support and advocacy of care options that work for both the residents and care staff.

The Invaluable Nature Of Rapport

An integral component of any smooth running facility is the rapport that carers have built between themselves and clients, over long nights, days, months and years.

Across ups and downs in moods and health, carers have created bonds built on trust, consistency and powerfully, providing dignity.

As the report states, rapport “is an invaluable component of community care that needs to be incorporated into CDC models”.

Understanding The Tricky Elements

The study showed that carers understood the nuances of the balance between empowering clients in self-determining choices, and when to exercise their duty of care towards their clients.

That balance is incredibly vital in facilitating the effectiveness of CDC in local and international facilities.

The study encouraged that the insights of carers allowed for deep and honest discussions about how policy changes were implemented, their effectiveness, and possible roadblocks along the way.

In attempting to navigate the design and implementation of “appropriate, quality, accessible and sustainable services to support older people’s needs” those on the front line and their insights have been and will always be crucially needed and relevant.

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While many residents may be acting out due to circumstances out of their control, carers regularly have to deal with challenging situations with emotional and physical factors at play.

It is important to acknowledge the difficulties faced by carers so as to provide a space of transparency, affirmation and importantly solution based resources.

It’s Difficult For All Carers

Rowan Harwood, Consultant Geriatrician and Professor of Geriatric Medicine and Health Care of older persons at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, has written and spoken on the topic and challenge of handling difficult symptoms and patients.

Harwood provides a reminder and comfort in the sense that no health care employee will always know what to do in any given situation, let alone a complex and high intensity one.

He says that many times difficult situations include confusing intersecting elements of medicine, psychiatry and law.

He says that oftentimes the best point of action may be really unclear.

What contributes to the difficulty in deciding what to do is that structured guidelines may be neither consistently applicable nor explicit.

Why is someone acting the way they are?

Harwood explains that a person may be aggressive, violent or abusive and acting anti-socially but it is important to look below the surface.

Within a facility or before a certain task like showering, medical, mental health or emotional problems and even a combination of all may be occurring.

It is important to assess the deeper situation to find the underlying explanation of behaviour and how much of each factor is contributing to behaviour.

For example, if a resident is in a lot of pain due to a chronic illness they may be acting out of fear, believing that when it comes to showering the pain will become worse.

What is behind difficult symptoms?

Harwood expresses that when looking at and attempting to manage difficult symptoms it is helpful to understand it as representing the “communication of distress or unmet need.”

This is a powerful tool when feeling overwhelmed by a resident yelling or attempting to strike you.

Our bodies naturally tense, deciding whether to fight or flight but Harwood and other experts explain that it is in centreing yourself and your mind, breathing deeply and seeking to understand the possible unmet needs that are triggering the surface loud and difficult symptoms, progress can be had.

De-escalation

Many psychologists and experts in this area advise that keeping your voice low, using active listening phrases like, “I hear what you are saying” and “That sounds very frustrating, how do you think we can resolve this?” can help in de-escalating a difficult situation with a resident.

Lynda Lampert explains that speaking softly, remaining neutral, keeping your distance, light eye contact and affirming that you hear their complaints go a long way in bringing down the intensity of challenging patients.

Harwood encourages that personnel can prevent and de-escalate situations through comprehending why the situation is happening, identifying the need and attempting to anticipate and meet it.

He explains that even though difficult symptoms can be overwhelming to manage, approaching it with a plan, to diagnose and treat while still maintaining safety and function can help with breakthroughs.

Give Yourself Space And Remember Humanity

From asking colleagues for their input, to seeking out your boss’ opinion on the situation, and spending some quiet time brainstorming over why a resident is acting the way they are, can provide valuable insight outside of stressful situations.

Harwood encourages carers to remain person centred in their approach to figuring out challenging symptoms. Remembering a person’s humanity can have multiple benefits from providing energy to keep working at figuring out a solution and realising what is at the bottom of difficult symptoms.

Community And Continued Learning

It is important that if an employee is feeling overwhelmed with a resident that they feel comfortable seeking help and asking for support.

Many difficult situations are more than we can manage on our own.

It is through collaboration and coordinated approaches that many challenging situations are overcome.

Harwood advocates that “Skilled communication, non-confrontation, relationship-building and negotiation represent the best way to manage situations and avoid harm.”

It is these areas where teaching needs to occur at all levels and at consistent time intervals.

While all carers will at many points in their career have to manage difficult situations and residents, it is through support, continued learning and community that solutions can be found.

Seeking help from colleagues, superiors and other healthcare professionals coupled with asking for the training you feel you need when it comes to de-escalation, will have positive sustained impacts on work satisfaction and overall resident health.

The post How to support people living with dementia through their symptoms appeared first on Autumn Aged Care.

Working adults are consistently the subjects of medical studies conducted to determine cause, severity and wider ramifications.

Yet strong evidence from recent investigations highlight that older persons are facing increasing likelihoods of developing diabetes and its side effects.

The U.S. based organisation, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published a National Diabetes Fact Sheet which stated that in the U.S. more than 25% of those aged 65 and over have Diabetes.

They also stated that the aging of populations was also a drive in the case count of diabetes.

It is important that at a broad health sector level and at the aged care facility level, there is an open discussion on diabetes, easily accessible information and support for families.

Statistically what do the numbers say is going on?

A team of scientists in the field of diabetes released a study that delved into what the statistical analysis was saying about diabetes numbers and common triggers.

The study stated that

“The epidemic of type 2 diabetes is clearly linked to increasing rates of overweight and obesity in the U.S. population.”

“Projections by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggest that even if diabetes incidence rates level off, the prevalence of diabetes will double in the next 20 years, in part due to the aging of the population.”

Additionally the study found that those aged 75 and over had double the likelihood of emergency department visits for hypoglycemia than the general population with diabetes.

Moving Forward

In line with the statistical data that has been coming forth from studies done on diabetes in the general population, it has become apparent that diabetes will be a significant challenge to many as they age.

Scientists, studies and health professionals are advocating for greater awareness of the diabetes and lifestyle changes that can make an impact in preventing its development.

Consistent, daily exercise is endorsed as a great way to assist in the prevention and management of diabetes across all age groups.

Inactivity and unhealthy BMIs have been shown as large contributors to the body developing diabetes and in light of this, health professionals across the branches of science and expertise encourage all of us to be as active as we can.

When it comes to your older loved ones, it is wise and practical to tailor activities that will suit their mobility needs.

A small walk along the corridor outside their room may greatly help in their overall health and pursuit of preventing diabetes.

Coming alongside them and having a chat may help with enthusiasm and motivation to be as active as they can be.

As diabetes is likely to be a large part of the medical journey of many of our loved ones, it is important that the dialogue on prevention, management and support is a continuous and collective one.

The post Understanding the Prevalence of Diabetes in older Adults appeared first on Autumn Aged Care.

The reach the process of ageing and disease has on people is not limited.

From children of affected persons to carer staff in residential homes, many individuals in our communities are shoulders tremendous burdens of care.

It is incredibly important that as a sector, a people, a health community that we train our eyes on those who are striving to bring comfort and do life with loved ones and residents with dementia.

Understanding The Scale Of The Situation

Medical experts say that when it comes to the statistics, the most common degenerative disease is dementia.

The scale of families and carers that are serving their loved ones who have the disease is at an all-time high and this trend is showing no signs of diminishing.

Academic studies have sought to give a voice to the carers.

As family members were interviewed, the information being uncovered pointed to the majority of family members feeling their lives were irrevocably changed since their loved one’s diagnosis of dementia.

Scientific studies are increasingly finding that family members who are intimately involved in the caring of their loved one with dementia are developing depression.

Investigating Triggers

An important angle that a 2018 study sought to investigate were the factors that contributed to the development of depression and the severity of that problem.

In uncovering the pertinent factors when it comes to the depression in caregivers, the health sector at large may be equipped with a focus.

In understanding the triggering factors of depression in caregivers, a focus may be established that can help organise resources, and support, for those in our society that powerfully need it.

The Study

Of those who participated in the study, a significant proportion was found to be suffering from depression.

Nearly 70% of carers looking after loved ones with dementia were found to exhibit depressive tendencies and scores in the range of depression.

Tellingly it was the specific insights from the study that may have an integral part to play in new carer policy.

It was found that the more advanced dementia in a loved one and the less support from other family members to the primary caregiver in the process of care, the higher the tendency and severity of depression.

Additionally, the study found that the older the primary-aged caregiver was and the lower their educational attainment was, the higher the likelihood of depression developing while in a caregiver role.

Shared Responsibility

The findings from this study not only speak to the role that the health and aged care sector has to play in protecting primary caregivers but also changes that should arguably happen in how we as a society view caring and responsibility.

Regardless of task whether it is caring for a loved one with dementia, parenting, working on a project or studying, humans are not wired to do things alone.

As humans, we thrive on community, support and connection.

How much more so should we be in collaboration with others when it comes to the emotional, loving and complex process of looking after loved ones with dementia.

Everyone needs and deserves support.

As a society at large down to our family units, it is in collective support and community that our carers should have defences against depression.

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