Memory Care

Memory Loss is very common during old age. About 10-20% of the population over 70 have some type of cognitive impairment. Memory loss can’t necessarily be prevented but it is important to keep your brain active and healthy to help lower your risk of memory loss.

Some activities that increase mental stimulation and can help to boost your memory are: *Learning something new. I do not believe in the phrase “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” We all have the ability to learn a new skill, or research a new and interesting topic. *Music. In my own experience, music has proven to be almost magical in terms of brain functioning. My grandmother who had advanced-staged Alzheimer’s could still remember the tune and words to “You are my Sunshine” even after she had lost the ability to form complete sentences. It opens up a whole new part of your brain that is not always in use and can be a great way to exercise your brain! *Exercise. This increases blood flow to your brain and helps keep your body working the way it should be. *Socialization. It is never good to be isolated, being in a social environment can drastically improve your mood and quality of life.

At Home Comfort Care, we offer caregiving services to help increase brain activity and health as well as caring for those with memory loss. We offer healthy meal planning and preparation, transportation services to increase mobility, companionship to lower the time spent isolated and alone, and help with crafts and activities to increase brain and physical functioning. We offer medication reminders as well as personal care and grooming assistance. We offer all of this as in-home care, no need for a nursing home! We offer care as basic as 2 hours to 24 hours a day, we cater to fit your needs! We match you or your loved one with one of our highly trained aides.

Call us today to receive a FREE in-home consultation and quote. We work with Medicaid as well as Long-Term Life Insurance. 801-5269-7170

Watch our Care Services video for more information:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71yMwILlA-I

-Carrie

Elderly Care Services/ Malnutrition Problems

As we age, there tends to be a general decline in health. A big reason for this is malnutrition.

Oxford Dictionary's definition for malnutrition states: malnutrition is a lack of proper nutrition, caused by not having enough to eat, not eating enough of the right things, or being unable to use the food that one does eat.

As we get older, it gets harder to cook, plan and prepare meals, harder to chew and swallow, and harder to drive out to the grocery store on a regular basis for fresh food. Some of these things can be difficult to monitor in our loved ones. Nestle has developed a Mini-Nutritional Assessment Tool that can be used to determine whether you or someone you know is at a nutritional risk.

Screening:

A) Has food intake declined over the past 3 months due to loss of appetite, digestive problems, chewing, or swallowing difficulties?

• 0= severe decrease in food intake
• 1= moderate decrease in food intake
• 2= no decrease in food intake

B) Weight loss during the last 3 months

• 0= weight loss greater than 3 kg (6.6lbs)
• 1= does not know
• 2= weight loss between 1 kg and 3 kg (2.2 and 6.6 lbs)
• 3= no weight loss

C) Mobility

• 0= bed or chair bound
• 1= able to get out of bed/ chair but does not go out
• 2= goes out

D) Has suffered psychological stress or acute disease in the last 3 months?

• 0= yes
• 2= no

E) Neuropsychological Problems

• 0= severe dementia or depression
• 1= mild dementia
• 2= no psychological problems

F1) Body Mass Index (BMI) (weight in kg)/ (height in meters)2 

• 0= BMI less than 19
• 1= BMI 19 to less than 21
• 2= BMI 21 to less than 23
• 3= BMI 23 or greater

If BMI is not available, replace question F1 with question F2. 

Do not answer question F2 if Question F1 is already completed.

F2) Calf Circumference (CC) in cm

• 0= CC less than 31
• 3= CC 31 or greater

Screening Score (max 14 points):

• 12-14- Normal nutritional status
• 8-11- At risk of malnutrition
• 0-7- Malnourished

 Ref. Vellas B, Villars H, Abellan G, et al. Overview of the MNA® - Its History and Challenges. J Nutr Health Aging 2006;10:456-465. Rubenstein LZ, Harker JO, Salva A, Guigoz Y, Vellas B. Screening for Undernutrition in Geriatric Practice: Developing the Short-Form Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA-SF). J. Geront 2001;56A: M366-377. Guigoz Y. The Mini-Nutritional Assessment (MNA® ) Review of the Literature - What does it tell us? J Nutr Health Aging 2006; 10:466-487. Kaiser MJ, Bauer JM, Ramsch C, et al. Validation of the Mini Nutritional Assessment Short-Form (MNA®-SF): A practical tool for identification of nutritional status. J Nutr Health Aging 2009; 13:782-788. ® Société des Produits Nestlé, S.A., Vevey, Switzerland, Trademark Owners © Nestlé, 1994, Revision 2009. N67200 12/99 10M For more information: www.mna-elderly.com

What can you do to help combat nutritional risk?

First off, you will want to talk to a doctor or nurse to make sure there are no other health complications. Then, you will want to look at some in-home health care options. At Home Comfort Care, we offer aides to come in and plan and prepare meals, as well as grocery shopping- we can even take you with us! We offer companionship- sometimes just having someone else to eat with or talk to can help increase appetite! We keep daily journals and carefully monitor those we are in care of for any signs of change. We can also help with bathing, dressing, housework, and transportation. We understand the challenges of age and we like to help promote as much independence as possible with our services. Our rates are hard to beat, and we even have a live-in care service provided. Call or e-mail us today to set up a free consultation with Jenny!

-Carrie 801-529-7170; homecomfortcareutah@gmail.com