When is a cold more than a cold?

We received a phone call from a concerned daughter. Her 82 year old mother was seemingly suffering with a cold and had absolutely no energy. As a result, she was neither eating nor drinking reliably. The daughter thought it would be wise to have a caregiver spend some time with her mother, reminding her to eat and drink, to keep her company, and generally assist her with household tasks until the mother recovered.

With this information in hand, I visited her mother. I found a pale, pleasant woman, still in her pajamas in the middle of the morning. Her son in law was present. He said she looked better this day than the previous day. I checked the Client's medications and noted that she had prescriptions for Lipitor, apo-hydro, lisonopril, amlodipine and entrophen. Other, over the counter medications that she was taking included tylenol arthritis, aspirin and tylenol with caffeine and codeine.

Blood pressure was 112/60 (low), heart rate 82 (high), and client complained of fatigue and general achiness. She wondered if she might have the "flu". I told her that I did not think so.

I asked if her physician was aware of all of her medications, including the over the counter group. She said that she wasn't sure. She said that she saw her family doctor regularly.

With her permission, I called the family doctor and informed him of the client's condition and I expressed my concern over the excessive aspirin intake. I asked about recent bloodwork results, including hemoglobin and INR values. I told him I was extremely concerned that the Client might have an internal bleed. The doctor suggested she come to see him immediately and that she bring all the medications that she was currently taking.

I told the family and the Client of my concerns and the doctor's request.

The next day I received a call from the family, thanking me for my visit. They called for an ambulance immediately after I left the Client's home. The Client was admitted to hospital due to a gastrointestinal bleed.

Sometimes, a cold is more than a cold!

Interview by TheDailyPlanet.com

Woman freezes to death in city's northeast end...

We were contacted today by a reporter at Thedailyplanet.com to provide advice to the public on how to avoid a tragedy like this one; a 66year old woman, suffering from dementia, wandered out of her home at 2am and was found dead of hypothermia at 5am in a neighboring driveway.

Here are some of the ideas we shared:

*Register your loved one with the Alzheimer Society and Police through the Wandering Registry. This gives the Police a headstart should they be called upon to help find a missing person with dementia. The Registry also provides the potential wanderer with a medical alert bracelet which will help neighbors and others realize that there is a medical issue and that the confused person that they have encountered may be in need of immediate assistance.

*Alert your neighbors to the possibility that your relative may wander from your home. People are sometimes embarrassed to talk to others about dementia. Most people will gladly help out.

*Try the following strategies to prevent the confused person from exiting the house in the middle of the night: Use a motion detector device that alerts others in the house when the confused person has crossed the threshold of their bedroom; place windchimes on the inside of the door, alerting other residents of the home that the family member is trying to leave the home; place bright yellow hazard tape across the door threshold - this will discourage some people from attempting to exit.

*Remember that being a primary caregiver to a person suffering from dementia is an exhausting job. Sometimes the primary caregiver needs time off. Consider hiring a caregiver in order to give that person a break. Alternatively, there are respite settings available where the person with dementia can stay for a period of time, allowing the primary caregiver a much needed break and a chance also to catch up on their sleep.

*Try organizing a person with dementia's day to include physical exercise, fresh air and stimulating activities so that they will be tired by end of day and more likely to require a night's rest - and less likely to awaken to wander.

There is no one solution that works for everyone. These suggestions are sample interventions from our own experiences for those who have the primary care responsibility for someone with dementia.

Help us find a terrific RN

Employment - Registered Nurse Case Managers

We're always interested in talking with bright, energetic people who share our values and interest in working with the elderly. We currently have openings for 2 Registered Nurse Case Managers. These are full time positions.

If you or someone you know is interested in the Registered Nurse case Manager position posted below, please contact (or have them contact) Lisa Wiseman by phone, fax or e-mail.

Lisa Wiseman RN BScN
Phone: 416 482-8292
Fax: 416 482-8278
e-mail: wiseman@EldercareHomeHealth.com

Registered Nurse Case Managers:

Eldercare Home Health is a Registered Nurse owned and operated home health care service specializing in the care needs of seniors. Since 1995 Eldercare Home Health has been providing Registered Nurse supervised care in the community to seniors who wish to remain healthy, safe and independent at home.
Registered Nurse Case Managers - must have supervisory experience and experience working with the elderly.

Job Description:

At Eldercare Home Health we take a holistic approach to providing care for our elderly clients.
Registered Nurse Case Manager positions:

As a Registered Nurse Case Manager you’ll have and opportunity to practice Nursing in a way you may not have thought possible. You’ll be able to put the skills and judgement you’ve developed through practical experience, to use, improving the lives of seniors in our community.

You’ll be responsible for case management - including liaising with Family Members, Physiotherapists, Pharmacists, Doctors, and other medical and support professionals. You will have a key role in selecting and scheduling the staff you feel are most appropriate for the clients you are working with, supervising their practice to ensure that our clients receive the best care possible.
Your workday activities will be varied; visiting clients in their homes, supervising caregivers, meeting with healthcare professionals, researching care options for clients or meeting with your Nurse colleagues at our office.

We offer a competitive salary plus benefits, a 9am - 5pm workday (on-call responsibilities are rotated among the staff, with a day off in recognition for weekend on-call), mileage reimbursement, paid parking, and an office conveniently located at Eglinton and Mount Pleasant . We have an office mascot, Tia, a friendly four year old Golden Retriever (Tia also occasionally visits with clients in the community).

We encourage and support continuing education and professional development, and are continually evaluating technology and how it can assist in managing and improving care.
With the Founder and President of the company being a Registered Nurse, you can also count on an understanding, supportive and professional environment.

You are an RN, have supervisory experience, excellent assessment skills, are energetic, self motivated and have a positive attitude toward aging. You enjoy front-line contact with clients and caregivers and have a great sense of humor. If you're looking for a rewarding position with a growing company where you really can make a positive difference in older people's lives, we'd like to hear from you (you'll need a car).

Great reasons to consider working with Eldercare Home Health:

Competitive salary
9am-5pm work day (on-call responsibilities are rotated among the staff, with a day off in recognition for weekend on-call)
Health Benefits
Mileage reimbursement
Convenient location
Growing company
President is a Registered Nurse

Since founded over 15 years ago, company has never laid off a Registered Nurse. If you’ve been there and done that, and are ready to practice Nursing the way it should be practiced, contact us today.

Lisa Wiseman RN BScN
Phone: 416 482-8292
Fax: 416 482-8278
e-mail: wiseman@EldercareHomeHealth.com