Smoothe Foods - Links

Smoothe Foods - Links

They love to provide you with tools to help keep you informed on progress and resources for various conditions. See links below. These organizations do not endorse products.

Caregivers
http://www.caring.com

Dysphagia:
http://www.nfosd.com
http://www.Asha.org    
http://www.NIH.gov   
http://www.webmd.com    
http://www.alsa.org    
http://www.cancer.org  
http://www.cancer.org
http://www.ninds.nih.gov   
http://www.stroke.org
http://www.alz.org
http://www.swallowingdisorderfoundation.com
http://www.americandysphagianetwork.org
http://www.nmsss.org
http://www.parkinson.org


Gastrointestinal:
http://www.gastro.org/patient-center   
http://www.IFFGD.org
http://www.NIH.gov   
http://www.webmd.com

Smoothe Foods Goals: Our goal is to provide so many positive outcomes.

Educate individuals, caregivers, and professionals - How to realize when someone can benefit from Smoothe foods due to swallowing issues thus avoiding malnutrition, dehydration and even pain. Also determine when Smoothe Foods can provide nutrition when someone experiences poor digestive functions or chewing sensitivity due to dental issues.

Nutritious, All Natural & Delicious High Quality Meals for better health - An alternative to sugar laden shakes, baby food and powdered or canned food. Just because you cannot eat regular food doesn’t mean you can't have good, healthy meals.

Convenience  - The meals are convenient to prepare – just heat & eat!

Peace of mind  - Offering great meals for nutritional and emotio

Caregiver Daily Log

Caregiver Daily Log

If you've hired your caregiver privately, unless you provide an easy-to-use form the chances that your caregiver will consistently make note of what you need and want to know is slim. Some families ask their caregivers to record notes in a loose-leaf or spiral notebook, but without guidance about what to record, these notes tend to become shorter and shorter as time goes by.
The Caregiver Daily Log form is available for you to download and use. Remember to save it to your computer in a place you can remember. Print one two-sided sheet per caregiver per day. The easiest way to keep them organized for your caregiver(s) is to use a three-hole punch and keep them in a three-ring binder.

Download the Caregiver Daily Log

"Advocates for Patient Friendly Hospitals"

"Advocates for Patient Friendly Hospitals" 

 "Patient Freindly Hospitals"
All-inclusive discussion of patient focused practices. Conversations concerning the many needs of patients who are strangers to hospitals, emergency departments, emergency rooms and the mind boggling array of inpatient and outpatient orginization.

Healthcare professionals can't respond with patient focused care unless they are trained and their organization has a common guidelines how to manage patient confusion, fear, cognitive issues and finding their way around the hospital.

Create A Better Day Café will be held the 4th Sunday of each month from 1:00pm to 3:00pm

Create A Better Day Café

Are you caring for someone with Alzheimer's or other dementia?  Create A Better Day Café encourages socialization with other caregivers and loved ones where you can just be yourself. This is a wonderful opportunity to get out with your loved one and have an enjoyable afternoon.  It's a time to step out of the daily routine, leave the disease at the door, and enjoy a positive experience in a supportive environment.  The afternoon will consist of conversation, music, arts, games, refreshments, and most importantly, laughter. There is no cost.  It is open to anyone at any stage of the disease process accompanied by friends, family, and loved ones.

Our Next Café is

Sunday

November 24th, 2013

1:00pm to 3:00pm 

Create A Better Day Café will be held the 4th Sunday of each month from 1:00pm to 3:00pm
at Pleasantries Adult Day Services 195 Reservoir Street
 Marlborough, MA. 

Call Tammy for more information at 508-481-0809

Due to possible cancellation from inclement weather or illness, please call prior to attending   and listen to voice message

How to Widen a Doorway • Ron Hazelton Online

How to Widen a Doorway • Ron Hazelton Online • DIY Ideas & Projects: Learn how widen a doorway; includes details on inspection holes, removing wall coverings and installing new framing.

Related Project
In the course of widening this doorway, some damaged flooring was exposed.  view a video that shows how that situation was handled.
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Palliative Care Services: Support For the Entire Family | Griswold

Palliative Care Services: Support For the Entire Family | Griswold: Caring For More Than Just the Patient
Palliative care services are also not focused solely on the patient. The palliative care team understands the important role that family members and friends play in the recovery and comfort of the patient. Part of the services offered include dealing with the emotional and spiritual needs of the patient and family. A chronic or life threatening illness can take a heavy emotional toll. The palliative care team will help reduce the stress of the family caretakers.

Costs are always a concern when it comes to medical issues. As most palliative care takes place in a hospital or nursing home, for the most part it is typically covered by insurance including Medicare and Medicaid. If payment is an issue, a palliative care team member can help determine which payment options are best for you.

Palliative care teams understand the stresses that you and your family face. The anxiety, fatigue, depression, and pain that can become part of coping with a chronic illness do not have to become the center of everyone’s attention and the focus of their energy. For an older adult with a serious or chronic disease, palliative care can add an additional layer of support and care for the patient and family members.

Dementia: How to Protect Your Family Member in a Nursing Home | Alzheimer's Speaks Blog

Dementia: How to Protect Your Family Member in a Nursing Home | Alzheimer's Speaks Blog: Key Points When Choosing a Home

When you’re looking at different nursing homes, there are different things to look at and consider. By taking a look at these points, you’ll know exactly what kind of a home that your loved one is living at.

· You should start by checking out the Nursing Home Compare program provided by the Medicare website. This online programs allow you to view if they have any recent penalties, what they scored on their last inspection, and how they rate in comparison to other nursing homes in the area.

· Look at the staffing. Especially if your loved one is diagnosed with dementia—they are going to be in need of constant care. Look at the ratio of aid to patients on the nursing home compare website. Ask the employees how often they switch patients. You can also find this information on the Nursing Home Compare website. You’re paying the money—make sure you are getting what you ask for.

Training & Workshop Schedule | SBDC | Clark University

Training & Workshop Schedule | SBDC | Clark University: Your First Business Plan

Thursday, November 21, 2013
8:45 – 12 noon
Grace Conference Room, Higgins University Center

This next program covers a topic that is critically important with the start-up process of a small business and can also be beneficial to existing businesses that may be ready to expand. After you have proven the feasibility of your concept, limited your risk, analyzed your financials, and developed a marketing plan – how do you package all of this information together so you can really get your business started?
Our team of expert advisors enjoy working with people who are ready to get their businesses started. Developing a winning business plan can be invaluable as a management planning tool and or as a loan proposal. The business plan becomes the blueprint that an entrepreneur can follow to avoid the pitfalls that await every small business owner. This program is designed to guide the participants on a step by step journey to develop a thorough and comprehensive Business Plan.

Topics that will be included are:
• What a banker looks for in a business plan
• Defining the business
• Describing the target markets
• The marketing/advertising program
• Projected balance sheets
• Projected income statements
• Projected cash flow projections

When Cognition & Hearing Loss Collide

When Cognition & Hearing Loss Collide: When Cognition & Hearing Loss Collide
By Jennifer Bradley, Staff Writer
(Page 1 of 2)

If you find a loved one asking repetitive questions, becoming more confused and forgetful, you may assume they have dementia, but the cause could be hearing loss.

While it’s not “new” news, study results reported in the January 2013 Journal of the Medical Association Internal Medicine are confirming what many professionals have believed: that cognitive loss and hearing loss collide on a large scale.

The study, from the John Hopkins University School of Medicine, is the first of its kind and is viewing long-term brain function impacted by hearing loss. When the study began in 2001, the 1,984 participants (in the age range of 75 to 84) were in good health and had no cognitive impairment. Over a period of six years, hearing and brain cognition tests were administered. Study researchers determined that brain ability was in direct correlation to hearing loss. Those who did have hearing loss suffered more substantial cognitive impairment more than three years sooner than others with normal hearing levels.

Links | GeriPal - Geriatrics and Palliative Care Blog

Links | GeriPal - Geriatrics and Palliative Care Blog: Home

Links
We are populating a new list of links for national geriatrics and palliative care organizations (in addition to the blog role that is on our main page). Let us know if you have other sites that you think should be on this list!

Welcome to GeriPal
GeriPal (Geriatrics and Palliative care) is a forum for discourse, recent news and research, and freethinking commentary. Our objectives are: 1) to create an online community of interdisciplinary providers interested in geriatrics or palliative care; 2) to provide an open forum for the exchange of ideas and disruptive commentary that changes clinical practice and health care policy; and 3) to change the world.

Who is GeriPal
GeriPal was founded by Eric Widera and Alex Smith.

Contributors include Theresa Allison, Bob Arnold, Shaida Talebreza Brandon, Helen Chen, Amy Corcoran, Ken Covinsky, Anne Johnson, Bree Johnston, Helen Kao, Chrissy Kistler, Leslie Kernisan, Sei Lee, Hillary Lum, Susan Lysaght, Dan Matlock, Brad Miller, Aanand Naik, Carla Perissinotto, VJ Periyakoil, Mike Steinman, Rebecca Sudore, Tanya Lugliani Stewart, Brad Stuart, Paul Tatum, Julie Thai, Ori Tzvieli, Patrice Villars, Lindsey Yourman, and Ron Walent.

Alzheimer's Navigator an Alzheimer's Association service

Alzheimer's Navigator: Map out a plan to approach Alzheimer's

When facing Alzheimer's disease, there are a lot of things to consider. Alzheimer's Navigator helps guide you to answers by creating a personalized action plan and linking you to information, support and local resources.
You can move at your own pace

Create your private profile and complete the Welcome Survey.
Take short surveys pertaining to your needs with:

Planning for the Future
Working with Doctor/Healthcare Professionals
Caregiver Support
Activities of Daily Living
Home Safety
Driving
Knowledge of Alzheimer's

Review your action plan to get more information, support and local resources.

How to help if someone you care for has a fall | Stroke4Carers

How to help if someone you care for has a fall | Stroke4Carers: How to help if someone you care for has a fall

Video running time: 07.13 minutes. The film may take time to download depending on your broadband speed.
To enlarge to full screen click on the arrows at the bottom right of the frame.

If you are having problems playing the video, download the clip here [.mp4, 28.6 MB] (Right click this link, and “Save As”).  http://www.stroke4carers.org/wp-content/uploads/GETTING_UP_AFTER_A_FALL.mp4