Are We running out of Caregivers?

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Dementia Care Advocates- The New Healthcare Profession

Why caregivers need a Dementia Care Advocate
http://optimalhealthcaresolutions.com/health

Dementia Care Training for Healthcare Professionals

Optimal Healthcare Solutions- Leading the Way to Dementia Care Advocacy
In 2011 America had an estimated 5.2 million Americans of all ages diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. There were 5 million people in America 65 and older diagnosed with dementia/Alzheimer’s disease.
Why do we need Properly Trained Dementia Care Professionals?
Because every 68 seconds someone in American has developed Dementia. By 2050 every 33 seconds someone in America will have developed Alzheimer’s disease. There are 200,000 people under the age of 65 who have younger-onset Alzheimer's (ALZ).
Nearly half of elderly people 85 and older (43%) have ALZ. 2050 Americans 65 and older with ALZ will have tripled from 5 million to 13.8 million.
In 2012, 15.4 million caregivers provided more than 17.5 billion hours of unpaid care valued at $216 billion. In 2013, Alzheimer's cost the nation $203 billion. This number is expected to rise to $1.2 trillion by 2050.
What makes Optimal Healthcare Solutions Program better than the other Alzheimer’s organizations?

• Great interaction between the trainer and attendees.
• Many years of experience in the healthcare industry.
• Program with more information on dementia care that is geared towards healthcare professionals.
• Offers an opportunity to advance your career.

With the increase in people with various forms of dementia growing. The healthcare industry will need more healthcare professionals. Some states have already made Dementia Training a must for healthcare professionals.
Families need assistance, and support in managing loved ones with dementia. You can be there for them with the proper training. You can be there as an advocate!
Now is the chance for you to be in the forefront of a new demanding career by being a Dementia Care Advocate. The training you receive from us will be the stepping stones that can make a difference.
Are you ready? Optimal Healthcare Solutions has put together an eight-hour training course that will allow you to receive a certificate of completion in dementia care.
The cost of the course is $125.00. What will you receive for your investment?

• Continental Breakfast and delicious lunch
•  A Notebook binder filled with pages of priceless information on Dementia care.
• The first steps in having your own business
• Networking Opportunities, or new Career choice
• Certificate of Completion
• If you have any questions or concerns, call Optimal Healthcare Solutions and ask for Sharron Williams, BSN, RN, DCA, LNC at (720)421-5252. We will send you a confirmation letter. Hope to see you at our dementia care training program.
• The next seminar is September 13, 2014. Due to limited seating, you have until August 23rd  to register. Register by August 9th for the early bird discount of $20.00 off the registration which will make the course $105.00. Late registration is $130.00 between the dates of September 6^th-12^th. Please make your check payable to: Optimal Healthcare Solutions. You may register for the October or November classes if you cannot attend in September.
• Sign up today for September 13th or October 18th or November 5th for your chance to change your life.
• Location is at Noonan's on I-225/ Iliff Ave.  Noonan's Event Center 13521 E. Iliff Ave. Aurora, CO 80014

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Change Is In the Air

Everyone has heard about the proposed health care changes in the works as a result of the Affordable Care Act, commonly referred to as Obamacare.  There seems to be a lot of confusion, as well as anxiety, about the insurance exchanges scheduled to debut on October 1, 2013.  While the new health care policy will expand to cover millions of uninsured Americans, controversy is growing over the potential number of employees who might lose current benefits.  All of this seems to be a bit overwhelming on some levels, but maybe we are looking at this from the wrong angle.

Change always presents opportunity.  As health care marketers, we should be excited and full of anticipation.  Sure we all must make adjustments, but that is exactly what makes us effective and difference makers in the marketplace.  Get all the facts and study the new health guidelines and how they impact your business.  Will the proposed changes dramatically affect existing customers and your ability to find new business? Maybe it is time for us to breathe a sigh of relief and recognize the wonderful untapped potential in front of us.  Change can be a good thing when we see all the positives that can come out of it.  Embrace the opportunity and make change your ally to make life better for all those who depend upon you.

Written by George D. Williams, BS,MA, Freelance Writer/Author

 

Mild Brain Injuries Grow

There is an increase in the number of mild brain injuries reported. The rise in cases reported are due to various factors – among the most common are increased awareness, educational programs, and lifestyle choices. Mild brain injury can result from a blow or jolt to the head, leading to bruising or trauma to the brain surface. It is estimated approximately 1.4 million people are diagnosed with mild brain injury each year. Amazingly, 85% of those receiving treatment will make a full recovery. Despite the fact that more closed head injuries are being reported, there are still misconceptions about mild brain injuries.When an individual initially experiences mild brain injury, losing consciousness may or may not occur. In fact, it is not unusual for a person to “feel fine” immediately following a hit to the head area. However, over a period of time, symptoms such as memory loss, dizziness, vomiting, blurred speech or vision, and headaches may manifest. In many situations people are not aware of a mild brain injury until symptoms appear weeks, or even months later. Regrettably, going undiagnosed happens frequently among children who may have encountered head trauma from sports, abuse from adults, or bullying. Common causes of mild brain injury are falls, car accidents, sports, war, skiing, and boating accidents.In light of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, mild brain injury is a reality for many of our returning troops. Many of these young men and women will find it extremely difficult adapting to civilian life once they return because of head injuries sustained during combat. If brain injury victims do not receive timely therapeutic intervention, the recovery process can be prolonged. In addition, delayed treatment may lead to complications as temporary symptoms may become permanent. Most tragic is the fact that mild brain injuries may be fatal if undetected over an extended period of time.

What's New?

I'm so excited!!! We have been very busy here at Optimal Healthcare Solutions. I'm preparing to put on 2 Dementia Care Training classes this week and next week. I just finished a Dementia Care handout to give to families when I counsel them. I also completed the Mild Brain Injury training course, created for coaches and parents. So forgive me for not posting a long message today. I need to practice for my presentations.

Updated Statistics on Dementia

As the Director of Clinical Services for a home health care agency. I have seen an increase in the number of dementia cases coming into our agency. Why? I'll tell you why!
By the end of this year the number of Americans diagnosed with Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia are expected to be 111,560. Some experts predict 67,680 new cases will be women and 43,880 will be men. Why the difference? Are women more susceptible to getting dementia than men? No, of course not. The facts are increased for women because in general they out live men. It is projected that seniors 75 and older will increase by 70% by 2025.
Right now the American Alzheimer's Association say that America has 5.4 million seniors with Alzheimer's so far, and the numbers will increase as the baby boomers grow older. This figure is expected to increase 350% by 2050. By the end of this year, 10,000 people will be turning 65. 85% of them will need some sort of home health care. Sadly, there are also approximately 200,000 individuals in the US under the age of 65 who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.
Fact: So far America has spent 183 Billion, not Million, but Billion of dollars per year to care for people with dementia. 80% of these patients have at least one chronic health care issue, and 50% have at least two medical conditions such as: Arthritis, Diabetes, Hypertension, COPD, or a cardiac condition. As patients with dementia start to enter into the 3rd and 4th stages of dementia, their health may start to deteriorate due to non-compliance of care by the patient with dementia.
2 years ago government statistics stated that there were 8.9 million unpaid caregivers. The numbers have grown. This year it is estimated that 14.9 million people care for their loved ones who are over the age of 50.
2 years ago American businesses estimated they lost $34 Billion dollar due to employees needing time off to care for their parents, spouse or other relative.

I lied, and I'm sorry!

In my last blog I mentioned how dedicated I would be to blogging again. well, as you can tell, I haven't kept up with the blog for some really good reasons. SInce my last post. I have been busy researching on autism, Mild Brain Injuries, and Dementia.
Since then I have been asked to create several programs for home healthcare agencies to help them deal with these types of patients. Things are looking better, and are more organzied. I do plan to be back at blogging at the end of the month. I would love to share information I have researched, and attended conferences on the said topics.
So, please bookmark this blog. I do not want you to miss out on valuable information.