All the single ladies

The "curse" of Dementia and/or Alzheimer's

Witnessing the gradual decline of a loved one is heart-breaking. Taking care of a person or persons suffering from either Dementia or Alzheimer's is a challenge. Three publications that touched my soul, two I would recommend for gaining better understandiong include:

Keeper: One House, Three Generations, and a Journey into Alzheimer's by Andrea Gillies

Still Alice by Lisa Genova

Dealing with dementia by Homa Khaleeli [Download Dealing with Dementia] in the Mail & Guardian 18 to 24 November 2011, Health insert.

 

Ladies, stop taking life sitting down

This is a marking slogan used by Go-Girl, because life greatest adventure should not be finding a toilet.

 
It is a female urination device (FUD) that enables women to pee standing up, when toilets are dirty, disgusting, distant, non-exiting or crowded. View and online presentation (play demo) or read more about it from Download Don't _take_peeing_sitting_down_Fairlady_Oct2011_p234

Women enabling women

Women working together - the Women's Charter & how to work together

Social Development - rights, justice, legal help, social welfare, health, HIV-AIDS, marriage & divorce, violence & women, homosexuality, death & dying, children & youth, education & training

Economic development & job creation - consumer issues, work & women, making own money, agriculture

Physical infrastructure - land & housing, water & sanitation (toilets), electricity, road & transport, telephones

Who makes the rules? - the Constitution, the Commission on Gender Equality, different parts of the government

Development and how it happens - what development is, how development happens

All this and more forms part of a UKZN Centre for Adult Education & Midlands Women's Group publication, first published 1999 - 2nd edition 2004.

 

Short eyelashes a medical condition

Blessed with long-thick eyelashes, I have enjoyed the verbal admiration of many women since I've been a little boy, less so as adult, but nevertheless. Reading Tim Dowling's piece in Mail & Guardian's Friday about Latisse prescribed in US as eyelash medication reminded me about how fortunate I am. Download Latisse a prescription medication Mail+Guardian Friday 6-12 August 2010-p17

Intrigued I did a search I found some very interesting webpages. The use of Bimatoprost has in December 2008 been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to lengthen eyelashes. This off-label cosmetic formulation of Bimatoprost is sold as Latisse. Normally Bimatoprost is used to control the progression of glaucoma and in the management of ocular hypertension by increasing the outflow of aqueous fluid from the eyes.

The Lattise webpage promotes asks the question: 'what if there was a product that didn't just imitate fuller lashes', as mascara does but 'actually made fuller lashes'. But before getting too excited, the FDA cautioned in September 2009 the downplaying of potential side effects associated with Latisse (bimatoprost ophthalmic solution) the eyelash drug, such as the potential risk of redness and changes in eye colour. Therefore ladies, read the promotional material carefully when it states that "Latisse" is capable of promoting eyelash growth and will be a valuable asset to the cosmetic industry as a prescription topical, only being available through physicians. Current reports confirm that the topical can stimulate eyelash growth, to make them longer and thicker. It is dabbed like an eye-liner at the roots of the eye lashes on the upper eyelid. A HydroPeptide® advert take advantage of the FDA cautioning and points out "side effects including bacterial eye infection, allergic reactions, excess hair growth outside the intended treatment area, and permanent changes in iris and eyelid pigmentation".

Trying to keep doing the undoable

Any overloaded system sooner or later collapses at the weakest point. Trying singly to cope; to keep up with the demands of work, parenting, household management, and, and, and …

Mark Rice-Oxley shares his breakdown-story, a major depression episode — the most terrifying thing that ever happened to him. All was well, he was functioning in overdrive … "A 'portfolio parent', part-time work, part-time home dad, part-time freelancer … long years of chaotic breakfasts, a messy school run, some exercise, a dash into London, 10 hours on a pin-ball newsdesk, back to release [his] wife for a school governors' meeting or a conference call or to move the house slightly to the left, And late for everything." Then:

• One day an overwhelming headache
• Liquid fatigue poured into his legs
• Surreal episodes of seeing the world through the bottom of a highball glass
• Incapable of facing people without panicking
• An urge to circulate and just as quickly to sit, only not to be able to and an urge to stand
• Lost appetite (or urge to overeat)
• Insomnia coupled to frightened and unable to keep still — wicket loops of empty hours of sleeplessness, but catastrophic thoughts
• Cannot endure watching television or concentrate to read a book
• Twitchy and unable to settle
• Heart pounding and ears full of white noise

A medical fact, an illness — broken chemical circuitry in the brain — depression! Unfortunately, "like wars of love affairs depression is a thing that is easy to get started but difficult to bring to a close". The four things that really helped for Mark Rice-Oxley are "meditation, love, time and therapy". Download Depression - The illness that is still taboo - Mail+Guardian 6-12August2010 pp18-19

Uncoupling ritual

"Get past it," "get over it," or "move on" often marks the impatience of society that is no longer accustomed to meaningful ritualisations to mark life's transitions in healthy ways, remarks Charlotte Eulette. Carl Jung, she points out, emphasized that ceremonies and rituals are important aspects in transition and well-being. "Ceremony is a noble and life-affirming way to mark rites of passage" she asserts and lists twelve kinds of rituals. No 10 is an "Uncoupling Ceremony". A ceremony to honour, helping a friend to make the transition from married status to divorce with dignity and compassion. Perhaps there is method to the madness of divorce celebration cakes?

Other rituals Charlotte Eulette suggests include, among others, wisdom, survival, new beginnings, healing and coming of age.

Decision-making incapacity

How will you protect yourself from abuse, neglect and exploitation when you cannot make decisions for yourself because of diminished capacity as a result of mental illness, intellectual disability, physical disability or an incapacity related to ageing in general?

A power of attorney is a document that authorises an appointed party to act on another person's behalf in business and legal matters. The person authorised to act (on your behalf) is commonly known as the agent or simply the attorney, while the authorising party (you) is commonly known as the principal or donor. Often a close friend, partner or member of the family is appointed as agent.

There are three kinds of powers of attorney:

• General power of attorney—authorises the agent in general.
• Limited power of attorney—limits the authority of the agent to specified matters/issues/circumstances.
• Health care power of attorney—applies specifically to appoint someone to make health care decisions for you (but should not be confused with a living will) when you are unable to do so.

It is important to keep in mind that a power of attorney terminates on the incapacity of the person who granted the power (the principal or donor).

Consideration is being given to the introduction into South African law of an enduring power of attorney and a conditional power of attorney. The first (enduring power of attorney) endures the subsequent incapacity of the person who granted it, while the second (conditional power of attorney) will come into effect only on incapacity.

At present, the South African law deals with decision-making incapacity by way of curatorship—a difficult, cumbersome and costly process involving medical and legal expertise presented in the high court.

Residence for elderly

Recently I was faced with the reality of organising accommodation of an elderly parent who could no longer live on her own—a task more challenging than anticipated.

I found Senior Service to be very useful, user friendly and a free search facility of Retirement Villages, Old Age Homes, Frail Care centres, Nursing Homes, Step-down facilities—the number one website if you are looking for retirement accommodation for a parent or maybe yourself. Another is Retirement Places.

There are many factors to consider with regard to retirement accommodation, issues such as:

• The person's financial means:
  • Many retirement villages entail sectional title or share block ownership and monthly levies payable. Often such units are to let and there are many new developments.
  • Others entail Tenancy Right (alternatively called life rights / occupation right), which is an upfront cash payment for the right to occupy a unit, for example Flower Foundation retirement villages, plus monthly levies/rental.
  • Yet other are purely rental, with an initial application fee. Some of these are aimed at financially needy.
  • There are also many local government owned elderly accommodation, such as the City of Johannesburg's homes for senior citizens.

The condition of the person's health is an important consideration:

• If the elderly person is still totally independent and able to look after themselves a retirement village cottage or flat is an option. However, it is important to keep in mind that health often deteriorates with age.
• When daily nursing is not yet required semi-independent apartments or bed-sitters with access to resident nursing clinics is an option.
• When an elderly person can no longer cope with daily chores such as cooking, shopping, laundry and so forth, mid care should be considered. Residents usually require some assistance with daily living activities such as bathing, dressing and administration of medications.
• When dependant on daily nursing, frail care is the answer.
• Some retirement facilities offer the full range, which is ideal—as health deteriorates the care is increased. Most retirement homes require a medical doctor's report and want to conduct an interview with the applicant, in order to make an assessment of the individual's dependency and care required.

 

The individual's mobility:

• Closely associated to health is the individual's mobility. The less mobile, the more care is required.
• Mobility restrictions and/or aided walking also restrict a person's access with regard to stairs, etc.

 

Applying for retirement accommodation is often a rather involved process. Be prepared for:

• Comprehensive application form
• Declaration of financial situation
• Medical doctor's report and script for all medication taken daily
• Testimonial or character report
• Debit order form for monthly levies
• Deposit or application fee payable
• Personal interview by the social worker and/or nursing manager
• A waiting list

Once a loved one is in care, it is prudent to take note of the nature of care provided and to be watchful with regard to potential elderly abuse, which is be defined as any form of contact that harms an elderly person in any way, or neglect.

Supplemented 14 December 2010.

Organising care

Being sole provider and taking care of a sick child or parent can be challenging.

Medical aid coverage is generally limited and you require:

• A doctor's script with the ICD10 code
• The nursing or caregiver agency practice number
• Prior approval

A24-Group Medical Staffing is a possibility with a practice number through which to organise nursing, a caregiver or home care.

Nursing Services of South Africa provides nursing care to patients within their own homes.

Sister 4 U provides frail care, child care and home care in the Cape Town area.

It is prudent to make a note of home care services in your area for when you quickly need to arrange care. help @ hand is such a resource in the Tshwane area.