The Secret History of Your Name

What secrets do your last name keep?

Ancestry.com has created an exciting new tool that allows you to find out the history of your last name and what it might reveal about your ancestors.

To check this tool out, go to Ancestry.com’s site here.

ps – A little bit of a hint, try entering other family names you may know in your family history.

1 Assist Care’s Caregivers not only help with things like cooking and cleaning, they can also help the seniors they care for do their family history, giving those receiving care with a sense of purpose and accomplishment.

Have You Seen: 7 Lessons That Can Lead to Family History Breakthroughs

RootsTech 2016, the largest conference in the world focused on family history technology is all wrapped up.

FamilySearch, the conference’s organizer has published a set of 7 lessons you can use for “Family History Breakthroughs.”  Some are obvious, like “Family History is for Everyone.”  Some are not so obvious, like how to make your family tree public.

To read the entire list, check out the post here.

Did you know 1 Assist Care has helped our client’s do family history with them while providing care?  It has helped our clients feel a sense of purpose as they work towards a goal and service while in their homes.  Call us for more information! 208-557-4215

Get everyone involved in family history.

Eating with Alzheimer’s and Dementia – Helping A Loved One

$110 for a dining set that looks like it is straight out of Ikea!?!  Yup, and worth every penny.

Sure today is only the end of August, and sure, it was in the mid 90’s in normally cool headed East Idaho, but Christmas may just have come early.  At least for those who are suffering from Alzheimer’s it has.  Well, for those whose loved one’s plan on leaving them this awesome dining set in their stocking.Eat Well Dining Set - Alzheimers Eating Help

 

According to FoodbeastWhen designer Sha Yao’s late grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease, the young designer felt helpless and wanted to do more for her loved one. Yao spent time volunteering in senior care facilities that care for patients of Alzheimer’s and other impairing conditions.

The colors, shapes, design were all thought out with Alzheimer’s patients in mind.  It even uses scientific research to help stimulate the appetite of someone suffering from Alzheimer’s.

Her design got noticed.  In 2014, it won the Stanford Design Challenge out of 52 teams from 15 countries.

You can go snag a set today!

Stopping Elder Scams: When to Hang Up

Don't let robodialers give you a headache. Stop them in their tracks with these four steps.

Don’t let robodialers give you a headache. Stop them in their tracks with these four steps.

Have you ever picked up the phone from an unknown caller and heard silence on the other end?

Hang up!

Turns out it could be a company trying to collect your information so you can be victimized.

There are companies all over the world trying to collect people’s phone numbers so they can sell them to others who can use it for nefarious reasons.

If the call is legitimate, they will call you right back.  If not, the “robodialers” have moved on to their next batch of numbers to call.

Here are five steps you can follow to reduce your risk of being a victim:

  1. Know the numbers of those you know and trust.  Save numbers to your phone if you have a cell phone.
  2. If there is silence when you answer, respond with silence.  Any noise can alert the company that you are a potential target.
  3. Hang up immediately.  Do not give them the chance to reply.
  4. If an unwanted caller responds, save them as a “Marketer” (I have over 50 numbers saved as under the name “Marketer”)
  5. Again, if it is a machine or someone from a foreign company trying to sell you something like “pharmaceuticals,” block the number.

The phone is your friend!  It allows you to reach people, to communicate with others, and to stay safe.  Don’t let robodialers ruin your phone freedom!

For more information, here is the NPR article. Or you can listen below.

Proposed Changes to the VA’s Home Aid And Attendance Program

The VA is proposing changes to the Aid and Attendance program. It is an attempt to streamline the system to award it faster while preventing those without economic or physical need from receiving it.

The VA is proposing changes to the Aid and Attendance program. It is an attempt to streamline the system to award it faster while preventing those without economic or physical need from receiving it.

In January of this year, the Department of Veteran Affairs made some suggested changes to programs that it offers to veterans in need, including the Aid and Attendance program.

You can find the proposed changes in their entirety here.  The changes come because of a 2012 report issued by the GAO.

Reasons for the change:

  • Pension Used By Those Not In Need Financially or Physically: The VA had concerns that veterans and others were attempting to hide assets in order to gain access to the programs that were meant for needs-based veterans and their surviving spouses.  Also, they felt that people were using the pension who did not really need it as they do not need care in the home.
  • Excessive Care Costs: The VA desired to put a cap on the amount per hour that care companies charge for home care standards to come more in line with industry standards.
  • Slow Response Time For Help: The VA realized that the speed at which they were able to award the pension was hindered by the complexity of the current application process, both to the VA and to those applying for the program.  They feel the new regulations will allow the VA to award the pension in a more timely manner.

Proposed Changes:

  • Establish a 3-year look-back for claimants to see if they are trying to hide assets through “gifts.”
  • Deny any expenses related to independent living facilities as care costs UNLESS the veteran and/or spouse requires assistance with two or more activities of daily living (eating, bathing, getting dressed, etc).
  • Impose penalties for up to 10 years for claimants who transfer assets before applying for pension to create the appearance of economic need where it does not exist
  • Create a bright-line net worth standard of $119,220, which includes annual income (not including their residence – the goal is to streamline the process so qualified veterans and their spouses can get the award faster)
  • Require veterans to sell their homestead property if the lot coverage exceeds 2 acres.
  • Create a maximum amount that care companies can charge per hour for services.

We at 1 Assist Care have seen veterans and their spouses struggle as they have had to wait for approval for a program.  Anything the VA can do to speed up the process, we are highly in favor of.

 

Being Mortal: Fantastic perspective on approaching the end of life from PBS’s Frontline

Did you see this?  PBS’s Frontline produced a phenomenal, thought provoking coverage of end of life.

1 Assist Care has had the opportunity to work with a number of clients as they prepare for the end of life in their homes, so seeing Dr. Atul Gawande’s book produced for the small screen was fascinating.

Watch the story below.

To find out more about how 1 Assist Care partners with Hospice to allow people to die with grace in their home, give us a call at 208-557-4215.

 

Dad losing interest in his hobbies? What might really be happening

As your mother and father continue to age, are you finding that one of them is starting to lose interest in hobbies they always loved?

Grandpa losing interest in activities he once loved? Do not jump to conclusions - there might be more going on that you realize.

Grandpa losing interest in activities he once loved? Do not jump to conclusions – there might be more going on that you realize.

Apathy might not be the problem. And do not be so quick to blame the temperament of someone with old age.

A recent study out of in the journal Neurology suggests that something else might be afoot.

According to the study’s author, apathy in the elderly may actually be a sign of dementia. How so? The loss of interest may be a sign of shrinking amounts of grey and white matter in the brain.

Does that mean that all apathy in seniors is a sure sign of Alzheimer’s or some other form of dementia? Definitely not. The key to look for? Ask yourself this one question. Does your loved one suffer from depression? According to research, seniors who experienced apathy WITHOUT depression is an indicator that the individual may be suffering from some sort of dementia.

There is still more research to conduct, but if you find your loved one lacking emotion, it might be time to schedule some time to visit with their doctor.

Cemeteries and Funeral Homes: Two Quick Phone Calls That Could Change The Game on Finding Information on an Ancestor

Cemeteries Information On FamilyYesterday, the Scottish Genealogy group on Facebook posted a great nugget concerning two phone calls you can make to find out additional information concerning a deceased ancestor.

When you are looking for your ancestor, don’t stop at the obituary or the gravestone inscription. Call or write to the cemetery and ask:

  • Who purchased the plot
  • What address was given for the person who purchased the plot
  • Whether any other family members are buried in the same plot

The cemetery office may also tell you the names of any other people with the same surname who are buried at the cemetery.

While you are at it, contact the funeral home listed in the obituary. Funeral homes keep detailed records about the individuals that they care for. This can be a valuable resource.

The funeral home will have:

  • A copy of the program or the card given to those who attend the service,
  • A copy of the death record they issued for the family and information on the next of kin.

If an autopsy was performed, the funeral home may supply you with the information for the name and address of the coroner asCall funeral homes and ask for information on ancestors well, which will allow you to contact that resource for detailed information on the cause of death and the details surrounding the death.

It will not hurt to ask the funeral home if they will provide you with:

  • The name of the deceased’s family physician
  • The name of the insurance company
  • The name of the clergy that performed the service.
  • They might even be able to provide you with information about where to find a will for the deceased.

In Idaho Falls and Ammon, there are four funeral homes you can reach out to. Rexburg and Rigby each have one, while St. Anthony has two.

1 Assist Care of the Valley Senior Care: Assisted Living At Home is a home care company located in Rexburg, Idaho. We provide provide weekly family history tips on our blog to help others with their family history work and genealogy.

We also provide assisted living services in the home to seniors in Idaho Falls, Rexburg, Driggs, Ashton, and everywhere in between. For some of our elderly clients, that includes doing family history with them.

To find out more about how we can help keep your elderly loved one home and safe rather than putting them into a nursing home, call us at 208-557-4215.

Alzheimer’s in East Idaho: A Slight Breakthrough?

With Alzheimer’s Disease being the sixth leading cause of death (1) in the United States – with the statistics only getting worse, any signs of a breakthrough are a great thing.

This week, a team from Georgetown University may have done just that.

The team have found a blood test that just might help with detecting Alzheimer’s disease up to three years before the onset of Blood Test for Alzheimer's disease in Idaho, Rexburg, Idaho Fallssymptoms.

While, there is still no cure for the disease, this may help individuals and families prepare to cope with the disease and may help with research. Also, the test is only 90% accurate in its current form – meaning that up to one in ten people could be wrongly diagnosed. But more tests are coming.

There is Help
Alzheimer’s does not just impact the individual diagnosed. In Idaho alone, there are 76,000 family members (2) caring for someone afflicted with the disease. The emotional toll is difficult. One in three residents in assisted living in Idaho are suffering from Alzheimer’s (3).

The Alzheimer’s Association offers support groups to families and friends providing care to those inflicted with the disease as well as support groups for those at the early stages of the disease.

The toll is also economic in nature. These are unpaid caregivers, whose care is 87 million hours of care (4). When monetized, that equals $1 billion a year (5). That is a B. And that is just in Idaho alone. Those are also hours that are not spent at work. No wonder scholars are calling this an economic crisis.

The numbers should be sobering, but with the knowledge, researchers can continue to work towards a cure.

Alzheimer's disease statistics in Rexburg, Idaho Falls, Ashton, DriggsThe Numbers May Be Worse
On the other side of knowing is denial or misinformation.

A reports has also just come out in the journal Neurology that suggests that Alzheimer’s is often under-reported as a cause of death. It may even contribute to nearly as many deaths as heart disease or cancer. According to the study author, there were “approximately 503,400 deaths from Alzheimer’s in the U.S. in people over the age of 75 in 2010 (6). This is five to six times higher than the 83,494 number reported by the CDC based on death certificates.”

Why the error? Because death certificates often do not list multiple reasons for death.

Remember, There is Help
If you are afflicted with or care for someone afflicted with Alzheimer’s, there is support. The Alzheimer’s Association was in IdahoAlzheimer's Support in Idaho Falls last week training elderly specialists and working hard to start support groups to help people in Idaho Falls, Rexburg, Rigby, Ashton, Driggs and beyond.

These are support groups for both those suffering from the disease or those caring for someone with Alzheimer’s.

If you are interested in a support group or are needing help caring for someone with Alzheimer’s, fill out your information below.

Our Deals For March 2014

This March, 1 Assist Care of the Valley: Assisted Living At Home is offering two deals for you to choose from.

1 Assist Care of the Valley will take you to The Eastern Idaho Family History Conference for freeThe Eastern Idaho Family History Conference

Going from 9 until almost 5, 1 Assist Care of the Valley will provide you or a loved one with a ticket, provide transportation to the conference in Rexburg, and accompany you or them to any class you or they would like.

Does not matter if you are in Ashton or Driggs, we will take care of you.

Be sure to mention the Family History offer when you call to start services. You will need to start services by March 12th to enjoy this offer.

The Three International Tenors In Idaho Falls

The Three International TenorsYour second option is to enjoy two tickets to see the Three International Tenors in concert on March 25th in Idaho Falls. 1 Assist Care of the Valley will provide you with two tickets to enjoy the evening.

You need to start services by March 20th to enjoy this offer.

Call us today at 557-4215.

And of course, you can always ask us how veterans or their spouses may qualify for free or discounted assisted living care at home services.