Accessible Home Health Care

{{Infobox Company
|company_name =Accessible Home Health Care
|company_type =[[Publicly Owned|Public]]
|foundation =2001
|founder =Mirella Salem
|location_city =[[Coral Springs]], [[Florida]]
|location_country =[[United States|USA]]
|area_served =[[World]]wide
|key_people =Steven Turner<br><small>[[Chief Operating Officer]]</small><br>John Rowsell<br><small>[[Vice President]] of Franchise Relations</small><br>Greg Greenland<br><small>[[Vice President]] of <br>Corporate Development</small>
|industry =Health Care Services|The World's Leading Provider of Medical and Non-Medical Services
|services =Home Health Care<br>Senior Care<br>Elder Care<br>
|homepage =[http://www.Accessiblehhc.com Accessible Home Health Care]
}}

<div align="justify">'''Accessible Home Health Care''' is an American-based, multi-dimensional, full service "personal health care" provider specializing in medical and non-medical services to all age groups from newborns to seniors. Headquartered in Coral Springs, Florida, they currently have 85+ units independently owned and operated.</div>

==History==
<div align="justify"><p>Mirella Salem co-founded Accessible Home Health Care in 2001 and began franchising in 2006. Through Mirella’s experience of placing her mother in six different home health care facilities in an effort to find one that would take care of her while she was at work, she found that none of them were dependable beyond the first few days. Mirella then hired a private caregiver and then explored the possibility of starting an agency to provide professional, reliable, and caring home health care. Finally, Mirella convinced Accessible Healthcare Services, Inc. to open the home health care division thus creating Accessible Home Health Care. In 2009 and 2010, the company was named one of the fastest growing franchising companies in the United States by [[Entrepreneur Magazine]]<ref>[http://www.entrepreneur.com/franchises/accessiblehomehealthcare/329077-0.html Entrepreneur Magazine ]</ref> and appeared in the magazine’s Top 500 Franchises list for two years in a row. In 2006, Accessible Home Health Care opened their first international franchise located in Mumbai, India.<ref>[http://www.accessiblehhc.com/news1.php?id=15 Accessible Home Health Care Opens Franchise In India]</ref></div></p>

<div align="justify"><p>Accessible Home Health Care has been referenced for its business success by Entrepreneur Magazine in for being one of the top 500 franchises in 2009 and 2010 and on of the fastest growing franchise in 2010. Furthermore, G.I. Jobs<ref>[https://www.militaryfranchising.com/ G.I. Jobs Franchising Opportunities]</ref> awarded Accessible Home Health Care with the award of being in the top 10% of military friendly franchise opportunities nationwide.</div></p>

==Alzheimer's Handbook==
<div align="justify"><p>While teaming up with the [[Alzheimer's Association]]<ref>[http://www.alz.org Alzheimer's Association]</ref> and other sources, the '''[[Alzheimer's]] Caregiver Handbook'''<ref>[http://www.accessiblehhc.com/images/What%20Is%20Alzheimer.pdf Alzheimer's Handbook]</ref> was created and established by caregivers and the staff of Accessible Home Health Care in order to provide people with vital information regarding Alzheimer's.</div></p>

==What is Alzheimer's?==
<div align="justify"><p>[[Alzheimer’s]] (AHLZ-high-merz) disease is a progressive [[brain disorder]] that gradually destroys a person’s memory and ability to learn, reason, make judgments, communicate and carry out daily activities. As Alzheimer’s progresses, individuals may also experience changes in personality and behavior, such as [[anxiety]], suspiciousness or agitation, as well as delusions or [[hallucinations]].Although there is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s, new treatments are on the horizon as a result of accelerating insight into the [[biology]] of the [[disease]]. Research has also shown that effective care and support can improve quality of life for individuals and their [[caregivers]] over the course of the disease from diagnosis to the end of life.</div></p>

<div align="justify"><p>Alzheimer’s disease advances at widely different rates. The duration of the [[illness]] may often vary from 3 to 20 years. The areas of the brain that control [[memory]] and [[thinking]] [[skills]] are affected first,but as the disease progresses, [[cells]] die in other regions of the brain. Eventually, the person with Alzheimer’s will need complete [[care]]. If the individual has no other serious illness, the loss of brain function itself will cause [[death]].</div></p>

==Causes of Alzheimer's==
<div align="justify"><p>[[Alzheimer’s]] disease has no known single cause, but in the last 15 years [[scientists]] have learned a great deal about factors that may play a role. Alzheimer’s [[disease]] has no known single cause, but in the last 15 years scientists have learned a great deal about factors that may play a role.</div></p>
<div align="justify"><p>Scientists believe that whatever triggers Alzheimer’s disease begins to damage the [[brain]] years before symptoms appear. When symptoms emerge, nerve cells that process, store and retrieve information have already begun to degenerate and die. Scientists regard two abnormal microscopic structures called "[[plaques]]" and "[[tangles]]" as Alzheimer hallmarks. [[Amyloid]] plaques (AM-uh-loyd plaks) are clumps of protein that accumulate outside the brain’s nerve cells. Tangles are twisted strands of another protein that form inside cells. Scientists do not yet know whether plaques or tangles cause Alzheimer’s or are a byproduct of some other process. Clinical trials of [[experimental]] drugs targeting amyloid are under way and should help clarify the role plaques play.</div></p>
<div align="justify"><p>Scientists have learned that Alzheimer’s disease involves the malfunction or [[death]] of [[nerve cells]], but why this happens is still not known. However, they have identified certain risk factors that increase the likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s and discovered clues about possible strategies to reduce risk.</div></p>
{|div align="center" border="1" cellpadding="2" width=800px
|-valign="middle"
|<h5><div align="center">'''Age'''</div></h5>
|<div align="justify">Most individuals with the illness are 65 and older. The likelihood of developing of developing Alzheimer's approximately doubles every five years after age 65. After age 85, the risk reaches nearly 50 percent.</div>
|<div align="center">Age is the greatest known risk factor.</div>
|-valign="middle"
|<h5><div align="center">'''Family History & Genetics'''</h5></div>
|<div align="justify">Research has shown that those who have a parent or sibling with Alzheimer's are two to three times more likely to develop the disease than those who do not.</div>
|<div align="justify">The more individuals in a family who have the illness, the greater the risk.</div>
|-valign="middle"
|<h5><div align="center">'''Genes & Environment'''</h5></div>
|<div align="justify">Several twin studies have shown that when one twin develops Alzheimer’s, the other twin is at increased risk but does not always develop the disease. Other studies suggest that even in cases where both twins develop Alzheimer’s, the age where symptoms appear can differ significantly. These results suggest that even when there is a strong genetic influence, other factors can play a major role.</div>
|<div align="justify">Age, family history and genetics are all risk factors we can’t change.</div>
|-valign="middle"
|<h5><div align="center">'''Head Injury'''</h5></div>
|<div align="justify">There appears to be a strong link between serious head injury and future risk of Alzheimer’s. It’s important to protect your head by buckling up your seat belt, wearing your helmet and fall-proofing your home.</div>
|<div align="justify">Research is beginning to reveal clues about some potentially controllable risk factors.</div>
|-valign="middle"
|<h5><div align="center">'''Heart/Head Condition'''</h5></div>
|<div align="justify">Some of the strongest evidence links brain health to heart health. The risk of developing Alzheimer’s or vascular dementia appears to be increased by many conditions that damage the heart and blood vessels, including heart disease, diabetes, stroke and high blood pressure or cholesterol. You should work with your doctor to monitor your heart health and treat any problems that arise.</div>
|<div align="justify">Studies suggest that plaques and tangles are more likely to cause Alzheimer symptoms if strokes or damage to the brain’s blood vessels are also present.</div>
|-valign="middle"
|<h5><div align="center">'''Overall Brain Health'''</h5></div>
|<div align="justify">One promising line of research suggests that strategies for overall healthy aging may help keep the brain healthy and may even offer some protection against Alzheimer’s.</div>
|<div align="justify">Eating a healthy diet, staying socially active, avoiding tobacco and excess alcohol, and exercising both body and mind.</div>
|}

==References==
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