Elder Care ABC

by Joy Loverde

My two elderly friends, Martha and Mary are legally blind, and I am in constant awe of the many ways they negotiate their way through everyday life without a hitch.

Martha developed Retinitis pigmentosa in her early 40’s. Mary has been blind since birth. And when it comes to these two women NOTHING has ever gotten in their way when it comes to working, cooking, cleaning the house, getting around, making friends, dating, and volunteering. You name it, they do it – just like you and me.

Martha and Mary’s  courage to do what it takes to live full out in a sightless world is awesome, and watching them in action is a constant reminder of their willingness to stay current on products and services in order to succeed in life. On top of that, Mary and Martha also have no difficulty whatsoever asking others for help. They both have zillions of friends who are there for them at a drop of a hat. They developed the courage to ask for help early on… and today it is paying off big time.

Which leads me to tell you about a computer tool and a wonderful organization that can positively change the life of someone you know that is visually impaired – CDesk and Foundation Fighting Blindness.

CDesk is an easy-to-use all inclusive software/hardware solution for older adults who are visually impaired. Randyce Wechter, president of Adaptive Voice, developed CDesk as a result of being blind for five years. After regaining sight in one eye, she was determined to create a product that allowed sightless people the ability to remain fully functioning on the computer.

With CDesk, anyone who is visually impaired can create word documents (with built-in spell checker), manage contacts, access email and convert HTML to TEXT, translate languages, open attachments, browse the Internet, scan documents, create spreadsheets, access calendars and make appointments, play games, and SKYPE. Undoubtedly, Randyce has demonstrated a true understanding of the challenges faced by the visually impaired, and she has paid attention to the smallest details which is what makes CDesk a useful program.

You may also have an interest in learning more about Foundation Fighting Blindness.  Since its founding in 1971, the Foundation Fighting Blindness organization has been dedicated to funding innovative research to find preventions, treatments, and cures for inherited retinal degenerative diseases that lead to blindness and affect more than 10 million people in the United States.

Retinitis pigmentosa and Usher syndrome are inherited diseases commonly diagnosed during childhood or young adulthood. RP causes severe vision loss leading to legal and/or complete blindness. Children with Usher syndrome are born with varying degrees of deafness and later develop RP.

Age-related macular degeneration has inherited risks and is characterized by a progressive loss of central vision. AMD is the leading cause of blindness in adults over age 55 in the U.S. and other developed countries.

The Foundation provides information and outreach programs for patients, families and professionals. To date, the Foundation has raised more than $425 million. The more we know about retinal degenerative diseases, the better we can find cures to stop it.

FOUNDATION FIGHTING BLINDNESS
7168 Columbia Gateway Drive, Suite 100

Columbia, MD 21046
Toll-free: 1-800-683-5555

www.FightBlindness.org

Tis the season to celebrate, rejoice, and often, reunite with loved ones near and far – including the elderly parents and relatives in our family who may not live near by. It’s also a perfect time to do a bit of “home inspection” when you are visiting senior friends and relatives. Not snooping, of course. But looking more closely than you might normally.

It’s a great opportunity to make sure they really are doing as well as they say they are. I have had a couple of beloved seniors over the years who I would call regularly. They always assured me they were doing just fine. But when I was finally able to get out to visit them, I discovered they definitely needed some extra help and closer oversight.

And that’s not necessarily true just for the long distance relatives. I had a sweet aging neighbor, once, who I shopped for each week. While I was concerned about her deteriorating health, I didn’t worry about what she was eating, since I knew about all the healthy items I was getting her. When she continued to worsen and I had to step in a bit more proactively, I was shocked to find quite a bit of that healthy food dead and dying in the fridge. Read More

Welcome to the November 16, 2011 edition of EldercareABC Blog Carnival.

5 Things to Consider in Choosing a Hospice for your …Caring for an elderly member of the family can be difficult at times. Since this is the time that elderly becomes senile and oftentimes unstable, providing care to them on your own may not be the best idea. Aside from this, since …

Finding The Best Care For Your Elderly Parent…Finding The Best Care For Your Elderly Parent · Elder Care November 15th, 2011. Elder Care. One of the things we must all face is that our parents are going to age, and as they do, they will often need help with the day to day tasks or in some …

Hi-Tech Elderly Care when You Are Away…Hi-Tech Elderly Care when You Are Away. All about VoIP solutions and small business telephone systems. VoIP providers, new PBX systems and IP phones.

The Costs Of Care For The Elderly People…There is a misunderstanding from many that the state should look after those who have dutifully paid their taxes for years, but the NHS was never set up to provide nanny facilities for people who need to be in an elderly care …

It is time to take care of the elderly…Elderly people need to be taken care of as they live their last days. Their families are responsible for making sure that they get something to eat, wear and.

Explaining Senior Living Options…Now i’m offering this article with the aspiration to help people comprehend what the varied options have to offer which may be used today. In-Home Care might be the single most desirable options considering that individual attains continue in …

Assessing Your Elderly Care Needs…There are a number of options available for finding Oakville elderly care. The best way to start is to assess the needs of the person you are caring for.

What Is The Best Senior Citizen Monitoring System for Emergencies …Taking care of elderly persons can be very challenging. This is because elderly persons are at a greater risk of getting ill than any other family member. May be you are wondering what is the best senior citizen monitoring system for …

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of eldercareabc blog carnival using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

By Kaye Swain

“Oh, Kaye, my back hurts. This pillow is too high,” my senior mom said plaintively. She was referring to the hospital pillow she was using while recuperating from her operation. Since I was staying with her during the first few days she would be in the hospital, including overnight, I had brought one of my soft and squooshy pillows to use on the recliner they gave me.

“Here, mom, try this one,” I replied, handing her my pillow. I gently lifted her head, swapped out the pillows, and carefully laid her back down.

“Oh, honey,” she said, with such a sweet smile on her face. “That feels so much better!”

That taught both of us a new and important “life lesson.” When packing a bag for a trip to the hospital, tuck in a comfy pillow or two. It feels better and makes you feel a little less disoriented. I like to put our name and phone number on them, just in case.

And, of course, I always ask permission to use them. We’ve never been told no, but we haven’t ever been in an ICU or other specialized unit, which might have stricter rules.

When you are caring for elderly parents who have to deal with all the difficult issues of surgery and hospitalization, anything you can do to make them more comfortable – physically or emotionally – can be a big help in the healing process. This is especially important in view of some recent news reports that some patients who undergo a major operation, like hip replacement surgery, can have a higher mortality rate during the first year after the surgery.

It seems like such a silly little thing, but my senior mom was thrilled with that comfy pillow along with a second one I brought up for her the next day! She slept better, felt better, and that put a big smile on BOTH our faces.

Kaye Swain is a member of the Sandwich Generation dealing with the issues of caring for the elderly parents and relatives in her family while also babysitting grandchildren. She enjoys writing on those topics at SandwichINK, in order to provide other multigenerational caregivers with useful information, resources and encouragement.

by Joy Loverde

Dakim. Just hearing that funny-sounding word makes me happy. Why? Because of the world of good their brain-fitness product is doing to help my Mom age successfully. Every day, she sits at her computer for 20 minutes or so, exercising her brain with the Dakim Brain Fitness program I installed on her laptop.

The wonderful people who created Dakim brain fitness programs have taught me a lot about brain fitness over the years. One important lesson has to do with teaching me the difference between brain fitness games and brain fitness exercises. Who knew?

Mind games like Bananagrams and Kanoodle zone in on a single cognitive function much like doing a series of push-ups in order to strengthen upper arms – repeating the same activity over and over again works the same muscle. Brain fitness exercises, on the other hand offer a structured system of brain work outs that are specifically designed to affect a wide range of cognitive areas.

Here’s where we come to the fork in the road when it comes to a commitment to long-term brain health.

Casual brain-gaming requires little effort. Pick up a crossword puzzle and work the words. Brain games are cheap, quick and easy. Play on impulse and game over. And, since individual brain games tend to be limited in scope, the amusement of it all may be short-lived. This is what professionals in the field refer to as “brain teasers.”

A daily commitment to brain health and related brain-health exercises offers greater rewards than playing mind games (same holds true regarding a commitment to a daily physical-fitness routine). Improvements in memory and protection against the effects of age-related cognitive decline is what it’s all about, and structured brain fitness programs such as Dakim are available for anyone who is serious about maintaining his or her brain health.

Until now, I never really gave much consideration to brain games vs. brain exercise. I thought they were pretty much the same. And now I know that’s not the case at all.

Get serious about protecting your brain health and the brain health of an elderly loved one and invest in a proven brain fitness exercise program that works. I highly recommend Dakim as a comprehensive clinically tested brain fitness exercise program. It’s great fun, too.

To find out more about Dakim, visit the Joy Loverde’s website “Recommended Resources” page, and click on the Dakim logo… http://www.elderindustry.com/resources.html

Welcome to the November 2, 2011 edition of EldercareABC Blog Carnival.

Help For The Elderly…The elderly are also in need of medical help and also emotional support when simple chores which were once part of daily routine becomes a nightmare. However, elderly senior care is something that has been ignored for …

Overcoming Communication Issues Concerned With Elder Care in …Overcoming Communication Issues in Senior Care and Figuring out those Communication Problems. Lack of correct communication is one of the biggest hurdles in senior care. It may lead to frustration with the senior and …

Experts Help Local Families “Senior Safety Proof” Their Homes …Experts Help Local Families “Senior Safety Proof” Their Homes Senior Helpers Raises Fall Prevention Awareness. (October 2011) – One out of three adults age 65 and older falls each year and nearly a third of them will live with discomfort …

Elderly Parent Care – The First Five Sources to Turn When Your …Eldercare Agencies. senior care. Eldercare responsibilities typically rise to the exterior while a crisis. When an aging parent needs supplementary care you often don’t know where to turn. The good news is you have a wide …

How Senior Home Care Can Help prevent Problematic Falls and …Online Good Elder Care Something as simple as tripping over a rug or slipping on a wet spot on the kitchen floor can mean a big turn in your life, especially if.

The Difficult Task of Evaluating whether Senior Parents Need Help …Senior Care Ca. senior care. As we age, so do our parents. This leads to a subtle shift where our parents begin to need our help instead of the other way around. This can often be difficult for kids to identify and evaluate, …

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of eldercareabc blog carnival using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

Being homebound is a challenge that many of the elderly face. The loss of mobility, independence, and social activity often leads to feelings of loneliness and boredom, which can give way to depression. Don’t let the world slip away from your bedridden or homebound friend. By coupling age-old activities with new technology-based innovations, the homebound can enjoy a stimulating and vibrant life.

What’s out the Window?

For the bedridden, finding joy in life can be quite a challenge. A few small projects can make all of the difference and they all have to do with the view.

Your bedridden friend should be in a room with a window. Orient the bed so that your friend can see out of it clearly. Take a moment to check out the view, and then ask the following questions:

• Can people be seen walking by?
• Are there trees, shrubs, or flowers within view?
• Has the landscaping been planned to attract wildlife?

Whether the window faces the front or the back, the activities of people passing by, playing, or working are wonderfully important to a person who can no longer move about freely.

Window boxes, planters, and fast-growing vines all add natural richness to the view, with the added attraction of being a simple, quick, and affordable way to beautify the it.

Squirrels, chipmunks, and birds keep all of us entertained, but the bedridden or homebound find their antics especially enjoyable.  A bird feeder hanging from an eave or pole will attract many visitors and cheer up your friend or loved one.

Community Helpers

Most communities offer a host of services to aid those who find themselves unable to leave home. Libraries deliver books and offer reading services. Meals on Wheels has delivered meals and companionship for years. Many neighborhoods have a circulating set of volunteers that visit homebound neighbors.

Check out programs offered by the local parks and recreation department and also the city and county in which your loved one resides.

Old Meets New

A laptop opens the world to a shut in. Many social websites allow seniors feeling isolated to chat with friends or those who share similar interests.

Video game platforms allow them to have a lot of fun playing a wide range of games. Many senior centers have found these gaming systems become fast favorites.

An old favorite, the jigsaw puzzle, often becomes difficult when vision and arthritic fingers combine to make manipulating tiny pieces impossible. Many elderly jigsaw puzzle fans re-discover the joys of puzzle assembly by purchasing 50 to 100 piece puzzles usually sold to young children.

Coloring is fun for seniors stuck in bed. There are many detailed coloring books that range in subject matter from great art to marine mammals, making them perfect for adults. Large size crayons are easy to hold.

Your loved one need not feel cut off from the world. By adopting a few of these tips, caregivers can brighten up the world for those they love.

Welcome to the October 26, 2011 edition of EldercareABC Blog Carnival.

Elder Care – Do It straight through Home Help!…Home help is commonly a service where powerful and experienced caretaker will come to the elderly person’s home to help out with varied activities such as bathing, dressing or feeding. This will be done according to the …

Care Giving For Elderly At Home…One of the crucial important consideration for those who had been to opt for in-home elderly care is to have family caregivers prepared to provide help and attend to the needs of their aged cherished ones. Though the …

Caregivers Need Help and Support…Caregivers Need Help and Support. The results of the 2010 National Caregiver Survey are now available. Some of the statistics were what I expected. Caregivers are typically female boomers caring for an elder in their …

Elder Care – How can Caregivers Help Your Ageing Parents …Elder Care – How can Caregivers Help Your Ageing Parents? Written by admin on October 18th, 2011. Caregivers offer Unquestionably the elder care Your family Numerous seek. The actual unpleasant aspect that the Need to look after this …

Elderly care should focus on basic patient needs…A report from the Care Quality Commission shows basic human rights are being overlooked in the care of older people, says Melanie Henwood.

Elder Day Care: A Novel Thought…Okay, everyone knows how hectic life is for individuals nowadays. We now have jobs, youngsters, social lives, and different things that maintain us busy. People have been questioning for years

Signs that an Elderly Needs the Help of an Elder Care Specialist …There are myriad of factors that determine whether seniors need extra assistance from an elder care specialist. One is if they have developed serious health conditions like Alzheimers and Dementia. These conditions can be …

Overcoming Communication Issues Concerned With Elder Care …Figuring out Communication Problems Lack of correct communication is one of the biggest hurdles in elderly care. It may lead to frustration in each the elder person and their caregiver. There are several reasons why …

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of eldercareabc blog carnival using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.