Elder Care ABC

By Kaye Swain

“I’m so cold,” my senior aunt whispered plaintively. The nurse overheard and said, “I’ll get you some heated blankets.” “Thank you so much,” I said, as I tucked the hospital blanket tighter around my elderly relative.

Five minutes later, my aunt’s face looked brighter as the nurse tucked the toasty warm blanket around her. She felt so much better in the chilly room…for awhile. Then the blanket cooled and she was once again miserable from post-op pain coupled with being chillier than she liked.

Of course, we again got her a heated blanket, but once more, it was only a temporary solution to a long-term problem for my aunt. As with many aging seniors, her body’s temperature had changed over the years and she normally ran chillier than the rest of us all the time. Being in the cooler environment of the hospital, and with a body that was hurting from the recovery process, just made her feel worse. Read More

By George Williams

Taken from http://tinyurl.com/6fym93f

The number-one cause of death due to injury in the home is falling; and falls on stairs are the incidents that most often prove fatal.

Due to declining strength and dexterity, falls are all too common among seniors. As a result, fall prevention is a primary concern for seniors and their caregivers.

Fortunately, there are steps caregivers can take to help reduce the risk of falling, especially around stairwells. Here are a few tips to make stairwells as safe as possible:

●     Keep the stairs clear of loose objects — children’s toys, the odd pair of shoes, and other obstacles should never be left on the steps.

●     Make sure the stairwell is well lit and has good visibility. This is especially true at the very top and bottom of the stairs.

●     If you have small area rugs on the floor, tape them down so they cannot slide or remove them altogether. This is also something you should do around the house in general.

●     If items must be carried from floor to floor, don’t carry large loads. They make it harder to maneuver, and easier to lose your balance.

●     If the stairs in question are outside, make sure to keep them free of loose leaves, snow, and other hazards. You should also periodically check for loose or broken stones and mortar.

●     If the stairs are in the basement, paint the bottom one white. It won’t clash with your decor and it will give them much better visibility in the dark.

Footwear is also an important part of your fall prevention strategy. The Mayo Clinic states that “high heels, floppy slippers and shoes with slick soles can make you slip, stumble and fall. So can walking in your stocking feet.” If that applies to you or the elderly person you’re caring for, a simple footwear adjustment could help prevent a fall. Additionally, check to see if your foot size has changed when you get new shoes; buy sturdy shoes with non-skid soles; and avoid shoes with extra-thick soles.

There is also an amazing array of online resources on fall prevention that caregivers and elders can take advantage of. Here are two of my favorites:

●     Temple University’s Fall Prevention Project — The website doesn’t look like much, but it is full of useful data, from in-home safety checklists (available in multiple languages) to balance tests for older adults on CD-ROM.

●     StopFalls.Org — The Fall Prevention Center of Excellence, headquartered at the University of Southern California Andrus Gerontology Center, produces this website, which contains useful information for service providers, families, and educators alike. While the information is mainly focused on the state of California, there is still a lot there than can benefit any caregiver.

A few simple precautions can make all the difference in the world for both you and those you care for. Stay safe!

George Williams is a veteran journalist, and writer for firstSTREET Online, a leading provider of fall prevention products for seniors and caregivers. George blogs about technology, health and safety for seniors on the firstSTREET Blog.

Welcome to the October 5, 2011 edition of EldercareABC Blog Carnival.

NDP promise to expand senior care : Breaking News …Breaking News contains Canadian News,Canadian breaking news.

Preventing Elder Abuse…Elder care is a delicate issue. There are possibilities of elder abuse either by the family members or the elder care service providers on several occasions.

The Smart Path to Alzheimer’s … – The Elder & Disability Law Firm, PAI want to let you know that our firm offers a FREE guide to help you and your family understand the legal implications, and plan the next steps to help minimize.

Study Suggests Link Between Sleep Deprivation, Alzheimer’s Risk …Levels of amyloid beta in older adults with Alzheimer’s appear to be constant, suggesting a possible link between lack of sleep and people’s odds for developing the disease, the team said. In conducting the study, the …

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. In.

Benefits of Exercise for the Elderly…A lot of times it is observed by volunteers of elderly care that the elders hesitate from doing exercise either because they feel physically weak or because they do not get the right kind of motivation but the elderly care people …

How Home Health Care Enables Seniors to Live Independently …Home health care means the health care that is provided for the elderly at their own homes. This care could be provided by the family members but since health care is involved it generally means that the care is provided by …

Benefits of Pet Therapy for the Elderly…Jordan Health Services, home health care providers in Texas, highlights the benefits of pet therapy for the elderly.

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.

Welcome to the September 21, 2011 edition of EldercareABC Blog Carnival.

Nesher presents How to take care of Alzheimer’s Patient before, during, and after natural disasters? posted at Alzheimer’s disease: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, saying, “How caregivers should be dealing with Natural Disaster events, handling Alzheimers patients properly.”

Monitoring Senior Loved Ones’ Vital Signs … – Senior Care Corner

Does your senior loved one have a chronic medical condition that needs to have close vital sign monitoring? Do you need to take a blood pressure or pulse frequently? Help is on the way in the form of a skin patch that monitors vital signs …

Senior Care Evansville: Picking a Care provider is usually a …The possibility of shifting to some nursing dwelling should not be the only selection considered for an elderly individual which is getting difficulty coping on.

Tender Loving Care Senior Residence: Assisted Living Redefined …Some things that all people looking for Senior care options should consider BEFORE making that expensive and life altering decision for the entire multi generational family. This is not an exhaustive comparison and relies on …

Why Might You Need Medicare … – The Senior Health Plans…In today’s difficult times, it is impossible for most senior citizens or disabled persons to pay the costs of healthcare without some form of medical.

Considering Elder Care Options? The Need for Companionship is …Considering Elder Care Options? The Need for Companionship is an Important Factor. When it comes to making these crucial elder care decisions, there are numerous factors we need to consider. Price and convenience are …

Hope for Alzheimer’s Patients The debilitating disease of Alzheimer’s received a glimmer of hope today according to a nasal spray study being conducted by the Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System in Seattle, Washington reported by NBC …

More Evidence Links Diabetes, Dementia – Alzheimers Disease and …19 (HealthDay News) — People with diabetes are at significantly higher risk of developing all types of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, finds a new study that bolsters previous research connecting the two illnesses. The study of more than 1000 people in Japan found that 27 … The study followed 1017 men and women, age 60 and older, who took a glucose test to find out if they were diabetic or pre-diabetic. They were then tracked over an average of 11 years …

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 Carol Marak

It’s a fact that most aging seniors want to live out their lives at home, as opposed to living in a nursing home or assisted living facility. Living at home maintains that warm fuzzy feeling of being connected. Those connections are memories, friends and neighbors, and a sense of community with the local stores and religious connection; the church. It’s important for our elderly to feel connected, having a sense of belonging.

Did you know people age 65 years and over “consistently ranked relationships with family and friends second only to health as the most important area of life” (Victor et al, 2000 p. 409)? This clearly shows how important social relationships are to seniors and how potentially damaging loneliness or social isolation may be.

What can be worrisome about maintaining a lifestyle at home, as one ages and not able to get around easily, is losing that feeling of being connected. If your Mom or Dad has trouble walking, their driving ability may be affected. When physical abilities diminish, people begin to lose motivation to get out of the house because their safety is at risk. Fear of leaving the home puts your loved one at risk of becoming isolated which in turn can lead to depression.

In addition to the isolation problems, many of us don’t realize that eating alone is a growing concern for our aging loved ones. When feeling disconnected and alone, they lose their appetite. Mealtimes are a sore reminder when family members lived together; sharing food and good conversation. Did you that conversation is the leading activity that seniors miss most? A survey conducted by the Home Instead Senior Care network confirmed that having companionship and conversation tops the activity list of favorite activities. Eating alone can lead to malnutrition; either losing interest in eating altogether, or if they do eat, the food is not healthy and nutritious.

So, how can family members rally around their relative to ensure they maintain a balanced social life an stay healthy? If family members live away from their loved one, then the social balancing act gets harder to manage. Here are some suggestions that will get you thinking about how to keep your loved one active and social.

1. Check with the local senior center for a list of events and activities. If you do not have easy access to information on nearest senior center, do a Google search – in the search bar put your relative’s city and then add senior center, i.e. Austin senior center. The search engine results should serve up your Mom or Dad’s local city (park and recreation) website. Most local senior centers provide transportation, so it would be fairly easy for one or both to get out of the house to enjoy activities provided at the center. The center typically serves lunch for a low cost.
2. Set up a remote communications using Skype via computer. If you can afford to purchase a webcam (camera), it will allow video conferencing (free phone calls with video). This gives you the capability to see one another. What a treat it is for Mom and Dad to see their grandchildren and stay up to date on their activities.

Social isolation and loneliness brings risk factors to the elderly; mostly due to our demographic trends. It can be difficult setting up an active social life for your loved one but with a little ingenuity, some loneliness can be put to rest. Check out “What Joy Loverde wants you to know about Creating Fun Things to do with Aging Parents” in our blog.

Carol Marak is founder of Carebuzz.com (http://carebuzz.com), a platform of websites targeting local senior care help for family caregivers and the aging senior they care for. Carol is a former caregiver for her aging parents. She experienced the frustrations of searching for local elder care help while living at a distance from her loved ones. That’s why she created Carebuzz. She plans to grow the city sites to be a leading local resource for caregivers.

Welcome to the September 14, 2011 edition of EldercareABC Blog Carnival.

All things about caregiving

Rosa Wilson presents 10 Most Popular and Least Used Home Exercise Equipment » NonDiet.com posted at NonDiet.com.

Kaye Swain presents These Special Tennis Balls In Walker Glides Make Life Easier for the Sandwich Generation Caring for Elderly Parents With Medical Needs | SandwichINK for the Sandwich Generation posted at SandwichINK.com, saying, “Adding tennis balls to a lightweight walker? Hard to do for many of us baby boomers and seniors caring for elderly parents and other seniors in our lives.

Nesher presents How to take care of Alzheimer’s Patient before, during, and after natural disasters? posted at Alzheimer’s disease: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, saying, “Hurricane, tornado, flood, wildfire or other natural disasters: how to handle them, caring for Alzheimer’s patient.”

Many Alzheimer’s Cases Go Unrecognized Alzheimer’s disease early is essential if patients are to benefit from the medications currently used for this dementia, a new report stresses.This is …

How to Develop an Alzheimer’s Frame of Reference…You must develop a foundation on which to build your own working frame of reference that will allow you to cope with, deal with, and communicate with a person living with Alzheimer’s Disease. By Bob DeMarco. Alzheimer’s …

Alzheimer’s Caregiving – The Experience of Grief and Loss …Alzheimer’s caregivers experience emotional strain because of the everyday activities of caring for their loved one, which can cause symptoms of grief. As the population ages, there has been an increased need for elder care. …

Are You Providing Elderly Care For Someone You Love?…Think about how safe your home is for someone older. You may need to put locks on the door for the person that has severe dementia or Alzheimers. You might consider the types of hospital equipment you may need as well. …

Question of the Day on ElderCareMatters.com … – Elder Care ExpertsSo if you help families plan for and/or deal with elder care matters and you are a competent, caring elder care professional, then you should be listed on ElderCareMatters.com – America’s #1 source for Elder Care Experts …

Five Tips to Keep Your Mind Focused Can’t find your car keys or misplaced your wallet or purse! You’re not alone. We all forget things occasionally; however, memory loss should not be taken lightly. Although no 100 percent guarantee exists when it comes to …

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.

If my Mom had her way, she would watch television 24 hours a day. I am just the opposite.  I rarely watch television. So when it comes to enjoying each other’s company we agree to meet in the middle. I watch television with her on occasion and she makes time to do activities with me. That means it’s up to me to be creative and think of things that will occupy our time (and minds) to both of our satisfaction.

The good news is, doing new and fun things together need not be an expensive venture. Try some of these:

Reminisce: Old age is a time for remembering and weaving together life experiences that define who we are. Every older adult is unique and has a life story to tell. The idea here is to set aside special moments to talk one-on-one. Look around. Does your elder own an heirloom necklace or brooch? You might ask, “What is the personal significance of this object?”  Or how about asking,” Were your high school years the best of times or the worst of time?” Read More

Welcome to the August 31, 2011 edition of EldercareABC Blog Carnival.

Housing Slump Making Seniors Postpone Eldercare Moves …One way to pay for eldercare is to sell your home. But in this market, it’s easier said than done, and that’s impacting when seniors are able to move to assisted living communities and nursing homes, reports Kaiser Health …

The Numerous Benefits of Elderly Care At Home » Nipun’s Article …When it comes to elder care services, most of the elderly would prefer to live in their own homes until their time on earth is up. Getting old is a fact of life. However, what most people block out of their minds are what they would …

3 Common Signs of Functional Decline — Inside Elder Care..If you think that a loved one may require a transition to assisted living or elderly care, then you must first assess whether they are undergoing a true functional decline. Read on to find out more about the signs of functional decline.

Elder Care: Companionship And Caring For The Old  …Elder Care: Companionship And Caring For The Old. Article by Jim Cherry. Old age is considered to be a second childhood, which solely means that they should be treated with utmost care and tenderness. The reason is that …

Life of an Elder Care Specialist…Find out more about the life of an elder care specialist, where they ge the inspiration to take care of the elderly and the kind of help they can share with old people.

Protect your parents from financial abuse – News Desk …People often think of elder abuse as physical, but even seniors who live independently and healthfully can be victims of it in the financial form.

For Many Americans, Caregiving a Long-Distance Burden – Elder Care…Those include financial concerns, since many people are borrowing from savings to travel at a moment’s notice or to arrange child care or pet sitting during their absence, as well as emotional issues such as guilt, worry and …

Tips For Caring For Elderly Relatives |…Tips For Caring For Elderly Relatives. Elder Care. She was discussing the worries and issues she and her sisters had to deal with in caring for their own mother. Older people rarely want to go into assisted living or nursing …

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.