Swapping Roles: Changing Relationships Between Parents and Grown-up Children

There may come a point where you have to take care of your loved ones and become the primary caregiver. The result is a huge change in not only their lives but also yours. Meal times, daily schedules, social activities, and relationships can all be affected by this change for the loved ones and you, the caregiver. So it is important to know key points to make this change as smooth and productive as possible.

One important aspect is communication. Your loved ones may not be able to do some of the things they used to, such as balancing their checkbook or paying their bills. As a result, you must take up that and other responsibilities. It is important to have clear communication with your loved ones about their finances and make sure it is properly taken care of.

Another aspect is dealing with family conflicts. Even though your family may disagree on what is the best care option, it is important to remember that its about what’s best for your loved ones. To ease your burdens as the caregiver, it might be a good idea to disperse the responsibilities among the family members. Depending on availability, preference and ability, your family members can make a world of difference to your day with just the smallest of help.

The last part is to keep positive. Some days will be hard and stressful. You may want to give up. But remember that you are doing this for your loved one because you love them. Keeping a positive attitude is key, because without it, you are more open to conflict with everyone including your loved ones. If you need help, ask for help. You don’t need to be afraid or too proud to ask. You will be glad you did, because your loved ones needs will be met and you will be more relaxed.

 

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Non-Slip Winter: Fall Prevention for Seniors

Icy and slippery ground in the winter increase the risk of seniors fallingThe holidays are here again, and while the younger generation looks forward to a white Christmas, the older generation has something else on their mind. The winter weather brings increased chances of falling, especially outdoors on rain-slick streets. You’ve probably heard it all before, but a little refresher in fall prevention can only help our senior loved ones.

  • Traction, traction, traction. Make sure the soles of your shoes provide plenty of traction on slick surfaces. If you’re going to a dressy event, bring an extra pair of shoes to change into indoors. You can even get a non-slip tip for your senior’s cane.
  • Wet shoes can make indoor flooring slippery. Put an absorbent, non-slip floor mat in front of your doors so you can dry your shoes as you come inside.
  • Keep your hands free. Whether or not you’re elderly, you can’t see where you’re going with an armload of bags. Avoid carrying large bundles and don’t put your hands in your pockets. Wear gloves if you’re cold, but keep your hands free to catch yourself in case you slip.
  • Don’t be shy about asking for help. Asking for help is always better thank risking a fall.
  • Keep your cell phone with you at all times. If you do fall outdoors, be sure you can call for help if you need it.
  • If you fall, watch this video on how to get up properly. Also, be sure to discuss the incident with your doctor to figure out why you fell and how to avoid falling again.
  • Don’t rush. If you’re in a hurry, you may push yourself beyond what your balance can handle. Give yourself plenty of time to get where you’re going.
  • Exercise for balance. Exercise is especially important to senior citizens because it improves balance, leg strength and flexibility– all helpful in avoiding a fall. See here for a free home balance program.

How can All Seasons Homecare help?

Having a caregiver in the home with your loved one provides them with an extra level of safety and security: someone is in the home to help them around obstacles and to react if they get into an emergency or need help. Contact us today to learn more.

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Not-So-Happy Holidays: Seniors Suffering From Depression

The holidays are supposed to be a happy time of celebration, but unfortunately, many senior citizens suffer from depression around this time. For them, each holiday season is a reminder that another year has gone by. Instead of looking forward to spending time with friends and family, senior citizens are often reminded of their loved ones who have passed away or moved. They would like to spend more time with their family, but extreme weather, illness, the expense and difficulty of travel are all discouraging factors. Instead of enjoying the holidays, many elders spend the time feeling isolated, lonely and unable to participate in their family’s celebrations.

Depression is not a normal part of aging. According to the National Institutes of Health; 7 million out of 35 million Americans age 65 or older suffer from some degree of depression. However, depression often goes undiagnosed in seniors because its symptoms are not recognized or it is mistaken for those of another illness like dementia. As a friend or a family member of a senior citizen, it is up to you to recognize the signs of depression and encourage your loved one to seek help.

Here are some common signs of depression to be on the lookout:

  • Change in sleeping habits– either sleeping much more or less than is usual
  • Sudden changes of appetite and weight changes
  • Lack of interest in daily activities
  • Withdrawal from social groups or activities
  • Lack of interest in personal care or hygiene
  • Moodiness or irritability
  • Feeling worthless or helpless
  • Anxious behavior– pacing, fidgeting, etc.
  • Inability to concentrate
  • Reckless or irresponsible behavior
  • Frequently thinking or talking about death

If you recognize any of these signs in your elderly loved ones, there are some things you can do to combat their depression.

  • Call your elderly loved ones frequently to help them feel a part of your life.
  • Schedule regular visits and get as many of the family involved as you can.
  • Invite them to your parties. If transportation is a problem for your elderly loved ones, offer to drive them to and from the event.
  • Get them involved in holiday activities like writing cards or putting up decorations.
  • Encourage your loved ones to talk about what they are feeling. Talking may help them figure out what is wrong or at least feel less isolated. Be a good listener and let them know you are there for them.

Holiday blues among seniors is a sad fact of life. On the bright side, there are many treatments available to help your loved ones through this difficult time. More involvement with the family or better nutrition might be all it takes. Other options include therapy and antidepressant drugs. If you suspect your senior loved ones are depressed, encourage them to seek medical attention immediately. Depression doesn’t have to be a part of your loved one’s life.

How Can All Seasons Homecare Help?

In addition to care, our senior caregivers provide companionship and offer transportation services that will allow you loved one to travel further from their home. In the holiday season, think of your loved ones who may be lonely. Contact us to sign up for a free in-home consultation.

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Ouch! More Bruises as You Age? Thin Skin for Seniors

Does it seem like you have a new bruise every time you look down? You don’t remember bumping into anything, but you’ve got bruises anyways. Unfortunately, bruising is just a natural part of life for senior citizens.

What Causes Senior Bruising?

Bruising is bleeding under the skin caused by broken blood vessels. As we get older, our capillaries weaken and our skin becomes thinner, making it much easier for seniors to bruise. Bruises are generally not a serious medical condition, and will fade away naturally. Blood thinning medications or supplements like aspirin, Plavix, fish oil, ginger, garlic or ginkgo can also contribute to bruising. Consult your doctor if your bruises are unusually severe or do not heal, as this can indicate a more serious condition.

If you notice a fresh bruise, there’s a few things you can do. During the first day, you can apply an icepack and elevate the limb to reduce bleeding and swelling. After the first day, apply warm compresses to increase circulation and help the body reabsorb the shed blood under the skin.

Ways for Seniors to Reduce Bruising

There may not be much you can do for the bruising itself, but there are some things you can do to help your elderly loved ones avoid bruising whenever possible:

  • Clear your home of clutter and arrange clear pathways around your furniture. Make it easy to move around without bumping into things.
  • Don’t use throw rugs or scatter rugs because they are trip hazards.
  • Take up yoga or some other light exercise to improve your balance. You’ll be less likely to stumble if your legs are strong and your balance is good.
  • Also, consider using a cane or walker to help you balance.
  • Install handrails around your house where you need extra help.
  • Don’t hurry around the house – you’re more likely to bump into things that way.
  • Wear extra layers for padding, when the weather allows.

How Can All Seasons Help?

Helping seniors improve or maintain their quality of is our number one priority. Schedule a Free In-Home Consultation to learn how we can help and what you can do to make your home more senior-friendly.

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Making Sense of Senior Care Options (Part 2 of 2)

Hospice care is another senior care option

Hospice Care is compassionate end of life care for your elderly loved one

If you have done any research on senior health care options, you’ll know that there’s a good variety to choose from. The perfect choice, however, depends on your loved one’s habits, preferred living conditions, cultural and religious influences. Once you understand the particulars of your loved ones’ lifestyle, you can help them choose the perfect senior care option. This blog will explore three more senior care options: adult care homes, nursing homes, and hospice care. (Read Part 1 to learn about retirement homes, assisted living, and in-home care.)

Senior Care Options: Adult Care Homes
Adult care homes provide assistance in a home-like setting. These homes are often located in residential areas, where residents can live in a comfortable environment while still getting the necessary medical or individual care. Each adult care home is unique:  some accept only men or only women while others specialize in certain diseases like Alzheimer’s. Although these homes probably look like all the other houses in the neighborhood, most counties or states require them to be licensed to ensure they can meet the needs of their residents. This is a good option for a senior who wants to remain in a home-like setting, but is unable to stay in their own home due to personal or medical needs.

Senior Care Options: Nursing Homes
Nursing homes are also known as Rehabilitation centers, depending on how they care for their patients. Most nursing homes provide their clients with temporary care during a transition period. For example, they care for those transitioning from a hospital visit back to normal life. If you’re considering this option for temporary care, it’s important to take into account the rehabilitation services, daily activities and atmosphere of the home. A nursing staff with a positive attitude can make all the difference in getting your loved one back to health.

Senior Care Options: Hospice Care
Hospice care is about giving a loved one a compassionate and loving end to their life. It’s about providing the highest quality of life for the patient rather than treating for a disease. This type of care involves a whole team of people (including multiple doctors, nurses, social workers, counselors, and volunteers) along with family members and friends. The team takes care of all your elderly loved one’s medical and individual needs in their final days, while the family and friends stay involved. Hospice care can be provided at your senior loved one’s home, in a hospital, or in another care option. This type of care is a good option for those who are nearing the end of their life and want to enjoy it what’s left to the fullest.

How Can All Seasons Homecare Help?

At All Seasons the safety and well-being of seniors and other clients is our primary concern. Our caregivers provide the highest level of personalized homecare in the communities we serve, strengthening our clients’ sense of independence and improving their quality of life. To learn more, request a Free In-Home Consultation.

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Making Sense of Senior Care Options (Part 1 of 2)

Senior Care Options should match their current lifestyleCaring for your elderly loved ones can be a sensitive issue for everyone involved. Fortunately, there are many forms of senior care available to you, from retirement homes to day care to nursing homes, there are many ways to provide care for your elderly loved ones. With all these options, remember to keep the individual’s habits, previous living environments, religious and cultural preferences in mind. Once you understand your loved one’s current lifestyle, you can better gauge what type of care fits them best. This blog will specifically look at three major senior care options: retirement homes, assisted living, and in-home care.

Senior Care Options: Retirement Homes

Retirement homes provide a unique community for your elderly loved one. They fit a more active and independent senior who does not have many needs. There are many options for social activities and events within the community combined with the freedom to be involved outside of the community as well. Retirement homes are a good fit for seniors who are still self-sufficient and want to interact with others of the same age in a safe community.

Senior Care Options: Assisted Living

Assisted living is a housing option that meets the needs of those who need a certain amount of daily care. Whether it’s fulfilling a senior’s health-related needs or just lending a hand with everyday bathing, assisted living is there to help seniors while still promoting an independent lifestyle. There are social events planned within the residence and transportation is usually provided for trips outside the facility. The goal is to give an elderly person much independence as possible, while helping with their medical or daily care needs. This is an ideal setting for a senior who is very active, but needs some assistance.

Senior Care Options: In-Home Care

In-home care is a good option for those who do not want to leave their home. It can help your loved ones by fulfilling their medical or social needs. Perhaps all that is needed is caregiver to assist with certain daily tasks, or a non-medical companion who can be there to keep your loved one from getting lonely. This is a good option for those who have specific care needs, but want to continue living at home.

How Can All Seasons Homecare Help?

We offer caring and compassionate in-home care services to seniors who want to continue living from the comfort and freedom of their own home. Contact us to learn more or else download our guide to Caregiver Responsibilities.

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Thanksgiving Fun For the Whole Family, Grandparents Included!

Enjoy A Fun Family Thanksgiving with GrandparentsThanksgiving isn’t all about obligatory family dinners and roasted turkeys. In the holiday rush, it’s so easy to lose sight of what Thanksgiving is all about. This year, takes some time to slow down and appreciate your family, both elderly and youthful. Try some of these activities to bring the whole family together and make this year’s Thanksgiving a holiday to remember.

Decorations

A few simple decorations can add a lot to the festive atmosphere and make your Thanksgiving dinner extra special. Arrange a centerpiece for your table with autumnal flowers and gourds. Add color by scattering real or paper leaves around the table. Light a few candles for the warm lighting and pleasant scents. You can get the grandparents to help you with some of these activities.

Give thanks…

…and make it pretty. Have everyone write down something they are thankful for on colorful pieces of paper that you’ve cut out beforehand. Be creative and cut the paper into leaf or turkey shapes. You can even go around the table and share what you have written. Then pin these papers to a board or hang them on a “Thankful tree”. Add photos of each other and other decorations for a fun craft that allows you to appreciate each other. At the end of the activity, you may realize you like your relatives after all!

Family Photos

Get everyone arranged nicely and take a family photograph. Make prints of these and send them off with your family so they can remember this special day. You can even use this picture as a Christmas card next month.

Play some games

Think of some games that would interest everyone. They can be simple games like “Pin the tail on the turkey” or more complicated games like a scavenger hunt. Be sure to keep the limitations of your grandparents in mind when designing these games. See here for some ideas.

Crafts

Make edible crafts like this adorable Oreo turkey. This activity is fun for everyone and safe for both young and old participants.  Even if your grandparents can’t eat the sweets, it’ll still be fun for them to make treats for others.

How Can All Seasons Help?

Helping seniors improve or maintain their quality of is our number one priority. Schedule a Free In-Home Consultation to learn how we can help and what you can do to make your home more senior-friendly.

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Changing Relationship: Adult Children and Aging Parents

As the years pass, the traditional roles between children and their parents start to change and the caregiver becomes the patient. With the Baby Boomer’s getting older, the younger generation is called upon to take care of their older parents. This role reversal comes with much uncertainty and questions about what is to be done, and how.

  • The first thing to consider is whether or not you can take care of your aging parent(s). This is a loaded question and finances play a key role in deciding if you can embark on this endeavor. It’s estimated that unpaid, adult caregivers spend at an average of 21 hours a week helping out. These caregivers, mostly women, take time away from their work and take money out of their own pocket to provide for their parent(s). AARP says that the average cut in work hours is 41%, along with spending an average $2,400 of their own money.
  • The second is to ensure that you have taken into account the emotions invovled. It is never easy to realize that you are aging and that your body and/or mind is giving out on you. There will be frustrations involved, but building a positive relationship with your parents is a way to ease the burden on you. Communication, cooperation, and patience are the keys to ensure you can accomplish what you need to do. Discuss how the care will be set up, what is expected from each side and also determine a point at which you will ask for outside help to care for your aging parents…
  • It is essential to accept the fact that you might need help, either occasionally or full-time. Looking for and accepting help will keep you from getting burnt out and revive you to continue to care for your loved one.

Whether the situation requires you to visit your parent every so often for a doctor’s appointment or have them move in with you, be aware that you are investing your time, energy, emotions, and financial resources. It is vital to remember that you are not alone. There are a plethora of resources and support to help you along the way, including senior day care, in-homecare givers and respite care.

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The Health Benefits of Acupuncture for Seniors

There has been a certain amount of hype about acupuncture and other alternative medicines, but is there anything to it? The answer, like many things in life, depends on the person. Read on to see if acupuncture for seniors is something you should look into.

Modern Medicine vs. Acupuncture for Seniors

smiling senior - acupuncture may help improve elderly healthA major difference between acupuncture and modern medicine is philosophy. Traditional Chinese Medicine and acupuncture focuses on the overall well-being of mind and body while modern medicine works to cure symptoms. Modern medicine focuses on hard facts, but tends to disregard what it cannot explain. Our doctors give us pills for the symptoms they can explain and shrug off those they cannot. As a result, we have a lot of medications to ease our discomforts. On the other hand, acupuncture seeks to improve medical conditions by balancing the energy flows of the body. Elderly patients tend to have energy deficiencies, so improving those flows may also improve general health. In other words, acupuncture strives for overall wellness in addition to addressing a specific condition.

But is acupuncture actually effective? Most people who grew up in the United States have no experience with Traditional Chinese Medicine, haven’t heard of qi (pronounced “chee”, the body’s vital energy) and don’t understand how manipulating it is supposed to improve any physical condition. Despite all skepticism, many studies agree that acupuncture is effective, especially in treating chronic pain. This is especially useful to seniors with chronic conditions who can’t take more medication for them.

In the end, it’s a matter of attitude. If you try acupuncture expecting a fast and easy cure to all your ailments, you’ll be disappointed for sure. However, if you approach acupuncture as a life philosophy where mental well-being and physical health are equally important, you may well get something out of it!

Aging Well

For seniors, acupuncture is especially relevant because the body is aging and therefore beginning to feel more aches and pains; it is also injured more easily. This is an especially important time to maintain a good level of health because quality of life is so dependent on one’s overall health. By taking preventative measures such as exercising regularly, eating well and even trying out acupuncture or other Traditional Chinese Medicines, seniors may find that they have a much more positive outlook on life.

How Can All Seasons Homecare Help?
Our in-home caregivers provide companionship, safety and peace of mind while giving your elderly loved one the opportunity to continue to live within the comfort of their own home. Ask for your Free In-Home Consultation today!

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Celebrate Halloween with your Elderly Loved Ones

Halloween is here! Whether or not you’re into ghosts and ghoulies, use the holiday as an excuse to have some fun with your elderly loved ones. Get the whole family involved with these fun activities to make this a Halloween to remember.

Halloween activities for seniors

  1. Have a baking day. Help your elderly loved ones make Halloween-themed goodies with orange and black icing, bat-shaped sprinkles, cookie cutters, etc. Be sure to keep dietary restrictions in mind!
  2. Decorate. Enlist the aid of your seniors and kids in putting out Halloween decorations. Assign them safe tasks that do that involve climbing on ladders or chairs. Better yet, make your own decorations beforehand for a fun afternoon of crafts. See here for some ideas for making your own halloween decorations.
  3. Paint your pumpkins. Carving pumpkins is a tradition, but it takes a fair amount of strength and dexterity to handle a sharp carving tool. Make this year’s pumpkin decorating senior-friendly by painting them instead. Get some acrylic paint and brushes, and some props like, hats or wigs. See here for some patterns that can help with painting:
    Pumpkin Stencils
    Painted Pumpkins
    Free Pumpkin Carving Patterns
  4. Read a scary book or watch a scary movie together. This is a good family activity that gets everyone together and into the Halloween spirit.
  5. Trick or Treat. When the kids are out trick-or-treating, offer to let your elderly loved ones sit near the door and help hand out candy. This way, they can still greet the kids and see their costumes.
  6. Feeling nostalgic? Talk to your elderly loved about their halloween memories from when they were young. Read this conversation Seniors, what do you remember about Halloween traditions back in your early childhood?

How can All Seasons Homecare help?

All Seasons Homecare offers companionship and in-home care services for seniors who want to maintain their independence. We offer hourly and live-in caregivers who can also help your elderly loved one celebrate Halloween! Request our copy of Guide to Senior Caregiver’s Responsibilities.

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