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Guest article by Hazel Bridges . . . Find her at hazel@agingwellness.org

Photo by Pixabay

Throughout the pandemic, we’ve all been told to refrain from visiting our senior loved ones in order to protect them from the coronavirus — but what about the seniors in our lives who rely on us for everything from meals and home repairs to companionship and social interaction?  The Fundamentals of Homecare considers some of the questions we’ve all been having about caring for the seniors in our families, at our church, and elsewhere in our communities — and the things we can do to safely check in with them amid COVID-19.

Q1: How can seniors fight isolation throughout the pandemic?

A1: From online worship services to video calls and internet-based games, these resources can help to fight senior isolation during the coronavirus crisis:

• Isolated seniors can visit with loved ones virtually, but reliable and affordable internet service is crucial to keep people connected.
• In addition to video chatting, here are some tips for keeping up with long-distance loved ones, regardless of age or circumstances.
• Seniors can make the most of newer technologies that allow them to stay in contact with friends and family members.

Q2. What can I do to keep seniors safe, happy, and healthy?

A2. To keep seniors happy and healthy throughout the pandemic, everything from counseling to meal delivery services are available.

• Food delivery is a crucial service for older people, but especially so during a pandemic.
• Professional cleaning and lawn care services can be a big help to seniors who struggle with maintenance. Help them connect with experts via a site like Thumbtack.
• For seniors dealing with isolation-related depression and anxiety, counseling services are available, and they can use Medicare benefits to help pay for these services.

Q3. What if my senior loved one believes they have COVID-19?

A3. If your senior loved one believes he or she may have the coronavirus, telemedicine services, in-person healthcare visits, and community-based testing sites can be used for COVID-19 screenings.

• Telemedicine has become an essential way to safely monitor seniors’ health from a distance.
• Community-based testing is an option during the pandemic.
• Of course, protecting themselves from getting COVID-19 in the first place is the best scenario for older people.

Q4. How can I protect seniors during face-to-face visits?

A4. During in-person visits, these resources will help to protect your senior loved one from the coronavirus.

• Face masks are essential tools for protection, especially among high-risk groups like senior citizens.
• Believe it or not, regular hand washing is an excellent way of avoiding COVID infection.
• Harvard Health points out that while hugging is a risky activity, the benefits of personal interaction may be worth taking a chance.

Whether your senior loved ones live near or far, these tips can help to protect them from COVID-19 — while ensuring they have everything they need to stay safe, happy, and healthy at home throughout the remainder of the pandemic.

Guest article by Jim  McKinley . . .    Find him at Moneywithjim.org

Image via Pexels

Having trouble sleeping? You’re far from alone, as it’s a common ailment among seniors, who often find themselves tossing and turning long after lying down or waking up in the middle of the night for seemingly no reason at all. Though doctors may provide medication to solve this problem, there are healthier ways to ensure you get the rest you need and wake up refreshed to enjoy what the day has to offer. Some methods are easy fixes, while others require a change in lifestyle, but all of them are tried and true. Read on for some tips from The Fundamentals of Homecare.

Buy a New Mattress

The solution might be as simple as this. According to lifestyle website Elite Daily, sleeping on an old mattress leads to back pain and increased irritability, which, in turn, increases your level of stress, making it even more difficult to get some rest the next night. Moreover, it may be filled with dust mites and allergens from years of use. Finding something new to sleep on is a matter of taste, but some qualities to look for include support and responsiveness to pressure.

Eat Well

And that also means taking your evening meal at the right time. Eating raises your core body temperature, making it difficult to fall asleep, so give yourself at least four hours between dinner and bedtime so you have time to cool off. As far as what to prepare, aim for lean proteins like chicken and turkey that are rich in tryptophan, which works its sleepy magic most efficiently when combined with starches such as rice, pasta and potatoes.

Stay Hydrated

A lack of water can keep you awake at night, according to the National Sleep Foundation. Snoring is another symptom, so your spouse needs to get enough fluids as well or you’ll have trouble sleeping for another reason altogether. To stay hydrated throughout the day, have a drink of water immediately upon waking up, with every meal, and right before bed. Also, try to eat foods rich in water like fruit. Get in the habit of carrying a water bottle around with you just in case you get parched while you’re out running errands.

Talk to Your Doctor

If you’re very concerned about your sleep habits, you should talk to a doctor, as you may suffer from a more serious psychiatric or physiological condition that’s causing insomnia. Your loved ones would want to stay informed of the situation, as well as other medical issues, as they’re doubtlessly concerned about your well-being. A senior-friendly tablet would help you communicate with them by email or video call, no matter how far away they live.

Exercise

This helps in a number of ways. First, the brain makes up for the physical activity you’re engaged in by spending more time in deep sleep. Also, when you raise your body temperature, it falls by an equal amount later on, which triggers a physiological train reaction that includes the release of the sleep-inducing hormone melatonin. In addition, exercise relieves stress, which may be what’s keeping you awake at night. Strength training, aerobics, and stretching are all part of a balanced fitness routine, and yoga offers all three at once.

Pursue Goals

Going after your dreams not only gives you direction and purpose, but a healthy self-esteem boost as well. This assuredness can help you sleep better, hitting the pillow knowing that tomorrow will be another step in your pursuit of fulfilling a mission. For instance, it’s never too late to go for a college-level degree in a field you’ve always wanted to learn more about. With accredited schools like Western Governors University, you can work towards an online degree without leaving the house, and do it affordably and at your pace.

Get a Handle on Your Finances

When excessive debt is part of your life, sleep can be hard to come by. The stress of creditors calling has become commonplace for many since the COVID-19 outbreak, with lost jobs and possibly a lost loved one who may have been the primary breadwinner. This calls for ascertaining your financial situation and, if you’re feeling overwhelmed, reaching out for assistance to help you come up with payment plans. 

Managing your finances helps you feel secure, and the hours spent ruminating and worrying about unpaid bills or an unsure future will be reduced or even eliminated. In addition to having a plan in place to reduce your debt load, look into safe investments.

Design a Sleep Routine

It’s basically a series of things you do in the evening to “power down” and get psychologically ready for a peaceful night’s rest. There’s no one routine that works best for everyone, but there are a number of elements that are often incorporated. These include meditation to clear your mind, a warm shower or bath, and an infusion such as chamomile, lavender, or passion flower. You can top it all off with a few pages of a book when you’re tucked cozily under the sheets.

You can begin taking most of these steps today. Make them a habit and you’ll find yourself more energized throughout the day and able to enjoy your golden years with gusto.

Guest article by June Duncan   . . . Find her at june@riseupforcaregivers.org

Photo via Pixabay

The death of the spouse of a senior is a devastating life event which impacts the emotional health of the senior as well as those of their family members. The extended grieving process becomes especially hard to wade through as details behind the final arrangements are settled, such as the transportation and burial of the remains and handling the will and other legal documents. It can be a fractious time, particularly when family members don’t see eye-to-eye on the final arrangements. 

However, one scenario that especially exacerbates the pain, is when the surviving senior suffers from a serious dementia disease such as Alzheimer’s and has tremendous difficulties processing the fact of the death. Depending on how far the disease has progressed, these individuals may face symptoms like forgetfulness and memory loss for milder cases to hallucinations and disorientation for more severe cases.

Newly faced with the “disappearance” of her mate and primary caregiver, the dementia sufferer is likely to express random peaks of confusion over the missing status of the person followed by periods of sad mourning in recalling the death. There may also be periods of forgetfulness when the dementia sufferer continually speaks of the departed in the present tense. Such a mix of variant reactions stresses out and wounds family members who would like nothing better than to see the Alzheimer’s sufferer properly move forward with the grieving process.

Processing the Grief

It’s necessary to understand how people grieve and the various stages of grief individuals typically experience. How well the dementia sufferer will take the news of their spouse’s death depends on several factors, such as: the severity of her condition, how attached she was to her spouse, how often they were together, and her own personal approach to grieving.

The dementia-affected senior will definitely notice something is missing, that something is wrong, and express restlessness and agitation over the not-so-subtle changes. They may credit the changes to the death of someone else, or even relate the changes to the death of someone who died decades before. Because of this, family members are often at a loss as to how to “correct” the senior loved one, while minimizing the heart-wrenching pain of “reliving” the notification of death.  

Helping the Dementia Sufferer Accept the Death

Here are a few ways you can help the dementia sufferer accept the loss:

• Speak of the recently deceased in the past tense. For example, “Dad loved a well decorated table on Thanksgiving.”
•  While talking about the departed in front of the Alzheimer’s affected senior, make it a point to communicate your sad feelings. For example: “I miss the sound of Dad’s piano playing. He always could make us want to sing along to his music, didn’t he? Remember when he…” Watch videos of family special occasions together and revel in fond memories of the departed. Talking about your love of the person will help the senior and family caregivers properly mourn the death. 
• Don’t try to force a discussion of the deceased on your loved one. Be loving and accepting of whether the senior wants to broach the topic or not. A forced discussion would only stress the senior out further. Instead, wait for the topic to naturally arise.

A Final Thought

A great deal of love and patience is required to break through to your loved one through the gray fog of dementia. This is true, but above all, be greatly loving, patient, and compassionate with yourself first, as you and your family struggle with open bereavement. If you can’t take care of your own emotional needs first, you won’t be much help to the senior loved one. When suffering from a specific episode of pain, turn to your family to find the love and support you need.

Guest article by June Duncan   . . . Find her at june@riseupforcaregivers.org

Alzheimer’s disease affects about 5.4 million Americans, about 5.2 million of which are 65 and older. It can be your grandparent, your cousin, your sibling, or even your parent who faces the diagnosis. Eventually, those with Alzheimer’s require round-the-clock care, and for many families, that means taking the loved one into their own home. If you are about to care for a loved one with Alzheimer’s in your own home, read on for some tips on how to improve and prepare your house for the challenges ahead.

Evaluate Your Home

When you decide to move your loved one with Alzheimer’s into your home, it’s important to evaluate any potential dangers lurking inside. Something as simple as an area rug can cause loved ones to trip and injure themselves. Cluttered rooms make it tricky for loved ones to walk without tripping or falling over things. Before your loved one moves in, plan how you should renovate or rearrange your home to make it as safe as possible.

Emergency Phone Numbers

When you have a loved one with Alzheimer’s living in your home, make sure you have a list of emergency phone numbers in a readily accessible location. Contact information for ambulance services, police departments, poison control centers, and fire departments are all important numbers you should have near the phone.

The Bathroom

Install non-skid mats and safety rails in the shower or bathtub to avoid any dangerous falls while bathing. If you have the funds, consider installing a walk-in tub or sit-down shower.  Include other slip-resistant mats in front of the sink, shower, and toilet as well. You may need to include a raised toilet seat to make it easier for your loved one. Keep the sink countertops as clutter free as possible. Try to give Alzheimer’s patients their own bathroom so they don’t confuse other people’s toiletry items with theirs. 

Medications and Dangerous Chemicals

Keep all medications locked away so loved ones can’t accidentally poison themselves. Mayo Clinic suggests using childproof medication lids to make it more difficult for someone with Alzheimer’s to open the lids without assistance.

And don’t forget to protect your loved one from dangerous chemicals like household cleaners. Keep all dangerous chemicals out of your loved one’s reach. You can do this by locking them away in cabinets with childproof locks.

Night-lights and Tripping Hazards

People with Alzheimer’s can easily become confused and disoriented. To prevent confusion and accidents, place night-lights in hallways and rooms so your loved one can easily see. Remove any items that might be a tripping hazard, including coffee tables and other furniture that may be difficult to maneuver around.

Locks and Alarms

People with Alzheimer’s can easily wander away from home and get lost. This can lead to life-threatening situations. According to AgingCare.com, prevent this from occurring by installing deadbolts on the doors. Add the deadbolts at the top or bottom of doors that lead outside. It will make it more difficult for your loved one to open the doors without you being nearby to assist.

If you’re concerned about wandering, you may also want to install a fence around the perimeter of your property as a last line of defense. When choosing a fences company, avoid working with unlicensed and uninsured installers and be sure they’re aware of underground utility lines. The size of your fence and materials being used will determine how much you can expect to pay for fence installation.

Install alarms throughout your home that let you know when a door or window has been opened. It’s another safety net that will keep your loved one from leaving the house without your knowledge.

When you are about to care for a loved one with Alzheimer’s, it’s important to prepare your home. Whether it’s renovating the home, decluttering, or installing safety equipment, conscientious caregivers should make the necessary arrangements so their loved one remains free from injury and danger.

Photo via Pixabay

Guest article by Mary Shannon . . . Find her at seniorsmeet.org/

Hobbies are a wonderful addition to anyone’s life, but they can also be expensive. Between material costs, lessons, workshops, and accessories, it is incredibly easy to rack up a shocking bill for a hobby before you even get started. If you want to discover a new pastime that will enrich your life instead of drain your pockets, check out these fun and easy options that are great for every age range, particularly retirees!

Gardening

Active hobbies are great for your physical and mental health, and they can be a great way to bring more exercise into your life while keeping things fun and exciting. Gardening is a perfect example. Besides being an outlet for stress and a way to soak up vitamin D, gardening offers big mental health boosts, keeps you moving, and, best of all, provides you with a beautiful garden or landscape you can enjoy or a bounty of fresh produce.

Gardening, like any hobby, can cost as much as you’re willing to pay. On the more affordable end, gathering necessary gardening gear (e.g. hoe, rake, trowel, pruner, etc.) could be as simple as turning to your garage, but essentials can be found at reasonable prices. And seeds or starter sets can be purchased for very little. For those who want to go big and have the budget, grow lights, irrigation systems, raised beds, soil and mulch delivery and a tiller can pave the way for a pretty amazing setup. Who knows, you may even decide to sell your flowers or produce. Enjoying a new hobby and making a profit? That’s a win-win!

Music

Making music is not only incredibly fun and entertaining, but it’s also good for our health in a variety of ways, from enhanced coordination to better mood regulation and even preventing Alzheimer’s disease. For many people, the main downside is the price tag that comes with a new instrument, as well as the classes needed to learn it.

The solution: For one, there’s no need to buy a new instrument. You can easily find quality second-hand instruments online through local listings. You could even rent an instrument or borrow one from a friend to see if that particular piece is a good choice for you. When it comes to classes, however, look for free online lessons through sites like Skillshare. If you prefer in-person tutoring, sign up for a skill-swap service to get free lessons in exchange for your expertise in another area.

Arts and Crafts

This is a broad category, encompassing everything from watercolor painting to sculpture, woodworking to photography, or knitting to quiltmaking. Whatever hobby appeals most to you, there are ways to keep costs low. Big retailers like Hobby Lobby or Micheal’s often have great sales on products, ranging from crocheting supplies to paints and canvases.

Make sure to pick your materials carefully. For instance, if you want to learn how to paint, don’t start with oil paints, which are generally expensive. Learn the basics with gouache or acrylics and then move on to pricier mediums. If you are just learning to sew, don’t buy a beautiful fancy fabric for your first few projects; wait until you are more confident with a sewing machine.

Depending on how quickly or how well you pick up a hobby, your creations could even become profitable. Paintings, scarves, sculptures and woodcrafts can be sold on sites like Etsy or at art fairs, while photography can turn into a professional side hustle where you take portraits or family photos for a fee. Another win-win!

What if My Hobby Becomes Profitable?

While not everyone goes into a hobby with profit in mind, it’s not unusual for a hobby to grow into a business. Depending on what you make and plan to sell, a hobby can even prove lucrative enough to supplement your income, which can be great for seniors who no longer work. If a fledgling business takes off, it can even be in your best interest to file as a business entity. Should you choose to form a business, a simple LLC formation can be an affordable way to protect your assets and even enjoy some tax advantages.

So many people throw themselves into a new hobby by spending a fortune on it. They assume that this investment will make them feel committed to the hobby and will help them achieve great results right away. However, this isn’t the only way to do it.

By being budget-conscious, you remove a lot of the pressure from the hobby you select, which helps you just have fun with it. You could even try out a few different things, meaning you have a better chance of finding one you instantly fall in love with. And who knows? You could even supplement your income with your hobby!

For more helpful insight geared toward seniors and caregivers, be sure to bookmark The Fundamentals of Homecare.

Guest article by Mary Shannon . . . Find her at seniorsmeet.org/

At any age, social isolation can be a major threat to our physical and mental wellbeing. When it comes to aging in place or aging in community, you have a range of senior living options that can help you stay active and social. Still, it can be hard to stay in touch with friends and family. It’s not always possible to get out of the house and socialize with your neighbors or visit your loved ones, especially if they live far away—or a global pandemic keeps you apart! Here’s how you can take advantage of user-friendly tech tools to stay connected with loved ones during your senior years.

Get Online

Before you can embrace the wonderful world of digital communication, you have to get connected to the internet. That ancient dial-up connection just won’t do! You need access to fast, reliable internet to enjoy online activities and digital tools like live video-chat and document-sharing apps. Don’t worry, high-speed internet doesn’t have to be expensive. If you’re on a tight budget, you may be eligible for discounted fiber-optic internet through Verizon’s Lifeline Discount Program! Whatever your circumstances, search around for discounts and savings opportunities, and you’re sure to find a solution.

Invest in Some New Devices

You may also need to invest in some new tech devices. A user-friendly smartphone, for example, will enable you to download all kinds of apps that can help you organize your daily life and connect with loved ones from anywhere. There are also several laptops and tablets that you can use to follow your grandkids on social media and participate in family video-chat calls with ease. If you have a hard time finding your way around a regular smartphone or computer, HuffPost recommends getting a simplified tablet like the GrandPad or Claris Companion.

Download Video-Chat Tools

Once you have a solid internet connection and a device that you feel comfortable using, it’s time to start downloading some social tools! Start by installing a simple video-chat app so you can call your friends and family at any time. Some great options include Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, FaceTime, and Google Duo. All of these services are free, but some can only be used on certain devices. It never hurts to try a few and find out what works best for you!

Try Social Media

Whether you want to reconnect with old friends or look at photos of your adorable grandkids, social media can help you stay socially engaged in new ways. Social media also makes it easy to make new friends, learn about local events, and find groups of people who share your passions and interests. You can even use social media to play online games with people! Since there are many social media platforms to choose from, The Arbor Company suggests looking at some that are both popular and straightforward to use, like Facebook and Skype. You can also talk to your family members to find out which ones they use to share photos, videos, and life updates.

Install Senior-Friendly Apps

Besides helping you connect with loved ones, technology has the potential to benefit your life in several other ways. For example, certain apps can help you organize your grocery lists or keep your brain sharp through cognitive games. There are apps that can help with financial organization, appointment scheduling, medication management, exercise, food delivery, and more! Healthcare Dive notes — technologies like these can help make aging-in-place possible, so be sure to take advantage of all the great tools that are available to you.

Using technology to stay connected with your friends and family is easier than you may think. You just need a good internet connection, a user-friendly device, and a few simple apps. Once you’re all set up, you will have access to a whole new world of possibilities at your fingertips!

Guest article by Hazel Bridges . . . Find her at hazel@agingwellness.org

For example, you can adapt a home to make it safer or find dynamic ways to get the support you require. Below are some different choices to explore depending on your lifestyle and needs.

Share Your Home

Sometimes, your best option is staying where you’ve put down roots. However, with utilities and other bills you’ll need to pay, things can get expensive, especially on a fixed income. Moreover, by staying in our homes, we can find ourselves feeling lonely and a little isolated from the rest of the community. If you’re looking to avoid that, you could consider co-housing or having roommates. Fortunately, finding a new companion to live with can be as easy as going online or visiting your local senior center. Or, if you and a friend are interested in getting a house together, you can look into HUD programs that provide financial assistance to seniors. This way, you share the costs together and also have someone to rely on whenever you really need it.

Home Safety

If you do choose to age in place or decide to look for a new home with a friend, you’ll want to ensure your property is as safe as possible. To get started, you should check your home for anything that might pose a tripping hazard, such as uneven flooring or loose rugs. Most importantly, however, is the bathroom, particularly the shower. While a walk-in tub can make things safer, so can putting in a shower seat to let you sit when you want (it’s also the cheaper option, as you can find seats at Home Depot starting at around $40). You could even add smart features such as motion-sensor lights or a smart thermostat to save on energy.

Going Smaller

Downsizing can also be an excellent alternative, particularly if you want to be closer to family, friends, or your favorite city. However, to avoid any financial surprises, it’s vital that you research the market to know what to expect from selling and what you’ll likely spend on a new home. If you can afford to downsize, it will allow you to destress, ditch clutter, and enjoy a more accessible space.

Village to Village

One emerging choice is the village-to-village model. If you have an independent spirit but still want to enjoy the benefits of a close community, this could be a good fit. Indeed, you’ll have your own home, yet your neighborhood will be full of people of a similar age. Better still, each village provides various services to its members, including education opportunities, medical care assistance, and coordinated social events to keep everyone active and engaged.

Retirement Communities

Lastly, and similar to a village-to-village model, is a retirement community. However, you won’t have to worry about home or yard maintenance, including broken appliances, leaky faucets, or repainting. In fact, you’ll get more hands-on support, with meals often provided and nurses on staff to assist you with any issues. Still, that doesn’t mean there will not be the option to cook, but it’ll be up to you, depending on your own tastes. Indeed, the most rewarding aspects of retirement communities are the opportunities offered for all stages of life, as well as how adaptable they are to changing needs. Yet, similar to the village model, you’ll keep your independence and make your own decisions on how you lead your life.

No matter what you choose, home is what you make it, and your community should be one you love. You never know if an old friend will also be interested in a village or retirement community, too. This is your time to explore and live an active life of your own making.

Image courtesy of Pexels

Somedays, I believe we all could use a dose of humor. Here’s a couple of giggles I found this week. I hope you enjoy!

A barber gave a haircut to a priest one day. The priest tried to pay for the haircut but the barber refused saying, “You do God’s work.” The next morning the barber found a dozen bibles at the door to his shop.

A policeman came to the barber for a haircut, and again the barber refused payment saying, “You protect the public.” The next morning the barber found a dozen doughnuts at the door to his shop.

A lawyer came to the barber for a haircut, and again the barber refused payment saying, “You serve the justice system.” The next morning the barber found a dozen lawyers waiting for a haircut.   🙄 

 

Walking into the bar, Harvey said to the bartender, “Pour me a stiff one, Eddie. I just had a fight with the little woman.”

“Oh, yeah?” said Eddie. “How’d this one end?”

“When it was over,” Harvey replied, “she came to me on her hands and knees.”

“Really? Now that’s a switch. What did she say?”

“She said, ‘Come out from under that bed, you gutless weasel.’”  🙂 

In New York, you can now share a cab with strangers. I saw two strangers sharing a cab just today. One was taking off the tires; the other was removing the radio.

An English Professor wrote the words, “woman without her man is nothing” on the blackboard and asked the students to punctuate it correctly.

The men wrote, “Woman, without her man, is nothing.”

The women wrote, “Woman! Without her, man is nothing.”

A new survey found that three out of four children under the age of four have their own smartphone. You can tell it’s bad; last night I told my daughter it was time for bed and she tried to swipe left on me.

After one of Google’s self-driving cars was pulled over this weekend, the company released a statement touting that the cars have the human equivalent of 90 years behind the wheel. Which also explains why the left blinker was on for 17 miles.   😎 

If you’re a caregiver for someone elderly, chronically ill or a disabled loved one you’re not alone.

Surveys in the U.S. have recently confirmed there are over 65 million adults taking care of someone at home.

Unexpectedly they also revealed that nearly 90% of those laborers are not getting enough sleep.

Over time this anomaly puts these extremely hard workers on the pathway to caregiver burnout which can lead to all sort of setbacks according to psychologists. Often by the time you suspect signs of burnout – you’re already suffering from a myriad of ailments.

 Caregivers not only must cope with the patient’s illness and the special “cares” those disablements may demand. They also may experience variations in the family’s dynamics which could add up to serious disruptions in family life.

Today’s severe financial pressures can also take a huge toll – further affecting the safety and security of the caregivers’ world.

Taken together over time such pressures eventually will affect your ability to provide good care to your patient and conceivably begin to place the caregivers own health status at risk. So what are some possible warning indicators of burnout?

Continue reading “4. Why your own health as a caregiver is still important.”

Once someone starts needing assistance during the day or night it could be time to start looking for some help outside of the home. Today there are dependable options, others have used successfully. Before starting it’s important to remember that as the level of assistance increases or decreases – the overall price of the assistance also is amended.

In my first book, I cover many excellent tips on what to watch for and why, which I can in this short blog post. Ok – often the quickest, easiest, fastest and safest bet is to look for a reliable home healthcare agency located in your area. Some family’s instead start with hiring an “aide or helper” directly to come into the home for a couple hours each day or week – as the case may be. This can work quite well and is less expensive than going through a healthcare agency. Continue reading “3. A list of things that show someone is going to need some additional help around the home soon.”