Senior care may be hampered by dangerous clutter
Most of us have “been there,” in the clutter zone, at some point. But generally, the clutter is manageable. Unfortunately, often this is not the case with elderly loved ones who have too much stuff. Frequently they can’t organize it or throw out because of physical or cognitive limitations, or emotional attachments to the clutter.
Also unfortunately, family caregivers may need to be the ones to step in to get the clutter under control. This isn’t just to make the living environment more pleasant. It can be a matter of health and safety. If you’re wondering whether an elderly loved has a serious clutter problem, it’s a good idea to do a walk-through in their home:
- Is there rotten or expired food in the fridge or cupboards? Your elderly relative may suffer food poisoning or fail to eat because foods are unappetizing.
- Are kitchen cabinets piled with dishes and pans that are difficult to get out or put away? Seniors may avoid preparing food or be injured by dishes tumbling from high shelves.
- Is the bathroom full of expired medications and/or are toiletries piled on the vanity or floor? Falls, slipping, and serious reactions from medications are possible.
- Is the house full of old magazines and newspapers? In addition to being a fire hazard, piles of paper can attract rodents or cause elderly people to trip.
- Has the basement or attic become a giant closet full of unused items? Again, fire and rodents are risks. Mold can also become a dangerous health hazard.
- Are stairways or hallways blocked with shoes, papers, or other clutter? Stairs are an especially dangerous place for storing items, particularly if they are not well lighted. A fall downstairs can cause serious injury.
If you observe even one of these situations, it’s time to sit down and have a talk with the senior about how you can come up with solutions to make their living space safer and more pleasant. Many organizations and other resources are out there to make the task easier. You can find several of them here: A Caregiver’s Guide to Spot Clutter Creep
Senior Care is personal to us. Request information about our home care services in Northern Colorado, OR call us at 970-494-0289.
Careful planning and choices are important for seniors considering retirement communities
While many people still have the idea that seniors often move from their hometowns and head to a retirement community in a warm part of the country, most prefer to stay put in the homes they’ve known for years. Often some home care assistance allows them to do this. However, it’s true that some seniors may decide to move to a retirement community—nearby or farther afield—because of recreational opportunities, the option of leaving most home maintenance and chores to others, or lifetime security.
If you have loved ones who are thinking about moving to a community designed for seniors, you can help them evaluate their 
options.
- First, what does each retirement community offer? Is there a continuum of options, beginning with residences for independent living, through apartments equipped for people who need some assistance, to a nursing home for those needing constant professional care?
- How convenient is the location, not only for the senior resident, but for family and friends who want to visit?
- How does your relative feel about living in a community that’s restricted to people of his or her own generation? For some, this is a welcome opportunity for socializing with those who share similar life experiences. Other seniors might miss social interactions with children and people of various ages.
- What amenities and services are most important to your elderly relative, and are these available in the retirement community?
- What are the specific overall costs, any additional fees, and contractual obligations? Both your relative and you need to be familiar and comfortable with the financial and legal implications.
Sitting down together to list and discuss questions and concerns, visits to potential communities, and taking time to weigh all the options can help both you and your elderly relative make the right decision about which retirement community will be best for the years ahead.
Senior Care is personal to us. Request information about our home care services in Northern Colorado, OR call us at 970-494-0289.
What happens when senior caregivers become seniors themselves?
Any of us who are home caregivers for elderly relatives know how much planning and work is involved in meeting their needs. We also come to realize how helpful it would be for our own kids or other family members if we planned ahead for our senior years.
It’s true that this planning takes time and money, but it can make our later years much more secure and happy. Planning is also a lot easier when you can do it in advance, at your leisure, instead of when an urgent need arises.
The recently published Stages of Senior Care: Your Step-by-Step Guide to Making the Best Decisions (Paul and Lori Hogan, McGraw-Hill, 2009) provides some useful hints on organizing your future:
- Prioritize your needs beyond the essentials of housing and food. Is continuing education important to you, or annual vacations with family, or a property that allows you to garden?
- Ensure that your home is “elder-friendly” for the years to come. If you’re moving, for instance, keep in mind that you may not want to climb a lot of stairs in 15 years.
- Plan your estate and make sure your will is in order.
- Prepare an advance directive that details your wishes if you cannot make medical decisions yourself.
- Assign a power of attorney in case you are disabled by illness or an accident.
- Provide your family with instructions about your final wishes when you die.
- Research long-term care protection. A policy can help pay for professional nonmedical home care or other care needs.
Having plans in place for your own future will mean you have one less thing to worry about in your busy life. That can help decrease stress and increase everybody’s quality of life as you care for your own parents.
Senior Care is personal to us. Request information about our home care services in Northern Colorado, OR call us at 970-494-0289.
Help seniors stay independent and prevent frailty with physical, mental, and spiritual activity
If you asked your elderly parents what they feared most, they would likely say, “Losing my independence.” In fact, the Boomer Project, a recent national survey of 523 seniors and 1,279 adult caregivers, showed that 90% of seniors say a loss of independence is their greatest fear.
Frailty—a syndrome of weakness, fatigue, and declining physical activity—is one of the major contributors to seniors’ loss of independence. There are different causes of frailty for different people. A health crisis, like a heart attack or stroke, may be responsible. In other seniors, weight loss and falls may signal frailty.
Fortunately, there are ways family caregivers and professional nonmedical home care providers can help prevent or even reverse frailty in elderly loved ones. The first step is recognizing the signs that frailty may be an issue for older people:
- Has their interest level in activities and people changed?
- Are they less physically active and moving more slowly than usual?
- Has their appetite decreased? Do they show signs of losing weight, such as needing a smaller size in clothing?
- Do they have increased difficulty with balance? Are they unsteady on their feet?
Of course, if you notice any of these signs, it’s worth talking to your relative’s doctor so that any medical problems can be found and treated. Finding ways to help elderly people stay physically, mentally, and spiritually active is also valuable. Card and memory games, making changes in daily routines, gentle physical exercise, keeping a scrapbook of memories, and tending a garden all are ways to ward off frailty and maintain a sense of independence.
You can find an activity calendar and a booklet with other practical ways to help seniors stay active at http://www.getmommoving.com/activities-mind-body-soul/.
More information on the Boomer Project is available at http://www.boomerproject.com.
Senior Care is personal to us. Request information about our home care services in Northern Colorado, OR call us at 970-494-0289.
Medical home care can help seniors stay in the community
Think “medical care” for seniors, and you’re likely to think of the hospitals, rehabilitative services, and nursing homes available in Northern Colorado. But “medical home care” is also a possibility for many seniors.
Those of us who are family caregivers know very well that our elderly parents usually want to stay in their own homes and communities as they age. And many of them can do just that, with only nonmedical home care by family members or professionals. The challenge comes if they suffer a serious illness or medical event, such as a broken hip or a stroke.
Twenty years ago, such situations meant a senior was likely to need nursing home care. Nowadays, though, medical devices are more advanced and portable, and often medical care can be brought into the home. If you’re considering medical care for a senior living at home, here’s what you should know:
- When you’re looking for a medical caregiver, search for a “home health agency.” This means the provider has met federal requirements for care and is Medicare-certified.
- Home medical care agencies can help with equipment set-up and operation, supervise care, and provide visiting therapists, nurses, medical aides, and physicians.
- Consider both medical and professional nonmedical home care, as they can be complementary. Medical care involves such things as changing dressings, administering medication, and monitoring physical health. Nonmedical care includes companionship, help with errands, meal preparation, and light housework. For example, a senior with Alzheimer’s disease and medical needs, such as intravenous feedings or wound care, would also benefit from a professional nonmedical caregiver trained specifically in dementia care.
Senior Care is personal to us. Request information about our home care services in Northern Colorado, OR call us at 970-494-0289.
