Home Care Blog

Easing stress in caring for an elderly relative: it’s a family affair

ccro — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 16:04:12 -0600

So just how can family caregivers approach other family members, especially siblings, in a way that will get them the help we need? The following approaches are some possibilities:

Be specific: Give everyone a responsibility, such as inviting your elderly parent to dinner once a week, driving her or him to a medical appointment once a month, or calling once a week.
Divide and conquer: Break down tasks and assign them according to everyone’s talents and skills. For instance, one sibling might pay bills, while another might spend one Sunday a month cooking several meals to be frozen.
Communicate and share: Keep your siblings, other extended family members, or family friends in the loop about concerns and needs. They can’t help if they don’t know what you need. You may wish to set aside a specific time to do this each week or month.
Be open to other effective care options: If you don’t have siblings (or even if you do), think about joining a support group, turning to friends or members of your faith community, or considering a professional home caregiver for assistance.

Another important step in easing stress, of course, is simply recognizing it. Sometimes, we can get so involved in providing care and fulfilling our other responsibilities that we don’t realize just how stressed we are. The “Caregiver StressMeter” is a short, interactive quiz that will help you determine your stress level. Once you’ve done that, you can decide which of the hints above you need to get the support you need:

Senior care may be hampered by dangerous clutter

ccro — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 11:52:06 -0600

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

ccro — Tue, 11 May 2010 11:10:08 -0600

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?

ccro — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 16:33:30 -0600

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

ccro — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 11:33:02 -0600

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.

Fear of Frailty

View more presentations from Home Instead Senior Care/Northern Colorado.

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

ccro — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 16:42:58 -0700

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.

Community care centers give seniors social and intellectual stimulation

ccro — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 12:47:49 -0700

A range of care centers are available. In Northern Colorado, the Larimer County Office on Aging can give detailed information on community care centers near you: http://www.larimer.org/seniors/lcoa.htm.

In general, these are the types of care centers:

Senior centers—for people over 55 who are in good health and can dine, exercise, take classes, learn new hobbies like pottery or painting, and go on outings with those of their own age.
Adult-care centers (ACCs)—for seniors with age-related disabilities. Often these people are the ones who also have professional nonmedical home care, but may benefit from interacting with others. Health day care services at ACCs ensure seniors follow their prescribed therapies and take medications.
Social day care—for seniors who are not independent enough for senior centers, but without serious handicaps.

There are also specific dementia day care services for people who have non-advanced Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia. These not only provide appropriate activities and care for the senior, but give family members a needed break from caregiving.

Senior Care is personal to us. Request information about our home care services in Northern Colorado, OR call us at 970-494-0289.

Parents’ senior home care depends on family involvement

ccro — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 09:00:00 -0700

Breaking the planning process down, step by step, can make decisions on home care more manageable and less stressful:

Talk to your parents. Ask them what they want and think they need. You can find pointers on starting the conversation at http://www.4070.talk.com
Find local resources. In Northern Colorado, visit the websites of the Foundation on Aging for Larimer County and the Larimer County Office on Aging.
Assist your parents with a health assessment. This should cover physical, emotional, and mental health.
Include other family members. Make sure you have the input and support of siblings, other family members, and close friends.
Consider the options. Think of various services your elderly parents may need. Keep an initial care plan flexible.
Remember that aging is an ongoing process. Think about the types of care your parents may need in future.
Consider finances. Be aware of your parents’ finances and think about ways to fund care. Speaking to a financial planner may be helpful.
Help your parents stay in their own home for as long as possible. Consult the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) for information on home adaptations for aging in place.
Think about end-of-life decisions. Everyone should have a will and make end-of-life decisions well in advance of the time that these are necessary.
Be sure you have support. Seek support from family members and friends, or visit http://www.caregiverstress.com for assistance.

Senior Care is personal to us. Request information about our home care services in Northern Colorado, OR call us at 970-494-0289.

Be alert for signs of seniors’ poor nutrition

ccro — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 09:23:10 -0700

Eating is not only one of life’s pleasures, it’s important for good health as someone ages. Mood, independence, cognitive function, and physical health all depend on eating well. That’s why it’s important for family caregivers to watch for signs that may mean an elderly family member isn’t eating properly. Here are a few things to be look for:

Eating less and seeming less interested in food than usual.
Physical changes, such as a loss or gain of ten pounds in six months, skin that does not look healthy and well-hydrated, or lethargy.
Changes in health or function, such as cognitive problems, depression, or a recent illness or hospital stay.
Food in the refrigerator that is spoiled or past its expiration date.
Use of more than three medications, as medications can affect appetite and weight.

If you notice any of these signs, here are some ways to improve an elderly relative’s nutrition:

Ensure he or she has assistance with grocery shopping and cooking. Consider professional home care help if you or other family members aren’t available for these tasks.
Look into congregate meal programs, such as those at senior centers, or the Fort Collins Meals on Wheels (MOW) program: http://www.fcmow.org. Social support and interaction can help seniors eat foods of better nutritional quality.
Help your loved one shop for high-quality foods. The “12 Foods Your Senior Shouldn’t Live Without” shopping list is a useful tool for grocery shopping excursions.

Senior Care is personal to us. Request information about our home care services in Northern Colorado, OR call us at 970-494-0289.

Options for coping with senior care costs

ccro — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 09:55:00 -0700

While anything to do with finances is complex and depends on individual circumstances, it’s useful to have some background knowledge of the resources generally used to pay for senior care.

Savings: Some people fund their own elder care, but this requires considerable assets. For example, an investment portfolio worth over $1 million might be needed.
Long-term care insurance: This method of financing home care is increasingly popular. Policies can be individualized to cover various benefits, which may range from limited to comprehensive in scope.
Medicare: Medicare covers a large portion of medical costs, but not nonmedical care such as home care. The exception is up to 100 days of a nursing home stay (100% of costs for the first 20 days, and partial costs for the next 80), as long as the person is in a skilled rehab program.
Medicaid: This means-tested program assists with nursing home costs once someone over 65 has exhausted all or almost all her or his own means. Unfortunately, assets have to be “spent down” until the senior has only about $2,000.
Reverse mortgage: If seniors’ mortgages are paid off, they can enter an agreement with a bank so that it pays them a kind of income-tax-free mortgage. The seniors can stay in the house as long as they live or wish to stay there. The seniors are still responsible for real estate taxes and upkeep expenses.

Senior Care is personal to us. Request information about our home care services in Northern Colorado, OR call us at 970-494-0289.

Seniors’ mental health and function: what you need to know

ccro — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 09:18:34 -0700

When we become family caregivers, we’re in a good position to notice early changes in an elderly loved one’s mental health or function. To do so, we need to know the kinds of issues that may arise as a relative ages.

Jane F. Potter, MD, of the University of Nebraska Medical Center Department of Internal Medicine, has pointed out some aging-related issues to watch for:

Medication side effects and safety issues: Many seniors take multiple medications, which can lead to extreme confusion. Make sure you know all your elderly relative’s medications and how he or she is supposed to take them, so that you can easily discuss these with doctors if necessary.

Anxiety and depression: These two conditions—especially depression—are common mental health problems in seniors. As well as causing severe distress, depression can lead to physical problems and affect social activities and mental function. Be alert to changes in your elderly relative, such as a lack of interest in activities, decreased appetite, or long-term sadness. They may be caused by depression.

Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease: After age 85, almost 50% of seniors have some mental impairment. Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease (the most common cause of dementia) lead to problems remembering, learning, and communicating. If you’re worried about dementia in a loved one, the first step is an evaluation by a doctor. A doctor can also discuss appropriate treatment options, which might include medication to delay symptom progression, professional home caregivers who are trained to provide appropriate activities to aid function, or skilled nursing home care. If you want to learn more about Alzheimer’s disease, a good starting point is the Alzheimer’s Disease Education and Referral Center website.

Senior Care is personal to us. Request information about our home care services in Northern Colorado, OR call us at 970-494-0289.

Assisted living for seniors: what to look for and expect

ccro — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:31:32 -0700

While a lot of seniors would prefer to remain in their own homes—and many can for many years if they have family or professional caregiver support—for some the time comes to move to another living situation. Assisted living facilities (ALFs) are one option, which provide less constant supervision than nursing homes, but more support than a retirement community. Basically, staff members are present to assist only when help is needed.

If you and an elderly relative are considering an ALF, here is some information on what to expect from a facility:

Most ALFs are apartment buildings, which offer one-bedroom or studio apartments.
Some ALFs are affiliated with nursing homes or independent living communities. Others are freestanding.
Apartments and other ALF areas are equipped with adaptive devices, like ramps and bathtub grab bars.
24-hour-a-day supervision is provided, in case there’s an urgent situation.
Residents are free to come and go as they wish—although some ALFs do have sections for residents who have dementia and cannot leave their rooms often.
Services such as meals, laundry, personal care, and transportation are provided.
Staff members make sure residents take their medications.

If an ALF seems the right choice for your elderly family member, explore more than one and ask about the following:

Costs, including what services are part of the monthly fee and what may be considered an “extra” service.
Facilities and programs available to meet residents’ social, intellectual, emotional, cultural, spiritual, and physical activity needs.
Whether the ALF can care for seniors who develop Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementia.

A helpful source for more information about ALFs is the National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL). Its publication Guiding Principles for Assisted Living is especially useful for understanding what you should expect from an ALF.

Senior Care is personal to us. Request information about our home care services in Northern Colorado, OR call us at 970-494-0289.

Aging in place: safe and enjoyable, but barriers remain

ccro — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:30:00 -0700

While we family caregivers want to help our elderly relatives stay in their own homes so they can “age in place” in familiar surroundings, we also want their living environment to be safe and provide the supports they need. Often the home where they’ve lived for years isn’t “senior compatible.”

Fortunately, there are some ways to help ensure parents or other relatives can continue to live at home comfortably, remain part of the community, and stay close to other family members. Depending on a senior’s needs, adaptations to houses sometimes can be made quickly and inexpensively.

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) has a printable fact sheet outlining some changes that are helpful in seniors’ homes.

You might want to think about these for your elderly family member. They include:

lever-style door handles.
non-slip flooring in entryways.
handrails wherever there are steps.
bright lighting throughout the house, and especially on stairs.
lighting from multiple directions to reduce glare.
contrasting colors for depth perception (e.g., stairs that are darker around the edges).

You might also consider contacting a local Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS)-trained remodeler for assistance in adapting an elderly relative’s home. The NAHB has a searchable online directory of CAPS professionals in Northern Colorado.

Senior Care is personal to us. Request information about our home care services in Northern Colorado, OR call us at 970-494-0289.

Seniors’ caregivers need respite to relieve stress and prevent health problems

ccro — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 09:05:00 -0600

Caregiver stress is a very real problem, as any of us who have been family caregivers for elderly relatives know. Without relief from stress, we can end up with health problems of our own.

Approximately one-third of family caregivers report that they need more help. And according to the Department of Health and Human Services, about the same number of those caring for someone 65 or older say their own physical health is only fair to poor.

To stay healthy ourselves and continue to provide support to our relative, we caregivers have to have respite. Figuring out where to turn can be hard, especially as it takes a lot of time and energy to work, care for our own families, and look after an elderly relative. Here are some possibilities:

Ask friends, neighbors, or other family members if they are able to provide some care and support, even if only for short blocks of time. Ask them to provide specific times. Then schedule those times in your daily planner.
If your relative belongs to a church, synagogue, or other religious group, find out if they have programs or organizations that can help out.
Visit the websites of the Foundation on Aging for Larimer County http://www.foundationonagingforlarimer.org/ and the Larimer County Office on Aging http://www.co.larimer.co.us/seniors/lcoa.htm. Both provide information on support services and contact information for more details.
Think about hiring a professional nonmedical caregiver, who can spend a few hours a week or a day with your elderly relative.

Senior Care is personal to us. Request information about our home care services in Northern Colorado, OR call us at 970-494-0289.

Mind games are good for seniors’ cognitive function

ccro — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 14:24:27 -0600

Quick—what do word games, sudoku, card games, jigsaw puzzles, and video games all have in common? They’re a great way to lower seniors’ risk of cognitive decline.

In fact, an Australian study in a 2006 issue of Psychological Medicine showed a 46% lower risk of dementia in people with “high brain reserve”—a measurement based on education, occupational complexity, and mentally stimulating pursuits. A good way to stimulate the mind is playing “mind games” like Scrabble®, board games, bridge, computer games, and video games. The value of video games seems to be evident in an Evercare 100 @ 100 Survey; among 100 Americans turning 100 or older, one in seven had played video games.

If you’d like to help an elderly relative enjoy stimulating mind games, consider the following possibilities:

Play video games with him or her, or encourage other family members to do so.
Arrange a family Scrabble® or board game night, so that everyone can enjoy a challenging game and the company of other family members.
Clear the dining room table, ensure the lighting is good, and chat while you and your relative put a jigsaw puzzle together.
Provide your relative with some inexpensive large-print books featuring crossword puzzles, sudoku, or word search puzzles.

Senior Care is personal to us. Request information about our home care services in Northern Colorado, OR call us at 970-494-0289.