Practical Issues for Senior Living
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.
Be alert for signs of seniors’ poor nutrition
- home care and nutrition,
- seniors’ nutrition,
- grocery shopping and seniors,
- loss of appetite in seniors,
- illness in seniors,
- nutritional risk,
- cognitive problems and nutritional risk,
- medication use and nutritional risk,
- congregate dining programs,
- Fort Collins Meals on Wheels,
- depression and nutritional risk
Nutrition is an important part of a senior's day. Home care providers should keep out a watchful eye to insure that elderly family members are eating well.
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
There are so many things to consider in providing good home care for our elderly relatives, and an important consideration is how to finance this care.
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.
Questions to ask when you’re concerned about a senior’s fitness to drive
When to give up the car keys is a tricky issue for seniors—and for those of who care for and about them. Being able to drive represents freedom for a lot of seniors, and surrendering a driver’s license can feel like the end of independence. No wonder many are resistant to the idea.
But it’s important to evaluate the ability to continue driving as someone ages. If you’re having concerns about an elderly relative’s driving, ask yourself the following National Highway Transportation Safety Administration questions:
- Is her or his eyesight poor?
- Does he or she have difficulty with headlight glare or driving at dawn, dusk, or night?
- Does he or she lack control of the vehicle?
- Does driving make her or him overwhelmed, afraid, or nervous?
- Are loved ones concerned about her or his driving?
Seniors should also ask themselves these questions about their driving skills. If the answer to any is “yes,” it may be time to consider ways to correct problems, or limiting or giving up driving. Some hints for correcting problems are:
- making sure that a prescription for eyeglasses is current.
- visiting an optometrist or ophthalmologist at least once a year, or more often if recommended.
- making sure headlights and mirrors work well, are clean, and are aimed correctly.
- driving only during the day or on well-lit streets.
- driving with a “partner,” such as a family member, friend, neighbor, or professional nonmedical caregiver.
Senior Care is personal to us. Request information about our services, OR call us at 970-494-0289.
Exercise can benefit the mind in seniors
Most of us know that staying active is a good way to stay physically fit. For our elderly relatives, there’s another reason to enjoy various forms of exercise: better brain health. Recent research, such as a 2005 Johns Hopkins University study that appeared in the American Journal of Epidemiology, has shown that exercise can lower the risk of dementia in older people.
If you want to help your loved one get involved in the most effective exercise for good brain function, here are a couple of things to remember:
- The Johns Hopkins report suggests that taking part in various activities may be just as important as—or even more important than—how often, how long, and how intensely someone exercises. So consider a few types of exercise your senior relative may enjoy, such as walking, line dancing, a fitness class at a senior center, and swimming or water aerobics.
- Good nutrition and mental activity are needed in addition to physical exercise. A 2005 National Institutes of Health study with dogs shows that physical activity, mental stimulation, and a diet high in antioxidants work together to fight effects of aging in the brain. In the study, published in Neurobiology of Aging, older dogs did better with cognitive tests and learning new tasks when they had a diet fortified with fruits, vegetables, and vitamins; exercise at least twice a week; and opportunities to play with toys and other dogs.
And while you’re encouraging your older relative to enjoy exercise, mental activity, and a healthy diet, don’t forget that these will benefit you, too, both now and in the future.
Senior Care is personal to us. Request information about our services, OR call us at 970-494-0289.
