The ComForcare Blog

So your aging parents have decided to age in place, rather than move into a retirement community or assisted-living facility. Now what?

First of all, don’t stress out. It’s highly likely that your parents will be much happier and more comfortable staying put in their own home then moving out and starting over in an unfamiliar place. In fact, 89 percent of people age 50 and older said they would prefer to remain in their home indefinitely as they age, according to a 2005 survey by AARP. Aging in place allows older adults to hold onto their freedom and independence, but it’s important that they are safe and taken care of properly. While often times a son or daughter steps into the role of family caregiver, it can be extremely demanding – both on an emotional and physical level. That’s why many families turn to in-home caregivers, who are available 24-7 to meet their aging parent’s needs. Caregivers, like those from ComForcare Senior Services, help with activities of daily living, personal care, nutrition and meal preparation, medication reminders, light housekeeping, laundry, transportation and general companionship.

Aside from hiring a caregiver to ensure your parents’ needs are met, it’s imperative that their home is situated to ensure their safety. Here are a few tips to seniorize your parent’s home:

o Replace doorknobs with levers; they are easy to open even for those with arthritis.
o Use non-skid mats under area rugs and avoid using waxy cleaning products on hardwood floors to prevent unnecessary falls.
o Ensure there is sufficient lighting along every stairway. A railing should be provided on at least one side to provide more stability to those climbing up and down.
o Place grab bars in the shower and near the toilet to make it easier and safer for aging parents use the bathroom, as it’s the room in which most accidents occur. Also, consider toilet seat extensions to reduce falls.
o Place “grabbers” in every room so that reaching for things is easier.

We often hear that as we age we should consume less alcohol and watch what we drink. Our tolerance and body is not what it once was. But what’s the real reason?  Here are a few reminders about why we need to start cutting back as we enter into older age:

• You Can’t Handle It. The truth is that older people metabolize alcohol more slowly and have less water in their bodies, which means they will start feeling drunk more quickly.
• You’ll Worsen Health Problems. Alcohol can also make age-related health problems worse, like high blood pressure, diabetes and memory problems.
• You Could Overdose. Not on alcohol, necessarily, but think about all the medications you’re taking now compared to when you were younger. As you age, you are increased risk of an alcohol-drug interaction, which can cause several problems.
• You Could Physically Hurt Yourself. Alcohol can cause older adults to be off-balanced, causing falls. We all know falling in our elder years can cause broken bones and other bumps and bruises that don’t heal as quickly as they once did.

Just because there are risks, doesn’t mean you have to stop drinking altogether. But it does mean that you need to start being more aware of what you consume and how it can affect the rest of your life. For more information about alcohol use and older adults, check out the full report on the National Institutes of Health’s Senior Health website.

In addition to talking with your local ComForcare Senior Services’ office, there are tons of great resources out there for family caregivers. This is tough job. It can be emotionally and physically draining as much as it is rewarding. That’s why it’s so important to educate yourself and seek out support. Today, there are millions of Americans who are in your exact position, caring for their aging parent or loved one. Community support groups, friends, other family members and hired in-home caregivers are all here to help. The National Family Caregivers Association is another great tool for caregivers. Their website offers great tips and informative articles to help get you through the tough times. Below, you’ll find a list of online tools from the ComForcare website as well as the NFCA site. Feel free to go to our Facebook page to share other tools for caregivers!

Having the Conversation

Caregiver Self-Advocacy: Four Message to Live By

Fall Prevention and Home Safety

The Stress of Family Caregiving 

Medication Mistakes Are a Serious Issue for Seniors

A Support Group Guide

Yesterday, we asked our Facebook fans and Twitter followers if they had started thinking about their New Year’s resolutions. This is a time of year when we reflect on 2011 and start thinking about the year ahead. What changes can we make and how can we better ourselves? Some resolutions are very personal and others are good to discuss with friends and family so you stick to them! The celebration of the New Year is the oldest of all holidays and the tradition of New Year’s resolutions dates back to 153 B.C.  Janus, a mythical king of early Rome who had two faces, signifying his ability to look back on past events and forward to the future, became the ancient symbol for resolutions. In keeping with tradition, what resolutions will you make this year? Here are a few to consider:

Save money. Consider every outlet you spend money throughout the year and ask yourself, is this necessary? Have you been paying for a monthly subscription to something you don’t use? Are you buying too much food each week at the grocery store and being wasteful? Are you going over your budget each month? Reign it in a bit and you’ll feel better about your financial situation at this time next year.

Make better lifestyle decisions. Stop smoking and drinking so much alcohol. Though with smoking you’re harming no one but yourself, drinking can be dangerous as you get older. Not only are you potentially mixing alcohol with prescription drugs, but you could lose your balance and seriously injure yourself.

Be happy. Do something every day that makes you smile.

Get out of town. This is the time in your life to enjoy yourself. Make a list of every locale you’ve never been but would like to visit and start traveling!

Be healthy. This doesn’t necessarily mean you have to lose a bunch of weight, but get active and make an effort to eat healthier. Go for a bike ride with your spouse each morning or get a group of your friends together to walk a couple times a week.  Choose to eat better for you options.

Visit our Facebook page and share your resolution with us!

Stress levels can soar during the holidays for family caregivers. Besides caring for your elderly loved one, you have to shop, cook, clean, attend holiday parties and more. Before you go off the deep end, take a deep breath and remember that there are people around you that can help and activities that can be done altogether as a family. Here are some tips to get  you through this crazy time of the year:

Decorate your home. Nothing gets us in the spirit quicker than festive decorations around the home. This is something that you can do with your elderly loved one. String garland, cut snowflake patterns out of paper and hang candy canes on the tree.

Cooking for the family. Though it can be stressful to plan a menu for several guests, try and knock off some of the items with the help of your family members. Both young and old can take part in decorating holiday cookies or gingerbread men with frosting and sprinkles.

Keep it calm. Even though the holidays can be fun and joyful for your elderly loved one, remember that all the noise and activity isn’t part of their normal day-to-day life. Try and put on soothing music and keep things relaxed. Have them help you pick out some of their favorite songs to play and if things start getting too out of control, remove them for a short break.

Maintain religious activities. Going to Mass or lighting the menorah is something that can be easily maintained no matter what physical state your loved one is in. Also, it will help them keep up with traditions from when they were a child and remain positive about the holiday season. Contact your local church and ask if a priest can stop by your home to do a short ceremony and get together with the family for prayer and to light the menorah if you come from a Jewish faith.

Let us know how you get through the holidays by visiting our Facebook page and posting a comment!

It’s no secret that the holidays present both a joyful and stressful time. To help make this time of year enjoyable for all, here are a few tips to get you by over the holidays:

Get Everyone Involved

Kids are home from school, adults typically have time off work and the relatives are in town to spend time with you and help out! Have the younger kids help decorate the tree and wrap presents, while the older family members plan the menu for your holiday meal and go shopping for gifts. Don’t feel like you have to do everything on your own.

Don’t Feel Guilty

Caregiving can be very time consuming, but when the holidays are here you’re required to split up your time with family, friends and caring for your elderly loved one. Do what you can to dedicate as much time as you can to everyone you care for, but don’t feel bad about taking care of your own needs and responsibilities this time of year. Have family members help out or hire an in-home caregiver to ease some of the stress.

Be There, Even When You’re Not

It can be very depressing and lonely for older family members who live far away from their loved ones. If you can’t make it there over the holidays, be sure your elderly relative has someone to spend time with. An in-home caregiver could offer a great companion, or get them involved with peers in their community.

Stay Positive

Remember what’s most important this time of year. This is supposed to be fun and offer you a chance to spend time with family members and friends. You may have tons to think about and responsibilities to get to after the holidays, but try to live in the moment and enjoy your loved ones company.

It’s that time of year again, holiday parties, decorating, shopping, family activities and lots of food and drinks!  While it’s an exciting, joyful time of year, it goes as quickly as it comes and can leave us feeling a few extra pounds heavier and absolutely exhausted. But this year, do what you can to have a healthier holiday season so that you’re less stressed and more in control when the New Year begins!

Manage Your Shopping Time

Though this is the busiest time of the year at shopping centers across the country, try to avoid the stress as much as you can with online shopping. The crowds, long lines and hectic energy can you leave you feeling more stressed than ever.

Start Early and Go Slow

It’s okay if your entire house is not decorated yet. Take your time and get a little done each day. Invite family over to help and make it a fun get together, if you need to. If you’re older, don’t get up on the ladder without assistance – even better, ask your kids or grandkids to come over and help out.

Don’t Overdo It

Who doesn’t love the delicious foods and desserts that come with the holidays? While it’s okay to indulge a little and have some fun, don’t overdo it completely. Still put aside some time each day to go for a walk or hit the treadmill. It will help energize you for the day and keep the extra pounds at bay! Also, make sure you’re still taking your vitamins and eating fruits and vegetables each day. Don’t load up on sweets or high calorie foods without the nutrition!

Eat, Drink and Be Merry – But Not Too Merry

The holidays can tempt us to indulge in alcoholic beverages we may not normally consume. Have fun and enjoy your friends and family, but limit your consumption. Especially if you’re taking prescription medication. It’s also important to keep an eye on your elderly family members so they aren’t overdoing it either!

What are some other strategies for maintaining your health during the holidays? Tell us on our Facebook page!

A recent article published in the St. Louis American discusses how unemployment rates have tripled for older, low-income workers. According to the National Academy on an Aging Society, unemployment for older lower-income workers tripled to 20 percent from 2000 to 2010. And as the article states, resources to put these people back to work are dwindling.

Just a few weeks ago, we posted a statistic on our Facebook page that said, “While the number of children under 18 living in poverty has decreased over the last year, the number of elderly living in poverty has jumped from 9 percent to 15.9 percent. This is mostly the result of out-of-pocket healthcare costs.”

Not only is our senior population struggling to keep their heads above water, but the government is making it more difficult for them to maintain jobs. It’s a vicious cycle. The St. Louis American article hears from the director of the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) with MERS Goodwill, a community service and work-based training program for older workers. The program is having a hard time providing jobs for older workers since the Obama administration and Congress agreed on a federal budget that cut SCSEP funding by $375 million, a 45 percent reduction from the 2010 level. There are now more than 400 people on the waiting list.

If programs like this, specifically designed to help older Americans stay in work, continue to fall by the wayside then poverty levels amongst the elderly will remain at a ridiculously high level. What can be done to combat this growing issue? Comment on our Facebook page!

Thanksgiving allows us the chance to spend quality time with our elderly loved ones and share in this American tradition. It’s an exciting time to catch up with family members and enjoy delicious food. While it’s usually fun and just as entertaining for your aging parents or loved ones, it can also be overwhelming and a big shock to their normal routine. Here a few tips to make sure they stay relaxed and happy during your family get together:

• Include older relatives in the preparation and festivities once the party has begun. They may not be able to do everything they once could, but set up a chair in the kitchen and have them help out with the cooking or prior to your event have them help you with decorations. They want to be a part of this day and it will help remind them of all the happy Thanksgivings in their past.
• Try and keep some of their daily rituals intact. Make sure they take their medications at the same time as usual and be aware that big changes in their daily routine can be confusing.
• Be sure the house where the party is being held is free from hazards and obstacles so that there is no chance your older relatives could trip and hurt themselves.
• Consider how busy you will be at your party. If you won’t have time to ensure your parent or elderly loved one is being cared for properly, consider bringing alone his or her in-home caregiver to the event.

In the end, the holidays are a time of happiness and joy and you want your family members – young and old – to enjoy this time of the year. Focus on what you do have and the positives in your life!

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

In a recent article published in a UK newspaper, an elderly man was tricked out of £4 million in a fake shares and investment scam. This is equivalent of approximately six million U.S. dollars. The elderly man, who regularly sent off money for the fake investments, could face losing his house and it is not possible for him to recover all of his money. Unfortunately, this is a common practice in our world today. A recent survey by the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) shows senior investment fraud accounts for nearly 50% of all complaints received by state securities regulators.

The elderly is at high risk for being scammed out of money and personal information via the internet, mail, phone, in-home visits, and free “financial seminars” specifically targeted at seniors. So, how can we protect our parents and loved ones against falling victim to such scams?

• Get involved. Often times there comes a point in your elderly loved one’s life when they need help managing their personal finances. It’s important to pay attention on behalf of your family member and stay involved in their financial decision-making.
• Have a conversation. Take the time to warn your parents or elderly family about not giving out personal banking information, credit card numbers, or social security numbers to just anyone who calls. Keep in mind that popular scams include callers about charity donations or sweepstakes or free products.
• Request written documentation. If a salesperson or someone from a “government agency” calls asking for personal information, ask them to send a written document with information about their company, his or her name and contact information. If they won’t do this, you can suspect they are not legit.
• Who’s at the door? Talk to your parents and loved ones about taking precautions when answering the door to strangers. Often times scammers will travel from house to house offering to do maintenance or construction work. Don’t hire someone who just shows up at the door.
•  Be cautious when using the Internet. Many seniors are using the Internet and email to keep in touch with family these days, which is excellent. But warn them about possible emails from fraudulent parties. They should never be giving out their personal information over the Internet, unless they are sure it’s a secured site. A good solution is to take some time to educate them on the workings of the Internet or sit with them when they are checking emails.

Visit AgingCare.com for additional information and more tips and the elderly and scams.