Category Archives: Caregiver Corner

Tackling Senior Obesity

Posted by Jeanne Lowry on January 14, 2015 under Caregiver Corner | Be the First to Comment

Senior obesity is a wholly different animal from childhood or even adult obesity. In both of those demographics, using a simple Body Mass Index (BMI) calculator can answer the question, “Is this person obese?” But that’s not the case for seniors. Some seniors start to lose height as they age, and that can change their BMI number despite not gaining any fat. Or sometimes the changes that happen as a person ages can make amount of fat versus muscle hard to measure.

Additionally, there has been some controversy about whether or not some extra weight on the elderly can be beneficial. Some padding on people is necessary to protect bones and joints.

Whichever camp you take to, what important is keeping seniors active and on a healthy diet. No one can argue that sitting around each day and consuming unhealthy foods is a good idea, no matter one’s age. Firstly, it’s important for the senior or caregiver to discuss the idea of adding activity to the routine. This can be as simple as a half-hour walk every day.

But, again, that’s only half the battle. Diet is important as well. Appetites in seniors can be a fickle beast. Sometimes it can seem that the only thing that motivates an elder to eat is the cookies they know are coming for dessert. But often changes can be made to the menu items to encourage healthy eating. Are vegetables something they don’t like to eat? Is there a reason beyond taste, like they’re proving too tough to chew? It may be awkward, but ask those tough questions until there are at least a few menu items that are both appealing and healthful.

National Radon Action Month

Posted by Jeanne Lowry on January 9, 2015 under Caregiver Corner, Resources | Be the First to Comment

How can you take action on radon? Simple! Purchase a radon testing kit at a hardware/supply store, follow the instructions and send in the results.

But why should you do that? Again – simple! Radon in small amounts that is diluted into the air around us is harmless. But, if your home builds up too much radon, this element is a major cause of lung cancer. And seniors, who spend a lot of time in their homes, and may not air them out as often as others, can be at particular risk.

The best way to keep yourself and others safe is with the simple test. If your results show high levels of radon, it’s not time to panic! It’s recommended to wait another six months before retesting, to lessen the possibility of a false-positive. During that time, you can start airing out the house by opening windows on opposite ends, and purchasing air filters. You can find other recommendations for how to lessen radon exposure here.

There are also a lot of community information sessions offered across the US, especially during this Action month. To find them, search online for your town name and “radon.” During these sessions, experts will show you how to use a testing kit, and some sessions may even give tests away.

It’s important to keep your family safe and eliminate as many carcinogens as possible from your home, or your seniors home. You can learn more about National Radon Action Month at this EPA website.

Great Books to Help Children Learn about Special Needs Children

Posted by Jeanne Lowry on January 7, 2015 under Caregiver Corner | Be the First to Comment

Children are naturally accepting of others, so it may be awhile before you find yourself fielding questions like, “Why is that boy different?” or “Why can’t she talk?” when interacting with special needs children. Even if your child does not have a special needs child or any special needs children in their school or social circle, it’s a good idea to explain to them, in their terms, why some children aren’t like them. When your children do encounter a special needs child, they’ll hopefully have at least some of the information they’ll need to be a good friend.

My Brother Charlie

This book mirrors the life of an actual 12-year-old girl, the daughter of actress Holly Robinson Peete, whose twin brother has autism. Reviews of the book have stated that it not only is authentic in its storytelling, it promotes conversations.

Small Steps

This book is a sequel to the bestselling book Holes, which was later made into a film. While the story doesn’t focus on the character who has cerebral palsy, it does a good job of including her in the story without much fanfare. Definitely a book for older children, as it contains some scary elements towards the end.

The Best Worst Brother

While this book is written from the point of view of a sibling, it can be a helpful story for any child. The sister in the story must learn to communicate with her developmentally disabled younger brother. This book is appropriate for ages four through eight.

What are your favorite books about children with special needs? We’d love to hear recommendations for books that are for children, or those that are for adults.

Seniors and the Weather

Posted by Jeanne Lowry on December 31, 2014 under Caregiver Corner | Be the First to Comment

Extreme weather can be tougher on seniors than the rest of the population. When it’s dry, their skin becomes very dry. When it’s wet, driving in those conditions can become even more dangerous due to slower reaction times and decreased vision. With less fat than younger people, the cold can be much more uncomfortable, if not unsafe. And the heat can make life nearly unbearable and it can also be hazardous.

2014 has been a rough year weather-wise. The long California drought (which, despite recent rainfall, is not over – it will take about three years of regular rainfall to get the state back to “normal” conditions), the cold winter that started the year off and this was also the hottest year on record.

The ideal way to deal with weather and your senior are just keeping them cooler or warmer than you’d like to be, based on the environment. If it’s winter and you’re cold, your senior is likely colder. If it’s sweater weather outside, be sure to grab a coat for them before heading out for a walk. If it’s hot outside, maybe forgo the neighborhood stroll altogether. In both of these cases, a drive to the mall for some exercise can be a great alternative. Cool in the summer and hot in the winter – and always new products to look at!

Don’t forget about other weather-related hazards like ice on the sidewalks and parking lots. Extremely bright sunlight can also be dangerous, so be sure they have some nice big shades! Diaper rash can also be a problem for those seniors using them – sweat in the summertime (or even in over-heated rooms, which can often get very dry) can lead to more diaper rash than normal. Be sure to use cloth-backed diapers to keep the air circulating. You can find more tips to staying cool in pull-ups in the summer in our blog post here.

What are you favorite tips for keeping seniors safe in all types of weather?

Keeping the Holidays Stress-Free for Your Senior (and You)

Posted by Jeanne Lowry on December 23, 2014 under Caregiver Corner | Be the First to Comment

The holidays are definitely here! And you may well be visiting your elderly parents, staying with your caree or having seniors visit you. How can you make to and through the new year in the most stress-free way? A little planning and an attitude of “not-sweating-the-small stuff” should help.

Traditions
Traditions are great and part of why many of us look forward to the holidays. But don’t forget that the reasons traditions are there is to keep families and friends together and happy. So if a tradition is no longer making someone happy, maybe it’s time to alter it. For instance, if it’s the tradition to sit down for Christmas dinner at precisely five o’ clock BUT this year, grandma’s Sundowner Syndrome has gotten worse – is it really so bad to have a Christmas lunch instead?

Downtime
Because it’s hard to get everyone together very often, we all tend to squish a lot of activities into a small period of time. But maybe it’s better to just focus on one larger thing per day? A trip to the zoo can just be a morning activity, at least for your senior, followed by a meal and then some downtime or naptime in the afternoon. Having your senior there for all the moments is great, but if they’re not enjoying themselves, the moments mean less.

Follow-up
After the holidays are over, and everyone has packed up and gone home, keep the emotional needs of your senior in mind. As startling as the transition to having lots of family and friends around may have been, the transition back to “normal” could be worse. If you’re near your senior, perhaps try and increase the amount of social time they receive. And if you’re far, try and call and check in a little more for the first few weeks. Maybe send a little gift or a note, make sure they know you’re thinking of them all year long.

What are some tips you have about keeping the holidays more about family and togetherness and less about stress? We here at TotalHomeCareSupplies.com would love to hear it in the comments below!

Great Holiday Senior Activities

Posted by Jeanne Lowry on December 18, 2014 under Caregiver Corner | Be the First to Comment

Maybe you’re visiting your parents during the holidays. Maybe you’re a caregiver who wants to bring the holiday spirit into your senior’s home. Whatever the reason, the cold weather, Christmas and New Year’s bring a wealth of ideas with them for how to create and entertain.

Reading
The poem, “’Twas the Night Before Christmas,” was written in the 1800’s, so chances are that everyone has heard the verses at least once in their life. Don’t be afraid to turn the lights low and grab a blanket and just enjoy reading out loud. And there are always religious texts and passages to read that are specific to this season.

Hot Cocoa Tasting
The next time you’re at the store, grab a few different types hot cocoa. Don’t worry, you’ll use it up before the weather warms up. Brew up a few cups and each and split it between the group. See if people can tell the difference (you can always throw in some Quik or other distinct flavored cocoa). And you never know which flavors may bring back a memory to talk about!

Music
While you may well be tired of Christmas music by this point, the senior (who hasn’t been out and about much) may not. So find some tunes they’ll recognize and you’re not totally exhausted of and put them on. Perhaps you can listen while decorating the house – or even stringing popcorn! The intricate stringing may prove too difficult for an elderly person, but that doesn’t mean they won’t enjoy the site, smells and tastes of you doing it.

Cooking
Speaking of making popcorn … do you know what your senior’s favorite meal is? It may not be easy, it may be unhealthy, but during the holidays, with businesses closed and unhealthy food everywhere already, now might be the perfect time to cook that dish.

What are your favorite holiday activities? Do you have to modify them to adapt to your senior’s lifestyle, or do they fit perfectly? We’d love to hear them in the comments below!

Seven Tips for Staying Healthy During the Holidays

Posted by Jeanne Lowry on December 13, 2014 under Caregiver Corner | Be the First to Comment

Original post by Leslie Gaillard for LiveConfidently.com

The holiday season can be one of the most challenging times to stick to a healthy meal plan. Here are some strategies to help you survive this holiday season with your weight and health intact.

1. Maintain, don’t gain.

While you may be interested in losing weight, the holidays are a tough time for many people to do this. Make a plan to weigh yourself at least once a week to keep tabs on your weight. If you notice your weight beginning to increase, you can address this before one pound turns into many pounds gained.

2. Plan for special holiday events.

Baked goods, potlucks, and celebrations with family and friends can derail anyone’s healthy eating plan. The key is to think about these events in advance and have a plan for your eating. Have a snack before you go so you’ll be less likely to overindulge. If you are going to a potluck or dinner, limit yourself to one plate. Holiday food typically is not low calorie, but if you watch your portion sizes you can still enjoy some of your favorite holiday foods while keeping your overall intake in check.

3. Add some extra exercise.

Physical activity can burn extra calories and also be another non-food related activity you can do with friends and family. Instead of meeting someone for a meal, suggest a walk or another form of exercise that you both enjoy.

4. Limit your indulgences.

One of my mantras is that it is a “Holi-DAY” not a “Holi-WEEK” or a “Holi-MONTH.” Allow yourself to enjoy some special holiday foods, but try to limit overindulgences to a single day, rather than a week or longer.

5. Record your food intake.

If you find yourself consuming significant amounts of calories from any particular food item, such as sweet treats or alcoholic beverages, make a plan to control your intake. Keep a food record for the items you have consumed each day, evaluate it, and then make a food plan for the next day. For example, if you record that you have consumed three cookies on a particular day, make a food plan for the next day that eliminates or reduces the amount of sweet treats.

6. Eat mindfully.

One of my clients’ most successful strategies is to try to be the last person to finish his meal at the table. This requires him to slow down his pace of eating. Set your utensil down between bites, take sips of your beverage, remember to chew your food thoroughly, and enjoy the conversation of those you are dining with. As a result of practicing these mindful strategies for eating, my client feels more satisfied with less food and even reports enjoying the taste of the food more.

7. Modify your recipes.

There are simple ways to modify your recipes to make them lower in both fat and calories. For example, whole eggs in baked good recipes can be replaced with egg whites (two egg whites for every whole egg) or egg substitutes. You can also replace half of the oil with unsweetened applesauce or ripe bananas. In dishes that call for cheese or whole milk, choose the reduced fat versions instead. Incorporate more fruits and vegetables into your recipes to make your holiday meals more nutrient-dense.

With all of these tips in mind, you’re well on your way to having a happy and healthy holiday season! Have some suggestions to add for staying healthy during the holidays? Head over to our incontinence forum and chat with people just like you.

Original article can be found at Live.confidently.com.

The Benefits of Pets for Seniors

Posted by Jeanne Lowry on December 4, 2014 under Caregiver Corner | Be the First to Comment

Pets can benefit every person. Studies have proven time and again that just petting an animal can calm a person and lower their blood pressure. And you don’t even need to own an animal to pet them! But the effects of an animal in your home go beyond having a furry friend to nuzzle. Pets provide companionship, something that many seniors can begin to lose as their mobility declines.

The Pets for the Elderly Foundation points out that when seniors own pets, their need to visit their doctors declines, and they have a good excuse to get active. Seniors who can still take a short walk around the block may be more inclined to do so when there’s a dog who needs to go out. Those who do not have that much mobility can get a smaller dog that only needs to use the yard, or a cat that can use a litter box. The benefits will still exist, such as being more sociable – an animal draws others near to chat.

It is, however, very important to think of the details.

What is the age and breed of the pet?
Smaller dogs are often seen as more manageable, but many breeds need lots of exercise. A kitten or puppy is very cute, but they are quite active and sometimes hard to train.

Who will care for the pet when the senior is no longer able to?
This is a good question to answer before the senior gets the pet, so everyone is prepared.

What are the annual costs of keeping the animal?
While big dogs may be mellower than medium or small-sized dogs, they also eat more. Also consider getting pet health insurance for the animal – it’s often much less expensive than an unexpected surgery down the road.

As long as you have the answers to the above, and everyone’s in agreement, a pet can be a wonderful companion to a senior or a senior couple. Are there other tips that caregivers should keep in mind before placing a pet with a senior? If you have them, we’d love to hear them in the comment section below.

Keeping Seniors Warm This Winter

Posted by Jeanne Lowry on December 1, 2014 under Caregiver Corner | Be the First to Comment

Our first suggestion goes hand in hand with keeping warm this winter, but has so much more to do with keeping safe: make sure your home has carbon monoxide alarms. These alarms will be lifesavers if your home or your senior’s home has a gas leak. These leaks are usually due to furnace issues, but can happen in a variety of other ways. Most carbon monoxide alarms are around $20 and they and their battery have a life of around eight years.

So now that your senior is safe, let’s make sure they’re comfortable. While younger people may think nothing of taking off their coat at home and spending the evening in a long-sleeved shirt, older people get colder more easily. This can be due to muscle and fat loss. Make sure your senior has plenty of sweaters around, along with lots of throws. And keep in mind that regular sweaters might prove too tough to put on and take off without help. Some seniors find cardigans much easier to navigate. Make sure to check oft-worn items regularly, to see if there are holes or if they need a wash. As eyesight gets worse, seniors may not notice smaller flaws.

Watch out for space heaters. These should not be left on for long periods of time, or left unattended. While it may seem like it makes more sense to just heat the one room where your senior spends the most amount of their time, if they have a small home or apartment, having the central heat on instead might prove less expensive. To be sure, you would have to try out each option for a month, and compare the electric bill to the heating bill at the end. But it is definitely safer to use the central heating than a space heater, which can be knocked over or forgotten.

What are some tips you use to keep your senior, or yourself, warm when the temperature drops? It’s already been quite cold across the country this season, so we’d love to hear more ideas.

Open Health Care Enrollment on HealthCare.gov

Posted by Jeanne Lowry on November 27, 2014 under Caregiver Corner, Resources | Be the First to Comment

Between now and February 15^th of next year, everyone can enroll for health care under the Affordable Care Act by using HealthCare.gov. This applies to everyone enrolling for the first time. For those that have a health care plan under this act already, they can renew their plan or change it. Anyone who does not make any changes will be automatically reenrolled, but there may be some changes to their premiums.

If one isn’t receiving health care through their job or a family member, HealthCare.gov is a great place to start looking. All plans are crafted to be affordable, and many of them qualify one for a premium tax credit. Additionally, if a person isn’t sure if they qualify for a state Medicaid program, they can also head to HealthCare.gov and apply. If they do qualify, they will be enrolled in that state’s Medicaid program, and if they don’t, they’ll be able to find coverage through the Affordable Care Act.

For those currently enrolled, the infographic below, by America’s Health Insurance Plans, may be helpful:

Are you currently enrolled in the Health Insurance Marketplace? Do you have any tips for navigating the system for those just starting? Please comment below.