Tag Archives: Elderly

Shout Out to Nursing Homes

Posted by Jeanne Lowry on May 12, 2015 under Caregiver Corner | Be the First to Comment

People have varied feelings about nursing homes. Part of how they feel about them depends on their age. Part depends on what nursing homes they’ve experienced in person or through the media. Part of it depends on whether or not they can picture themselves in a nursing home or if they would rather age in place for as long as possible. But no matter how people feel about them, there are nursing homes out there where the residents are well cared for and enjoying their lives.

When a decision is made by an individual, or their family, to move into a nursing home, several positive changes can take place. These changes include allowing a former family caregiver to go from being a caretaker back to being a family member. Or giving the elder the ability to interact with their peers. Or the family being able to feel secure in the knowledge that the elder’s complex medical needs will be handled by professionals.

Additionally, there are different types of nursing homes available, depending on what level of care an individual needs. Even homes that provide a lot of skilled nursing can still also provide social activities.

One thing that is important to remember is that a nursing home decision should ideally be made before a crisis creates an immediate need for a move into such a facility. But even if a family is in the middle of a care crisis, many nursing homes are very accommodating and flexible.

What experiences have you had with nursing homes? We’d love to hear some experiences our readers have had!

Helping Your Elderly Parents with Their Finances

Posted by Jeanne Lowry on October 6, 2014 under Caregiver Corner | Be the First to Comment

There’s no denying that helping your parents sort out their finances can be a daunting task. How well they respond to your offer to help, how organized they are and how spread out their finances are – these can all be contributors to the difficulty of the job. But it is doable, and with a little help for yourself, you’ll find you can get all those figures under control.

First, there’s actually getting your parents to allow you to participate. If they’re particularly reluctant, you can always just ask them to speak to an elder-care attorney. This article shows that that might be a good idea no matter the case: the attorney quoted in the post says he spends most of his time fixing the mistakes people made when they tried to do everything themselves. Your parents should also, at the least, tell you where they keep their financial information in case of an emergency.

If you’re able to actually help them with a budget, be sure to schedule that time for when everyone is relaxed. Don’t lump it into when you’re already going to take them to a doctor’s appointment – many people, whether or not they tell you, can become anxious before appointments. Try to schedule a time to sit down with some kind of reward at the end: a nice dinner out or a visit with the grandkids.

Don’t necessarily use your own budget as a template for theirs. They may have expenses you wouldn’t think of at first, like extra money for medical equipment, incontinence supplies or higher insurance premiums.

With a lot of patience, you can work together with your parents to get them financially set. Good luck, and let us know if you have any advice you’d like to share in the comments.

Three Things You Can Do To Prevent Falls

Posted by Jeanne Lowry on September 29, 2014 under BladderMatters, Caregiver Corner | Be the First to Comment

September is National Fall Prevention Month, to coincide with the start of the fall/autumn season. Falls are often the reason why seniors end up in the hospital. With so many situations where falls can be prevented, it’s worth the time to check and make sure the seniors you know are safe in their homes, nursing homes or while out and about.

Check on medications
Not only do medications affect each person individually, some medications can affect older people differently from the young. The elderly also tend to take more medications, which can lead to un-intended and sometimes dangerous drug interactions. The side effects of these medications can lead to dizziness, or confusion, both states which can creat a higher risk of falling. Caregivers should be certain to go over, and repeat if necessary, all medications their caree is taking to doctors, nurses and pharmacists. You never know who is going to catch an adverse combination.

Solve any incontinence issues
A common time when seniors fall is when they’re trying to get to the bathroom. The sudden urge to go and a diminished ability to walk can lead to a fall. Not only is it important to make sure that all paths to the restroom in the senior’s home are clear, incontinence problems should be addressed and solutions found. If the senior can wear a pad or a brief, then the need to get to the restroom quickly is mitigated. Additionally, nighttime falls are common, when the light is low and the senior may be disoriented. Sometimes using incontinence supplies only at night can solve this problem.

Help encourage balance
Physical therapy can be one way to help an elderly person regain their balance, especially after an injury or illness. Another way can be to try exercises that encourage balance, such as Tai Chi. Or simple stretches and strengthening exercises to make sure those muscles are there when needed.

To find more information and more ways to prevent falls, you can check out this National Council on Aging Page. And let us know in the comments how you prevent falls for your senior!

Group Vacations

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

Summer vacations are coming to a close, but the fall is a great time to travel as well. Lower temperatures and fewer travelers can mean better deals and better experiences.

As a caregiver, you may find yourself longing for a vacation, but wondering how it’s possible to leave your charge. Or, perhaps your charge (your parents, child, sibling or other) has been asking to take a trip. How can you pull off taking a vacation with so many care issues to think about?

One option is to create a group to go on vacation with you. If there are more people than just you to help take care of your charge, there’s less for you to worry about. Are there siblings that can help out with your elderly parents? Can your parents help out with your special needs child? Coordinating times and destinations can be tough, but with the right planning, all parties can find enjoyable activities and alone time.

Another option is to participate in a pre-planned trip. Cruises have always been popular, but these days they are catering more and more to the aging population. Some cruises now provide help to their elderly passengers. Such a trip can provide the perfect setting: you as the caregiver get to make sure your parents’ care needs are being met, and there are opportunities to relax. And leaving the country isn’t necessary: river cruises mean less travel time to the boat and more scenery while on the ship.

Whether you decide on a private or group vacation, make sure to pack all supplies your charge needs in advance. TotalHomeCareSupplies.com has all the incontinence products you need for a great trip! Bon voyage!