Family traditions help us form connections with our relatives and shape our own sense of identity. Every family has their own rituals that are important to them and are valued parts of their lives that they look forward to each year. Home Instead Senior Care providing the most trusted elder home care in America! Helps family caregivers cope with senior care in Dallas. Call us today at 972-239-3934. 

It doesn’t matter what the traditions are, they can be whatever the family deems as important to them. They can be as elaborate as throwing large surprise birthday parties for every milestone, or as minor as reading bedtime stories to children every night. Whatever the traditions are, it’s important that they are passed along to future generations so they can be part of making the memories too.

Families can pass along significant heirlooms from generation to generation, while making sure that other individuals understand why it’s so important. An heirloom can be any object that represents the family; like a piece of jewelry, a quilt or an ornament.

Another tradition that can be passed on within families, can be to teach skills which can be enjoyed together or by members on their own. They can be creative skills like painting, photography, or needlework crafts like knitting or patchwork. Or, they can focus upon music, like learning to play an instrument or singing. Other areas of expertise that can be passed on are cooking, gardening, or handyman skills.

Families should also focus upon sharing their stories about family history and traditions with all generations, so they understand the significance of the rituals to their family. This can make them even more special and unique and help tighten the bonds between the members.

Source: http://aginggrandparents.suite101.com/article.cfm/preserving_family_memories

Home Instead Senior Care providing the most trusted elder home care in America! Helps family caregivers cope with senior care in Dallas. Call us today at 972-239-3934.

Caregiving Decisions

Q1 – Why might family caregivers choose not to involve seniors in decisions that impact their own lives?
A1 – Sometimes it can be challenging for seniors to make decisions or gain access to needed resources based on the physical, mental and emotional limitations. In these cases, sometimes a caregiver might find it easier to make the decision themselves.

Q2 – Should seniors be involved in making decisions?
A2 – Absolutely, while they may not be able to make them single-handedly dependent upon their abilities, caregivers can assist them with the decision-making process and setup situations where they’ll be successful.

Q3 – How can caregivers involve seniors in effective decision making?
A3 – If making big decisions are too overwhelming for seniors, caregivers can complete the necessary research and use resources in order to present seniors with the top suitable options. By preventing a senior with the best choices regarding a professional caregiver, community living facility or investment opportunity; families can ensure that their senior makes a good choice no matter what, while allowing the senior to be involved with the process.

Q4 – Can this decision-making structure be used for minor day-to-day decisions as well?
A4 – For seniors who find it overwhelming to decide what to wear or what to have for dinner, a caregiver can provide them with two or three options to choose from.

Q5 – Are there any legal ways seniors can ensure their voices are heard?
A5 – It’s important for older adults to draft up Living Wills and appoint a Power of Attorney while they are still able to make their wishes with regards to healthcare, asset management and more. This will ensure that their families, doctors and legal professionals follow the senior’s requirements, even if they can’t speak for themselves.

Source: http://assisted-living.aplaceformom.com/articles/eldercare-decision-and-guilt/

You may feel you’re ready to provide care for someone you love during the last moments of their life, but it can be a difficult experience. The following checklist can help you determine whether you should care for your senior, or if hospice care may be a better option.

• You are able to give up other responsibilities, like work or school, in order to provide care for the senior

• Your family and children support your decision to provide palliative care and will do what they can to help

• You are aware that you may have to limit your social responsibilities for a period, due to overwhelming responsibilities

• You are as prepared as you can be to cope with death, and have considered grief counseling options once he/she passes

• You are willing and able to learn about medication administration and remain on hand to dispense them when needed

• You are prepared to meet the other needs of the senior, like dressing, bathing, changing and more

• You have thoroughly researched the options in your community and spoken with medical professionals to ensure you are making the right decision

• You are open to receiving training from hospice workers in order to provide adequate care

• You are able to take on other responsibilities belonging to the senior and carry out their wishes
• 
Sources: http://www.raconline.org/info_guides/hospice/faq.php
               http://www.caringinfo.org/LivingWithAnIllness/PalliativeCare.htm

Home Instead Senior Care providing the most trusted elder home care in America! Helps family caregivers cope with senior care in Dallas. Call us today at 972-239-3934.

Let us help you keep mom and dad at home!

Checking up over the Holidays

During the holiday season, when our practice is open, we find that many adult children of our patients walk through our doors. Many of these individuals travel a long way to ring in the holiday celebrations with their aging parents, and know that while they are in town they can do more to help with their care.

Some meet with our doctors to discuss their senior’s overall health; others want to address specific concerns regarding what they have witnessed during their visit. While of course we have to maintain a level of confidentiality, we do what we can to help; because we know that being local creates the ideal opportunity for families to make arrangements and get seniors they help they need.

As a nurse specializing in senior care, it often falls to me to provide information on local resources to their families. I encourage the children to visit local nursing homes and assisted living facilities, speak with caregiving agencies and interview medical and non-medical in-home caregivers, and drop in on caregiver support groups to speak with others going through the same process. It can also be a good time for family members to speak with neighbors and friends who may have more information on the senior’s routines and would notice any concerning changes.

I’m a big advocate for in-home safety devices for seniors who live independently in their own homes, so I encourage families to assess the way their parents are living and identify any safety hazards. Being local, it’s the ideal opportunity to purchase and install safety products to help reduce the chance that an accident will occur.

Happy holidays to you and your families, but while you enjoy the time together, exercise proactive thinking about senior care and living.

Resources:

Seniors Resource Guide, Texas (http://www.seniorsresourceguide.com/directories/SanAntonio/search_topics.html)

Texas Aging Network
(http://www.texasagingnetwork.com/)

USA.gov Senior Citizens Resources
(http://www.usa.gov/Topics/Seniors.shtml)

Home Instead Senior Care providing the most trusted elder home care in America! Helps family caregivers cope with senior care in Dallas. Call us today at 972-239-3934.

Let us help you keep mom and dad at home!

Seniors Should Keep in Touch Too

After the holidays, the obligation often falls on the rest of the family and not the senior members to keep in touch. While it is important that seniors are made to feel important and loved year-round, beyond the holiday celebrations, seniors also need to make the effort to keep the lines of communication open.

The following are methods both sides of the family can use to make sure those who live away feel valued, regardless of age.

• Make regular phone calls, beyond just on birthdays or special occasions. Calling just to chat will let the other party know you’re thinking about them
• When a family member phones, make them feel welcome and make sure you always appear approachable
• Send photos to your loved ones to let them know what your immediate family has been up to, it’s as close as they may get to actually being there
• Send “just because” gifts
• Allow children to call their elder relatives anytime they want to share some news, or let them mail a hand-drawn picture
• Remember to allow the other person to talk and show interest in what’s important to them

This holiday season, put your feet up and make new memories with your family, but remember to keep in touch throughout the year. Seniors don’t need to wait for their families to take the first step; you’re never too old to pick up the phone.

Home Instead Senior Care providing the most trusted elder home care in America! Helps family caregivers cope with senior care in Dallas. Call us today at 972-239-3934.

Sugar: A Natural Source of Energy

Energy can come from many sources, and is especially important for those in their senior years, because a decline in energy can result in a decline in brain function. Many seniors experience problems with their memories, have trouble forming thoughts when communicating, and find decision making challenging. Since this is such a common issue, many seniors seek a simple and easy solution to boost their mental powers. The answer is quite simple, really; with physical energy comes an optimally functioning brain.

As I mentioned, energy comes from many sources; exercise, sunlight, problem-solving, and of course diet. A great source of energy is sugar; or rather, glucose, in its natural, non-processed form. Fresh fruits and juices will release the natural energy that keeps a senior’s ability to concentrate and process thoughts sharp. Additional foods like bananas, which contain potassium, help glucose release gradually from the bloodstream throughout the day; while, peppermint helps refresh the mind, and fiber boosts your energy levels. Exposure to sunlight also helps overall well-being, which only benefits your physical and mental ability to function day-to-day.

So, to keep your mind in optimal shape as you age, look to sugar as a natural source of energy.

Image: canada.com

Home Instead Senior Care providing the most trusted elder home care in America! Helps family caregivers cope with senior home care in Dallas. Call us today at 972-239-3934.

Giving Thanks

Since November brings us Thanksgiving – with its family gatherings, food, and football!  But we’re not going to focus on Thanksgiving’s “holiday” aspect here.  Rather, we’ll draw inspiration from its essence, and show you how year round, our home care senior clients and family members are thankful for Home Instead Senior Care’s senior services and its people.

One of our mid-Atlantic regional offices recently heard from the adult child of a client with Alzheimer’s.  This family member writes about the parent’s CAREGiver, “Each day she makes an indelible, positive difference in our mother’s life, and for that we are deeply grateful.”  Similarly, a client in the Central region simply says that when her CAREGiver visits, “It’s like having a friend over.”

But “thanks-giving” also goes the other direction at Home Instead Senior Care, as employees express appreciation for home care senior clients and colleagues.  In a West regional franchise, a newer CAREGiver told others in her office, “I just want to let you know how happy I am and how well I like all of you.”  In response, her manager simply said, “I love what the CAREGivers do for this company.” 

So this Thanksgiving, remember elders and families who give thanks for what you do every day – as we at Home Instead Senior Care give thanks for one another.  It’s a good feeling, isn’t it?  Happy Thanksgiving.

Home Care Dallas - Call us today at 972-239-3934

Tips for home care Dallas elders and seniors - insuring they are safe - home care Dallas.

Vision problems - common vision problems include nearsightedness, presbyopia, (age-related changes in the eye that make it hard to see close-up), glaucoma, cataracts, diabetic eye disease, and macular degeneration (damage to the center of the eye that can result in a loss of central vision. 

What you should do: Get a comprehensive eye exam every one to two years. Vision problems can be treated and the earlier treatment begins, the better.

Hearing problems Hearing loss is the most common sensory problem in later life.

What you should do: Ask for a screening hearing test once a year, and tell your healthcare provider if you’re having trouble hearing. Treatment improves both hearing and quality of life.

Dizziness Dizziness — feelings of spinning, near fainting, falling, or lightheadedness — can make walking more difficult, increase risks of falls, and lessen quality of life.

What you should do: If you often feel dizzy, tell your healthcare provider. There are many treatments for dizziness; treatment depends on the underlying cause or causes.

Fainting Like dizziness, fainting is increasingly common with age and leads to falls.  In older people there are often multiple causes.

What you should do: If you’ve fainted, tell your healthcare provider immediately. He or she can investigate possible causes and recommend treatment tailored to these causes.

Difficulty walking or “gait impairment” is usually due to a combination of age-related heath problems such as arthritis, bone and muscle problems, disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, poor circulation, dizziness, changes due to stroke, vision problems, loss of strength, and even fear of falling.

What you should do: There are many treatments — ranging from exercise to surgery - that can improve gait and walking considerably. So tell your healthcare provider if you are finding it more difficult to walk.

Other tips for home care in Dallas call 972-239-3934.