Remember Seniors On 4th of July

Everyone has experienced loneliness at some point in their life, but seniors often have to deal with it more often.  Holidays can be especially lonely, and the 4th of July is definitely one of the biggest holidays of the year.   Many seniors may be alone for the holiday.  They may have families that live far away, many of their friends might have passed away, and their ability to get around might interfere with having a healthy social life.

As you’re planning your 4th of July celebrations, please remember the older adult in your life whether it be a relative, friend or neighbor.  Drop by for a quick visit and bring a desert.  If you can’t be with them,  a simple phone call can make a world of a difference for a senior’s overall health and well being!

Survive (and Enjoy!) the Holidays with Home Care Help

Instead of heading to the mall to check a few items off your holiday shopping list, you’re taking mom to a doctor’s appointment and then heading out to the pharmacy to pick up her meds. Instead of looking forward to spending time with the relatives at your annual holiday gathering, you’re dreading the extra housework you’ll have to do on top of making sure Dad gets bathed each morning.

Can you identify with the lyrics to the Faith Hill song, “Where are you Christmas? Why can’t I find you? Why have you gone away?” It’s easy to get so lost in the responsibilities that come with caring for an aging parent that you can’t pause to enjoy the festivities of the season.

Yet, it’s possible to survive and enjoy the holidays if you ask for help. Get in touch with an in-home senior care agency to find out more about how the following five home care services can help to save your sanity during the holiday season and throughout the year.

1. Transportation – Having trouble fitting all your loved one’s myriad doctor appointments and errands into your schedule? Enlist the help of a professional caregiver to accompany your loved one on routine trips to the doctor’s or grocery store. Caregivers employed by a senior home care agency are typically bonded and insured, and provide assistance for your loved one before, during and after the outing.
   
   While a caregiver helps your loved one with errands, you can use that time to check off items on your own to-do list. Or, you can devote the time you would have spent sitting in the doctor’s office doing something that you and your loved one will both enjoy instead, such as gift shopping or attending a holiday event.
2. Housekeeping – Visits from friends and family members around the holidays create a lot of extra chores around the house that your loved one may be unable to handle due to lack of mobility or stamina. A professional caregiver can help out by accomplishing light housekeeping tasks such as dusting, vacuuming, changing bed sheets, doing laundry, or taking out the trash.
   
   Instead of dreading the arrival of family members because of all the work you’ll have to put into cleaning up the house, you and your loved one will be able to fully enjoy the visit and appreciate the family togetherness—one of the aspects of the holiday that older adults most look forward to.
3. Companionship – The holidays can be a sad and lonely time for seniors who have lost a spouse or have busy families that cannot come visit as much as they would like. Receiving regular visits from a hired caregiver, who often quickly becomes more of a friend, can help lift your loved one’s spirits by offering conversation, creating opportunities to reminisce, and encouraging mind-stimulating activities.
   
   Visit as much as you can, but instead of feeling guilty about the times you can’t spend with Mom or Dad, rest assured your loved one can still receive healthy social interaction.
4. Meal Assistance – Mom might now need extra help preparing the traditional Thanksgiving meal as she has always done, or perhaps even planning and preparing daily meals has become too much. Instead of worrying about how Mom might leave the stove on all night or that she’s not eating well, let a professional caregiver assist with planning out healthy meals for the week, creating a shopping list, and supervising meal preparation and cleanup.
5. Personal Care – If your loved one needs help with bathing, managing incontinence and other personal tasks of daily living , as a family caregiver, you likely spend a great deal of time each day attending to those needs. Hiring a trained professional caregiver to provide that assistance will not only spare you time and stress, but may also spare your loved one a little dignity.
   
   Instead of spending your mornings on nursing duty as you walk Dad through his wake-up routine, you’ll be able to spend quality time with him as a son or daughter again.

Receiving extra help for even just a few hours a week can free you up to spend the holidays with your loved one how you would like to, not how you have to.

For more information about how a professional caregiver can meet your loved one’s specific needs and to discuss scheduling and pricing information, call alocal in-home senior care agency.

For more info: http://www.caregiverstress.com

Elderly Depression and the Holidays

Holiday depression sometimes affects all of us as we get caught up into planning and attending holiday parties, reacquainting ourselves with old friends, and finding the time to shop for gifts, planning family reunions and get-togethers.

However, for many individuals, and most especially seniors, the holidays can be especially sad and depressing.

Causes of Elderly Depression during the Holidays


For many seniors, the holidays are not a time of celebration and joy, but only serve as reminders of how lonely he or she may be, the friends that have passed on, the lack of family get-togethers and an inability to participate in such events. Commonly known as the holiday blues, elderly depression during the holidays affects singles, divorcees, and seniors around the world, and not only during the traditional American holidays of Thanksgiving and Christmas, but other events as well.
It doesn't matter whether it's a winter holiday, Mother's Day, or the Fourth of July: many seniors look at holidays as major hurdles to overcome. Elderly depression, loneliness, lack of social interaction, and an inability to get around severely limit many senior's ability to partake in such joyous occasions.
Depending on geographical location, weather often plays a big part in an elderly person's inability to get out or socialize during holiday seasons. Wintertime holidays such as Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas or Hanukkah are often rainy, cold or snowy, making it extremely difficult for seniors to navigate or enjoy. Often times, medical conditions such as arthritis prevent many seniors from venturing outdoors during cold winter months.
Warm weather can be just as bad, and seniors living in locations such as the deep South or the Southwest are prone to heat exhaustion and heat strokes, which also keeps them indoors.Children and family members spread throughout a state or country often prevent elderly parents from visiting children, grandchildren or other extended family members because of the cost of transportation, compounded by the inability to get from point A to point B.

Common Symptoms of Elderly Depression during the Holidays.


Family members and friends are cautioned to be alert to signs of holiday depression among seniors, regardless of whether they live on their own, with family members or in a long-term care facility. Depression is more apparent in seniors who have limited options for travel, or whose family members are scattered over long distances. Some of the most common symptoms of elderly depression during the holidays may include:
* Change in sleeping habits
* Difficulty sleeping
* Apathy or lethargy
* Change of appetite
* Loss of interest in activities
* Loss of interest in socializing
Of course, there are more, and individuals who know how mom or dad usually act are usually the first to pick up on cues or clues that something isn't right. Picking up on such clues is essential in order to help provide seniors with the attention and care needed to prevent serious repercussions and side effects of depression.

Tips for Combating Elderly Depression during the Holidays


Regardless of whether your elderly parent is in a home or a long-term care facility, children of aging parents can take several steps to ensure the mental health and well-being of their loved ones. Arranging and engaging in regular phone contact when family members are distant is important to make the elderly parent feel cared for, thought about and loved. Scheduling regular visits to long-term care facilities is also important so that seniors don't feel they have been abandoned and forgotten.
On special occasions such as Thanksgiving, Christmas or Hanukkah, try to ensure that an elderly parent is involved in activities or at least is a recipient of well wishes and thoughts by family members and friends. On holidays such as Memorial Day, Veterans Day and the Fourth of July, try to encourage aging parents to take part in community events, or arrange to have that parent recognized by community organizations for their contributions as a veteran.

Conclusion


Holidays can be extremely stressful times for all individuals, especially those worried about finances, family responsibilities and obligations. However, the best thing children of aging parents or caretakers of seniors can do is to make sure that a loved one feels special, and is provided with a sense of self-worth. Do whatever you can to involve an aging parent in holiday activities, whether it's filling out Christmas cards, addressing envelopes, helping plan get-togethers or helping with arts and crafts for holiday decorating.
If you feel your parent is dealing with long-term depression that seems worse at holiday time, schedule a visit with his or her physician and suggest antidepressants when necessary.


The bottom line is to encourage loved ones to stay active, involved and engaged in family and community events whenever possible. These activities don't have to be big, but can be anything that helps make them feel a sense of belonging and provides them with the ability to continue contributing to family and community well-being, regardless of age.


Article care of:
Boomers with Elderly Parents

14 Tips for an Elderly Friendly Fourth of July

By June Fletcher, AgingCare.com editor-in-chief

Almost everyone looks forward to gathering with family and friends for a backyard barbecue. But if you’ve been dreading going to one because of your responsibilities as a caregiver, never fear: Both you and your elderly loved one can have a fine time, if you plan ahead.

But first, make sure that your relative is in good enough health to attend a party where there will be heat, bugs, noise, smoke from the grill and possibly rambunctious children. Also, check with your hosts to ensure that they understand and can accommodate your loved one’s limitations. If not, find another caregiver to look after your relative while you attend alone; it’s important for you to socialize and recharge.

However, if your hosts are amenable and your loved one is up to it, don’t leave him or her behind. Joan Wright, a certified geriatric manager at NVNA and Hospice in Norwell, Mass., told AgingCare.com that you should remember that every elderly person was once young, mobile and eager to socialize. “Those desires are still there even if their physical capacity to fulfill them is not.”

Here are some tips from Ms. Wright and others to ensure that everyone has a good time:

Before the barbecue

–Talk to the host or hostess about dietary limitations your elderly relative may have. If the menu is too spicy, fatty or hard to chew, plan to bring some food that the senior can eat, and request that the meal be served at the same time as everyone else’s.

What to Serve Seniors at a Cookout

–Find out what sort of seating the hosts will have for guests. If they just have backless picnic benches, which can be difficult for an elderly person to sit on and provide no back support, ask if you can bring a folding chair or stackable plastic chair.

–If your relative is in a wheelchair, find out in advance if your hosts’ gates are wide enough and slopes gentle enough to maneuver it into the back yard.

–Ask if there’s any shade in the backyard; if not, ask if you can also bring a portable beach umbrella.

–Lay out comfortable clothes that include layers, since some seniors feel cold even when it’s warm out. Include sturdy shoes to prevent falls and trips.

–Before you go, make sure that the senior has put on some sunscreen.

At the barbecue

–Set up a spot for your relative away from the hot grill and any areas where children are likely to be throwing balls or rough-housing.

–Find out the location of the closest bathroom, and if accidents could be a problem, seat the senior near it. If your relative needs assistance using the restroom, you might want to arrange a discreet hand sign or code word between you so you can excuse yourself to help without embarrassing him or her.

–If your relative can’t get around much but is sociable, bring other party-goers over for brief chats.

–Since dehydration can be a problem with elderly people, make sure that a glass of water is always at hand. Avoid alcoholic beverages, which are not only dehydrating but also can conflict with medications.

–If you must cut some meat off a bone or corn off of a cob, do it in the kitchen and then bring the plate to the senior. Cutting up food in front of other partygoers puts the senior in an embarrassing, child-like position.

–If your relative can’t get around much but is sociable, bring other partygoers over for brief chats. And ask other family members or friends to sit down with the senior from time to time so you can mingle, too.

–If your loved one can’t communicate well, bring headphones, a CD player and some music. He or she will be able to enjoy being around others without being under pressure to talk.

–Watch your loved one for signs of restlessness, overheating or other distress, and be prepared to leave before the festivities end.



Read more: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/14-tips-to-make-the-fourth-fun-for-you-and-elderly-loved-ones.html#ixzz1QmQ0SVDW

How to Help the Elderly at Christmas

The holiday season is a busy time as individuals rush about shopping for gifts, cooking tasty treats and 

spending time with their family.  Often overlooked during the Christmas holiday season are elderly

individuals and shut-ins. Their holidays can be lonely and depressing as distance prevents them from 

spending time with their family and physical limitations stop them from doing traditional holiday activities. 

However, you can be a bright spot for them during the holidays.

• Spend time with them. Elderly individuals are often lonely due to the fact they have little interaction with others during the day. Many elderly people just enjoy conversing with others, and you stopping by just to chat can make their day.
• Bring them holiday goodies or gifts. Everyone enjoys receiving presents or goodies and the elderly are no different. Making something or purchasing a gift is a great way to show an elderly individual that you care about them and they haven't been forgotten.
• Offer assistance in decorating their house for the holidays. Although many elderly individuals would like to have a Christmas tree or lights on their house to enjoy for the holidays, they don't due to the physical limitations of their body. You can help them get what they want by offering to assist them in decorating their house. However, you must remember to help them take down decorations after the holidays as well since they won't be able to do it by themselves and may be too afraid to ask you.
• Take them with you to holiday activities. Many elderly individuals enjoy getting out to experience some of the holiday activities and traditions, yet they don't want to go alone. If you and your family are attending a holiday musical production or just driving around your neighborhood to look at Christmas lights invite an elderly friend or neighbor along to enjoy it with you.
• Assist them with holiday shopping. One of the best ways to help an elderly individual during the holiday season is to help them with their holiday shopping. Almost all elderly people have family that they will exchange gifts with during the holidays, thus they will need to do some shopping which can be intimidating due to the crowds and traffic. You can make their holiday shopping experience pleasant by offering to take them and be of assistance.