by Kay Bidwell | Feb 24, 2021 | Uncategorized
Now that we have established that there are no easy answers when it comes to dealing with aging parents, there will be numerous issues that need to be addressed. You may begin to notice the level of comprehension is no longer as sharp as it once was. The “blank stare” seems to be more and more prevalent. Now is the time to begin the process of reviewing levels of in-home care as you and your siblings can not always be in the home to assist as needed. Just be aware that in most instances, bringing someone in the home to assist will likely be met with resistance for a host of reasons. However, before you decide in-home care is needed, discuss the issues with your siblings. Discuss what they have seen and witnessed in private dealings with your parents. It is certainly much easier to make decisions when most (if not all) siblings are on board. Be open about your concerns, however don’t minimize your concerns based upon a sibling who may think everything is fine within your parents’ home. You need to make them very aware that IF something is not decided soon, an incident may occur that could have been avoided. Step up and accept your responsibility. Now that you have addressed the in-home care issue, and agreement is reached to review options, where do you begin? My recommendation is to call your local ADRC in your respective county and discuss your situation with a staff member. They can give you some excellent advice. Other senior resources are available through similar agencies. Do your research and discuss...
by Kay Bidwell | Jan 14, 2021 | Uncategorized
Each of us are called in many ways to be of assistance to our parents and loved ones as the aging process increasingly becomes an issue. As time passes, the call to assist your parents or loved ones who now require additional in-home care is one of the many challenges you will face as you look to find ways to “maintain” a safe home environment. Let me begin by telling you that I’m dealing with aging parent issues almost on a daily basis. There is very little I haven’t experienced with my parents who we (family members) have decided to do everything we can to keep them in their home. From contracted snowplowing and shoveling, to sibling assistance with firewood, home repairs, and other assorted home ownership issues, we feel we are doing our best to honor our parents wishes to stay in their home. The situation is even more challenging when you add the pandemic into the mix. However, there will come a time when you will begin to notice that issues within the home are being neglected which may turn into a health or safety issue. Certain daily medical needs such as the proper pill allocation are either forgotten or ignored due to certain levels of forgetfulness (dementia?) setting in. It is further exacerbated when one parent becomes the “in home caregiver” for the other which puts a definite strain upon the health of that parent who not only has their own issues, but has taken on the responsibilities for their spouse/partner. This is a very difficult situation as studies have shown that the spouse caregiver will...
by Kay Bidwell | Mar 5, 2020 | Uncategorized
Elderly woman petting a dog. The combination of seniors and pets can provide wonderful benefits for our older citizens. Most folks who have ever had a pet are aware that animals just make us feel good. Research tells us that only 15 minutes spent bonding with an animal can set off a chemical reaction in the brain that lowers stress hormones and increases “feel-good” hormones. The immediate result is slower heart rate, lower blood pressure and a reduction in stress. Over time, it appears pet & people interactions can improve physical, mental and emotional health. This can be especially powerful for seniors and pets. Physical Benefits Caring for a pet requires some physical activity, whether walking or brushing a dog, playing with a cat or getting up to feed the fish and clean its tank. Regular movement has many health benefits beyond improving mobility. Exercise has been shown to help manage or even prevent age-related illnesses and elevate your mood. Research has shown that pet owners generally visit the doctor less often, take less medication, recover from illness faster, and cope better with stress. Mental Benefits Being with a pet provides mental and memory stimulation. Pets live in the moment and can help keep us focused on the present. Planning for the needs of a pet gives our lives added meaning and purpose. Petting an animal has a calming effect that has been shown to decrease agitation in folks with dementia and just makes seniors and pets feel better. Cat & dog snuggling. Emotional Benefits Connecting with an animal can reduce loneliness and bring about a renewed interest in...
by Kay Bidwell | Jan 31, 2019 | Uncategorized
Eating well is important at any age, but even more necessary for seniors, who need to be aware of their changing nutritional needs. Adequate nutrition is necessary for your health, quality of life and vitality. Unfortunately, for a variety of reasons, many seniors are not eating as well as they should, which can lead to poor nutrition or malnutrition. Healthy eating begins with you! Giving your body the right nutrients and maintaining a healthy weight can help you stay active and independent. You’ll also spend less time and money at the doctor. This is especially true if you have a chronic condition, such as diabetes or heart disease. The definition of healthy eating does change a little as you age. For example, as you grow older, your metabolism slows down, so you need fewer calories than before. Your body also needs more of certain nutrients. That means it’s more important than ever to choose foods that give you the best nutritional value. Colorful Fruits and Vegetables Choose foods with the deepest, darkest color you can find. Their natural color means they’re loaded with vitamins and antioxidants. Blueberries, red raspberries, and dark cherries are ideal fruit. Dark, leafy vegetables like spinach, kale, and Swiss chard are vegetable powerhouses. You can have them all year because the nutrients in frozen food are just as good as in fresh. Just be sure to check your diet with your doctor if you are on any medications like blood thinners that may limit your intake of certain food types. Dairy Dairy is a very important food group for eating well as you get older because it’s a great source of...
by Kay Bidwell | Aug 30, 2018 | Uncategorized
Assistive Devices for Seniors In recent years, we’ve seen a wide array of assistive devices for seniors become available. Some solutions are very simple and others are very high-tech. The good news is that there are a lot of options. And the not-so-good news is that there are a lot of options. It can be difficult to know what assistive devices exist that may be helpful. And it’s a challenge to know how to choose the right solution. The goal of assistive devices for seniors is to increase capabilities that improve independence, and safety. Therefore, assistive devices cover a broad range of activities from communication to mobility, personal cares to household chores. Communication The ability to communicate keeps you from becoming isolated. Advances in technology have given us many ways to connect and stay in touch. Simpler, large button cell phones are one option. Computers and tablets have voice recognition for those with difficulty manipulating a mouse or keyboard. If you have difficulty speaking, there are portable tablets that can be customized with pictures or phrases that you use most often. Assistive devices for the hearing impaired include closed caption telephones and TVs. Hearing aids come in many forms. Many hearing aids are now able to tap into hearing loops in public venues. Personal sound amplifiers attach to almost any electronic device, which brings you clearer music and dialogue. Mobility Mobility devices cover everything from canes to wheelchairs and stairlifts. The variety in walker designs is staggering. Wheel chairs can be manual and basic, electric and complicated, or something in-between. You can get crutches, orthotics, a walker/cane hybrid or a...
by Kay Bidwell | Jun 7, 2018 | Caregiving, end of life
An End-of Life (EOL) Doula.. also known as a death doula, provides comfort and support to a dying person and his or her loved ones. The term doula has long been used to describe a person trained to provide advice, information, emotional support, and physical comfort to a mother before, during, and after childbirth. End-of-Life (EOL) Doulas are non-medical people trained to share resource information, education and companionship with those nearing the end of life. As a birth doula helps usher a child into the world, an end-of-life (EOL) doula helps usher individuals out of the world. In earlier times, most people died at home, surrounded by loved ones. With the advance of western medicine came the move to increased hospitalization and nursing home care. Although most people would prefer to die at home, many will die in hospitals or nursing homes. Today there is a cultural shift underway that is returning us to more natural death and dying at home. Folks near the end of life are reimagining what death can look like for themselves and their families. Doulas work with Hospice providers Far from replacing hospice care or medical support, EOL doulas work with other providers to complement their efforts. All wish to achieve the best possible death for the client. Therefore, EOL doulas focus on being present for the dying and filling gaps in the hospice and medical care support systems. While hospice workers focus primarily on the physical needs of the dying, there is strong recognition among them that pain management is not enough. The spirit must be attended to as well as the body. ...
by Kay Bidwell | May 11, 2018 | Uncategorized
Scams Against Seniors Seniors are often targeted by con artists. Most scams against seniors are conducted through the phone, mail or internet. Realizing many seniors may have money, but are less tech savvy, criminals see opportunity. Women over 60 who live alone are a prime target for scammers. The FBI’s Common Fraud Schemes webpage provides tips on how you can protect yourself and your family from fraud. Financial scams targeting seniors have become so prevalent that they’re now considered “the crime of the 21st century.” Scams against seniors are especially common because: Senior citizens are most likely to have savings, to own their home, and/or to have excellent credit—all of which make them attractive to con artists. Older folks were generally raised to be polite and trusting. Scammers exploit these traits, knowing that it is difficult for these individuals to say “no” or just hang up. Older Americans are less likely to report a scam. They don’t know who to report it to, and may be ashamed at having been scammed. They don’t want relatives to think they can no longer handle their own financial affairs. Financial scams can be difficult to prosecute, so they’re considered a “low-risk” crime for the con artist. With no face-to-face interaction, and no paper trail, these scams are hard to trace. Senior citizens are more interested in products promising better health and vitality. With on-going development of new cures and vaccinations, it is easy to convince a hopeful target that a “miracle product” may do what is claimed. Telemarketing scams against seniors Scammers use fake telemarketing calls to prey on older people, who...
by Kay Bidwell | Mar 29, 2018 | healthy aging
As we age, many of us look for ways of improving memory and maintaining brain power. With the increasing prevalence of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, you may see every memory slip as a possible sign of decline. However, research indicates that lifestyle factors can impact your brain’s ability to remember facts and events. Therefore, you may be able to give your brain power a boost by implementing some of the following suggestions. Memory, like muscle strength, requires you to “use it or lose it.” The more you work out your brain, the better you’ll be able to process and remember information. There are a lot of brain games on the market, but they have not been shown to boost your brain power beyond getting better at brain games. The best brain exercises break your routine and challenge you to use and develop new brain pathways. So getting better at the same thing is not necessarily going to improve your memory. To strengthen the brain, you need to keep learning and developing new skills. Therefore, you want to find activities that are challenging, enjoyable and give you satisfaction while building skills. Think of things you’ve always wanted to try, like learning to play guitar, taking an art class, playing chess, ballroom dancing, or mastering your golf swing. Any of these activities can help you improve your memory, as long as they keep you challenged and engaged. Physical activity is good for the brain. The National Academy of Science notes that fitness may be the best tool we have against cognitive impairment. Aerobic exercise is...
by Kay Bidwell | Feb 14, 2018 | Uncategorized
CAREGIVERS NEED TO CHOOSE WISELY Caregivers have options for giving care. It is important to choose wisely to insure the best and safest way to deliver that care. You, as the caregiver, may be a neighbor, friend, or family member who is able to provide some caregiving for free. Or maybe you receive a stipend or some form of hourly compensation. While this arrangement may work for a while, it may not be a good long-term solution. GETTING PAID Choose wisely: While you didn’t mind helping out a bit for free, the need for your help may have increased. Now you may be sacrificing other income to provide care and need to ask for payment to cover your own expenses. Payment arrangements between family and friends can be tricky. So in order to have a clear understanding of expectations and compensation, it is best to put everything in writing. A professional caregiving agency will have a signed agreement for services to make sure everyone is on the same page. TRAINING Choose wisely: Perhaps your friend or family member needed only occasional assistance with cleaning, a meal or companionship. Now that need may have grown to include help with walking, dressing and bathing. At this point, you may be feeling out of your element and concerned about the safety of your loved one and yourself. Therefore, a wise choice may be to work with an agency that can provide training in best practices. BENEFITS Choose wisely: Working for yourself sounds attractive, but it can have its drawbacks. If you get hurt at work, who will pay for your medical expenses? ...
by Kay Bidwell | Dec 22, 2017 | aging safely, healthy aging
Winter in the northern states can be isolating, increasing loneliness and depression. The holiday season often highlights feelings of loneliness. Today, 17% of Americans over 65 live alone, and an estimated 8.8% of seniors are chronically lonely. The sad fact is that loneliness can cause health problems and affect quality of life. Health Factors of Loneliness According to an article in Forbes, persistent loneliness may be a bigger health risk than smoking, obesity, exercise or nutrition. A few years ago, researchers at Brigham Young University found that social isolation increases your risk of death by 30%. There are 3 main factors contributing to this outcome. Psychologically, loneliness and social isolation are often associated with depression, anxiety, dementia, substance abuse, and an increased risk of suicide. Practically, human beings have a better chance of surviving in social and family groups than in isolation. If you have an accident or a sudden health event, there may not be anyone around to help. You could be showing signs of decline or disease that no one is round to notice. Self-maintenance and healthy hygiene habits are something lonely people are less likely to engage in without some sort of encouragement from others. Lonely people tend to eat worse, get less exercise, and not sleep as well. Physically, loneliness itself appears to be something that negatively impacts the body, from hardening your arteries to depressing your immune system to deterioration of your brain. Loneliness can raise blood pressure and levels of the stress hormone cortisol. This makes your heart muscle work harder and causes damage to blood vessels. Obesity and low levels of immunity...
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