Senior Care

Caring for an older adult can be stressful and sometimes overwhelming. Add holiday preparations and irritating relatives to the menu, and the whole thing becomes a nightmare.

Consider the following 8 stress relief tips to care for yourself during the holiday and spruce up your health and overall well-being. After all, your happiness and joy can rub off on those around you, including your senior loved one.

#1. Set Aside a Little Time for Yourself

The holiday season comes with its own fair share of fanfare and hubbub, and it’s easy to get caught up in all the motions. On top of that you’ve to care for your senior loved one. That’s why you need to make a small time for yourself to kick back, unwind, and relax. This way, you’ll be in a better position to resume holiday shindigs and your caregiving duties.

#2. Embrace an Attitude of Gratitude

The holiday period is a time to reflect on what you are thankful for. Instead of wallowing and feeling sorry for yourself, practice gratitude. Even better, pick a pen and paper and jot down the good things that have come your way during the year.

There’s something of beauty about being grateful. It can suddenly uplift your mood, get rid of stress, and help you cultivate a positive attitude towards life.

#3. Cut Yourself Some Slack

Caring for a senior adult during the holidays is no small feat. So, cut yourself some slack. Don’t set unrealistic goals for yourself because it can bear down on your self-esteem, leaving you feeling negative emotions.

#4. Practice Meditation, Yoga, Breathing Exercises, etc.

Self care is all about taking care of yourself from inside out. Oftentimes that means finding ways to keep your mind, body, and spirit in optimal health. Listening to your favorite soothing music, meditating, taking yoga or practicing deep breathing exercises can do the trick.

#5. Don’t be Afraid to Seek Support

Caregiving, especially during the holidays, can take a huge toll on nearly every aspect of your being. When you’re feeling particularly overwhelmed, it helps to lean on someone you trust, perhaps a fellow caregiver. When you are feeling down, be sure to talk, text, or meet face-to-face with your self-care buddy.

#6. Laugh, Laugh, Laugh

Laughter doesn’t cost you a thing. So, find every possible reason to laugh. Play a funny game, watch a comedy TV show or movie. A little laughter can go a long way to relieve your stress.

#7. Stay On Top of Unpleasant Family Interactions

You cannot be everything to everyone. Some relatives will have harsh comments about your caregiving style. Find ways to stay calm when you are confronted with unkind interactions. If anything, keep your distance and interaction with such members as minimal as possible.

#8. Prioritize Accordingly

Of course, caring for your older adult comes first. Remember you can’t squeeze in time to perform every task. So, know your priorities and, if possible, delegate some tasks.

Don’t make caregiving more stressful than it already is. Use above 8 handy tips to care for yourself and come out of the holidays healthy, recharged, and joyful.

Helping senior adults stay safe and independent can be daunting, especially when they are reluctant to accept proper help. This is even truer when it comes to convincing them to use mobility aids like wheelchairs, walkers, and canes that can help them move around without any hassle and enjoy greater freedom for long. That’s why you need to approach the subject with compassion and a little creativity.

What’s even worse is that the odds are deeply stacked against them. Here are some startling stats from the CDC that’ll send chills down your spine:

• Fall & slips are the biggest causes of fatal injuries among American seniors
• Every 19 minutes, a senior aged 65+ succumbs to death because of a fall
• Every 11 seconds, an ER treats an older adult aged 65+ for a fall injury
• Fall injuries among older adult Americans cost over $50 billion annually, and the financial toll is expected to hit almost $68 billion by 2020.

No matter how you look at it, this is a grave issue, and mobility devices can come in especially handy. The bigger question is: which mobility aid or equipment is right for your beloved older adult? Consider the following tips to choose the perfect mobility device for you or your loved one:

• How long will the mobility device be in use every day?
• Does the senior have enough strength (both mental and physical) to use a manual device?
• Will the senior need help with the transfer in & out of the mobility aid?
• When and where your loved one needs help with mobility most – Will the senior need the device mostly at home? Need mobility help outdoors, indoors or both? Does he or she need help when getting up from bed to bathroom nightly? If that’s the case, you probably need a cane, not an expensive power wheelchair.

5 Most Common Mobility Devices for Utmost Freedom and Safety of Older Adults

(1) Walkers

Walkers are used by nearly 5% of American adults aged 65+. They offer greater mobility and can do wonders for seniors with balance issues, lower-body weakness & pain. They come in three versions: rollators (equipped with wheels on each leg), knee walkers (similar to rollators but feature a knee-resting pad), and walker-cane hybrids.

(2) Canes

Canes are the most common type of mobility devices. They help older adults maintain good posture while walking more comfortably and more safely. One in every 10 seniors uses a cane. They also come in a variety, including quad canes (four legs at the base for better stability), forearm canes (design for better distribution of weight), and white canes (for those who’re visually impaired).

(3) Stairlifts

Installing a motorized stair lift can make it easy for seniors to go up and down the stairs. It’s a lifesaver when it comes to preventing falls.

(4) Wheelchairs

There are both manual and electrically-powered wheelchairs. In either case, wheelchairs are designed to help seniors with lower body weakness to move around. Manual wheelchairs are for those with sufficient upper-body strength, while power wheelchairs are designed for seniors who need full-time mobility help both indoors and outdoors.

(5) Mobility Scooters

The beauty of mobility scooters is that they are usually accepted by seniors without a fuss. They are a great choice for older adults who don’t have enough balance and strength to use walkers or canes but need occasional mobility assistance outside.

There you have it – 5 most common kinds of mobility devices designed to help seniors achieve more independence, deal with pain, and stay safe.

Being the sole caregiver for your aging loved one can be challenging. Sometimes elderly relatives have so many health and emotional concerns that it’s difficult to keep tabs on all of them. Finding yourself in this position is a cry for help. A geriatric care manager can answer this desperate plea and offer some relief.

A geriatric care manager has a medical background in geriatric care. This background may include experience as a nurse, social worker, gerontologist or psychologist.  The specialist training a geriatric care manager receives enables him or her to provide a special set of services that are truly beneficial to a primary caregiver.

These services provide adequate reason for hiring a geriatric care manager. Some of these reasons, and other benefits for hiring a geriatric care manager, are highlighted below.

Provides a Comprehensive Needs Assessment

Your limited knowledge of geriatric care means that you can miss some of your loved one’s needs. You aren’t trained to have that eye for detail. However, a geriatric care manager has spent several years honing that skill.

Geriatric care managers can provide in-home assessments. They use that information to determine the family’s needs, the level of care your loved one needs, and the living situation that best suits your loved one’s condition. This assessment helps them put the right plan in place.

Experience with the Medical System

Elderly care requires interacting with a variety of medical professionals. It can become difficult to keep track of everything. It can also be difficult to determine which services are covered by your loved one’s health insurance (Medicare or Medicaid). A geriatric care manager can help you navigate the system. You’ll save money and keep track of your loved one’s medical needs.

Coordinating and Supervising Care

Hiring a permanent caregiver for your loved one may become necessary. Geriatric care managers are responsible for coordinating and supervising geriatric caregivers. Their work ensures that someone is always with your loved one and your loved one gets high quality care. You will be sure that your loved one is in good hands.

Cost-Effective

Hiring a geriatric care manager is cost-effective in the long-term. They help you plan ahead, avoid unnecessary medical expenses, and avoid costly mistakes. Geriatric care managers can cost between $50 and $200 per hour. However, the long-term benefits of what they provide far outweigh the short-term costs.

Advocating for Your Loved One

It may become necessary for your loved one to live in an assisted living facility. The demands of life may prevent you from visiting regularly. A geriatric care manager can regularly monitor the care your loved one receives in these facilities. IF the care is substandard, the geriatric care manager can advocate for better care.

Each county has an Office for the Aging. You can visit the county office in your loved one’s area to get recommendations for local geriatric care managers.  The geriatric care manager should be certified through the Commission for Case Manager, the National Association of Social Workers, or the National Academy of Certified Care Managers. Feel free to contact the team at Own a Home Care Agency if you need further assistance.