When Florida seniors reach the age of retirement, they will experience some major changes in their life. This is why it is so important for seniors to maintain communication with people that matter. This includes spouses, family members, friends and even colleagues. Having a positive relationship with people is a tough thing to maintain and retirees often make the mistake of letting communication lapse. The list below includes five steps for retirees to stay connected with friends and family.
1. Be sure to have open and honest communication with your partner. Discuss what you both want and need before any final decision is made.
2. Many people will choose to relocate when they retire. If this is the plan, be sure to discuss matters with the children. Let them know the plans as soon as possible. This is also a good time to begin working out a way to stay in touch after relocating.
3. Set up a guide as to how much time you want to spend with grandchildren. This is an important factor for many retirees when looking to relocate. If you feel you will have difficulty being away from grandchildren and loved ones, maybe relocating is not the answer.
4. Be sure to talk to anyone in the family or close friends about where you will be moving to. Most new retirees do not think of the future, but there may be a time when they will need a caregiver. Choose a new location that is not out of reach for family members. Talk about this with siblings and children and keep open lines of communication in regards to health issues.
5. If there is an adult child who is disabled, make sure to communicate with them regularly. If there is the possibility of relocating, consider how this will affect the adult child and discuss possibilities and other options with them before making a final decision.
Home Care Jacksonville, and Home Care Fort Myers FLprovides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Jacksonville, St. Augustine, Destin, and Palm Coast. Call us today at 904-363-6699 or 850-243-6464.
It is very common for Florida seniors to suffer from a financial crisis. Since so many seniors are on limited income, they will often find it difficult to manage their finances wisely. Unexpected emergencies can often cause financial crisis for seniors. To help deal with these issues, the following information can be very useful.
1. Always take time to evaluate the situation. Do not panic. Determine what has caused the financial crisis. Knowing the cause must be the first step before any type of action can be taken.
2. Make sure to set priorities in regards to expenses. Make lists that detail where money is being spent. Many seniors do not do this and they end up spending money on things that are not necessary. Make a list of the most important expenses and go from there.
3. If you are in debt, try to negotiate with lenders. Many companies will be willing to lower the amount owed if you simply ask. Be sure to call lenders if you know money is tight. It is best to contact them before getting behind on payments.
4. Try to find some extra money. For many seniors, this usually means selling something or asking a family member. During financial crisis, explain your situation and ask for help.
5. There are many type of financial assistance available, especially for seniors. Take the time to do some research and see what kind of help is available.
6. Plan ahead. Even though we never expect a financial crisis, it is always best to be prepared. Save a little extra when possible. This will help offset expenses in the future if there is a crisis.
Home Care Jacksonville, and Home Care Fort Myers FLprovides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Jacksonville, St. Augustine, Destin, and Palm Coast. Call us today at 904-363-6699 or 850-243-6464.
One of the common mistakes made by almost all caregivers is neglecting their own health. Being a caregiver is a stressful position. It often leads to anxiety, depression and illness. When this happens, the caregiver will have to be cared for themselves. The list below contains some resources and important information on when a caregiver needs care.
1. Most caregivers place their own health in jeopardy. They lead a busy life and have a full schedule. Caring for another person is a full time position, which means caregivers seldom have time to take care of their own issues. This can lead to many problems down the road. Home care agencies can offer assistance and support to caregivers who have a full schedule. These services can help reduce the workload of the caregiver, allowing them the time they need to maintain their own health.
2. The Caregiver Relief Fund is an organization that is based on providing care to caregivers. If you are a caregiver or know of someone who is, it may be wise to contact the Relief Fund for assistance.
3. Caregivers should always make sure they take time to maintain other relationships. Having a support system of friends and family members will help during tough times. These people can also offer assistance if need be, whether it involves caring for the senior or providing care to the caregiver.
Seniors must be able to recognize the different symptoms that are associated with the flu and common colds. This is important because many seniors will have to seek medical attention if they have either of these. Knowing which one it is will help seniors be able to deal with their illness in an effective manner. The list below contains some important information on recognizing symptoms.
1. Flu symptoms will include fever, sore throat, congestion, muscle aches and cough. Colds usually include a stuffy or runny nose.
2. There are different strains of the flu and seniors need to be aware of these as well. The swine flu shares many symptoms with the regular flu but patients will also experience vomiting and diarrhea.
3. Most people will not develop a fever when they have a cold. With the flu, patients will typically run a fever between 100-102.
4. The flu will cause a lot of fatigue and will last for many weeks. Seniors with a weak immune system or chronic disease could battle the flu for more than a month.
5. Headaches are not reliable indicators of the flu or a cold.
6. Seniors with lung issues need to be cautious of getting the flu because it could turn into pneumonia.
7. A sore throat can be a symptom of colds and the flu, so seniors need to make note of other symptoms they have to determine what they have.
Home Care Jacksonville, and Home Care Fort Myers FLprovides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Jacksonville, St. Augustine, Destin, and Palm Coast. Call us today at 904-363-6699 or 850-243-6464.
Seniors are very prone to experiencing falls when they are in the bathroom. It is common for seniors to slip in a shower. Since this is such a concern, there are some things that seniors and caregivers can do to help protect them against these events. The following list provides some ways that seniors can make their bathroom safer and help protect against falls and injuries.
1. Caregivers should be aware of any physical restrictions that the senior may have. This could affect their ability to shower on their own. If there is concern, these seniors may need assistance while in the bathroom.
2. All bathrooms that are used by seniors should have safety equipment installed. This does not mean the entire room must be remodeled. Installing safety bars and non-slip mats could help protect seniors in the shower.
3. Some seniors could benefit from having a telephone placed in the bathroom. If the senior owns a cordless phone, taking it into the bathroom when they shower is a good idea. This way they will be able to call for help if they fall.
4. Many seniors do not have a lot of physical strength. This could prevent them from doing simple tasks while showering. Using a shower chair could help keep the senior safe while showering.
Home Care Jacksonville, and Home Care Fort Myers FLprovides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Jacksonville, St. Augustine, Destin, and Palm Coast. Call us today at 904-363-6699 or 850-243-6464.
Even though the seasons are changing, there will be days where seniors are exposed to extreme heat. This is why it is important to always be prepared for this type of weather. Keeping seniors safe when it is hot outside is essential. The following list offers some tips that will help with the hot weather, even though summer is already over. Those with health conditions need to be especially careful when the temperature rises.
1. Always make sure seniors are drinking plenty of fluids. This should not include alcoholic beverages. Water and sports drinks are the best. Juice will also be helpful.
2. Do not engage in strenuous activities when the temperature is high. This will place a strain on the heart and may make it very difficult for the senior to cool down their body temperature.
3. During the warmest part of the day, generally later morning and early afternoon, seniors should try to limit their activities. This is the time that would be best spent sitting on a porch.
4. Taking cool baths and showers will help keep body temperature down which can help seniors battle the heat.
5. Wearing light clothing and a hat when outdoors will benefit seniors. The hat will protect them from the harmful rays of the sun while light clothing will help keep the skin cool.
Home Care Jacksonville, and Home Care Fort Myers FLprovides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Jacksonville, St. Augustine, Destin, and Palm Coast. Call us today at 904-363-6699 or 850-243-6464.
Writing down observations when caring for a senior is very important. Unfortunately, many caregivers do not do this. When managing or coordinating care for a senior, these written observations can provide a wealth of knowledge, especially for new caregivers who are not familiar with the patient. Below is a list that contains some of the benefits of writing observations and some of the things that should be noted.
1. Make sure to note the abilities of the senior. Caregivers should note how they function mentally and physically.
2. Always have a written list of available family members. This can help when the senior needs additional care or the caregiver requires medical information.
3. Make notes about the physical environment in which the senior lives. These notes should include whether the environment is accessible and if it can be adapted at a reasonable cost.
4. Caregivers should also write down their other responsibilities, including at home, work and in their community. This will help them manage their time more effectively.
5. Caregivers also need to keep track of their own health and physical abilities.
6. Financial resources should always be noted, both for the caregiver and the senior receiving the care. This includes available insurance, end-of-life documents and the existence of healthcare.
When coordinating and managing the care of a senior, it is important for all family members to have all of the information they need. This will help to make informed decisions on behalf of the senior and will also help the caregiver communicate with the family in an effective manner. The list below highlights some of the benefits of having a family conference.
1. All members of the immediate family should be present at family conferences. This is where they will be told what is going on in terms of the care the senior is receiving.
2. These meetings can help divvy responsibilities to all family members so one person is not taking care of the majority of the responsibilities. This will also help alleviate misunderstandings.
3. Family conferences should have an impartial moderator present. This could be a care coordinator, a member of the clergy or a trusted family friend.
4. Family meetings are a great way to make sure everyone is informed of the status of the senior. It will also allow family members to feel they are involved in the care.
5. Family caregivers will benefit from these meetings because they will be able to ask for help if they need it. Caring for a senior is a huge responsibility, so it may be necessary for other members of the family to take on some of the responsibilities to assist with care.
Caregiving responsibilities can occur without warning, so without proper planning, it can create a crisis situation, particularly if you live far away.
Living far away from your senior in need is a problem for many caregivers. According to a Home Instead Senior Care survey, 45% of American adults who plan to care for an aging relative in the next two to four years live one or more hours away. Of those, just six percent have shortened the distance between them to make caregiving easier.
Of those currently caring for an older relative, 23% live more than one hour away and of this group, 20% live two-plus hours away. Some families find themselves several states away from their senior loved one, making a long drive or plane ride the only choice.
“It is not uncommon for family members who are family caregivers to live in different cities or states, making travel time and expense a major issue,” says Paul Hogan, president and founder of Home Instead Senior Care. “Providing assistance to an aging relative can become a full-time job for many, so the addition of travel can compound the stress and exhaustion.”
If moving closer to the senior or having the senior move closer to you is not an option, the following tips may make your long distance caregiving easier:
Get to know the senior’s neighbors when you visit – identify one or two trustworthy neighbors that can look in on your elderly relative – call them once a week for an update.
Get to know the local mail carrier – if he/she sees that the mail has not been brought in, he can alert you or a neighbor. Some post offices have special programs set up to handle this type of “elder watch” issue, so make sure to sign up your relative.
Alzheimer’s disease is a common killer in America. It is important to pay attention as to how your memory is working, and to know the differences between different types of memory loss. Short term memory loss is often associated with the hippo-campus, and is often the first sign of Alzheimer’s disease. It is important to be vigilant about your memory and how it works, and to be able to distinguish between short term memory loss and onset Alzheimer’s disease.
Below are different classifications of memory:
• Working Memory – this type of memory is often referred to things that you can hold in your short term memory for later retrieval. Working memory is located in the frontal lobe of the human brain. An example of working memory is memorizing a phone number.
• Short-Term Memory – Short term memory is thought to be located in the hippocampus, and is often associated with the first symptom of Alzheimer’s. These memories are things that people remember for a couple minutes up to a few weeks. For example, your hotel room number or a character’s name in a novel.
• Long Term Memory – Long term memory are things that you can recall and retrieve for the longest period of time. Things like your birth date or your favourite grade school teacher are examples of long term memory. The location of the brain that long term memory is stored in is unknown.
