It is common for a senior to make some mistakes financially, which is why it is important for seniors to share financial information with spouses and financial advisers. While it can be difficult to ask for outside help, Florida seniors will benefit from having someone help them with financial decisions so that mistakes will not be made. Many seniors who suffer from dementia and Alzheimer’s will experience financial problems. The following list provides 8 tips that can help.

1. Make sure someone else has access to online banking records. This is usually a family member of a financial adviser. By doing so, bank activity can be monitored to see if mistakes are being made.

2. Have a current list of all companies that bills are paid to. This includes utilities, mortgages, insurance and loans.

3. Reduce credit limits on credit cards and make sure others have access to credit-card account records.

4. Investment accounts should be made known to family members and spouses. When another person checks these records, they should be able to see how much is in the account and whether that is the right amount.

5. Tax returns should be filed by a professional. If possible, share the return paperwork with a trusted family member.

6. Have a list of all financial relationships. This means any company or individual the senior conducts financial transactions with.

7. Have important documents in place and accessible. Wills, insurance policies, deeds and any other important document should be accessible by family members.

8. A financial checklist will help seniors with Alzheimer’s stay on track. This will help them manage what bills to pay and will also keep them up to date on all account balances.

Money.USNews.com.com

Home Care Jacksonville, and Home Care Fort Myers FL provides 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.

Home Instead senior Care franchises are currently holding a drawing that will reward caregivers with a free cruise. This is just one way to offer thanks for all of the sacrifices that are made by a caregiver. Most people do not realize how much time and effort goes into caring for a senior. These cruises are designed to thank the caregiver and allow them some time to spend with their own family.

1. A caregiver recently was the winner of a cruise giveaway from Home instead Senior Care. The cruise sets sail on January 3, 2011 and lasts for five days. The cruise is part of the Caregiver stress Management Cruise program.
2. Openseas Travel is working with Celebrity Cruise Line to award various caregivers for their efforts in making ultimate sacrifices to care for another elderly adult.
3. Free cruses are awarded to those who enter a drawing put o by Home Instead Senior Care. Winners of the cruise will be able to receive 40 hours of free care through Home Instead senior Care franchises.
4. Offering a free cruise is one way to pay tribute to those who take time from their own lives to provide care and services for elderly adults in need. This is one way that Home Instead senior Care takes time to notice the efforts of all caregivers and offer them a rewarding experience and time to connect with themselves and their family again.

Source: http://www.homeinstead.com/Lists/pressreleases/Attachments/44/SHome%20Instead%20Senior%20Care%20Caregivier%20Cruise.pdf

Alzheimer’s Awareness Does Matter

Being able to effectively battle Alzheimer’s will depend on how much knowledge people have. Improving awareness about this disease is a way for people to understand the different stages. His can help many individuals deal with the disease when it affects a loved one. There are many reasons for Alzheimer’s awareness and the following list contains five of the most important.

1.    Higher medical costs are a result of low awareness. Those who have a better understanding of the disease will be less likely to worry so much. This means fewer trips to the doctors and hospital, which can lower medical costs.

2.    Being aware of the disease and how it can affect a senior is one way to enhance treatment. It will also facilitate a timely medical intervention. Being aware of symptoms and signs of the disease could allow a patient to be diagnosed sooner, leading to a treatment that could slow the progression of the disease.

3.    Awareness will remove the stigma associated with the disease. This will help all of the people involved, including the patient and family members.

4.    Management of risk factors and general awareness will lower the incidence of Alzheimer’s. If people know how to lower the risk of the disease, it may be possible to help some seniors avoid the development of Alzheimer’s. For some seniors, this will not be possible, but it is possible to slow down the progression.

5.    Being aware of all information on the disease can help scientific progress. The more people know about Alzheimer’s, the more research and studies can be conducted. Many people who are involved in studies are volunteers, so awareness plays a key role.

BrainToday.com

Home Care Jacksonville, and Home Care Fort Myers FL provides 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.

When a family member becomes ill or suffers from a health condition that is related to aging, they may require the assistance of a caregiver. Most caregivers are family members who volunteer their services to help the senior. Becoming a caregiver is a big deal. It will require many sacrifices. To prepare for this new role, the following list contains some important things that must be considered.

1. Lay foundations. By establishing baseline of important information on the senior, the caregiver will be able to determine what services will be needed and how they can be of assistance to the senior.

2. Medical assessments and diagnoses are important. As a caregiver, it is important to have all of the current medical information on the individual. This includes all diagnoses, medications and medical assessments. This information will be useful when preparing to provide care for the senior.

3. Become educated. Make sure you know all there is to know about the medical conditions of the senior. Try to share this knowledge with friends and family members. The more understanding a person has of the issues the senior is dealing with, the more helpful a caregiver will be.

4. Determine needs. Not every senior has the same needs. Some may need help bathing a dressing while others will simply need assistance managing medications and appointments. Be sure to know how well the senior can function independently before they require any help.

5. Devise a care plan. Again, this will vary depending on the needs of the senior. The needs will change over time, so a care plan is meant to be adjusted. However, it should be in writing so others will know what the senior needs if the caregiver is not available at a given time.

6. Examine finances. Providing care to a senior also means making sure their finances are taken care of. Caregivers need to make sure bills have been paid and that the senior is a financially stable as possible. Keep all financial records in a safe location.

7. Review any and all legal documents. This will help ensure the wishes of the senior will be carried out. If necessary, go over these documents with an attorney. Legal documents also include birth certificates, property settlements, military records income tax returns and wills. There are many documents that will have to be gathered, so make sure to get all of this information and keep it in a safe location.

8. Have safety checklists. This will help to make sure the home is safe for the senior. Whether they are living in their own home or residing with the caregiver, there should be a list that will ensure the safety of the senior while they are in the home.

9. Keep in contact with others. Having communication with other caregivers who are facing similar situations is a great way to get extra support. It is also a great way to learn new ideas and ways of dealing with certain situations. Other caregivers can offer a lot of knowledge on different topics that could pertain to any senior.

10. Care for yourself. This is one mistake that many caregivers make. They are so wrapped up in caring for others that they tend to neglect their own needs. As a caregiver, you must set time aside for yourself. This is essential if you want to be an effective and efficient caregiver.

StrengthforCaring

Home Care Jacksonville, and Home Care Fort Myers FL provides 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 will often require some type of caregiving as they age. Not every senior will need assistance doing daily things, but they may need some help scheduling appointments and managing finances. This is where a long distance caregiver can help. In addition to helping with these things, the caregiver can also use some of the tips provided below to see that the senior is being cared for.

1. Knowing the needs of the senior is essential. Not every senior will be able to have a long distance caregiver. If the senior requires daily assistance, it will have to be done by someone who is close by. If it is a long distance caregiving situation, be sure to check in regularly on the phone. Online video chat systems will also be beneficial. It may also be helpful to get the phone numbers of friends of the senior. This can be another way to check in and make sure everything is going well.
2. Put a plan together for seniors who can still do things on their own. They should have a list of things that need to be done on a daily basis as well as anything that involves home maintenance. Planning these things ahead of time does not cost anything and will provide seniors with the structure they need. There are ways to help from a distance, such as arranging food deliveries, hiring someone to care for the lawn and having a handy man on call to help with repairs.
3. There are local Senior Agencies that can provide additional assistance if the senior needs it. These services often include helping with cleaning and cooking as well as making sure seniors get to doctors appointments.
4. Caregivers that are not close by can also hire a personal-care aide to help the senior with daily chores. These professionals can assist in many ways, including daily hygiene, home cleaning and helping seniors with errands.

Source: http://www.blogcatalog.com/blog/caregiver-tips-for-seniors/34e3a1ef5df7b01e03fb010c6fd7ef7a

Home Care Jacksonville, and Home Care Fort Myers FL provides 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.

Finding a caregiver to offer services to an elderly person can be difficult; however, there is now an app that can help. A new app has been developed strictly for this purpose. It will help individuals locate a caregiver within a local radius of their own location. Finding a caregiver is now much simpler than ever before and this app has become a useful tool for many people.

1. iFindCare is the first mobile application designed to locate a caregiver. The app is available at the iTunes store for immediate download and can help people find individuals that will provide child and elder care services.
2. The app is simple to use. Simply enter a zip code and the search will return local individuals who are available as a caregiver.
3. One of the most difficult parts of finding a caregiver is knowing where to look for resources. This app has become a useful tool for many families with a senior who needs additional care.
4. In addition to finding a caregiver, the app also allows users to make use of an interactive checklist that will help them know what to look for in a caregiver.
5. This new app is intended to help seniors and those looking for childcare. Finding a caregiver is now much easier than ever before thanks to iFindCare.

Source: http://www.redorbit.com/news/technology/1934965/looking_for_a_caregiver_weve_got_an_app_for_that/index.html

Important Information on Colds and Flu

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.

Source: WebMD

Home Care Jacksonville, and Home Care Fort Myers FL provides 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.

There are kids living in a family that includes a grandparent. In some cases, the grandparent is living with dementia. This can be scary for kids, especially when they are too young to understand the disease. To them, take the time to explain and answer questions that arise. The list below can help:

1. The best thing to do is to be honest with the child. Explain to them the grandma or grandpa is having trouble remembering things. This may help the child understand and be more willing to help.

2. Always encourage smaller children to ask questions. Try to answer them in terms they can understand. Instead of giving a medical definition of the disease, explain it in simple terms.

3. Have the child interact with the senior. Helping with simple, everyday things, such as tying shoes and helping seniors eat can benefit the child as well as the senior with dementia.

4. Explain to children that there is nothing to fear. Grandma may forget things, but she can still be a joy to be around. Encourage kids to include seniors in fun time.

5. Talk to children before the senior moves in and try to explain the situation. If the child has questions, answer them as well as you can without being too complex.

Source: USA Weekend

Home Care Jacksonville, and Home Care Fort Myers FL provides 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.

As we age, there are adjustments we have to make. To make them easier on our aging, adult children are urged to get involved and help their parents adjust to these new changes. The following list provides some ways in which children can help their senior parents make necessary changes to their everyday lives as they continue to age.

1. Encourage seniors to have their driving evaluated to determine if they are still safe on the road. At-risk drivers can be the cause of many accidents and these may cause the death of the senior or another innocent person.

2. Be direct with the senior if they have to give up driving. Do not make up excuses and try to cover the facts. Simply state that they are no longer safe on the road.

3. If necessary, involve a doctor. The doctor will be able to tell the senior that they can no longer drive. Seniors will often take the information better coming from a medical professional.

4. Talk about alternatives, such as a transportation service or car pool. If the senior realizes they can still go out and do what they like, they will accept the fact better.

5. Driving can be dangerous for many seniors, especially those with severe health conditions. Make sure to discuss this with the senior as well as their doctors.

Source: USAWeekend.com

Home Care Jacksonville, and Home Care Fort Myers FL provides 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.

Halloween Fun for Grandparents and Kids

With Halloween around the corner, children are getting excited. For grandparents who want to participate in the costume fun, we suggest spending time with grand kids doing crafts and costume design for Halloween. It’s a great way to bond and enjoy time together. The following list offers some suggestions.

1. Making decorations is inexpensive and fun. Kids love to color and paint, so grandparents can get in on this by creating cut out paper and allowing kids to decorate them. Then display them in and around the home.

2. Making a costume does not have to be difficult. Instead of sewing, try using fabric glue. Make use of old items, such as pantyhose and old t-shirts. With a little creativity, you and the child can create something great.

3. Carving pumpkins is always a Halloween favorite for kids. Make sure to save the seeds and bake them for a healthy treat that can be enjoyed while decorating. If there are multiple children, try a pumpkin contest to see who can make the best one. For younger children, simply allow them to paint faces on their pumpkin instead of carving.

Source: SDM3

Home Care Jacksonville, and Home Care Fort Myers FL provides 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.