I thought I would just leave this little “gift” up for the remainder of the holidays in case anyone finds it
useful.  But feel free to hop about the site and explore any articles of interest.

To receive your gift, right click on the words “holiday recipes”  BELOW and then click on “Save Target as” to save it in your files.  Be patient because it’s a large file and may take awhile to download.

Merry Christmas!  Happy Holidays!

Shelley

PS Remember that if you need any geriatric care management services, we are here for you!

 In honor of National Family Caregiver Month (which is November), they will be highlighting caregivers and their personal stories.
“ From October 25th to November 11th, we will be accepting story submissions from both professional and home caregivers who devote their time to taking care of an aging adult. We are also accepting story submissions from individuals who want to write on behalf of a professional or family caregiver they know. We want to hear about their experience as a caregiver and the impact it has had on their lives. The submissions will be available on the Seniorhomes.com website for visitors to read, share and vote on.”

*There will be awards!  Every person who submits a story and LIKES their Facebook page will be entered into a weekly gift card drawing.

*If you submit your story by the end of TODAY, October 31st, you will be eligible to win a Flip video camera.

* But there’s more!

• Impactful
• Inspirational
• Heartwarming
• Demonstrative of Flexibility and Forgiveness

If you’d like to share your personal  caregiving story or write about a professional or family caregiver that you feel deserves recognition, you may submit your story HERE.

You can also find out more about the Recogniton Awards HERE

Best of luck!

Your email:

 

National studies have also linked poor sleep to a variety of health issues.

One of the reasons that people do not sleep well at night is because of uncomfortable pillows.

The role of a pillow is two-fold.  It is designed for comfort and to keep your spine in natural alignment by supporting the head neck and back.

On those nights when you are not interrupted by duties of caregiving, a better pillow can mean a better night’s sleep. 

But many folks don’t know what to look for when purchasing a pillow.  Should you choose soft or firm, feather, down or foam?  One thing is for sure: if your pillow is so soft that you need to bend it in half in order to achieve some comfort, then it is too soft.

Pillows can cost anywhere from five dollars up to one hundred dollars and can last anywhere from three years to twenty years depending upon the quality of the pillow.  I don’t imagine that I’d choose a pillow that would last for twenty years as there is a good chance that it will become soiled before then even with the use of pillow protectors.

When choosing a pillow, take into consideration the kind of sleeper the pillow user is.

According to Beth Mack, Chief Merchandizing Officer for Hollander Home Fashions in Boca Raton, Florida, those who sleep on their sides (which is appromimately 79% of the population) require the most support and should choose an extra firm pillow.  Those who sleep on their back (20%) should purchase a medium-firm to firm pillow while a medium density, flatter pillow is best for those who sleep on their stomach (10%). 

Because 70% of the population are side-sleepers, a supportive, extra firm pillow might be best for guest bedrooms.  Also keep in mind that the best pillow may not always be the largest.

When purchasing a pillow, also take into mind that there are hypoallergenic pillows.  Many folks believe that down and feather pillows are never hypoallergenic but according to Linda Howard, vice president of sales for Pacific Coast Feather states that if the down and feathers are washed correctly, then there is not a problem. 

Memory foam pillows have also become popular and work by molding themselves to the contours of your body.  “Open-cell” memory foam also allows air flow which keeps the pillow from becoming as warm (which may be of benefit to pre-menopausal and menopausal women).  Memory foam cannot be washed though so it’s of benefit to use a zippered pillow protector with this type of pillow.

Other pillows can be washed if they are of higher quality.  Check the labels before laundering. 

While suggesting that pillows may help to prevent Alzheiemr’s Disease might be a bit of a stretch, it’s till nice to be educated on how to get a better sleep with a little pillow talk. 

Sweet dreams!

References: Spine-health.com. MedicineNet.com, Costco Connections magazine – October 2011

Photo courtesy of MS Images

When caring for your aging parent or loved one becomes overwhelming and you need a break, or when extra help is needed with bathing, feeding, dressing, household duties or if caring for them yourself is just not possible anymore, selecting an in-home health care provider is a good alternative. 

If your home health care worker will be assisting with bathing or dressing, it is important to discuss this with your loved one to make sure that they are comfortable with the gender of the companion.  Women or men may become embarrassed when opposite gendered health care workers assist them with personal care and this may cause bath time to become stressful.

One way to stay involved is to use a caregiver’s organizer (which we just happen to offer on our website).  The Caregiver’s Companion is an organizational tool that has sections for personal information, family history, medications and side effects, medical appointments, and home health care workers notes.  I hate selling, but this IS a verry good tool in my opinion.

The most important thing to keep in mind when shopping at these discount stores is that they are not held to the high standards that the grocery stores are.  So you must be careful what you purchase.

The Do Buys:

Cleaning products are said to be a good value at the dollar stores.  And if you come across a name brand that you trust, go ahead and buy it.  It’s safe.

Generally speaking, bleach is bleach is bleach and most of other cleaning products have the same ingredients as the name brands.  (Veronica Bright of Hub Pages states that she found a wonderful cleaner called Mean Green at the Dollar Store which she says is amazing!)  Sponges are generally a good buy, as well.

Greeting cards are a great dollar store find.  Brand name cards can cost as much as $5.00 a piece and at the dollar store, you can find nicely made cards for as little as fifty cents a piece.   I stock up on the “homemade scrapbook-like” cards so that I’m never without the perfect card.  I’ve also found some very pretty and well made Gift bags as well as paper shred.  The ribbon didn’t seem to be much of a bargain.

Food storage containers, are less expensive and from my experience, hold up as well as the grocery store brands.  I buy the aluminum foil type casserole pans to use for pot lucks and delivered church meals.  I’ve also seen tortilla warmers for a dollar.

School Supplies can be found cheaper at stores like Target and Wallmart during back-to-school sales but when you find that you need poster board in January, it’s much better to pay a dollar than the $3.79 it would cost at other stores.  Two sets of tabbed dividers are $1.00 as compared to $2.50 – $3.00 at office supply stores.

Movie Night Candies can be expensive especially when purchased at the theatre.  The dollar stores carry name brand candies in “movie-sized” containers.  Although most sugars don’t deteriorate quickly, it’s still a good idea to check the experation date. 

Children’s shoes are actually a good buy because their feet grow so quickly.  Summer sandals and flip flops are an especially good bargain and can be a fun gift for the grandchildren. 

Picture frames can be rather costly in department stores.  If you’re lucky, you can find some decent ones now and then at the dollar store. 

Wine goblets are a great find.  For just a dollar, you can purchase big (we detest those tiny 4 oz glasses that don’t allow the wine to breath or be swirled) sturdy glasses for both red and white wines.  Now I’m not advocating that you serve your care recipient giant glasses of wine but long into his 80s, my father loved wine and still had an excellent palate.  There shouldn’t be lead in these, but I might do a bit of research about that.

According to Jeff Yeager, author of “The Cheapskate Next Door”, Spices are a good purchase.  I would agree with that if you’re not super picky.  It’s difficult to mess up pepper or parsley but there are other spices that require better quality.  Remember to check expiration dates.

Books and specialty CDs are two of my favorite finds.  I’ve found some great current reads and some lovely inspirational books for just a dollar each – excellent gift items.  CDs with relaxing music for mediatation or bubble baths can often be found along with holiday CDs – just don’t expect well-known artists.

Seasonal items are good purchases if you have not shopped the previous years’ end-of-season sale.  Be wary that anything painted (especially ceramics) might contain lead.

The Don’ts

Over-the-counter medications and vitamins – As tempting as these are to purchase, I wouldn’t do it.  As I entioned before, the dollar stores are not as well regulated and Consumer Reports has stated that some vitamins didn’t have the amount of nutrients that they claimed to have on the label.

Children’s Toys (except for coloring books).  I just wouldn’t trust the quality.

Batteries – Many of the battery products found at the dollar stores are made with carbon zinc, as opposed to lithium, so they do not last as long.  Carbon zinc can also leak, thus doing damage to your electronics. 

Plastic and Aluminum Wraps – One dollar for 25 feet of aluminum foil is just not a good deal.

Pet Food and Pet Toys – Again, this is due to lack of regulation and in my opinion, shodiness of product. 

Gum – Costco is cheaper, Amazon even more so.

Oven mits and kitchen towels – They’re just too thin and may not protect you from being burnt or be very absorbent.

Socks – I’ve found them to be poor quality and NOT soft.  I will say that iVillage disagrees with me and recommends them as a good buy.  (Shoe Shining blocks are a good value at $1.00 for a pack of 2.  I’ve seen these at Nordstrom for $5.95 each.) I keep one in the car in order to quickly wipe off smudges before doctors’ appointments or church service.)

Power cords – Again, in my opinion, they are poor quality and might damage your electronics.  Duct tape, sand paper, painter’s tape and bungee cords are good though.

Sodas – Sodas can be found less expensive elsewhere.

Baby items – Avoid them due to lack of regulation.  (I’ve never seen diapers available though.)

Perishables – YES and NO  A bunch of green onions for a dollar is not a steal when they can be purchased for 79 cents elsewhere.  But I once found a giant package of ginger root for .99 cents – now that’s a steal! I also found some great gourmet caramel popcorn with almonds and some chocolate covered pretzels (that I normally bought wholesale for my giftbaskets at $3.00 a package).  If you’re aware of your normal supermarket prices, and there is a brand available that you trust, go ahead and purchase.  Again, just be sure to check expiration dates.

Grooming items are iffy but worth checking out.  Shampoo is a decent find as are scrubbies/loofahs.  Items like Chapstick and Vaseline can often be found there and my very favorite soap (Yardley oatmeal and almond) is almost always available at the dollar store.  Nail files, packages of combs, tooth flossing sticks are of value. Skip the cotton swabs (too flimsy and could be dangerous), make-up (due to lack of regulation), and make-up remover pads (can I just say UGH!?).

Also remember that many dollar type stores accept coupons so don’t forget to bring those along.

What are YOUR favorite finds?

photo by slevin

opportunity to to challenge ourselves to write a blog post on a certain schedule.  Most of the participants have chosen to attempt to write a blog post every day but I chose to write one on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays because it is a schedule that I wish to continue after the challenge ends.

This past week, Jenny Littlejohn of Striding-Ahead.co.uk posted a poem on her site that I wanted to share with you and she has graciously allowed me to do so.  It is a poem about giving yourself and others permission to cry.  As caregivers, we NEED to cry but we often postpone it saying to ourselves “I don’t have time for that now”.  Crying is healing.  It releases stress.  So the next time you feel like crying……

PLEASE DO CRY

How often, when someone cries
Do you hear them, so meekly, apologise?
As if somehow they’ve done something wrong
Instead, they’re just singing their healing song

How often when public tears do threat
your burning, shaming cheeks to wet
Do you try to blink away the pain
Treat it like some embarrassing stain

It seems to me, as we grow to adulthood
We are taught, crying in public is just not good
And when tears approach we shove them aside
Like a part of us, we just can’t abide

When you graze your skin and blood appears
You know it’s just your body shedding healing tears
It’s only natural that blood may flow
Allowing healing new skin to grow

Just why is it, that when our heart is bleeding,
when it’s just love that’s most needing
Do those that want to comfort us, sigh
There, there now, please don’t cry?

So, when next you have a wound to heal
Allow yourself to feel exactly what you feel
Embrace those tears like a precious prize
They are truly a blessing, totally undisguised

And when you see the tears of another,
turned inwards, their hurt they are trying to smother
Don’t turn away and walk on by
Ask them instead, please do cry

~ Jenny Littlejohn

You may find more of Jenny’s works at www.Striding-Ahead.co.uk/blog

Most professionals involved with eldercare are aware that adult children are not prepared to care for their parents when they receive “that call” that throws them into the caregiving role.  But the Home Instead Senior Care network  wanted to learn more about that and so in conjunction with The Boomer Project, a study of 600 baby boomer aged adults was conducted. 

The results surprised me:

• Less than 50% were knowledgeable about their parents’ medical history
•  49% were unable to name any of their parents’ current medications
• More than 30% did not know just how many medications their parent(s) was taking
• 34% were unaware whether or not their parent  owned a safety deposit box
• and 36% were unaware of the location of their parents’ financial and legal information

The time to gather this information is NOT when a crisis occurs.  At that time, decisions need to be made quickly, tempers may flare and fights between siblings and other family members can ensue.   Family members can panic and incorrect choices may be made which may cause long term problems for all involved. 

 There will come a point when all of this information will be needed so it’s best to begin to gather it early.

Jeff suggests adopting the 40-70 Rule® which is a program to help bridge the communication gap between adult children and their senior loved ones.  Basically,  the earlier the conversation begins, the less stressful it will be and the more prepared the adult children will be.  The site provides conversation starters and communication tips.

For instance, Andrew Mayoras, an attorney and author of “ Trial and Heirs: Famous Fortune Fights” suggests that when a case involving a complicated probabte period and a family feud airs on the news, it would be a good time to say something like “Wow, that’s so unfortunate that they weren’t prepared better.  You have a trust, don’t you?”

Home Instead is also offering a free “Caring for Your Parents: Senior Emergency Kit” that you can download at their website www.SeniorEmergencyKit.com.  This kit contains information such important contact information, a medication tracker, an allergies and conditions worksheet and some extra listed resources.

Tonia Boterf, author and licensed clinical social worker also has a work-book called “The Essential What is Where Checklist” which you can find HERE.

And of course, if you’re looking for an organizer to use once you have assumed a big part of your parent(s)’ care, The Intentional Caregiver’s Mobile Organizer is essential.  You can find that HERE. 

Be intentional about preparing for that day when caregiving becomes part of your life.  The better prepared you and your aging parents are, the easier the transition will be.

By Guest Writer: Ruth Rogers

Every year, many senior citizens have a fall.  Not all of the falls are devastating, but many of them are. Falls can cause broken or fractured bones, loss of motor function and independence, and even death. Unfortunately, many people just accept this as a normal aspect of aging. Fortunately, there are many ways to prevent senior citizens from falling so they can maintain their independence.

There are many reasons that falls increase with age. To begin with, failing eyesight can cause a person to misjudge stairs and curbs, even when they are in a familiar location. Regular eye checks and screenings will alert you to issues with your loved one’s eyesight and help to keep them safe. Wearing  glasses is another way to prevent falls from poor eyesight. Even though your loved one might only be walking from their bed to the bathroom in the middle of the night, make sure to remind them to turn on the lights and put on their glasses.

Another way to prevent falls from vision problems is to remove trip hazards throughout the house. When caregiving, remember to check the home thoroughly for dangling cords or clutter that might be dangerous.

Even small changes like eating a better diet can help eyesight. Dark leafy veggies, fish oil, and vitamins E, A, and C are perfect for protecting  eye health.

Exercise is another way to reduce eye problems. Hardening of the arteries can lead to high blood pressure which can affect eyesight. Diabetes is another risk factor for reduced eyesight. Exercise can help with heart disease risks as well as circulation problems, which can greatly reduce the associated risk of sight loss.

Smoking is the second largest reason for the development of macular degeneration, so quitting smoking now will not only do wonders for the heart and blood flow, the skin tone and a lessened risk of cancer, but will also lower their risk of damage to your eyesight.

Balance exercises are also encouraged to lessen the risk of a fall. Have your loved one try balancing on one foot and then the other for a few moments.  Make sure that there is a table or chair nearby in case they are a bit wobbly, but you will find that just a little bit of practice will help to restore their balance and to safeguard you from a dangerous fall.

The process of aging is already tough on the eyes as they are less able to produce tears and the lenses are not as clear as they once were. Focusing can become difficult and sensitivity to glare increases. All of these factors add up to the increased risk of a fall and it is vital that your loved one does all that they can to preserve their eyesight so that they can avoid a fall.

I’m sure that you’re somewhat familiar with Twitter but if you’re not a participant, you may not understand “trending topics” nor the reason that I placed a # sign in front of “threewordstoliveby”. 

Trending topics are the most popular topics being discussed on Twitter around the world at a particular time.  They can be obvious like “Pray for Japan” or rather obscure like #uknowuugly.  Never-the-less, they tend to show what people are thinking about “right now”.

The # symbol is called a hashtag and is often used by people on Twitter.  You can click on anything with a # (hashtag) and bring up all Tweets related to that subject.

Anywaaaaaaay…….back to #ThreeWordsToLiveBy. 

I asked the caregiving community what their three words to live by would be and got the following responses:

• breath. rest. pray.
• Serve like Jesus
• Love them unconditionally
• Remember their past
• Get enough respite
• Wine with dinner
• Compassion, Communication, Coordination

I’d love to hear yours!