by trevor@addfuelfire.com | Oct 20, 2015 | Alzheimer's and Dementia, Caregiving, Uncategorized
Halloween can present unique challenges for people with Alzheimer’s disease and their caregivers. Ghosts and goblins, jack-o’-lanterns and skeletons are fun for most of us, but the sights and sounds of this spooky season can agitate and confuse seniors with dementia. Loved ones with moderate and late-stage dementia will need to be sheltered from items and activities that might alarm them.
Halloween Safety and Dementia
Here are some tips to help you keep your senior in Michigan safe and anxiety free this Halloween:
- Be realistic about much Halloween your senior with dementia can handle. Seniors with early Alzheimer’s disease can enjoy celebrations, but will likely need help with tasks like carving a pumpkin, making popcorn balls and packing treat bags.
- Never leave a senior with Alzheimer’s alone during trick-or-treating hours. This may mean you or another loved one keeps them company or hands out candy with them at their door.
- Limit the number of decorations. A house full of fake cobwebs and skulls may put you and your children in the holiday mood, but these types of décor can cause agitation and confusion for your senior with Alzheimer’s. If you do decide to decorate, avoid the fear factor. Items that move, talk or scream can frighten and cause a senior to wander.
- Protect your senior loved one in public. While shopping and attending community events, avoid animated decorations, especially ones that jump, scream and scare unsuspecting people. Also steer away from costumed characters and people in masks.
- Keep rooms well-lit during trick-or-treating hours. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, low light and shadows can trigger “sundowning” behaviors. Keep in mind that flashlights, flashing lights and flickering candlelight can also cause anxiety in seniors with dementia.
Tips for Soothing Alzheimer’s Agitation
If Halloween does agitate your loved one, use these strategies from the National Institute on Aging to calm them:
- Change the environment. Guide your senior away from whatever environment is making them upset.
- Comfort and reassure. Sit with your Alzheimer’s loved one. Talk softly and calmly and assure them that they are safe with you.
- Create positive distractions. Play soothing music, read out loud or offer a snack.
To read more about celebrating holidays with your Alzheimer’s loved one in Michigan, visit the Alzheimer’s Association Holidays and Alzheimer’s Families webpage.
For more information about specialized dementia care, contact one of the Heritage Senior Communities near you.
by trevor@addfuelfire.com | Oct 14, 2015 | Caregiving, Uncategorized
Caring for an aging parent in Michigan can be stressful. According to the American Psychological Association, 80% of Baby Boomers report high levels of caregiving stress.
Playing an active role in your senior loved one’s care when you live in another city can compound the worry. How can you stay informed? Be involved in decisions? How can you make sure your loved one is safe? How can you show that you care when you aren’t present?
Quality, long-distance caregiving may seem impossible. But with some organization, technology tools, advance planning and a little change in attitude, you can take an active role in your senior loved one’s care.
Caring Long-Distance
Here are some strategies for worry-free long-distance caregiving:
Communicate with Local Caregivers.
Whether your parent is aging in place at home or in an assisted-living or dementia-care community, you need to establish a regular line of communication with caregivers who see them on a daily basis.
• Ask in-home caregivers and visiting nurses to telephone you during or after visits. Adjust the frequency of phone calls based on your senior loved one’ needs and your schedule. For example, you could also set up an every-other-day phone call or a weekly phone call.
• In an assisted living community, connect with the social worker or activities director who can share regular updates with you.
• If your senior loved one is in physical therapy, schedule a regular call to learn about the progress he or she is making. Your aging family member will need to give the physical therapist permission to share the information first.
• If you have siblings who are sharing care close by, stay in contact with them, too. Not only can they keep you informed, but they will need your sympathetic ear. Don’t expect them to call you. They are likely overwhelmed with all the demands caregiving creates, in addition to caring for their own family and career.
Remember, phone calls aren’t the only way to stay in touch. In-home caregivers can help your senior loved one use Skype or a mobile app that will allow you to chat face-to-face over a computer, tablet or phone. This can also help you to build strong relationships with the caregiving team.
Stay close with your mom and dad.
Even if you talk with local caregivers every day, it is important that you still connect with your senior loved one. This will reduce the feelings of distance between you. Your parent will feel your presence and that you are “there for them.” Calling daily will also help you track differences in their health and cognition that you can then discuss with the caregiving team.
Use technology as your eyes and ears.
While you can’t always be in the house with your loved one, you can come pretty close with monitoring technology. Consider installing a remote monitoring system to help you keep tabs on your aging loved one.
• The VueZone Remote Video Monitoring System lets you oversee your aging parent’s activities by video feed on your computer.
• The BeClose system works with wearable tracker technology that monitors your loved one’s daily routine. You receive text alerts, emails and phone calls if your parent strays from his or her normal activities.
Work remotely with other caregivers.
If your siblings and other family members are managing all the hands-on care, you can share some of the load from a distance. You might offer to make phone calls and schedule appointments, pay bills online, do internet shopping for mom, or create her shopping list in Google Drive and share with the family.
Coordinate a caregiving network.
Even though you cannot keep your loved one company on a regular basis, you can work to create a community of visitors who can check on your loved one and keep them socializing. Talk regularly with your aging parent’s grandchildren, neighbors and friends. Encourage them to make a phone call or stop by for a visit. Contact your senior loved one’s church to inquire about services and visits for shut-ins.
Be prepared for changes.
Work with your siblings and caregiving team in advance to create an emergency plan. In the event of a blizzard or power outage, where will dad go? If your aging parent has to have surgery, who will be available to care for them during recovery? What if your senior loved one can no longer stay safely in their home?
Investigate options for short-term respite care or adult day care. This service is perfect for senior loved ones recovering from an illness or injury, or when family caregivers are taking a vacation.
To learn more about respite care for your senior loved on in Michigan, contact the Heritage Senior Community near their home.
Photo Courtesy of
by trevor@addfuelfire.com | Oct 6, 2015 | Caregiving, Dear Donna, Uncategorized
Dear Donna:
My mother is 81 years old and lives alone in her home near Holland, Michigan. Over the past year she has been in and out of the emergency room more times than I can even count! The issues have ranged from being dehydrated to several falls to a bad case of the flu.
We are struggling to convince our mother to take better care of herself. My sister or I deliver homemade, frozen meals and a big salad to her once a week. She would only need to heat up the dinners in the microwave and put the salad in a bowl at meal time. But she just won’t do it. Most days she lives on peanut butter toast, cereal and lunchmeat.
We really think the time has come to insist that she move to a safer type of senior housing. I think if she just ate better many of her problems would resolve on their own. I know she doesn’t want to keep going to the emergency room. All the trips back and forth have really worn her out.
Can an assisted living community help us get her back on a healthier track? I really don’t think she needs to be in a nursing home.
Anna in Kalamazoo
Dear Anna:
It sounds like your family has had a very difficult year! The situation is unfortunately all too common. For many seniors, maintaining good nutrition is a real challenge. In some cases it is because the older adult doesn’t have transportation to and from the grocery store or they have a health condition that makes preparing meals difficult.
Poor nutrition in seniors can create many of the circumstances you described. It can lead to a weakened immune system and put her at higher risk for the flu bug that landed her in the house, as well as muscle weakness that may have contributed to her falls.
The good news is an assisted living community may be an ideal solution! Your mother would receive three well-balanced meals each day and the opportunity to enjoy them restaurant-style in the community’s dining room. The social aspect of spending meal times with her peers might encourage her to eat more, too. She would also have the opportunity to participate in fitness and life enrichment programs that may help her improve her overall wellness.
It might be a good idea for you to visit a few assisted living communities in the Grand Haven and Holland areas on your own first. Once you have an idea about what each of them offers and which ones might be a good fit for your mother, you could return again with her.
Best of luck to you and your family, Anna! I hope your mother can get settled in an assisted living community soon and begin to get her health back on track.
Donna
by trevor@addfuelfire.com | Sep 30, 2015 | Dear Donna, Healthy Aging, Uncategorized
Dear Donna:
My father lives in southwest Michigan. He’s been on his own for a few years now since my mother passed away. Dad had been the primary caregiver for my Mom for about six years before her death. Since he has been on his own, he doesn’t seem to be getting out much. When I try to talk with him about it, he gets a little annoyed with me. The best I’ve been able to determine is that he doesn’t like to drive any longer and that he doesn’t feel like he has much purpose in life. I know he misses my Mom, and caring for her kept him very busy.
When I talked with our family doctor about it (she is also my Dad’s doctor) she suggested he might be happier in an independent living community where there is a lot to do each day. Somehow he has the idea that these communities are mostly for widows after their husbands pass away. I guess I’m a little confused about independent living, too. How would my Dad really benefit from this type of move?
Kathy in Grand Haven, Michigan
Dear Kathy:
It’s unfortunately all too common to see the surviving spouse —especially if they have been a long-term caregiver — struggle to build a new life. As you probably know from watching your parents, caregiving is a full-time plus job. To go from being so busy to having whole days to fill can be a big adjustment.
Your father’s feelings about women and senior living are not without merit. Experts say the ratio of women to men in an assisted living community can be as high as 7:1. The simple fact is most women live longer than men. On average, women outlive men by 5 – 7 years. It is important to note, however, that most senior living communities realize men feel this way and are working hard to overcome that stereotype. They are incorporating more masculine décor, offering programs specifically directed at male residents and more.
Your family physician’s suggestion sounds like a good one to consider! If your father chose to move to an independent living community he would benefit from:
- A full calendar of life enrichment activities to participate in each day
- Neighbors who have experienced similar struggles and losses and understand what your father is going through
- Transportation services to local shopping centers, community events, physician appointments and more
- A hassle-free lifestyle that includes all maintenance and housekeeping
- The option to purchase meal service at dinner time if he no longer wishes to cook for himself
I hope this helps give you a better understanding of independent living in Michigan, Kathy! I wish you and your Dad the best of luck as you make this decision.
Donna
by trevor@addfuelfire.com | Sep 22, 2015 | Caregiving, Healthy Aging, Uncategorized
Most people who develop the flu recover from the aches, cough and fever quickly. But older adults are more vulnerable to severe and sometimes deadly complications.
September is the time of year to help your Michigan senior loved ones prepare to fight the flu.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), people over the age of 65 account for 60 percent of seasonal flu-related hospitalizations and 90 percent of flu-related deaths each year.
It is crucial that you act early to protect your loved ones from this serious illness.
Here’s what you need to know to prevent your aging loved one from getting bitten by the flu bug this year:
- Get them vaccinated. According to the CDC, the flu shot is the best way to prevent high-risk populations from coming down with the virus. Getting the shot in October ensures they are protected through the peak season in January and February and on in to spring.
Though there is a slight chance that your vaccinated senior could contract the virus even if they receive their flu shot, the vaccine will reduce the severity of illness and the risk of complications.
Adults over the age of 65 may be given a standard flu shot or a higher-dose vaccine designed for those with compromised immunity. Talk with your loved one’s physician to determine which vaccine is best shot for them.
Vaccines can be given at physician’s offices, clinics, pharmacies and at your local health department. Visit the Michigan Flu Vaccine Finder to locate a clinic near you. The annual flu shot is covered by Medicare Part B, with no co-pay.
- Roll up your sleeve, too. The flu is highly contagious, so it is important that everyone who spends any time with your loved one is also vaccinated to prevent transmitting the disease. The CDC recommends the annual flu shot or nasal vaccine for everyone over six months of age.
- Limit your loved one’s contact with people who may have the flu. Don’t permit visits with anyone who has symptoms of illness. Remind visitors that the senior in your care cannot risk becoming sick.
- Encourage healthy hygiene. Remind your senior loved one to wash their hands thoroughly throughout the day and to avoid touching their face, eyes, and nose. This will prevent the spread of infectious germs.
- Take precautions when in public. Wipe down shopping cart handles with anti-bacterial wipes. Carry hand sanitizer and help elderly adults remember to use it frequently to kill germs they might pick up.
- Bolster immunity. Make sure your aging parents eat a balanced diet, exercise and maintain strong social ties. All of these things help strengthen their immune system.
If your senior loved one develops flu symptoms, call his or her physician. If they have the flu, the doctor can prescribe an anti-viral influenza treatment that can help them combat the virus more quickly and avoid debilitating complications.
For more information about flu prevention, visit the US Department of Health and Human Services website.
Photo Courtesy Credit
