by trevor@addfuelfire.com | Aug 3, 2016 | Dear Donna, Uncategorized
Dear Donna:
My dad is on his own for the first time in his life. Since my mother passed away unexpectedly four years ago, he’s really slowed down. The two of them used to be on the go all of the time, but now he’s become very sedentary.
In the early days after we lost my Mom, I think he was struggling with depression. Now I’m concerned that he has developed some bad habits. Among them is watching too much television. He’s gained a few too many pounds as a result and I’m worried it may lead to health problems.
I am going with him to have his yearly physical next week. Before that date, I want to talk with my Dad about some senior-friendly forms of exercise he might be interested in. If I can come up with a few ideas my Dad likes, we can discuss them with his doctor during his appointment.
Do you have any suggestions for me? Other than walking, I’m not sure where to start.
Ellen in Glen Arbor, Michigan
Dear Ellen:
The situation you described is fairly common. And we know breaking bad habits isn’t always easy. Your Dad is lucky to have you in his corner!
And you are right to be concerned. A sedentary lifestyle is indeed dangerous. Newer research is actually comparing the dangers of sitting too much to the dangers associated with smoking!
Exercises for Seniors in Michigan to Try
At the Heritage Senior Communities across Michigan, we have adopted a Wellness Model that blends social and physical health services to ensure each resident lives their best life. A few suggestions that follow a similar approach to healthy living include:
- Go4Life: The National Institute on Aging developed this fitness program exclusively for older adults. Go4Life has a variety of resources to make it easier for seniors to get started and stay motivated. From guides you can download to free workout DVDs mailed right to your home, this is a very comprehensive program.
- Silver Sneakers: Another national program for seniors is Silver Sneakers. The organization works with health insurance companies and local fitness centers to offer free exercise classes for older adults. Check with your insurance provider to see if they are a part of the program.
- Growing Stronger: Mounting evidence shows the important role strength training plays in preventing early mortality. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) created their complimentary Growing Stronger Guide to address the issue. It is packed with tips for goal setting, a quiz to measure strength, and suggestions for staying motivated.
A couple of additional senior-friendly forms of exercise for your Dad to consider are swimming at a club like the YMCA or participating in Chair Yoga or Tai Chi at the local senior center.
I hope this gives you some ideas to help get your Dad moving again, Ellen!
Kind Regards,
Donna
by trevor@addfuelfire.com | Jun 2, 2016 | Dear Donna, Uncategorized
Dear Donna:
My dad will be 90 years old a few days before Father’s Day. He’s had some real health challenges in the last year that gave us a real scare.
My siblings and their kids will all be traveling here to spend Father’s Day with Dad. Then my brother and I will be looking for an assisted living community in the Saginaw, Michigan area for him to move to this summer.
We are hoping to make Father’s Day extra special for him this year, but are having a hard time coming up with ideas!
Do you have any suggestions?
Pam
Dear Pam:
It sounds like a good plan! Father’s Day is a day we set aside every year to remember and honor dads. But finding meaningful ways to do so can be tough when Dad is a senior.
Honoring an Older Michigan Dad on Father’s Day
Here are a couple of suggestions:
- Reenact Childhood Memories. Think back to those times when your dad made you feel special. Were you at a ball game? Did he take you for ice cream or another treat? Was it when he was teaching you how to ride a bike? Try recreating one of those favorite memories with your dad. Go to a Little League game or plan an afternoon in front of the TV watching sports together. Take him to a place you used to go to together. Pose for a picture of the two of with him holding onto the back of your bike seat.
- Put on a Show. Gather up old home movies and photos and use them to create a family video. Plan a time on Father’s Day for your family to sit down to watch the video together. Press the pause button every so often to ask questions and to share your memories. Show your dad how much you love him by taking time to set the scene by darkening the room and serving his favorite snacks. Be patient as he tells you the same old stories you’ve heard a thousand times.
- Update Photo Albums. Take old photos and arrange them in albums. Add captions to as many of the pictures as possible. Write in your favorite takeaway from the scene in the picture: “This was the time when ______.” Ask your dad to help you name the people and places in the pictures.
Remember to Consider Your Father’s Special Needs
As you are making plans for your Father’s Day celebration, remember to take any special needs your dad has in to account. Plan your outing around his regular meal and nap times instead of pushing him to eat or nap later. If he needs to follow a special diet, remember to plan for it.
As be aware of the potential dangers sun and heat can create for seniors. If you plan to take your dad to a local ball game, be sure to bring a comfortable chair or cushion for him to sit in rather than on the hard bleachers.
A hat that shields his face or umbrella that attaches to his chair will also keep him safe from the sun’s harsh UV rays if you will be outdoors. Sunscreen and water are also necessary.
I hope this helps your family plan and enjoy a special day with your Dad!
Donna
by trevor@addfuelfire.com | Apr 22, 2016 | Dear Donna, Uncategorized
Dear Donna:
We recently moved my mother-in-law to an assisted living community in Holland, Michigan. The process of downsizing for the move required her to part with many of her belongings, and it was still a tight fit to get her settled and find a place for everything.
With Mother’s Day approaching, we aren’t sure what to get her for a gift or how to plan a celebration. She doesn’t have very much space for more “stuff” and the community where she lives now provides almost everything she could want or need.
Do you have any suggestions for gifts? Or for planning our celebration? We feel like it is important to make the day extra special for her this year.
Kind Regards,
Tami
Mother’s Day Gift Ideas for Seniors in an Assisted Living Community
Dear Tami:
Your question is one we often receive this time of year, especially from families who are new to assisted living.
Our first suggestion is to talk to the team at your mother-in-laws assisted living community. They can offer suggestions for reserving more space at the community if you need it, as well as for helping to make arrangements for food.
As far as gift ideas, here is a list of ideas we’ve noticed have been popular with our residents in past years:
- A family calendar that has family members’ birthdays and anniversaries marked, along with family photos on each month’s page
- A handmade coupon book with vouchers to trade in for outings to the mall or a local restaurant, help with their computer, a trip to a local spa or another favorite treat
- A digital scrapbook or family video
- A photo bouquet of family pictures
- Gift certificate for the in-house beauty/barber shop
- A custom gift basket with items she can use to pamper herself, such as essential oils, lotions and other beauty products
- A gift card to a clothing store
- A pedometer or fitness tracker
- A fruit-of-the-month club membership
- Gift cards to a restaurant and/or movie theater
- Gift card to their favorite craft or hobby store
- A tablet device they can use for connecting on social media and email
- A bird feeder to place outside their window along with seed
- A basket of DVDs, games and puzzles to enjoy when the grandkids visit
Finally, don’t overlook the more traditional Mother’s Day gifts. A potted plant, a bouquet of flowers, or a box of chocolates might be the perfect treat!
Best of luck to you and your family, Tami! I’m sure your mother-in-law will appreciate your efforts.
Sincerely,
Donna
by trevor@addfuelfire.com | Apr 10, 2016 | Dear Donna, Uncategorized
Dear Donna:
My husband and I would like to take a vacation this spring so we can take our twin girls to Disney World. It is our last chance to do so before they start Kindergarten next fall. The catch is I am the primary caregiver for my mother. She has lived with us since she had a stroke last summer. While she tries to be independent and active, she has some disabilities that prevent her from staying alone.
I’ve talked with home care agencies about providing care for her while we are gone. But I would really feel more comfortable if she had someone nearby around the clock.
Can you explain how respite care works in an assisted living community in Michigan?
Kind Regards,
Ellie in Grand Haven, Michigan
Dear Ellie:
Your situation is a perfect example of how families can benefit from respite care in an assisted living community. Respite allows an older loved one to enjoy a short-term stay at a senior living community while the family caregiver goes on vacation or takes a break from the around the clock demands of caregiving.
What Types of Services are Included in Respite Care?
From medication management to support with personal care needs, a respite stay provides seniors with the support they need when you can’t be there to help.
Most senior living communities, like the Heritage Senior Communities across Michigan, have furnished suites for respite guests to enjoy. Your mom will have access to the same services and amenities that a permanent resident of the community does.
In addition to support with personal care, a respite stay in most senior living communities includes:
- Three well-balanced meals each day served restaurant style in the dining room.
- A wide variety of life enrichment and wellness activities to participate in with other residents.
- Supportive services such as housekeeping, laundry and transportation.
We always encourage families who are considering a short-term respite stay for a senior loved one to visit us in person. One of our team members will be happy to take you and your mom on a tour. You can even stay for lunch!
Being familiar with the staff and the community will help to decrease any anxiety you and your mom have about your leaving town for vacation.
I hope this information is helpful, Ellie. And I hope you enjoy Disney World with your family!
Donna
Photo Courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net
by trevor@addfuelfire.com | Mar 10, 2016 | Dear Donna, Uncategorized
Dear Donna:
I will be visiting my mom who lives in Muskegon, Michigan next month. One of the items on our “To Do List” is to organize her health information. When I went with her to the doctor during my trip home at Christmas, I realized how important it is to get all of this information organized and in one place. She currently keeps much of it in her purse, which seems like it would put her at risk for identity theft.
Do you have any suggestions that might help me with this process? It feels a little overwhelming.
Kind Regards,
Ryan
Dear Ryan:
Sounds like a good goal to set for you and your mom! And you are right to worry that keeping so much personal information in her purse puts your mom at risk for fraud. This is especially true during tax season. Experts believe tax refund fraud will top $21 billion this year.
Here are a few suggestions we have shared before with families who ask for advice on organizing a senior loved one’s medical information:
1. Gather the information: Start by pulling together all of your mother’s important medical papers. Once you have everything in one place, begin to separate the documents by topic. A few category examples might include:
- Copies of health care notes and discharge reports from any hospital stays
- Physician notes from office visits
- Results from any testing and lab work
- Copies of all of the instructions that come with each prescription
- Medicare/Medicaid identification cards and numbers
- Legal documents such as a living will, durable power of attorney, and advance directive
- Copies of all bills and co-pay receipts
2. Develop a medical history: If you haven’t done so already, you will need to create a comprehensive medical history. This should document all health conditions and surgeries along with the date of each occurrence. Be sure to list any allergies and important family medical history.
3. Create a medication list: Keeping an updated medication list is critically important. It should include both prescription medications and over-the-counter medicines. Note the dosage and times each should be taken.
4. Putting it All Together: You will want to create a system that is easy to update. One that often works well for older adults and their family caregivers is to purchase a large, 3-ring binder with dividers and pockets. You can create a section for each category of information. Other families take it a step further and also use a caregiving app. This helps make it easier for you and other family members to access, share and update your mother’s medical information from wherever you are.
5. Safe Storage: As you mentioned in your note to us, seniors are common targets for identity theft. You can help your mom decrease her risk for becoming a victim by safely storing her medical file. Securing the binder in a cabinet or file drawer with a lock is the best way to protect her personal information. Encourage family members who have a copy to do the same.
I have one last suggestion for you, Ryan. When your mom is checking out from each physician visit, remind her to ask for a copy of visit notes. Some providers can give it to her then and others will need to mail it to you after the physician updates her file. Encourage her to add them to her health file as soon as she returns home and to update any changes to her medications the physician made during her visit.
I hope this information is helpful, Ryan. If you have any questions about senior care during your visit with your mom next month, please feel free to call the Heritage Senior Community nearest you for answers!
Donna
by trevor@addfuelfire.com | Mar 8, 2016 | Dear Donna, Uncategorized
Dear Donna:
I am the oldest of three kids and the one who lives closest to our parents. My dad had a stroke last month and is no longer able to drive. My mom was always a nervous driver in her younger days and gave it up entirely about 15 years ago.
While I’ve been helping them out here and there over the last few years, it has become a full-time challenge since my Dad had his stroke. I work part-time at the local bank and have three busy teenagers. I’m really feeling stressed out and worn out, and more than a little resentful that my siblings don’t really help.
Do you have any advice for new caregivers? I could sure use some.
Katrina in Ludington, Michigan
Dear Katrina:
We hear similar stories from adult daughters almost every day in the Heritage Senior Communities across Michigan. You are definitely not alone. The Family Caregiver Alliance estimates that 65.7 million people in the U.S. provide care to someone they love. AARP reports show that unpaid caregiving services add up to $450 billion a year.
Family caregiver is a tough responsibility to take on. But we do have a few tips we think will help.
5 Tips to Help New Caregivers in Michigan
- Take Care of You: For new caregivers, this probably doesn’t sound like very realistic advice. But you can’t care for your parents if you end up with a serious illness yourself. And the statistics on caregiver health can be sobering. Gallup surveys found that a typical healthy adult has an average physical health score of 83. The average caregiver, however, only scores a 77.4.
- Ask for Help. Accepting the idea that you will need help on a routine basis and knowing where it will come from is important. Maybe your siblings can each pitch in one weekend a month? Or if they live too far away to do that, ask them to cover the expense of an in-home care aide a few hours each week. Also know that many senior living communities in Michigan offer short-term respite stays to give caregivers a break. Your local church might have a “friendly visitor” program where volunteers from the church provide support to homebound seniors.
- Organize their Medical File: Keeping all of a senior loved one’s appointments, medical paperwork, and prescriptions organized can feel overwhelming. Taking time to create a home medical file will help you feel like you are on track and prepared. There are also apps you can download to your smart phone or tablet device that allow you to safely store this information for easy access.
- Manage your Expectations: Another caregiver survival tip is to set realistic expectations for yourself. It might mean accepting that your own home won’t always be immaculate or that dinner one or two nights a week might be a healthy choice from the take-out menu of a local restaurant. Be kind to yourself and don’t feel badly about relaxing your expectations while you are caregiving.
- Create an Emergency Plan: Our final tip is a critical one. Create an back-up plan for your aging parents’ care in the event of an emergency. If something happens to you, what will happen to them? The plan might be for them to receive services from an in-home care agency or temporarily move to an assisted living community. Just be sure you have a plan is in place before a crisis occurs.
I hope these tips help, Katrina! We invite you to call the Heritage Senior Community nearest to your parents if you need more information or have questions about respite care.
Kind Regards,
Donna
