I’m not an addict, but I know someone who is, and I’m to blame. It’s my fault she’s an addict because I fill her prescriptions, and if I did a better job as her caregiver, she might not be so dependent upon the medications she abuses. The addict is an important person in my life, but it’s not someone you’d expect. It’s not my 16-year old son; it’s not my hardworking husband; it’s not my best friend who is recently widowed; it’s my 87 year old mother, and I’m her senior care provider.

I shouldn’t blame myself; I know the statistics–approximately 70% of seniors aged 60 and older, like my mother, abuse prescription medication. My mother, like many other seniors who misuse prescription drugs, probably doesn’t know she’s an addict.  They think they’re just taking the drugs that they require, but often that’s one and the same.

My mother’s prescription drug abuse started when my father passed away and she was prescribed Valium to help her cope. She started taking it “only when she needed it” which was everyday, and realizing it helped her insomnia, she started taking it again at nighttime. My mother is an addict, because now without it, she can’t get to sleep, but she also takes it all the time which is abuse. Her doctor renews her prescriptions, because she’s older and there’s the perception that she needs it.

It might not be my fault, but my mother is an addict, and I blame myself.

Sources:

1. Bio-Medicine

2. Join Together

Image Source: pro.corbis.com

It’s increasingly more common for families to care for and protect aging parents. For many adult children, caring for their aging parents is met with mixed reviews. When faced with the dynamics of caring for the aging population, it is important to establish family boundaries especially among siblings.

Siblings, when involved in the care of aging parents, commonly disagree as to what is best for the parent. As a result, even the closest of siblings can often find they are at great odds as to how to care for an aging parent, ultimately breaking down the sibling relationships to a significant degree.

Research on the aging population shows that, for those who rely upon their children for care, there is generally one child that will assume 99 percent of the role in the care of that particular parent. Unfortunately, it is this one child who carries the greatest burden and compromise in their personal life and may suffer the greatest strain when faced with issues and care of the aging parent.

For the non-active siblings, or those who are not directly involved in the care of the aging parent, there is often confusion as to how best to approach a parent and sibling who, in most cases, now reside together. For most of the aging population, one approach tends to work best; continue to allow one child to make all of the medical and financial decisions for the aging parent while the other siblings work as a support network, assisting with care and transportation to and from events such as doctor’s appointments.

Research has shown the more children are involved, the better off the parent will be both physically and emotionally. However, it is important the adult children elect one person to assume the care and that all siblings respect and support the decisions of that sibling.

Home Care in Palm Springs and Palm Desert providing safe and quality in home care for aging loved ones when family members and friends cannot be there.  Call us for more information at (760) 404-1423.

Providing care for an aging or ill parent in Palm Springs and Palm Desert can bring out the best and the worst in sibling relationships. Ideally, the experience of caregiving is a time for siblings to come together and provide mutual support to one another. However, as a stressful transition, the pressure can also lead to strained connections and painful conflict.

One major source of sibling friction is the legacy of family dynamics. Invariably, the demands of caregiving bring out old patterns and unresolved tensions. Past wounds are reopened and childhood rivalries reemerge.

Another conflict can arise when one sibling is in denial over a parent’s condition. Adult children who seem unable to accept the reality of a parent’s illness and refuse involvement may be protecting themselves from facing a parent’s eventual death and their own loss. More active siblings may react with bitterness and anger.

Most often though, discord surfaces from the unequal division of caregiving duties. Generally, one sibling takes on the primary role of caring for a loved one. This may be because he or she lives closest to a parent, is perceived as having less work or fewer family obligations, or is considered the “favorite” child. Regardless of the reasons, this situation can lead the overburdened caregiver to feel frustrated and resentful and other siblings to feel uninformed and left out.

Resolving these conflicts can be challenging. But ignoring the difficulties in a caregiving situation can create greater challenges. Ultimately, strained family relationships can impede a family’s capacity to provide the greatest quality of care to a parent. How can families come together in caregiving? Here are some suggestions:

• Express your feelings honestly and directly. Let your siblings know their help is both wanted and needed.
• Keep family members informed regarding a parent’s condition.
• Be realistic in your expectations. Allow siblings to help in ways they are able and divide tasks according to individual abilities, current life pressures and personal freedoms. Assistance with errands, finances, legal work or other indirect care may be the best option for some family members.
• Express appreciation to your family for help they are able to provide.
• Accept siblings for who they are and expect differences of opinion.
• Try to respect other’s perceptions and find opportunities to compromise.
• If communication is particularly contentious, arrange a family meeting that includes an outside facilitator, such as your FCA Family Consultant, social worker, counselor, religious leader or friend. A trusted outside party can ensure that everyone’s voice is heard.
• If siblings are unable to help with care, seek other assistance to provide a respite for yourself. Call We Care Senior Home Care at (760) 404-1423.
• Try to forgive family members who continue to refuse to get involved in a loved one’s care. The only thing we have control over in a situation is our reaction. Attempt to work through your negative emotions to take care of yourself and move forward.

Source: Caregiver.org

Image Source: Corbis.com

Home Care in Palm Springs and Palm Desert providing safe and quality in home care for aging loved ones when family members and friends cannot be there.  Call us for more information at (760) 404-1423.

The bathroom and the kitchen are not the only places where your family member can get hurt. Most households in Palm Desert have other danger zones as well. Controlling access to these areas becomes an issue sooner or later in most caregiving households.

When you care for someone living with Alzheimer’s disease in Palm Desert, accessibility can be a double-edged concern. You may want to make some areas in your home “off-limits”, such as outside doors, stairways, closets and other places where important or potentially harmful materials are stored. On the other hand, you may want to improve access to some areas - making tubs and showers more accessible or making stairways and outside steps easier to use.

As a rule of thumb, try to improve access in areas that encourage the person to do things independently as long as it is safe. Limit access when the family member’s abilities and understanding have diminished to the point that he or she needs supervision to be in an area.

Image Source: www.inmagine.com

Home Care in Palm Springs and Palm Desert providing safe and quality in home care for aging loved ones when family members and friends cannot be there.  Call us for more information at (760) 404-1423.

Q – How can I help retain a good memory into my senior years?

A - A healthy, active brain in older adulthood can prevent the onset and symptoms that relate to Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and the natural process of aging upon memory. Some simple tips, which you can implement into your daily routine, can help to keep your mind sharp and active. These tips will not only help you to remember information, it will ensure that your brain remains active and can help you maintain your cognitive capacities into old age.

1. Use the art of focusing and meditation

2. If you want to memorize information, mentally repeat it

3. Summarize the information you’d like to remember

4. Create acronyms to help you remember details

5. Create associations

6. Use landmarks and objects to help you remember, especially when driving and practicing routes

7. If you have a daily routine, make it into a ritual instead, to help you remember simple daily tasks

A healthy, fit brain into older adulthood, whether you are developing early Alzheimer’s or simply want to prevent the development of future cognitive issues, may start with brain fitness. But like with the body, brain fitness does not only involve exercising the mind directly. Ensure that you incorporate these tips into your daily routine as well, for a sharp mind.

Sources:

1. Prevention

2. Third Age

3. Reader’s Digest

Home Care in Palm Springs and Palm Desert providing safe and quality in home care for aging loved ones when family members and friends cannot be there.  Call us for more information at (760) 404-1423.

When a grandparent is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, grandchildren may find it difficult to comprehend the changes their loved one is experiencing, especially if they are at a young age. In order to help grandchildren cope with the grief they will experience due to their grandma or grandpa’s Alzheimer’s, grandchildren should be encouraged to talk about the disease and their feelings, both to their grandparent and to other family members.

It’s important not to shelter a grandchild from the realities of Alzheimer’s disease, however, it does need to be understood that they may face greater challenges due to the change they witness with their grandparent. In order to help them cope, elder care providers in Palm Springs can involve the grandchildren in the routine set for the senior with Alzheimer’s during a visit. Grandchildren can help record important dates on a calendar, or make reminder signs around the home. Visits with a grandparent with Alzheimer’s can be frequent, but should be limited to 15 or 20 minutes so they take the most enjoyment out of the visit without experiencing a mood change that might be upsetting to the grandchild.

Palm Springs grandchildren who spend time with senior Alzheimer’s patients, may help to retrieve forgotten memories in the minds of the seniors, and by allowing them to talk about their feelings and experiences with Alzheimer’s, they will gain a better understanding to help them deal with the natural grief.

Sources:

1. Grand Magazine

2. Alzheimer’s Society of Canada

Home Care in Palm Springs and Palm Desert providing safe and quality in home care for aging loved ones when family members and friends cannot be there.  Call us for more information at (760) 404-1423.

When hiring a new caregiver for an elderly loved one through a senior care agency, ensure there is a trial period that allows the caregiver and senior to get to know each other without a firm commitment. Many Palm Springs senior care agencies will replace the caregiver at any time if he or she doesn’t meet expectations or mesh personality wise with the senior; however, since not all do, you want to ensure you can change your caregiver at no fault if the arrangement doesn’t work out.

When introducing a new caregiver to a senior and their home, ensure that guidelines of responsibilities are set based on the senior’s needs at the time; but be flexible and listen to suggestions from the caregiver for the highest quality care. Also request that the agency complete an assessment; as eldercare professionals they may see additional areas of daily life that a senior needs help with and be open-minded to their feedback.

Sometimes a senior can be invaded by a new presence in their home, whether it’s a family member or a professional caregiver, since it could be their first real loss of independence. Allow the relationship to grow by having the caregiver spend shorter periods of time with the senior at first and acting as a companion. As the senior becomes more comfortable, the caregiver can then take greater control over the household as appropriate.

Sources:

1. Senior Care

2. Ottawa.ca

Image Source: www.catalina-in-home.com

Home Care in Palm Springs and Palm Desert providing safe and quality in home care for aging loved ones when family members and friends cannot be there.  Call us for more information at (760) 404-1423.

According to a report by US News and World Report, many common ailments and changes that we naturally affiliate with the aging process, are not in fact normal for everyone and many common aging myths don’t hold as much truth as we like to assume.

1. Extra weight cuts your life short – studies show that carrying a few extra pounds (up to 30lbs) in you senior years may not result in a shortened lifespan after all, provided you are not obese with a BMI over 30. At age 75 an extra 30 lbs can actually be protective of the immune system, staving off other illnesses; proving that carrying a little extra weight isn’t always bad, as we’ve been taught to think.

2. Everyone must prepare for senility – we’ve all heard the expression “old and senile” when discussing older adulthood, but senility doesn’t happen to everyone contrary to the stereotype. Some cognitive decline may occur, but it typically doesn’t compromise a senior’s ability to live independently.

3. Palm Springs Seniors Shouldn’t Exercise – the belief is that seniors won’t have the energy to exercise, or that it can be harmful. However, seniors who exercise have a lower occurrence of heart problems, and less fatigue.

4. All hearing loss requires a hearing aid – only 35% of seniors require hearing aids; although many seniors do experience some form of hearing loss, many maintain perfect hearing into their later years.

5. Seniors are cranky – while some seniors may experience personality changes due to Alzheimer’s or dementia, or may experience bouts of depression due to their declining health, research proves that our personalities don’t change after age 30. The cranky Palm Springs seniors you know have probably always been that way.

Sources:

1 US News & World Report

Home Care in Palm Springs and Palm Desert providing safe and quality in home care for aging loved ones when family members and friends cannot be there.  Call us for more information at (760) 404-1423.

For many seniors who live independently into older adulthood; making healthy eating choices can be challenging. Often, for elderly people who live at home, meal preparation is a daunting task; so they turn to convenient packaged meals, or unhealthy snacks which may be high in saturated fat and processed foods. While many of these meal options may be quick and easy, they do not satisfy the requirements of any nutritional food guides when consumed without the addition of lean meats, fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

Family caregivers and other loved ones know that often seniors can be set in their ways, and are unwilling to alter their routines even for the betterment of their health. While intervening directly to improve their eating habits may not be an effective way to help a senior with healthy eating practices, families can encourage healthy eating for the elderly by making some simple changes.

1) Portion control – seniors with a love for unhealthy snacks that are sweet and salty can still indulge, but with smaller portion sizes and incorporating healthy fruits and vegetables to make up the difference in calories and portion.

2) Availability of healthy items – make sure that seniors always have a selection of their favorite fruits and vegetables, and keep them on the counter so they are convenient reminders of healthy eating.

3) Avoid temptations – if seniors tend to binge on their favorite sugary snacks; don’t keep them in the house so they can avoid temptations (especially important for diabetics)

Source:  Healthy Eating Guide for the Elderly

Image Source: futureofaging.wordpress.com

Home Care in Palm Springs and Palm Desert providing safe and quality in home care for aging loved ones when family members and friends cannot be there.  Call us for more information at (760) 404-1423.