Finding something fulfilling to do in retirement can be a challenge, especially for those who have had busy lives running successful businesses when in their prime and find themselves restless. Retired seniors in Palm Springs and Coachella Valley don’t need to let their knowledge and experience go to waste, because SCORE offers volunteer opportunities that allows them to connect with local business owners and help them improve the local economy by making small businesses prosperous.

Coachella Valley has approximately 2,500 small businesses in operation today, and with the state of the economy, they could use any help that they can get in order to ensure that they can help the overall condition of the local economy. Recently, a local paper ran a newspaper column giving local business owners the opportunity to ask the volunteers at SCORE any questions they have about small businesses; but there are still many more entrepreneurs that could use assistance and can be reached out to by once successful in business volunteers.

Coachella Valley’s branch of SCORE is currently looking for retired men and women who have had extensive business experience to reach out to the local business owners who operate the restaurants, salons, and specialty stores in the community. If you are a senior who has experience with finance and accounting for small business, experience with web development, marketing, PR and special relations, or work experience as a legal attorney; then Coachella Valley’s branch of score is waiting to hear from you and see how you can help the local business community!

Sources:

1. My Desert

2. SCORE

Image Source: pro.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.

I’m sure there’s never a day that goes by that you don’t check your email at least hourly, if not in live time as messages filter through to your email client or Blackberry. Email has become the main method of communication for many people of all generations around the world, and it can really put a cramp in your style when there’s someone in your life that you can’t communicate with the convenience of email. This might be an issue if you’re trying to communicate with elderly loved ones who don’t live nearby to your Palm Springs home, and they have yet to embrace the technology of modern communication; it can result in family members losing touch.

In order to bridge the generational communication gap that can occur when different members of the same family have different ideas about how to communicate with one another, there is Sunnygram. It’s a service that allows family members who prefer to use modern communication methods, like email, to remain in touch with older loved ones who aren’t online. Family members in Palm Desert can send an email, using their preferred communication method, once the message is delivered, the company sends out a weekly newsletter compiling all of the information to the recipient, including any photos which have been attached. With Sunnygram, the email recipient can even respond by leaving a voicemail message which will then be turned into an email reply.

It’s hard to stay in touch, and even more complicated when family members have different ideas about how to communicate. With a service like Sunnygram, it’s an easy solution; since all members of the same family can communicate in their preferred method, and there’s no breach in communication!

Sources:

1. CNN

2. Inventor Spot

Image Source: sunnygram.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.

“Lighten up?” That’s probably the last thing you want to hear as a senior suffering from dementia, or as a caregiver responsible for caring for a Palm Desert senior with Alzheimer’s. But don’t take offense, because I mean it quite literally! A recent study has shown that by increasing the amount of light in a senior’s home, common symptoms of dementia such as poor sleeping habits, feelings of depression and poor mood can all be improved a little bit at a time. So, like I said; lighten up! Open the blinds during the day to let the natural light in, purchase some brighter light bulbs, and place some more light sources around the main rooms in the home where a senior spends their time.

Increasing the amount of light in a Palm Springs senior’s home can help them to establish a better circadian rhythm, which can increase their alertness and times of wakefulness during the daytime hours, so that at night, they might be able to get a better night’s sleep. Along with better sleeping patterns can come improved mood, and reduced cases of depression, even for those seniors who are struggling psychologically while trying to cope with the knowledge of their cognitive decline.

So what are you waiting for Palm Springs? It’s time to lighten up!

Sources:

1. New York Times

2. Web MD

3. The Journal of American Medical Association

Image Source: scientificamerican.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.

Making friends at any age is hard, but when dealing with the trials and tribulations of aging, and coping with grief, it can be even more challenging for seniors to put themselves out there, meet new people and have new experiences. For Palm Springs seniors there is the Mizell Senior Center which offers inexpensive activities for seniors who want to drop in, socialize with others of their demographic, and spend some time out of their homes. The Palm Springs Mizell Senior Center offers seniors fitness activities, games that allow them to play in an active and social atmosphere, and even live music for them to enjoy.

Mizell Senior Center in Palm Springs accepts both those that are members of the senior center and guests, and for each of the events rates vary depending upon whether each senior has a membership and the type of event being held. There is something for everyone with Bingo, Table Games, Jazz music, Jam sessions and even group lunches for seniors who need to dine at a more affordable price.

If cost and availability of services have been stopping you, or an elderly member of your family from getting out there in the community to meet new people and try new things; there’s no room for anymore excuses with the Mizell Senior Center that ensures that everyone can afford to attend events that allow them to connect, and enjoy their retirement.

Image Source: pro.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.

It should come as no surprise that the lifespan of our aging population is increasing, so that can only mean one thing – that the senior population is growing too! While it’s not a bad thing that people can live longer, healthier and happier lives, this can put a strain upon the senior care systems that we have here in Palm Springs and across North America, because we’re just not prepared to deal with so many seniors in our society, despite the fact that they are living longer.

As seniors spend more time in retirement than any other period of their life, there is a strain being placed upon health care, pension systems and the senior care industry in general. While the population as recorded by the US Census Bureau was 506 million people over 65 as of 2008, this is expected to double over the next 30 years, and the impact won’t just be upon North America, it will effect developing nations around the world.

We’re living longer, but only time will tell if our society is prepared to handle these changes so that living longer will still mean a happy, healthy and comfortable retirement!

Sources:

1. Reuters

Image Source: pro.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.

Q – What is senior financial abuse, and how can it be prevented?

Senior financial abuse is any situation where a senior and/or their money are exploited for monetary gain. Seniors in Palm Springs, are a major target of financial abuse because they can be dependent upon others, they can be trusting, and they may have minimal experience managing their financial affairs; oh, and they also control 70% of personal assets in North America. Financial abuse takes a number of forms; some seniors may be financially exploited by their own family members, their caregivers may take advantage of their money, and may be stolen from through elaborate scams.

Tips to Avoid Senior Financial Abuse:

1. Protect personal information – SSN, PIN numbers and other financial data should be protected and never given to anyone (except a financial power of attorney)

2. Background checks and references – anyone hired to work for a senior, as a laborer or caregiver should be thoroughly screened with background checks and follow up on personal and professional references

3. Never pay for anything – often sweepstakes or lottery scams require a senior to pay money in order to claim a prize. Seniors should never have to pay to receive winnings

4. Have a backup – seniors should seek the help of a trusted family member to review and oversee major financial transactions. Having a second set of eyes to assist with decisions will help protect seniors from financial abuse

5. Report it – report any suspicious persons to senior advocacy agencies and the local police

Sources:

1. Associated Content (Susan Rand)

2. Sun-Times News Group (Terry Savage)

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.

Palm Springs is a hubbub of activity every Thursday night for VillageFest and this is an ideal time for seniors to take advantage of the opportunity to socialize, immerse themselves in Palm Springs culture and take advantage of the amazing deals that are available just for residents of Palm Springs. Stock up on fresh fruit and vegetables and support your local community, while improving your health; or check out the unique craft products available from some of the local artisans and start thinking about how you can transform your favorite art projects or think about new ones that you can create!

Thursday nights at Palm Springs VillageFest are also full of local entertainment and events, so seniors can take advantage of the warm summer nights, and spend time with family or friends without having to spend a lot of money on a cultural or historical experience. For those seniors that don’t regularly venture far from home, VillageFest is the perfect excuse and opportunity for a night out.

Check out the VillageFest website for coupons from some of the local vendors and to see a list of the special events that will be taking place each Thursday night this summer!

Source

Villagefest.org

Image: pro.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.

As a senior home caregiver in Palm Spring’s, I regularly care for seniors who have issues with mobility or that are recovering from an injury. It’s not uncommon for me to work with seniors who use a walker or a cane to help them get around. One day before I entered one of my client’s homes for an afternoon of care and errand running, and was surprised because she wasn’t there to greet me at the door as she normally is. After knocking on the door, the senior didn’t appear; but fortunately, I had a copy of her house key provided by the family for situations like this. Once I entered the home, I found my elderly care recipient on the floor, with her walker in front of her, unable to get up. She claimed that nothing hurt, so I helped her up off the floor and got her to my car and on the way to her doctor’s office nearby just to make sure that she really was okay.

When we got there the doctor asked how she fell, and I told him that I had found her lying with her walker. My senior care recipient told us that she was making her way to the kitchen for a glass of water, and though she was using her walker, she pushed it too far ahead with her, so when she lost her balance it wasn’t there to provide support. He explained that this is a common problem, because very few seniors use their walkers properly, so instead of providing support, they can cause even more harm. Apparently about 47,000 seniors visit a doctor or hospital every year because of an accident that occurs at the hands of improper walker use.

After a physical examination, the doctor agreed that she had been lucky and sustained no injuries, but he did provide her some tips on using a walker; including moving it only a little bit further ahead so that she an take comfortable steps, ensuring it’s adjusted to the right height, and using it to get up when sitting down. Following this incident, my senior care recipient has been much more cautious about using her walker properly, and it’s proven effective, because she hasn’t had another similar accident.

Sources:

1. The New York Times

2. About

Image Source: pro.corbis.com

Trusted Home Care for seniors and elderly living in Palm Springs and Palm Desert. Please call us for more information at 1-760-469-4441.

Many seniors with Alzheimer’s encounter something called Sundowning; a restlessness and inability to sleep at night. This is a concern for many Palm Springs families who have seniors that suffer from this disease, because at night, when they should be asleep, is the time when they are most likely to be at home alone, and when unsupervised, some sometimes incognizant of their actions, this can be a serious safety concern. Home caregivers hired to help with Palm Desert seniors most often work during the day, unless they live in the senior’s home; and since this can be a more costly alternative for many families, it’s hard  to know what to do with seniors with Alzheimer’s to keep them occupied and safe during the nighttime hours.

Elderserve at Night is a one of a kind Alzheimer’s program to help families and seniors living with this disease cope during the nighttime hours when they can become the most restless and likely to injure themselves with no one available to help. With this nighttime program for seniors with Alzheimer’s, seniors are picked up from their homes and kept busy between 7am and 7pm every evening and well into the night. Seniors are given the opportunity to socialize, the engage in guided activities like painting, music, potting plants, and they are provided methods to just relax away from home where they constantly face the worries that come around when the sun sets.

With this program, seniors even receive meals, the opportunity to shower, and the chance to rest if the mood strikes them; but the top benefit is that seniors and their families know that their loved ones aren’t going to become victims of the night.

Sources:

1. NYTimes

Trusted Home Care for seniors and elderly living in Palm Springs and Palm Desert. Please call us for more information at 1-760-469-4441.

As parents, we are always telling our young children to eat their carrots because it will improve their vision or help them see in the dark. We might have just been blowing hot air in those days, but now there is evidence that it’s not our children, but our seniors that we need to encourage to chow down on some carrots. A recent study demonstrated that eating carrots, which contain the vitamin carotene, can slow down Age-related Muscular Degeneration which is the leading cause of blindness in Minnesota seniors.

As blindness tends to be one of the greater fears related to aging for Palm Springs seniors, but with carotene supplements, or carrots themselves, which are also the photosynthetic pigment which gives carrots their orange color, seniors can benefit from the containing antioxidants which can prevent the development of the disease that leads to blindness.

Moms might have been saying for decades that kids should eat their carrots to improve their vision, but this is actually the first study that demonstrates the true powers of carotene, and it couldn’t come at a better time; with summer approaching, what better meal to put down in front of your elderly care recipient in Palm Desert than a fresh summer salad!

Sources:

1. Senior Journal

Image Source: pro.corbis.com

Trusted Home Care for seniors and elderly living in Palm Springs and Palm Desert. Please call us for more information at 1-760-469-4441.