There’s a misconception that older generations just don’t have an interest in technology. But if seniors like my mom have anything to show for it, social networking sites like Facebook, Myspace, Linked In and more are bringing even those who once avoided the internet like the plague online. My mom still might not send email that she types herself, but she does use strategically placed bookmarks and saved passwords to get herself on Facebook to browse family photos and see what everyone’s up to. Wondering why else more seniors than ever are online and using social networking sites?

Here are 5 more reasons why seniors are social networking:

1. To stay in touch – with all generations of family online on social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter and more, seniors can stay connected to their loved ones through written communication, photo sharing and the other features that these sites offer

2. Bridging the generational gap – connecting online with grandchildren and younger generations of the family can bring seniors closer to their loved ones of shared interests. It doesn’t even have to be through traditional social networking sites, but through games using video game platforms like the Nintendo Wii that allow players from different locations to play together

3. An easy way to meet people – especially later in life, seniors might have a harder time making new friends or seeking support to deal with their aging issues. But, social networks make for a risk-free meeting place

4. Communication without limitations – as seniors get older, they might deal with hearing problems which make it challenging to talk on the phone, or other issues that inhibit their ability to communicate. By getting online, there are methods of communication that work for almost everyone

5. Networking for jobs – for older seniors who have yet to retire or are looking for volunteer opportunities after retirement, simply networking can help to open doors, especially when using social networks like Linked In

Via: AARP Bulletin Today

Image: www.jupiterimages.com

The Medicare Advantage program provides seniors with services above and beyond what is offered under the basic plan. It’s a private plan paid by Medicare that can supplement medical costs for seniors, and also provides different coverage that varies from the traditional plan – so seniors may find more coverage for some expenses like long-term care, or less coverage for other health treatment options. Like with Medicare, some seniors who use the Medicare Advantage plan may find themselves limited to certain healthcare providers approved under the program, but generally, it offers increased flexibility.

But, unfortunately, with Medicare cuts a real possibility, the Medicare Advantage program might be first on the chopping block. One of Coachella Valley’s key people in senior care, Dr. Mark Hoffing, Medical Director of Desert Oasis Healthcare is taking this up on Capitol Hill, fearing the well-being of his patients and clients who rely upon this program. Recently, a number of staff and patients from this senior care facility made their voices heard, in request of a program that won’t leave them high and dry, without access to adequate care due to cost.

How would a cut of the Medicare Advantage program affect you? Join in the fight Palm Springs seniors, and make your voices heard too!

Via: My Desert

Image: www.piperreport.com

When seniors have Alzheimer’s or dementia, their mood can change within a matter of minutes. One minute they might be happy and joyful, and the next minute they might be agitated, aggressive and even angry. As a caregiver or family member, coping with these situations can be a challenge, and it’s hard not to take it personally; but with these tips you can alleviate and even prevent the agitation that can come with Alzheimer’s.

1. Try to narrow down the cause of the behavior – ask “who, what, where, when, why?” and try to find commonalities in the situations when the behavior occurs. This will help caregivers to determine if the changes in behavior could be caused by physical discomfort, over-stimulation, confusing surroundings, complicated tasks, or frustrating situations with communication problems

2. Be prepared to soothe and distract – have a memory box, photo and other familiar items ready to soothe or distract the combative and upset senior

3. Watch for signs – be aware of physical signs that they’re becoming agitated; most will be non-verbal and you might be able to defuse the situation before the senior becomes too upset

4. Move it – move to a different environment or a quieter spot if the senior is over-stimulated

5. Slow down your actions – as the senior becomes more upset, he/she is likely to speed up communication and actions in the agitation. Slow down, talk slowly, and you can have a soothing effect

6. Remove dangerous objects – keep sharp, pointy and other dangerous objects in a safe and secure place. If the senior becomes agitated, he/she might accidentally harm themselves or someone else

Via: Wellington Parc

Image: jupiterimages.com

Everyday caregivers face injuries related to the physical demands of their jobs. From helping seniors moving about their homes, to catering to personal hygiene needs, to getting them dressing everyday; caregivers are involved in tasks daily that can be physically burdensome when caring for adults with limited mobility. Fortunately, there are clothing options for disabled adults made by companies like Stilvert’s that can help to make a caregiver’s job just that much easier, or even allow some seniors to take care of dressing independently:

1. The Arthritic Front Closing Eezee Bra - this bra has finger loops to help with dressing, and large hooks in the front that make it easy for even women with limited hand dexterity to dress without assistance.

2. Wheelchair Pants these pants make it possible for a caregiver to help a senior get dressed without having to move them from their wheelchair. There is also a back flap that makes it easier for seniors to use the bathroom, or for caregivers to help change them.

3. Extra Wide Slippers because it’s not uncommon for older men and women to have problems with swelling in their feet and ankles, Silvert carries these slippers which open up wide enough to be easily slipped on and can be adjusted to size. With a Velcro closure, it’s easy for any senior to secure.

4. Hospital Gowns for Men and Women - hospital gowns provided at any Palm Desert hospital just don’t have the comfortable feel of the nightwear seniors are used to, but the usual stuff that they wear just isn’t great for the hospital. These gowns are backless but more comfortable and attractive than what seniors will receive at the hospital.

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.

Experts have predicted that the San Andreas Fault just might be in for a big earthquake this year since it’s been nearly 300 years, and whether you live in Los Angeles or in Palm Springs you might just be affected by the serious natural disaster. As a senior, it’s especially important that you prepare yourself for an earthquake, should it occur, so that your health and safety isn’t compromised in the wake of a natural disaster. Follow these 6 tips for earthquake safety to ensure you don’t become another devastating statistic:

1. Identify hazards in the home and fix them! Hire a professional contractor for potential issues with the home itself, and secure objects around the home and put them in safe places to minimize damage and injury

2. Create a disaster preparedness plan. Know how you’ll get out of the house in the case of the earthquake and where you’ll go. Share this information with family and friends.

3. Create disaster kits – include non-perishable food, water, and other necessities like flashlights to ensure you can survive for a few days at a time if necessary after an earth quake hits

4. Protect yourself – know how to protect yourself during earthquake safety. Ensure you sit down in a safe spot in your home where objects can’t fall on you to prevent you from losing your balance or getting injured

5. Check things out after a quake – after a quake, check yourself for injuries and observe the state of your home

6. Follow your disaster plan – after the quake has stopped, if safe, implement your disaster plan

Via: KPSP Local

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.

Q – My mom lives in Palm Springs across the country from me, and I know that she doesn’t eat properly, primarily due to financial reasons. When I visit, I make a point to stock her fridge, freezer and cupboards, but I can’t be there all the time and I also fear that while she won’t admit it, cooking and meal preparation may also be a problem. Are there free or inexpensive meal programs for seniors in Palm Springs that would be available to my mom so that I know she’s managing to maintain her health even when I’m not around?

A – Fortunately, there are actually free programs that should be available to your mother in Palm Springs. There’s the Elderly Nutrition Program run by the Department of Health and Human Services which provides meal services to seniors in their home or in community settings, depending upon their personal needs. She’ll get one meal a day which should meet more than 1/3 of her daily nutritional needs, so you can rest assured that she is taken care of, and she won’t have to pay a thing!

Sources:

1. Food Stamp for Elderly Resource Center

2. Food Stamp for Elderly Resource Center

Image: seniorsfirstinc.org

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 not hungry.” As a senior caregiver in Palm Springs this is probably a statement that you hear regularly when putting a meal in front of your care recipient. But you and I know that you can’t take this statement at face value – because without food, seniors don’t get proper nutrition. As caregivers, it’s our responsibility to take a deeper look at the issues that are causing seniors to resent mealtimes and make things better, and that can be accomplished with the 6 ways that caregivers can encourage seniors to eat:

1) Add flavor – instead of sticking with traditional bland spices like salt and pepper, experiment with stronger flavors in spices to enhance the taste of a meal. This will help seniors with a limited sense of taste enjoy their meal!

2) Enhance the look – as senior’s vision declines, meals might appear less appealing. Use lots of color in the preparation of meals and really focus on its presentation so it looks even tastier!

3) Ask about medications – medications might influence a senior’s sense of taste. If your senior no longer enjoys eating, ask their doctor if a medication could be responsible and if it’s possible to substitute it for something else

4) Prevent constipation – constipation cause by prescriptions might prevent seniors from feeling hungry; encourage them to drink a lot of water, ensure they’re getting adequate fiber, and talk to a doctor about options if constipation is a regular problem

5) Make chewing easier – avoid foods that are particularly hard or sticky in your senior has trouble chewing. Also bringing them to have their dentures adjusted could benefit if they rub or make chewing challenging

6) Make mealtime fun – seniors may feel lonely dining alone after years of meals surrounded by family. Regularly encourage family members to get together, and when possible dine with your senior and make it a memorable event so they establish positive associations with eating

1. Aging Care

2. Caregiver

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’s summer in Palm Springs, and many men and women who are retired can dream of no better way to relax and enjoy the weather than to get outside into the great outdoors and catch some fish. Despite the fact that the Palm Springs area is in a desert, believe it or not, you don’t need to travel far to find bodies of water that are loaded with wildlife just waiting to be caught.

There are 5 camping areas in the Salton Seas Recreation Area, which is one of the largest freshwater lakes. At the park’s headquarters, Varner Harbor, there is a fishing jetty that constantly attracts fish and you don’t need to worry about finding a boat to get out on the lake in order to get your catch. The additional camping areas at the Salton Seas Recreation Area allow seniors to fish off the beach or launch a boat on the water. All of the areas are a thriving area for saltwater fish like tilapia, corvine, sargo and croaker.

If the 5 areas at Salton Seas don’t appeal to you, you can also try your luck at Big Bear Lake which has bass, catfish and trout, though you may need to bring your boat or take a charter in order to have the best chance at reeling in a big one, and there is also Lone Pine near Mount Whitney which is a great place to catch all varieties of trout.

Despite living in a desert environment, Palm Springs seniors, you can fish close to home and enjoy the beautiful summer weather!

Sources:

1. TripCart

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.

When a Palm Springs senior is diagnosed with a potentially fatal illness later in life, it’s often their loved ones that feel the greatest emotional toll that needs to be coped with. Although seniors must grieve for their own loss of livelihood, often these older adults have already come to terms with the fact that they are nearing the end of their life; but it’s a very different story when it comes to their family members.

If someone you love has recently been diagnosed with a critical illness that could result in loss, in order to help them cope with their disease, you need to first begin the process of dealing with your own feelings about the situation.  Here are a few tips to help you cope with your own issues and grief that comes with facing the mortality of a loved one:

1) Remember, it won’t be easy for anyone, and no one expects it to be

2) You will feel a variety of emotions, ranging from sadness, anger, and guilt

3) Allow yourself to run the gamut of emotions and release them in a way that helps you to cope

4) In order to cope, keep a journal about what you’re feeling, talk to a therapist or join a support group

5) Remember, everything that you feel is normal; everyone reacts differently to stressful situations!

Sources:

a. Caregivers Library

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.

For Palm Springs seniors and their caregivers, mealtimes can represent a great deal of stress in their lives. Many seniors find that it’s too burdensome to prepare meals or to get out to the grocery store on their own; while others avoid healthy, well-balanced meals strictly because they no longer take enjoyment out of the taste of their food. Caregivers who are responsible for filling this void for the seniors that they care for, as well as meal preparation for their own families, can find this to be a daunting task as well, especially when their loved ones don’t want to eat the food that they make. To make it a more pleasant experience for all, they can always make sure that the senior has fresh ingredients on hand, and make use of local grocery shopping services that will take seniors to stores in order to help them transport their shopping.

In order to ensure that meals are enjoyed by seniors, when shopping, seniors and their caregivers should complete a shopping list with the week’s meals in mind, that way they are well-prepared when they go to the grocery store to ensure that fresh and healthy meals can be put on the table everyday. With planning, mealtime can be less stressful for seniors and their caregivers.

Sources:

1. Warwick Beacon

2. The Township of Edison New Jersey

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.