The holidays are perfect time for families to check in on mom and dad. Aging members may not discuss safety issues with families over the phone, so it is better to check in and see how they are doing with your own eyes. You can do this quietly - without verbal questioning.
Here are 5 signs to look for which may indicate a problem for your aging parent:
Do they isolate at home? Do they talk about outdoor activities or visiting friends outside their home?
Are they struggling to keep the house clean?
Are the bills paid and up to date? Is the mail unopened?
Are they eating nutritious meals? Has mom or dad lost a substantial amount of weight?
Does mom or dad have visible bruising on their body, possible indicating falls?
After you return home have a family or friend check in, call your loved one regularly and ensure they visit a physician on a regular basis to monitor their well-being.
An AARP seminar says that “Taking care of an aging or ill parent is one of the toughest responsibilities some people will ever face.” Those who are already engaged in the process know that this is true. Those who have yet to face the challenge need only a bit of imagination to glimpse the magnitude of the situation.
Medicine can extend life, but it cannot give us indefinite vitality. At some point, we all get old and need some form of assistance—and those numbers are rising daily. According to a recent federal study on aging, the percent of the American population who are 65 or older will grow from 12% in 2006 to 30% in 2030.
What is the primary need for those of us who are can see that our parents are likely to need more family support and attention as the years go on? According to the AARP, the first step is planning. “With a little planning and cooperation, adult children can ensure the best care possible for their parents and take care of themselves as well,” says the seminar.
If you will be gathering with your siblings over the holidays this year, don’t just talk about the fears you have concerning your parents—get them out in the open and frankly discuss them. Begin now to make your plans. Face the inevitable. It will do more to alleviate your worries and draw the family together than any other present you could give or receive.
American adults are more aware of the benefits of nutrition and physical activity. Are you taking the right steps to eat a healthy diet and engage in exercise?
Most seniors say:
I’m Already Doing It: Consumers who feel that maintaining a healthy diet and regular exercise are very important; are concerned about diet, nutrition and overall fitness; and feel they are doing all they can to eat a healthy diet.
I Know I Should: Consumers who feel that maintaining a healthy diet and regular exercise are very important, but may not have taken significant actions to do all they can to eat a healthy diet.
Don’t Bother Me: People who do not feel diet and exercise are very important to them and are the least concerned with their overall nutrition and fitness.
Were you aware that the average dinner served at Thanksgiving dinner can have over 2000 calories? We may all want to forgo eating! Here are steps you can take and eating tips so that you can still look good and be healthy after the Thanksgiving dinner. There are healthy holiday eating tips for Thanksgiving that can help you without leaving you feeling starved.
1. Don’t sit down at your Thanksgiving dinner celebration hungry. if you do, you may find that you are eating faster and eating more. Eat a wholesome breakfast and lunch on that day.
2. Don’t make your dinner an all-you-can-eat buffet. Fill your plate with vegetables, lean meat and the rest with a starch of your choice. Remember to eat slowly.
3. When eating turkey - your portion should be about 4-oz. Do not eat the skin.
4. Watch the portions you put on your plate. Try smaller portions. Remember when selecting food covered with a sauce, cheese or topped with lots of butter means extra fat and extra calories.
Don’t make safety take a back seat when it comes to entertaining or preparing holiday meals for your aging relatives. Consider these four important words: clean, separate, cook and chill.
Clean: Wash hands and food-contact surfaces often. Bacteria can spread throughout the kitchen and get onto cutting boards, knives, sponges, and countertops.
Separate: Don’t cross-contaminate; i.e., don’t let bacteria spread from one food product to another. This is especially true for raw meat, poultry and seafood. Keep these foods and their juices away from ready-to-eat foods.
Cook: Cook to proper temperatures. Foods are properly cooked when they are heated for a long enough time and at a high enough temperature to kill the harmful bacteria that cause foodborne illnesses.
Chill: Refrigerate food items promptly, as this keeps most harmful bacteria from growing and multiplying. Refrigerators should be set at 40°F and the freezer at 0°F, and the accuracy of the settings should be checked occasionally with a thermometer.
As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, many seniors find themselves reflecting upon holidays passed. The smell of roasted turkey or the sound of that electric can-opener working on a can of cranberry sauce may take them back to days of meal preparations in their own kitchens.
This year, these seniors may be spending the holidays with their family, friends, or with companions in their caregiving homes. No matter what your age or situation, reflect, reminisce and remember. Be thankful for those who have touched your lives, and the memories they have created. It’s time for giving thanks.
Home Care in Phoenix is commited to family caregivers and their aging relatives living in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Sun City, and Goodyear, AZ. We strive to give you viable resources that help you quickly and easily deal with elder and senior care. It’s our goal to help family members keep their aging parents at home as long as they can safely live there. Home Care in Phoenix gives quality care to our aging loved ones.
We know family caregivers are burdened with full time jobs, raising children, and elder care. With our tips and information for caregivers, we hope to accomplish:
• A stronger sense of the importance of their caregiving roles
• Fresh ideas from others who have walked the road of senior care
• More insight into what their older relatives are going through
• Better understanding of the resources available, both from their elder’s communities, public agencies, local senior centers, and Home Instead Senior Care
• New ways to find out about long term care options in Phoenix
Maintaining Senior Health during the Holiday Season
The holiday season can be both an enjoyable and stressful time for people of all ages. Seniors in particular need to take special care to avoid additional strain which can negatively impact their health. To stay in tiptop holiday celebrating shape, seniors should keep it simple and not try and overdo it. They should make sure they are always well rested; get a good night’s sleep and take naps during the way to refresh.
Maintaining a regular eating schedule, with healthy meals is another important factor. Seniors should continue to eat well-balanced meals, and try not to eat at unusual hours. Since stress can also be a factor during holidays, seniors may find that their immunity to viruses decreases so hands should be washed frequently to prevent the spread of germs.
Most importantly, remember to relax and enjoy the memories being made with your friends and family; it’s not necessary to make everything perfect, because when things come together, they will be just like every other holiday that resides in your most precious memories.
Remaining Physically Active Develops Senior’s Active Minds
Naturally, as we age, both our mind and body experiences a number of changes. Individuals who are approaching or experiencing their senior years must make an added effort to ensure both their minds and bodies remain active to avoid the natural decline.
What many people do not know, is that there is a direct correlation between physical activity and the mind; a healthy body develops an active mind. A study conducted by the University of Western Australia has shown that even activities that are minimally strenuous on the body, like walking 3 days a week for 50 minutes, can enhance memory and cognitive skills.
So, if seniors are looking to keep their minds active, they only need to look as far as maintaining physically active lives that are within their personal capabilities. Of course, additional mentally stimulating activities like completing a puzzle, playing a video game that requires problem-solving, reading a challenging book, or learning a new language can’t hurt either. Seniors who remain active, body and mind, will feel the benefits of strengthened memory and cognitive skills well into old age.
MetLife Mature Market Institute Surveys Adult Day Service and Home Health Care Costs
A new MetLife Mature Market Institute survey of adult day services and home care costs found that the national average daily rate for adult day services is $64, up 5 percent from 2007. The national average hourly rate for home health aides is $20, a 5 percent increase from 2007. The 2008 national average hourly homemaker/companion rate is $18, unchanged from last year.
This year’s study includes expanded coverage of statewide averages for all 50 states, in addition to rates for each state’s largest metropolitan regions.
“The trend toward older persons desiring to stay in their homes or ‘age in place’ has increased the demand for in-home care and other programs and services available during the day,” said Sandra Timmermann, Ed.D., director of MetLife Mature Market Institute. “We are closely watching this data and the trends in this industry as new adult day centers are opening in virtually all parts of the country. According to the National Adult Day Services Association, there are more than 3,500 centers nationwide helping more than 150,000 Americans each day.”
