What exactly is Swine Influenza? Learn the facts about the virus that’s catching the
attention of the news media and concerned citizens all over the US from The Center of
Disease Control and Prevention website and share your thoughts.

1.) How should this outbreak be handled?

2.) What can adults and seniors do to prevent exposure?

Please comment below with your opinions!

Image Source:
-New York Times

To be a caregiver, you don’t have to live in the same city, or even in the same state as your elderly family member. Many family caregivers care for loved ones from long distances by coordinating care services, making care related decisions and monitoring the care being provided to their elderly family member from afar. While many long distance caregivers do rely on home care professionals or other members of the family to provide day-to-day care for the senior when necessary; long distance caregivers still play a substantial role in senior care.

What can you do as a long distance caregiver for your loved one?
•    Assess the care needs of your loved one by talking to them, other family members and friends nearby
•    When visiting, look for signs that they may be struggling to live independently. Signs may be exhibited on them personally or by looking at their home. Go with your instincts
•    Coordinate senior care services if necessary – hire a professional non-medical caregiver, arrange for transportation, meal preparation and medication reminders to help the senior live on their own
•    Keep a phone book for the senior’s local area, and a list of friends, family members and other people that you could call on in an emergency to help the senior
•    Offer to help with financial matters, or be appointed Power of Attorney to look after the senior’s assets or medical wishes should the situation arise
•    Learn about the senior’s condition
•    Be a supportive ear when they need to talk

Sources:
1.   Caregiver-Connect.ca
2.    HowtoCare

Home Instead Senior Care San Marcos, New Braunfels, Schertz, Canyon Lake, Seguin. Call 830-624-8380.

A major component of New Braunfels home care involves ensuring that a senior remains safe in their own home, and since stairs present a major risk for in-home falls and accidents, this is one area that should be focused on for immediate senior safety. When looking at stair safety for the elderly, New Braunfels caregivers and family members should focus on both the hardware and structure of the stairs, as well as the décor and lighting that surround the area. Complete the following checklist to ensure that your elderly loved one will be safe on their stairs.

Safe Stair Structure Checklist:
•    Steps are at least 11 inches deep and each step is even
•    Steps are not slanted or loose
•    Stair surfaces have slip resistant treads
•    Handrails are on one side of the stairs, if not both sides
•    Handrails are strongly fastened and supportive
•    Handrails and banisters are no thicker around than 6.25 inches so they can be easily grabbed
•    Indicators installed on handrails let seniors know when each step is coming to an end

Safe Stair Surrounds Checklist:
•    Stairways are well-lit
•    No objects are present on stairs
•    Tops and bottoms of stairways are free of rugs and mats that might slip
•    Assistive devices have been considered to help with mobility on stairs where appropriate

Sources:
1.    Ezine Articles Daryl Lanhker
2.    Canada Safety Council

Image: pro.corbis.com

Home Instead Senior Care San Marcos, New Braunfels, Schertz, Canyon Lake, Seguin. Call 830-624-8380.

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 New Braunfels 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.

New Braunfels 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 Sara Hodon
2.    Alzheimer’s Society of Canada

Image: pro.corbis.com

Home Instead Senior Care San Marcos, New Braunfels, Schertz, Canyon Lake, Seguin. Call 830-624-8380.

Q1 – How can a senior find a doctor?
A1 – The American Medical Association Doctor Finder is a directory of American doctors that includes their history as medical professionals. Find doctors that are located in your local area, but make the final decision based on other important factors.

Q2 – What else should seniors consider when choosing a doctor?
A2 – It’s important to decide whether a general practitioner or specialist is required based on the elderly person’s medical history. For affordability, a doctor that complies with your health benefits or medical insurance plan should also be chosen; and naturally, you want a doctor that has a great track record.

Q3 – How can you tell if a doctor’s good?
A3 – To understand how well a doctor performs, speak with existing and former patients to learn how patient they are, if they encourage questions, and if they remain respectful. A doctor’s professional history can be reviewed using a number of online directories, including the NCQA Recognized Physician Directory, The American Board of Medical Specialties and The Federal State of Medical Boards.

Sources:
1.    Seniors for Living
2.    MedicineNet

Home Instead Senior Care San Marcos, New Braunfels, Schertz, Canyon Lake, Seguin. Call 830-624-8380.

This Mother’s Day, celebrate with your senior mother or grandmother with fun and inexpensive activities that are enjoyable for you to do together in New Braunfels, or purchase a special gift that you know she’s been dying for. Mother’s Day is about making a female relative feel special and appreciated, and seniors are a demographic who can appreciate your efforts the most. When planning Mother’s Day activities for you and your senior, or shopping for the perfect Mother’s Day gift, keep these ideas in mind.

Gifts:

•    The perfect gift for each senior, varies upon personal taste, but consider one of the following ideas depending upon interest and budget
•    Improve their home – providing a New Braunfels senior with independence they feel they’re loosing can be one of the best gifts – install personal safety devices in the bathroom and kitchen, or place a walk-in tub in the bathroom
•    Provide help – hire an in-home caregiver, or someone to clean their home or take care of the landscaping. You can even offer assistance from you for caregiving assistance on a budget in order to allow a senior to remain at home longer
•    Senior-friendly reading – for those seniors who love to read, enroll them in a large-print book club
•    Functional clothing – buy clothing that has minimal snaps or buttons which can cause dexterity challenges
•    Send her away – if she’s always wanted to take a trip, purchase a prepaid ticket to her destination of choice
•    Pamper her – purchase a spa service so she can be pampered

Sources:
1.    Associated Content Rose Alexis
2.    Chiff

Home Instead Senior Care San Marcos, New Braunfels, Schertz, Canyon Lake, Seguin. Call 830-624-8380.

From reading, you might already be aware of the benefits of hiring an in-home caregiver through a senior care agency, instead of choosing a privately contracted caregiver, but do you know what to look for in a senior care agency when making eldercare decisions for an important senior in your life?

While at face value, many New Braunfels senior care agency’s services appear similar in nature. It’s what lies beneath the surface that can help you make the right agency to provide assisted living services in the home of a senior. Choose a senior care agency that is flexible and provides a wide variety of services. While today, your senior may only need the companionship and transportation to appointments from their caregiver a few times a week; their care needs might increase or change over time. Select a caregiver agency that can adjust and adapt their care plan for your senior when required, and ensure the caregiving agency doesn’t have minimum requirements for time spent at the senior’s home. A good care agency should be available to provide as little care as a few hours a week, to long-term care at 24 hours a day.

A New Braunfels caregiving agency should also listen to the needs and concerns of families, and do their utmost to match seniors with caregivers that meet their requirements, while maintaining communication with the family. All good caregiving agencies should also ensure that their caregivers are bonded, insured, thoroughly screened and trained in current eldercare procedures, so that the highest quality of senior care is always achieved.

Sources:
1.    Home Instead Senior Care
2.    CaregiverList

Home Instead Senior Care San Marcos, New Braunfels, Schertz, Canyon Lake, Seguin. Call 830-624-8380.

Q – My elderly mother was recently diagnosed with a chronic illness which they cannot treat because of her age. Can you provide me with any tips to help her cope with the unpleasant news that she recently received?

Coming to terms with the fact that you have a serious, even chronic illness is never easy, whether the news comes in your senior years or during the early stages of your life, you are forced to face your own mortality. Senior health can change quickly and drastically, so often receiving the news of a crippling illness, such as cancer can come as a serious shock.

To help your mother cope with the unpleasant news that she received, relating to her chronic illness, work with her to implement the following steps to increase her knowledge and drive her towards acceptance.

1. Get support – seniors can join support groups for those coping with chronic illnesses or seek independent support. Speaking with someone impartial, who is not a close family member or friend can be beneficial, since they will be better able to listen without becoming upset.
2. Keep records – maintain detailed records regarding medical history and treatment recommended by each doctor visited during the course of the illness.
3. Seek knowledge – learn as much as possible about the illness including symptoms, treatment methods and common procedures and operations.
4. Find a health advocate – seniors can benefit from having an escort at appointments, to keep records and assist with decisions
5. Accept your feelings – it’s okay to feel angry, sad or resentful for the cards you’ve been dealt; allow yourself to run the gamut of emotions and allow yourself to grieve.
6. Find acceptance – come to terms with your illness at your own stage.

Sources:-
1. Cancer journal
2. Carol O’Dell Blog

Home Instead Senior Care San Marcos, New Braunfels, Schertz, Canyon Lake, Seguin. Call 830-624-8380.

80% of baby boomers would like to remain living independently in their homes as they age; and for the boomer generation, like others in the senior demographic, having to move into a nursing home would be one of their greatest fears come true. Fortunately for the boomers and future generations of older adults, aging in place is becoming a more probable reality for the vast majority of them; not only because of the information and resources available to professional and family caregivers, but also because of the technological developments in home care technology that will provide for their safety and help them maintain the independence they crave in old age.

Today there are devices available in home care technology that allows medical professionals and caregivers to monitor senior health and safety remotely. Medical emergencies can be promptly detected through the constant measurement of vital signs, and caregivers are alerted to changes in behavior that could indicate a problem with their senior, including a fall. Home care technology has also provided senior safety devices that increase independence in the home through automatic medication dispensing, lifts and mobility devices and more. Home care technology will also improve home hospice care and senior care in nursing homes or long-term care facilities, by improving independence in seniors, increasing the level of health monitoring, and minimizing the need for constant supervision by a live medical professional.

As a result of the developments in home care technology, many boomers will be able to live in the comfort and security in their own homes; maintaining the independence they long for with the help of medical devices that assist with senior care.

Sources:
1.   Eldercare ABC Blog
2.    Home Care Technology Association of America

Home Instead Senior Care San Marcos, New Braunfels, Schertz, Canyon Lake, Seguin. Call 830-624-8380.

Q – My father passed away last year, and my elderly mother will be responsible for completing her taxes on her own this year. As this is a financial responsibility her husband normally handled, she doesn’t feel prepared. Are there services available to help seniors with tax preparation?

Tax time can be an overwhelming time of year for many seniors managing their money and finances, especially those who find themselves taking over the financial responsibilities from a spouse who has passed away. In order to ensure that senior taxes are accurate and that seniors receive the maximum number of benefits available to them when filing their taxes, the AARP and other organizations are providing free tax preparation services under the IRS sponsored Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE program) to help the seniors, aged 60 and older, manage their money. The AARP tax preparation services for seniors are free at most tax sites, except for a few locations where they are subsidized. The income tax preparation assistance for the elderly can help seniors prepare a number of important tax forms like Form 1040, Form 1040EZ, Form 1040 Schedule A&B, and Form 1040 Schedule D, as well as provide additional complimentary income tax counseling services.

Sources:
1.    AARP Money
2.    Suite 101, Lena Gott

Home Instead Senior Care San Marcos, New Braunfels, Schertz, Canyon Lake, Seguin. Call 830-624-8380.