Caregiving is not an easy job, and around one quarter of adults in the United States are family caregivers for an aging relative who requires assistance at home. These caregivers need to remember to look after themselves as much as they focus on looking after the seniors they care for, their families, their homes, and the people that they work with during their day jobs. Here are some essential survival tools for all family caregivers:

1. Take care of yourself with diet and exercise – eat well throughout the day, and no matter how busy you are, don’t skip meals, otherwise your energy levels will drop. Exercise at least 3 times a week for 20 minutes, and pick something that you enjoy doing (walking, biking, aerobics class)

2. Walk away – you won’t walk away permanently from your care responsibilities, but you can take a step back when you need to. Take a break, even if just for a few minutes, or have someone else step in to provide respite care

3. Seek help – 72% of caregivers refuse to receive outside help with their responsibilities; don’t be one of them. Ask a family member to step in and help, or hire a professional home caregiver to give you a break. Also, don’t be afraid to lean on others when you’re stressed, even if it means joining a support group

4. Spoil yourself – reward yourself for all of your hard work, once a week or once a month, go get a massage, have a manicure, go to a movie, or take a hot bath with a glass of wine. Do something that helps you rejuvenate!

5. Don’t neglect your health – remember to get yourself to the doctor regularly, especially if you’re feeling ill. You’ll be better help to a senior when you’re in one piece!

Via: Caregiver Stress

Keeping Aging Relatives in Austin Safe and Independent at Home by providing senior home care for Austin Seniors and Elders. Call Home Care Austin 512-347-9207.

The holidays are not a time that any of us want to be thinking about making decisions that could change the course of our loved ones’ lives; but for those of us that have seniors who live on their own, holiday visits are a time to evaluate their health and safety. Make sure that you take a close look at how your loved one is living, and determine if they might benefit from care assistance at home. This checklist can help you recognize the important warning signs; if you can’t answer “yes” to all of the statements below, then it’s time to suggest some changes.

• There are no spoiled foods in the fridge, and it, along with cupboards are well stocked with nutritious meal and snack items

• Their home appears in the same state as it always has, with no dirt and dust appearing in locations that are harder to reach

• Bills are not piling up at home or in the mailbox, indicating that they’re probably being paid

• Dates and dosages on medications match up with what’s on the prescription bottles and it appears as though he/she is managing her medications effectively and taking them according to schedule

• His/her appearance is neat and tidy and to the same standard as normal

• Neighbors and friends close to him/her seem to have no concerns about the health, safety or happiness of the senior

Via: Home Instead Senior Care

Keeping Aging Relatives in Austin Safe and Independent at Home by providing senior home care for Austin Seniors and Elders. Call Home Care Austin 512-347-9207.

There was an article published recently that talked about how football could play a role in the development of Alzheimer’s and dementia later in life, and it seems to have spawned concern in many parents, and even many senior caregivers who wonder if sports related activities might be responsible for their loved one’s cognitive decline.

Well, there’s good reason for concern because there is some evidence that football injuries can lead to dementia and Alzheimer’s. This study surveyed former NFL players over the age of 50 and found that 6.1% of them had been diagnosed with some form of Alzheimer’s or dementia, which is a scary reality when the national average is a mere 1.2% in the same age group. Of course, experts are also saying that further investigation is needed to determine if this is a reasonable sample, so don’t automatically attribute a life of sports to being responsible for any cognitive decline that your loved one has experienced later in life, and don’t pull your kid out of their weekly sports league just yet. But it is reasonable to recognize that additional protection is needed in order to ensure that the senior years aren’t compromised by taking additional safety precautions during youth activities.

Via: NYTimes

Keeping Aging Relatives in Austin Safe and Independent at Home by providing senior home care for Austin Seniors and Elders. Call Home Care Austin 512-347-9207.

Senior caregivers sacrifice a lot to provide care to someone they love; and while they’re so focused on bettering the lives of others, we can focus upon improving theirs this November for National Family Caregiver’s Month. Here are 10 ways to show a caregiver you appreciate them:

1. Give them a break – offering to provide respite care or hiring someone to step in can allow caregivers to relax or reconnect with friends and family

2. Remind local businesses what this month means – then encourage them to offer freebies or discounts for family caregivers in the area!

3. Lend them a hand with holiday preparations – the holidays can create added responsibility, so help a caregiver decorate for the holidays or put stamps on their cards

4. Get them laughing – go see a funny movie with them, or pick up tickets to a local comedy club. Laugher IS the best medicine!

5. Take over holiday hosting responsibilities – caregivers already have a lot on their plates; host Thanksgiving, Christmas, or another holiday celebration so the caregiver can simply focus on enjoying the company!

6. Sign the petition – there’s a petition to establish a stamp that recognizes family caregivers; sign it in their honor!

7. Create something personal – a personalized gift, like a calendar with family photos, will help them feel like they’re appreciated, and it will help them stay organized

8. Send them a token of appreciation – a bouquet of flowers or a card might not be a big gesture, but it will make caregivers feel appreciated and special

9. Connect them with caregiving resources – free seminars and other events take place to keep caregivers better informed and help them manage stress

10. Lend your support – give them an ear to talk to, or help them find a support group

Via: The Family Caregiver

Keeping Aging Relatives in Austin Safe and Independent at Home by providing senior home care for Austin Seniors and Elders. Call Home Care Austin 512-347-9207.

Q – I try to make sure I always have healthy snacks on hand for the seniors that I care for. As a caregiver, I feel that it’s most important to make choices that benefit the big picture, and that’s something I consider even with food. Any suggestions of less typical snack items that I might want to try that can satisfy hunger and have health benefits?

A – Sunflower seeds are one extremely healthy snack idea that you might not have considered. They can help curb hunger, and they are so rich in nutrients they actually meet the daily nutritional requirements for many essential vitamins.  They’re also crunchy, so they can be very satisfying to seniors and aren’t likely to be a snack that will have seniors searching for something else! Here are some of the specific health benefits of sunflower seeds:

• The Vitamin E contained in sunflower seeds helps with cardiovascular health and works as an anti-inflammatory

• Phytosterols in sunflower seeds help lower cholesterol and ensure it remains under control, which is especially important as many seniors struggle with their cholesterol levels later in life

• Magnesium can help reduce stress, blood pressure, and generally works to reduce tension in the body

• Selenium helps prevent cancer and works as a natural detoxifier

Via: WHFoods http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=57#healthbenefits

Post #3 – Sunflower Seeds: Healthy Snack You Might not Have Considered

Choosing healthy snacks is not always an easy choice for seniors, particularly when the options are some bland food item or something sweet, sugary and satisfying to the taste buds. But not all healthy snack food options are tasteless, and the health benefits can make them an extremely good choice when up against junk food!

Sunflower seeds are one healthy snack that many seniors might overlook, but they can be extremely satisfying, and the health benefits alone make them more than a worthwhile option; they meet many of your daily requirements for vitamins and nutrients and can help you lead a longer healthier life with the following overall benefits:

• The Vitamin E contained in sunflower seeds helps with cardiovascular health and works as an anti-inflammatory

• Phytosterols in sunflower seeds help lower cholesterol and ensure it remains under control, which is especially important as many seniors struggle with their cholesterol levels later in life

• Magnesium can help reduce stress, blood pressure, and generally works to reduce tension in the body

• Selenium helps prevent cancer and works as a natural detoxifier

Via: WHFoods

Keeping Aging Relatives in Austin Safe and Independent at Home by providing senior home care for Austin Seniors and Elders. Call Home Care Austin 512-347-9207.

In this day and age we’re go, go, go, and family caregivers who care for seniors are quite possibly amongst the busiest group of people. Finding even five minutes of a day for themselves is often an impossible task, and sometimes the seniors that they care for lead lives that are just as busy. To take control over everyday seniors and caregivers alike can get better organized and work on their time management skills.

1. Prioritize – seniors and caregivers alike can prioritize their responsibilities. Not all tasks are of equal importance, and by starting with items that are crucial, they can work their way through, and if there’s just not enough time in the day, the non-priority items can wait so seniors don’t overburden themselves

2. Make a schedule – as part of prioritizing, plan out your day on a calendar, either by writing it down or using a calendar tool on your laptop or Blackberry. Seeing what needs to be accomplished visually, marked down hour by hour will help you set realistic goals for yourself whether you’re a caregiver or a busy senior

3. Don’t waste time – busy people known that time is of the essence,  so while important goals and responsibilities should bet me, time shouldn’t be wasted on focusing on the things that don’t matter

4. Ask for help – as a caregiver, don’t be afraid to ask for someone else to step in and provide respite that way you can focus on other things that are important, like rest and relaxation for yourself. As a senior, if there are things you need help to accomplish, just ask!

Keeping Aging Relatives in Austin Safe and Independent at Home by providing senior home care for Austin Seniors and Elders. Call Home Care Austin 512-347-9207.

Over the next couple of weeks, we’re going to teach seniors and caregivers about how to make more productive use of their time, essentially turning 24 hours of inefficient time into 36 hours of sheer productivity each and every day. We’ll focus on the following elements of improving productivity to make the most out of everything you set out to achieve. Here’s a little teaser, but stay tuned for more on each of these points!

1. Sleeping for productivity

2. Eating your way to a 36 hour day

3. Learning to multi-task effectively

4. Organizing your way to success

5. Learning how to get it done faster

6. Learning while multi-tasking in your free time

7. Using technology to increase productivity

8. Turning off

9. Asking for help

Even if you’re not a senior or a caregiver, please come back again to learn how to make the most out of each day, so you can find time not only for your responsibilities, but to focus on the things that are most important to you once you’re no longer overwhelmed. Also visit WorkingCaregiver.com for in depth articles on part of the same series!

Via: Gaia.com

Keeping Aging Relatives in Austin Safe and Independent at Home by providing senior home care for Austin Seniors and Elders. Call Home Care Austin 512-347-9207.

Many senior women still find themselves in roles that involve a strong element of administrative work in their careers, and this can have its detrimental effects on the body. You might not think of a desk job of coming with risks of injury, but typing can reap serious havoc on your body if you don’t take steps to prevent it:

1. Warm up before typing – this is especially important for people who find themselves working at a keyboard all day, so seniors who have not yet retired should focus on wrist exercises before they get started everyday to prevent injury

2. Use ergonomic computer accessories – ergonomic keyboards are designed to work with the natural positioning of the hands and fingers. If typing a lot, rather than using your laptop keyboard, purchase an external one because they tend to be the worst for causing carpal tunnel. You can also purchase a mouse that is more ergonomic and buy supportive cushioned wrist rests

3. Take breaks throughout the day – there are programs available that will remind you to take a break every hour and lead you through a series of exercises designed to help prevent carpal tunnel syndrome. Or, you can just do it yourself, taking a break for 5 or 10 minutes every hour. Get up, walk around, and shake out your arms to remove your hands from their repetitive position that could be damaging

Sources:

1. About.com

2. EHow.com

Keeping Aging Relatives in Austin Safe and Independent at Home by providing senior home care for Austin Seniors and Elders. Call Home Care Austin 512-347-9207.

As a caregiver, I’m often responsible for managing the medications of my clients who in older adulthood take a cocktail that’s hard to keep up with. But sometimes there are other options available to treat physical conditions like arthritis, and not all doctors turn to these options off the bat. But I’ve learned that healing massage can have extensive benefits to seniors as well, improving their mobility, quality of life and providing the following benefits:

1. It can improve the mobility of seniors who otherwise find it too challenging or painful

2. Can help seniors to relax, addressing stress and sleep issues like insomnia that are also prevalent in seniors, effecting their overall health and well-being

3. Increases circulation in the limbs and joints, improving lubrication which can help to prevent the progression of diseases like arthritis

4. Flexibility, coordination, strength and posture are all improved when massage is applied to seniors

5. Wounds heal faster with the power of touch

6. Respiration and digestion are both stimulated with overall helps to improve the health of seniors

7. Respiration can be improved with touch and massage, and energy levels are boosted

Sources:

1. EZine Articles 

2. Associated Content 

Keeping Aging Relatives in Austin Safe and Independent at Home by providing senior home care for Austin Seniors and Elders. Call Home Care Austin 512-347-9207.

Breast cancer screening is supposed to begin around the age of 40, but out of fear for the process, many seniors in the United States have still never been screened for breast cancer. This month, for breast cancer awareness, receive your mammogram; here’s what you can expect from the process:

1. When dressing the day of the mammogram, avoid applying deodorant, talcum powder, or any other heavily scented items that can be irritating to others, or that could affect the imaging. Also wear a 2 piece outfit.

2. When arriving at the imaging office, you will be asked for copies of previous mammograms, if they do not have them already, and will also ask you to fill out a form with your medical records

3. Upon going into have the mammogram done, you will be asked to remove jewellery and clothing that can interfere with the procedure, including your shirt and bra, and any other clothing you have on above the waist

4. To prepare for the mammogram itself, one breast at a time will be placed on an imaging cassette and will be compressed with a paddle so that the maximum amount of breast tissue is visible on the image

5. The image will be taken and then the process will be repeated with the other breast

6. The images will be examined, not for results but to ensure they are effective. Typically, you will be allowed to get dressed and wait to find out if you are able to leave, or if more images are needed

7. The images and results will be returned for your doctor for review

Sources:

1. About.com

2. Imaginis

Keeping Aging Relatives in Austin Safe and Independent at Home by providing senior home care for Austin Seniors and Elders. Call Home Care Austin 512-347-9207.