A lot of people begin to panic when they hear their loved one has been diagnosed with Alzheimers.  Images of nursing homes with people nodding off and barely able to remember their kids’ names come to mind.
The question that we are always asked is “how long can my mom stay home alone?”  The answer really is it depends on how well the family has prepared for this.  Planning, when it comes to handling vital issues about when to move mom or dad, is the most important thing.  We have seen many families that have either been in denial or not considering that some decisions will need to be made and it is better to make them in advance.

One of the ladies we took care of, Jean, was a 78 year old lovely lady with a sharp sense of humour.  All of her CAREGivers loved working with her and looked forward to the times they would spend bopping around town for daily outings.  She complained though that every time her children got together the inevitable conversation of “what to do with mom” would come up.  She loved her home and really didn’t want to move even  but eventually she did start repeating the same story over and over again but had not been diagnosed with Alzheimers.  Clearly she was exhibiting signs of dementia which can precede Alzheimers.

Her CAREGivers came over twice a day. Once in the morning to help walk her dogs, fix her breakfast, help her take her medications, tidy her home and take her out to run errands or do something fun.  In the evening a different CAREGiver would come by to make sure she had dinner and take her evening medications.  They would visit for awhile to make sure she was feeling good before going to bed. One of her CAREGivers enjoyed the symphony and took her to enjoy it together - to that Jean replied “that was the most fun she had since her husband had passed”.

Even though Jean was forgetting things her CAREGivers kept her on track and kept her safely at home for several years beyond what her family believed was possible.

Written by: Denise Thomas

Owner of 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.

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.

A lot of people get very nervous when their relative starts to show signs of dementia or alzheimers and begins forgetting some basic things such as where they left their keys, checkbook or whether they turned the oven on.  My mother was visiting for the holidays recently and left the stove on and completely forget.  We realized it was on when we smelled something burning.  My husband freaked out a little and whispered to me what happened when I got back home a little later.Since she is only 67 years old and has not been diagnosed with dementia I will not jump to any conclusions, but, since both of my grandparents suffered from Alzheimers I am of course worried about my mother when she starts to show any signs. 

The fact is that many things can cause symptoms that look like Alzheimers from stress to depression, so a single incident like this is not too worrisome.  I will keep an eye on her and even though we live far away, whenever we speak over the phone I always ask questions to see how her memory is about recent events because this is the part of the brain that is effected first by Alzheimers.

So far she seems fine and is not living alone so my dad can keep an eye for any changes as well.  Sometimes people don’t realize how important it is to get diagnosed for dementia early when signs start to show.  The fact is that the medications that are currently available do not reverse the disease they just slow the progression so whatever part of the brain has been damaged will not necessarily be repaired.  So remember early treatment is the key.

Written by:  Denise Thomas

Owner of Home Instead Senior Care

Seniors with smell and taste deficiencies may find that when they are able to taste their meals, foods just don’t taste like they used to. Things may taste too salty or too sweet, and meats may take on an odd taste. It’s not uncommon for meals to just taste plain bad, but the elderly don’t need to tolerate this or sacrifice their nutrition due to the poor eating habits that result. Adding simple ingredients to meals can tone down the overbearing tastes.

Home Instead Senior Care, a premier home care service, has added to its list of available home care and personal assistant services and repetoire, a Gourmet Chef to plan, purchase, and prepare Gourmet meals for their clients.  These Personal chefs will prepare meals at their client’s home giving the clients the luxury and safety of a Personal gourmet and In home chef, so that people may adhere to dietary restrictions while enjoying healthy and balanced meals.  This Personal chef service will help your loved ones maintain healthy weight and nutrition.

Written by Denise Thomas

Owner of 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.

When seniors begin to lose their sense of taste or smell, meal time can be challenging, because with aging comes decreased appetite, and when food lacks flavor or has a bad taste it becomes easy to neglect nutrition; opening the doors to all kinds of other health problems.

Of course, for seniors who are experiencing loss of the senses, like smell and taste, the first step towards improvement is to seek medical attention; however, that doesn’t mean they have to suffer through tasteless meals to remain healthy.

Just because a diet is restricted doesn’t mean the food should be dull, lifeless and boring.  Here’s how we recommend adding flavor to a senior’s diet without compromising good health.

- Add low-sodium, no-salt stock to liven up a sauce.  Likewise, cook rice in chicken or vegetable stock rather than water, and replace cream with stock when making mashed potatoes for a flavorful, low-fat alternative.

- Fresh herbs are a no-fat addition, to brighten the flavor of salads, dressing and sauces.

- Don’t sacrifice quality.  Never buy less than ground sirloin.

- Avoid prepared foods.  They are not healthy for seniors because they can’t control the amount of salts, fats, and additives.

 Additional ingredients that can add flavor when added to ready-prepared foods are:

• Cheeses – especially the very flavorful, like sharp cheddars
• Chopped green pepper or other vegetables
• Chopped onion
• Nuts and seeks
• Bacon bits or ham strips

Meals prepared for seniors with declining senses should also focus upon other elements, like presentation, texture and color; because overall, an attractive meal is more appealing and texture adds diversity and interest to the food even if strong flavors are absent. Plastic utensils can also be used to limit metallic tastes, and drinking often or eating mints to clear any bad tastes from their mouths before a meal can also make it more enjoyable.

Age and good nutrition should go hand in hand for a long healthy life, so make sure all meals are enjoyed!

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cancer/HQ01135

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.

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.

Passing legislation that requires seniors do undergo on-road testing in order to renew their licenses would not be easy to implement. In Ventura County, California, a lawyer representing a client in a wrongful death suit, caused by an elderly driver is attempting to impose a legislation that requires drivers over 65 to complete rigorous testing every 10 years and is being met with extreme opposition. While he has compiled a sound case and is approaching legislators, senior care organizations, like the AARP believes this would create a stigma that age naturally results in poor driving; an assumption that is not true for every case. If the region’s legislators do not support the lawyer’s suggestions, he plans on completing a public poll to try and sway them; hoping that the population overall will see the benefit it could bring to the safety of our roads.

Unless each state’s government begins to agree to some big changes, imposing limitations upon elderly driving lies with families looking to ensure the safety of their elder members. While it’s important to allow seniors to maintain their independence behind the wheel, families should watch out for signs that it’s time to encourage seniors to give up their keys.

Sources: http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2007/dec/16/behind-the-wheel-exams-sought-for-drivers-65-and/
http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~content=a714006952~db=all
http://www.wpxi.com/news/13317389/detail.html
http://www.helpguide.org/elder/senior_citizen_driving.htm

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.

While specific driving laws vary at the state level, both the US and Canada share one thing in common when it comes to elderly driving; neither nations require mandatory testing overall either on the road or on paper to ensure that seniors are safe to get behind the wheel. Older adults should have the same rights as everyone else when it comes to driving, provided that they are able to do so without causing harm to themselves or others; and let’s face it, for many, health just isn’t on their side as declining vision, hearing, reflexes and more can all impact a senior’s ability to drive.

It is a heated topic that has fueled debate between elder care experts, seniors and the general population; however, there is some data to show that mandatory testing for seniors would have its benefits for everyone on the road. Australia is an example of one country that has embraced this safety trend by imposing mandatory medical assessments and/or on-road testing for seniors who have reached a specified age; however, since not all jurisdictions have come on board, there is no way to determine if crash rates have been reduced with so many varying statistics to consider. Some US states, like Florida, are on the right track, in requiring that seniors over 80 pass visual acuity tests in order to have their licenses renewed. Some Canadian provinces and American states do also have shorter renewal periods that bring seniors back to the licensing office more frequently than younger people, but re-issued licenses are based on minimal criteria.

Sources: http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2007/dec/16/behind-the-wheel-exams-sought-for-drivers-65-and/
http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~content=a714006952~db=all
http://www.wpxi.com/news/13317389/detail.html
http://www.helpguide.org/elder/senior_citizen_driving.htm

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.

While seniors should exercise extra care when on the road, the elderly’s approach to getting behind the wheel shouldn’t be so different from younger generations. Seniors also need to have a firm grasp upon the rules of the road, and be proactive while driving defensively. Those who find their confidence has declined can take a driving class or refresher course through the AARP, AAA or National Safety Council. It’s also okay for older adults to adjust their driving based on their comfort levels, by avoiding driving at night, through unfamiliar areas, in heavy traffic or when there is bad weather.

Families can help encourage their seniors to drive safely, by reminding them of these basic driving tips:
• Wear a seatbelt
• Watch all the traffic around, including those entering the road from curbs,driveways or businesses and keep eyes moving
• Use rearview and outside mirrors often
• Never assume you can take the right of way, always enter an intersection with caution
• Maintain a minimum three second following distance
• When driving in the rain or in winter, reduce speed and increase following distances
• Avoid prolonged hours of driving.
• Keep windshields and rear windows clean inside and out
• Avoid looking at the headlights of oncoming vehicles
• Do not drive when emotionally upset
• Minimize background noise; keep radio volume, air conditioning and heater blowing units on lowest settings. If you believe that an important senior in your life is exercising unsafe driving, be encouraging and talk to them about their options; having the ability to drive allows them an element of independence that cannot be replaced, so help them maintain it, but make sure that safety comes first.

It’s highly recommended you drive with a senior once a month for driving observation and assurance that they have maintained safe driving practices. If unsafe driving is detected, contact your local DMV to discuss driving privileges.

If you feel it is unsafe for your loved one to be driving, please contact your local Home Instead Senior Care office at the number listed above,for driving services enabling them to take advantage of alternative transportation.

Sources: http://www.safety-council.org/info/seniors/driving.htm
http://www.americangeriatrics.org/education/forum/driving.shtml

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.

To encourage their safety behind the wheel of a car, senior drivers need to consider factors that take place both on and off the road. Overall health can have a great impact upon a senior’s ability to safely operate a vehicle, and since aging causes some decline in hearing, eyesight and reflexes, it’s important that older adults receive regular checkups by a doctor as well as frequent eyesight and hearing examinations.

Anytime new eyeglasses are prescribed, the adjustment period can cause changes in vision and occasional disorientation; so until the elderly have become fully adjusted to their new prescription, they should hang up their keys. It’s also crucial that they understand the affects of any medications that they take regularly, both by reading what it says on the bottle and understanding how taking it affects them. A senior should never drive when their prescription states that it’s “not safe to operate heavy machinery” or “it’s unsafe to drive a vehicle”; however, just because these warnings are not present, doesn’t mean that a senior shouldn’t take the time to evaluate how the drug impacts their perceptions on the road.

It is highly recommended you drive with a senior once a month for driving observation and assurance that they have maintained safe driving practices.  If unsafe driving is detected, contact your local DMV office to dicuss driving privileges.

If you feel it is unsafe for your loved one to be driving, please contact your local Home Instead Senior Care office at the number listed above.

Sources: http://www.safety-council.org/info/seniors/driving.htm http://www.americangeriatrics.org/education/forum/driving.shtml

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.

It’s human nature to worry about finances, but as the recession continues to haunt our lives our concerns are increasing; especially those of us in our senior years, retired and living on limited incomes. With the current state of the economy, now might be the time to gain access to additional financial resources through effective asset management to unlock equity and leverage your home.

There are many major lenders and institutions beginning to encourage seniors in this increasingly common practice. Older adults who have already paid off their home mortgages, can leverage the equity in their homes by re-mortgaging or financing to get the money they need to pay for medical bills, assist family members to pay for education costs, or to complete much needed renovations in their own homes.

Reverse mortgages are another option and are HUD backed.

Maintain Your Independence

A reverse mortgage can give you access to your home equity without having to make monthly loan payments.  Instead, you receive tax-free loan proceeds that will not affect Social Security or Medicare benefits.

You can choose any combination of these flexible payout options at closing:

.  A lump sum to cover large expenses
.  Monthly installments to supplement income
.  A line of credit to draw on as needed

And you can change how you receive proceeds as often as your needs change during the loan term.

Secure Your Financial Future

There are no income, employment or credit requirements.  The amount you can qualify for is based on your age, your home’s value, its location, and current interest rates.

.  You keep title and ownership of your home
.  You continue to pay property taxes and insurance
.  The amount you owe can never exceed the home’s value.

Funds received during your loan term, and interest, become due and payable by you or your estate when you sell or permanently leave your home. The home itself-and remaining equity-belongs to you or your heirs.

Thanks to Wells Fargo Reverse Mortgage Solutions for providing this information.

It seems cruel to victimize seniors with fraud when they have limited resources and are the most likely to struggle with the state of the economy today. However, predators target the elderly just for this reason; because they are more vulnerable, they are more likely to agree to situations that may boost their financial standing or may trust more easily because they are lonely.

There are many types of scams that target senior citizens, some of which take place online by requesting a credit card or bank account number in exchange for goods or services that are never delivered. Other common types of senior fraud include sweepstakes scams and lottery prizes, investment fraud, “phishing” scams and fake charitable solicitations.

Seniors and their families need to be aware that there are people out there looking to pull the wool over the eyes of the elderly and take advantage of them. To remain safe from fraud, here are a few tips to help seniors keep what is rightly theirs and avoid the influence of criminals.

1. Beware of any sweepstakes or lottery that requires you to pay in order to claim your prize. By law, it should never be necessary to send money or make a purchase.
2. Never give financial information to a telemarketer who has called you. If you are interested in making a purchase from them, ask for a number to call them back after verifying their legitimacy. It is usually safe to provide information to an organization that you have called directly, but never give out your bank account, credit card or Social Security number if you get a bad feeling.
3. Before making a charitable donation, don’t hesitate to ask them how they use the money and if contributions are tax-deductible. If they are not willing to give out this information, they may not be a legitimate charity.
4. Remember these is no such thing as a risk-free financial investment, beware of organizations that guarantee huge returns upon your investment.
5. Make sure when hiring a contractor to do work around your home, that everything is put in writing and avoid working with those that show up at your door offering last minute specials.
6. If you are in a car accident, call the police if someone tries to bully you, claiming it’s your fault, before offering to pay them for the damage
7. Have someone watch your home if you are on vacation or staying in a nursing home.

If you would like to consult with someone from Home Instead Senior Care to provide more information about ways to prevent scams contact your local office at the number above

Sources: http://www.ahealthyme.com/topic/srfraud
 http://www.consumer-ction.org/english/articles/just_say_no_to_senior_scams/

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.