When family caregivers ask us how they can make their jobs easier and improve the quality of care of their elderly loved one, one of the top caregiver tips that we recommended is to use a daily care log. Using a daily care log, is a great way to communicate important messages between multiple caregivers that might be providing care for a senior, and create a permanent record of a senior’s medical history and routines as they pertain to his/her care. For those providing elder care, a daily care log can also reduce caregiver stress, because family and professional caregivers start each and every day with a background on the senior’s physical and mental health and any new caregiving challenges they should be aware of.

The information that an elderly care professional or family caregiver records on the log helps improve the senior’s care while making their jobs easier through increased understanding. Each day a caregiver enters the senior’s home, or assisted living facility where they reside, they can record the tasks and activities they completed, any challenges they had to overcome with the senior physically or mentally, and during the first visit; write down the areas they feel the senior requires assistance from a caregiver. A caregiver log should also include any changes they’ve seen in the senior; in particular, if they need help with a task they could complete independently before. Creating a daily care log can be a great way to assess a senior’s care needs, and communicate between multiple caregivers and the family, to ensure the highest quality of care is always being delivered.

If you would like a copy of the daily care log that Home Instead provides to it’s clients please call your local Home Instead Senior Care office.

Sources:
1.    The Eldercare Team
2.    Grownups

Image: superstock.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 with Home Instead Senior Care, I try and get to know my clients, their personal interests and find things that we have in common through conversation. By sharing mutual interests, I’ve found that I’m not only there to provide care for the senior, I’m finding pleasures in the things in life you forget you enjoy or take for granted. I truly enjoy the time that I spend with the 87 year old senior I care for. When I started as a Texas caregiver, I thought that I would only be interested in working a couple of days a week; but I am with my elderly client everyday for four hours and wouldn’t change that.

One of our favorite senior activities that we do together, some may find it strange, but we both share a love for houses and real estate; so to get out of the house, we often drive around different neighborhoods in Austin and discuss what we like and don’t like about the houses, the landscaping and other aspects of the homes. While driving along at 5 miles per hour, we chat about our mutual interest; meanwhile, paying additional attention to the traffic and street signs on the road around us to ensure that we both remain safe while pursuing our mutual hobby. For a little bit of extra excitement, we’re even planning a trip, with permission from my client’s family, to drive an hour and a half down to Johnsonville from Austin to tour different neighborhoods that are unfamiliar to us. Looking at houses is a great way to get out of the house; which gives us a change of scenery, something new and interesting to talk about, and promotes physical mobility for my client when getting in and out of the car.

It’s the simple things that we’ve learned to really appreciate when in one-another’s company. When running errands, we’ll stop for our favorite drinks, Coke or Dr. Pepper, instead of having them at home, so it makes for a great treat. Or we’ll pick up stale bread from Meals on Wheels and go down to the lake by my client’s apartment to feed the ducks. To keep activities at home fresh and interesting, I like to take my client to Toys R Us or other local craft stores to pick out activities she would like to do during our time together, like weaving or painting.

When I was initially hired to work with this client, who struggles with mobility and short-term memory, I thought I would just be there for company, for transportation to her appointments and for light-housekeeping. What I didn’t anticipate, is that we would become such great friends who have grown to enjoy each other’s company immensley. With a little creativity, and an effort to find shared interests; I think that any caregiver providing elder care can not only create, but have their own positive experiences from working with a senior. And for me, it’s also a chance to be grateful for the things I’ve had in life and think about how I’d like my life to be when I get older.

Mary Louise Polman: Home Instead Senior Care, Texas

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’ve been thinking of moving my elderly mother into the house I share with my husband and children, is this a good idea and what can I expect?

A – There are many pros to having your elderly mother live with you from a care perspective, especially if she is struggling with independent living. But it will also be a challenging experience for both your mother and the rest of your family, who are not used to co-existing under the same roof.

Pros:
• Having your mother living under your roof will allow you to care for your elderly parent around the clock
• When living in the same home, you are available should a medical emergency or accident occur with your mother
• Your mother won’t have to worry about maintaining a home (cooking, cleaning); she can pitch in with tasks she’s capable of
• Not having to travel to provide care to your mother will be more convenient for you and your family

Cons:
• Roles in your household could change along with family dynamic
• Your mother may not adjust well to the functioning of your household, and may attempt to interfere with the raising of your children
• You might feel you need to look after your mother full-time when living under the same roof, so the caregiver structure may be more stressful
• There may be disputes over family finances if clear expectations aren’t set

Sources:
1. Associated Content
2. Women Today Magazine
3. US News.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.

Gadgets for seniors have come a long way, and today’s elderly technologies benefit the lives of older adults by improving their safety and making day-to-day tasks easier for them. A number of new elderly equipment devices were unveiled at the 2009 Consumer Electronic Show in January.

Many of the electronics seem designed with the independently living senior in mind; devices like motion detectors and sensors can be installed in seniors’ homes in order to alert family members about falls and other in-home emergencies; other senior electronics like Clarity’s C900 mobile phone has a panic button that automatically dials 5 emergency contact numbers when triggered.

Other innovative technologies for seniors help them with Activities of Daily Living; smart pill dispensers remind seniors when to take their prescription medications and ensure that they take the prescribed amount; and robotic vacuum cleaners take away the strain of housekeeping by automatically cleaning up floor surfaces within a senior’s home. Seniors can also receive around-the-clock health monitoring with technological devices that monitor vital signs and alert family or medical practitioners when the status of their health changes. The Vital Jacket by Biodevices is a new fashionable senior gadget which is designed to monitor vital signs without bulky equipment, and while it is not yet available on the market, it hopes to improve medical care in homes and hospitals around the world.

Sources:
1.    InventorSpot.com
2.    Business Week
3.    Tender Hearts

Image: Bigbuttonremotes.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.

Come and Celebrate the 52nd Annual Zilker Botanical Garden Festival.

This family friendly event includes a great variety of musical entertainment, guest speakers, children’s activities, more than a hundred vendors of plants, crafts, and unique items. We’ll have maps & schedules at the gate, along with fans for the kids.

Check out the event line-up below and the free offer on the left of this page!

http://www.zilkergarden.org/about/events/ZGF2009/zgfschedule.html

When hiring a private home caregiver, without going through an agency, families, as employers, are often responsible for the costs of medical care if the caregiver is injured while performing their caregiver duties, unless the caregiver has comprehensive liability and workplace injury insurance. According to statistics, workplace injuries in private caregivers are substantial, with one in eight becoming injured on the job; 70% of which occur when lifting or physically supporting a patient.  If a caregiver does not have liability coverage, any task they are performing as part of their caregiver employment results in an injury, then families become legally responsible as employers to pay the medical bills. Workplace injuries for caregivers can include falls in the home, or even car accidents that take place when running errands for their elderly employer.

Since private caregivers not hired through an agency typically work as private contractors, many may not carry liability insurance; so when an injury occurs during senior care, medical bills may cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars, plus in some cases, compensation for lost wages due to the injury. Private caregivers may also be a greater liability for senior care injuries, since they may not receive the same training in proper lift techniques and other safety measures when caring for seniors as their agency counterparts. When hiring a caregiver, families need to take liability into account; because while private caregivers may charge less by the hour, the expenses derived from liability might last a lifetime.

Sources:
1.   Strength for Caring.com
2.   Seniors Resource Guide
3.   Liebertonline

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 depression is an unfortunate reality of getting older for many seniors. After witnessing many drastic changes and tragedies throughout the later years of their lives, it’s no surprise that seniors may struggle with their morale. However, that doesn’t mean that we as friends, family members, and caregivers of seniors have to stand by idly and let a senior suffer with depression in silence; we can step in and help boost their morale by making a positive impact on their lifestyle.

4 Ways to Boost Senior Morale:

1) Encourage physical activity – exercise releases hormones which can help stave off depression. Instead of sitting around at home during a visit with a senior, go out for a walk or pick another activity that’s well suited to the senior’s physical capabilities.
2) Create social situations – the best way to boost senior morale and prevent loneliness is to get them involved in social situations. Invite your senior to a party or encourage them to join a social activity.
3) Help maintain a healthy diet – studies have proven that a well-balanced diet can prevent depression, so keep your senior’s fridge well stocked with fresh fruits and vegetables.
4) Offer support – if your efforts just don’t seem to boost your senior’s morale or they continue to struggle with elderly depression, make sure they know you are willing to listen to anything on their mind. If they aren’t comfortable talking with a friend or family member, encourage them to speak with a counselor or join a support group for seniors.

Sources:
1. Senior Journal: Kara Gavin
2. Everyday Health

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.

2009’s Economic Stimulus Plan brings both good and bad news for senior Americans. While some of the bills President Obama is hoping to have passed by the senate do benefit seniors’ financial needs; there are advocates who fear that the provisions might hurt Social Security benefits and healthcare long-term. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), recently passed by the House, does includes some senior-friendly elements such as $87 billion to help fund state Medicaid programs; $650 million to continue the DTV coupon program (allowing people to convert from analogue to digital cable); and $500 million dollars has been allocated to the Social Security Administration to process the rise in disability and retirement claims.

According to the Stimulus Plan, unemployed people age 65 and older will be able to retain their COBRA health insurance coverage, so they are not burdened with exorbitant medical costs until they are eligible for Medicare coverage. Healthcare provisions have also been added that will allow medical institutions to store information about senior health electronically to increase senior medical care. However, they also include a controversial component which requires that medical providers choose medical treatments that are cost-effective. While this may help keep seniors’ bills for medical care low, advocates also worry that this will impact the quality of care received by those with Medicare benefits or private insurance coverage.

Obama’s 2009 Economic Stimulus Plan will also put money directly into seniors’ pockets, with eligibility for one time payments for retirees, including $300 for seniors receiving SSI, Social Security, Railroad Retirement and Veterans Benefits.

Sources:
1. Spectrum

2. Bloomberg.com (Betsey McCaughey)

3. Associated Press: (Adrian Sainz)

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.

Most Americans understand the importance of saving money to fund their retirement once they stop working, however, most do not know just how much they’ll need to pay for their basic living expenses or fund the retirement lifestyle they desire.

There is no magic retirement amount that will allow seniors to survive financially during their retirement. According to financial planners, the amount of savings needed for retirement all depends on lifestyle, standards of living and goals during retirement. Since life expectancy rates are increasing in North America, seniors should estimate their retirement funds based on life expectancy to age 90.

So how much do seniors need to put away for their retirement during their careers? Retirement financial planners say that 15 times your regular income should fund your bare bones expenses up until age 90; however, you can’t expect to have any money left in the bank or live the luxurious retirement lifestyle you’ve dreamed of. For those seniors who hope to travel, or maintain a less-modest lifestyle during retirement, and still have money left over; at least 22 times your regular income is required.

Financial planners say that retirement planning should start as early as the 20’s or 30’s, so that a sufficient amount of money is available to fund retirement when the time comes, and only a small portion of monthly income needs to be put aside in order to reach retirement goals.

Source:  Retirement Cash: Will You Have Enough? (Stuart Foxman)

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.

Most seniors and their families have heard of Meals on Wheels, but many don’t understand specifically what it does or exactly who is eligible to receive assistance from the program. As one of the original food delivery services for seniors, Meals on Wheels makes sure that all seniors receive nutritious healthy meals at home when their medical status prevents them from preparing their meals themselves.

The Meals on Wheels meal delivery program for seniors is available in most major cities across the US and Canada. Many will deliver hot or cold meals to senior’s homes to ensure that their physical and medical limitations don’t prevent them from eating well. Many of these programs do accept suggested donation amounts for their meal services for seniors, but will continue to operate and provide meals whether or not seniors’ income levels enable them to contribute. For those who are not medically bound to their homes, Meals on Wheels also provides regular meals to seniors at a community setting, like community center, or community living facility for older adults.

Those seniors who live independently at home still struggle to manage the responsibilities of daily living, can continue to rely on meal delivery services like Meals on Wheels, but should also consider receiving assistance from a professional caregiving organization like Home Instead Senior Care, to help out with the non-medical responsibilities of home care.
Source:  Meals on Wheels (Wikipedia)
Image: Wyoming News Blog

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.