Helpful Ideas

Be certain the lighting is adequate for the senior. Low vision problems are responsible for many accidents in the home and adequate lighting is a large part of it. Replace burned out lightbulbs with lights of the same wattage. Be sure stairs, closets and entry ways are illuminated. Outside lights should delineate paths, stairs and walks.
Task lighting is important for reading or hobbies. Seniors love to read the paper...be sure to have a magnifier or a magnifying lamp if needed. Loss of vision is such a heartbreak to so many seniors. Luckily, there is a great deal of reaserch being done in the area of macular degeneration, on of the great robbers of eyesight in older individuals.

Shower seats

While showering, older adults often tire. This presents a safety issue. One answer is to provide shower seat. Shower seats allow for both safety and privacy. Be certain to place soap, washcloth, and towel within close range. A small waterproof container can be placed nearby to house necessary items. A hook or towel rack can be placed within comfortable reach to alleviate dangerous reaching which can render a person off balance.

Bathroom Safety

Many home bathrooms are not properly equipped for safety for seniors or handicapped people.

Be sure to:

Add safety handles, for easier access to the tub.
Be careful with bathroom rugs
Add non-slip grids to the tub bottom.
Install rocker switches for lights, which are much easier on arthritic hands.

Day Care Considerations

Adult day care provides the social setting, atmosphere, activities, and supervision necessary to meet the care of those who are no longer able to care for themselves.

Omega 3 supplements

One of the best things you can do for your health is to take Omega 3 supplements. The American diet is too high in saturated fats deaths from heart disease are epidemic here. By adding good fatty acids to your diet, you can ensure that your overall health especially your heart health is improved. Adding Omega 3 fish oils to your diet is very cheap health insurance. Be certain that your are using the very best Omega 3 oils. My recommendation is See Yourself Well brand as they are the best. These oils are ultra purified and pharmaceutical grade. Please call OceanSource, Inc for your oils. (904) 200-5927 to order.

Glaucoma

The second leading cause of irreversable blindness in the USA is glaucoma. The type we refer to here is Primary Open Angle Glaucoma. It is charadcterized by and increase in intraocular (eye) pressure, atrophy of the optic nerve and loss of peripheral vision. With these conditions present, vision is ultimately lost.
Risk factors include: high intraocular pressure, aging, gamily history and race. Blacks have a 3-4 time higher risk. In addition, diabetes, hypertension,eye injury or surgery, history of steroid use, migraine headaches with peripheral vasospasm are all possible risk factors.

Eyedrop tip #2

The tiny eyedrop bottles are extremly difficult for arthritic or weak hands to manage. The Autodrop Bottle Squeezer is a great gadget to help. The eyedrop bottle fits into a small holder with handles. The handles make it MUCH easier to squeeze the bottle releasing the drops into the eye.
Getting drops into the eye can be a huge problem for the elderly.

Aging Eyes

Many age related eye problems are treatable if detected early enough. It is so important that regular visits to the eye doctor are a part of every senior citizen´s schedule. The doctor can check for the most common conditions such as cataracts, macular degeneration, glaucoma or other conditions associated with high blood pressure, diabetes and the like. The eye exam allows the doctor to get a benchmark for your eyes which will allow him to keep track of any changes that occur.

What is Senior Aerobics?

Senior aerobics is an exercise program created with people 55 years of age, or older. Senior aerobics is usually low impact, improving flexibility, cardio vascular, and revitalizes the person working out, giving him or her more energy, confidence, and satisfaction.

Make the Best of Things

When sharing time with the elderly, do not dwell on the past.

Allow your loved one to voice concerns.

Tell him or her how much you care.

Remember to say you are sorry for anything in the past.

Do not put off until tomorrow what you should say today.

Share your love.

Tour List

When considering an adult day care facility, be certain to tour the center. Make a list of questions to ask, and ask them. Don´t be shy! Write the responses down and save them. You never know when you might want to refer to the answers.

Check flooring regularly

Flooring should be secure and non-skid. Check regularly for broken tiles, carpets that have loosened Throw rugs can be hazardous as they are sometimes slippery. All rugs should have a non-skid backing which is easily available in department stores.

Granny-cams and room monitors

The so called granny-cam can be a third eye for a caregiver. This small camcorder can be a tremendous help for those who must be under constant care.In addition, room monitors,like those used in baby rooms are also an option. These are very sensitive to even the lightest sounds making them very useful.

Veterans Care

A resource for seniors who served in the military would be the Veteran Services Division, a division of the Veterans Administration.

They can provide information on eligibility of benefits and offer referrals to other agencies in your vacinity.

Macular Degeneration

Macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness in those over 55. This degenerative condition is related to the macula, the center of the retina. It is responsible for acute vision, focusing, reading, driving and fine work. There are two types of macular degeneration, Wet and Dry. Most are afflicted with the dry or atrophic type. Between 70-90 per cent of those with the condition have the dry. In this type, the macula atrophies or thins out and vision is lost. Most times one eye is affected but both eyes eventually are affected.
The wet type causes 90 percent of its sufferers to lose their vision. Abnormal blood vessels within and beneath the retina begin to bleed and leak fluid. These become opaque and ultimately scar tissue forms.

Long Term Care - Who Pays For It?

Long Term Care can be expensive, and many health insurance plans (including Medicare) do not cover it fully.

When researching long term care, be sure to check with your medical insurance provider to see if long term care is provided.

When the need for long term care arrives, it might be necessary to file for Medicaid, or to pay privately for the long term care.

Long term care effects approximately 57% of households in America, and is expected to increase, as baby boomers age.

Look for Changes

Over the holidays you visited your relatives, noticing a slight decline in an elderly person´s behavior, or actions. What do you do?

Discuss the elderly person´s situation.
See if a family member can oversee the care of the person.
Don´t be shy. Speak up.
Check with the Elder Care Locator, a service offered from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. They can refer local resources.
Contact them at:
1-800-677-1116

Becoming a Volunteer

You´ve toured the facilities and decided on a nursing home. Now, you are curious about the care.

The best way to observe elderly care at a nursing home is to volunteer your talents. Read. Visit. Contact the activities director and volunteer.

If Your Loved One Lives Alone

If your loved one is still independent, living alone, offer assistance with errands. Make arrangements to drive your loved one to the grocery store. Make this a special event. Maybe you can arrange to take your loved one to lunch, or dinner after running errands.

Encourage your loved one to make lists, so your time together is quality and not stressed.

Macular Degeneration-Detection

When changes in vision occur, a trip to the eye doctor is in order. Macular degeneration can manifest itself by a change or loss of color perception, blurriness, dark or white out in the center of one´s vision, distortion of straight lines or the center of ones vision is distorted.
Sometimes, a physician detects the condition before symptoms are present. Although there is no known cure, research is ongoing and some drugs have a positive effect by slowing the process.
A wonderful website to visit is: www.agingeye.net

Bedroom safety for senoirs

Sometimes, just getting out of bed is a chore. Falls are a distinct possibility if this is nost done properly. Adding grab bars to the bed is a good solution. Many times, seniors experience dizziness when arising so the bars help them to get their bearings before actually getting up. Bars can be situated on the side of the bed and used to pull oneself up to a seated position.

Eye Drops- helpful hint

Are your expensive eyedrops running down your cheeks? If this is a problem for you, a new item is available. Not only are the drops necessary for certain conditions, but they are EXPENSIVE. The EyeDrop Dispenser is a handy-dandy little gadget that solves this problem. The small eyedrop bottle fits into a small holder which cups the eye and keeps the lid open. The drops then fall exactly into the eye.This is an essential item for anyone who needs eyedrops.

Loneliness

Isolation and loneliness are the enemy of Seniors and those homebound due to disabilities. So, be consistant when visiting them.

Always set a specific date and time when planning your visit. Setting an appointment, which you are certain you can keep is essential.

Frequency of visits is also very important. Whether you are able to visit weekly, monthly or another time frame, try to maintain a pattern.

Realize that your homebound friend will be looking forward to your visit.

Day Care Activities

Make certain your loved one will be active at adult day care. Activities are important. You do not want your loved one to be staring at television all day, or wandering off. Supervision, activities, and the social gathering of other participants will help to ease the transition, allowing the caregiver a bit of relief.

Caregiver Support

Who can a caregiver turn to for moral or emotional support? Most caregivers find that they need to turn to family, friends and neighbors, and other caregivers.

Sometimes, a community provides support services. Churches and religious groups may offer assistance. Family is another good resource to offer assistance. Volunteers provide support too.

If you find yourself a bit overwhelmed, serving as a caregiver, be certain to seek help from others.

Make Food Appetizing

If you prepare food for an elderly person, make the food appetizing by serving it on china and not a paper plate. add a pretty flower, a cloth napkin and tuck a little I love you card by the plate.

Invite the elderly person to join you to eat.

Don´t encourage the elderly to eat alone.

Eye Care for the Elderly

Eyes change rapidly during the ´golden years.´

Yearly eye exams are highly recommended, especially if the elderly person is a diabetic.

Elderly people could be more susceptable to glaucoma and cataracts.

Helpful Products for Senior Citizens

The elderly have a fear of losing their independence. Many surveys have rated the, "ability to manage themselves" as a very high priority for seniors. Often, a product made to address the specific needs of senior citizens, makes independence possible. If a sore back prevents one from bending to put on shoes or socks, that person is unable to go out. How about a Foam Handled Shoe Horn? At 18" long, there is no bending. A Sock-Aid solves the problem of putting on the hose.
Simple items such as those mentioned can make an enormous difference in the life of a senior citizen. Many older folks are actively searching for these items. They are readily available to make a positive impact on someone´s life.