It doesn’t matter what you do with your life or how old you are. Young or old, working or retired, there’s not enough time in the day, especially if you don’t use your time as wisely as you could. Caregivers, seniors and everyone in between finds themselves wondering what happened to their day when it comes to a close, and it’s our goal to teach you how to get it back as part of a new series by Carebuzz and WorkingCaregiver.com. Over the next couple of weeks, we’ll elaborate on the following topics to help you make the most of your time:

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

Visit often, and turn your unproductive 24 hour day, to one where every item is checked off your daily “to do” list.

Via: Gaia.com

Home Care Boston providing elderly services in Cambridge, Boston, and Somerville. Call us at 617.314.9873.

When someone you love is diagnosed with breast cancer, you just want to undergo your own grieving process. But try not to focus on yourself, lend your support to your loved one who needs you:

1. Just listen – you don’t need to try and provide advice, especially if you haven’t lived a similar experience.  Just listen, lend them your presence and your ear so they feel they have the support of someone

2. Support with facts – instead of giving advice, do some research about the disease and provide the facts about treatment options, support groups that are available and other resources that could help

3. Support their decisions – no matter what your loved one decides through the treatment and coping process with breast cancer, support it

4. Don’t play a role – not knowing how to deal with someone with breast cancer sometimes causes people to act unusually. Simply be yourself, you’ll appear more genuine than if you try to play a role

5. Make a support network – have other friends and family members come together to extend their support so your loved one with breast cancer knows there are others there for her

6. Laugh and have fun – there might be a grieving process after a breast cancer diagnosis, but keep up the fun activities. Laughter really is the best medicine, so create enjoyable and memorable situations

Sources:

1. SheKnows.com

Home Care Boston providing elderly services in Cambridge, Boston, and Somerville. Call us at 617.314.9873.

If you work in an office, and type on a regular basis you’re at risk for carpal tunnel syndrome. If you’re in the age 40-60 age bracket, your chances of having carpal tunnel only increase, and the more typing you do the more likely you are to have this problem that causes pain and numbness in your hands, wrists and arms. With more seniors online, whether at work or at home, it’s time to start taking measures for protection and reduce the risk of this syndrome that can have crippling effects, literally.

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

Home Care Boston providing elderly services in Cambridge, Boston, and Somerville. Call us at 617.314.9873.

Q – My dad suffers from arthritis. He’s been prescribed a number of medications to control it, but are there other treatment options that could help him out?

A – While doctors often turn to medications primarily, there are other options, including healing massage which can help seniors to cope with arthritis as well as other physical conditions, 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

Home Care Boston providing elderly services in Cambridge, Boston, and Somerville. Call us at 617.314.9873.

Q – My kids just left home. I thought this was a time I’d look forward to, with all the time in the world to just focus on myself, but I’m lonely. Any tips on how to overcome challenges that empty nesters face?

A – What you’re facing is called empty nest syndrome, here are some tips for coping with it:

1. Take time to yourself – while your life might have been about everyone else previously while caring for children, a spouse and a household, as an empty nester, appreciate and take advantage of the quiet. Enjoy the time you have to yourself instead of allowing it to remind you what you no longer have

2. Make new connections – finding yourself with an empty nest can feel lonely, so fill the void by reconnecting with family members and friends, and making new ones by joining social groups and activities available in [location]

3. Renew marriage vows – it might feel like your life has been all about the children for decades, but reconnect with your loved one and renew your  vows to remind each other what brought you together in the first place!

4. Do something meaningful – being a parent is one of the most meaningful jobs , and finding a way to fill that void after the children have left home is a challenge. Do something else that makes you feel like you’ve accomplished something important; volunteer somewhere you can make a difference!

5. Get out there – with new found time on your hands, achieve the things you never had time to in the past. You can travel or take on a new hobby.

Via: Let Life In 

Home Care Boston providing elderly services in Cambridge, Boston, and Somerville. Call us at 617.314. 9873.

You might not look forward to your annual breast cancer screening, and you wouldn’t be alone if you have put it off out of fear. However, breast cancer screening is crucial to your health; so if you’re a senior who has yet to undergo the process, here’s what you can expect to put your mind at rest:

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

Home Care Boston providing elderly services in Cambridge, Boston, and Somerville. Call us at 617.314. 9873.

It’s easy to fall out of touch with family when there’s a great distance that separates you, but no matter what, the connection should surpass the distance, especially when it comes to maintaining the bond between grandparents and grandchildren. If you’re not fortunate enough to live close to the younger generation of loved ones in your family, make an effort to stay connected and make memories that they’ll never forget:

1. Take advantage of technology – email and social networking sites can allow families to remain connected. Post pictures, videos and share stories using sites like Facebook or others that can help keep grandparents and grandchildren up to date on what’s happening in each other’s lives

2. Create fun long-distance games – to stay connected, grandparents can try fun long-distance games that let their grandchildren know they’re loved and being thought about. Create personalized crossword puzzles or word searches, send them a jar of M&Ms to countdown to the next visit, or play long-distance hide and seek, having someone hide items around the house and then giving the clues to their grandchildren over the phone

3. Make a point to get together – it’s hard to bring families together, and easy for too much time to pass between visits. Family reunions that bring grandchildren together with their grandparents should happen at least once a year no matter what!

Sources:

1. Let Life In 

2. FamBooks 

Home Care Boston providing elderly services in Cambridge, Boston, and Somerville. Call us at 617.314. 9873.

Becoming a parent again in older adulthood is a challenge, and no, while healthcare technologies are making great strides, I don’t mean actually giving birth, but taking a grandchild into your home. Playing the role of two different generations of adults, while struggling with your own financial issues and health isn’t easy, and here are some of the most common challenges that seniors tend to face:

1. Seniors who are retired often have limited finances available, and adding another member to the household can come at an increased expense

2. Seniors may not have the same physical capabilities that younger parents would when responsible for the physical care of children when carrying them around, bathing, and physical chasing after children

3. Seniors may neglect their own health needs when worrying about others

4. Seniors may be under the stress of legal issues when trying to adopt a child or ensure that they legally remain the child’s guardian

We also have some tips for overcoming these challenges, and if you have anymore to add, please let us know!

1. Find out if there are assistance programs available in their area to help grandparents raising grandchildren financially

2. Remember to simply do the best that they can, and remember, that loving the children and ensuring their safety, health and happiness is all that’s really important

3. Of course, the health of their grandchildren is important, but grandparents need to remember if they don’t take care of themselves, they’ll be unable to care for anyone else

4. Seniors can try to minimize the stress of the process by seeking support from those who have been in similar situations

5. Respite help is necessary to give seniors a break. If children are too young to be in school seniors can find a daycare or ask for help

Sources:

1. Care-givers

2. AARP

3. Answers for Families

Home Care Boston providing elderly services in Cambridge, Boston, and Somerville. Call us at 617.314. 9873.

October is breast cancer awareness month, and whether or not breast cancer has hit close to home during your senior years or an earlier stage in life, it’s time for you to support the fight against breast cancer. Even if you haven’t suffered a scare or the disease yourself, someone you know probably has, and you can join in on the fight and show your loved ones your support in the following ways:

1. Wear or hand out pink ribbons – show your support by breast cancer by wearing a pink ribbon. You’ll find them for sale at establishments around Boston, available if you make any donation to the cause. Or you can make your own pink ribbons to wear and hand out to friends and family

2. Wear pink – even if you can’t afford to make a big donation to a breast cancer cause, simply wearing pink clothing items, along with a pink ribbon will help you show your support and honor those who have successfully fought the disease or lost their battle

3. Fundraise – holding an event with a pink theme, where the proceeds will go towards breast cancer is a great way to bonds with others over a common cause and give something back to breast cancer research. Hold a bake sale, or get creative and think up another event

4. Try a run/walk for breast cancer – while many took place over the summer, runs and walks for breast cancer are still ongoing in October

5. Shop for breast cancer awareness – breast cancer awareness merchandise is available where a portion or all of the proceeds of a sale go to breast cancer. This way you donate, and show your support with your merchandise

6. Donate – make a donation online, by phone or in person to breast cancer research

Via: Associated Content