Grandparents with dementia will often end up living in a home with their grandchildren. This has become a common alternative to placing the senior in a nursing home. While it may seem like the right thing to do, it can be very difficult for smaller children who do not understand what the disease is. To help deal with this issue, the list below offers some tips on how to explain things to kids.
1. The best thing to do is to be honest with the child. Explain to them the grandma or grandpa is having trouble remembering things. This may help the child understand and be more willing to help.
2. Always encourage smaller children to ask questions. Try to answer them in terms they can understand. Instead of giving a medical definition of the disease, explain it in simple terms.
3. Have the child interact with the senior Helping with simple, everyday things, such as tying shoes and helping seniors eat can benefit the child as well as the senior with dementia.
4. Explain to children that there is nothing to fear. Grandma may forget things, but she can still be a joy to be around. Encourage kids to include seniors in fun time.
5. Talk to children before the senior moves in and try to explain the situation. If the child has questions, answer them as well as you can without being too complex.
Aging adults believe that a driver’s license is their last freedom. They want to continue driving for as long as possible. Unfortunately, for many in this age group, it’s not an option and it is usually something that must be addressed by a family member, such as an adult child. When doing this, the information in the list below can be beneficial in breaking the news to a senior.
1. Encourage seniors to be evaluated to determine if they are still safe to be driving. At-risk drivers can be the cause of many accidents and these may cause the death of the senior or another innocent person.
2. Be direct with the senior if they have to give up driving. Do not make up excuses and try to cover the facts. Simply state that they are no longer safe on the road.
3. If necessary, involve a doctor. The doctor will be able to tell the senior that they can no longer drive. Seniors will often take the information better coming from a medical professional.
4. Talk about alternatives, such as a transportation service or car pool. If the senior realizes they can still go out and do what they like, they will accept the fact better.
5. Driving can be dangerous for many seniors, especially those with severe health conditions. Make sure to discuss this with the senior as well as their doctors.
Grandparents who want to get involved with the grand kids fun at Halloween may find it fun and entertaining to do crafts together for the event. Here are crafts that can be done at home together to enhance your quality time.
1. Making decorations is inexpensive and fun. Kids love to color and paint, so grandparents can get in on this by creating cut out paper and allowing kids to decorate them. Then display them in and around the home.
2. Making a costume does not have to be difficult. Instead of sewing, try using fabric glue. Make use of old items, such as pantyhose and old t-shirts. With a little creativity, you and the child can create something great.
3. Carving pumpkins is always a Halloween favorite for kids. Make sure to save the seeds and bake them for a healthy treat that can be enjoyed while decorating. If there are multiple children, try a pumpkin contest to see who can make the best one. For younger children, simply allow them to paint faces on their pumpkin instead of carving.
Home Instead Senior Care understands how hard it is for family members and adult children to talk to aging relatives about getting older and living at home. There is no better time than the present to bring up concerns like long term care, giving up the keys, or financial matters.
Here are 7 tips listed from the Home Instead website that are helpful when you decide to have “the talk”.
Seven Tips to Help Boomer Children Communicate With Their Aging Parents:
1. Get Started.
If you’re 40 or your parents are 70, it’s time to start observing and gathering information carefully and thoughtfully
2. Talk it out.
Approach your parents with a conversation. Discuss what you’ve observed and ask your parents what they think is going on. If your parents acknowledge the situation, ask what they think would be good solutions.
3. Sooner is best.
Talk sooner rather than later when a crisis has occurred.
4. Forget the Baby Talk
Remember you are talking to an adult, not a child.
5. Maximize the Independence.
Always try to move toward solutions that provide the maximum amount of independence for the older person. Look for answers that optimize strengths and compensate for problems.
6. Be aware of the whole situation.
7. Ask for Help.
Many of the issues of aging can be solved by providing parents with the support they need to continue to maintain their independence.
Home Care Boston providing elderly services in Cambridge, Boston, and Somerville. Call us at 617.557.4600.
Senior bathroom safety is a serious concern. Many seniors are still living at home, which means they will continue to use the bathroom on their own. When this happens, seniors are at a higher risk of falls. Falling in the shower can cause serious injuries. To help keep seniors safe while they are in the bathroom or shower, the following list provides some useful tips.
1. Caregivers should be aware of any physical restrictions that the senior may have. This could affect their ability to shower on their own. If there is concern, these seniors may need assistance while in the bathroom
2. All bathrooms that are used by seniors should have safety equipment installed. This does not mean the entire room must be remodeled. Installing safety bars and non-slip mats could help protect seniors in the shower.
3. Some seniors could benefit from having a telephone placed in the bathroom. If the senior owns a cordless phone, taking it into the bathroom when they shower is a good idea. This way they will be able to call for help if they fall.
4. Many seniors do not have a lot of physical strength. This could prevent them from doing simple tasks while showering. Using a shower chair could help keep the senior safe while showering.
Each senior should be aware of the importance of cleaning and caring for their teeth. Some seniors with dentures believe they do not need to have the regular dental appointments they did in the past. This is not the case. Seniors need to still care for their mouth and maintain dental health. By using some of the tips provided below, seniors can keep their healthy smile.
1. Have a healthy diet. This will help improve oral health. Eating green and raw vegetables will be beneficial.
2. When brushing teeth, do not forget about the tongue. Daily brushing of the teeth on a daily basis is not as effective unless the tongue is also brushed at the same time.
3. Omit refined sugars from your diet. There are many products that will provide seniors with a sweet tooth the satisfaction they are looking for without the sugar intake.
4. Always provide your dentist with medical records. This will ensure you receive the proper medications if necessary.
5. Just because dentures are not real teeth, they should not be treated any differently. Brush and clean them daily.
6. No matter what the circumstances are, never decrease brushing. Always make sure to brush on a regular basis to maintain oral health.
7. Be sure to keep those dental visits. Routine cleanings are just as important for seniors as they are for young adults.
Seniors are typically known to be inept when it comes to technology. This is quickly changing. More seniors are becoming active online. Since access to the internet is faster and easier than ever before, many seniors are using the internet for many things on a daily basis. The following list contains some more information on how seniors are becoming technologically advanced.
1. Most seniors will use the internet for email to contact family and friends, but many are now using it for social networking. Seniors are using Facebook and Twitter.
2. There has been a 225% increase in the number of seniors over the age of 65 using the internet for social networking and a 100% increase in those between the ages of 50-54.
3. Some seniors are using the internet for banking purposes and to stay up to date on news and current events.
4. More than half of the seniors who are using the internet report feeling comfortable doing so. Some seniors are still reluctant to use the internet and prefer to get the news from print sources.
5. 57% of seniors who are using the internet are doing so through a desktop computer. 26% are using a laptop and only 9% are using mobile devices.
6. Since the introduction of high speed internet service, the number of seniors who are using the internet have increased drastically.
Many seniors will still have to go out on the roads during winter weather. While this may cause some tension and anxiety, seniors will feel safer knowing their vehicle is operating properly. The list below offers some tips on what to check and also suggests some travel safety tips for senior drivers.
1. Always take care of the vehicle. The tires and all fluids should be checked regularly throughout the winter months. Cold temperatures could turn a simple break-down into a life-threatening situation.
2. Make sure the antifreeze mixture in the car is correct. This will keep the cooling system running properly.
3. Check all belts, hoses and other moving parts under the hood. Seniors should have a trusted mechanic go over the entire car before the cold weather strikes so there is plenty of time to make necessary repairs.
4. Check that the battery is in good condition. Cold temperatures can make a battery lose the charge.
5. Take care of health. Make sure all eyeglass prescriptions are up to date. Seniors should always try to travel with another person so if something does happen, they are not alone. Seniors should also preplan their travel route and get updates on road conditions and traffic before leaving home.
When it comes to Alzheimer’s care, there are many methods used today in hospitals that truly don’t focus on the best interests of the seniors. They medicate seniors right up until the very end of their lives rather than focusing on providing them comfort, and unfortunately, lack of knowledge on the part of seniors and their families allows this to happen. Often, seniors don’t have advanced care directives that tell medical professionals and family members how they want their care handled; and family members take doctors and nurses at their word and allow various treatments to take place. The following methods that are used in Alzheimer’s treatment and care are some that are questionable, because they just don’t seem to look out for the seniors’ best interests:
• Improper pain control – because many seniors in the later stage of Alzheimer’s or dementia cannot express themselves, proper pain management techniques are not being administered even though it’s clear that many seniors are in pain.
• Treatments don’t focus on comfort – most seniors with Alzheimer’s continue aggressive treatment until they pass away, but there is no focus on comfort at the end of their lives even once treatment is typically ineffective. Only about 11% of seniors who are hospitalized with one of these illnesses is transferred to a hospice
• Medications used can make symptoms work – often medications are administered to treat other affects of the disease like osteoporosis or high blood pressure, but these can only add to senior’s feelings of confusion and general lack of well-being
With better knowledge about the Alzheimer’s care options available, families and seniors can ensure that quality of life always comes first, and choose a care option that meets these needs, whether it’s with home care help or hospice care for terminally ill seniors on their last legs.
