Thirty-three percent of current seniors have accidents each year. The annual number of hip fractures alone is 350,000. But, Baby Boomers are healthier and more active than previous generations. More than 70 percent report good mental and physical health, but precisely because they are more active. Boomers have more accidents than previous generations. Biking, running, skiing and other activities send Boomers to the emergency room far more frequently than previous generations.
And despite the overall good health of their generation, 30 percent of Boomers are already suffering from debilitating health issues that are usually associated with old age, such as Alzheimer’s disease and arthritis.
Arthritis is the most common condition that affects seniors. Another emerging area of concern is obesity. In 2002, 30 percent of Boomers were reported as obese. That number is expected to grow to 42 percent by 2025. Obesity makes daily activities much more difficult and increases the likelihood of other health problems, such as diabetes and stroke.
Organizing your parents’ medications is one of the most important aspects of caring for aging parents. There can be a lot to remember and it can be overwhelming so it is best to be as organized as possible. If you need assistance managing your parents’ pills consider:
• The Senior Emergency Care Kit provides a log for you to list your parents’ medications and doses. This will assist in the managing of medications and provide information to the necessary medical personnel if an emergency were to occur.
• If your parents are living at home, ensure they have everything they need to independently manage their medications.
• If you have extra, unused medication lying around look for a Home Instead Senior Care’s Mission Medicine. These locations provide a safe place to throw away unused medication.
• You can also speak to your local pharmacy to find out about medicine disposal sites located in your community.
• Ensure there is a reliable method in place to sort prescriptions to be disposed of and prescriptions to be taken.
To learn more about medications and eldercare, read this article Caregiverstress.com.
Home Care Boston providing elderly services in Cambridge, Boston, and Somerville. Call us at 617.557.4600.
Home Care Boston providing elderly services in Cambridge, Boston, and Somerville. Call us at 617.557.4600.
Symptoms of Improper Medication Dosage
It can be nerve wracking to be a caregiver when you are worrying about your parents’ health issues. There are a number of symptoms that arise if something is wrong and one of the most common health issues is improper medication dosage. If your loved one is getting the wrong dosage they may experience the following symptoms:
• Falls
• Dizziness
• Depression
• Incontinence
• Psychiatric problems
• Sleep issues / Insomnia
• Memory loss
• Confusion
• Depression
• Loss of coordination
• Delirium / Hallucinations
• Malnutrition / Dehydration
Then Issues This Can Lead To
Medication related problems can lead to numerous health and life altering consequences. Staying on top of medication dosage is vital. If your loved one has experienced any of the symptoms above they could be at risk of:
• Hip fractures.
• Death.
• Hospitalizations.
• Loss of independence.
• Decreased quality of life.
• Doctor / Emergency Room visits.
If you require more information about caregiving there are a number of resources available on the web. To learn about medication mismanagement and its warning signs, read this article on CaregiverStress.com.
Home Care Boston providing elderly services in Cambridge, Boston, and Somerville. Call us at 617.557.4600.
Managing Pain in Your Aging Loved One
Pain management is an important aspect of caregiving. Identifying pain can sometimes be difficult. Here are some things to keep in mind when managing pain:
• Use a pain scale to measure the level of discomfort your parent is experiencing. This will help you judge if medications are working properly.
• Be sure pain isn’t going untreated. It is common for men to try and endure pain to be tough so ensure you have open communication about any health changes with your parents.
• If your parents suffer from dementia or another disease that renders them unable to properly communicate there are ways to identify pain.
Moans or changes in demeanor could mean your loved one is suffering.
• Everyone has different levels of pain tolerance. People who haven’t experienced a lot of pain may find something like a headache excruciating.
• Side effects from pain medications can cause falls, dizziness or hallucinations. If your parent has started a new medication and is experiencing any of these symptoms, contact their doctor.
• Pain comes in two forms. Acute pain is short and typically has a cause. Chronic pain is long lasting and may not have any particular cause.
To learn more about managing your loved one’s pain, read this article on Annarbor.com.
Home Care Boston providing elderly services in Cambridge, Boston, and Somerville. Call us at 617.557.4600.
Home Instead’s Resources for Caregiving
If you aren’t prepared with all the necessary documents in case of an emergency involving your loved one, it can be a very stressful time. Home Instead’s Senior Emergency Kit, contains all the information you need to put together the necessary medical documents in case a crisis arises. Some of the checklists featured in the kit include:
• Relevant medical information.
• Power of attorney forms.
• Pharmacy and insurance company details.
• Information on your loved one’s doctor.
More Caregiving Resources
After you have completed your Senior Emergency Kit, peruse the other available online resources. Home Instead offers a page of links that feature resources dealing with everything from costs to medication to family conflicts. Some of the sites Home Instead refers caregivers to include:
• Life Legacies (www.lifelegaciesandwishes.com) – This site provides tools to ensure that your loved one’s last wishes are carried out.
• National Alliance for Caregiving (www.caregiving.org) – The National Alliance for Caregiving has resources for caregivers.
• Stages of Senior Care (www.stagesofseniorcare.com) – The guide provides a plethora of information including costs, what to avoid, care options and more.
There are many other online resources available through Home Instead. To look into all of them visit this page. Caregiverstress.com
A common cause of injury or medical complications leading to death in seniors is falling. If your parents are living at home, make sure there isn’t a chance of them getting hurt. Some ways to prevent falls include:
• Be sure medications aren’t interacting. Have your parents’ doctor take a look at their list of medications. Make sure they don’t cause dizziness or loss of balance when they interact.
• Make sure your parents’ home is in good shape. There are a number of things to watch for when it comes to maintaining your parents home including installing more handrails and lights around the stairs, taping rugs to the ground, modifying the bathroom to suit their mobility needs and maintaining outdoor stairs.
• Exercise can greatly benefit your parent. Get your loved one exercise, even just a short walk. This can greatly improve balance and a number of other brain functions.
• Are there memory concerns with your parent? This can lead to confusion which can cause medication mismanagement and dehydration.
Safeguarding against falls in the present will save you hassle and heartache in the future. Be sure your parents’ home and health is well maintained to prevent falls. For more information read this article.
Home Care Boston providing elderly services in Cambridge, Boston, and Somerville. Call us at 617.557.4600.
Aging seniors deal with chronic pain and this can negatively impact their lives. But in addition to the physical pain, exhaustion and necessary lifestyle changes; seniors are also at a greater risk for accidents. According to a study, those with chronic pain have up to a 50% greater risk of falling, creating even greater physical challenges. Unfortunately, chronic pain often goes unrecognized and is under treated in seniors, so here are some tips for seniors and their caregivers to implement to cope:
1. Keep a pain journal – using a calendar or day planner to rate the level of pain felt each day creates a document of the consistency and frequency of the pain and can help identify other factors that might contribute to it. Seniors can rate their pain on a scale from 1 to 10 in their journal
2. Be persistent – doctors don’t always take a senior’s complaint of pain seriously. Some may feel that the older adult is simply complaining, others may not think it’s as serious because some seniors downplay their experiences. Seniors suffering from chronic pain need to be honest, and persistent to make their doctor understand
3. Understand triggers – if specific activities make the pain worse or physical temperatures outdoors, seniors should record this and adjust their activities to reduce the instances
4. Get on with life – chronic pain can cause seniors to withdraw and avoid all activity. They should continue with activities that they enjoy and maintain a physical routine
Exercise is the key to staying strong, energetic, and healthy as you get older. It can help you manage the symptoms of illness and pain, maintain your independence, and even reverse some of the symptoms of aging. And not only is exercise good for your body—it’s good for your mind, mood, and memory.
Home Care Boston providing elderly services in Cambridge, Boston, and Somerville. Call us at 617.557.4600.
Home Instead Senior Care wishes Mother’s across the nation a “Happy Mother’s Day”.
Mother’s Day is around the corner and we’ve got a few ideas to help you celebrate mom. The holiday has its roots in ancient Greek festivals honoring Rhea, the Mother of the Gods. The modern American holiday officially began in 1914, when President Woodrow Wilson declared the second Sunday in May a day to honor all the mothers of mere mortals like us.
Older adults need to be reminded that they are cherished and appreciated. Here are a few gift ideas that she will love to have.
Mother’s Day Gift Ideas
Unique Gifts for Mom:
Pottery Classes
Painting Class
Electronic Massagers for Car or Office Seats
Floral Bouquet of the Month Clubs
Bath & Body of the Month Club
Relaxing Backyard Hammocks
Gift Experiences that Spoil Mom:
Mother and Daughter Spa Packages
Day at the Spa Packages for Mom
Facial & Body Wrap Gift Certificates
Manicure, Pedicure & Spa Package Gift Certificates
Home Spa Gift Sets
Entertainment Gifts:
The Kindle: Amazon’s Wireless Reading Device
Buy an iPod and download her favorite music on it
Movie or Theater Gift cards
Tickets to her favorite music venue
Netflix Subscriptions
Mother’s Day Gift from a long distance adult child or family member who cannot be there to help celebrate Mother’s Day:
A day out with a home companion caregiver for lunch and a movie
Hire a professional caregiver to shop and cook for one day a week
Make mother’s day a special day for mom by pampering her and making her feel like a queen.
Home Care Boston providing elderly services in Cambridge, Boston, and Somerville. Call us at 617.557.4600.
Elder Care Stats
As the baby boomers retire, a number of Americans will be faced with the task of looking after their aging parents. There are number of statistics to be aware of regarding elder care:
• According to Sandra Timmerman, director of MetLife Mature Market Institute, caregivers spend more than $5500 per year on elder care expenses.
• Long distance caregivers spend at least $8700 per year on transportation, food and supplies.
• There 65.7 million caregivers in the United States, according to the National Alliance of Caregiving.
• More than half of those surveyed by www.caring.com are worried about the financial impact caregiving will have on them.
Your Parents’ Finances
The economic downturn has affected more than just your finances. Check in with your parents and see how they are doing. It is important to be on the same page about money matters. Here are some tips to get you there:
• Estate planning: Have all the necessary documents, including power of attorney, prepared ahead of time in case something should happen to them.
• Talk about it: Get everything on the table when it comes to finances. Once everyone is on the same page, you can begin planning.
• Free programs: There are many organizations that offer free services to assist you with elder care planning.
• Insurance coverage: Make sure you know what is covered by your parents’ insurance plan so you can arrange for out of pocket costs.
