Boston

Family caregivers and senior-care professionals can benefit from the Home for the Holidays webinar, which will help educate families about the warning signs that a senior loved one might need help at home.  Register for this free webinar on Nov. 15 or Dec. 5.

With the holidays just around the corner, many families will be hitting the road with loved ones. Or, perhaps, preparing older adults in their lives for a plane trip to be with family. To help ensure that your trip doesn’t turn into a National Lampoon’s Vacation movie script, consider the following tips:

• First, a family traveling with Dad will want to ask his family doctor about any special precautions that need to be taken for holiday travel plans.

• Plan a schedule. When does Dad take his medications? Is Mom on a restricted diet? How often do parents need bathroom breaks?

• Make sure Mom doesn’t forget to pack her medications. If flying, check out requirements for packing medications.

• Consider where they will be headed. Help a loved one pack for the weather conditions. Remember that seniors can easily become chilled.

• Plan for access to plenty of fluids to avoid seniors becoming dehydrated.

If a family caregiver isn’t close by, a Home Instead CAREGiver can help a senior prepare for a trip by assisting with packing, medication reminders and household chores. To help support your efforts, we offer a variety of resources for senior-care professionals. To learn more about how we can help you, contact us at 617.557.4600.

Home Care Boston providing elderly services in Cambridge, Boston, and Somerville. Call us at 617.557.4600.

Be a Santa to a Senior®, the popular campaign that has delivered 1.5 million gifts to needy seniors throughout North America during the past seven years, is gearing up again this holiday, according to the Home Instead Senior Care® network, the world’s largest provider of non-medical, in-home care services for seniors.

The program relaunches during a time when already-nervous seniors faced the threat of Social Security payment delays as part of the debt-ceiling debate earlier this year.

Local offices of the Home Instead Senior Care network, the world’s largest provider of non-medical in-home care and companionship services for older adults, have joined their area senior care organizations and retailers to provide gifts and companionship to seniors who otherwise might not receive either this holiday season.

In most years, seniors receive a small increase in their Social Security checks, intended to help them keep up with the costs of inflation. But since 2000, the Social Security Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) has increased just 31 percent, while typical senior expenses have jumped 73 percent, according to the survey.

In 2011, for the second consecutive year, seniors received no COLA. Before 2010, however, seniors had received a COLA every year since 1975, when the automatic COLA was introduced. Seniors can expect to receive only a very small COLA next year, the TSCL reported.

Be a Santa to a Senior isn’t just about gifts, though. It is designed to give back to those needy seniors as well as to help stimulate human contact and social interaction for older adults who are unlikely to have guests during the holidays.

Here’s how the program works: Before the holiday season, the participating nonprofit organizations in local communities throughout North America will identify needy and isolated seniors in the community and provide those names to local Home Instead Senior Care offices for this community service program. Christmas trees will go up in stores that feature ornaments with the first names only of the seniors and their respective gift requests.

Holiday shoppers can pick up an ornament, buy items on the list and return them unwrapped to the store, along with the ornament attached. The local Home Instead Senior Care office then enlists the volunteer help of its staff, senior-care business associates, nonprofit workers and others to collect, wrap and distribute the gifts. A community gift-wrapping event, when hundreds of the presents will be wrapped, is held in many communities.

Businesses are encouraged to contact their local Home Instead Senior Care office about adopting groups of seniors. For tree locations in your local area, or for more information about the program, visit www.beasantatoasenior.com.

Home Care Boston providing elderly services in Cambridge, Boston, and Somerville. Call us at 617.557.4600.

Activities and social life may begin to wane for older adults who have lost spouses. But staying active is still very important to the health and well-being of seniors no matter what their circumstance.

That’s where family caregivers can help. Loved ones can encourage the seniors in their lives to find new ways to remain active if the old ones no longer work. Whether it’s assisting them in planting a garden, planning a trip or just reconnecting with old friends, it’s never too late to offer that older adult in your life an encouraging word and a helping hand.

Family reunions are great ways for seniors to connect with other generations after loss. Family caregivers can play an important role ensuring that older adults get the kind of reunion they want. The support of a professional Home Instead CAREGiver could help as well.

Planning a family reunion is a big job at any age that requires plenty of advance planning. We researched this topic and most resources we found suggest that you ask yourself the following questions when you’re laying the groundwork for a reunion:

Determine how big of an event you’d like to host. If you have a large family, should all the children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren be included, or do you want immediate family only?

Select the city that is most centrally located for all who will be attending and then think about a site within that city.

If the reunion will be a several-day event, lodging will be another important consideration in the planning.

If you’re planning a bigger event, the best way to handle that is by establishing a committee. Put individuals in charge of various aspects of the event. That way, all your bases are covered.

Tip: Home Instead CAREGivers do more than you may know. They can help seniors with all holidays, including decorating for autumn and answering the door for trick-or-treaters.

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.

Caring for a senior is very stressful, especially when the senior is still living at home. There are many safety issues that family members worry about. A high-tech device is now available that will ensure the senior is safe at home. It is a monitoring device that will provide family members and caregivers with information regarding activity in the home of seniors.

1. Adaptive Home is a new business that uses monitoring technology for elder care. The basic package includes various motion sensors that can be placed around the home. These sensors create reports of activity in the home that can be reviewed by caregivers or family members.

2. The sensors will also alert loved ones of unusual actions. It will note when seniors are making a pot of coffee or sitting in their chair. There are many things that the sensors will monitor, providing extra safety in the home and peace of mind for family members.

3. The main benefit of this new system is that seniors will be able to remain in their homes for a longer period of time instead of having to go to a nursing home. There is no need for a person to be present to monitor their actions; the sensors take care of it all.

4. The system also comes with a computer that includes a scheduling program to help all family members coordinate caregiving.

5. There are many things in the home that can be monitored by simply using these sensors. Now, seniors can be comfortable at home and family members will know they are safe.

Source: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129260338

Home Care Boston providing elderly services in Cambridge, Boston, and Somerville. Call us at 617.557.4600.

Did you know that Pilates is great for seniors who have problems with mobility? Why? Because Pilates focuses on the core of the body, the back, hips and abdominal muscles. These exercises are low impact and are a great way for seniors with arthritis or other joint problems to get in shape.

Here is more information on Pilates:

1. Some people believe it is too late to start exercising. While this may be true for strenuous exercise, Pilates is a relaxing form of exercise that is recommended for those over the age of 50. Even seniors who have had back, neck or hip injuries can safely take up Pilates and reap fitness benefits.

2. Those who practice Pilates on a regular basis will notice improved posture, enhanced balance and decreased stress levels.

3. The goal of a Pilates workout is the precision of the movement of the body instead of the number of reps. This is why seniors can benefit from the exercise. They do not need to put in a lot of time and most exercises are not exhausting.

4. For seniors who practice Pilates two or three times a week, they will begin to see results in about a month.

5. Pilates is safe for those with a back injury or back pain. In fact, it can help reduce much of the pain. Pilates has been known to help seniors who experience chronic pain in different areas of the body.

6. There is no need to buy expensive equipment, but seniors should join a Pilates group that is led by a trained instructor. Finding classes is easy. They are available at most gyms and health centers. Seniors should talk to their doctor as well because they will be able to recommend a Pilates class in the area.

7. Once the basic movements have been mastered, seniors can practice Pilates at home. Pilates is one of the best ways to strengthen the body while benefitting the mind at the same time.

Source: http://www.aarp.org/health/fitness/info-12-2010/pilates_tips.2.html

Older adults living in Boston who participate in a walking exercise program can decrease their risk of disability and increase their likelihood of maintaining independence by 41 percent, a University of Georgia study found. Establishing a walking routine with your aging relative is an easy way to help them stay independent longer.

“In the past decade, researchers have focused on the benefits of strength training in maintaining independence, but until now we didn’t have good evidence using an objective performance measure that a walking program would improve physical functioning,” said study co-author M. Elaine Cress, Professor of Kinesiology and Researcher in the UGA Institute of Gerontology. “Our study found that walking offers tremendous health benefits that can help older adults stay independent.”

Study participants were assigned to either of two groups – a walking group that met three times a week for four months or a nutrition education control group. Researchers measured the aerobic capacity of participants using a treadmill test. While the control group saw a 9 percent decline in aerobic capacity over the four-month period, the walking group’s aerobic capacity increased by 19 percent. Physical function increased by 25 percent in the walking group, compared with a decline of 1 percent in the control group.“We know that walking is good for you, but too many people still aren’t doing it,” said Trudy Moore-Harrison, lead study author. “This study shows that just walking on a regular basis can make a huge impact on quality of life. The study appears in the Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy.

Home Care Boston providing elderly services in Cambridge, Boston, and Somerville. Call us at 617.557.4600.

Sport Activities on Father’s Day

Dads and children have always enjoyed cheering on their favorite sports teams together, and if this is something you used to do with your dad, this might be the perfect idea for a Father’s Day activity. It will be sentimental and a fun day, perfect for the celebration of dad!

1.    Check which teams are playing where – do you have a favorite team you used to watch together when you were a kid? Or a certain arena or sports field? See if anyone is playing on Father’s Day and take dad there.

2.    Take a trip – hop in the car and bring dad somewhere a bit different, a little adventure will be a great bonding experience!

3.    Make it an event – don’t just take dad to the game. Grab a meal before at a sports bar, and even pick up a few novelty items for your team to get right into the spirit!

4.    Invite Dad’s best buds over for a night of poker, movies, or sports.

5.    Avoid family conflict – if you’re planning on arranging something for just you and dad, talk to the other family members first so no one feels snubbed.

However you spend Father Day celebrating your Dad, let him know how much you appreciate him and all the effort he spent celebrating you. It’s his turn now, thank him for the memories and while you’re at it, make a special one for him this Sunday.

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.

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.

Via: Chronic Pain Support

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.

To find out more read this article on BuffaloNews.com.