Boston

If you are an older adult living in the Boston area and want to venture out during the winter months, you will most likely have to tread on slippery surfaces at some point. There are many things that can be done to prevent senior falls in the winter. A large number of injuries are a result of slipping while outside. Taking precautions and using some of the tips provided below will reduce these chances and allow seniors to go outside during the winter months safely.

1.            Always remove snow and ice that accumulates on steps, driveways and walkways. Place sand or salt on paths that are walked on to prevent slips and falls.

2.            Most falls in the winter are due to slipping on the ice. Wearing the correct footwear can help prevent these falls. Seniors should wear shoes that provide good traction on slippery surfaces.

3.            Winter boots should be waterproof, insulated, have low heels and should be light in weight.

4.            Additional precaution can be taken by using ice grippers on footwear. Always remove these from shoes before walking on smooth surfaces because they can be very slippery and actually be the cause of a fall.

5.            If seniors have balance problems, they should be using a cane when outside in the winter. If using a cane, an ice pick can be attached to the bottom, making it easier to navigate slippery surfaces.

6.            When walking on the road, always wear clothes that are bright in color. Also be sure to wear hats, gloves and scarves to prevent loss of body heat.

7.            When traveling on snowy or icy surfaces, move slowly. Take your time and be careful. Paying attention will help prevent many falls.

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

For family members still searching for gift ideas for grandparents or aging relatives, think about the things you could purchase that would really help benefit their lives. Here are a few great ideas to help you out:

• Items that allow them to fell pampered – seniors on a budget are not likely to splurge on things they consider non-essentials. For Christmas gifts, buy candles, soaps and body lotions that allow them to feel pampered at home. Gift cards to restaurants or spas are added luxuries

• Gift baskets – gift baskets with a combination of items, including some of the above, as well as seasonal foods, books, and craft supplies that they will enjoy and make use of are all great things to include! Gift baskets can be bought pre-fabricated or can be created at home

• The gift of companionship – seniors will most appreciate the company of their loved ones. If this is not possible, senior care services can be gifted for companionship and assistance at home.

• Take an elderly loved one out for the day – a trip out for lunch around the holidays to see a movie or a musical event can be a very enjoyable way for them to spend a day and it will be memorable!

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

Just when you thought that family caregiving couldn’t get more complicated… but upon arriving home for the holidays you spot several concerns that leave you worrying more about Mom and Dad. When this happens, you may be left wondering what to do. How do you begin to talk with your elderly mom about getting more help? When do you discuss with your dad giving up the car keys? What do you say to your brothers and sisters when you’re stuck with all the caregiving and you can’t count on your siblings to assist? When you’re a family caregiver, the list of possible caregiver questions and issues is endless.

But everyone is home for the holidays; they are the best time to assess if an older adult needs help. But take care not to ruin the fun or cause a family fight.

Don’t get into the topic when everyone is at the dinner table nor when they may have had too much holiday wine, advises Gail Hunt, President and CEO of the U.S.’s National Alliance for Caregiving.

“When talking with your siblings about your concerns for Mom and Dad, go out to lunch to have that discussion rather than right in the middle of the family festivities. Then approach a parent in a non-threatening way. Perhaps you’re in the kitchen making pies with Mom. You might ask, ‘I saw those bills on the dresser. Is there something I can do to help?’”

The following informational tool has been developed by Home Instead Senior Care for adults who have parents over the age of 70. We invite you to complete this quiz to determine the quality of your parental conversations. After you answer the following 15 questions, you will receive an assessment of your conversational relationship with your parents, along with resources and tips that can help you talk to your aging parents. This assessment is intended for educational purposes only and should not be interpreted as a recommendation for a specific course of action: Communication Assessment.

Remember when talking with your siblings about your concerns for Mom and Dad, go out to lunch to have that discussion rather than right in the middle of the family festivities. Then approach a parent in a non-threatening way. Perhaps you’re in the kitchen making pies with Mom. You might ask, ‘I saw those bills on the dresser. Is there something I can do to help?’”

Need help getting these important conversations off the ground, visit our Conversations Starters page for more information.

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

The 50/50 Rule: Solving Family Conflict programs and practical support services are offered to develop open discussions between adult siblings in an effort to help them improve communication skills, develop teamwork, make decisions together and divide the workload in caring for aging parents. Check out these tips on how to share the care.

Sharing the Care Plans

As adults, you and your siblings might not feel you have much to talk about anymore. But whether you’re still close or if you’ve grown apart, you still have at least one common bond. That’s the planning for care of your elderly mom and dad.

No matter what you family relationships are like, an aging care plan represents uncharted waters for most families. Who takes care of Mom and Dad, and where? Do you seek outside support or try to do it all yourselves? What do you do when you can’t agree or when someone feels left out? Who takes charge when your parent is ill or even dying?

The 50-50 Rule℠ program offers strategies for overcoming sibling differences to help families provide the best care for elderly parents.

At the core of the 50-50 Rule public education program is a family relationship and communication guide of real-life situations that features practical advice from the Home Instead Senior Care network and sibling relationships expert, Ingrid Connidis, Ph.D., of the University of Western Ontario.

Research suggests that siblings don’t want to harm their relationships with each other. That’s why the 50-50 Rule program will help facilitate communication in relationships with brothers and sisters who want to make the most of their parents’ senior years and their own caregiving journey.

Get your free copy of the 50/50 Rule Guide.

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

Holidays are a good time for family members to check on Mom and Dad’s health and level of care they receive at home.

According to AAA (American Automobile Association), the driving ability of older people generally begins to deteriorate at age 55. Of course, this can vary because everyone is different, but certain physical limitations like decreased neck flexibility and deteriorating eyesight begin to surface at about that age. Most adults over 55 feel that their driving experience makes them better drivers. However, studies show that crash rates increase as drivers approach age 70 and certainly increase after age 75.

Here are a few suggestion to know when it’s time for your Mom or Dad to take a driver safety program: (You don’t want to wait until an accident has happened, especially one that could have been prevented with a few safety precautions.)

AAA notes these as signs of diminished capacity for driving safely:

• Having a series of minor accidents or near misses.

• Having wandering thoughts or being unable to concentrate.

• Being unable to read ordinary road signs.

• Getting lost on familiar roads.

• Having other drivers honk at you frequently.

• Being spoken to about your driving by police, family, and friends.

• Your loved one can keep themselves and others safe by learning more about how to drive on the roads today.

An added benefit of taking a senior safety driving course is that many insurance companies will offer discounts to seniors who have completed a course, thereby reducing insurance premiums. Check with your insurance company for the safe driving programs they recognize for senior discounts.

Many of the issues of aging; poor nutrition, home safety, driving, companionship and more can be solved by providing parents with the support they need to continue to maintain their independence. Find out how we can help by calling 617.557.4600.

Source: CSA.us

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

My 86-year-old mom has dementia and other health issues. My siblings and I have different approaches in dealing with her. One sibling is quite demanding but I know my mom doesn’t like that. What can I do?

In addition to being diagnosed with dementia, she also has Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) and depression. She often complains that her leg hurts or is numb a lot. She does not want to get out of the house and wants to stay in her pajamas all day. One of my siblings talks to her a little rough and demands she get dressed and get out. I on the other hand am a softy and do not want to upset my mom or demand that she do something she does not want to do.

Can you please give me some guidance on what’s the best approach to take with my mom for her well being? I don’t want to make her angry when she does not understand what is going on. I do know she does not like to be talked to ugly. My mom complains to me that my sibling talks to her in a bad and demanding tone. Please help me to do what is best for my mom. I am 65 years old and the oldest of my siblings. My siblings tell me I have to tell my mom what to do and not ask her what she wants to do. I appreciate any advice you can give me.

Dr. Amy:  The best thing you can do for your mother is to make sure that she, you, and your siblings all clearly understand:

• The symptoms and treatment for her condition,

• What physical activities are good for people with Peripheral Arterial Disease, and

• How much rest she requires.

Perhaps you and your siblings can visit the doctor with your mother. When you all have a more complete understanding of this condition you will be better able to care for your mother. At the same time, it sounds like your family may need some help learning more effective and gentle ways to communicate. You mentioned that one of your siblings is “talking ugly” to your mother. I am not sure how severely your sibling is talking to your mother, but it is important for all of us to remember that verbal abuse is a form of elder abuse.  A counselor could help you with communication skills. Your local Area Agency on Aging can also recommend resources to help you.

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

When his wife died two months before Christmas, Ida’s Home Instead Senior Care client didn’t have much interest in the holidays that year.

Robert spent the time with family out of town. The next year, while helping to organize a closet, Ida discovered a treasure trove of beautiful Christmas ornaments and decorations that Robert’s late wife had collected throughout the years.

So out came the trees, the ornaments, the holiday tableware, the holiday village and so much more. Suddenly, the holidays took on new meaning again for this 85-year-old senior.

Ida and a fellow Home Instead CAREGiver Kathy engage Robert in other ways, too, including helping him make holiday ornaments. Within his box of ornaments, they discovered an angel decoration and decided to recreate it. So every year now, they make angels to display and give as gifts.

Ornaments are an important part of the Home Instead Senior Care network’s Be a Santa to a Senior® program as well. Home Instead Senior Care offices throughout the country partner with local retailers and use senior-care agencies to identify needy seniors. Trees go up in the community with ornaments that feature the first names of these seniors and their gift requests. BeASantaToASenior.com

Now Robert loves to participate in the Be a Santa to a Senior program each holiday season. Together with his CAREGivers, he buys gifts and makes angel ornaments for other seniors who might need a lift during the holidays.

Home Instead CAREGivers have years of experience bringing cheer and companionship to seniors across the U.S. and Canada – during holidays and throughout the year. We can help you and your loved one make the most of the holidays in Boston this year, find our how 617-557-4600.

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

It’s the holidays and time to break all the rules when it comes to eating, right? That philosophy isn’t healthy for anyone, especially for seniors, who may already be suffering from poor nutrition.

Holidays are a great time to encourage family caregivers to check their senior loved ones for the signs of poor nutrition. Consider the top signs:

Loss of appetite: If a senior has always been a hearty eater but no longer eats as he or she used to, it’s time to find out why. Underlying illness could be the root cause.

Little to no interest in eating out: If a loved one has always enjoyed a favorite restaurant, but no longer shows interest, dig deeper to determine the problem.

Sudden weight fluctuation: A weight change – losing or gaining 10 pounds in six months – is another sign that something could be amiss.

You’ll learn more about nutrition from the educational video series on CaregiverStress.com. And remember, holiday meals don’t need to be boring.

To learn about other challenges senior loved ones could be facing, join us for a free Home for the Holidays web conference moderated by a representative from the Home Instead Senior Care® network, and co-sponsored by the National Family Caregivers Association and the National Alliance for Caregiving.

Learn more about the web conference, offered on Dec. 5 by clicking here Family Education.

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

If you come home to visit you parents and find their house dark and dreary during the festive holiday season, it could be a sign they are no longer up to the holiday decorating they once enjoyed. Encourage your parents to decorate by helping them add color and light to their homes for the holidays. Here are a few ideas to help make their season festive:

Help a senior find and unpack their decorations, or ask to do it on your own. Perhaps that’s a task that they dread tackling by themselves.

Ask your loved one which decorations are most significant to them, and how and where they should be displayed.

Maybe your senior would like to shop for one more decoration to add to his or her collection. You could add to a continuing tradition, such as a new angel ornament for the tree.

Offer to photograph this year’s holiday display, not only to hold a memory for weeks after the holidays, but to remember exactly where everything needs to go next year.

Decorations could tie in with a tradition of holiday foods. Perhaps it’s appropriate to prepare a special dish that’ll complement a table display. Share others’ recipes and stories from the Homemade Memories Cookbook at www.mealsandcompanionship.com.

If your parents need extra help to make the holidays special, Home Instead CAREGivers are easily available to make the holidays more enjoyable for loved ones. Call 617.557.4600 to learn more.

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

Assessment Shows Health System Needs Improvement

Room for improvement – that’s the Commonwealth Fund’s assessment of the U.S. healthcare system. The National Scorecard on U.S. Health-System Performance, 2011 indicates sub-optimal performance in the following critical aging-related care areas:

Patient hospitalizations from nursing homes and hospital re-admissions of Medicare patients

The Scorecard compares U.S. average performance with benchmarks drawn from the top 10 percent of U.S. states, regions, health plans, and hospitals or other providers, as well as from the top-performing countries. The report provides further evidence that home care is important to older adults who are ill or recovering from surgery or poor health.

Performance compared with benchmarks improved on less than half of the indicators assessed since the first Scorecard. The 2011 Scorecard finds that the U.S. as a whole scores only 64, compared with 67 in 2006 and 65 in 2008 – well below the benchmark. National rates for three of five (58%) Scorecard indicators worsened or failed to substantially improve. As observed in the 2006 and 2008 National Scorecards, the bottom-performing group of hospitals, health plans, or geographic regions typically performs well below average, with as much as a fourfold spread between the top and bottom rates.

We hope that by sharing these results will help illustrate why home care is such a vital need in today’s health care climate. Please give us a call to learn how we can help your loved one rehabilitate from a hospital visit – (617)557.4600.

For more information about this study, visit http://www.commonwealthfund.org/Publications/Fund-Reports/2011/Oct/Why-Not-the-Best-2011.aspx?page=2.

Home Care Boston providing elderly services in Cambridge, Boston, and Somerville. Call us at (617)557.4600.