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New Year’s resolution is a phrase that ultimately means failure. So few people actually follow through on them; abandoning their goals mere months after they’ve begun. But seniors don’t have to succumb to this trend this year. Instead, they can really make 2010 a better year by reaching their goals with these tips:

1. Focus on fun – particularly when it comes to losing weight or starting an exercise program, the resolution can become a burden rather than something you desire to achieve. Find exercise activities you enjoy, and if your resolutions have nothing to do with weight loss or exercise; ensure you go about attaining your goals in a way that’s focused on fun!

2. Think about your future today – if you have goals for the future, there’s no better time than now to start working towards achieving them. You might have excuses, whether it’s related to your age, your health, the logistics of getting around or something else; but those are aspects unlikely to change so take the bull by the horns and work towards the goals you set

3. Talk to others – if you tell others about your goals, you’ll be more likely to stick to them. It almost creates a challenge, since you’ll be encouraged to tell your friends and family that you’re successful rather than failing at your New Year’s resolutions. This also gives you a support network for encouragement

Via: AARP

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

When it comes to understanding senior ailments, things just aren’t always black and white which makes it hard for family caregivers to understand when they should be concerned. It’s always better to be safe than sorry, but here are some essential guidelines:

1. Symptoms from medical side effects – side effects that develop from medications should be discussed with a doctor. Some side effects might be normal; others might be a result of mixed medications. All concerns should be addressed with a medical professional

2. Awareness of self-medication – when caregivers see signs that a senior is self-medicating, it should be addressed. Even using over-the-counter medications combined with multiple prescriptions can cause complications

3. Understanding anxiety and depression – unmanaged depression can lead to more serious health complications. Caregivers should recognize the signs and encourage their loved ones to receive treatment

4. Changes in mobility – although physical changes can occur with seniors, changes in mobility do need to be addressed. First, a doctor can investigate any underlying medical problems; and second, changes to a senior’s home can be made to make it a safer environment

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

For many seniors and their caregivers, the holidays just aren’t a joyous time. The holidays can be a source of stress and act as a reminder of things from the past that no longer exist. The holiday blues can be overcome, even in seniors and their caregivers. Instead of saying “bah humbug”, with these tips, they might soon be joining in on the celebrations.

1. Surround yourself with people – even if you don’t have family or friends around that you can spend time with, do join other social events taking place in your community

2. Volunteer – no matter what’s happening in your life, you’ll feel great when you volunteer and give back to those in need

3. Join a support group – sometimes it’s not easy to talk to family about the emotions you’re struggling with, so join a support group that allows you to share your feelings

4. Don’t put pressure on yourself – it’s okay if you don’t feel like celebrating over the holidays, don’t push yourself. Get involved with those things that make you happy, and don’t get down on yourself if you don’t feel joyful

5. Avoid alcohol – alcohol can depress your mood, so even though the wine and eggnog is flowing over the holidays, stick to the non-alcoholic stuff!

6. Know the signs of depression and seek treatment – the holiday blues are one thing, but you also need to recognize depression and get help

Via: Health in Aging

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

Incontinence is an issue that many seniors face, but few are likely to bring up the topic even with their senior caregivers out of embarrassment; and, according to a study only one in three caregivers is likely to broach the subject even if they’ve noticed signs that it’s necessary. To overcome these challenges, caregivers can follow these tips, to ensure that care isn’t compromised due to lack of communication:

1. Ease into the issues gently – caregivers need to ensure when talking about incontinence, that they appear concerned. They can’t make it into a personal issue or make the senior feel embarrassed

2. Understand if it’s appropriate for you to bring up the topic – depending upon your relationship with your senior care recipient, you might want to bring up the topic, or have a friend or medical professional break the ice

3. Try to anticipate how they might react – if you’re bringing up the topic yourself, or even if you’ve talked to a doctor about approaching the subject of incontinence, try to anticipate how the senior might react. Will he/she be embarrassed? Combative? Accepting? This can help you to manage the situation better

4. Empathize – let them know that you care, and while you can’t understand exactly what they’re dealing with, make sure they know you hate that they’re going through it and are there for them

5. Know when to back off – particularly when approaching such a touchy subject, don’t push too hard about your beliefs; know when to back off

6. Talk to a doctor – encourage the senior to seek medical attention to determine the source of the incontinence and appropriate treatment. Caregivers can provide in-depth details to medical professionals if seniors are uncomfortable talking about it

Via: Caring.com

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

It’s a popular belief that a good night’s sleep is something that disappears with youth. In reality, stress is a major contributor that can cause many of the common sleeping issues below, and these issues are more common amongst younger generations:

• Teeth grinding (bruxism) – an involuntary act which can cause problems with oral health and jaw pain

• Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome – a skewed internal clock that often makes it challenging for people to fall asleep before 2am and wake before 7am

• Sleep apnoea – this comes at varying levels of severity, and results in unusual sleeping patterns which can disturb sleep

• Insomnia – difficulty falling and staying asleep

• Restless Leg Syndrome – leg pain that comes with sleep that can interrupt sleeping patterns

Sources:

ScienceDaily

SleepDeprivation.com

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

A new study suggested that the generations of upcoming seniors are likely to face increased medical issues and physical disabilities. It’s of course not good news that the overall health and independence of seniors might be compromised; but this study can demonstrate a need to plan for an increase of disabled seniors in the following ways:

1. Caregivers can arm themselves with knowledge – with this study already circulating, professional caregivers and families with other generations alike can take this opportunity to become more knowledgeable. Professional caregivers can increase their knowledge about dealing with disabled seniors on a large scale, and families can take a long hard look at their prospective care options should this issue become a reality for their family

2. Organizations can improve personal mobility devices – new technology that can assist in the senior care industry is constantly becoming available on the market, but if  there is a greater need that’s upcoming, there’s room for further development and preparation

3. Studies can focus on preventative measures – increased numbers of disabled seniors, particularly if the boomer demographic is affected, could put a strain on the health care system. With this knowledge, health care professionals care work proactively to try and find preventative medicine or establish techniques that may reduce the likelihood that the number of disabled seniors will increase

Via: MedicalNewsToday

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

In the past, AARP’s financial services got a bit of a bad rap, however, over the past few years they have redeemed themselves by offering great services which include mutual funds. Anyone approaching retirement age or who is already retired, should establish a mutual fund to help earn some return of investment on their savings. AARP offers a number of different types of RRSPs from the very conservative, to the most aggressive, and they all offer the following benefits:

1. Costs are low – high investment costs are not something that seniors are looking for, particularly when living on fixed incomes. With that in mind, the AARP creates RRSPs that have low costs.

2. They are lower risk – all of the AARP’s mutual funds are index funds, which means that they are a lower risk, which is great for seniors!

3. Seniors can discuss needs with financial planners – like many financial institutions, the AARP provides financial planners to help seniors make investment decisions that are right for them. Though, it is important to keep in mind that they are paid staff of the AARP, so it’s never a bad idea to get a second opinion from an involved party!

4. Low minimums – some RRSPs require seniors to make large deposits and have a big lump sum of money to invest initially. All of the AARP’s RRSP plans require only $100 to open an account and deposits of at least $25 at a time

Via: MoneyWatch

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

Whether you are going on a trip with your senior or just passing along some advice, senior caregivers should equip themselves with some simple tips to give to their senior. Making the trip with your senior may make it easier to enforce these tips, but if you can’t make the vacation, pass the word along.

• Contact a Travel Agent – Travel agents offer additional discounts for senior citizens on vacations, along with age-appropriate itineraries and travel packages.

• Take Your Time While Traveling- Seniors should not pack too much sightseeing into one day. Make sure to take several breaks throughout your trips so you do not become too exhausted. It is a vacation after all.

• Pack All Medications, Special Equipment and Items You Can’t Live Without- All necessary medications should go in every senior’s suitcase before leaving on a trip. However, plan accordingly as some countries do not allow certain medicines on their soil. If you need a wheelchair be sure to pre-arrange one with airlines and hotels before leaving the house. Also, pack all items you can’t live without such as an extra pair of eyeglasses.

• Think About Your Safety While on the Move- When traveling do not fall victim to thievery. Carry only the amounts of cash you need for the day. Also write down your credit card company’s phone number should your wallet or purse be stolen.

Via: eHow

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

Holidays are stressful enough, but when an illness enters the equation and families begin to worry about the health of a senior relative, that stress is only compounded. It’s still possible to enjoy the holidays, even with the stress hanging over your head, and it’s particularly important that focus still be put upon overcoming adversity and enjoying the season.

1. Stick with tradition – if your family is not what it used to be with members of the family absent or in poor health, it might not feel right to stick with family traditions over the holidays. However, maintaining tradition brings a sense of normalcy to the whole family which can alleviate the stress of the season

2. Don’t try to do it all – while sticking with some tradition is healthy for families struggling through tough situations with their senior relatives, it’s not necessary to do it all. Families should ensure they’re not taking on too much to add any additional stress

3. Adapt to senior’s needs – even if an elderly loved one can’t attend a holiday gathering, if they are in a hospital or nursing home, find out if you can decorate to bring the holidays to them. Bring over a holiday plant, string Christmas lights, or bring over a holiday treat (diet appropriate).

Via: Associated Content

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

No one wants to talk finances, no matter what the situation, but when moving in an elderly parent into your home, it’s a necessary conversation to have. Without standards set regarding how the financial affairs of the household will be handled, tension and resentment can develop and lead to a greater problem. Take the attitude that “it will all work itself out” and you’ll quickly find yourself regretting the decision to move in mom.  To keep the peace, here are some guidelines for financial management when living with a senior:

1. Bridge the topic gently – ensure that finances are discussed before the move happens, but don’t approach it like finances might change your motivations or your ability to care for your loved one

2. Set the standards – discuss what percentage of the household bills your senior will be responsible for. It might not be fair to ask an elderly parent to pay half of the mortgage and utility bills if there are 4 people in your immediate family, and they are just one; but you can ask them to pay one-fifth, or another number that is agreeable to everyone

3. Keep separate bank accounts, but create a common fund – don’t expect that a senior living with you is going to merge their bank account; having their own finances maintains their sense of independence and purpose. However, you can create a joint fund that all contributors can add to in order to make monthly bill payments easier

Via: Guide for Seniors and Boomers Who Live With Them

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