Those who provide care for their spouse face the same challenges as other family caregivers. However, in addition, they also have their own struggles which are unique to their situation. Caregiving for a spouse can cause changes in the relationship, based on reduced intimacy and changing roles in the family; so it’s important that seniors who are establishing caregiver relationships with their spouse maintain communication, try and separate their caregiver relationship from their emotional one, and have a plan for their future. When caregiving for a spouse, both parties may need to adjust and take on new roles. While one spouse may have previously been responsible for financial matters, the other one may need to step in and take over as part of their caregiving responsibilities.

While it is part of the caregiving burden, acceptance and communication during these role changes is crucial; but spousal caregivers also need to make a point to maintain elements of their relationship before they became a caregiver. In order to maintain an emotionally and physically intimate relationship, the relationship shouldn’t be allowed to turn into one of a parent and child. Ensure that you continue to do activities you once enjoyed together, and discuss your sexual intimacy. Remember to plan financially, and have a backup plan should something happen to the care giver spouse so the care recipient receives the care they require. Both spouses should also understand that a level of caregiving stress is common, so a plan should be in place for respite care when the caregiver needs to step temporarily out of their role.

Sources:

1.   Caregiver-Connect

2.    Revolution Health

Image: jupiterimages.com

Home Care Pasadena provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Pasadena, Altadena, San Gabriel, San Marino, Alhambra, Monterey Park, Eagle Rock, La Canada, South Pasadena, Los Angeles area. Call us today at 626-486-0800.

Knowing when your loved one is demonstrating signs of dementia or Alzheimer’s can be one of the first steps to establishing a medical diagnosis and determining appropriate senior care. Read on to determine if the senior in your life could be exhibiting symptoms of dementia.

1. Memory Loss – everyone has brief memory lapses; it’s not unusual to forget the occasional name or date and remember it later, however, seniors with dementia may forget pieces of information that they are never able to recall.
2. Difficulty performing familiar tasks – seniors with dementia may forget simple tasks, like how to turn on the stove.
3. Problems with language – sentences formed by a senior with dementia may be hard to understand, they may forget words or substitute inappropriate ones.
4. Disorientation – seniors with dementia may get lost when close to home because they are disoriented with time and place.
5. Poor judgment – seniors may have trouble making decisions, or dress inappropriately for the weather.
6. Misplacing things in strange places – seniors with dementia may put the milk in the bathroom or their keys in the fridge.
7. Mood changes – often seniors with dementia have rapid mood swings for no discernable reason.
8. Problems with abstract thinking – dealing with numbers may be especially difficult.
9. Personality changes – seniors with dementia may become fearful, suspicious and paranoid or demonstrate behaviors unusual for them.
10. Loss of initiative – seniors with Alzheimer’s may lack motivation on a regular basis; getting out of bed or getting dressed may require prompting.

Check out this resource for more information on Dementia:

Sources:
1. Northwestern University
2. Understanding Alzheimer’s Disease
Image: Geriatrics and Aging

Home Care Pasadena provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Pasadena, Altadena, San Gabriel, San Marino, Alhambra, Monterey Park, Eagle Rock, La Canada, South Pasadena, Los Angeles area. Call us today at 626-486-0800.

Historically, 57% to 75% of family caregivers for seniors have been women of a certain demographic; but as gender roles change, so does the family caregiving structure; and more men are becoming involved in the care of an elderly parent or family member. However, statistics do show that many of these male caregivers aren’t caring for elderly parents; they are providing care for their spouse who is suffering from an illness or injury. When it comes to caring for an older relative, men continue to play a decreased role compared to their female family members; they provide support, but women still spend 50% more time caring for a senior.

However, as many women hold careers that are just as demanding as their male spouses and men are playing a greater role in the care of their children, we might begin to see an increase in the numbers of male family caregivers as the family structure continues to change and adapt. And, according to studies, an increase of male presence in home and community care for seniors will have its benefits. Male caregivers can initiate greater large motor activities, due to physical strength; might encounter fewer workplace injuries due to the strain of lifting senior care recipients; and might be able to handle more strenuous housekeeping duties.

If you know a male that is a family caregiver we would like to hear from you… please send us a comment about your experience and we can post it on our blog.

Home Care Pasadena provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Pasadena, Altadena, San Gabriel, San Marino, Alhambra, Monterey Park, Eagle Rock, La Canada, South Pasadena, Los Angeles area. Call us today at 626-486-0800.

With no known cure for Alzheimer’s, the senior healthcare profession is constantly searching for methods to improve the cognitive skills of senior Alzheimer’s patients. Research studies completed by the University of California and other Alzheimer’s experts have discovered not only that music therapy is an effective way to allow seniors to express themselves when verbal communication becomes impossible; music also stimulates the memory which can prevent further development of the cognitively crippling disease.

According to the study completed by the University of California, seniors suffering from Alzheimer’s can listen to music soundtracks of their past to evoke memories and emotions locked away. The pre-frontal cortex, the region of the brain which seems to be responsible for linking music to memories seems to be the least affected by Alzheimer’s, shows the positive affects that music has upon the disease. Senior healthcare professionals hope that by playing seniors music they are familiar with, they can stimulate the memories of seniors with Alzheimer’s and prevent development of the affects of the disease.

Music therapy is a common treatment used upon senior patients; music therapy can help seniors communicate, even eliciting physical responses in seniors with late stage Alzheimer’s. It can also reduce agitation, coordinate motor movements, and create positive interactions with others. There is no doubting the positive benefits of music on memory and senior well-being, and with these positive developments; home caregivers and medical professionals are using music therapy as a common treatment method for seniors with Alzheimer’s.

Sources:
1.    prnewswire.ca
2.    The Telegraph: Richard Alleyne
3.    Music Therapy Association of BC

Image Source: pro.corbis.com

Home Care Pasadena provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Pasadena, Altadena, San Gabriel, San Marino, Alhambra, Monterey Park, Eagle Rock, La Canada, South Pasadena, Los Angeles area. Call us today at 626-486-0800.

Hearing loss is a hard reality for many seniors which can greatly complicate ease of communication with their family, friends, caregivers and other professionals. When communicating with a senior, don’t underestimate the benefits of using body language to ensure the older adult understands the message you’re delivering.  Visual cues and non-verbal forms of communication can help seniors better grasp the meaning in the conversation, since hearing impairments can make it to difficult to rely upon the spoken word alone.

When caring for the elderly or engaging with a senior in communication; talk with your hands and use expressive body language as visual cues. Point to objects you’re referring to; use thumbs up or thumbs down; use your hands to describe the size or location of objects; and laugh or smile so they can grasp the nature of the conversation. Make sure there is nothing physically in the way that stops seniors from interpreting your body language, maintain eye contact, and avoid fidgeting which could cause seniors to misinterpret your non-visual cues.

Remember caregivers and family members, while at times communicating with a senior who struggles with their hearing may be frustrating, the elderly are dealing with issues that can be life-changing.

Sources:
1.    Public Health Agency of Canada
2.    TenderLovingEldercare.com
Home Care Pasadena provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Pasadena, Altadena, San Gabriel, San Marino, Alhambra, Monterey Park, Eagle Rock, La Canada, South Pasadena, Los Angeles area. Call us today at 626-486-0800.

We know you appreciate everything that your long-term caregiver does for your aging family member, and believe that sometimes it’s appropriate to say thank you with a gift. If a family caregiver is responsible for senior care, sometimes the best gift to give them is a break. By providing them assistance with their responsibilities, they will have the opportunity to focus on themselves for a change. Everyone deserves a break; so offer to take your elderly relative shopping, prepare a meal. Another welcome gift for family caregivers is to pre-pay for a service that is typically an expense from their own pocket; buy a gift certificate for grass cutting, or house keeping to save them the expense.

If you want to show a senior caregiver hired from an agency that you appreciate them, first check with the agency for their policy on gift-giving. Many senior care agencies do not allow their caregivers to accept monetary gifts, but a small token of your appreciation; like flowers, a gift basket or a gift certificate for a nice meal can be great ways to say “thank you” to a long-term senior caregiver if they can accept the gifts.

Whether a caregiver who cares for an elderly family member is paid for their services or not, it’s important to remember how great their impact is on enhancing the lives of seniors; it doesn’t take much to say “thank you”, even if only in words.

Sources:
1. Area Agency on Aging
2. Caregiver’s Care Station

Home Care Pasadena provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Pasadena, Altadena, San Gabriel, San Marino, Alhambra, Monterey Park, Eagle Rock, La Canada, South Pasadena, Los Angeles area. Call us today at 626-486-0800.

When it comes time to make decisions regarding senior care services for your aging parent, one of the major factors to consider is affordability. Believe it or not, in home care services are one of the most affordable options for seniors who are struggling to live independently in their own homes. Hiring a caregiver to help out in your aging parent’s home can cost anywhere from $12 to $25 an hour, depending upon the services provided by the agency and the state that you live in. Compared to a traditional nursing home or long-term care facility, which cost on average of $153 per day in the United States, the costs of in-home care are substantially lower, especially because of the flexibility it offers. With in-home caregiving services, families can decide the amount of care required by an in-home caregiver, which can start at a few hours a week to 8-hour long caregiving days. This can be determined both on care requirements of the senior, and the finances they have available for home care.

In order to determine if senior services are affordable for the senior in your family, take a close look at both their income and expenses; ensuring that their budget allows them to continue to put away 10% to fund future medical and housing needs. Medicare and Medicaid do not typically cover in-home care services, but many private insurance policies do; so ensure you determine which home care costs would have to be paid out of pocket and make sure that all the numbers add up to figure out if home care is an affordable option.

Sources:
1. Business Week, Beth Piskora
2. The Federal LTC Insurance Program
3. Senior Living Today
Home Care Pasadena provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Pasadena, Altadena, San Gabriel, San Marino, Alhambra, Monterey Park, Eagle Rock, La Canada, South Pasadena, Los Angeles area. Call us today at 626-486-0800.

2009’s Economic Stimulus Plan brings both good and bad news for senior Americans. While some of the bills President Obama is hoping to have passed by the senate do benefit seniors’ financial needs; there are advocates who fear that the provisions might hurt Social Security benefits and healthcare long-term. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), recently passed by the House, does includes some senior-friendly elements such as $87 billion to help fund state Medicaid programs; $650 million to continue the DTV coupon program (allowing people to convert from analogue to digital cable); and $500 million dollars has been allocated to the Social Security Administration to process the rise in disability and retirement claims.

According to the Stimulus Plan, unemployed people age 65 and older will be able to retain their COBRA health insurance coverage, so they are not burdened with exorbitant medical costs until they are eligible for Medicare coverage. Healthcare provisions have also been added that will allow medical institutions to store information about senior health electronically to increase senior medical care. However, they also include a controversial component which requires that medical providers choose medical treatments that are cost-effective. While this may help keep seniors’ bills for medical care low, advocates also worry that this will impact the quality of care received by those with Medicare benefits or private insurance coverage.

Obama’s 2009 Economic Stimulus Plan will also put money directly into seniors’ pockets, with eligibility for one time payments for retirees, including $300 for seniors receiving SSI, Social Security, Railroad Retirement and Veterans Benefits.

Sources:
1. Spectrum

2. Bloomberg.com (Betsey McCaughey)

3. Associated Press: (Adrian Sainz)
Home Care Pasadena provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Pasadena, Altadena, San Gabriel, San Marino, Alhambra, Monterey Park, Eagle Rock, La Canada, South Pasadena, Los Angeles area. Call us today at 626-486-0800.

Choosing the right caregiver to assist an aging family member at home requires that you understand the type of care they require. Two main types of home care are available; home care and home health care, and while the senior home care terms may sound similar, they have very different meanings.
Home care refers to non-medical in-home care for seniors. This type of elderly home care is provided by a professional caregiver who is not medically trained. Home care professionals, like caregivers from Home Instead Senior Care, provide in-home assistance with non-medical tasks including:

• Light housekeeping
• Assistance running errands
• Cooking and meal preparation
• Medication reminders (but not administration)
• Transportation
• Home care assistance with Activities of Daily Living (ADL’s)
• Companionship for seniors

Home health care on the other hand, refers to home nursing care administered by a medically trained caregiver, nurse or doctor. Typically, home nursing care providers help a senior with their medical needs, although some home health care organizations may provide a combination of services that include some ADL’s assistance (bathing, personal hygiene) as well as more traditional medical care. Home health care providers are typically responsible for the following:

• Administering medications
• Changing bandages or attending to wounds
• Assistance with Activities of Daily Living
• Some light housekeeping (depending upon the service provider)
• Specialized care, like rehab and physiotherapy services

Source:  The Gilbert Guide

Home Care Pasadena provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Pasadena, Altadena, San Gabriel, San Marino, Alhambra, Monterey Park, Eagle Rock, La Canada, South Pasadena, Los Angeles area. Call us today at 626-486-0800.

Just because many seniors live on a fixed income, doesn’t mean they can’t save money to help them prepare for their retirement future. There are many methods that seniors can implement on their own, to help them put together their retirement fund, and with a little support from their families to manage their assets and investments; family members and caregivers can help ensure that their loved ones are supported into their elder years.

How Seniors Can Save:

• Stick to a budget – seniors can outline a regular monthly budget that accounts for their typical expenses. As long as their budget is realistic, seniors can monitor their spending and have money leftover to put away for retirement.
• Look for discounts – By shopping at the places that offer senior discounts, seniors can keep additional money in their bank accounts which can be put towards retirement.
• Shop smartly – instead of selecting brand name items, seniors can stick to store brands and purchase items that are on sale. When grocery shopping, choosing fresh fruits and vegetables that are in season tends to be more economical; buying canned or frozen will also keep money in a senior’s pocket.
• Think free – for entertainment, check the newspaper for free events happening in the area.

How Families Can Help:

• Researching investments – families can help seniors research their options when it comes to investing in retirement to ensure they are making the best choice. Having a second point-of-view regarding major financial decisions is always wise.
• Offering support – encourage and support a senior in their efforts to spend less!

Source:  Associated Content   (Ever Odessa)

Home Care Pasadena provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Pasadena, Altadena, San Gabriel, San Marino, Alhambra, Monterey Park, Eagle Rock, La Canada, South Pasadena, Los Angeles area. Call us today at 626-486-0800.