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Caregiving Health and Wellness

Reasons seniors are struggling with modern technology and tips for overcoming them

Think of three elderly individuals you know. They may be your parents, grandparents, neighbors or other relatives and friends. What does their relationship with technology look like?

Grandpa bangs away at the proudly preserved typewriter in his living room, resisting all contact with the newfangled devices his children and grandchildren are obsessed with. No weekend meetings with the grandkids on zoom and no online ordering when the ache in his back acts up. Max and Martha help with the finances and the family does their best to visit and keep his loneliness at bay.

Elderly Lynn next door, on the other hand, has embraced online banking, shopping, candy crush competitions, and videoconferencing with her children living overseas. She even took advantage of her earlier senior years to hire a teacher and learn how to navigate these software and devices. She enjoys the independence and camaraderie that is now hers, as she maintains control over her personal finances and remains in touch with family and friends.

Practical Limitations//Seniors and Software

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Caregiving Health and Wellness

Implementing Safety Precautions while Respecting Seniors’ Dignity

Rrrring.

Seeing the familiar, though fuzzy, numbers on the screen of my phone this early in the morning is never a good sign.

Dad.

I fumble for my glasses and answer the call. Dad’s voice is calm, but distant. Mom had fallen off the bed. Again. In the early stages of dementia himself, I am relieved that he called as soon as he realized the situation was too difficult to handle alone.

Driving home an hour later, the elderly couple safely back in bed – save for some minor bruises on Mom’s left foot-, my own feet still sock-less, it hit me with certainty that my parents are no longer fit to be living alone. Fear for their safety mingles with helplessness as near-dangerous scenes of the past few months flit through my mind. Who knew if the next emergency would end so simply?

We’d tried introducing panic alarm bracelets, video monitors around the house, and a walker for mom, who struggles to maintain her balance. Our parents’ reaction was vocal protests and hurt feelings, their illogical reasoning mirroring clouded eyes.

As their children, our eyes, too, blurred with tears. Was it possible for us to ensure that our beloved parents – who had kept us warm and safe as we matured – feel safe and respected in their old age?

The Safety vs. Sensitivity Challenge

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Caregiving Health and Wellness

Hiring family Members as Paid Caregivers

Your loved one is aging and requires assistance with daily living. Thankfully, he or she is eligible for government assistance for a caregiver. Still, you wonder, who could possibly be trusted with the physical care, emotional dignity, and financial responsibilities of your family member?

What if they won’t understand her agitation when someone wears a green sweater, which reminds her of great-aunt Tracy?

How will she get accustomed to being served her nighttime tea, deeply steeped yet lukewarm, by a stranger?

You wish it could be one of you, a loving member of the family. Still, each of you has a job to maintain, and a family to sustain, and becoming a full-time caregiver is not a viable option.

Nothing Like Family

By now, programs in many states allow for family members to receive compensation as the caregiver of qualifying loved ones facing old age. You may no longer have to choose between salary and family.[1] 

According to the National Family Caregivers Association, over 50 million Americans provide care to family members in some way, comprising 80 percent of all home care services. The value of this care is estimated at more than $306 billion per year.

Family Member as the Hired Caregiver//The Upside

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Health and Wellness

Four Fascinating Health Benefits Of Coffee – National Coffee Day 2022

National Coffee Day got me thinking about the health benefits of coffee. After researching a bit I found some fascinating results, which I am eager to share with you.

1. Coffee can help increase one’s energy level and make them less tired. Caffeine is a stimulant in coffee which is responsible for warding off sleep and providing increased alertness.

2. Coffee can reduce the risks of Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. There are antioxidants in coffee that may prevent brain cell damage. Antioxidants may also boost the effects of neurotransmitters related to cognitive skills.

3. Coffee also lowers the risk of developing Diabetes. It has not been pinpointed which components in coffee contribute to the decreased risk of Diabetes. Some believe it’s a combination of antioxidants and other nutrients in coffee. However, one should be mindful that drinking coffee should not take away from healthy eating habits and exercise to reduce the risk of Diabetes.

4. Coffee is good for the liver, studies have shown that coffee can prevent people from developing non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) as well as alcoholic cirrhosis, which generally comes from a large quantity of alcohol intake.

Coffee may provide many health benefits, however too much of one thing is not good. As my grandfather used to say, “A little bit of everything and not too much of anything will help you live a balanced and healthy life”. I’ll say the same thing for coffee drinking. A moderate amount of coffee each day can boost your energy and have positive health benefits.

Happy National Coffee day 2022!

*Nothing in this blog should be taken as Medical advice. All information in this blog is for reference purposes only. Speak with your healthcare provider before making any medical decisions based on this article.

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Caregiving Health and Wellness

Driving as we age

Seniors and unsafe driving

As concerned and well-meaning children, we’re faced with the difficult and unenviable position of broaching a sensitive topic with our elderly parents or loved ones. One of the hardest to navigate conversations is to convey to an older adult that it might be time to retire their Driver’s License and start looking for other means of transportation. The last thing we want to do is procrastinate and push off the important conversation for a different time.

Many signs indicate it’s no longer safe for someone to operate a vehicle, and while the signs will vary significantly from person to person, here are some common ones to look out for:

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Caregiving Health and Wellness

Dealing with Dementia

Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia can be challenging for patients and caregivers alike. Learn the top strategies for dealing with dementia that can benefit both you and your loved one.

Ask Yes-or-No Questions

Instead of asking, “What would you like for lunch today?”, simplify the question into one that can be answered with a “yes” or a “no.” A question such as, “Would you like chicken and rice for lunch?” is much easier for someone with dementia to answer without becoming anxious.

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