Posts Tagged ‘Elder care’

Spring Cleaning….Your Files
Amy Praskac, Professional Organizer, On the Record
Do you have papers piled high on your bookshelves, crammed in your desk drawers, and squashed in your file cabinet? Wouldn’t it be nice to let some fresh air into those spaces?

Spring is an ideal time to clean out your files. You’re already dealing with paperwork to file your tax return. Just keep going. Here are a few guidelines to help you decide what to keep and what you can let go.

Keep monthly or quarterly statements until you receive the year-end statement. Verify the year-end statement is correct and then shred earlier statements. This also applies to paystubs.

Keep tax-related documents for three years. The IRS has three years to audit your return. There are exceptions such as failure to report income and filing a fraudulent return. You need to retain property records that document the basis for computing gain or loss until three years after you dispose of the property and file a tax return on that income (or loss). See IRS Publication 552 for details (Rev. January 2011).

Keep warranties until they expire or you no longer own the appliance. Keep manuals for as long as you own the appliance. This may seem obvious, but when is the last time you purged your file? Many people get rid of the appliance, but forget to get rid of the warranty and manual.

Keep important documents in a safe deposit box. Important documents include birth certificates, marriage certificates, divorce papers, automobile titles, property deeds, military discharge papers, and partnership papers. Keep a list of documents and photocopies at home in case you need the information. It is vital that the safe deposit box be titled in more than one name so that you have access.

Safe disposal of documents: Shred any documents that have your personal information. This is to protect yourself against identity theft. Use a cross-cut shredder for maximum safety. Remember to oil the shredder monthly.

Studies show that humor is the best medicine for everything that ails you so I’ve decided to list a few creative signs to put a smile on your face….That I pulled from one of my favorite booklets Good Stuff. 

In a podiaterist’s office: “Time wounds all heels.”

At a proctologist’s door: “To expedite your visit please back in.”

On a plumber’s truck: “We repair what your husband fixed.”

On another plumber’s truck: “Don’t sleep with a drip. Call your plumber.”

On a church billboard: “Seven days without God makes one weak.”

At a tire shop in Milwaukee: “Invite us to your next blowout.”

On an electrician’s truck: “Let us remove your shorts.”

In a non-smoking area: “If we see smoke, we will assume you are on fire and take appropriate action.”

On a maternity room door: “Push, Push, Push.”

On a taxidermist’s window: “We really know our stuff.”

At an optometrist’s office: “If you don’t see what you’re looking for, you’ve come to the right place.”

On a fence: “Salesmen welcome! Dog food is expensive.”

At a car dealership: “The best way to get back on your feet – miss a car payment.”

In a veterinarian’s waiting room: “Be back in 5 minutes. Sit! Stay!”

In the front yard of a funeral home: “Drive carefully. We’ll wait.”

At a propane filling station: “Thank heaven for little grills.”

—Bob Haeffner
P.S. If your interested in finding out how to get ”Good Stuff” email me and I’ll give you their info. 

With Valentine’s Day around the corner, hearts are on the mind. In honor of this month of love, we would like to provide some insight into the emotional rollercoaster that often occurs after a heart attack.

When a loved one is recovering from a heart attack, be prepared that he or she may not be able to do the same activities or tasks as before the heart attack, and this can be frustrating for everyone. Some people are able to recover more fully than others, but the key is to be patient and allow time for proper recovery. Talk to the medical team to get a better understanding of what to expect for the future. Here are a few other effects you can expect:

• Expect your loved one to have actively changing emotions and possible fears of death.
• Allow time to adjust and be sure to express how both you and your loved one feel.
• Support your loved one in making necessary lifestyle changes to prevent a reoccurrence or complication.
• Make future plans and help your loved one start “living” again.
• Accept that your roles may be temporarily reversed.
• Take the time to simply listen.
• When speaking, try to use I statements rather than you statements, such as “I feel frustrated” rather than “You make me feel frustrated.”

Keep in mind that the rehabilitation process enables many people to do much more than they ever expected, and eventually the up and down emotions of recovery should settle down. For more tips and information on recovery after a heart attack, click here.
Practical Care Continuum in Austin, Texas knows how to properly care for someone recovering from heart surgery or a heart attack. Our caregivers can prepare delicious, heart-healthy meals, do light housekeeping and our care team will work seamlessly with your physicians to provide the best coordinated, specialized care. Contact us today to learn more.

I have exercised all my life, but come from parents who considered breaking a sweat a waist of time.  So when I see my mother in so much pain due to back problems I think to myself (because I don’t want to push her) that it would be so helpful for her to strengthen her back and leg muscles.  She lays in bed all day either watching TV or reading and everyday she is in severe pain.  I know that if I don’t get moving everyday I get stiff and my moods aren’t the best.

Recently, while going through my Twitter account, I came across this blog post from the Alzheimer’s Reading Room, on what I see as getting things done to make you and your elders life easier and more enjoyable.   But a huge part of the article covers getting his mother to exercise even though she is mean to him on the way to the gym.  I’m thinking I need to get my own mother to the gym or have someone come to the house who can start working with her.

Has anyone starting something like this with their elderly parent?  Do you have any suggestions for a trainer or physical therapist in the Austin area?

My mom has always been a loner.  I don’t remember her being around much as I was growing up as she was always either at work or hiding in her room.  She still does those things (other than the work) while living with me.  She says she isolates herself because she doesn’t want to bother the family but it’s hard to know why she does it now when it’s been a life long pattern.

When she does emerge from her room, the kids love to visit with her and the dog absolutely adores her.  She unfortunately feeds him from her plate.  But she also pets him and lets him hide under her chair when the occasional Texas thunderstorm happens by.

Every year our family goes to Garner State Park to camp but this year we decided to visit a private camp ground called 7 bluffs.  We rented a big house so everyone, all 15 of us, could spend time together with Grandma, or Nona as she likes to be called.  Up to the last minute I thought she would change her mind but I kept encouraging her and she went.  I got her books to read and anything else that might keep her busy.  But after the first day she was ready to leave.  I think she missed her television which she leaves on 24/7 at home.  There was only one in the house and the kids had hijacked it for cartoons and tween shows.

She told one of my siblings she would never  come with us again.  She hasn’t told me that.  I guess she doesn’t want to hurt my feelings. I have to wonder though why she complains about not seeing her grandchildren more often and when she gets the opportunity to see all of them at once for 5 days she wants to high tail it out of there.  She did tell me the highlight of the trip was seeing the baby deer outside her window.  Sigh, I guess spending time with family will never be her thing.

Change is hard for anyone but especially older adults who have lived a lifetime doing things a certain way.  I shouldn’t have expected her to change her routines and become more social because I thought she would have a good time.  She knows what she likes and sticks to it.  I felt as though if I didn’t ask her to go her feelings would be hurt and she thought if she said no my feelings would be hurt.  I guess a little better communication would have been in order here but although she has  been living with me for over 6 months now I still can’t shake that mother/daughter role with every aspect of our relationship.

I think the lesson for caregivers is to find ways to socialize their parent(s) that follow their life long patterns.  Or at the very least introduce new activities in small doses.  Maybe 5 days was not such a good idea and maybe I should have brought her her own television.  I can’t help trying and I don’t think it’s right for caregivers to not try something.  Our parents did it for us when we where young and now it’s our time to change roles.

The statistics shout loud and clear. Most people prefer to age in the comfort of their own homes rather than face a move elsewhere. Having said that, home care is not always the best care option for everyone. So how do you determine if home care will be a good option for you or your loved one’s long-term care?

 First determine the needs: Does the senior require minimal or a lot of assistance with daily personal tasks such as bathing, grooming, medications and feeding himself? Is the senior able to walk and transfer from a bed or a chair independently or is a lot of assistance required? Is the senior experiencing some or a lot of mental impairment such as with Alzheimer’s or dementia that might require around the clock care? These are all questions that should be considered. A home care manager such as at Practical Care Continuum can help you sort through the questions and implications of the answers.

 Now consider finances: How will the home care be paid for? Non-medical home care is typically paid for through private funds or long-term care insurance. However, there are other options to explore, such as veterans’ benefits.

 Weigh the pros and cons: Home is where the heart is, and with a well-trained personal caregiver to ensure safety, socialization, proper diet and exercise, it is no wonder that home care is such a popular option for care. But finances and/or a senior’s abilities may make other options for care a better choice for a particular person. For more information on options for care at home, click here. 

Contact Practical Care Continuum in Austin, Texas for a complete geriatric assessment with suggestions for care needs.

I wanted to take a moment to let everyone know about the wonderful care my mother is receiving at the Summit at Westlake Hills in South Austin.    But first a little bit of background on my mothers situation.

• My 82 year old mother has been independent until a recent cold which has really brought her down.
• I wanted her to stay in her apartment an hour and a half from me because I thought she would have more interaction with people.  She staying in her room all the time.
• She has been depressed for years but never more so than after my fathers death 9 years ago.
• She was hospitalized for a week and then discharged to a Rehab unit next to her apartment which after less than 24 hours I pulled her out of due to complete incompetence.

Ok this is my experience with the Summit.  I called on Friday morning to see if they had an opening for her and their Admissions Coordinator, Tammy, said sure! and she would handle it all for me.  And did she ever.  She kept in contact with me throughout the day while I retrieved my mother from the “other” facility and she met my mother at the door with flowers.  As a caregiver who was stressed out and very upset at the poor decision I had originally made it was such a relief to know my mother was finally in good hands.  The nurse and the therapist saw her in the first hour, they had everything ready for her and I could finally relax.

I have never seen my mother so happy.  She actually got her hair set.  I haven’t seen her do that since before my father passed away.  She loves the staff there.  They have been kind to her and patient with me.  I have run nursing homes in my past and have always had to force myself back into them.  But this place doesn’t give me the willies.  I think it’s a combination of everything from the staff to the ambiance.

I wanted to use my blog to express my appreciation of their care of both my mother and myself. I don’t know if this is the thing to do but as it’s my blog I’m guessing I can.   If you live in South Austin and need to place your family member in a facility for care I highly recommend The Summit at Westlake!

I just found out about this great program from the Institute for Music & Neurologic Function.
Their mission is:
Through the scientific explorations of music and the brain, the Institute for Music and Neurologic Function seeks to establish new knowledge and develop more effective therapies which awaken, stimulate and heal through the extraordinary power of music.

My favorite part of this whole program though is the list of downloads for Ipods designed specifically for those with dementia. You can go to their website, click on the songs they have suggested and it takes you to the ITunes store where you can download each one. What a great idea.
As I’m in my 40′s I forget some of the songs for people in their 80′s and 90′s. This program makes it easy for me to download the most appropriate tunes in the shortest amount of time.
Music has been found to sooth the soul and it is never more so than in someone who has or is losing their memory. Music is always there for them. Click here to go to the web page on music for persons with dementia.