Summer Fun with an Aging Loved One

Now That Summer is Finally Here, It’s a Great Opportunity to Have Some Summer Fun!

It is official: Summer has begun! For an aging loved one, summer is an ideal time to get outside, get some fresh air, and do some fun summer activities like talking walks, birdwatching, and going to an outdoor music concert.

Because winters can be isolating with cold, snowy weather that prevents seniors from getting outside, it is important for caregivers and families to take advantage of the warmer weather and help the senior be active. It probably goes without saying how important exercise and time outside breathing in fresh air is to someone’s physical well-being, but it is equally important for their mental and emotional health. Being outside, enjoying the sunshine and the company of others can do a world of good to boost a senior’s mood. And a happier mood and positive outlook can lead to a longer and healthier life.

For a fun-filled and memorable summer with your aging loved one, consider these Summer Fun Tips:

• Go for a walk. Many counties in Illinois have forest preserves with dedicated walking paths. Even a walk around the neighborhood can be enjoyable to a senior.
• If the senior enjoys birds, why not venture down to Chicago’s new Nature Boardwalk by the Lincoln Park Zoo and enjoy the birds and geese that call the area home, which is also teeming with frogs, herons, and dragonflies, as well as native grasses and wildflowers. There is also a bird sanctuary a little north of the zoo at Montrose Point.
• Enjoy the roses and flowers at the Chicago Botanical Garden, which also has free outdoor concerts on Tuesday evenings during the summer. Can’t make it on a Tuesday? No problem. The Botanical Garden has extended hours in the summer each night, staying open until 9 p.m. and serving food on their outdoor patio.
• If a rainy day occurs, as they do in the summer, you can spend part of the day helping the senior Skype with their children and grandkids. Skype is a great and low-cost way for a senior to stay connected to long-distance loved ones.

Do be mindful of summer heat. With hotter temperatures in July and August, dehydration can be a serious threat to a senior. Make sure the senior drinks adequate amounts of water to stay hydrated. Fruits and vegetables with high water content such as cucumbers, tomatoes, zucchini, peaches, grapes, and watermelon can also be a way to keep the senior hydrated. And on extremely hot days, try to go outside early in the morning or in the evening when temperatures are cooler.

For more geriatric care tips and advice, e-mail me at PMenoni@PartnersInSeniorCare.com or call me at 866-203-7290. I would love to hear from you.

Trisha

The Flood In North Dakota

Many of you know that Partners in Senior Care is a family owned home care and geriatric care management agency, but what many do not know is that we lived for 9 wonderful years in the small town of Minot, North Dakota.

People often ask why we loved Minot so much (we readily admit we don't miss the 25 below zero winters), but we say we love the people. The Menoni girls rode on a float in the ND State Fair and the float says it best - "The Pride of North Dakota is its People".


I was pregnant in 1979 - the year after we moved to Minot. The last 6 weeks of this pregnancy was spent on bed rest. Our three girls were 9 and under and grandparents were over 900 miles away, but the women of Little Flower Church brought us dinner every night for 6 weeks. I did not know many of these women and when I asked "how can I ever repay your generosity?" I was told "Next year it will be your turn to help someone." The people of North Dakota understand and live the principle of "People helping People". Or as a recent movie said "Pay it Forward." It is a lesson I learned from the ladies of my church, one my daughters learned from the people and one we continue to try to live by.

The people of Minot, North Dakota have paid it forward time and time again. Recently, the city of Minot has been flooded by the Mouse River. Over 11,000 people have been displaced - 25% of their population - and likely will lose their home. Imagine if it were your home in the photos below. Many people we know have lost the homes they lived in, raised their children in, and played with their grandchildren in.


We are asking for your help.
We have been in contact with Roger Reich from the Minot Commission on Aging and he is communicating to us what immediate needs the seniors in the area have and Partners in Senior Care is working to help them.

Lucille Levine, with Disposables Delivered, has made available to us various supplies needed such as latex gloves, incontinence supplies, personal wipes, bleach cleaning wipes, and Ensure at cost. The cost per case varies and that includes next day delivery. I am going to place an order with her on Friday and Tuesday to be sent directly to the Commission on Aging in Minot.

If you would like to participate, please fill out the attached form and fax to Partners in Senior Care. 100% of what you send is going to the supplies Minot needs and we will cover the processing fees for the credit cards. If you are interested in helping, please complete the attached order form, fax it to us, and we will take it from there.

Thank you for your help. We hope you have a safe and happy 4th of July.

Last-Minute Father’s Day Gift Ideas for an Aging Parent

Check out our list of Father’s Day gift ideas that are age-appropriate for the dad in your life

In Honor of Father’s Day, we thought we would share some age-appropriate gift ideas for your dad that will not only help him feel honored this Father’s Day, but will also help him age successfully. As fathers age, many have special concerns like hearing loss, poor vision, cognitive disabilities, and more. Find your dad a gift that he can use to make his life better and more enjoyable.

· A decorative bag to attach to a walker, including bags that depict golf or outdoor scenes.

· Battery-operated electronic games like Solitaire or Bridge that can stimulate his mind.

· Ergonomic writing pens to ease writing for dads with arthritic fingers.

· An extra-long shoe horn to avoid bending when putting on shoes.

· Hand-held magnifying glasses to ease eye strain.

· A “big button” TV remote control for easy viewing and use.

· Nail clippers with an over-sized, soft grip for older hands.

· A “memory” photo album or a digital photo album that does a photo slide show. You can scan old photos from your dad’s childhood, including wedding photos with your mom and photos of you as a child, and turn them into JPEG files if you go the digital photo album route. Be sure to also include new photos of any grandkids, and maybe throw in some photos of a destination your dad enjoyed visiting or hopes to visit someday.

· A user-friendly CD player and some of his favorite music, including jazz, Broadway tunes, Big Band, and more.

· Pill bottle magnifiers that enlarge prescription bottle labels.

· Pill organizers designating morning, noon, evening, and bedtime to alleviate confusion regarding which medications to take and when.

· Gift certificates for haircuts, toe-nail clippings, or a personal historian to record his memoirs.

Of course the best gift of all is your time. Taking your dad out for a meal or to a local botanical garden or a nearby sculpture park for a walk can mean so much. You could also take your dad for a scenic drive or to a concert or to church. The time you spend with him, especially as he ages, is truly the best gift of all.

If you have any gift ideas for an aging parent that you would like to share, including ideas for birthdays and the holidays, I would love to hear from you. Please e-mail your ideas to PMenoni@PartnersInSeniorCare.com or call me at 866-203-7290. I will post them in one of my upcoming blogs.

Trisha

Summer Travel Tips

Learn how to vacation with an aging loved one or feel comfortable having them stay at home

Summer is finally here and that means BBQs, fireworks, baseball games, and travel. Summer is a great time to get away with your family. And while summer travel can be a fun experience for an aging parent or loved one, especially if that trip is to see grandchildren, seniors may not be as mobile or energetic as they were in years past. Partners in Senior Care has several tips for a successful summer trip with an aging parent or loved one including:

· Obtaining medical clearances from a physician to ensure the trip is realistic and appropriate.

· Gathering necessary paperwork and documents, including insurance cards, medication, physician’s phone number, medical records, etc.

· Know where to find a physician in another city, including where to get chemo if leaving during treatment, etc.

· Choosing the right mode of transportation. For example, most airlines offer priority boarding for senior passengers, as well as onboard wheelchair availability and priority check-in for wheelchairs and mobility devices. Also be sure to allow for longer connection times between flights and arrange for wheelchair transportation between terminals or gates. Better yet: Try for direct flights rather than layovers even if that means spending more money on the ticket. Ideally, trips should be single destinations rather than a series of visits. Train travel is another option. Amtrak provides oxygen equipment. And if driving, rent a car or van that provides plenty of space and accessible features.

· When flying, minimize carry-on luggage but be sure to carry on all medicines with you. Also bring a note from the senior’s doctor regarding all of their medications in case airport security asks to see prescription validation and information.

· Deciding if your budget allows for a professional skilled eldercare aide to travel with you.

· Sticking with the familiar – vacation to familiar places that the senior enjoyed or is accustomed to.

· If the senior has dementia, make sure they are wearing an identification bracelet that cannot be misplaced.

· When going to a special event, such as a wedding or graduation, arrive a day or two before hand to allow rest time before the event.

· Have a contingency plan in place that allows you to leave early if the senior becomes ill, agitated, or wants to go home.

If you are staying at a hotel with an aging parent or loved one, consider these hotel tips:

· Alert the hotel to any special needs for the senior.

· Use room service the night you arrive for your meal to make things easy and less stressful.

· Take nightlights with you for the bedroom and bathroom.

It is important to keep in mind that seniors who exhibit the following behaviors should avoid overnight travel, including:

• Becoming physically or verbally aggressive.
• Becoming confused during or after social outings.
• Awakening at night confused.
• Having poorly managed incontinence.
• Requiring special assistance or equipment with feeding if public dining rooms will be used.
• Resisting or arguing with caregiver’s instructions.
• Wandering or pacing.
• Are easily frightened, confused, agitated, or wanting to go home.
• Are unable to communicate their needs to others.
• Having unstable medical conditions.
  
  

If an aging parent or loved one is not able to travel with you and needs to stay home, many retirement homes offer temporary care. Another option is to arrange daily home care visits to aid in washing, dressing, and meal preparation such as Partners in Senior Care’s Geriatric Care Retainer Program that lets family members utilize a caregiver on an as-needed basis. This program can also be used if an aging parent or loved one is visiting you. If the senior does stay home when you travel, you could Skype with them while you are on the road and tell them about your trip. This way the senior feels connected to you and your adventures.

For more geriatric care tips and advice, e-mail me at PMenoni@PartnersInSeniorCare.com or call me at 866-203-7290. I would love to hear from you.

Trisha