December 22, 2009
Carol Carbutti, the Owner of Comfort Keepers of Wallingford, CT Would Like to Remind Family Members and Caregivers to Take the Time to Assess their Elderly Seniors Homecare Needs During the Holidays
By Carol Carbutti
We live in a very mobile society where families don’t always live in the same town or state as their senior in home parents. Unlike the “old days”, entire families throughout America don’t have the opportunity to come together as often as they would like. That is why the holiday season has become an important time to take stock of your elderly homecare parent’s health and everyday living capabilities. Family gatherings with elderly family members from out of town, or even the more frequent family phone calls from long distance relatives, are a perfect time to ‘check up’ on our aging seniors who live on their own.
It is not uncommon for the senior’s adult children, especially the Baby Boomer generation, to have some concerns about how their elderly parents are doing. In fact, according to the Family Caregiver’s Alliance, families provide 80 percent of the long-term in home caregiving assistance in this country. During this holiday season, while you are enjoying your visits or on the phone with your aging loved ones, you should make good use of your time by reviewing their living status and basic healthcare issues.
Using Your Five Senses
Family members will notice that many of your holiday traditions will tempt an aging parents five senses. These same senses can be put to use while evaluating the status of senior family members. Below is a checklist using each of your senior citizens five senses to determine if your elderly parents are in need of additional companionship or personal care assistance:
Sight - Looking at a retired senior’s appearance can be a sign that they are being limited either physically or mentally from completing otherwise normal daily tasks. Watch for things like poor personal hygiene, clothes with stains and a disorganized or dirty house.
Sound - Listening to what your senior talks about and how an elderly parent speaks can tell you a lot about their current mental status. You should not assume that “old age” is causing these issues. Do they call you by name? Are they speaking normally? Are they staying involved in outside activities?
Smell – All caregivers and homemaking companions should use their nose as an indicator to determine if their in home aging mom or dad has been bathing properly. Family members should also make sure their elderly parents are able to keeping up with their house cleaning. Another sign of difficulty would be if you notice that your retired parents have spoiled food in their kitchen and refrigerator.
Taste - Tasting their food and sorting through their medications can help you determine if they are eating healthy or taking expired medications. Look at expiration dates and for fresh and stocked pantry items.
Touch - A simple hug can tell you if your senior dad is fragile or losing weight. You also need to check their skin to see if it is soft and if the color is normal. If you see any bruising or tearing you need to report this to your elderly parents’ primary doctor immediately.
Review Status by Phone
During telephone conversations you should gently probe for information about the aging seniors health and well-being. Below is a list of sample questions that are key indicators or warning signs to help determine if your retired senior parents are in need of additional homemaking or caregiving assistance:
· What did you have for breakfast? If your aging elderly mom cannot remember what she ate for breakfast that morning, forgot to eat breakfast or the meal appears to lack nutritious value, a memory problem such as dementia could be setting in.
· Always ask questions to stimulate your healthy aging parents mind like, did you go to the beauty salon to get your hair cut? Did you use the new shower gel I bought you? These are good ‘backdoor’ questions to finding out whether or not your elderly loved one is remembering to take care of his/her hygiene.
· Did you make it to Bingo this week? An early sign of senior depression is withdrawal from social activities.
· Can your retired elderly parent speaking normally? Pay attention to differences in speech patterns, they are warning signs for medical problems that should be looked into immediately.
Help is Available
If you sense that there is a problem based on the above indictors, you and your other family caregiving members should waste no time in taking the appropriate next steps. As difficult as the process might be, keep reminding yourself that by being proactive, as a result of your observations, you will not only provide in home safety for your elderly mom and dad, but will also keep them happy and healthy for years to come.
Discuss the situation with the individual - Don’t be afraid to ask or talk to your aging loved one. Often seniors will not tell you if they are having trouble unless you ask. It is important to reassure healthy seniors about your questions. They do not want to lose their independence and are afraid of being moved out of their home into a strange environment like a senior facility.
Make a doctor’s appointment for the individual - Be sure and make the appointment when you, another family member or an in home caregiver from a local agency, can relay the concerns directly to the doctor. If you are not able to be there in person, schedule a time to call the doctor.
Determine what services are available in their community - Talk with local social service agencies or senior community organizations such as a local Area on Aging office or a senior church group.
Make minor adjustments in their lifestyle - It may be necessary to bring in outside help like Comfort Keepers here in Wallingford, CT to provide caregiving and homemaking assistance with daily activities such as meal preparation, light housekeeping. They can also provide companionship while assisting your elderly parents with trips to the grocery store or a doctor’s appointment. Here are some questions to consider when selecting a homecare provider:
· Is the care provider a home care agency, employment agency, registry/broker, or an independent contractor?
· How long has the agency been providing home care?
· How does the agency screen and select caregivers prior to an assignment? Do they hire independent contractors or are they employees of the agency?
· Are references and criminal backgrounds checked on all employees?
· How are emergencies handled after normal business hours?
Use this time to plan ahead for unforeseen events - Take this time to establish advanced directives including establishing a power of attorney, will, living will, etc. There is no such thing as being too prepared when it comes to the homecare and safety of your elderly parents.
Remember, the holiday season is a time for family, togetherness and establishing lifelong memories. By taking the time to address these senior issues before they reach the crisis stage, your caregiving family will have the much-needed sense of security, comfort and hopefully the ability to create new memories with your healthy aging loved ones for many years to come!
CC/dg
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December 15, 2009
Carol Carbutti the owner of Comfort Keepers, A Local In Home Caregiving Agency Would Like To Remind Seniors and Their Caregivers To Be Safe During the Holidays
By Carol Carbutti
According to the American College of Emergency Physicians, each year 12,000 in home elderly senior Americans are treated in hospital emergency departments for falls, cuts, electrical shocks, and burns due to faulty holiday decorations or accidents while decorating. Christmas trees account for more than 400 residential fires annually. Other holiday items family and private caregivers should be cautious about are candles, fireplaces, and lighting displays.
Here are some tips for caregiving companions to help make sure their elderly senior loved ones are safe this holiday season:
Candles
· If a senior wants to use candles, make sure they are in stable holders and place them where they cannot be easily knocked down.
· Be sure to check the smoke alarms and test them. In order to protect your elderly parent you need to test them monthly and keep them clean and equipped with fresh batteries at all times.
· Remember to continually discuss and practice the home escape plan with your healthy aging seniors. Repetition will prevent confusion in case there is an actual emergency.
· Please remind your retired senior parents to avoid open flames near the Christmas tree. Never use lighted candles on a tree or near other evergreens. Always use non-flammable holders, and place candles where they will not be knocked down.
Trees
· Caregivers and other elderly family members should check the label on the artificial tree to make sure it is “Fire Resistant.”
· When your senior loved one purchases a live tree, make sure that it is fresh. A fresh tree is green, needles are hard to pull from branches, and when bent between your fingers, needles do not break. The trunk of a fresh tree is sticky with resin, and when tapped on the ground, the tree should not lose many needles.
· If family caregivers help to set up the tree, they can place it away from fireplaces, radiators, or portable heaters. To prevent your senior parents from tripping and falling, place the tree in an out of the way place that does not block their doorways.
· To keep real trees healthy for the entire length of the holidays, aging clients and homecare companions need to keep the stand filled with water, because heated rooms can dry live trees out rapidly. This will also help prevent tree fires.
Lights
· A note to all caregivers and elderly parents, never use electric lights on a metallic tree. The tree can become charged with electricity from faulty lights, and a person touching a branch could be electrocuted.
· Homecare companions should help at home seniors check all tree lights before hanging them on the tree. Make sure all the bulbs work and that there are no frayed wires, broken sockets, or loose connections.
· Homemakers and family caregivers should remind our elderly relatives to plug all outdoor electric decorations into circuits with ground fault circuit interrupters to avoid potential shocks.
· In home companions should make sure all the holiday lights are turned off when their senior loved one goes to bed or when you leave the house.
Decorations
· Caregivers should remind seniors to purchase non-combustible or flame-resistant materials for their decorating needs.
· Senior family helpers should wear gloves to avoid eye and skin irritation while decorating with spun glass “angel hair.”
· If your aging client chooses to use artificial snow sprays you need to follow container directions carefully to avoid lung irritation.
· When the caregiving family members get together to open presents make sure you remove all wrapping papers, bags, ribbons and bows from the tree and fireplace areas.
Gift Purchasing and Fraud
· Senior Citizens should use direct deposit. The mail - both incoming and outgoing - can be vulnerable, especially during the holidays when criminal activity is heightened.
· The elderly seniors should avoid unfamiliar phone calls and emails. Do not give any personal information over the phone or Internet to an unfamiliar company or caller.
· Many seniors enjoy the convenience of online holiday shopping. Use a credit card as your payment option. This may be the safest way to shop during the holiday.
· Another safe alternative you can try is homecare assistance from your local Comfort Keepers in home senior caregiving agency in Wallingford, CT for chaperoned transportation and decorating needs. For more information please call (203) 697-1030 or email us at carolcarbutti@comfortkeepers.com.
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December 8, 2009
From Stress to Success – A Few Suggestions on How to Enjoy a Stress-Free Holiday Season from Your Local Comfort Keepers Office in Wallingford, CT
By Carol Carbutti
For many family caregivers who provide personal care for their in home seniors during the holiday season feel a tremendous amount of stress and frustration, instead of peace and goodwill. Already feeling overwhelmed with caregiving tasks, stressed-out companions may view traditional holiday preparations as more of a drain of precious energy than a joy. Following are some suggestions that may help make the holidays more enjoyable for you and your elderly senior parents. Keep in mind that the holidays can provide unique opportunities to seek much needed homecare support from your family and friends during these busy times.
An opportunity for communication – Although it is understandable to have reservations about discussing your aging parents’ impairments, honest communication about the realities of the caregiving situation offers others the opportunity to respond with some non-medical homecare assistance.
Holiday greetings and a brief note – Some family caregivers have had success in writing a brief note describing the healthy aging senior’s condition and enclosing it in a holiday greeting card. This can be a way to inform distant or uninvolved relatives about the realities of the caregiving situation.
Be clear about your energy level – Remember to contact other family members and let them know that your caregiving duties for your elderly parents are keeping you very busy. Explain that you only have so much energy for holiday preparation and hosting duties.
Accept the need to adapt – Many family caregivers may find it easier to allow another family member to host more time-intensive festivities. You may also have to choose which events to attend based on which would be the simplest, least exhausting and most enjoyable for your senior mom and dad.
A little Thank-You goes a long way – After the holidays, write a special thank you note to your family members or friends who spent time with your elderly parents. Emphasize the positive impact their visit or brief time spent with your loved one had on them. They may then be more encouraged to visit again or be more supportive of your caregiving efforts.
All too often, families find themselves dealing with elder/parent care issues and facing new life challenges. The challenges of any new caregiving issue cannot be simply identified nor are they easy to fulfill. Providing homecare to your aging parent is not an easy role to fill. Emotions are the most difficult elements in senior care situations. They are so elusive, yet they must be fully understood and dealt with appropriately in order to achieve a win-win situation.
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December 1, 2009
Comfort Keepers in Wallingford, CT Would Like to Inspire Everyone to Lend a Hand by Helping Our At- Home Elderly Senior Neighbors During This Holiday Season
By Carol Carbutti
Carol Carbutti, the owner of Comfort Keepers for Elderly Senior In-Home care would like to remind everyone to check on their elderly neighbors during this Holiday Season. Since this is a very difficult time for seniors who can’t spend time with their loved ones because of a cash flow shortage. It is truly a tragedy when an elderly retiree gets left behind because of the economy. When this happens our senior neighbors can become very lonely and depressed which is very unhealthy.
This dilemma was brought to my attention, when my office employees and some of our caregivers mentioned that they spoke with a few of our senior clients about their plans for the Christmas Holidays. Sadly, quite a few answered by saying that they are staying home because they couldn’t afford to travel to visit their sons and daughters families. Many of the elderly client’s children and grandchildren live too far away and their income situation prevents them from helping their retired parents pay for transportation.
After hearing about the plight of many of our elderly, I realized that it would be imperative to reach as many caring people as possible since we are few and you are many. That is when I decided to write to all of you because; if I didn’t try to help our healthy aging seniors, then that would be the real tragedy.
A good way to start would be to talk to your elderly neighbors and see how they are and while you are there you can ask what their plans are for the holidays. Now if they have no plans, maybe you can save them a seat at your table for Christmas dinner. This will spark conversation and create a beautiful memory for when their family calls to see how they are doing.
You can still help even if you are leaving to spend time with your family. Before you go you can check with the town to see if your local senior center has plans for a holiday dinner or talk to members of a senior housing community to find out if they are planning a Christmas get together in their activities room. Don’t forget to check on transportation to and from the party. Maybe you can donate cab fare if there is no public transportation running on Christmas Day.
Now if your local town has nothing planned maybe you can organize a group of volunteers to go out and visit for a few hours with coffee and dessert. Even a short visit can make all the difference in the world.
Another exceptional idea would be to see if your family can work with a local group or agency and try to raise the funds needed to send your senior neighbor home for the holidays. A charity that might be able to help is “Seniors Have Dreams, Too”. For more information you can contact Sally Smith and Betty Burger at (203) 824-3967. Who can think of a better Christmas Present?
Best holiday wishes to all, from all of us at the Wallingford Comfort Keepers
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November 24, 2009
Carol Carbutti The Owner Of Comfort Keepers In Wallingford, CT Has Some Holiday Activities For Our Healthy Aging In-Home Elderly Senior Citizens and Their Family Caregivers
By Carol Carbutti
During the holidays, our elderly seniors often experience feelings of isolation and loneliness, so it is important to keep them active and involved. Family caregivers and homecare companions should try to include retired seniors in the family holiday preparations and activities.
Cook a favorite meal together. Prepare a dish that your senior parent loved as a child or once prepared as a holiday tradition. Involving an aging parent in the process, instead of making it for them, allows them to feel helpful and needed.
Make a family cookbook. You and your healthy aging mom can organize recipes that have been stashed away or you can hunt down some of your senior parents favorite recipes from your older family members. This can also help you prepare dishes they will be comfortable with and will truly enjoy.
Drive to see the beautiful holiday lights. Taking a senior loved one - especially a senior who can no longer drive – for a ride, will be a delightful experience for all. In some towns they light up public parks with beautiful Christmas lights starting on the eve of Thanksgiving. For a small donation, you can drive through and put on some holiday music in the car. Many of the parks have a radio station reserved with Christmas music for you to listen to as you drive around to look at the lights.
Watch old family movies together. After your Thanksgiving Dinner you can find some older movies to watch with your senior parents. They might really enjoy watching holiday classics like “Miracle on 34th Street” or “It’s a Wonderful Life” with their children and grandchildren.
Play a favorite board game. It is important to encourage our seniors to engage their minds by playing games or working on puzzles. Interaction is important for the elderly, especially during the busy holidays.
Take a walk down memory lane. Holidays bring back memories, and senior parents often find great joy in having someone show interest in them and their past. Whether it’s looking through photo albums or just sharing stories, you can help the senior in your life feel loved and involved with this stroll down memory lane.
Address holiday cards. Sending holiday cards is a wonderful way to keep in touch with family and friends. Holiday cards are simple and thoughtful gestures that can help your parents and other seniors to stay in contact with people they might not otherwise keep up with.
Encourage Elderly Seniors to spend time with friends and neighbors. During the upcoming season, encourage the senior in your life to get together with their retired friends, family and neighbors for holiday craft sales at your local senior center and other small town village festivities.
Bake holiday treats. The holidays are filled with wonderful traditions, especially traditions that can be tasted. Most healthy aging seniors have holiday favorites from when they were kids or from family reunions. Find your senior parents favorite recipe and help bring some holiday cheer to their home and heart.
If you live far away from your at-home elderly parents and cannot be with them for the full holiday season, try encouraging them to join a senior group in their area or check with a local homemaking and caregiving service for a little extra healthy interactive care. Issues stemming from Long, cold winters and the holiday season often bring depression and isolation, so it is important that our aging seniors feel connected and active.
Comfort Keepers has over 550 independently owned and operated offices worldwide.
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November 17, 2009
Comfort Keepers Of Wallingford, CT Would Like To Remind Families And Their Caregivers To Take Time To Socialize With Our Elderly Senior Family Members During This Holiday Season.
By Carol Carbutti
For many families who care for their senior parents, the holiday season marks one of the only times of year that all members can gather together to celebrate and enjoy each other’s company. The portrait before and after this joyous time, however, is often far less picturesque for our elderly seniors living alone or far away from relatives.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau the non medical senior aging population continues to grow. They predict there will be over 88 million healthy aging seniors age 65 and older in the U.S. by 2050. Now the issue of memory loss and dementia in senior parents seems to pose a major public health burden. It’s often difficult for the caregiving relatives to monitor their aging parents and to see that they are getting the level of stimulation and socialization they want and need. But there’s hope: According to a recent study by the Harvard School of Public Health, researchers have found evidence that in home senior citizens, in the United States with active social lives, may have slower rates of memory decline and lower mortality rates.
Given these findings, Comfort Keepers®, in-home care services providers located nationwide, has provided the following tips for caregiving family members to address with their aging loved ones this holiday season to ensure a happy and healthy time is had by all.
Link Up with Like Minds: Senior groups plan activities like exercise, meals, games and trips for retired seniors wanting to get out of the house and expand their circle of friends. Look into these groups with your elderly loved ones and find one what best fits their interests.
Pick Up a Pen: Sending holiday cards is a wonderful way to spark a new kind of relationship between family members. Once these lines of communication have been opened, aging seniors will be more inclined to keep up with the correspondence long after the holiday season ends.
Get in the Game: Brainteasers, memory games and mathematical puzzles are not only fun but can employ areas of the brain that aren’t regularly stimulated. Try a few with your elderly parent while you are in town and leave them with a few books or games that they can continue using after you leave.
Make a List and Check it Twice: Send your senior dad a list of possible gift ideas for other family members and friends and review their purchases upon your arrival while helping them with wrapping. If you have the luxury of arriving prior to the holiday, accompany and assisting your loved one on a shopping excursion to select the perfect presents.
Hire a Helping Hand: If you are still concerned about your elderly senior parent when the holiday season comes to a close, discuss the possibility of hiring an in-home companion. Not only will this person be able to help with basic homecare chores and activities but the companion will be able to provide much-needed social interaction for your loved one on a daily, weekly or live-in basis.
Comfort Keepers has over 550 independently owned and operated offices worldwide.
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November 10, 2009
Comfort Keepers of Wallingford, CT Would Like To Point Out A Few Important Tips Concerning Healthy Aging Senior Citizens, Non-Medical Companions and In-Home Personal Care For Our Elderly Parents And Their Family Caregivers
By Carol Carbutti
Tips for your Aging Parents
Carol Carbutti, the owner of Comfort Keepers in Wallingford, CT wants you to realize that you are not alone while caring for your senior parents. Statistics show that you are one of 50 million Americans in the same boat. Whether your elderly mom or dad are living at home with you or in another non-medical location their care will be a challenge. You and your family caregivers will have to prepare yourselves for a time consuming and emotional experience.
Tips for the Son or Daughter
Now caring for your in-home healthy aging senior parents can be a very draining and exhausting ordeal. A support system between your brothers and/or sisters, friends and professional caregivers will help lighten the load. Caring for aging parents is impossible to do on your own, especially if you work full time. You must come to the realization that at some point in time, one or both of your retired parents might have their normal thoughts, behavior, and attitudes changed radically by disease.
If this happens, caring for your elderly parent can be like dealing with a complete stranger. For your own emotional and physical health, you will need an occasional break. Hiring a part time caregiver and companion can give you time to recuperate from your hectic schedule. There are many stressful situations where you might need help like when your own senior parent doesn’t recognize you or thinks you are somebody else. Its times like these that you need everyone to pitch in.
Tax Implications
When you take on the responsibility of the main caregiver for your elderly parents it is very important to consult their accountant and/or attorney. You and your senior aging parents should make sure a will is drawn up and they should examine all the estate laws in detail. You will see that this is time, energy, and money well spent. When all of the legal paperwork is done you will be free to give loving care to your active retired parents. Now depending on your circumstances, you may find that you can claim your elderly parents as a tax deduction.
Taking Away the Car
This usually happens before the house is taken away. There are many things that have a negative effect on an older senior driver. Diminishing eyesight, physical handicaps, and mental disease can all make it very dangerous for an aging mom or dad to drive, both for their own safety and the safety of others. Very seldom does the elderly parent voluntarily give up their car keys. Often times it is best just to make the car disappear overnight.
Taking Away the House
Get ready for the battle of your lifetime when you determine, for their own safety, that your aging parents must be moved to a senior care facility. A home can be a very dangerous place for an elderly person who forgets things easily or has physical limitations. Falling down the stairs or leaving the stove burner on can have devastating effects.
You Are Not a Parent
While you are a caregiver for your aging parents, you can never be a parent to your parents. The best that you can do is respond with love to their needs as they responded to your needs when you were young. Always remember that caring for your aging parents requires patience, patience, and more patience.
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November 3, 2009
Tips From Carol Carbutti The Owner Of Comfort Keepers An In Home Non-Medical Agency In Wallingford, CT For Seniors And Family Caregivers Who Are Living With And Caring For Someone Who Has The Symptoms Of Parkinson’s Disease
By Carol Carbutti
When it comes to Parkinson’s disease all the caregivers involved need to learn and understand an elderly client’s symptoms in order to manage their environment efficiently. Unfortunately, there are no specific tests that confirm beyond a doubt that a senior parent has Parkinson’s disease. So doctors often base their conclusion on a clinical examination. A family member or companion must also evaluate the patient’s medical history. Some doctors may also start their patient on a dopamine agonist to see if it reduces the symptoms.
There is still some debate about exactly what signs and symptoms confirm that an elderly parent has Parkinson’s disease. The table below is one set of categories that is often used:
Diagnosis Symptoms
Possible Parkinson’s disease One of the following: tremors, rigidity, bradykinesia
Probably Parkinson’s disease Two of the following: tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia, or if any one of these appears on only one side of the body
Definite Parkinson’s disease All three of the following: tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia, or if two of these appear with one appearing on only one side of the body
If an elderly mother or father has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, there are several things you and your family can do to help improve their everyday life. You can encourage them to stay active and make subtle changes in the home environment to help your senior parents live more easily with their symptoms. Many retired seniors find it helpful to join a support group and try speech therapy if needed.
It is a good idea to make simple changes in your aging parent’s home environment. These can help family members and other caregivers perform everyday tasks more easily and safely. Here are a few ideas:
1. Install railings in bathrooms, hallways, or other locations to help your senior parent maintain balance.
2. For elderly patients in advanced stages of Parkinson’s disease, wheelchairs and ramps can
provide the means to move around at will.
All of these changes allow your elderly parents to function more independently in their home. This can give an elderly father or mother much needed confidence. It will also help them feel like they are doing everything they can to manage this disease successfully.
The management of an aging senior patient with Parkinson’s disease frequently extends beyond the care of a personal physician, often falling into the hands of others. A care partner can be a spouse, parent, child, friend or an in home caregiver. The more than 5 million Americans who are care partners are vital to those who live with Parkinson’s and other diseases. As a care partner, there are many ways you can help.
Here are some practical tips:
1. Physical, occupational, and speech therapy can go a long way in helping the aging elderly
patient with Parkinson’s disease to maintain function and normal activities. You as a caregiver
can make sure that the recommended exercises are done regularly. For your senior loved one
to maximize independence, safety, and activities of daily living, you need to encourage exercise
such as walking and swimming.
2. Make sure the elderly patient eats a balanced diet and consumes enough food to maintain
proper weight. In addition, make sure that any vitamins that the doctor has recommended are taken.
3. If your senior parent has swallowing difficulties, please consult your physician.
4. You should learn the Heimlich maneuver in case your loved one begins to choke.
A doctor can show you how to do this.
5. If possible, enlist the help of an in home visiting nurse or healthcare professional companion.
Here are some practical suggestions from Comfort Keepers of Wallingford, CT that can make an aging seniors home safer. Family members or other caregivers should modify the home environment to make things easier for your elderly mother or father to move around in. For safety you can customize seating, toilets, bathtubs, and shower by installing grab bars where appropriate. Remove tables with pointed edges that could injure an elderly loved- one if he or she stumbles. Place fragile objects such as lamps and vases in areas where your senior mom or dad can’t knock them over. Here are a few more things to consider:
1. Clothing that has Velcro enclosures are easier to use instead of zippers or buttons.
A Pullover will make getting dressed for your aging retired parents easier as well.
2. Remove large obstructions to prevent hazards in the home for your senior parents like doorsills
and throw rugs.
3. All caregivers and family companions should keep a diary about your loved one’s condition to
share with his/her doctor.
You and your family can consult with the National Parkinson’s Foundation for additional information on products that may make the home environment safer.
CC/dg
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October 29, 2009
COMFORT KEEPERS OF WALLINGFORD, CT WOULD LIKE TO OFFER A FEW HINTS ON HOW TO MAKE COOKING FOR SENIOR CITIZENS MORE FLAVORFUL
By Carol Carbutti
Preparing food for in home senior citizens is something that many don’t give much thought to. Many of our elderly at home parents realize as they get older that there are many foods from the past that they didn’t like. But as our healthy aging parents age their taste changes and now they might realize those foods are now delicious. That is because a seniors sense of taste and smell decrease. You do have to be careful because some elderly parents may not be eating as much as they should due to loss of taste. There are quite a few things to consider when preparing food for the elderly, whether it is cooked by themselves, a family member or a visiting caregiver.
When a caregiver prepares a menu they need to follow the dietary guidelines and calorie intake specified by the elderly parents personal physician. This is very important because the wrong foods and poor preparation can cause a risk of obesity or malnourishment. You also have to factor in seniors physical health such as, blood pressure, diabetes, digestion problems. It is very important to check and see if certian medications need to be taken before eating, with food, or after eating.
There are several ways seniors and caregiving companions can add more flavor and nourishment to restricted diets. Seniors and family caregivers, should consider cooking fresh vegetables instead of buying processed, frozen dinners. Try cooking potatoes, vegetables or rice in chicken broth that is low in sodium or using the broth in mashed potatoes instead dairy products like milk or butter. Caregivers should purchase meats that are tender. A lean cut of beef has a lot more flavor and will minimize the fat. Skinless chicken breasts or thighs are another very healthy meal, these can be baked, broiled or grilled with fresh herbs to add flavor. When buying ground beef, you should use ground sirloin which has less fat and more flavor.
Here is a helpful tip for an elderly parents morning breakfast, cereal is more nutritious and tastes better if it is cooked. Fruit can be added for more flavor and healthier eating. If sugar can be added, try mixing sugar with cinnamon. Careagivers may also try serving yogurt with granola and fruit. It is very important to have your senior parent involved in the preparation of their meals so they will feel more useful than just sitting around the kitchen watching. This will help elderly seniors who have memory loss by familiarizing them with things they used to do in the past.
It doesn’t matter what a person’s age is, seniors never outgrow the need for family unity at mealtime. If you have an elderly member of the family who is a senior citizen, or are a caregiver of a senior, consider shopping for food that they are accustomed to eating and let them share in the shopping with you. When preparing a meal consider how much more enjoyable it is to prepare it with someone while sharing moments together. Food tastes better to all of us at any age, if it is shared with someone. Healthy aging seniors will enjoy their food much more and look forward to mealtime if they have companionship and someone to share a conversation.
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October 20, 2009
ALZHEIMERS DISEASE AND CARING FOR YOUR ELDERY LOVED ONES BY CAROL CARBUTTI OWNER OF COMFORT KEEPERS AN IN-HOME CAREGIVING BUSINESS IN WALLINGFORD, CT
By Carol Carbutti
Many of our elderly seniors have a common form of dementia called Alzheimers Disease (AD) which negatively impacts the portions of the brain that effect thought, memory and language. Today, as many as 4.5 million people in the United States suffer from varying stages of AD. Our elderly parents may show some symptoms that may be as minor as forgetting names or recent events, but as the disease progresses, the elderly Alzheimers patient may wander, become anxious or even aggressive.
According to Family Caregiver Statistics, nearly 15 million US employees care for an elderly or disabled family member. Out of that 15 million 69% of these caregivers say it affects their health and overall well being. Now about 70% of these US employees rearrange their work life as a result of caring for their elderly senior parent. Then about 40% say caregiving affected their job performance and future promotions.
Caring for an elderly parent will impact your family in many ways. Soon you will notice that you will miss out on more of your children’s activities. Many of your family members and your spouse will start to feel the strain of caring for an elderly parent with Alzheimers. Since you have less time you may also have to put your career opportunities on hold. You will find that caregiving will take a toll on your attendance since you will most likely arrive to work late and have to leave early for doctors appointments or other emergencies. Then your vacation time will probably be used up while trying to maintain your seniors home.
Comfort Keepers of Wallingford, CT can help you manage the care of an elderly loved one with Alzheimers Disease
Most people hope to age safely and comfortably in their own home, including those managing AD. Many elderly Alzheimers patients can safely stay in their own home for a period of time, and that’s where Comfort Keepers can provide caregiving assistance. Many Comfort Keepers companions have been formally trained by local chapters of the Alzheimer’s Association or the Alzheimers Disease Education and Referral Center (ADEAR) in how to provide in-home care for AD patients. It may include:
1. Assisting the senior client with dressing or grooming
2. Aiding the elderly client in communication
3. Improving eating habits with healthy meal planning
4. Enhancing at-home safety by implementing measures to prevent wandering or driving
5. And….much needed respite care for family members who may be primary care providers for the retired Alzheimers patient
For more information contact us at Comfort Keepers office in Wallingford, CT to discuss the care of your loved one. Please call (203) 697-1030 or Email carolcarbutti@comfortkeepers.com
Cc: CB/dg
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