The internet has expanded the amount of information that is available at our fingertips. But when using it to learn about health, seniors need to remain objective to make sure they don’t self-diagnosis themselves before seeking the attention of a medical professional. Use this checklist to determine if you are using the information you find on the internet wisely,

• You understand that with the wealth of information available on the internet, you may get results and read information about health issues that do not directly relate to your situation

• You understand that multiple explanations may share similar symptoms

• You know that the internet might be more likely to pull up serious or chronic issues to explain your symptoms, whereas your problem might be minor

• You don’t panic and assume you know what’s wrong with you just by reading about it on the internet

• You use the internet simply as an informational tool, and remain objective

• You seek help from a medical professional to appropriately diagnose your complaints

• You know that doctors start by looking for the simplest explanations for your problems, which are most likely the root cause

• You ask your doctor questions about how what you read on the internet relates to your situation to alleviate any concerns

• You provide your doctor with a list of the symptoms you’ve been experiencing and give him/her as much information as possible to make a diagnosis

Family traditions are practices and rituals that occur at regular and specific intervals. Home Instead Senior Care in Southeast Houston - providing trusted elder care - (281) 484-0200 for quality home care.

Q1 – What are traditions?
A1 – Family traditions are practices and rituals that occur at regular and specific intervals. They are more than regular routines, because they may be sentimental and emotional to families.

Q2 – Why is it important that families have their own traditions?
A2 – Traditions promote a sense of identity and feeling of belonging within the family unit. Predictable and familiar experiences also make family members feel safe and secure.

Q3 – How can you tell if something is a tradition, instead of just being routine?
A3 – According to family scholars Nick Stinnett and John DeFrain, traditions are activities that can be described with the statement “We always”. For example, “On our birthdays, we always get to have our favorite meals”.

Q4 – Can traditions be changed?
A4 – While many traditions are passed down from generation to generation, that’s not to say that new traditions can’t be created, or old traditions modified to meet the interests of family members.

Q5 – Do traditions have to be major events?
A5 – Many families have traditions that center around major events or significant holidays, however, they don’t need to be elaborate to become traditions. They can be as simple as reading together as a family every night before bed, or remembering to say “I love you” every morning before the family goes about their day.

Q6 – How can families establish new traditions?
A6 – Think about what’s important to your family, and create traditions that would have significance to members of all ages. Also consider what you would be proud to pass down to future generations.

Q7 – What are common family traditions?
A7 – Many family traditions focus upon holidays or religion. They may include making homemade gifts or decorations, cooking or baking as a family, writing letters to other family members or saying a prayer before a meal.

Q8 – How can family traditions be preserved?
A8 – Significant family events can be documented through photos that way memories are preserved and can be passed along to future generations. Records of the photos should be made, indicating who is present, the date, the event and the family connections of the people in the photos. Usually the older generations in the family are responsible from ensuring the younger members become familiar with the traditions and past memories.

Source: http://www.foreverfamilies.net/xml/articles/family_traditions.aspx

According to Dr. Jake Harwood, Professor in the Communications Department at the University of Arizona, when visiting seniors over the holidays and in the New Year, families should be prepared to expect and handle any changes present to their home or themselves.

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Keep an open mind – some changes you witness in their home, may be positive or negative. The presence of assistive devices may indicate they’re coping well with the aging process. However, if they cleanliness of their home as declined, it may indicate problems managing their responsibilities.

Don’t overreact – while you may want to swoop in and fix as many problems as you can as soon as you walk in the door, but instead make note of what you see and avoid berating or criticizing your loved one.

Put things in perspective – approach the situation in a way that you would like someone else to handle it if you were in their shoes. Get all the cards out on the table to determine why the negative changes are occurring.

Sometimes, the causes may be loss of a friend, change in medication or other factors.

Avoid stereotyping – it’s easy to blame any changes upon the aging process, but once you get the whole picture you may learn that just like us, other influences in their life could result in positive or negative changes.

Making Use of Modern Technology and Free Online Applications to stay close to mom after holidays. Home Instead Senior Care in Southeast Houston - providing trusted elder care - (281) 484-0200 for quality home care.

Every year my family makes the long drive across the country to visit my mother in the small town where I grew up. We’d always have a great time together, but would lose touch again once we returned home after the holidays. Our lives are so busy, that we would forget to find time to stay in touch with mom; instead too caught up in work, school and carting the kids to their many activities. It always seemed that when we would try to communicate, we’d get stuck in an ongoing, frustrating game of phone tag or become victims of mail lost in transit.

Last year, my mom got a computer and it all changed. Once she was familiar with the internet, we began to make use of the online conveniences available to help us stay in touch throughout the year. Our lives are still very busy of course, but now I upload pictures to Flickr so my mom can see exactly what we’ve been up to. She’s so happy to be able to see pictures of all the grandkids as they pass through important milestones in their lives.

Instead of finding ourselves playing perpetual phone tag, we now email. This is great, because we can pass along any messages and information we want, without being limited by the answering machine or waiting until we can actually connect one-on-one. Day or night, the kids never hesitate to tell their grandma about what they did that day or inform her of their weekend plans. Because it’s so convenient, we email far more often and keep each other better informed than we did when we were relying strictly on the phone.

The internet has made it so easy to keep in touch, there’s no excuse not to let mom know what an important part of our lives she is, no matter what time of year.

Home Instead Senior Care in Southeast Houston & Bay Area, Clear Lake, Webster, Pasadena, League City, Pearland - providing the most trusted elder care and home care in America! Call us at (281) 484-0200 for quality home care.

We know how stressful it can be when you are responsible for decisions that have a big impact on the life and well-being of a senior who is important to you. However, you don’t have to do it alone; you can get support from family, friends, professional senior industry resources, and even your care recipient. Use the following checklist to determine if you are properly involving a senior in their decisions.

• If there is a decision to be made with regards to finances or investments, you work with a financial or legal advisor to obtain required information and help the senior make the best decision
• When deciding on appropriate care methods, you make a list of the senior’s requirements in advance so you understand their specific wants and needs
• You visit professional caregivers and community living facilities on their behalf, and then present them with your top choices to decide from
• If deciding what to wear or eat for dinner is too overwhelming for them, you don’t just decide for them, you present them with two or three options to choose from; using visual cues to make the choice easier
• You have encouraged the senior to draft up a Living Will and appoint a Power of Attorney so their healthcare and affairs can be handled as per their wishes, should they be unable to voice their wants
• You make a point to address them with respect, and don’t speak down to them like a child

Source: http://assisted-living.aplaceformom.com/articles/eldercare-decision-and-guilt/

Q1 – Is there a difference between a cold and flu?
A1 – Symptoms vary between a cold and flu. The flu may last for a longer period of time and can have more severe symptoms.

Q2 – What are the common symptoms of a cold?
A2 – Someone suffering from a cold may experience the following symptoms: a fever up to 102 degrees Fahrenheit, though this is rare; a runny or stuffy nose, which can lead to sinus pain or infections; sore throat; hacking cough; minor muscle aches on occasion; headache, that may relate to sinus problems and watery eyes. Symptoms of a cold often appear slowly, and may progress over a period of days or even weeks in some cases.

Q3 – What are the common symptoms of the flu?
A3 – A fever 102 degrees Farenheit or higher could appear, although if it persists an older adult should consider this a reason to seek medical attention. Other symptoms could include nausea; chills and sweats; severe fatigue, muscle aches and headaches; chest discomfort and dry cough.

Q4 – How does a cold or flu develop?
A4 – There are over 200 viruses that may cause the common cold, but much fewer that generate the flu. Often these viruses are spread through the air or from contact with a person or object containing the bacteria.

Q5 – Can seniors prevent the contraction of these viruses?
A5 – Maintaining good overall health, through diet and exercise results in a stronger immune system which can fend of viruses like the cold or flu. It’s also advisable that seniors get the flu vaccine, and maintain good hygiene through regular hand washing.

Q6 – Are these viruses life-threatening to seniors?
A6 – The flu specifically can cause more serious complications, like bronchitis and pneumonia, which can lead to death if not treated quickly and effectively.

Q7 – Should seniors visit their doctor for every cold or flu?
A7 – Medical assistance isn’t always necessary for a cold or flu, but is advisable for a senior who would feel more confident consulting with their doctor. There are certain situations where immediate medical attention should be sought, including prolonged fevers over 102 F, symptoms that last more than 10 days, trouble breathing, pain or pressure in the chest, fainting, confusion or disorientation, persistent vomiting, or irregular pain.

Sources: http://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/flu-guide/is-it-cold-flu
http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/infections/cold-flu/073.html

Are You Breezing Through the Holidays or Celebrating?

Families put a lot into the holiday season, from shopping, to party planning, to baking seasonal goodies. With so much on their plates, on top of their regular responsibilities, it’s easy for family caregivers to succumb to holiday stress; making them more work than celebration. This checklist will help you to determine if you are taking the time to celebrate the season, or breezing right past it.

•    You are always having to multi-task when completing holiday tasks, caregiving responsibilities and other obligations
•    You do not set realistic goals, and find you can’t keep up with what you hope to accomplish
•    You don’t take the opportunity to relax, and just enjoy the season
•    You do not ask your family for help with caregiving, holiday activities or other obligations
•    You will not consider hiring a professional caregiver to assist with the care responsibilities of the senior
•    You don’t involve the senior with the holiday activities, despite their physical or mental capabilities
•    You forget that seniors can tire of too much activity, and overdo it by taking them on too many errands with you, or having them attend too many holiday events
•    You don’t acknowledge the signs of stress that your body is providing
•    You will not slow down for anything
•    You feel like holidays are about accomplishing tasks, and not about celebrating the season

If any of the above describes you, it’s probably time to slow down and take the time to celebrate the season properly, surrounded by the people you love most.

Source: http://homehealthcarebooks.com/healthcareblog/2007/12/19/holiday-help-relieving-caregivers%E2%80%99-stress/

Palliative Care At Home

When someone you love is dying from a critical illness, you often want to spend as much time as possible with them during the final days and months of their lives. For many, this leads to the decision that palliative care will be provided at home, instead of in a hospital or hospice. When home palliative care is chosen, a family member typically takes control and acts as the primary caregiver.

Hospice staff will oversee the care and act as a main resource for the family, by teaching them how to effectively care for the senior; provide the equipment and supplies that will be needed to provide the care; explain how to administer required medications and provide additional support. Choosing home care, doesn’t mean that families are on their own; help is still provided from the hospice; professionals remain on call to answer questions, regardless of the time that they occur; can drop by periodically to check in; provide respite care when the caregiver needs a break; and engages the family in the planning process.

A hospice program will also provide additional resources to family when needed, they can set up spiritual support, ensure the family is aware of what will happen when the senior dies, and arrange grief counseling once the senior passes.

Knowing that you will lose a loved one can be incredibly difficult, but with the right support and commitment; it is possible to spend every last moment with them.

Sources: http://www.raconline.org/info_guides/hospice/faq.php
               http://www.caringinfo.org/LivingWithAnIllness/PalliativeCare.htm

Home Instead Senior Care in Southeast Houston & Bay Area, Clear Lake, Webster, Pasadena, League City, Pearland - providing the most trusted elder care and home care in America! Call us at (281) 484-0200 for quality home care.

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Q1 – Why should seniors read?
A1 – Reading offers an escape for seniors which let’s them use their imaginations, build their vocabulary, requires memory and problem-solving.

Q2 – Is there an additional benefit for seniors who join book groups?
A2 – Having the opportunity to discuss reading materials with someone else that has read them uses problem-solving and builds cognitive skills through friendly debate.

Q3 – Are there options for seniors with vision problems?
A3 – Seniors who enjoy reading, but have challenges due to their vision can buy large-print books or audio recordings on CD.

Q4 – Are there magazines that address senior issues specifically?
A4 – There are a number of magazines on the market that are written specifically for seniors. Some cover a variety of topics, like the well-known AARP magazines, while others focus on specific areas of life, including exercise and health, retirement, travel and more.

Q5 – Why should seniors read publications that specialize in writing for them?
A5 – Of course seniors have the ability to read publications suited for any age, but by reading things made for their demographic they learn about things that impact them specifically, have insight into other’s reflections on aging and help to support the senior community.

Q6 – Where can I find books that are good for seniors?
A6 – SuddenlySenior.com put together a comprehensive list in 2006 that provides recommendations for seniors, including both fiction and non-fiction publications.

Sources: http://dir.yahoo.com/Society_and_Culture/Cultures_and_Groups/Seniors/Magazines/
http://seniorwriter.blogspot.com/2008/06/poetry-especially-for-seniors-book.html
http://www.suddenlysenior.com/books2004.html

Home Instead Senior Care in Southeast Houston & Bay Area, Clear Lake, Webster, Pasadena, League City, Pearland - providing the most trusted elder care and home care in America! Call us at (281) 484-0200 for quality home care.

Let us help you keep mom and dad at home!

Now in its fourth year, Home Instead Senior Care’s Be a Santa to a Senior program has brightened the lives of hundreds of thousands of older adults with gifts and companionship.  This year’s campaign will focus on those same isolated seniors, some of whom are among this nation’s “elder orphans.”

For example, according to an article in the Geriatric Times (http://www.cmellc.com/geriatrictimes/), the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (AAHSA) has estimated that as many as 60 percent of nursing-home residents receive no regular visitors.

Seniors with no family and friends may the feel the loneliness of the holidays more than those with a strong support network.  “We see older adults who have no one during this festive season and that makes for a very sad and lonely time,” said Jean-Marc Mira, owner of the Home Instead Senior Care office in Houston. “Whether they are in a nursing home or in their own homes, where more are choosing to stay, it’s important to reach out to isolated older adults during this special time of the year.” 

That’s what makes Home Instead Senior Care’s Be a Santa to a Senior program such a boost for older adults during the holidays.  The campaign has become the largest gift-giving project of its kind for older adults.

Here’s how the program, which runs from Nov. 1 through Dec. 24, works:  Prior to the holiday season, the participating local non-profit organizations will identify needy, orphaned and isolated seniors in the community and provide those names to Home Instead Senior Care. 

Holiday shoppers can pick up an ornament, buy items on the list and return them unwrapped to the store, along with the senior ornament attached.  Home Instead Senior Care then enlists the volunteer help of its staff, senior-care business associates, non-profit workers and others to collect, wrap and distribute the gifts to these seniors.

In 2006, 196,500 lonely, needy seniors across North America received 312,500 gifts through this program.  Moreover, 21,000 volunteers supported Santa during last year’s holiday season, with 1,500 locations across North America hosting a tree.

For more information on Be a Santa to a Senior - Call us at Call us at (281) 484-0200.