This month we wanted to share some tips with you for planning a relaxing vacation. Summer is almost here! Give yourself permission to take a break from your everyday stress and so you can rest and recharge.

5 Tips for Planning a Relaxing Vacation

1. Ask yourself: “What do I really need in order to relax?”
   This is a tough question when you’re used to considering just a brief trip to the store by yourself or a 10-minute shower your daily “relax” time. Think about it: What’s weighing on you? Taking up your time? Keeping you from doing the things you really want to do? Give yourself permission to take a break from those things. Where there’s a will, there’s a way.

1. Don’t make your vacation a repeat of your everyday life.
   If your everyday life is a rat race, don’t schedule activities for every minute of your vacation so that you come home desperate for another vacation. Make sure your vacation includes unscheduled time that you can spend however you wish. Vacations are designed to help you relax and have fun. Anything that involves worry, stress, unnecessary responsibilities or have-to-dos – skip it.

1. Leave your guilt at home.
   Guilt is that nasty voice that makes you feel bad for leaving extra work for everyone else, or deciding to hire someone to care for your aging loved one while you’re gone. Don’t let guilt keep you from getting the reprieve you need.

If your work is too much of a burden for someone else to help cover for a short time, that’s an indication you need the vacation in the first place. And letting your loved one receive some additional help and attention from a professional CAREGiver^SM while you’re away could be a great change of pace for both of you. Learn more about the respite care services we offer. If you’re worried about leaving your loved one because of a condition like dementia, arthritis, or diabetes , we have specialized services for that too.

1. Don’t cut corners prepping for your vacation.
   Put in the time before you leave to properly prepare for your vacation. Think through all the items you need to pack, put together a rough itinerary, consider potential problems and keep a back-up plan in mind if necessary. There’s nothing less relaxing than realizing you forgot something important or neglected to make an important reservation.

This is an especially important step whether your aging loved one stays behind or comes along with you. Here’s a helpful article that includes important tips and considerations for planning a successful inter-generational vacation.

1. Try planning several mini-vacations instead of one long one.
   Sometimes the preparation needed to go away for a long time and the catch-up work awaiting you after is more trouble than it’s worth. Planning several short weekend trips rather than a week-long vacation might help reduce the before and after stress. It may also take pressure off you from feeling the need to turn your one vacation opportunity into a golden week that fulfills every wish and longing previously suppressed by work and family obligations.

Also keep in mind that, while vacations are wonderful opportunities to relax, it’s important to find ways to minimize stress, even when you’re not on vacation. This “how to de-stress” webinar has some great advice.

Call now for your free in-home care consultation: 415-333-3944 or 650-877-8009.

Home Care San Francisco Bay Area serving seniors in San Bruno, Walnut Creek and Concord. Call us at 415-333-3944 or 650-877-8009.

Having trouble hearing the telephone?  Do others complain when you turn the volume on the TV up? It may be time for a hearing aid. Get a checkup at your doctor’s office to rule out treatable causes of hearing loss (like infections or wax build up.) While you’re there seek a referral to a reputable audiologist.  He or she will guide you to the best hearing aid based on your needs and desires. An audiologist will also take an impression of your ear canal and adjust the device.  Ask about a trial period and check for a warranty.  Be cautious of free consultations and people who only sell one brand of hearing aid.  Beware of advertisements or salespeople who claim their hearing aids restore normal hearing or eliminate all background noise.  Hearing aids cannot do these things but hearing aids do help a lot.  There are many types or styles of hearing aids, an audiologist can help you compare and choose the right fit for your ears, needs and budget.

Completely in the canal:
• For mild to moderate hearing loss in adults.
• Is the least noticeable.
• Less likely to pick up wind noise.
• Usually easy to use with the telephone.
• Batteries usually don’t last as long.
• No volume control or directional microphones.

In the canal:
• For mild to moderate hearing loss in adults.
• Less visible than other most hearing aids.
• Easy to use with the telephone.
• May not fit well in smaller ears.
• Small size can make features difficult to adjust.

Open fit:
• Less visible.
• Doesn’t plug the ear canal.
• May have very small batteries.
• Often lacks manual adjustments.

Half shell:
• For mild to moderately severe hearing loss.
• Slightly easier to handle than the smaller hearing aids.
• Includes features like directional microphones and volume control.
• Fits most ears.

Full shell (in-the-ear):
• For mild to severe hearing loss.
• More visible.
• May pick up wind noise.
• Features are easier to adjust.
• Easier to insert into the ear.
• Larger batteries last longer.

Behind the ear:
• For almost all types of hearing loss.
• Largest and most visible type.
• Capable of more amplification than others.

Want more information?  Want to see how a CAREGiver can help?  Give us a call at 415-333-3944 or 650-877-8009.

Call now for your free in-home care consultation: 415-333-3944 or 650-877-8009.

Home Care San Francisco Bay Area serving seniors in San Bruno, Walnut Creek and Concord. Call us at 415-333-3944 or 650-877-8009.

Diabetes is one condition of aging that can leave seniors vulnerable to a number of side effects. Depression is one of those. Additional companionship may help older adults who are facing the challenges of this disease.

Q.    My 79-year-old dad seems more and more depressed. He’s also diabetic. Is there a connection and anything I can do about it? I am his primary caregiver, but I live about an hour from him so I can’t get there every day.

The aging process can be downright depressing for seniors, but a study from the University of Florida solves a mystery: which ailment came first, diabetes or depression?

The study, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, reveals that older adults diagnosed with the type 2 form of the disease are twice as likely as their peers to suffer from depression.

An estimated 21 percent of seniors have the disease, according to the American Diabetes Association, and 1.5 million new cases are diagnosed each year. People with diabetes are at increased risk for developing heart disease and stroke, as well as kidney disease, blindness, dental disease and a host of other conditions.

UF researchers say depression may be next on the list. Doctors have noticed for some time that it is more common among patients with the disease, but researchers have debated the cause-and-effect relationship for years. People with diabetes may suffer hormonal imbalances that predispose them to depression.

On the other hand, depression is associated with physical and behavioral factors such as obesity and poor diet that some say could be enough to trigger diabetes in the elderly. “This is the first study to evaluate diabetes as a risk factor for the onset of depression in older persons,” said study author Dr. Matteo Cesari, a geriatrician in UF’s Institute on Aging.

“It’s likely we are looking at a vicious, self-feeding cycle: Diabetes causes depression, which may reduce adherence to diabetic treatment, therefore worsening the diabetic condition, and so on.”

Lack of exercise and an unhealthy diet appeared to be key factors that contribute to depression in people with diabetes, researchers found. To avoid feeling melancholy later in life, the UF researchers said people with diabetes should take extra care to control their blood sugar levels by maintaining a healthy diet, exercising regularly and remembering to take prescribed medications.

Perhaps your father could benefit from more companionship? Why not work on shoring up your dad’s social network. Or consider hiring a professional caregiving service. A CAREGiverSM from Home Instead Senior Care® could provide the companionship that would support your dad when you can’t be there.

For more information about the University of Florida study, visit http://www.aging.ufl.edu/files/news/pahor0615.pdf.

Call now for your free in-home care consultation: 415-333-3944 or 650-877-8009.

Home Care San Francisco Bay Area serving seniors in San Bruno, Walnut Creek and Concord. Call us at 415-333-3944 or 650-877-8009.

Question:

“What is the best way of dealing with my mom not accepting that her mother is deceased? She keeps wanting me to pick up the phone and dial the old phone number and she becomes very angry and volatile with me.”

Responses:

1. Hi. I have experienced this situation from former patients. You can’t change their mindset, because they are in a different time frame. You just have to go with the flow, as it will pass. Then use some interventions so that their mind will be focused to something else.

2. My mother almost every night wants to go home where she grew up. That home has been gone for probably 30 years. She wants to go see her parents. What my father did was take pictures of my grandparent’s tombstones to prove they are no longer with us. That seems to work a lot of the time—and sometimes it doesn’t, and we just have to wait it out. Other times, she wants the kids and is worried sick over them, which I am one of those kids and am 56. We have my daughter call her and tell her she picked them up for the night cause she wanted to spend sometime with them. That too seems to work. These are our two big deals, every night when the sun sets. I hope this can possibly help someone else. Thank you for having this site.

3. My name is Dorothy, and I have experienced something like this with my mother. Although it wasn’t about her mother—it was her best friend. When she passed away, my mother was shattered. She was so upset about it. I have to say, she has never exhibited that kind of emotion over the loss of anyone—not even my father. Several times she’s mentioned that Betty hasn’t called, and wonders how she is. The first few times, I reminded her that she had passed—the same reaction every time. So as not to hurt my mother, I have decided that I would spare my mother the pain she feels every time she hears her friend has passed and I no longer tell her the truth. I avoid a response, and usually change the subject. As for the volatile behavior: since my mother has been medicated, it has diminished her aggressive behavior. However, her anxiety level is still the same.

Hope this helps. I realize every situation and person is different, but every experience is education and may help somebody else. Good luck, and God bless.

Call now for your free in-home care consultation: 415-333-3944 or 650-877-8009.

Home Care San Francisco Bay Area serving seniors in San Bruno, Walnut Creek and Concord. Call us at 415-333-3944 or 650-877-8009.

People with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia become increasingly unable to take care of themselves. Physical challenges can also develop. By being aware of possible dangers and taking ongoing preventative action you can reduce the likelihood of accidents and injuries.

Register for the Live Chat with Expert Dr. Amy D’Aprix

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May 21, 2013 at 5:00 pm EDT

This basic information about Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias will help you create a safe environment for your loved one at home. More importantly, you will gain valuable insight for providing better care for a loved one with these conditions.

• Closely examine your loved one’s living situation for hazardous situations and make modifications.

•Monitoring is an on-going activity.

• Three categories of potential hazards: household, financial, and physical.

• Use the PREVENT system

P: Protect against financial and health neglects.

R: Remove clutter.

E: Environmental modifications.

V: Ongoing visual inspections.

E: Encourage the use of safety devices.

N: Navigate symptoms.

T: Talk about concerns.

Self-Care Tip:

Make sure you continue to get your regular medical checkups and preventive tests. By staying healthy and managing your own health, you’ll be better able to provide care to your loved one.

Call now for your free in-home care consultation: 415-333-3944 or 650-877-8009.

Home Care San Francisco Bay Area serving seniors in San Bruno, Walnut Creek and Concord. Call us at 415-333-3944 or 650-877-8009.

When a doctor admits your senior loved one to a hospital or facility, it’s unlikely that you’re thinking ahead to what will happen when the doctor eventually discharges your loved one. Just get through one day at a time, right?

But preparing in advance for a smooth transition home for your loved one is vital to a successful recovery. When seniors lack an adequate care plan for their return home, they have a higher likelihood of being readmitted to the hospital, usually due to falls, medication mismanagement or failure to follow up with a doctor.

That’s where the Home Instead Senior Care  in the San Francisco area “Returning Home ” care services program can help. Through this program, Home Instead CAREGivers will help family caregivers like you ensure your loved ones experience a successful “return home” by providing:

• Proper nutrition and medication management,

• Transportation and assistance for follow-up doctor appointments,

• Warning sign monitoring and communication, and

• Exercise and physical therapy reminders.

Additionally, Home Instead CAREGivers can provide other important services for you loved one, such as:

• Assistance with bathing, dressing and using the bathroom,

• Mobility assistance,

• Emotionally and socially supportive companionship, and

• Helping to keep their homes clean and safe.

Planning during a crisis is never as effective as being prepared in advance so we want you to be aware of these services now. It’s also important to prepare before a crisis occurs by gathering your senior’s important health information. Use the worksheets and checklists in our downloadable Caring for Your Parents: Senior Emergency Kit^SM to help make the entire hospitalization and transitional process more efficient.

For immediate assistance with a loved one transitioning home, or if you simply want to learn more about the Home Instead Senior Care network’s “Returning Home” program, please contact us 415-333-3944 or 650-877-8009. You can also find further information and resources in the Returning Home Guide (PDF) or online at www.ReturningHome.com.

Call now for your free in-home care consultation: 415-333-3944 or 650-877-8009.

Home Care San Francisco Bay Area serving seniors in San Bruno, Walnut Creek and Concord. Call us at 415-333-3944 or 650-877-8009.

Social isolation is one of the biggest challenges faced by the elderly. Most people over the age of 70 don’t use computers or smartphones, leaving them cut off from the many modes of connectivity that their children and grandchildren take for granted today.

We are proud to introduce VideoCare — a revolution in technology that keeps you and your aging loved one better connected — wherever you are. VideoCare provides the elderly care recipient with a touch-screen system that requires no keyboard, mouse or technical skill to use. A simple touch opens a two-way video connection with a professional caregiver, family member or friend.

To learn  more about VideoCare click here – VideoCare brochure or call 415-333-3944 or 650-877-8009.

VideoCare goes beyond just video calling. With VideoCare, you can easily share photos, videos and music — even Facebook albums and YouTube postings — without your loved one having to know anything about computers or the Internet — and without you having to provide technical support. Invite your parent or grandparent to participate remotely in special occasions and events — live, as they happen — even if they are far away.

If you aren’t on your computer, you can still keep in touch. Our mobile app allows you to share photos and videos directly from your mobile phone. Imagine how delighted your loved one will be to receive a personal “postcard” on their screen. Even if you don’t have time to talk, your loved one will know that he or she is in your heart.

Memory loss is a natural part of the aging process. The VideoCare system helps your loved one keep track of medication, appointments and other activities of daily living. You can configure reminders online, and we even notify you if he or she is late to respond.

The key to VideoCare is that the management of the system is handled remotely via the web, without the need for configuration by the recipient or technical support from a family member. Your loved one can only make and receive calls from people whom you authorize, and can
only see the photos or videos that you or authorized contacts share. Your loved one gets the many benefits of the Internet without any of the complexity that can be so challenging for the elderly.

When you can’t be there in person, you can still show how much you care — with VideoCare.

Call now for your free in-home care consultation: 415-333-3944 or 650-877-8009.

Home Care San Francisco Bay Area serving seniors in San Bruno, Walnut Creek and Concord. Call us at 415-333-3944 or 650-877-8009.

As the number of older Americans rapidly expands, so will the country’s need for senior care. At least initially, much of this demanding burden will fall on younger family members, many of whom are already busy with work and children. Thus, paid in-home non-medical care can play a vital role in shoring up a U.S. caregiving system that is already stretched thin, and that will be far more strained in coming years.

It is imperative for policymakers to determine how to make safe, affordable in-home non-medical senior care accessible to families that need it. The seniors and their families must take ultimate responsibility for their well-being, of course. But a national strategy that brings paid in-home non-medical care within their reach can produce great personal, professional and societal benefits.

The strain of holding a job while caring for a senior can take a serious toll on a caregiver’s career. According to research from the National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP, in 2009, 68 percent of employee-caregivers who were surveyed said they had made accommodations in their work status as a result of their caregiving responsibilities. The accommodations included taking time off or going on leaves of absence; losing benefits; or even quitting the workplace entirely, either by leaving a job or taking early retirement.

Home Instead Senior Care’s research shows, however, that the use of paid in-home non-medical care can help family caregivers remain in the workforce and may help mitigate some of the financial sacrifices associated with being an employee-caregiver.

The study found that of those family caregivers using paid in-home non-medical care, 71 percent were employed – 51 percent of them full-time. The numbers were lower for caregivers not using such care: 65 and 49 percent, respectively. So, paid in-home non-medical care apparently makes it easier for family caregivers to work outside the home.

In addition, while most of the caregivers studied had lost earnings because of job changes they had made, those using paid in-home non-medical care had sacrificed less than those who did not use such care. Specifically, an identical 81 percent of caregivers in both groups indicated that at some point they had lost wages as a result of changing jobs to accommodate their caregiving responsibilities – a testament to the hardships of serving as a working caregiver. But those using paid in-home non-medical care did almost 25-percent better in terms of maintaining their previous income levels than did those in the other group.

Even though serving as a family caregiver may have a negative effect on an individual’s earning power, the use of paid in-home non-medical care may help mitigate the losses.

Call now for your free in-home care consultation: 415-333-3944 or 650-877-8009.

Home Care San Francisco Bay Area serving seniors in San Bruno, Walnut Creek and Concord. Call us at 415-333-3944 or 650-877-8009.

After two long weeks in the hospital, Grandma Lizzie’s big day was near – she was eagerly anticipating her dismissal from the hospital.  Pneumonia, which sometimes is difficult to diagnose in seniors because they don’t always exhibit the classic symptoms, had sapped her energy and left her confused. Now bright-eyed and smiling, she couldn’t wait to get home.

If your loved is returning home from the hospital and needs help recovering from Pneumonia, here’s how a Home Instead CAREGiver can be of assistance:

Nutrition Management: Since diet plays a big role in recovery, a Home Instead CAREGiver can help with grocery shopping and meal preparation. Preparing healthy meals for a client offers opportunities to interact as well as a chance to observe and record the client’s food intake.

Medication Reminders: A Home Instead CAREGiver can pick up prescriptions and refills, and oversee medication reminders to help reduce the risk of a medication mishap. A Home Instead CAREGiver can also make a note of any reactions or side effects so they can be addressed during a doctor’s appointment or, if needed, alert the doctor immediately.

Exercise and Activity: Senior loved ones often are urged to maintain a daily regime of simple at-home activity or walking. A Home Instead CAREGiver can remind and encourage a client to stay on schedule with exercising.

Assistance with Daily Routine: Pneumonia may make an older adult very weak. Light housekeeping and assistance with bathing, dressing and toileting are other services that may be available.

Excessive Emotional Stress or Depression: It’s not uncommon for a senior loved one to become anxious or depressed after returning from the hospital. A Home Instead CAREGiver’s companionship can help, and a Home Instead CAREGiver can alert family members or the client’s doctor if signs of depression appear.

Keeping Records: Many senior loved ones will be required to record their weight in a diary every morning. A Home Instead CAREGiver can be instrumental in helping a senior track important measurables.

Doctor Appointments: Follow-up visits to doctors are often required to ensure that an older adult’s lungs are rebounding. A Home Instead CAREGiver can track scheduled appointments, prepare a client for the trip and provide transportation.

For more information contact your local San Francisco Bay area Home Instead Senior Care office at 415-333-3944 or 650-877-8009 or visit ReturningHome.com.

Call now for your free in-home care consultation: 415-333-3944 or 650-877-8009.

Home Care San Francisco Bay Area serving seniors in San Bruno, Walnut Creek and Concord. Call us at 415-333-3944 or 650-877-8009.

April is Financial Literacy Month

Help your aging loved ones with their finances. Here are the cost-cutting warning signs and a few tips on stretching their dollar. You can find more information on senior financial issues at Caregiver Stress Elder Finances.

Seek the services of an objective financial planner. Sheryl Garrett, CFP®, founder of the Garrett Planning Network, said it’s important for seniors to seek the advice of an objective fiduciary. The Garrett Planning Network (www.garrettplanningnetwork.com) features experts throughout the country who offer their advice on a fee-only basis.

Get a second opinion on investments and financial purchases. If you’re approached about changing your investments or making a purchase, make sure you get another opinion.

Contact your local Area Agency on Aging if you’re having trouble paying for food and gas. For more information or an office near you, log on to National Association of Area Agencies on Aging at www.n4a.org.

Get back to gardening. The economic downturn is generating a resurgence in gardening, and the over 55 crowd traditionally has been among the most avid gardeners.

Avoid convenience foods, which are more expensive. Watch for sales on fresh or canned fruits, vegetables and meats, which will be less expensive than convenience foods and better for you.

Look for deals on generic medications. Contact your pharmacist about ways to save money on your medications.

Walk when you can. If the gas prices are cutting into your social life, organize a walking club or walk with friends.

Carpool when you can’t walk. There’s economy in numbers. If you can’t afford to drive somewhere solo or in pairs, contact others you know going in the same direction or the same place and share costs.

Keep drapes drawn during the heat of the day, and minimize opening and closing doors in the cold of the winter. Close off parts of the house you’re not using to cut down on utility costs.

Financial planner Sheryl Garrett says that the ability of seniors to live at home helps cut costs as well. If you or a loved one needs assistance around the house, contact Home Instead Senior Care or visit the company’s website at www.homeinstead.com.

Call now for your free in-home care consultation: 415-333-3944 or 650-877-8009.

Home Care San Francisco Bay Area serving seniors in San Bruno, Walnut Creek and Concord. Call us at 415-333-3944 or 650-877-8009.