With summer approaching here in San Francisco it’s time for family caregivers to start thinking about interesting activities that they can do with their seniors. I know that every year it’s always a challenge to come up with different senior activities that I can complete with my elderly mother; and I feel sometimes, I’m not quite meeting expectations with my senior activity ideas. This year, instead of falling into seasonal stereotypes, I’ve decided to plan senior activities around the little known holidays and nationally recognized special days during the month of June and beyond.

I bet you didn’t know that the 2nd week in June is National Clay Week? Well, neither did I, until I happened to find it listed online, but it’s the inspiration for a great new senior craft activity idea this June. I’ve found a local ceramics painting shop in San Francisco which will allow me to take a ceramic figurine and all of the necessary craft supplies home so my mom and I can complete the crafts in comfort, and then return the painted crafts to the store so they can be heated in the kiln. June is also National Adopt-a-Cat month, and while my mother may not be in a position to add a furry friend to her household, it doesn’t mean she can’t receive the benefits of interacting with animals; so we’re volunteering at a local animal shelter where we can give back to the animal community, and give my mom the emotional and physical benefits that only an animal can have upon a senior citizen.

When caregivers get creative, a world of new opportunity can open in the lives of their seniors!

Sources:

About.com

MSNBC

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

In order to remain in optimal health during older adulthood, San Francisco seniors need to make smart nutrition choices, which includes cooking healthy, balanced meals for themselves. Many seniors who live alone in later life neglect their diet, because they can’t be bothered to cook for one. But, there are simple recipes which taste great, help seniors enjoy their meals, and won’t keep them slaving in the kitchen for hours on end.

Here’s a healthy recipe that San Francisco seniors can make at home with relative ease–although, if you serve it to guests, it tastes so good you can let them think you’ve spent all day cooking!

Lemon Dill Chicken Breasts

Ingredients:

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 cup sour cream
1 TSP chopped fresh dill
Salt and pepper to taste
2 tsp. lemon zest

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 425? F. degrees.

Mix all ingredients except chicken.
Spray a casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray.
Spread 1/4 of the lemon dill sauce over the bottom of pan.
Arrange chicken breasts on top of sauce in a single layer.
Pour remaining sauce over chicken and spread evenly.
Bake uncovered for 30-35 minutes, until chicken is done.

Serve the chicken breasts with green peas, and a half cup of boiled potatoes for each serving. To reduce fat content, or omit use of dairy products, skip the sour cream and use the lemon and dill as seasoning or choose a low fat variety.

Sources:

1. ClevelandAndSeniors.com

2. Nutritionwerks.com

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

Family caregivers who provide care for an elderly loved one, often get so caught up in their many responsibilities they can’t find time for themselves or their own needs. With so many San Francisco caregivers balancing their home care responsibilities with careers and their home lives, where they might care for their own young families and children; it’s understandable why they may not put the focus on themselves. As selfless as this may seem, many caregivers who neglect their own care, experience high levels of stress and are actually doing their care recipients and families a dishonor, because people who can’t take care of themselves can’t take care of anyone else adequately.

While it’s recommended that San Francisco caregivers make time everyday to do an activity to help them relax, sometimes that’s easier said than done. But taking a few moments to revitalize, isn’t too much to ask. When you begin to feel overwhelmed as a caregiver for the elderly, take a few deep breaths to relax or slow down for a moment and take-in your surroundings. Don’t feel selfish for focusing on yourself; remember that by being in better spirits and health, you will be doing that important senior in your life the favor of being able to provide better quality senior care.

Sources:
1. Caregiverstress
2. Caregiver ABC Blog

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

Q – My elderly mother is in her mid-80’s, and has been in and out of the hospital over the past few years. We’re never sure what to pack for her to make her comfortable while she’s there; what would you recommend?

A – If your mother has a history of medical issues that have kept her in and out of the hospital, it’s recommended that you keep a hospital bag on hand with the items she would need, so when a medical emergency occurs you don’t need to stress over the small details – like whether or not your remembered her toothbrush. Pack a hospital bag and include the following items:

• Clothing – loose fitting, comfortable clothing or pajamas, which allow hospital staff easy access to medical monitors or intravenous lines are recommended

• Documentation – copies of important documentation should be on hand. Including insurance cards, living wills, medicine and contact lists. Keep a pen and paper on hand to record questions for doctors, or information provided by medical staff.

• Toiletries – toothpaste, toothbrush, comb/brush, and other non heavily-perfumed items are necessities.

•  Entertainment – bring books, magazines, knitting, and if allowed under hospital policy a laptop in order to help the senior pass the time.

• Other necessities – hearing aids and eye glasses should be packed if needed; along with mementos from home (photos etc), a prepaid phone card and a small amount of cash.

Sources:
3. MedicineNet
4. Inventor Spot Beth Hodgson

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

Q – My mom’s been thinking about selling her home, which she has maintained even though she is currently living with a relative. After doing some research online, I realized there are some significant tax implications of selling a home, especially when it is mortgage free. Is there a better option to allow her to minimize the tax costs and maximize her assets?

A – The best bet is to have an estate planner review your mother’s specific circumstance and those assets that can be found in her property. However, there are a few options available such as reverse mortgages, trusts, and transfer of assets. Otherwise, at the time of her death, the property will be transferred to the named recipient as outlined on her will. An inheritance and/or estate tax will apply, which can be substantially less than the taxes your mother could pay if selling her home. At that stage, the person responsible for the estate under the will can sell the property to pay for funeral costs, can distribute profits to named family members, rent the home, or live in it themselves. Talk to an estate planner before making any definite decisions about how to handle your mother’s estate!

Sources:
1. ThinkGlink
2. Wikipedia

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

Q – I live in San Francisco and am a huge fan of Dancing with the Stars. I’m in my late 70’s and have thought about ballroom dancing as a fun activity now that I’m retired, but is it safe for people my age?

A – Older Dancing with the Stars contestants like Cloris Leachman have the right idea; not only is ballroom dancing your way through retirement safe, if you’re careful, there are many proven health benefits–including some that you wouldn’t expect. Try to find a safe, supervised environment where you learn how to ballroom dance with the assistance of a dance instructor. In San Francisco, senior centers, community centers, or local dance studios may offer ballroom dancing instruction for people who are retired which take into consideration special health needs of the older demographic. Try to limit ballroom dancing to about 5 minutes of warm up, followed by a 20 minute dance routine.

The benefits you will receive from ballroom dancing as a senior will not only affect your body through better cardiovascular health, weight maintenance, and improved flexibility, but it’s an activity ideal for seniors since there are also benefits to the mind. According to a study by the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, seniors over the age of 75 who ballroom dance also have lower occurances of Alzheimer’s and dementia!

Sources:
1. Senior Advocate
2. SeniorJournal

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

Q – I’m a family caregiver for an elderly grandparent in San Francisco. At the caregiver support group I attend, someone introduced the idea of a geriatric assessment. What does it involve and how could it benefit my grandparent?

A – First of all, it’s very commendable that you are seeking support within your local community from other caregivers, and as I’m sure you’re discovering, they can be great resources to learn about care options in San Francisco. Geriatric assessments can be completed by medical professionals, such as doctors or nurses in a variety of settings, including an outpatient clinic, hospital, or even your grandparent’s home. Often, geriatric assessments are recommended to older adults who are exhibiting signs of confusion, memory loss or dementia; but can be requested by anyone who wants professional insight from a healthcare perspective about improving and forecasting eldercare.

A geriatric assessment involves the following:

• Assessing a senior’s status by looking at physical, mental and psycho-social; factors; their ability to perform activities of daily living independently, and any care they currently receive

• Identifying problems that might be present based on the senior’s status now or in the future

• Developing a “Care Plan” with recommendations for support services

• Helping seniors attain the support they require

• Monitoring the success of the care plan

Sources:
1. HelpGuide
2. Southwestern Medical Center

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

Q – I suspect that my elderly grandfather, who has an elder care provider assisting him in his home in San Francisco might be a victim of home care negligence. He doesn’t seem to get along with his caregiver and is reluctant to look her in the eyes. I don’t want to make a big deal out of nothing, so what are the signs I can look for to determine if he’s a victim of negligence?

A – If you believe that your father in San Francisco might be a victim of negligence, or doesn’t get along with his caregiver. Don’t hesitate to talk to the caregiving agency about your suspicions and request another elder care expert to provide home care services. However, if you want to justify your concerns, there are other signs that could indicate your father is being neglected.

• Sudden changes in his behavior, such as becoming more withdrawn, depressed or angry

• Physical injuries like bruises, scrapes, cuts, or even broken bones

• The home care provider not allowing seniors to spend time alone with family members for fear something might be revealed

• Pressure sores or signs that restraints have been used

• Sudden, inexplicable weight loss in the senior

Sources:

1. Care Home Negligence
2. EZine Articles

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

Q – I am an elder care provider, and have a care recipient in San Francisco who has a history of strokes in his family. Since his risk of having a stroke is higher, is there anything I can do to help lower the likelihood that he will have stroke?

A – Since naturally there is no way to change your care recipient’s family history, it’s fortunate that simple changes to lifestyle and diet can reduce a senior’s risk of having a stroke. As a caregiver in San Francisco, there are a number of things that you can do to directly impact the likelihood that your senior will have a stroke, and a number of other things you can help with by offering support and encouragement.

How Caregivers Can Help Prevent Strokes:

• Prepare healthy meals for the senior that are low in salt and saturated fats

• Plan meals based on their specific healthy living needs – serve lower-cholesterol foods and adjust meals for those who struggle with high cholesterol

• Engage in activities daily that keep the senior active – go for a walk around the neighborhood or to the park, or try more vigorous exercise if your senior has the physical capabilities

• Ensure alcohol served with meals is done so in moderation, since excessive drinking can increase the risk of a stroke

Stroke Prevention Through Encouragement:

• Encourage a senior to understand their health, including stroke risk factors like high cholesterol, diabetes, circulation problems or atrial fibrillation by visiting a doctor

• Encourage a senior to quit smoking

• Be on the look out for signs of a stroke!

Sources:

1. Healing Daily

2. BBC Health

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

Q1 – My elderly mother from San Francisco has been looking into vacation options for seniors. Are cruises a good option for seniors looking to take a vacation? What are the benefits?

A1 – Cruises for the senior demographic are great vacation options for seniors for a number of reasons! Since cruises are typically semi-inclusive, non-luxury cruises for seniors can be very affordable vacation options for those who are retired and on a limited budget. Senior cruises also cater to the specific needs of the elderly; typically there are more accessible rooms for those who are disabled or face mobility issues; there is flexibility to cater to specific dietary needs; on ship doctors keep a supply of medications needed based on the vacationers medical conditions and illnesses; and activities are senior-friendly and enjoyable for the demographic.

Q2 – Do senior cruises depart from San Francisco?

A2 – Departure points vary with the specific cruise line. However, once seniors have chosen their desired cruise, they may need to travel by plane to the departure port.

Sources:

1. Expedia Cruise Ship Centers

2. About

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