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Modern medicine – it has its perks and folks are living longer than ever. While that’s great news, it’s still an uphill battle getting most seniors interested in exercise. Keeping the body moving and the heart pumping is a fabulous way for people of all ages to maintain a healthy weight, keep muscles and bones strong and feel rejuvenated and refreshed. Nevertheless, it can be tricky to talk seniors into giving it a whirl. Take the time to read a few strategies and learn how to encourage seniors to get the exercise they need.
Communicate the Health Benefits -One very easy way to peak interest in almost anything is to talk up the benefits. Who wouldn’t want to feel better, look younger and have more energy? Exercise can do all of these things and more. Talking with seniors about these benefits may just be the push they need to hit the track. Remember, we spend millions of dollars annually on facial creams and weight loss gimmicks. If a few laps in the pool can achieve the same result for free, who wouldn’t be motivated to give it a try? Besides, for many seniors, getting a little exercise every day may be the answer to a great night’s sleep-something that many seniors struggle with.
Highlight the Fun in Staying Active – Exercise doesn’t have to be dull and boring. In fact, there are plenty of activities that most seniors will enjoy so much, they may even have fun! Show them that exercise can be an enjoyable part of their day and they will be more interested in participating. From strolling through the mall to playing a game of shuffleboard with friends, seniors need to know that they can enjoy themselves while taking positive steps to improve their health.
Connect with Grandkids – As an easy way to develop and build relationships with grandkids, exercise can prove to be even more beneficial. Many seniors would love the opportunity to have a little fun with the little ones but aren’t sure where to begin. Let them know that even a walk through the garden can be a terrific way to connect with grandkids and build lasting relationships. While a game of basketball may not be the right answer, there are plenty of activities that require movement and can be an enjoyable and fun way to share time with the ones we love.
Promote Good Sleep – Unfortunately, one of the most common complaints among seniors is the inability to get a good night’s sleep. Regular exercise at least three days per week can promote good sleep, leaving most people refreshed and ready to face the day. No more tossing and turning or sleeping pills because regular, consistent exercise can make even the most hardened insomniac sleep like a baby.
Getting seniors interested in exercise can be a bit of a challenge. Luckily, there are a few strategies that can make even the most devoted couch potato want to sit up and take notice. In addition to talking up the obvious health benefits of exercise, highlight the fun in staying active and demonstrate how even mild exercise can bring them closer to their grandkids and promote sleep. Exercise is important at any age. The trick to getting aging seniors interested is to find creative, meaningful ways to spark interest. 
Linnea Goodrich is the owner of Firstat Nursing Services, which is the only Home care Agency in San Diego that is both State licensed and certified by the Alzheimer’s Association.  Firstat Nursing Services has been providing a higher standard of home nursing, home health and home care services for elderly, disabled and injured people in the greater San Diego area since 1997.  To pick up a copy of her free report “Critical Questions You Must Ask Before You Hire a Home Care Provider,” Visit, http://FirstatofSanDiego.com
 

(ARA) – There are more than 65 million caregivers who are an essential part of a patient’s health care team in the United States. They not only provide emotional strength and support but also often help a patient with their daily needs, such as filling prescriptions or helping schedule doctors’ appointments. But while being a caregiver to someone in need can be a significant help, it can also be a daunting responsibility. Greg Stephens, Founder and Director of the National CML Society, can relate.

“When my mother was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia, or CML, I not only had an immediate concern about her overall health, but also about the added responsibilities and pressure that it would bring to our lives,” says Stephens. “I was committed to being the best caregiver I could, and staying as organized and well-researched as possible, but CML is not a disease that can be treated quickly. Instead, I think of it as a marathon, since my mother’s disease required ongoing treatment and care.”

CML is a blood cancer that in most patients can be controlled and managed for many years by working closely with a physician to develop the best possible treatment plan. Plans are decided based on a number of criteria, such as age and progression of the disease, and include a combination of daily medications, routine blood tests and regular check-ins with doctors. Dr. Javier Pinilla-Ibarz, Assistant Member of the Malignant Hematology and Immunology Program at the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, knows firsthand.

“When I tell patients they have CML it can be scary because it is a cancer that requires ongoing, active management for many years and the treatment process can be a lot of responsibility for a patient to manage on their own. Having a friend or loved one by the patient’s side can be a tremendous help. Not only can they help remind the patient of what to do to control their disease, but they can also be someone a patient can talk with to help keep spirits high.”

November’s National Caregiver Month is a great time to celebrate caregivers. The following tips are designed to help caregivers manage their role as part of the patient’s health care team:

* Helping track results: Creating a “results journal” which is devoted to storing test results along with his or her testing dates can help a patient keep track of this information. For example, for CML patients, tracking the levels of the cancer-causing enzyme, Bcr-Abl, is important for monitoring the progression of the disease.

* Caring for yourself too: Balancing the needs of the patient with your own needs is essential. A caregiver who’s stressed out or overwhelmed might not be able to care for a loved one as well as they want to.

* Educating yourself: Staying well-informed about your loved one’s condition will make you a more valuable resource for them. With CML, the enzyme Bcr-Abl is responsible for sending signals to produce cancerous white blood cells. Knowing about the disease and which medications best target and inhibit this enzyme will help you to be an active participant in ongoing treatment discussions between your loved one and their medical team.

* Joining a caregiver support group: Connecting with other caregivers is an opportunity to learn new ways to help a loved one. There is a great strength in knowing you are not alone.

For more information and to connect with other CML patients and caregivers, visit the Novartis sponsored social networking site www.cmlearth.com.
 

Going on a trip with an aging parent might seem challenging at first. They are used to being at home and might not even agree to it, for one thing. But traveling with an aging parent can be as enjoyable as the trips you used to take with your parents earlier in life, with a few adjustments. Keep these tips in mind:

1 – Discuss the trip with your parent for a few weeks before going on the trip – Talking about the trip before you go allows your parent to voice an opinion on the trip as well as to get prepared for the travel.  You can’t prepare them completely, but if you talk about things beforehand they will have an idea of what to expect. Talk to them about what they’d like to do; your parents may be advanced in years but still knows what he or she is interested in doing.

2 – Take all medicines and see a doctor for prescriptions to take on the road – Make sure that you have a suitable container for your parent’s medication. But more than that, make sure to see your parent’s doctor before the trip to write out prescriptions in case your parent needs more while you’re away. You might also consider asking your parent’s doctor if any anti-anxiety medication might be appropriate to take as well. Make sure you have the doctor’s number as well.

In addition to medicine, make sure you take along any other medical supplies and devices your parent may need, such as an oxygen tank or wheelchair. Some places already have wheelchairs, such as airports, so keep that in mind too.

3 – Have a plan in place for unexpected toileting issues. – Plan ahead of time what you will do if your parent needs a bathroom right away. Do your best to stop regularly for a bathroom break, but surprises can occur.  Have a change of clothes immediately available and reassure your parent that everything is alright.

4 – Plan your itinerary according to your parent’s limitations. – If your parent cannot stand for long periods, don’t take him or her on long hikes or long shopping trips. Keep in mind what your parent can and cannot do so that you know, before you arrive at your destination, what kinds of activities to focus on while you’re traveling.

5 – Be flexible. – Things can change. And if you’re traveling with a parent who has dementia, unfamiliar situations can lead to unpredictable behaviors. Be ready to make changes in your itinerary according to how your parent is feeling and behaving that day. Have enough money with you that you can go back home right away if you need to.

Lastly, don’t forget to have fun! Traveling can be a great way for you to bond with your aging parent, as well as a relaxing trip for you. Have a good time seeing the sights and sharing your travels with your parent. Your parent probably took you on many trips as a child and now, you can repay the favor for both of you.

Linnea Goodrich is the owner of Firstat Nursing Services, which is the only Home care Agency in San Diego that is both State licensed and certified by the Alzheimer’s Association.  Firstat Nursing Services has been providing a higher standard of home nursing, home health and home care services for elderly, disabled and injured people in the greater San Diego area since 1997.  To pick up a copy of her free report “Critical Questions You Must Ask Before You Hire a Home Care Provider,” Visit, http://FirstatofSanDiego.com

Having a parent move in with you after years of living apart can take some getting used to. It can be an adjustment for both of you, your parent and any other relative that is involved. Here are some ways you can be prepared:
Set up rules – These rules aren’t going to be like your parents’ rules when you were in high school. Your parent is still an adult. They deserve the same basic respect that you would expect from anyone; they deserve even more than that because they are your parents.
That said, make sure that your parent knows where your boundaries are, for example, in dealing with your children. Talk about privacy issues for every member of the family that will be affected by the move.
Delegate responsibility – If your parent needs some care, devise a system that will help you figure out when you need to be with your parent to help them with their needs. If your parent can still take care of themselves, allow them the same independence you’d hope for in the same position. Find out who will handle the regular chores.
Ask how everyone feels – Chances are your parent would prefer to live on their own, so talk about ways they will still be able to feel independent. Ask your spouse and children how they feel having your parents move into your home. Getting feelings out in the open will make the transition easier.
Get clear about how YOU feel. Are you really cut out to take care of your parent to the degree that they need it? How are you going to feel day in and day out seeing your parent there?
Sort out financial issues – Get a plan in place now that describes who will pay for what. This can often be one of the most difficult things to work through, so make sure to talk about this topic calmly with your parent and your spouse. Put down in writing who will be financially responsible for which aspects of the living arrangements and stick to it.
Prepare the house – Make sure that you don’t have things laying around that an older person might trip on, for starters. Make sure that your parent’s bedroom is comfortable and that they can reach anything they need to reach. If your parent has a wheelchair, make sure that the house is wheelchair accessible.
Know when it is not working – Some family members are not cut out to be a caregiver. After a while, if the situation becomes that untenable, have a plan in place for alternate arrangements. It can be painful to admit that you can’t do it, but your parent’s care is what is most important and if they can get better help elsewhere that might be the best place for them.
Living together at this late stage can be a wonderful way to reconnect in what may be the last years of your parent’s life. If it takes a bit of time to get used to, isn’t it worth it?
Linnea Goodrich is the owner of Firstat Nursing Services, which is the only Home care Agency in San Diego that is both State licensed and certified by the Alzheimer’s Association.  Firstat Nursing Services has been providing a higher standard of home nursing, home health and home care services for elderly, disabled and injured people in the greater San Diego area since 1997.  To pick up a copy of her free report “Critical Questions You Must Ask Before You Hire a Home Care Provider,” Visit, http://FirstatofSanDiego.com
 

Having a parent move in with you after years of living apart can take some getting used to. It can be an adjustment for both of you, your parent and any other relative that is involved. Here are some ways you can be prepared:
Set up rules – These rules aren’t going to be like your parents’ rules when you were in high school. Your parent is still an adult. They deserve the same basic respect that you would expect from anyone; they deserve even more than that because they are your parents.
That said, make sure that your parent knows where your boundaries are, for example, in dealing with your children. Talk about privacy issues for every member of the family that will be affected by the move.
Delegate responsibility – If your parent needs some care, devise a system that will help you figure out when you need to be with your parent to help them with their needs. If your parent can still take care of themselves, allow them the same independence you’d hope for in the same position. Find out who will handle the regular chores.
Ask how everyone feels – Chances are your parent would prefer to live on their own, so talk about ways they will still be able to feel independent. Ask your spouse and children how they feel having your parents move into your home. Getting feelings out in the open will make the transition easier.
Get clear about how YOU feel. Are you really cut out to take care of your parent to the degree that they need it? How are you going to feel day in and day out seeing your parent there?
Sort out financial issues – Get a plan in place now that describes who will pay for what. This can often be one of the most difficult things to work through, so make sure to talk about this topic calmly with your parent and your spouse. Put down in writing who will be financially responsible for which aspects of the living arrangements and stick to it.
Prepare the house – Make sure that you don’t have things laying around that an older person might trip on, for starters. Make sure that your parent’s bedroom is comfortable and that they can reach anything they need to reach. If your parent has a wheelchair, make sure that the house is wheelchair accessible.
Know when it is not working – Some family members are not cut out to be a caregiver. After a while, if the situation becomes that untenable, have a plan in place for alternate arrangements. It can be painful to admit that you can’t do it, but your parent’s care is what is most important and if they can get better help elsewhere that might be the best place for them.
Living together at this late stage can be a wonderful way to reconnect in what may be the last years of your parent’s life. If it takes a bit of time to get used to, isn’t it worth it?
Linnea Goodrich is the owner of Firstat Nursing Services, which is the only Home care Agency in San Diego that is both State licensed and certified by the Alzheimer’s Association.  Firstat Nursing Services has been providing a higher standard of home nursing, home health and home care services for elderly, disabled and injured people in the greater San Diego area since 1997.  To pick up a copy of her free report “Critical Questions You Must Ask Before You Hire a Home Care Provider,” Visit, http://FirstatofSanDiego.com
 

You have taken the courageous step of hiring a home health caregiver to take care of your loved ones who may be either elderly parents or maybe a relative recovering from an injury or battling a disease. It can be challenging when you first hire a home health aide or nurse, who will be coming into your home every day to care for your loved one. This blog post contains a few helpful ideas that can help you make the transition a bit smoother.

If you are working with a home health care agency you should have a conversation with them and get clear on what kind of support you can expect from your caregiver. While this might be your first experience working with a home health caregiver, the agency has years of experience helping to support the development of mutually beneficial relationships between health care workers and their families that use their services. Make sure you get all of your questions answered and be in constant communication with the agency as new questions arise.

It’s important to let go of any feelings of embarrassment about describing exactly what you need help with. Home health caregiver’s are professionals and they have years of experience working with elderly or ill patients. Chances are they have faced similar circumstances, many times in the past. Being honest and clear about your needs, and the needs of your loved one will help the relationship develop much more smoothly.

Clearly express your preferences up front about your home. If you do not allow smoking inside of your house, be sure to make that clear, and express any other rules or preferences that you might have.

It may be helpful to work with both the agency and the home health aide to develop a daily schedule for when they are on duty. Your loved one most likely has established routines that they would like to preserve for their own comfort. Communicating the importance of sticking with these routines can help avoid future conflict.

Many home care services agencies provide hourly care for patients from 4 to 24 hours per day. You will work with your agency to determine the number of hours and the level of care that your loved one needs. The home health aide will be monitoring the patient’s condition daily and communicating with you and the agency so that when the need arises, changes can be made in the type and level of care required for that patient.

When it comes to meal preparation, it is helpful to be clear about what the patient’s preferences are for particular meals. Providing everything they need to prepare meals each day makes it easier for them to do their job properly.

If your loved one is suffering from Alzheimer’s or Dementia, the home health care worker should be trained and have experience in working with the elderly with these conditions. (Make sure you request a caregiver with these qualifications) People with Dementia can sometimes become hostile, which can be challenging for you to see when you have known this person for their entire life and now they seem to have morphed into a person that you don’t know or understand. Allow the home care worker to follow their training and their instincts in caring for your loved one.

Linnea Goodrich is the owner of Firstat Nursing Services, which is the only Homecare Agency in San Diego that is both State licensed and certified by the Alzheimer’s Association.  Firstat Nursing Services has been providing a higher standard of home nursing, home health and homecare for elderly, disabled and injured people in the greater San Diego area since 1997.  To pick up a copy of her free report “Critical Questions You Must Ask Before You Hire a Home Care Provider,” Visit,http://FirstatofSanDiego.com

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You have taken the courageous step of hiring a home health caregiver to take care of your loved ones who may be either elderly parents or maybe a relative recovering from an injury or battling a disease. It can be challenging when you first hire a home health aide or nurse, who will be coming into your home every day to care for your loved one. This blog post contains a few helpful ideas that can help you make the transition a bit smoother.

If you are working with a home health care agency you should have a conversation with them and get clear on what kind of support you can expect from your caregiver. While this might be your first experience working with a home health caregiver, the agency has years of experience helping to support the development of mutually beneficial relationships between health care workers and their families that use their services. Make sure you get all of your questions answered and be in constant communication with the agency as new questions arise.

It’s important to let go of any feelings of embarrassment about describing exactly what you need help with. Home health caregiver’s are professionals and they have years of experience working with elderly or ill patients. Chances are they have faced similar circumstances, many times in the past. Being honest and clear about your needs, and the needs of your loved one will help the relationship develop much more smoothly.

Clearly express your preferences up front about your home. If you do not allow smoking inside of your house, be sure to make that clear, and express any other rules or preferences that you might have.

It may be helpful to work with both the agency and the home health aide to develop a daily schedule for when they are on duty. Your loved one most likely has established routines that they would like to preserve for their own comfort. Communicating the importance of sticking with these routines can help avoid future conflict.

Many home care services agencies provide hourly care for patients from 4 to 24 hours per day. You will work with your agency to determine the number of hours and the level of care that your loved one needs. The home health aide will be monitoring the patient’s condition daily and communicating with you and the agency so that when the need arises, changes can be made in the type and level of care required for that patient.

When it comes to meal preparation, it is helpful to be clear about what the patient’s preferences are for particular meals. Providing everything they need to prepare meals each day makes it easier for them to do their job properly.

If your loved one is suffering from Alzheimer’s or Dementia, the home health care worker should be trained and have experience in working with the elderly with these conditions. (Make sure you request a caregiver with these qualifications) People with Dementia can sometimes become hostile, which can be challenging for you to see when you have known this person for their entire life and now they seem to have morphed into a person that you don’t know or understand. Allow the home care worker to follow their training and their instincts in caring for your loved one.

Linnea Goodrich is the owner of Firstat Nursing Services, which is the only Homecare Agency in San Diego that is both State licensed and certified by the Alzheimer’s Association.  Firstat Nursing Services has been providing a higher standard of home nursing, home health and homecare for elderly, disabled and injured people in the greater San Diego area since 1997.  To pick up a copy of her free report “Critical Questions You Must Ask Before You Hire a Home Care Provider,” Visit,http://FirstatofSanDiego.com

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Caring for elderly relatives at home requires that you first make sure that your home environment is safe for them. Thousands of older Americans end up in the emergency room each year because of injuries they suffered at home. Many of these injuries can be prevented with just a few changes to your home environment.
 
The topic of home safety and making your home safe for seniors is an important issue that cannot be overlooked. In this blog post we will talk about just a few of the changes that you can make to ensure that your home is safe. But there are many more changes that you will need to consider and at the end of the post you will be pointed to additional resources where you can find more thorough information on this vitally important topic.
So let’s take a look at these seven tips that can help make your home a bit safer for your elderly relatives.
1. Bedroom and bathroom proximity
As much as you can make sure that the bedroom and bathroom that your seniors will be using are located as close as possible to one another — preferably on the same level of the house.
2. Handrails and grab bars
Installing handrails and grab bars in the bathroom will help your elderly loved ones, who still have some ability to steady themselves when they are getting up and down from the toilet and stepping in and out of the shower.  If there is room for a shower chair with arm rails, that is also a good option.
3. Stairway safety
Stairs, present a huge risk of falling for older people. As we age, our depth perception can become decreased, which increases the risk of falling especially on stairs. If it is possible to eliminate the necessity for them to use the stairs that would be ideal, but if they must use the stairs, make sure that there is a secure handrail that will support their weight along the wall. Also make sure that the banister is secure and firm and can also support their weight if they must lean on it for assistance in getting up and down the stairs.
4. Lighting
Because many elderly people have diminished eyesight, their night vision will be impaired too. Install light switches that are close to the doorway entrance nightlights along hallways that they will have to use at night between their bedroom and bathroom.  This will help eliminate the need for them to stumble along trying to find their way in the dark. You can buy battery-operated lights that stick to surfaces and just require a tap for them to turn on, or you can install motion sensor lights that, on automatically when they sense motion.
5. Rugs, and other tripping hazards
Area rugs on hardwood floors should have a nonskid pad attached to the bottom or better yet, be removed altogether. Cords that pass across doorways or passageways in the room should be removed and other tripping hazards around the house should be eliminated altogether.
 
6. Poison Control
Have the telephone number for poison control near every telephone in the house. Some elderly people take many different kinds of medications and if there is an emergency from an accidental overdose or poisoning from children having gotten their hands on medications, you don’t want to half to search for the number for poison control.
7. Smoke alarms
Make sure that your house has working smoke alarms.
The HSC (Home Safety Council) has lots of free resources including checklists that you can download so that you can do your own home safety audit:http://www.homesafetycouncil.org/SafeSeniors/sen_aging_w001.asp

Linnea Goodrich is the owner of Firstat Nursing Services, which is the only Homecare Agency in San Diego that is both State licensed and certified by the Alzheimer’s Association.  Firstat Nursing Services has been providing a higher standard of home nursing, home health and homecare for elderly, disabled and injured people in the greater San Diego area since 1997.  To pick up a copy of her free report “Critical Questions You Must Ask Before You Hire a Home Care Provider,” Visit,http://FirstatofSanDiego.com
 

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Caring for elderly relatives at home requires that you first make sure that your home environment is safe for them. Thousands of older Americans end up in the emergency room each year because of injuries they suffered at home. Many of these injuries can be prevented with just a few changes to your home environment.
 
The topic of home safety and making your home safe for seniors is an important issue that cannot be overlooked. In this blog post we will talk about just a few of the changes that you can make to ensure that your home is safe. But there are many more changes that you will need to consider and at the end of the post you will be pointed to additional resources where you can find more thorough information on this vitally important topic.
So let’s take a look at these seven tips that can help make your home a bit safer for your elderly relatives.
1. Bedroom and bathroom proximity
As much as you can make sure that the bedroom and bathroom that your seniors will be using are located as close as possible to one another — preferably on the same level of the house.
2. Handrails and grab bars
Installing handrails and grab bars in the bathroom will help your elderly loved ones, who still have some ability to steady themselves when they are getting up and down from the toilet and stepping in and out of the shower.  If there is room for a shower chair with arm rails, that is also a good option.
3. Stairway safety
Stairs, present a huge risk of falling for older people. As we age, our depth perception can become decreased, which increases the risk of falling especially on stairs. If it is possible to eliminate the necessity for them to use the stairs that would be ideal, but if they must use the stairs, make sure that there is a secure handrail that will support their weight along the wall. Also make sure that the banister is secure and firm and can also support their weight if they must lean on it for assistance in getting up and down the stairs.
4. Lighting
Because many elderly people have diminished eyesight, their night vision will be impaired too. Install light switches that are close to the doorway entrance nightlights along hallways that they will have to use at night between their bedroom and bathroom.  This will help eliminate the need for them to stumble along trying to find their way in the dark. You can buy battery-operated lights that stick to surfaces and just require a tap for them to turn on, or you can install motion sensor lights that, on automatically when they sense motion.
5. Rugs, and other tripping hazards
Area rugs on hardwood floors should have a nonskid pad attached to the bottom or better yet, be removed altogether. Cords that pass across doorways or passageways in the room should be removed and other tripping hazards around the house should be eliminated altogether.
 
6. Poison Control
Have the telephone number for poison control near every telephone in the house. Some elderly people take many different kinds of medications and if there is an emergency from an accidental overdose or poisoning from children having gotten their hands on medications, you don’t want to half to search for the number for poison control.
7. Smoke alarms
Make sure that your house has working smoke alarms.
The HSC (Home Safety Council) has lots of free resources including checklists that you can download so that you can do your own home safety audit:http://www.homesafetycouncil.org/SafeSeniors/sen_aging_w001.asp

Linnea Goodrich is the owner of Firstat Nursing Services, which is the only Homecare Agency in San Diego that is both State licensed and certified by the Alzheimer’s Association.  Firstat Nursing Services has been providing a higher standard of home nursing, home health and homecare for elderly, disabled and injured people in the greater San Diego area since 1997.  To pick up a copy of her free report “Critical Questions You Must Ask Before You Hire a Home Care Provider,” Visit,http://FirstatofSanDiego.com
 

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