For many seniors, their biggest fear is losing independence, and that can come with agreeing to accept senior care help as they get older. No matter how necessary it might be, Indianapolis seniors might refuse to look at the realities in order to hold onto whatever independence they have left, and unfortunately, it can fall to family members and friends to convince them. Here are 7 ways to convince seniors to accept help:

1. Remember change is difficult for everyone – their resistance might be frustrating, but think about how you would feel in the same situation
2. Give him/her time to come around – introduce changes slowly, but don’t force them. Eventually, the changes if for your senior’s benefit will be more accepted, once they get past denying they need help
3. Keep on trying – if you try to introduce a change and it’s not accepted, wait and try again. Sometimes even 15 minutes can make a world of difference
4. Keep them involved in decisions – let your senior know he/she does have a say in making decisions about care. However, do try and be persuasive about introducing care options
5. Offer a trial period – if they are resistant, persuade your senior to give your suggestion a try. A trial period with a home caregiver or with you helping around the house may help them to realize how much it can ease their burden
6. Present it as help for them – when suggesting you help them out or hire a caregiver, don’t present it as a result of their limitations, tell them it’s to have someone available to clean up around the house so they don’t feel obligated, or to help with moving of heavy objects
7. Know when to stop pushing – remember, that despite your concerns, your senior is still someone who is capable and allowed to make their own decisions. If you have tried the above to no avail, no when to stop pushing otherwise you might risk your relationship

Via: National Caregiver’s Library

Image: jupiterimages.com

Home Care Indianapolis provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Indianapolis, Beech Grove, Cumberland, East Indianapolis, Irvington, Lawrence, Oaklandon, and Wanamaker. Call us today at 317.357.5411.

Aging can bring you down, and no one would ever dream of telling you that getting older isn’t hard; but feelings of sadness or depression don’t need to be accepted. Caregivers and family members can help to boost senior morale with the following tips:

1. Encourage physical activity – exercise releases hormones which can help stave off depression. Instead of sitting around at home during a visit with a senior, go out for a walk or pick another activity that’s well suited to the senior’s physical capabilities.
2. Create social situations – the best way to boost senior morale and prevent loneliness is to get them involved in social situations. Invite your senior to a party or encourage them to join a social activity.
3.  Help maintain a healthy diet – studies have proven that a well-balanced diet can prevent depression, so keep your senior’s fridge well stocked with fresh fruits and vegetables.
4. Offer support – if your efforts just don’t seem to boost your senior’s morale or they continue to struggle with elderly depression, make sure they know you are willing to listen to anything on their mind. If they aren’t comfortable talking with a friend or family member, encourage them to speak with a counselor or join a support group for seniors.
5. Encourage their hobbies – while some seniors may withdraw from activities they enjoy, encourage your senior to keep them up or find some new things that interest him/her.
6. Improve the living space – if your senior spends a lot of time in his/her home, even if it’s in an assisted living facility, personalize the space to help them feel comfortable. Photos, décor in their favorite colors and other personal comforts will help seniors feel like they belong there!

Sources:

1. Senior Journal: Kara Gavin
2. Everyday Health

Home Care Indianapolis provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Indianapolis, Beech Grove, Cumberland, East Indianapolis, Irvington, Lawrence, Oaklandon, and Wanamaker. Call us today at 317.357.5411.

Even after you’ve lost a spouse, you don’t need to be bound to your Indianapolis home, if you’ve been dreaming of traveling; get out there and do it. As a woman traveling alone, however, keep these 12 safety tips for traveling in mind:

1. Know the destination’s cultural regulations – many countries have specific regulations for women with regards to clothing and behavior. It may seem like a double standard, but to avoid conflict, try to respect and abide by these guidelines
2. Check for travel warnings – the US State Department Consular Information provides up to date information about safety issues and any other travel warnings about where you intend to travel
3. Make sure travel documentation is up to date – make sure that you have the right visas for where you’re traveling and that your passport is valid. Make sure you get a passport 3-4 months before you travel so you don’t run into any problems
4. Leave information at home – make sure a friend or family member has your full itinerary, including contact information for places you’re staying, as well as a copy of your plane ticket, and even a copy of your passport
5. Leave valuables at home – leave extra credit cards and jewelry and valuables at homes, costume jewelry included as it could be mistaken for the real thing
6. Have health insurance – make sure you have travel insurance that covers potential medical costs while you’re away, including evacuation
7. Take enough medication and make sure it’s labeled – for prescription medications, have enough for the duration of your trip and then some in case of delays. Make sure your medications are in their original prescription bottles with labels as some countries might give you trouble due to trafficking laws
8. Remain aware – be aware of those around you and use common sense if you feel someone is acting suspiciously. Go into a store or contact your hotel if you feel uncomfortable
9. Look confident – look and act like you know where you’re going, keep your head held high, and you won’t look like such an easy target
10. Ask for directions – know where you’re going and how to get there before you leave your hotel. Ask the concierge for directions to avoid unsafe areas and keep your confidence up
11. Choose a safe hotel – a central hotel with security and public transportation like taxis nearby is a safer bet
12. Dress conservatively – dress conservatively wherever you’re going and keep jewelry and makeup minimal so you don’t look like a good target

Via: About.com

Image Source: jupiterimages.com

Home Care Indianapolis provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Indianapolis, Beech Grove, Cumberland, East Indianapolis, Irvington, Lawrence, Oaklandon, and Wanamaker. Call us today at 317.357.5411.

I’ve been driving all of my life, I’ve been accident free without even so much as a ticket to blemish my perfect driving reputation. So I bet you can understand how surprised I was when I showed up at a Indianapolis rental agency, where I’d made a reservation weeks before, to pick up my rental car only to be told that I’m too old. With my bags all packed and in hand ready for my trip, I thought that I was hearing what the rental agent was trying to tell me incorrectly – but sure enough, I was being told that after 70, I was too old to drive one of their cars. The agent explained to me that while I might have a flawless driving record, I’m more of a liability as their insurance rates will sky rocket if I have an accident while behind the wheel of one of their cars. I don’t think I need to tell you that this went a long way to ruining my vacation, but I’ve definitely learned my lesson now that next time I need to do my homework and find a place that sees that age comes with wisdom and experience. Here’s what I’ve learned from my problems renting a car after age 70 that might help you from encountering the same issues!

1. Ask about age maximums – many rental car companies, or individual rental franchises in certain cities may very with their age limits. While some may not allow seniors over 70 to rent a car due to the potential cost of insurance following an accident, others may put no restrictions on maximum driving age
2. Check your insurance – check with your existing insurance policy and see if it will cover a rental car if you’re driving away from your Indianapolis home. Using existing insurance or purchasing new insurance may allow you to rent a car from a company that otherwise has age limitations
3. Start at home – if you determine that it’s cheaper to rent a car from a local Indianapolis agency, get your car at home and make it a longer road trip to your destination if the savings are worthwhile!
4. Pick up the phone – while looking at car rental agencies online might be a great way to get costs, companies don’t always post maximum age limitations online. Pick up the phone, and don’t be modest about your age. Tell them you’re a senior and find out if there are any restrictions or special steps that will need to be taken to rent a car at your age

Via: About

Image: pro.corbis.com

Home Care Indianapolis provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Indianapolis, Beech Grove, Cumberland, East Indianapolis, Irvington, Lawrence, Oaklandon, and Wanamaker. Call us today at 317.357.5411.

As if seniors in Indianapolis seniors in nursing homes and dialysis centers don’t have enough to worry about, they are more susceptible to contracting viruses as a result of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus (MRSA). Added precautions need to be taken by seniors, families, and even hospital workers in order to ensure that the spread of this bacteria is limited, and that can be accomplished by taking the following tips seriously.

1) Wash Your Hands –wash your hands often and ensure that that you know proper techniques to make sure that that bacteria is killed. Use hot water and soap and ensure that they scrub for 30 minutes.
2) There no such thing as washing too much –wash your hands before and after you do just about everything! When you go to the bathroom, before and after meals, anytime you touch objects in a very public place, if you sneeze or cough, and especially when around others who are ill
3) Use hand sanitizer if there’s no sink access – if seniors or caregivers don’t have access to soap and water, an alcohol based hand sanitizer will disinfect and help to kill bacteria like MRSA
4) Try not to touch anything in public restrooms – it may sound extreme, but you don’t know if others using the public restroom might have been sick when they touched doorknobs, doors and faucets in the washroom without washing their hands first. Use a paper towel when opening doors and wash your hands before you leave
5) Clean surfaces in your house – frequently clean doorknobs, faucets and other surfaces where you and others in the home frequently use their hands which can also spread bacteria. Antibacterial cleaners or those designed to combat MRSA can be effective!
6) Keep cuts clean – it’s important for cuts to be cleaned and bandaged so that MRSA can’t enter the wound
7) Use caution when treating someone else’s wound – avoid touching bandages or an open wound directly when helping someone else. Wear gloves and wash your hands after
8. Don’t share personal items – MRSA can be spread by sharing clothes, towels, tweezers, nail clippers, cosmetics and more
9) Don’t overuse antibiotics – using antibiotics for a virus can help increase MRSA’s resistance; always follow doctor’s instructions
10) See a doctor – if wounds aren’t healing well, seek medical attention

Sources:

1. MedLeague

2. How to Do Things

Omage: pro.corbis.com

Home Care Indianapolis provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Indianapolis, Beech Grove, Cumberland, East Indianapolis, Irvington, Lawrence, Oaklandon, and Wanamaker. Call us today at 317.357.5411.

As someone who works in a geriatric clinic that assesses seniors with Alzheimer’s, I help many Indianapolis families overcome the trials and tribulations and learn to cope with and improve the symptoms of the cognitive disorder. It’s not uncommon for caregivers and family members to ask why it is that some seniors seem to get worse at night, seeming relatively unaffected during the day, but becoming confused, agitated and totally restless in the evening hours. Typically, these are signs and symptoms of sundowning, which many seniors with Alzheimer’s and dementia do suffer from. The good news, that we tell all of our patients and their families, is that there are some simple ways that families can help seniors overcome sundowning:

• Seniors should be checked out by their Indianapolis doctor to ensure that sundowning isn’t a result of another disease or illness
• Caregivers need to make sure that they’re flexible in their approach to dealing with their senior, especially at night
• Caregivers should ensure that seniors don’t consume caffeinated drinks in the afternoon or evening, otherwise restlessness can be worse
• Lighting in the home should be appropriate for the time of day, and there should be minimal glare and shadows so seniors don’t become more anxious by lack of visibility
• Caregivers and family should try to make seniors feel safe and secure by speaking soothingly despite their frustrations
• During the evening hours caregivers should make sure the senior’s needs are always met – that they’re not hungry, thirsty etc
• Naps should be avoided during the day to ensure seniors can sleep at night
• Soothing music can be played in the evening to promote relaxation, or other activities that help seniors unwind can be tried
• Stimulating and physical activities during the day can help seniors sleep better at night
• Caregivers and family members must always remember that seniors with Alzheimer’s aren’t behaving that way on purpose

Sources:

1. New York Times
2. Health Central

Home Care Indianapolis provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Indianapolis, Beech Grove, Cumberland, East Indianapolis, Irvington, Lawrence, Oaklandon, and Wanamaker. Call us today at 317.357.5411.

During the summer months in Indianapolis seniors are tempted to get outside and into the beautiful seasonal weather, but based on the benefits that nature brings to the body and mind, it’s essential that seniors make an effort to remain in touch with nature year round. Many poets like Walt Whitman have written about how nature has touched them, and this can apply to people of all ages, all levels of physical fitness, and all interests.

If you’re not convinced about why you should get in touch with the environment around you, here’s how you, as a senior can be benefited through natural exposure and reflection:

• Attention and memory spans improve by 20% after a 50 to 55 minute walk in a natural setting
• Sights in nature cause reflection and mental stimulation
• In nature, your mind can focus on stimulus rather than tuning out other surroundings in the environment when it’s overwhelming in a busy city environment
• Being in an environmental surrounding provides the brain with “active rest”
• Getting out into nature generally involves some form of physical activity and weight bearing activities like walking can help with osteoporosis and muscle strength
• Body weight, body fat and cholesterol is lowered when Indianapolis seniors get active by hiking or walking outdoors reducing the risk of stroke, and heart conditions
• The boomer generation has a strong sentimental to the outdoors based on Woodstock and other events, so it can take them back to fond memories of their youth

Sources:

1. AARP

Image Source: pro.corbis.com

Home Care Indianapolis provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Indianapolis, Beech Grove, Cumberland, East Indianapolis, Irvington, Lawrence, Oaklandon, and Wanamaker. Call us today at 317.357.5411.

It’s hard to find a physical activity that improves the overall health and mobility for seniors, especially for those who just don’t have the endurance to exercise for hours per day. Yoga has been the latest trend to hit the fitness circuit and it has extensive benefits for Indianapolis seniors who are looking for an activity that is relatively easy on the body, but also provides a large number of benefits to senior health including:

• Reduced incidence of chronic back pain
• Improved mood and ability to get a better night’s sleep
• Better sense of well-being
• Improved quality of life
• Improved cardiovascular health which improves heart conditions
• Helpful for rheumatoid arthritis
• Assists overall health for seniors with Type 2 Diabetes
• Improved flexibility and general physical fitness
• Improved balance and increased mobility which are specific issues that seniors face

Sources:

1. AARP

Image Source: pro.corbis.com

Home Care Indianapolis provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Indianapolis, Beech Grove, Cumberland, East Indianapolis, Irvington, Lawrence, Oaklandon, and Wanamaker. Call us today at 317.357.5411.

Many family caregivers think that they’re going to reduce the stress that they face by moving an elderly parent to live with them in their Indianapolis home. They believe that by decreasing a commute and ensuring that they are always there to deal with emergencies, they will have more time to themselves and feel less stressed about managing their family, work and caregiving responsibilities. It’s an arrangement that can work well for many families, but family caregivers first need to stop and realize that it comes with a great deal of stress, which without proper planning can certainly outweigh the stresses that they felt when living apart, if they let them.

Here are a few ways that Indianapolis family caregivers help set the stage to make multigenerational living a less stressful experience for all involved.

• All members of the family should be allowed to voice their thoughts – even after a decision has been made to move in mom or dad, every member of the family, including children should be allowed to speak their minds and make suggestions on how to make the living arrangements work for everyone
• Define roles and set expectations – all family members living under the same roof should have their roles defined in advance and should know what to expect of the changes that will be occurring
• Ask for help – when adult caregivers live with their elderly care recipients, they can feel like they’re overwhelmed with responsibility that they can never get away from; ask other siblings or family members to step in to provide respite care or help around the house
• Focus on family – establish family rituals that bridge the generational gap between all of the family members. Plan a movie night, or a family dinner so that everyone can bond over a shared enjoyable experience

Via: Home Instead Senior Care https://www.homeinstead.com/Lists/doclistlib/Attachments/257/Too_Close_For_Comfort_Booklet.pdf

Image Source: pro.corbis.com

Home Care Indianapolis provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Indianapolis, Beech Grove, Cumberland, East Indianapolis, Irvington, Lawrence, Oaklandon, and Wanamaker. Call us today at 317.357.5411.