Filed under: caregivers, older adults, Resident Life, Resources | Tags: caregiver, holidays, stress
Today, most older adults are vibrant and full of energy, but the holidays can be stressful for every one:
1. Set realistic goals
We know visiting family and friends is always on the to-do list during the holiday season, but traveling and meeting with people all day can be physically and mentally exhausting. Make sure to schedule ample rest time throughout and allow for plenty of transportation time in between visits so that there’s no rushing around to see last-minute guests.
2. Keep set schedules
If your senior parent or friend is used to waking up at a certain time, eating at a certain time and going to bed at a certain time, make sure to respect those schedules. Staying up later to accommodate family visits or having to eat later in the evening because of a difference in meal times can be difficult and stressful for a senior to acclimate to, so make sure you know beforehand what their schedule is like.
3. Keep expenses to a minimum
Many older adults are on fixed incomes, so keeping costs low can help ease any financial stress associated with the holidays. Travel, gifts and food can all start to take their toll on the checkbook, so make sure to create a realistic budget and stick to it.
4. Plan appropriate activities
A six-hour shopping trip may not be the best idea for a senior who has difficulty walking or standing for long periods of time. If these types of activities are unavoidable, make sure that a walker or wheelchair is available to make activities easier and more comfortable. Many seniors have circulatory problems or other illnesses that can make standing for long periods difficult.
5. Keep friends or family around
Along with the fun and happy aspects of holidays comes sadness for many older adults – especially those who’ve lost loved ones. Be sure not to be isolated.
Finally, Unfortunately…50% of the seniors over the age of 80 suffer from Alzheimer’s disease…holidays are very stressful for people with memory issues…if you are planning a large family event encourage relatives to wear name tags, it can be very intimidating for people who can not remember a relatives name. Long term memory is usually intact, so this is a wonderful time to go down, “Memory Lane” and share old pictures.
Finally, encourage seniors, as we do at THE KNOLLS, to “LIVE LIFE”
Filed under: caregivers, older adults, Resident Life | Tags: caregiver, holidays, older adults
Today, most older adults are vibrant and full of energy, but the holidays can be stressful for every one:
1. Set realistic goals
We know visiting family and friends is always on the to-do list during the holiday season, but traveling and meeting with people all day can be physically and mentally exhausting. Make sure to schedule ample rest time throughout and allow for plenty of transportation time in between visits so that there’s no rushing around to see last-minute guests.
2. Keep set schedules
If your senior parent or friend is used to waking up at a certain time, eating at a certain time and going to bed at a certain time, make sure to respect those schedules. Staying up later to accommodate family visits or having to eat later in the evening because of a difference in meal times can be difficult and stressful for a senior to acclimate to, so make sure you know beforehand what their schedule is like.
3. Keep expenses to a minimum
Many older adults are on fixed incomes, so keeping costs low can help ease any financial stress associated with the holidays. Travel, gifts and food can all start to take their toll on the checkbook, so make sure to create a realistic budget and stick to it.
4. Plan appropriate activities
A six-hour shopping trip may not be the best idea for a senior who has difficulty walking or standing for long periods of time. If these types of activities are unavoidable, make sure that a walker or wheelchair is available to make activities easier and more comfortable. Many seniors have circulatory problems or other illnesses that can make standing for long periods difficult.
5. Keep friends or family around
Along with the fun and happy aspects of holidays comes sadness for many older adults – especially those who’ve lost loved ones. Be sure not to be isolated.
Finally, Unfortunately…50% of the seniors over the age of 80 suffer from Alzheimer’s disease…holidays are very stressful for people with memory issues…if you are planning a large family event encourage relatives to wear name tags, it can be very intimidating for people who can not remember a relatives name. Long term memory is usually intact, so this is a wonderful time to go down, “Memory Lane” and share old pictures.
Finally, encourage seniors, as we do at MAPLE KNOLL, to “LIVE LIFE”
Filed under: caregivers, medicaid, Resources | Tags: medicaid, ohio state budget
In an April post, I mentioned the proposed budget cuts for the state of Ohio and how it could produce losses for Maple Knoll Village amounting to $4 million over a two-year period. Now it’s July and we have a new state budget that comes with good news and bad news.
• Discontinued outsourcing therapy and hired in-house therapists
• Discontinued the SeniorFitness program and hired in-house instructors for the Wellness Center
• Outsourced some MKC billing functions
• Implemented 12-hour shifts for STNA’s, LPN’s and RN’s in Bodmann Pavilion
• Made staffing changes through attrition and repositioning
• Awarded new groundskeeping service to the lowest bidder
• Converted available space into two additional apartments in Breese Manor Assisted Living
• Contracted with OneSource Employee Management, LLC, a Professional Employer Organization (PEO) in order to combat Ohio’s expensive workers compensation system
Thank you,
Jim Formal
President and CEO, Maple Knoll Communities
With summer upon us, many care givers will choose to take a vacation, leaving older parents on their own. Here are a few simple steps to make planning, and enjoying, vacation a little easier!
1. Arrange with a friend or neighbor to take your place and be the local emergency contact or someone to run errands if needed.
- Make sure your parents have their phone numbers.
- Make sure your friends have extra house keys, car keys etc. for your parents.
2. Stock up on the things your parents need you to run errands for. Even if they still drive, you can make sure they are not making too many trips.
- Make sure their prescriptions are filled.
- Groceries
3. If you normally help with chores such as yard work or heavy housekeeping, have that completed before you leave or hire someone to fill in. They might try to tackle jobs that are dangerous for them while you are gone. Make sure their car is in good repair, not going to have flat tires while you are out-of-town. Make sure they also have a list of numbers to call for any household problems, plumbers, a handyman, mechanic.
4. Leave your vacation itinerary, contact phone numbers, with your parents and the friend that is helping out. Their physician’s number, pharmacy, medical POA, and insurance information should also be available. Remember to take all of this information with you too in case you are case-managing on the road.
5. If your parents are frail and you normally make a daily visit, arrange for someone else to do this. If there is not family or friends nearby, hire a nursing agency to do this daily while you are away.
Most importantly…enjoy a well deserved break!
