I saw this article and thought it would be good information to pass on to you. We all thought we were done with vaccines once we reached adulthood. It’s important to check with your doctors to ensure you’re still up to date with important shots so you can proactively avoid some of the diseases that can be so detrimental to senior’s health. In the 1920s, the respiratory disease diphtheria was one of parents’ biggest fears for their children. In the United States, an estimated 100,000-200,000 cases of diphtheria per year caused 13,000-15,000 deaths, mainly children, in that decade (Wikipedia). Today, diphtheria vaccines have largely eradicated the disease from the United States.…

What do you get Grandma this year? A new blanket . . . again? How about a pair of slippers? While those gifts could satisfy the needs or desires of a senior loved one, why not choose a present that is even more meaningful: a gift from the heart. While you may not be able to add the following 10 gift ideas to a shopping list, you can bet they’re on your loved one’s wish list. Take your loved one shopping. Whether a trip to the mall or an online shopping spree, make it a special day. Be sure to tune into your loved one’s limitations and don’t overdo. Lend…

I am a member of the Society of Certified Senior Advisors and receive a monthly newsletter that always has articles I think you’ll find interesting. This one is for Seniors who are looking for jobs. The article offers some really good tips and resources for even more information. If you’re interested in being a CAREGiver or know somebody who is, Home Instead Senior Care is always looking for people. Visit our website at www.makeadifferenceforseniors.com for more information. ——————————————————————————————————————————————————- Not only has the 2008 recession put a dent in a lot of retirement accounts but people are living longer, so it makes financial sense to keep working as long as you can,…

I regularly have the thrill of reading notes of gratitude from clients or their family members. It’s so satisfying to hear about how much our CAREGivers meant to them or how much they appreciated the responsiveness, availability, and sensitivity of the office team. However, the letter I received last week from a client’s daughter just took the cake…had me smiling for days. I don’t like to brag, BUT, I really want to share this letter as a tribute to my wonderful CAREGivers and office staff who were there for this family in so many ways. For those of you who make it all the way through the letter, thanks for…

As I work with seniors, families and caregivers, we eventually have issues concerning clothing. Sometimes the issue is due to arthritic fingers that can no longer button, hook, tie or zip. Sometimes it is impaired vision, and they are unable to put outfits together or see the fabric colors.  Sometimes we have family members with dementia who take clothing off as soon as someone helps them get it on or who  just need the simple closure styles.  Frequently family members get frustrated because they do not know what to buy or where to shop.  I have used the Buck and Buck Catalog for years to help families deal with these…

The Spectrum of Behaviors and Emotions Day by day we see residents that exhibit a complete spectrum of behaviors and/or emotions.  Situations that arise in the early morning, will certainly give way for something new by the afternoon.   This goes hand in hand with delivering quality dementia and Alzheimer’s care.  Providing an environment that allows for these rapid, daily changes is a challenging and daunting task. As well as, learning how to provide “happiness” and “comfort” to a person with a declining mental state. Happiness Defined Happiness can be defined as simply as this, “the satisfaction of needs.”  The needs, however, can change from age to age, year to year…