Today’s seniors and caregivers alike are extremely busy, and in order to keep on top of things, organization is key. Effective time management and great organizational skills will help to keep all generations afloat with their many responsibilities and goals.

1. Prioritize – seniors and caregivers alike can prioritize their responsibilities. Not all tasks are of equal importance, and by starting with items that are crucial, they can work their way through, and if there’s just not enough time in the day, the non-priority items can wait so seniors don’t overburden themselves

2. Make a schedule – as part of prioritizing, plan out your day on a calendar, either by writing it down or using a calendar tool on your laptop or Blackberry. Seeing what needs to be accomplished visually, marked down hour by hour will help you set realistic goals for yourself whether you’re a caregiver or a busy senior

3. Don’t waste time – busy people known that time is of the essence,  so while important goals and responsibilities should bet me, time shouldn’t be wasted on focusing on the things that don’t matter

4. Ask for help – as a caregiver, don’t be afraid to ask for someone else to step in and provide respite that way you can focus on other things that are important, like rest and relaxation for yourself. As a senior, if there are things you need help to accomplish, just ask!

Home Care Walnut Creek, CA delivering home care and elderly services to seniors in the Contra Costa area including Concord. Call us 925-280-9688.

When someone you love has been diagnosed with breast cancer, it’s almost hard not to take it personally. You just want to grieve, cry and come to terms with the diagnosis in your own way, but rather than focusing on your own emotions, you need to lend your support to your loved one who’s been diagnosed. Here are some ways you can support someone who’s been diagnosed with breast cancer:

1. Just listen – you don’t need to try and provide advice, especially if you haven’t lived a similar experience.  Just listen, lend them your presence and your ear so they feel they have the support of someone

2. Support with facts – instead of giving advice, do some research about the disease and provide the facts about treatment options, support groups that are available and other resources that could help

3. Support their decisions – no matter what your loved one decides through the treatment and coping process with breast cancer, support it

4. Don’t play a role – not knowing how to deal with someone with breast cancer sometimes causes people to act unusually. Simply be yourself, you’ll appear more genuine than if you try to play a role

5. Make a support network – have other friends and family members come together to extend their support so your loved one with breast cancer knows there are others there for her

6. Laugh and have fun – there might be a grieving process after a breast cancer diagnosis, but keep up the fun activities. Laughter really is the best medicine, so create enjoyable and memorable situations

Sources:

1. SheKnows.com

Home Care Walnut Creek, CA delivering home care and elderly services to seniors in the Contra Costa area including Concord. Call us 925-280-9688.

You might not think you’re at risk, but as a senior in the Bay area, you’re in the prime age group for developing carpal tunnel syndrome while tying at the computer. Whether you spend a lot of time online and sending email, or have a job that demands you do a lot of typing, you might find that you develop this condition which causes pain and numbness in your hands, wrists and arms. Protect yourself with these preventative methods:

1. Warm up before typing – this is especially important for people who find themselves working at a keyboard al day, so seniors who have not yet retired should focus on wrist exercises before they get started everyday to prevent injury

2. Use ergonomic computer accessories – ergonomic keyboards are designed to work with the natural positioning of the hands and fingers. If typing a lot, rather than using your laptop keyboard, purchase an external one because they tend to be the worst for causing carpal tunnel. You can also purchase a mouse that is more ergonomic and buy supportive cushioned wrist rests

3. Take breaks throughout the day – there are programs available that will remind you to take a break every hour and lead you through a series of exercises designed to help prevent carpal tunnel syndrome. Or, you can just do it yourself, taking a break for 5 or 10 minutes every hour. Get up, walk around, and shake out your arms to remove your hands from their repetitive position that could be damaging

Sources:

1. About.com

2. EHow.com

Home Care Walnut Creek, CA delivering home care and elderly services to seniors in the Contra Costa area including Concord. Call us 925-280-9688.

Q – My kids just left home. I thought this was a time I’d look forward to, with all the time in the world to just focus on myself, but I’m lonely. Any tips on how to overcome challenges that empty nesters face?

A – What you’re facing is called empty nest syndrome, here are some tips for coping with it:

1. Take time to yourself – while your life might have been about everyone else previously while caring for children, a spouse and a household, as an empty nester, appreciate and take advantage of the quiet. Enjoy the time you have to yourself instead of allowing it to remind you what you no longer have

2. Make new connections – finding yourself with an empty nest can feel lonely, so fill the void by reconnecting with family members and friends, and making new ones by joining social groups and activities available in Walnut Creek

3. Renew marriage vows – it might feel like your life has been all about the children for decades, but reconnect with your loved one and renew your  vows to remind each other what brought you together in the first place!

4. Do something meaningful – being a parent is one of the most meaningful jobs , and finding a way to fill that void after the children have left home is a challenge. Do something else that makes you feel like you’ve accomplished something important; volunteer somewhere you can make a difference!

5. Get out there – with new found time on your hands, achieve the things you never had time to in the past. You can travel or take on a new hobby.

Via: Let Life In 

Home Care Walnut Creek, CA delivering home care and elderly services to seniors in the Contra Costa area including Concord. Call us 925-280-9688.

It’s breast cancer awareness month, but unfortunately, there are many older adults who still avoid breast cancer screening out of fear or lack of awareness. Well, it’s time to put all that aside and make sure that health comes first, and the first step in that is to get a mammogram.

For those who are worried about what to expect, here are the steps of the breast cancer screening process:

1. When dressing the day of the mammogram, avoid applying deodorant, talcum powder, or any other heavily scented items that can be irritating to others, or that could affect the imaging. Also wear a 2 piece outfit.

2. When arriving at the imaging office, you will be asked for copies of previous mammograms, if they do not have them already, and will also ask you to fill out a form with your medical records

3. Upon going into have the mammogram done, you will be asked to remove jewellery and clothing that can interfere with the procedure, including your shirt and bra, and any other clothing you have on above the waist

4. To prepare for the mammogram itself, one breast at a time will be placed on an imaging cassette and will be compressed with a paddle so that the maximum amount of breast tissue is visible on the image

5. The image will be taken and then the process will be repeated with the other breast

6. The images will be examined, not for results but to ensure they are effective. Typically, you will be allowed to get dressed and wait to find out if you are able to leave, or if more images are needed

7. The images and results will be returned for your doctor for review

Sources:

1. About.com 

2. Imaginis 

Home Care Walnut Creek, CA delivering home care and elderly services to seniors in the Contra Costa area including Concord. Call us 925-280-9688.

When most people think of their retirement, they picture themselves on a beach somewhere with a tropical drink; few believe that they’ll be starting over with children in their household. But for some 6 million American grandparents, this is a reality as circumstances require that they step in and take on the roles typically reserved for 2 different generations. Of course, being both a parent and a grandparent to a young child can come with its challenges:

1. Seniors who are retired often have limited finances available, and adding another member to the household can come at an increased expense

2. Seniors may not have the same physical capabilities that younger parents would when responsible for the physical care of children when carrying them around, bathing, and physical chasing after children

3. Seniors may neglect their own health needs when worrying about others

4. Seniors may be under the stress of legal issues when trying to adopt a child or ensure that they legally remain the child’s guardian

Despite the challenges, with the right approach, it can be a rewarding arrangement that works for both generations involved! If you’re a grandparent who has or is planning to take in a grandchild into your home, then consider these tips:

1. Find out if there are assistance programs available in their area to help grandparents raising grandchildren financially

2. Remember to simply do the best that they can, and remember, that loving the children and ensuring their safety, health and happiness is all that’s really important

3. Of course, the health of their grandchildren is important, but grandparents need to remember if they don’t take care of themselves, they’ll be unable to care for anyone else

4. Seniors can try to minimize the stress of the process by seeking support from those who have been in similar situations

5. Respite help is necessary to give seniors a break. If children are too young to be in school seniors can find a daycare or ask for help

Sources:

1. Care-givers 

2. AARP 

3. Answers for Families 

Home Care Walnut Creek, CA delivering home care and elderly services to seniors in the Contra Costa area including Concord. Call us 925-280-9688.

Breast cancer has touched many of our lives, maybe not personally, but it has hit close to home when a family member or friend has had a scare or been diagnosed with the devastating disease. This October for breast cancer awareness month, support the fight against breast cancer in the following ways:

1. Wear or hand out pink ribbons – show your support by breast cancer by wearing a pink ribbon. You’ll find them for sale at establishments around Walnut Creek, available if you make any donation to the cause. Or you can make your own pink ribbons to wear and hand out to friends and family

2. Wear pink – even if you can’t afford to make a big donation to a breast cancer cause, simply wearing pink clothing items, along with a pink ribbon will help you show your support and honor those who have successfully fought the disease or lost their battle

3. Fundraise – holding an event with a pink theme, where the proceeds will go towards breast cancer is a great way to bonds with others over a common cause and give something back to breast cancer research. Hold a bake sale, or get creative and think up another event

4. Try a run/walk for breast cancer – while many took place over the summer, runs and walks for breast cancer are still ongoing in October

5. Shop for breast cancer awareness – breast cancer awareness merchandise is available where a portion or all of the proceeds of a sale go to breast cancer. This way you donate, and show your support with your merchandise

6. Donate – make a donation online, by phone or in person to breast cancer research

Via: Associated Content

Home Care Walnut Creek, CA delivering home care and elderly services to seniors in the Contra Costa area including Concord. Call us 925-280-9688.

Q – I’ve been thinking about introducing some of the principles of art therapy to my elderly mother who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease, but I recently read an article that said there are only benefits in the creative process if the activities are lead by a professional. Is there any truth to this, and how can I try to replicate the benefits?

A – Art therapists may use specialized techniques that can further enhance the benefits of the artistic experience for seniors, but by following similar principles, you can also use the creative process to help your mother with communication and self-expression, and those are just a few of the benefits:

1. Choose activities suitable to the senior’s level of mobility – although skill really doesn’t play a role in the benefits of artistic expression and seniors, you don’t want to make the experience frustrating for them. Keep a senior’s physical abilities in mind when choosing an activity.

2. Make activities challenging – age doesn’t mean seniors are less capable of creation. Don’t choose activities that are too simple, like those you’d give to a child.

3. Create a quiet environment – to receive the best possible benefits from a creative activity, seniors need a quiet environment where they can simply focus on creating. An area free from distraction will help set the tone for the creative process

4. Think about long-term projects – a quick craft that can be finished in a couple of hours won’t have the same benefits as one that extends over a period of time. Choosing an activity that seniors can think about and go back to day after day will really get the creative juices flowing

5. Work together – remember, even if you’re working on an art project together, don’t take over and don’t try to lead; it’s not about the end result of the creation, it’s about the journey along the way

Sources:

1. Washington Post

2. My Optum Health

3. Associated Content

Image: artandaging.com

Home Care Walnut Creek, CA delivering home care and elderly services to seniors in the Contra Costa area including Concord. Call us 925-280-9688.

Q – My mom quite a few years ago from a medical condition before she was even into what you’d typically call her senior years. My parents still lived in the suburban home where they raised us, and now, my father is getting on in years and I worry about how the home will work for him. I know he won’t give it up, not with the memory of my mom still there, but what can we do to make his suburban home work for a senior lifestyle?

A – The suburbs weren’t really designed for seniors, but with some simple changes and adaptations, seniors like you dad can keep their suburban homes:

1. Address financial restraints – consider a reverse mortgage to fund any additional financial needs of the home like maintenance, renovations, or any remaining amount on a mortgage loan

2. Make the home safe – suburban homes aren’t necessarily designed for senior living. They are often 2 stories, and are not compatible with those who need to use wheel chairs or other assistive devices. To make the home accessible and safe, install safety bars and hand-rails, improve the lighting in the home, and have ramps or other assistive devices incorporated into the home as needed

3. Get help – for older adults, keeping up with the routine maintenance of a home can be challenging, but that doesn’t need to be a reason to give it up. Hire services to clean and keep up with the yard work, or get an in-home caregiver to cook and provide basic assistance with other tasks as needed

4. Look into transportation – walking to get to shops and other areas in the suburbs may not be convenient. Seniors who don’t drive can use transportation services available, or hire a caregiver that can help them get around

Via: CSA Connections

Home Care Walnut Creek, CA delivering home care and elderly services to seniors in the Contra Costa area including Concord. Call us 925-280-9688.