Seniors Living With Heart Disease and Stroke: A Family Affair

Seniors and other adults recovering from a heart attack or stroke—and their families—face many new physical and emotional challenges and feelings of uncertainty. If you find yourself in this situation, you do not need to feel alone. Many resources are available to help patients and families cope and gain hope in the midst of the physical and psychological obstacles commonly encountered in the wake of a stroke or heart attack.

For family caregivers the key is not being afraid to ask for help. The American Stroke Association (ASA) on its Web site, www.strokeassociation.org, says that in many cases friends, relatives and neighbors do not step up to offer help because they do not want to seem like they are intruding. Or they are under the mistaken impression that just because you have not asked for help, you have everything under control.

It is unhealthy for family caregivers to take on the responsibility alone, the ASA advises. Plus, having others come in to help and visit can boost the spirits of the person being cared for.

The ASA recommends that family caregivers carefully define their needs—whether it is occasional respite care or regular assistance—and develop an organized plan for how others can help with the major areas of caregiving:

•       Personal care

•       Housekeeping

•       Meal preparation

•       Transportation to medical appointments

•       Medical care/supervision

•       Recreation

•       Shopping

•       Daily supervision and companionship

Families can find help through professional in-home care providers, an informal network of friends and relatives, as well as church and community organizations—or any combination of these sources.

Support Groups

Support groups are another valuable asset, as no one knows better what you are facing than someone who has been there before. Support groups offer the riches of experience, helping save families from some of the trials and errors members of the support group made.

ASA and its sister organization, the American Heart Association (AHA), are affiliated with two such programs available across the country:

• Mended Hearts, Inc., a national nonprofit affiliated with the AHA (www.mendedhearts.org), has chapters at 460 hospitals and rehabilitation clinics. Its mission: “inspire hope in heart disease patients and their families.” New heart patients and their families get together to learn from experienced patients and healthcare professionals, covering everything from lifestyle changes, recovery, treatment and depression. To learn more about Mended Hearts and to find a chapter in your area, visit www.mendedhearts.org or call 1-888-HEART99 (1-888-432-7899).
• Stroke Family Warmline (1-888-4-STROKE) connects stroke survivors and their families with ASA team members who are either stroke survivors or family members of survivors. They offer callers a listening ear and helpful information.

On its Web site, www.familydoctor.org, the American Academy of Family Physicians suggests ways that families can help a loved one who is recovering from stroke:

• Take advantage of hospital-sponsored classes for stroke survivors and families, if available in your area.
• Attend rehabilitation sessions with your loved one. This way you can learn how to support your loved one’s rehabilitation at home.
• Inform the rehabilitation staff of your loved one’s needs and interests so they can shape the rehabilitation program accordingly.
• Learn from your loved one’s health care providers what he or she is capable of doing alone or with help, and what he or she cannot do at all. This prevents you from doing too much for your loved one, allowing him or her to regain confidence and independence as much as possible.

Heart Disease and Depression

Frustration and depression are common problems following heart attacks, heart surgery and stroke. According to the Academy of Family Physicians, as many as one of every three people who have a heart attack reports feelings of depression. Many don’t seek treatment for depression, making physical recovery more difficult.

The Mended Hearts Web site states, “Research over the past two decades has shown that depression and heart disease are common companions and, what is worse, each can lead to the other. Therefore, it is very important for a heart patient to discuss his or her concerns with the family physician.”

The Academy of Family Physicians recommends treatment for depression and adds that physical, social and recreational activities can play an important role in improving the moods of those recovering from heart disease. Family and professional caregivers can promote this, helping patients return to their favorite activities. Rehabilitation programs also benefit patients mentally as well as physically.

For more information on life after a heart attack, heart surgery or stroke, visit the “For Caregivers” section of the American Heart Association Web site, www.americanheart.org.

At Comfort Keepers we seek to be a resource to you because we are Comfort Keepers caregivers and we are here to help! Comfort Keepers provides in-home care to seniors and the elderly living in Ocala, Gainesville, and The Villages Florida. We provide superior in-home care to seniors and the elderly throughout Central Florida so they can live enriched independent lifestyles! Call us today at 866-333-4737.

Help Seniors Stay On-Guard Against Germs

photo credit: Arlington County

As people grow older, natural defenses against disease weaken.

Caregivers of elderly relatives or seniors need to strengthen efforts to keep germs at bay—and protect seniors’ health and quality of life.

Here are some tips:

Wash your hands

Often neglected, hand washing is a key infection control practice that substantially reduces the risk of illness. Caregivers and the cared for need to do this several times a day. Our hands transfer germs whenever we touch something or someone—and then touch our eyes, mouth or nose. Hand washing with soap, for at least 15 to 20 seconds, eliminates most of the germs.

On a related note, always cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing and wash your hands or use hand sanitizer so you don’t spread germs. (Before washing, throw away the tissue! Don’t let it, and the germs, lie around for others to pick up.)

A few other important times to wash your hands:

•       Before eating or preparing food

•       Immediately after handling raw food, such as poultry

•       After using the bathroom

•       After contact with blood or body fluids.*

•       After touching a trash can, cleaning cloth or other contaminated area

•       Before dressing a wound or giving medicines

*(Wash your hands even after wearing gloves. They do not provide an absolute barrier to germs. Wear gloves as needed, such as when exposure to bodily fluids is likely or the senior is infected with a pathogen that is spread by direct contact.)

Stay away

Have family members or friends in the wings, ready to help care for your loved one when you’re sick. And if you’re a professional caregiver or work with seniors, call in sick when you’re ill. For the elderly with chronic health conditions, even cold germs can be dangerous.

Bathe

Seniors may not need a bath every day but do need to bathe often enough to prevent skin infections. To keep their skin from getting too dry, make sure they use a good skin lotion.

Sanitize surfaces

Keep hard surfaces—kitchen countertops, tabletops, desktops, and bathroom surfaces—clean and disinfected. Use a combination detergent and disinfectant or a cleaner first, followed by a thorough rinsing and disinfectant. Clean and disinfect other commonly touched surfaces, such as doorknobs and kitchen appliance handles and controls. Use sanitizing wipes on electronic items such as phones, computer keyboards and remote controls.

Police the refrigerator

What goes on behind the closed door of a refrigerator can be dangerous. Bacteria lurk—and lead to food poisoning—when food is left too long, the refrigerator is dirty or the temperature isn’t cold enough.

Boost resistance

You can’t stop every germ, but you can help seniors intensify resistance to infection by making sure they eat regularly and maintain a well-balanced diet, get enough sleep and maintain physical activity at a level appropriate to their ability. And, caregivers, practice your own medicine.

At Comfort Keepers we seek to be a resource to you because we are Comfort Keepers caregivers and we are here to help! Comfort Keepers provides in-home care to seniors and the elderly living in Ocala, Gainesville, and The Villages Florida. We provide superior in-home care to seniors and the elderly throughout Central Florida so they can live enriched independent lifestyles! Call us today at 866-333-4737.

How to Detect Reactions to Medications – Tips for Seniors and The Elderly

photo credit: Nils Geylen

When a senior or elderly loved one takes medications ordered by a physician, it is very important that other medicine not be taken unless the physician knows about it. This includes over-the-counter medications as well as drugs prescribed by the same or other physicians.

The actions of some medicines are changed when taken with other medications, even a commonly used medication. Aspirin, for example can cause bleeding in certain situations, so it would be very important for the physician to be informed if
your loved one is on other medications takes an aspirin for headache, even on one occasion.

Certain foods change the reaction of specific medicines, as well. The medication bottle may contain a warning about what foods to avoid. It is extremely important that seniors follow their physician’s instructions about how and when to take their medications. Food and liquid can slow down or stop the action of certain drugs. Also, certain foods contain man-made chemicals or natural substances that may change the actions of the prescribed medications. Drinking alcohol can also seriously change the effect of drugs, so this should be observed and reported, when it occurs while clients are also taking medications.

What to do if your loved ones don’t want to take their medications.

After giving gentle encouragement to your loved ones to take their medications, the next step for a Comfort Keeper or caregiver in such situations should be to try to figure out why they aren’t taking the prescribed medications. By asking them and by observing them and knowing about their lifestyle, you or a Comfort Keeper may discover the reasons, which should then be reported to a physician or other family member to see if anything can be done about them.

There are many reasons elderly loved ones and seniors may not take their medications, including the following:

• They may have a difficult time obtaining their medicines because of transportation problems or because they cannot afford them.

• They may not understand their physician’s instructions about their medicines—or, because of having several medications; they may be confused about what to take, how much to take, and when to take them.

• Arthritis or other disabilities (difficulty with walking, seeing, or remembering, for example) may make it difficult for clients to get to or to open the bottles or containers, in which medications are stored or difficult for them to take, apply or swallow.

• They may not believe their medications will help them, they may dislike their side effects, or they may not feel they want to get well.

Keep these tips in mind when helping a loved one adjust and use medications to ensure things go smoothly. At Comfort Keepers we seek to be a resource to you because we are Comfort Keepers caregivers and we are here to help! Comfort Keepers provides in-home care to seniors and the elderly living in Ocala, Gainesville, and The Villages Florida. We provide superior in-home care to seniors and the elderly throughout Central Florida so they can live enriched independent lifestyles! Call us today at 866-333-4737.

Do you or a loved one need in-home care? Take Our Care Survey!

Is it time for in-home care?

Is it time for you to consider in-home care for your loved one?  Start by taking our short Care Survey to help you better understand whether the time may have come to pursue care options for your loved one.  Click here to take our online survey and just answer “Yes” or “No” for each of the question.

Respite Care: Relief for the Family

Ocala Senior In-Home Care

No matter how much you love the person you are caring for, you need regular breaks from caregiving. Nonstop caregiving will zap your energy and take a toll on your physical, mental and emotional health.

If you will not do it for yourself, please consider that respite care also benefits the person you are caring for. After a break, you will return with your battery recharged. You will be refreshed and more effective.

A respite could be just a day away with friends, an afternoon of personal errands, or an exercise break. Or it could be a vacation, away from it all.

You can find relief from numerous sources:

• Relatives and friends, who can step in as needed
• Professional in-home senior care providers, such as Comfort Keepers^®
• Churches and other volunteer organizations
• Adult day care centers
• Senior centers and the local Area Agencies on Aging
• The Department of Health and Human Services Eldercare Locator
• Often, family and friends want to help. They just do not know how. As a caregiver, you  can make it easy on them—and yourself—by always having a list of assignments ready, like preparing meals, picking up a few things at the grocery, going on a walk with the senior, or staying with him or her from time-to-time.

Physicians also subscribe to the critical need for caregiving respites. A Practical Guide to Caring for Caregivers, published by the American Academy of Family Physicians, states, “If the caregiver does not receive respite regularly, physicians should give them permission to ask for help and assist them in finding sources for assistance.”

Before planning respite care, be sure to talk with your loved one about it, explaining the up side for everyone. To help your loved one accept the idea, be sure to involve him or her in making the arrangements.

For more information on respite care, visit helpguide.org.

How to Care for Yourself and Prevent Caregiver Burnout

Besides scheduling regular respites, Comfort Keepers recommends that you practice the following to relieve stress and maintain optimal health:

• Exercise—make it part of your schedule for added energy.
• Get plenty of sleep—at least seven hours.
• Eat regular, well-balanced meals.
• Maintain contact with friends for essential emotional support.
• Stay involved in hobbies and social activities.
• Join a support group, which can encourage you and back you up with experienced advice.
• Seek support through your faith and faith community, which could be a good source of volunteer caregiving help.
• Visit your doctor regularly and share concerns you have about the effects of caregiving on your physical, mental and emotional health.
• Take time to pamper yourself—for instance, a warm bath, manicure or massage.
• Laugh. Find humor in everyday situations and take time out with a humorous book or movie.
• Keep a journal to record your thoughts and feelings. It provides an essential release for your emotions.
• Arrange for a family member, friend or volunteer from a church or senior center to call you on a regular basis to see if you need any help.
• Confide in others. Do not bottle up your emotions.
• Know your limits. You know what other responsibilities you have, so be realistic about how much time you can give to caregiving. Do not be afraid to delegate.
• Learn as much as you can about caregiving and your loved one’s needs or illness. The more you know, the more effective and more satisfied you can be.

How a Support Group Can Help You

Community Support Groups…

• Get you out of the house on a regular basis and prevent isolation.
• Put you face-to-face with other caregivers who know what you are dealing with. From their experience, they can offer you relevant advice.
• Offer you information about local resources available to help you.
• Open the opportunity for new friendships.

Internet Support Groups…

• Enable you to get support and advice as needed and when convenient for you.
• Provides support without having to leave the house, which could be particularly helpful for those with limited transportation or mobility.
• Provide the experience and knowledge of a broader pool of participants, which could be especially helpful if your loved one has a rare medical condition and special care needs.

Caregiver Support and Advice on the Web

You will find a wealth of online resources to provide caregiving support and advice. Here are a few examples:

• The Family Caregiver Alliance’s state-by-state Family Care Navigator.
• Strength for Caring, Johnson and Johnson’s resource center for caregivers.
• Lotsa Helping Hands, a site that allows family and friends to coordinate caregiving tasks online. The site is sponsored by the National Alliance for Caregiving.
• Family Caregiving 101, a project of the National Family Caregiving Association and the National Alliance for Caregiving, which operates under the theme, “Family Caregiving: It’s not all up to you.”

A Furry Friend For Loneliness

photo credit: CMuñoz

Many seniors have discovered that pets are an antidote to isolation and loneliness. And numerous studies show cats, dogs, and other creatures are a prescription for improved health in the elderly.

Kelly Connolly of the Humane Society of the United States says on HSUS’s Web site (www.hsus.org), “Emotionally, pets can bring new meaning and purpose to the life of a senior who is living far away from friends or family…. Being responsible for another life often gives new meaning to the lives of those who are living alone or far from loved ones. Caring for and providing a loving home to a companion animal also helps elderly people remain active and stay healthy.”

As they keep seniors’ feelings of isolation at bay, pets help lower blood pressure, decrease stress, reduce bone loss, lower cholesterol, and improve blood circulation.

Getting out and walking a dog also can lead to human interaction, which further promotes better emotional and physical health.

Lack of social interaction takes a toll on seniors, their longevity, and quality of life. In the August 2007 issue of Current Directions in Psychological Science, University of Chicago researchers reported that lonely, older adults in their study exhibited more pronounced physical symptoms (higher blood pressure, lower levels of “good” cholesterol and higher levels of the stress hormone epinephrine) than younger subjects, on whom loneliness showed relatively little effect.

Following are other suggestions for countering isolation:

• Get online. Computers offer a convenient way to stay connected with loved ones and keep up with news and interests. Seniors, though, may need some hands-on help from children and grandchildren to get started. And senior centers, public libraries and adult education programs provide basic computer classes. There also are less technical, spam-free alternatives to the computer. The HP Printing Mailbox, for instance, connects to a phone line and prints messages and digital photos e-mailed by friends and family. And don’t forget letter writing.

• Help others. Volunteering enables seniors to continue exercising their skills and talents. For local opportunities, check with the United Way, service organizations or visit www.seniorcorps.org for information on local units of the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP).

• Center yourself. Local senior centers offer a wealth of social, educational, and service opportunities.

• Subscribe. Newspapers and magazines help us all stay connected to our community, world, and interests.

• Open the door. For seniors who have difficulty getting out, visits from relatives, friends, and neighbors can provide a great lift. Out-of-town children can contact neighbors, family friends and their church back home to arrange such visits.

Staying Strong: Aging & the Musculoskeletal System

As people get older, it’s common for the spine to shorten. This causes people to “shrink” very gradually, losing from one to four inches in height. In some people, the upper spine also begins to curve, leading to a stooped posture. Usually elderly people experience a shrinking in their muscles, especially if they don’t exercise. This can make them feel weak and tired more easily. In addition, if injured, older muscles take long to heal.

The bones can get thinner and weaker, especially in women. This puts elderly people at risk for broken bones. So, if they do break a bone, it will take longer to heal. Usually joints become stiff, which is especially noticeable after a night in bed. This loss of flexibility causes movement to be slower and sometimes painful. The cartilage in joints wears out over time. This weakens the joints and causes arthritis.

To Help Your Elderly & Senior Loved Ones Prevent Problems With Their Muscles and Bones, You Should:

• Assist them to exercise every day, even if it’s just a slow walk or a series of range of motion exercises.

• Encourage them to use assistive devices as needed for ambulation. This includes canes, walkers, braces, and crutches.

• Help them “loosen” their stiff muscles and joints by doing range of motion exercises.

Keep an eye out for times when your senior loved one might need help. For example, they may not have the strength needed to open a food jar or a medication container. Or, their stiff joints may not bend to allow them to put the cap back on the toothpaste or to pick up a pen. Be ready to assist them as needed.

Remember that elderly people move more slowly. Allow plenty of time for them to complete tasks. And be sure to build in some rest periods in between activities.

Watch For & Seek Medical Help When You Notice:

• Pain in limbs or joins or swollen joints

• Weakness

• Unsteady walking (gait)

• Problems with walking

• Falls

At Comfort Keepers we seek to be a resource to you because we are Comfort Keepers caregivers and we are here to help! Comfort Keepers provides in-home care to seniors and the elderly living in Ocala, Gainesville, and The Villages Florida. We provide superior in-home care to seniors and the elderly throughout Central Florida so they can live enriched independent lifestyles! Call us today at 866-333-4737.

photo credit: greg westfall.

What’s Good for the Heart Is Good for the Brain

When you take healthful eating to heart, it will go to your head, too.

A well-balanced, heart-healthy diet—rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains—reduces plaque build-up in the arteries to help deliver a free-flowing stream of oxygen to all parts of the body, including the brain. This boosts mental performance, slows the aging process and lowers the risk of dementia.

Nutritious eating benefits the brain in many ways. Here are a few examples:

• Some vitamins—particularly folate and B12—help prevent the inflammation that causes plaque to narrow arteries, which can lead to heart attack and stroke, which, in turn, can diminish cognitive function. Folate comes from cooked, dry beans, peas, peanuts, oranges and orange juice, dark-green leafy vegetables like spinach and mustard greens, fortified cereals and enriched grain products. B12 is in salmon, trout, beef, poultry, cheese, eggs and fortified cereals.

• Antioxidants—such as vitamins A, C and E and nutrients lutein, lycopene and selenium—promote brain health. Good sources include dark-skinned fruits and vegetables. Vegetables include kale, spinach, brussels sprouts, alfalfa sprouts, broccoli, beets, red bell pepper, onion, corn and eggplant. Fruits high in antioxidants include prunes, raisins, blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, plums, oranges, red grapes and cherries. Almonds, pecans and walnuts also are good antioxidant sources.

• Some minerals boost brain function. Iron—from organ meats, beef, pork and most legumes—supports focus and concentration. Zinc—from beef and other meats, oysters, whole-grain bread and soybeans—sharpens verbal memory, helping word recall.

• Omega-3 fatty acids in fatty fish, such as salmon, trout, halibut, mackerel and tuna, help build gray matter, promoting intellectual performance. WebMD reports that one study found that healthy adults who ate the most omega-3 fatty acids had the most gray matter in brain areas that regulate mood. Among cooking oils, canola and walnut oil, are the best sources of omega-3s. On the other hand, a diet high in saturated fats may raise the risk for Alzheimer’s disease.

Maintaining a healthy body weight—through healthful diet and exercise—is essential to heart and mind. The Alzheimer’s Association reports that a long-term study of 1,500 adults found that those who were obese in middle age were twice as likely to develop dementia. And those who also had high cholesterol and high blood pressure were six times at greater risk of dementia.

At Comfort Keepers we seek to be a resource to you because we are Comfort Keepers caregivers and we are here to help! Comfort Keepers provides in-home care to seniors and the elderly living in Ocala, Gainesville, and The Villages Florida. We provide superior in-home care to seniors and the elderly throughout Central Florida so they can live enriched independent lifestyles! Call us today at 866-333-4737.

Florida Seniors! Write your life story!

Passing on Wisdom from Generation to Generation

Today’s seniors have lived through significant historic events and change – from the Great Depression and World War II to rapid-fire advances in technology and medical science. And along the way, through times both challenging and prosperous, they have collected a treasure trove of experiences and wisdom that could guide us today and in the future. That is, if we do not let time get away. We need to create opportunities now, while we can, for seniors to share their life stories with younger generations

Over time, many seniors do share their experiences, one by one, with family and friends. That is good, but often they are only spoken and not written down or recorded. And many times they are passed along only to immediate family members and not others who may lack strong family ties of their own, thus missing out on chances to swap stories with older adults. Intergenerational conversations—in a variety of settings—can enrich younger people’s lives while giving seniors precious opportunities to relive their vivid tapestry of experience. As a result, one generation gains new understanding and respect for the other.

Following are a few suggestions for bridging the generation gap and keeping alive the memories of our elders:

• As a part of in-home care – To enhance the quality of life of the seniors in their care, in-home care providers can encourage seniors to reminisce and recall important times in their lives. They can also help them or encourage them to write narratives about these experiences to share with family. This fits nicely with Comfort Keepers^®’ unique approach to care called Interactive Caregiving^TM, which engages seniors in activities that promote their physical, mental and emotional well-being.

• At your religious institution – More and more, religious institutions are arranging special opportunities for young and old to share with one another. If you do not have something like this planned at your church or synagogue, take the lead. How about a congregation-wide birthday party where members of all generations sit together by birth month, share cake and ice cream, and get to know one another as they compare notes about what it was like to grow up in their respective time periods?

• At schools – Seniors can add an important dimension to history lessons, from elementary school to college classrooms. They can provide first-person accounts and breathe life into the dry pages of history books. Some teachers assign students to interview seniors and write down their impressions and memories or videotape seniors’ recollections.

• At senior centers – Senior centers also plan occasions that bring generations together, for instance, to recognize seniors for their service as veterans or community leaders. Senior centers often host writing classes and programs to teach seniors how to write their life stories to share with family and friends.

• At family gatherings – There may not be time during a reunion, between eating and lawn games, to write your family elders’ life stories. But a family reunion can be a good place to get started, as the storytelling and reminiscing unfold. At this opportune time you could suggest putting these stories in writing. Maybe there is a budding young author or two in the family along with a gifted writer who could coordinate the project. And by the next reunion, they could have a volume of life stories to give everyone.

Life story writing has become a growing enterprise. Many entrepreneurs have launched businesses to help people who want to preserve their or a loved one’s experiences. There also are plenty of Web sites that offer do it yourself advice. Just Google “writing your life story.” The reality is that intergenerational conversations can take place anytime there is a group willing to share their stories and keep the memories going.

At Comfort Keepers we seek to be a resource to you because we are Comfort Keepers caregivers and we are here to help! Comfort Keepers provides in-home care to seniors and the elderly living in Ocala, Gainesville, and The Villages Florida. We provide superior in-home care to seniors and the elderly throughout Central Florida so they can live enriched independent lifestyles! Call us today at 866-333-4737.

Caring for a Senior Parent from a Distance: Cross Border Guardianships

Caring for an aging parent across town can be a challenge when you have a household of your own to run. A growing number of Americans, however, have a cross-country challenge: caring for parents living in another state. As caregivers in Central Florida, a retirement hot spot, we see many families struggle with the responsibility of long-distance decision making for elderly and senior parents.

The nonprofit Family Caregiver Alliance (www.caregiver.org) reports there are as many as 7 million long-distance caregivers in the U.S.

In some cases this means taking time off work to respond to a parent’s medical emergency. In others, it can involve long-term responsibility, for instance, when a court appoints an adult child as guardian of a parent who has been found to be incapable of managing personal and/or financial affairs.

Guardianship laws vary state to state.* Some states do not allow an out-of-state resident to be named guardian because of the need to pay close attention to the person for whom a guardian is responsible. Exceptions to this can be made, however, with the appointment of an in-state co-guardian. This could be a relative or family friend, or an individual or entity that serves as a professional guardian.

The National Guardianship Association, Inc. has established a code of ethics for family and professional guardians to protect the rights of someone placed under a legal guardianship.  The association offers a national certification program to advance excellence and integrity in the profession. Visit www.guardianship.org for a directory of certified guardians.

Guardians, sometimes called conservators, can be appointed to manage a person’s property, finances, and personal and medical affairs, or both.

While guardianship protects the safety and property of incapacitated adults, it is commonly recommended as a last resort after less restrictive and burdensome alternatives have been explored and ruled out.

The reasons for this recommendation: Guardianships take basic decision-making freedoms from those assigned to them. They can be time-consuming, requiring guardians to maintain meticulous records and file regular reports with the court.

Whether you’re a guardian or a caregiver with a role free of  court oversight, caregiving across state lines can be stressful. For those managing a loved one’s care from a distance it not only presents a challenge but, without the right resources, can lead to a high level of stress and anxiety for the guardian or caregiver.

Families that need a helping hand can call on professional geriatric care managers who create a plan of care for an aging parent. The National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers maintains a registry of such professionals at www.caremanagers.org.

The American Association of Retired People (www.aarp.org) suggests the following:

• Use the Eldercare Locator (www.eldercare.gov), a service of the U.S. Administration on Aging, to identify services available near your parent (s) or loved one.
• Work with your parent (s) or loved one, before a crisis, to collect important medical, financial and legal information. Get a copy of their local phone book, too.
• Make a list of family, friends, clergy and others who could help. When visiting, introduce yourself to neighbors and friends and keep their phone numbers and addresses.
• Be watchful, when visiting your parent (s) or loved one, for signs they may need help, and involve them in the assessment of their needs.
• Sensitively explain to your parent (s) or loved one how services will help them remain independent—or find someone they respect to recommend the services.

*To learn about a particular state’s guardianship laws, visit the state bar association’s Web site or check with the probate court in your county where your loved ones reside.

At Comfort Keepers we seek to be a resource to you because we are Comfort Keepers caregivers and we are here to help! Comfort Keepers provides in-home care to seniors and the elderly living in Ocala, Gainesville, and The Villages Florida. We provide superior in-home care to seniors and the elderly throughout Central Florida so they can live enriched independent lifestyles! Call us today at 866-333-4737.