Everyone selects in-home care for different reasons.  The keys are to recognize when to introduce care and how to select the right care provider.  Here are some questions that can help you make the decision on whether you should consider in-home care.

• Has there been a recent emotional or medical crisis with a loved one?
• Does your loved one need help walking?
• Is your loved one unable to do errands alone?
• Have there been recent falls?

If you can respond “yes” to even one of these questions, perhaps it is time to consider in-home care.  But, before you select who your care provider will be, make sure you ask the right questions. Please download this document for suggestions of questions to ask potential care providers before you make a decision.

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 855-592-0013.

Are You Talking To Your Adult Parent?

Talking with your adult parents about preparing for their senior years can be difficult. But the truth is aging happens, and there is no getting around it. So despite the fact that these conversations can be difficult to have, having them sooner than later can help you and your adult parents make decisions about long-term senior care and finances, health care, end-of-life decisions, driving, or safety around the house that truly meets the wishes of everyone involved.

How to Start the Conversation for Senior Care Needs With Your Adult Parents

The first thing you want to do before you bring up senior care issues with your adult parent is to write down everything you want to cover so you don’t forget anything. Then plan to address the issues you’ve written down over a series of conversations rather than all at once. Bring these issues up over time will feel less intrusive for your adult parent and be less intimidating for you to address.

Also remember to address senior care concerns while your adult parent’s health allows them to fully participate and share their wants, needs and preferences. Waiting too long to have these conversations may require that your decisions be dictated by a life-changing event and may not necessarily reflect your parent’s wishes.

10 Tips For Making “Senior Care” Conversations Easier to Have

1. Choose a time and place that makes everyone comfortable. Avoid special family gatherings, like a birthday or holiday celebration. Choose a time when you can have a relaxed, unhurried conversation, giving your parent plenty of time to share his or her wishes.

2. Include other family members, but meet before approaching your parent to make sure everyone’s on the same page to avoid an unproductive, confrontational situation.

3. Make the experience non-threatening by letting your parent know you’re concerned for his or her well-being and want to know how you can help them. Explain that you would like to help them write down their plans to help assure that they are followed.

4. Use good communication skills. Maintain good eye contact and get close enough to your parent, without invading personal space. Closeness builds trust and allows you to speak—and be heard—in an even, controlled voice.

5. Share an experience such as your own retirement or estate planning as a way to gracefully transition into a conversation about your parents’ thoughts regarding the future. A friend or relative’s medical emergency could also serve as an opening for dialogue.

6. Ask about records and documents. Ask your parent where they keep important documents such as insurance policies, wills, trust documents, investment and banking records, tax returns, living wills and durable powers of attorney. Explain that you want to be prepared to help them when needed. This could also serve as a way of finding out what plans he or she have already made and what needs to be done.

7. Ask open-ended questions that encourage your parent to share feelings. Then sit back and carefully listen to learn what is important to him or her.

8. Offer options, not advice. Pose questions and offer more than one acceptable solution. Ask your parent which choice they prefer. This involves them in the decision process and enables them to exercise control and independence.

9. Speak with respect. Approach the discussion as a partner with your parent. In other words, make sure your parent is an active participant in the conversation. Stop to listen and respect their desire and need to maintain control over their lives. Avoid reversing roles in the discussion, that is, you acting as the parent and your parent as the child. This could cause your parent to resist your attempts to open discussion.

10. Keep it simple. As stated earlier, do not try to resolve everything at once. The goal is to open an ongoing, honest dialogue about your parent’s future, to share information and to understand your parent’s wishes and needs so that decisions can be made.

11. Involve third parties if your parent resists your efforts to begin the discussion. He or she may be more open to the guidance of a respected non-family member, such as a doctor, a member of the clergy, a geriatric care manager (www.caremanager.org), representative of an area agency on aging (www.n4a.org) or trusted friends and neighbors who may have already helped a loved one in a similar situation.

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 855-592-0013.

photo credit: Frerieke

© 2009 CK Franchising, Inc.

Knowing when it’s truly time to provide your adult parent with extra care can be difficult. Many times seniors can seem like they “get by” just fine on their own, but in reality they could use additional help to live a happier and healthier life.

If you’re not sure whether or not your parent truly needs home, take our quiz below. Once you’ve answered all 10 questions, our system will give you a fair assessment as to the level of care your adult parent may, or many not, need.

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 855-592-0013.

As a caregiver, it is important to encourage independence in seniors, but also to interact with them in ways that provide the opportunity for them to maintain a better quality of life for themselves.  By participating in activities with your senior loved one, not only are you showing that you care – the acts you undertake together can help improve their overall health.  In fact, research indicates that keeping seniors physically, mentally, socially and emotionally engaged can help them retain better cognitive function, stay healthier and live independently longer.[1]

As the seniors in our lives grow older, daily interaction is vital to their health and happiness.  However, when caring for a loved one, it is easy to get into the habit of doing things “for” them rather than “with” them.  Let’s face it – it can be more efficient to do everything yourself.  Seniors are seasoned pros at doing things for themselves, but, due to aging bodies or underlying health issues, aspects of everyday living sometimes become a bit challenging both mentally and physically.  Seniors may need your help, but doing everything for them is neither the answer nor does it cultivate a better quality of life that can be achieved by learning the art of Interactive Caregiving™.

Interactive Caregiving™ is not just a term defined by Comfort Keepers®, it is a specific, engaging way of life that its caregivers, known as Comfort Keepers, undertake when caring for people.  By definition, Interactive Caregiving™ promotes physical, mental, social and emotional wellbeing.  When put into action, this philosophy focuses on the person as a whole, helps seniors live the highest possible quality of life by keeping them happy and engaged, and fosters healthy independent living within their own homes.

The true art of caregiving for the elderly extends beyond task-oriented responsibilities and includes engaging in activities that help maintain a healthy spirit and body.  Talk to the senior in your life to help determine what their interests are, then form a plan to do those things together!  When planning your activities, keep the elements of Interactive Caregiving™ in mind.

• Physical activity, which should always be approved by the senior’s physician, helps reduce the severity of illness, and makes seniors stronger and less likely to fall.  Dancing can reduce high blood pressure, strengthen bones and lower the risk of heart disease.  Dancing with friends also provides a social outlet that stimulates the mind and can reduce the effects of dementia.  Activities such as gardening and cleaning the house inspire positive self-esteem and higher qualities of life.
• Socializing with family and friends, as well as attending parties or other events, makes seniors feel less isolated and promotes good memory retention.  The effects of being socially active are just as beneficial as physical activity in terms of self-esteem and achieving a higher quality of life, which is important to note for seniors who are unable to exercise.
• Mental stimulation, such as crossword puzzles or other brain games, keeps minds active and facilitates healthy mental and emotional function.  Mental wellbeing fosters a sharp mind and a positive outlook on life.
• Emotional wellbeing depends on several factors, such as feeling connected to family and friends, being involved in the community or taking on a hobby.  Emotional stability helps seniors be happy and optimistic, which can keep depression at bay.

Encourage seniors to help with tasks they are able to perform, such as folding laundry and writing a grocery list.  Play a game or work on a puzzle, read the paper over a morning cup of coffee, and take a walk together after lunch.  Shopping together provides another form of exercise and the chance to do something together.  Planting flowers and other gardening activities are not only fun, but provide a sense of accomplishment when you both step back to enjoy the fruits of your labor.

There are many more activities than these few that can improve the quality of life for seniors.  Use your imaginations and work together to plan fun things that will transform even the most mundane daily activities into special memories that last a lifetime.

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 855-592-0013.