Helping an elderly relative may mean letting them do more for themselves. Yes, you might be able to help do a chore faster, and your intentions are purely to lend a hand, but if it is something the person can safely do for him or herself it might be better to back off. The more one can do for oneself, the more independent one feels. Confidence in elderly people diminishes as activities become more limited.
Being physically active (as is reasonable) can help circulation, flexibility, and balance. Exercise classes for the elderly help to keep muscle mass and provide some social interaction, which can be a challenge as age increases and mobility decreases.
The biggest help is to provide positive human interaction, to make sure the elderly person has fun and laughs as much as possible in the right situations. Encouraging conversation and storytelling, by asking questions about experiences with travel, school, and noteworthy events can help. Keep it light and fun – steering the conversation away from sadness if it creeps in.
Sometimes elderly people feel cold even when the inside temperature is 75 to 80 degrees because blood circulation may not be as vigorous as it once was. A microwave heating pad can provide comforting warmth and help stimulate circulation and flexibility. A gift of a Cozy Sheep, sometime referred to as a Cuddle Ewe, brings comforting warmth and companionship – perfect for an elderly person. It’s reusable, washable, durable, and safe. You can check out a variety of comforting creatures, including a Cozy Cat or Dachshund Neck Warmer for just the right one to bring a smile.
Helping elderly parents, relatives, friends to enjoy life as they navigate the later years.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Personal Medical Journal Template
Keeping your own medical records is a good idea. A list of all doctors' visits - including dentists and eye doctors is very handy when you need to see dates of immunizations, tests, illnesses, conditions, and surgeries. If you move and have to find a new physician, you easily could provide photocopies of your medical history. It would be especially handy if you are caring for children or an elderly parent.
We created a template to follow -- one that you could easily photocopy or print and use to record your family's visits to health professionals. Your physicians may use it to see health patterns or make critical diagnoses. Keep pages organized by family member in a loose leaf notebook.
If you need a microwave heating pad for an elderly parent or friend who is ill and feeling cold, check out Maine Warmers. Their microwave heating pads come in a variety of shapes and sizes -- including neck warmers, large back warmers, and cozy sheep among other comforting creatures.
Cut and paste this template into a Word document, save it, and print it when you need to make copies.
Recommendations: ______________________________________________________________________
We created a template to follow -- one that you could easily photocopy or print and use to record your family's visits to health professionals. Your physicians may use it to see health patterns or make critical diagnoses. Keep pages organized by family member in a loose leaf notebook.
If you need a microwave heating pad for an elderly parent or friend who is ill and feeling cold, check out Maine Warmers. Their microwave heating pads come in a variety of shapes and sizes -- including neck warmers, large back warmers, and cozy sheep among other comforting creatures.
Cut and paste this template into a Word document, save it, and print it when you need to make copies.
Journal of Medical Appointments
Patient Name: __________________________________________________________________________
Date: ____________________
Medical Professional and Type: _____________________________________________________________
Location: _______________________________________________________________________________
Reason for visit: _________________________________________________________________________
Symptoms: _____________________________________________________________________________
Questions: _____________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Diagnosis: ______________________________________________________________________________
Recommendations: ______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Prescribed Medications: __________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Tests and Immunizations: ________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Reason for and dates of tests: ________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Test results and dates: _____________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Referrals and follow-up appointments: ________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Blood pressure: __________________ Height: _________________ Weight: _________________
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
How to meet people as a senior and move to a new location
Volunteering is a great way to meet people when one moves to a new place. Retirees often move to be near family, to a retirement community, or to a warmer climate. It can be difficult to meet new people and it doesn’t take long to feel isolated.
One of my favorite sayings is, “A good place to find a helping hand is at the end of your arm.” By helping others one helps him or herself. Volunteering can put you in touch with people who have similar interests.
Decide what kind of activity is satisfying for you and how much time you have to commit. Talk with a local librarian or community services or recreation department personnel in your new municipality. Do you need transportation? If so, ask about volunteer rides and public transportation.
The Corporation for National and Community Service Web site Senior Corps page allows you to put in the group which you have an interest in helping and your zip code (no names), and displays a list of volunteer opportunities.
If you know a senior who is feeling a little isolated due to surgery or illness, a visit and a Maine Warmer may be the perfect gift. Their Cozy Panda Bear and Sheep microwave heating pads offer comforting companionship as well as warmth when one is feeling cold due to lack of activity. If someone new has moved into your neighborhood you might welcome him or her with a gift.
One of my favorite sayings is, “A good place to find a helping hand is at the end of your arm.” By helping others one helps him or herself. Volunteering can put you in touch with people who have similar interests.
Decide what kind of activity is satisfying for you and how much time you have to commit. Talk with a local librarian or community services or recreation department personnel in your new municipality. Do you need transportation? If so, ask about volunteer rides and public transportation.
The Corporation for National and Community Service Web site Senior Corps page allows you to put in the group which you have an interest in helping and your zip code (no names), and displays a list of volunteer opportunities.
If you know a senior who is feeling a little isolated due to surgery or illness, a visit and a Maine Warmer may be the perfect gift. Their Cozy Panda Bear and Sheep microwave heating pads offer comforting companionship as well as warmth when one is feeling cold due to lack of activity. If someone new has moved into your neighborhood you might welcome him or her with a gift.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Stretching to Help Balance
Keeping muscles flexible and in good working condition is important for balance, especially as we age and become more at risk for falls. The Mayo Clinic article, Stretching: Focus on Flexibility examines the benefits of a good stretching routine. Stretching may help improve your performance in physical activities and may help you avoid injuries.They recommend routine stretching and to not consider it an afterthought. Stretching helps stimulate circulation and keep muscles flexible. One of their recommendations is to stretch when muscles are warmed up or after an exercise routine to avoid pulling a tight muscle.
A few tips to stretch correctly are: no bouncing, hold for 30- 60 seconds while breathing, don't stretch until you feel pain, and aim for the major muscle groups. If you participate in a sport then concentrate on stretching the muscles you use in that activity.
Heat will also help warm a muscle and improve blood circulation. A microwave heating pad may be just the
thing to use before a workout or stretching a tight muscle.
Maine Warmers' Knee Pack can be used on knees, elbows, and more. Back Warmers and Neck Wraps are also versatile and can be microwaved for heat or frozen for gentle cold.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Tips for communicating with elderly parents
Talking with an elderly parent about their needs, fears, and frustrations can go a long way in helping to care for them. Communication and understanding is key to helping them through the aging process. Allowing parents to do as much as they can for themselves, for as long as possible, helps them emotionally and may save the caretaker extra work.
When you talk with your elderly parents, even though some of the issues are serious, try to keep the tone of the conversation light. Ask what they want as they continue their journey through their later years. Let him or her talk about the experiences they've had that influenced the way they do things or want their lives to be. Listen more than you talk.
Discussing finances with them is critical. Respecting their wishes and decisions, as long as they are reasonable and safe, is important to their well being. As long as parents are mentally capable of making decisions, then they need to be included.
Teaching parents about not giving out financial information to solicitors on the phone or at the door, no matter how nice the person seems, is vitally important. Even if phone solicitors claim to represent a utility company or a reputable organization, it is important for elderly parents to know to not give credit card or other personal information to them.
Resources
1. OnlineOrganizing.com offers tips on organization in an article, Caring for Elderly Parents by Ramona Creel.
2. Elder Care
3. GRAND!times.com
If your elderly parent feels cold – even in the middle of summer – it may have to do with poor blood circulation and lack of physical activity. It’s worth a check with his or her physician (if the condition has not already been checked out). A microwave heating pad from Maine Warmers helps relax stiff muscles, stimulates blood circulation, improves flexibility.. A Cozy Sheep or Black Bear provides comforting companionship along with nurturing warmth.
When you talk with your elderly parents, even though some of the issues are serious, try to keep the tone of the conversation light. Ask what they want as they continue their journey through their later years. Let him or her talk about the experiences they've had that influenced the way they do things or want their lives to be. Listen more than you talk.
Discussing finances with them is critical. Respecting their wishes and decisions, as long as they are reasonable and safe, is important to their well being. As long as parents are mentally capable of making decisions, then they need to be included.
Teaching parents about not giving out financial information to solicitors on the phone or at the door, no matter how nice the person seems, is vitally important. Even if phone solicitors claim to represent a utility company or a reputable organization, it is important for elderly parents to know to not give credit card or other personal information to them.
Resources
1. OnlineOrganizing.com offers tips on organization in an article, Caring for Elderly Parents by Ramona Creel.
2. Elder Care
3. GRAND!times.com
If your elderly parent feels cold – even in the middle of summer – it may have to do with poor blood circulation and lack of physical activity. It’s worth a check with his or her physician (if the condition has not already been checked out). A microwave heating pad from Maine Warmers helps relax stiff muscles, stimulates blood circulation, improves flexibility.. A Cozy Sheep or Black Bear provides comforting companionship along with nurturing warmth.
Friday, May 22, 2009
Rehab for shoulder surgery or injury
After shoulder surgery my mom was given exercises to gradually increase flexibility. When the exercises didn't seem to be working she made an appointment with a physical therapist who discovered that she was not doing the exercises correctly. The therapist helped her gain flexibility and mobility in her arm so that she could drive and car as well as a golf ball again.
The therapist recommended using heat before exercising to help improve flexibility in the surrounding muscles. Taking over-the-counter pain medication was also recommended to help with the discomfort of moving those tight muscles and disturbing the scar tissue.
The Amercian Academy or Orthopedic Surgeons has a list of exercises for shoulder surgery patients. After surgery it is best to consult with your physician before attempting exercises, and it is especially helpful to have a physical therapist guide you through them for several sessions until you are sure you are doing the exercises correctly.
If you need a heating pad to help with flexibility check out Maine Warmers' microwave heating pads. They are easy to use, portable, reusable, and high quality. They are filled with whole corn which smells a bit like a bowl of pop corn and will not take on a peculiar odor as rice socks often do. They do not have any added perfumes or fragrances. A variety of traditional and animal shaped heating pads can be used on shoulders. Check out these Back Warmers and Neck Warmers to help relax tight muscles, improve circulation and flexibility.
The therapist recommended using heat before exercising to help improve flexibility in the surrounding muscles. Taking over-the-counter pain medication was also recommended to help with the discomfort of moving those tight muscles and disturbing the scar tissue.
The Amercian Academy or Orthopedic Surgeons has a list of exercises for shoulder surgery patients. After surgery it is best to consult with your physician before attempting exercises, and it is especially helpful to have a physical therapist guide you through them for several sessions until you are sure you are doing the exercises correctly.
If you need a heating pad to help with flexibility check out Maine Warmers' microwave heating pads. They are easy to use, portable, reusable, and high quality. They are filled with whole corn which smells a bit like a bowl of pop corn and will not take on a peculiar odor as rice socks often do. They do not have any added perfumes or fragrances. A variety of traditional and animal shaped heating pads can be used on shoulders. Check out these Back Warmers and Neck Warmers to help relax tight muscles, improve circulation and flexibility.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
What information is necessary to have in emergencies for elderly parents
If you are the person who cares for an aging parent it is important for you to have some basic information regarding his or her medical records. In an emergency, if he/she can't answer questions can you? It may make a huge difference regarding medical decisions.
The Mayo Clinic Web site has a list of things a caretaker should know in an emergency. This list is taken directly from that page.
The article states that in an emergency, when a parent is unable to give medical information the doctor may discuss your parent's health with you if "it is the best interest of your parent."
Before an emergency happens it is helpful to have your parent's basic medical information with you. You may download an emergency medical form from the Mayo Clinic web site on the page link above.
If you have an aging parent who needs a little warmth, even on warm days, give him or her a Maine Warmer to take the chill off. Stroke victims often have cold hands and feet. A Cozy Sheep, Bear, or Moose might be just the thing to help bring a smile. Maine Warmers microwave heating pads are portable, safe, washable, reusable, and made of high quality fabrics that have lasting value.
The Mayo Clinic Web site has a list of things a caretaker should know in an emergency. This list is taken directly from that page.
- Names, addresses, and phone numbers of their doctors
- Birth dates
- List of Major Medical problems
- List of medications and supplements
- List of allergies
- Insurance cards
- Power of Attorney statement
- Advance directives (such as do not resuscitate orders, living wills, & where are they located)
- Religious beliefs
- Lifestyle information
The article states that in an emergency, when a parent is unable to give medical information the doctor may discuss your parent's health with you if "it is the best interest of your parent."
Before an emergency happens it is helpful to have your parent's basic medical information with you. You may download an emergency medical form from the Mayo Clinic web site on the page link above.
If you have an aging parent who needs a little warmth, even on warm days, give him or her a Maine Warmer to take the chill off. Stroke victims often have cold hands and feet. A Cozy Sheep, Bear, or Moose might be just the thing to help bring a smile. Maine Warmers microwave heating pads are portable, safe, washable, reusable, and made of high quality fabrics that have lasting value.
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