Q – I am a professional caregiver in Los Angeles who prepares meals for a senior. I know that a history of osteoporosis runs in her family. Are there any foods that will help to prevent osteoporosis and promote bone strength and health?
A – There are foods that are rich in nutrients, vitamins and minerals that promote good bone health. Many of these superfoods are readily available at any supermarket, although most people aren’t aware of their benefits to bones so they are overlooked. Next time you go shopping and need meal ideas for your senior care recipient, consider incorporating the following foods into your cooking, because bone health requires more than just calcium!

•    Black pepper - contains 4 anti-osteoporosis compounds)
•    Cabbage - source of boron
•    Cod liver oil - source of vitamins A and D
•    Dandelion - source of boron
•    Garlic - source of sulphur
•    Onions - source of sulphur
•    Parsley - source of boron
•    Pigweed (source of calcium)
•    Arugula - source of vitamin K
•    Broccoli - source of vitamin K
•    Collards - source of vitamin K
•    Kale - source of vitamins K and C
•    Swiss chard - source of vitamins K and C, magnesium, and calcium
•    Spinach - source of vitamins K and C and magnesium

Sources:
1.    Dole Superfoods
2.    Project-Aware

Image:iofbonehealth.org

What exactly is Swine Influenza? Learn the facts about the virus that’s catching the
attention of the news media and concerned citizens all over the US from The Center of
Disease Control and Prevention website and share your thoughts.

1.) How should this outbreak be handled?

2.) What can adults and seniors do to prevent exposure?

Please comment below with your opinions!

Image Source:
-New York Times

To be a caregiver, you don’t have to live in the same city, or even in the same state as your elderly family member. Many family caregivers care for loved ones from long distances by coordinating care services, making care related decisions and monitoring the care being provided to their elderly family member from afar. While many long distance caregivers do rely on home care professionals or other members of the family to provide day-to-day care for the senior when necessary; long distance caregivers still play a substantial role in senior care.

What can you do as a long distance caregiver for your loved one?
•    Assess the care needs of your loved one by talking to them, other family members and friends nearby
•    Signs may be exhibited on them personally or by looking at their home. Go with your instincts
•    Coordinate senior care services if necessary – hire a professional non-medical caregiver, arrange for transportation, meal preparation and medication reminders to help the senior live on their own
•    Keep a phone book for the senior’s local area, and a list of friends, family members and other people that you could call on in an emergency to help the senior
•    Offer to help with financial matters, or be appointed Power of Attorney to look after the senior’s assets or medical wishes should the situation arise
•    Learn about the senior’s condition
•    Be a supportive ear when they need to talk

Sources:
1.    Caregiver-Connect.ca
2.    HowtoCare

We all get older, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy to watch the effects that aging has upon our body and minds. Nor is it easy for loved ones to accept particularly drastic changes that are occurring with a senior loved one. To help you cope with the aging you or an elderly relative is experiencing, consider the following tips:

Accepting Your Aging:
1.    Determine why you are anxious about aging – if it relates to unaccomplished goals, find a way to reach them. Also remember to set goals that suit your lifestyle, as an older adult today.
2.    Acknowledge your achievements – instead of looking at the things you are unable to do as a senior, acknowledge the accomplishments you have made with your family, in your community and in your life.
3.    Embrace aging resources – read books and get online to understand the aging process and how you can accept it.
4.    Maintain your health – don’t succumb to the challenges of aging; eat well, exercise and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
5.    Break the routine – at any age, you can embrace new experiences. Travel to a new place or choose a new hobby to keep up the variety.

Accepting Senior Aging:
1.    Communicate effectively – if a senior struggles with their memory, avoid harping on them if they’ve forgotten something. If you’re really concerned, discuss it with a doctor.
2.    Look at their positive traits – instead of focusing on the perceived decline of aging, focus on the senior’s beauty, wisdom and accomplishments.

Sources:
1.    Ehow
2.    Eldercare ABC Blog

A major component of Los Angeles home care involves ensuring that a senior remains safe in their own home, and since stairs present a major risk for in-home falls and accidents, this is one area that should be focused on for immediate senior safety. When looking at stair safety for the elderly, Los Angeles caregivers and family members should focus on both the hardware and structure of the stairs, as well as the décor and lighting that surround the area. Complete the following checklist to ensure that your elderly loved one will be safe on their stairs.

Safe Stair Structure Checklist:
•    Steps are at least 11 inches deep and each step is even
•    Steps are not slanted or loose
•    Stair surfaces have slip resistant treads
•    Handrails are on one side of the stairs, if not both sides
•    Handrails are strongly fastened and supportive
•    Handrails and banisters are no thicker around than 6.25 inches so they can be easily grabbed
•    Indicators installed on handrails let seniors know when each step is coming to an end

Safe Stair Surrounds Checklist:
•    Stairways are well-lit
•    No objects are present on stairs
•    Tops and bottoms of stairways are free of rugs and mats that might slip
•    Assistive devices have been considered to help with mobility on stairs where appropriate

Sources:
1.    Ezine Articles Daryl Lanhker
2.    Canada Safety Council

With spring in the air, Los Angeles senior caregivers and family members of the elderly are looking for safe and fun outdoor activities to entertain their loved ones in the fresh air and sunshine. Looking for an Easter present for your Grandma? Consider getting her a digital camera and taking her on digital photography excursions to take photographs of nature and the other fun elements of spring. Not only will it make for a fun outdoor activity, you can relive the memories that you shared together through the photos and get creative by displaying them around the senior’s home!

When choosing a digital camera for a senior, keep in mind their familiarity with technology and choose something that will be user-friendly. A digital camera that has a larger display screen, and large easy to push buttons will make it easy and fun to operate. If purchasing a digital camera for your elderly loved one just isn’t in the budget, you can still have fun this spring with digital photography by borrowing a camera from a family member or friend on your photography outings or renting one from a local Los Angeles photography store.

Sources:
1.    Ehow

When a grandparent is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, grandchildren may find it difficult to comprehend the changes their loved one is experiencing, especially if they are at a young age. In order to help grandchildren cope with the grief they will experience due to their grandma or grandpa’s Alzheimer’s, grandchildren should be encouraged to talk about the disease and their feelings, both to their grandparent and to other family members.

It’s important not to shelter a grandchild from the realities of Alzheimer’s disease, however, it does need to be understood that they may face greater challenges due to the change they witness with their grandparent. In order to help them cope, elder care providers in Los Angeles can involve the grandchildren in the routine set for the senior with Alzheimer’s during a visit. Grandchildren can help record important dates on a calendar, or make reminder signs around the home. Visits with a grandparent with Alzheimer’s can be frequent, but should be limited to 15 or 20 minutes so they take the most enjoyment out of the visit without experiencing a mood change that might be upsetting to the grandchild.

Los Angeles grandchildren who spend time with senior Alzheimer’s patients, may help to retrieve forgotten memories in the minds of the seniors, and by allowing them to talk about their feelings and experiences with Alzheimer’s, they will gain a better understanding to help them deal with the natural grief.

Sources:
1.   Grand Magazine Sara Hodon
2.    Alzheimer’s Society of Canada

When moving an elderly parent or senior relative into your home so you can provide caregiver assistance, you might be doing it to benefit the level of eldercare they receive, but don’t forget to consider your needs as well as theirs.

In order to allow a senior to have some independence in your home, make sure they have their own personal space, whether a room fully equipped with a TV, bathroom and sleeping quarters; or a basement apartment with their own kitchen, depending upon what’s appropriate for the senior’s capabilities. If you live in a smaller home, ask the senior to contribute that way your family can purchase a larger space that will allow the family and the senior to have the space they need.

Remember, when living with a senior it’s important to provide for their safety in the home. Ensure that furniture in the main areas of the home is arranged to allow ample space for a senior to walk through without tripping, and try to reduce additional clutter. Senior safety devices can also be installed in bathrooms for assistance with mobility, like grab bars, bathtub transfer benches and raised toilet seats. Also keep in mind that while you may have moved your elderly parent in to act as their main caregiver; you deserve a break to, so take advantage of Los Angeles home caregiver services in your area for some respite.

Sources:
1.    Ezine Articles
2.    Seniormag

A large number of seniors in Los Angeles, and around the country suffer from some form of dementia, which can impact their level of independence and require them to rely upon family caregivers and other forms of elder care. Since personal safety, caused by dementia-related memory issues is a big risk for dementia sufferers living independently at home; new “Smart Homes” are being developed to provide seniors with independence and safety.

A group in the UK, the Bath Institute of Medical Engineering that’s behind the Smart Home hopes to have the senior living innovation available on the market within the next 5 years. Currently, there are two trial systems in the UK which monitor seniors’ movements around the home; which can detect unusual changes in behavior which could indicate a medical emergency or other senior crisis. The Smart Homes also have the ability to remind seniors to turn off lights, appliances, or taps that have been left on with verbal prompts, and can automatically turn functions in the house on and off.

The Smart Homes may not be able to replace traditional Los Angeles elder care services entirely, but they will allow seniors to maintain their pride in living with independence well into their later years, even with dementia.

Sources:
1.    Science Daily
2.    Caregiverunderground

Images: pressurefunk.com

Q – What is senior financial abuse, and how can it be prevented?

Senior financial abuse is any situation where a senior and/or their money are exploited for monetary gain. Seniors in Los Angeles, are a major target of financial abuse because they can be dependent upon others, they can be trusting, and they may have minimal experience managing their financial affairs; oh, and they also control 70% of personal assets in North America. Financial abuse takes a number of forms; some seniors may be financially exploited by their own family members, their caregivers may take advantage of their money, and may be stolen from through elaborate scams.

Tips to Avoid Senior Financial Abuse:

1.    Protect personal information – SSN, PIN numbers and other financial data should be protected and never given to anyone (except a financial power of attorney)
2.    Background checks and references – anyone hired to work for a senior, as a laborer or caregiver should be thoroughly screened with background checks and follow up on personal and professional references
3.    Never pay for anything – often sweepstakes or lottery scams require a senior to pay money in order to claim a prize. Seniors should never have to pay to receive winnings
4.    Have a backup – seniors should seek the help of a trusted family member to review and oversee major financial transactions. Having a second set of eyes to assist with decisions will help protect seniors from financial abuse
5.    Report it – report any suspicious persons to senior advocacy agencies and the local police

Sources:
1.    Associated Content Susan Rand
2.    Sun-Times News Group Terry Savage