Q - In caring for my elderly mother, I feel I’ve fallen into a rather limited routine. This summer, I’m hoping to up the excitement ante with interesting senior appropriate activities. What activities have you completed with your senior during past summers that are in line with June holidays, special days and events?

A1 - One of our June family traditions have stemmed from National Turkey Lovers month! While the point might be to honor the living creatures, we’ve created a special holiday to bring the family together at my senior father’s home. Of course we honor the turkey as it plays a role in our family feast, but it’s more about bonding as a family over a nice meal and showing my dad how much we all love and appreciate him.

- Sarah Los Angeles

A2 – My senior mother loves the ocean, and since it’s become increasingly challenging to get to the coast and walk along the beach, instead we check out sea life by taking advantage of National Zoo and Aquarium Month which takes place in June. By going to a zoo or aquarium, my mother gets back some of the experience she’s missing by not getting around at the coast, and it’s an environment that accommodates a senior with more limited mobility. We look forward to June every year to check out our favorite aquatic animals, and it’s a great change from the everyday senior activities that we typically engage in!

- Melanie, 56

Image: Ipetshome.com

Elder caregivers in Los Angeles who are experiencing high levels of stress may develop a series of bad habits which can lead to caregiver burnout, and in extreme cases, even elder abuse. In 15 simple steps caregivers can reclaim time to themselves and prevent the onset of stress and development of bad habits.

1.   Be honest about your bad habits and the amount of stress you’re experiencing so they can be addressed.
2.   Let your care recipient know daily how much you love and appreciate them.
3.   Do something just for you on a weekly basis.
4.   Take a deep breath when things become overwhelming.
5.   Take a few minutes each morning to repeat an affirmation or focus on calmness.
6.   Make time for exercise daily, even a brief, brisk walk.
7.   Find someone who you can listen and vent to.
8.   Allow yourself to be happy.
9.   Acknowledge the bad parts of your day and let them go
10. Relax with a cup of tea, glass of wine or a hot bath
11. Allow yourself to enjoy your favorite music or TV show
12. Look at the positive points in your life
13. Keep smiling.
14. Keep a journal.
15  Try aromatherapy.

For caregivers who require additional help, or are overburdened by their care duties, home care businesses in Los Angeles can help.

Sources:
1. Eldercare ABC Blog

Image: poundlandblog.co.uk

Q – I suspect that my elderly grandfather, who has an elder care provider assisting him in his home in Los Angeles might be a victim of home care negligence. He doesn’t seem to get along with his caregiver and is reluctant to look her in the eyes. I don’t want to make a big deal out of nothing, so what are the signs I can look for to determine if he’s a victim of negligence?

A – If you believe that your father in Los Angeles might be a victim of negligence, or doesn’t get along with his caregiver. Don’t hesitate to talk to the caregiving agency about your suspicions and request another elder care expert to provide home care services. However, if you want to justify your concerns, there are other signs that could indicate your father is being neglected.

• Sudden changes in his behavior, such as becoming more withdrawn, depressed or angry

• Physical injuries like bruises, scrapes, cuts, or even broken bones

• The home care provider not allowing seniors to spend time alone with family members for fear something might be revealed

• Pressure sores or signs that restraints have been used

• Sudden, inexplicable weight loss in the senior

Sources:
1. Care Home Negligence
2. EZine Articles

Q – I’m a family caregiver for an elderly grandparent in Los Angeles. At the caregiver support group I attend, someone introduced the idea of a geriatric assessment. What does it involve and how could it benefit my grandparent?

A – First of all, it’s very commendable that you are seeking support within your local community from other caregivers, and as I’m sure you’re discovering, they can be great resources to learn about care options in Los Angeles. Geriatric assessments can be completed by medical professionals, such as doctors or nurses in a variety of settings, including an outpatient clinic, hospital, or even your grandparent’s home. Often, geriatric assessments are recommended to older adults who are exhibiting signs of confusion, memory loss or dementia; but can be requested by anyone who wants professional insight from a healthcare perspective about improving and forecasting eldercare.

A geriatric assessment involves the following:

• Assessing a senior’s status by looking at physical, mental and psycho-social; factors; their ability to perform activities of daily living independently, and any care they currently receive

• Identifying problems that might be present based on the senior’s status now or in the future

• Developing a “Care Plan” with recommendations for support services

• Helping seniors attain the support they require

• Monitoring the success of the care plan

Sources:
1. HelpGuide
2. Southwestern Medical Center

Q1 – Is there any connection between physical activity and the prevention of diseases like Alzheimer’s or dementia?

A1 – According to a study, active seniors over the age of 60 who have a declining brain mass are at a higher risk for the development of cognitive problems like Alzheimer’s or dementia, and active seniors experience substantially less brain shrinkage than those who are inactive.

Q2 – How does exercise improve the functioning of the mind?

A2 – By increasing blood flow from the heart to the brain through exercise, a senior’s brain is stimulated and optimal health is maintained. Because exercise also decreases blood pressure, cholesterol and other diseases which could influence the onset of Alzheimer’s or dementia, a senior’s overall health is better improved through physical activity.

Q3 – Will seniors who start exercising later in life still receive the same benefits?

A3 – It’s never too late to start exercising, and while the positive benefits may not be as great for Alzheimer’s prevention as those who have been routinely active throughout their lives, there are still benefits to the mind.

Q4 – How can Los Angeles seniors begin an exercise program?

A4 – In order to become active, Los Angeles seniors can choose any physical activity that they find enjoyable and that fit into their physical abilities. Walking, biking, swimming, stretching or exercising with weights all have their benefits; and those who are able can increase their endurance to engage in more moderate exercise programs.

Sources:

1. About

2. BBC News

Q – I am an elder care provider, and have a care recipient in Los Angeles who has a history of strokes in his family. Since his risk of having a stroke is higher, is there anything I can do to help lower the likelihood that he will have stroke?

A – Since naturally there is no way to change your care recipient’s family history, it’s fortunate that simple changes to lifestyle and diet can reduce a senior’s risk of having a stroke. As a caregiver in Los Angeles, there are a number of things that you can do to directly impact the likelihood that your senior will have a stroke, and a number of other things you can help with by offering support and encouragement.

How Caregivers Can Help Prevent Strokes:

•    Prepare healthy meals for the senior that are low in salt and saturated fats
•    Plan meals based on their specific healthy living needs – serve lower-cholesterol foods and adjust meals for those who struggle with high cholesterol
•    Engage in activities daily that keep the senior active – go for a walk around the neighborhood or to the park, or try more vigorous exercise if your senior has the physical capabilities
•    Ensure alcohol served with meals is done so in moderation, since excessive drinking can increase the risk of a stroke

Stroke Prevention Through Encouragement:

•    Encourage a senior to understand their health, including stroke risk factors like high cholesterol, diabetes, circulation problems or atrial fibrillation by visiting a doctor
•    Encourage a senior to quit smoking
•    Be on the look out for signs of a stroke!

1.    Healing Daily
2.    BBC Health

According to a study published in the Journal of Neurology, a direct correlation exists between physical fitness and the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease; a cognitive condition which affects a large portion of the senior population in Los Angeles. According to the study which looked at 121 seniors over the age of 60, many of whom were in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, those who were routinely physically active had four times less brain shrinkage than those who lead more sedentary lifestyles. Based on previous evidence, decreasing brain volume is linked to the onset of Alzheimer’s and dementia, so a regular fitness routine can actually help prevent future cognitive problems as well.

Throughout the aging process, it’s important to remain active, even if it means just getting out to take a walk, going for a swim, or completing a series of stretches at home. Los Angeles seniors will not only improve their overall health through routine exercise, they will also increase the blood flow from the heart to the brain, which improves brain functioning and prevents the onset of other diseases which can aggravate mental conditions like Alzheimer’s.

Seniors in Los Angeles shouldn’t feel that it’s too late to begin an exercise program at anytime in their lives; they can start small and slowly build up their endurance to greater activities for the optimal benefits to the body and the mind.

Sources:
1.    About
2.    BBC News

Identity theft insurance can be obtained by seniors as part of their home owners insurance or they can acquire a separate policy. While it does offer peace of mind for the elderly, by offering reimbursement for any expenses incurred following identity theft, it can still be difficult to evaluate whether or not identify theft protection by way of insurance is really worth it.

Since the elderly demographic tend to be the main victims of fraud, fraud insurance may be tempting. But seniors need to weigh the costs against the benefits. From a monetary perspective, identity theft insurance can be quite costly ranging from $20-$150 per year for $15,000-$20,000 in coverage and like any insurance plan, offers maximum claim amounts for specific elements related to the recovery from identity theft. For example, a maximum benefit amount for lost wages may be $2,000 and legal fees covered may range from $5,000 to $15,000. Unlike insurance policies that the aging population may have grown used to, identity theft insurance cannot recover the effects of the fraud; having fraud insurance will not rebuild damaged credit, it will simply cover costs related to proving the identity theft and trying to secure lost finances.

Provided identity theft insurance works within a seniors budget, and they understand the coverage available should they become a victim of fraud, the right insurance policy can help protect the elderly from fraud, but should not create the impression that they can drop their guard.

Sources:
1.    Spam Laws
2.    Globe and Mail

For seniors in Los Angeles, receiving a geriatric assessment is a key component in the elder care process, particularly for those who might be exhibiting signs of dementia. Often a family physician refers a senior who they feel needs to receive a geriatric assessment, however, families who are concerned about signs being exhibited by an aging parent or other relative can request that their senior see a GCM to receive a geriatric assessment.

A geriatric care assessment does focus on the risk of dementia, but takes a look at a Los Angeles senior’s overall health; including physical, mental and psycho-social factors and addresses issues that a senior may have today or in the future with regards to independent living. By assessing abilities for Activities of Daily Living such as dressing, bathing, meal preparation, and managing medications, a geriatric care assessment can help families make decisions to ensure their seniors remain safe and healthy, even if it means hiring an in-home caregiver from agencies like Home Instead.

Geriatric assessments can take place at hospitals, nursing homes, outpatient clinics, at a physician’s office or a patient’s home. Geriatric Care Managers can provide additional assistance to seniors and their families with the senior care decision making process and can be a great resource.

If you are concerned about the well-being of an aging loved one in Los Angeles, talk to their physician about receiving a geriatric assessment!

Sources:
1.    HelpGuide
2.    Southwestern Medical Center

According to the Better Business Bureau, there’s a new phone scam targeting senior citizens  – specifically grandparents-  in Los Angeles and around the United States by playing upon their dedication to helping their loved ones. The phone fraud, which targets American grandparents, involves a scammer posing as a grandchild in need of money following a trip to Canadian jail or a car accident while traveling North of the border. The scammers exercise a form of phishing, while trying to get information to propel the conversation with the concerned grandparent since naturally they are unaware of the specific details regarding the senior’s grandchild. Often, such a scam phone call starts with “it’s your favorite grandchild!” giving the senior the opportunity to fill in the missing details.

Once the caller seems to have the senior’s attention, they then request that money be sent from Los Angeles to Canada using money wire or Western Union since these financial transfer methods make it hard to trace scammers. While grandparents of course always want to help a grandchild in need, if they receive such a call they should ask to call to their grandchild back or confirm the story with a family member before agreeing to send money. Any suspicious phone calls can be reported to the Better Business Bureau.

Sources:
1.    Senior Advocate News