Tips for Planning a Vacation with Elderly Family Members

Families are heading out for their big vacation this summer, and many of you are inviting your elderly loved one, too. With a bit of preparation, you can make the trip easy and enjoyable for your older family member or friend, and plan a vacation everyone will have fun on. Whether you’re driving, flying, or taking a cruise, there are lots of ways that you can simplify travel and provide proper care for seniors. Here are a few tips to help you plan a more comfortable and safer vacation for your elderly loved one.

Talk to the doctor. If possible, talk to your older family member’s doctor. Let the physician know that you are planning to travel soon and learn if the doctor advises a checkup. Consider discussing if the destination is appropriate for his or her individual abilities. Learn if they will need any particular vaccinations. Also consider exploring any supplements or medications that might help if anxiety or other mental health issues arise. Your family member should always get the “okay” from his or her physician before heading out on the road. 

Pack wisely. Prior to leaving for a trip, make sure your loved one has an “essentials” kit. A personal elder care kit should have all of their medications, personal documents, contact information, snacks, and entertainment items like a deck of cards. Also consider packing a sweater and travel pillow for maximum comfort. Try to keep this bag light and small so it is easy to carry. 

Plan downtime. When planning the vacation itinerary, always schedule in some downtime. Even if your older loved one is vibrant and energetic, they will still appreciate some built-in relaxation. And chances are, you will too. 

Keep stress to a minimum. If you are flying, you might experience layovers. This could cause difficulty or frustration for everyone, including your older loved one. If it is available, opt for a non-stop flight to your destination. That removes the hassle of deplaning and boarding a handful of times on each part of the journey. 

Book accommodations early on. Consider if your older loved one has any special needs. If they are in a wheelchair, or use a walker or mobility equipment, you will want to rent a vehicle of suitable size. Waiting until the last minute to book might make this impossible. If flying, try to request a seat in a disabled travelers area. If there is meal service during any travel, let staff know if your loved one has any special dietary needs. 

Keep open communication. Before each activity on a trip, make sure you clearly communicate with your loved one. This is most important if your family member or friend has Alzheimer’s or a different form of cognitive decline. Let them know what the plan is and what you all will be doing. While on vacation, care for elderly loved ones means making sure that plans work for their individual capabilities. Talking out the plan will ensure that everyone on the trip will have a chance to enjoy his or her time.

Vacationing with the whole family is meant to be a fun, enjoyable, safe experience for everyone. By preparing in advance, you can ensure that your older loved one will have everything they need to make the most of your family trip.

Key Components Of Stroke Recovery

A stroke is a traumatic and devastating medical event for a senior and their family. However, once it has happened, it’s time to shift the focus to recovery. Elder care services professionals explain that focusing on recovery is essential in order to allow your elderly loved one to regain their physical and mental abilities. A few ways to do this include:

Focus on reducing risk of another stroke

Many strokes come as a result of uncontrolled or undetected medical conditions, such as hypertension or diabetes. After a stroke has occurred, your elderly loved one must get a full assessment from a doctor in order to prevent it from happening again. Encourage your senior to take all medications prescribed to them regularly, and to eat a diet that’s high in fiber, low in fat and salt, and full of lean protein. Those who care for seniors explain that prevention is an essential step that is often overlooked during the recovery process. 

Partake in a comprehensive recovery program

After your elderly parent has a stroke, they’ll need to take part in a comprehensive recovery program designed by highly trained medical professionals. This may include physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy. These various specialists can help to get your loved one back on track and recover the skills they may have lost in the stroke. 

Alter a living situation as necessary

After a stroke, your family member may not be able to attend to the tasks of daily living anymore. According to those who work in assisted living, Iowa families need to carefully analyze their senior’s needs after a stroke and make any necessary adjustments. This may include having a home care professional come in to assist regularly, or they may need to be moved either temporarily or permanently to an assisted living facility or nursing home.  

Join a stroke support group

A stroke support group can help to prevent feelings of isolation as your senior recovers from this traumatic medical event. Your elderly loved one’s neurologist can help to direct you to a group in your area. The experience allows them to feel a connection to others in the community who have gone through a similar situation, while also helping you to learn more about stroke and the recovery process.

The days and weeks following a stroke can be stressful both for the survivor and their family. However, when you take quick action to get your senior on a comprehensive recovery program, they’ll be able to make great strides as they regain the skills they lost during the event. 

The Major Signs and Symptoms of a Stroke

Senior health professionals encourage anyone who cares for an elderly individual to learn the major signs and symptoms of a stroke. A stroke is a serious health episode that can cause debilitating damage when it not treated immediately. As soon as your elderly loved one begins to display the signs of a stroke, they need immediate medical attention. In order to make sure that this happens, it’s important to learn the key indicators of stroke. They include:

Numbness

If a person is having a stroke, they may experience numbness or weakness in one arm. To check for arm numbness, ask your senior to raise both of their arms above their head, and then look to see if one arm is slowly heading downward.

Face drooping

If your elderly loved one’s smile has begun to droop or they complain that their face has gone numb, this can indicate that they are having a stroke.

Trouble speaking

If your senior is having a stroke, they will have difficulty speaking properly and may become hard to understand. They may slur their words or speak sentences that don’t make sense. To test if this is taking place, ask your loved one to repeat a simple sentence. If they are unable to repeat the sentence correctly and clearly, it’s time to get them medical attention.

Other common indicators of stroke include:

• Confusion or trouble understanding simple conversation or instructions
• Trouble seeing in one or both eyes
• A significant headache with no real cause

Those who care for seniors should always be on the lookout for these warning signs, and should act quickly should they display themselves. With a stroke, every minute counts, so getting an elderly loved one to the hospital as soon as possible can greatly increase their chances of making a recovery. 

Though strokes are brain-based, they can devastate a person’s entire body. A stroke can make it hard to feel emotions, speak clearly, and think. They may also cause full or partial paralysis on one side of the body. Because May is National Stroke Awareness Month, it is even more important to learn the key indicators of a stroke. 

How to Honor Your Mom This Mother’s Day

With Mother’s Day just around the corner, it’s time to get creative about how you’re going to show your mother just how appreciated and loved she is. Regardless of how much or how little you have to spend, you can find a gift that leaves her delighted. Some popular choices for senior moms on Mother’s Day include:

A recipe book

Over the years your elderly parent has probably come up with quite a few recipes that the family loves. Start by writing out or typing up these recipes, and then laminate them and bind them together into a recipe book. Your senior will enjoy thumbing through the various dishes that are unique to her family, and the book can become a treasured family possession for generations to come.

Have everyone in the family write letters 

For a touching and sentimental gift, ask everyone in the family (grandkids, siblings, and others) to write a letter touching on some of the favorite memories they’ve shared with mom or grandma. Talk about some of the traits they most admire in her, and include other sweet thoughts. This will be an instant day brightener, and gives your senior something to enjoy on days when she needs a boost.

Plant her favorite flower in her honor

If your elderly parent adores gardenias, lilies, or other flowers, plant some in her honor either in her garden or in the garden in your home. The cheerful blooms are the perfect way to show your love for her. Those who care for elderly individuals explain that thoughtful gifts from the heart are the most meaningful for seniors on Mother’s Day.

Make something crafty

Get the children in the family together to make a special gift for Grandma, whether it is needlework, a quilt, or another kind of craft. She will appreciate the love and attention that went into making the gift and will display it proudly. 

Let her pick how to spend a day

Those who care for seniors explain that time is often the best gift of all. More than anything else, your elderly loved one wants to spend time with her family. Make this happen by having her pick out a few activities she would like to do that day, and then gather everyone together to do them. Whether she wants to go to lunch, see a movie, or go antiquing, the time together is precious. 

What to Know About Aid and Attendance Benefits

The Veterans Administration offers Aid and Attendance benefits that are often highly misunderstood by those who have served and by their families. However, it’s important that seniors understand the details of what these benefits entail, as they can often make a major difference in that person’s life. These benefits help to cover the cost of caretaking for those who need help dressing, taking medication, eating, bathing, and attending to other necessary daily tasks. They are also useful for those who are in a nursing home, and assisted living care applies too. For this reason, all adult children should look into the kinds of benefits that their elderly parents might be able to enjoy. 

When it comes to care for seniors, it’s necessary to get a full grasp on the benefits for which they are eligible. One such benefit is the ability to receive money to help care for ailing seniors and their spouses. This is known as a “pension benefit,” and it isn’t just dependent upon service-related injuries, as many people falsely believe. A person who enjoys Aid and Attendance can use this money to help pay for a stay in a nursing home or assisted living facility, thus helping to relieve the financial burden on their family.

For those who care for elderly parents, it’s important to investigate these veterans’ benefits to see if they qualify for this useful assistance. Keep in mind that this help isn’t just for the person who has actually served. If their spouse is sick, your loved one can file as a veteran with a sick spouse in order to help offset the cost of their medical care. For many people, this can make a significant difference in their financial situation.

A veteran is eligible for up to $1,758 per month, while a surviving spouse can enjoy up to $1,130 a month. A veteran with a spouse can receive up to $2,085 per month, and a veteran with a sick spouse may receive up to $1,380.1 This financial compensation can play a major role in your senior’s ability to afford care and medical treatment. Family members of elderly parents should do some research in order to understand exactly the kinds of benefits that their senior or their spouse can enjoy. Don’t simply assume that they don’t qualify and miss out on the chance to receive highly useful financial assistance. 

1http://www.veteranaid.org/

How to Protect Your Senior From Elder Abuse

Unfortunately, some people choose to prey on a senior’s more fragile physical state. They know that an elderly person is often less likely to stand up to physical or mental abuse, particularly if they can’t hear or see as well or think as clearly as they used to. Family members who care for elderly loved ones should be aware of this potential for abuse, and should take steps to protect their senior.

The most common kinds of elder abuse

• Physical abuse: When a family member, caretaker, or other person in your elderly loved one’s life uses non-accidental force that results in pain and injury. This can include shoving or hitting, as well as inappropriate use of drugs, restraint, or confinement.
• Emotional abuse: When this kind of abuse takes place, a person treats your loved one in a way that causes them pain. This may be by threatening or intimidating them, through humiliation and ridicule, by ignoring them or isolating them, or by routinely blaming them. 
• Neglect: This can be intentional or unintentional. Your senior may suffer from poor nutrition or hygiene, lack of social interaction, or fail to receive necessary medical treatment.
• Financial abuse: This is when a person uses a senior’s financial information and bank accounts in an inappropriate way. They may forge the person’s signature, engage in identity theft, steal money, or misuse that elderly individual’s private banking information.

Those who care for seniors should take their complaints seriously. Instead of assuming that they misunderstood a situation, ask for more details about what took place. If it’s possible that some form of abuse has happened, investigate the situation further and report any necessary information to authorities. Don’t just assume that your loved one is exaggerating. Many cases of abuse go unresolved because the senior’s complaints were quickly dismissed.  

When it comes to care for elderly loved ones, education is essential. Some people simply aren’t aware that their behavior toward elderly people is abusive. By providing information about what is and is not acceptable, you help to ensure that all older people receive respectful and kind treatment. 

Important Health Screenings for Seniors Over 75

If your elderly loved one is over 75, it’s important to make sure that they get regular screenings to identify potential health concerns that impact older adults. When it comes to caring for the elderly, prevention is an important way to ensure good physical and mental health. Common concerns to watch out for in elderly people include:

Balance disorders

Those who provide care for seniors should understand that balance concerns can lead to falls and fall-related injuries, which can be devastating for an older individual. If your elderly parent indicates that they feel off-balance or dizzy at any point, it’s important to get to the root of problem in order to protect them. Don’t wait until a serious fall happens to take action.

Memory issues

As your senior ages, it’s common to see some degree of cognitive decline. However, it’s necessary to monitor this kind of decline in order to take action before the problem becomes dramatic. If your senior sometimes forgets the name of a friend’s grandchild or a restaurant you went to together last month, this is perfectly acceptable. However, if they have begun to forget how to get to routine places such as the drug store or the grocery store, or they’ve begun to forget how to operate everyday items like the microwave, it’s time to seek help.

In many instances, a person’s memory can change quickly, so it’s important to keep a watchful eye to remain aware of significant decline. Even if you suspect that the kind of cognitive decline that your loved one is showing is normal for their age, it’s wise to take them in to a doctor who can assess the situation further and make necessary recommendations about how to proceed.

Poor nutrition

Many of the health problems an older individual experiences actually stem from poor nutrition. As your elderly loved one ages, their sense of taste and smell may dull, leaving food looking unappetizing. Learn about your senior’s daily eating habits and observe them at mealtime to ward off concerns associated with poor nutrition. Also take a look around their refrigerator and pantry. If it’s looking sparse or is stocked with potato chips and candy, it’s time to take action so that they can remain healthy and strong.

The Prognosis and Rehabilitation Options for Stroke Victims

When your elderly loved one suffers a stroke, it’s a traumatic experience for the whole family. However, it is important to understand that the prognosis for stroke victims is highly positive, so long as the individual receives medical attention in a timely manner. As soon as the signs of a stroke appear, that family needs to get their senior to the hospital immediately. 

According to those specializing in elder care, Iowa families should look out for these common signs of a stroke: 

• Numbness or weakness in the face, arms, legs, or on one side of the body
• Confusion
• Trouble speaking or understanding what others are saying
• Dizziness
• Sudden, severe headaches

Other symptoms include drooping on one side of the face, issues with motor skills and coordination, and loss of control over limbs. When these symptoms occur, senior care professionals explain that it is essential that the individual gets treatment right away. Studies show that immediate treatment helps to lessen the long-term impact of the stroke.

Rehabilitation options after a stroke

The rehabilitation process typically begins in the hospital as soon as possible once the stroke has occurred. Those who are stabilized will typically begin the recovery process just two or three days after the stroke. In order to make the recovery last, the patient will need to continue with a regular rehabilitation routine. 

There is a number of different places where post-stroke treatment can occur, including:

• A rehabilitation unit in the hospital
• A specialized rehabilitation hospital
• Via outpatient therapy administered at home
• A long-term care facility

The ultimate goal of rehabilitation, no matter how or where it is administered, is to help the senior to improve their function so that they can live a high quality life. Depending on the severity of the stroke, this may include helping the elderly individual to relearn how to eat, dress themselves, walk, and talk. 

A stroke is a devastating experience that can strip a person’s sense of independence. However, with a strict rehabilitation regimen given by highly trained professionals, a senior will be able to slowly rebuild the life they once enjoyed. Family members must work closely with their elderly loved one to ensure they are getting the care they need to make a recovery after a stroke has taken place. Professionals who care for seniors can help.