Seniors who have diabetes should know what questions to ask about their disease. Since there are different types of diabetes and each type affects seniors in a different manner, the questions that are asked are very important. The following list can help seniors determine what the right questions are to ask.
1. Asking the right questions can provide seniors with the right information to better enable them to manage the disease.
2. Seniors are urged to discuss all of their symptoms. While they may seem harmless, some symptoms could indicate other health problems.
3. Seniors who have diabetes will receive treatment for these symptoms, not the cause of the disease. This is why it is important for all seniors to know and recognize any new symptoms.
4. There are many questions in regards to the cause of diabetes, however, at this time, the answer consists of a very long list. There are so many factors that are involved and each person can have the disease because of different reasons.
5. Diabetes is manageable, so seniors must take the right steps to make sure they are receiving the correct treatment for their type of the disease. This includes asking questions about treatment options.
Being a grandparent is one of the joys of being a senior. Unfortunately, many grandparents have a problem when it comes to sharing their grandchildren. This can often cause a stressful and tense environment that can have a negative e=affect on the child. The following list offers some tips on how grandparents can find a balance and be a positive figure in the life of their grandchildren.
1. If Grandparents have to share their role, they should do everything they can to create a harmony between extended family members. This may not be easy, but it will be appreciated and it will benefit the children.
2. Always make the effort to get to know the other Grandparents.
3. Make sure to be positive when talking about the other grandparents with the grandchildren. You want to make sure each time you are with the grandchildren it will be a positive experience for them.
4. Share family activities and holidays. As hard as it may be, it is important to accept the fact that the other grandparents do play a large role in the life of your grandchildren.
5. If there is a conflict or problem with the other grandparents, do your best to deal with it directly without bringing the parents into the argument. Always do your best to refrain from arguing in front of the grandchildren.
Hospitals are going to be seeing more patients who suffer from Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. In January, the Alzheimer Society of Canada released a study called Rising Tide: The Impact of Dementia in Canada. In 2008, over 100,000 new cases of Alzheimer’s and related dementia were diagnosed in Canada, carrying an economic burden of some $15 billion. According to the report, by the year 2038, Canada will have more than 250,000 new cases a year – about one every two minutes – with an economic burden of $153 billion!
“Hospitals and emergency departments especially will be seeing more seniors who have dementia,” says Judy Best, an RN who has extensive experience working with seniors and who operates Home Instead Senior Care in Oshawa, Ontario.
“Hospitals have difficulty handling patients with dementia,” says Best. “These patients can wander in and out of rooms, which increases the risk of infection. They might try to climb out of their beds, endangering themselves to a serious fall. They have poor judgment and may try to pull out tubes or IV. And because they can’t monitor themselves, they will likely go to the emergency department at the local hospital if they think they have a problem.”
In addition to working as a hospital nurse, Best was a client service coordinator and public education coordinator for the Alzheimer Society of Peterborough. She opened Home Instead Senior Care, a home care provider for seniors, in 2005. The organization has 26 locations across Canada, and provides such services as companionship, meal preparation, medication reminders, light housekeeping, errands and shopping. Best says that many of her current clients have Alzheimer’s or other dementias.
As far as caregiver training is concerned, Home Instead Senior Care developed the first training program of its kind for non-medical caregivers. The program gives its caregivers comprehensive practical training for those who suffer from Alzheimers. It includes:
understanding the pathology and symptoms of Alzheimer’s and related dementias
how to build a positive relationship with a sufferer
how to work safely within the person’s physical surroundings
how to manage their changing behaviour
How to keep them active in daily tasks and independent for as long as possible.
“Our program is unique,” says Greg Bechard, who is involved with the Alzheimer Society of Peel’s training program for family caregivers and who operates Home Instead Senior Care in Mississauga. “It takes 90 days and involves actual testing. It includes placement in a dementia unit in a seniors’ residence or long-term care facility. And it includes a history of the disease and the physiology of the disease, along with how a caregiver should behave in certain circumstances.”
Judy Best says that if someone with Alzheimer’s or a related dementia is in hospital for another issue – such as surgery, treatment for cancer, etc. – it would be wise to have either a caregiver or family member on hand at all times. That means 24/7. “A person with Alzheimer’s is like a child who can’t describe what is wrong with them,” she says. “Having a person there around the clock can help decrease hospital costs by shortening the hospital stay. The hospitals recognize that this makes their job easier.”
Home Instead Senior Care, which has a branch in Mississauga, has launched a free program to help educate family members who care for seniors.
Caring for Your Parents: Education for the Family Caregiver addresses senior resistance to care and features various topics such as choosing an in-home care provider, signs of aging, long-distance caregiving and communicating with aging parents.
A series of educational videos is available online at www.caregiverstress.com. The material provides information and coping skills for anyone caring for an elderly person. The website also gives people tips and information about caregiving, dementia and Alzheimer’s and where to get help. There are also several links to other caregiver organizations that provide support and relief.
Home Instead Senior Care, which has 27 offices in Canada and the United States, initiated the website after a study in which 24,000 family caregivers were surveyed. Fifty-one per cent of respondents said their aging relative was resistant to care. “This is a big problem for family caregivers,” said Greg Bechard, owner of Home Instead Senior Care in Mississauga. “They worry about the safety of a senior loved one who might be forgetting food on the stove or neglecting to take their medications.”
Bechard said many seniors often object to help, whether it’s from a family caregiver or a professional. For caregivers who spend more than 30 hours/week on helping a senior, this is the equivalent of having a second full-time job. And it can be particularly stressful if the senior resists getting help, Bechard said.
“If seniors admit they need help, they think their independence is in question,” said Bechard. “They worry about losing control of their affairs. They are trying to maintain dignity, and unless they feel they can trust someone, they may resist change. This is all about fearing that the life they have known is being taken away from them.”
Credit Valley Seniors Club Summer BBQ & Garden Party
The temperature was hot and the sunshine was spectacular for a mid-week BBQ on Wednesday, July 21st, as Chartwell Classic Robert Speck hosted the Credit Valley Seniors Club for a summer BBQ and garden party.
The 4-hour event had an Elvis impersonator, a magician, games, raffles and live music for all to enjoy. Lunch was served just after 12 noon, and on the menu were hamburgers, hot dogs, summer salads and fruit punch. Over 150 seniors from the Credit Valley Seniors Club attended the event as well as many residents from the home.
Everyone sure did enjoy the afternoon BBQ! Chartwell Classic Robert Speck would like to thank sponsors Susan Lancaster and team from Royal LePage, Donna Wood from Homewell Cares, Jeremy Grant from Home Instead Senior Care and Vivian Konney from Widowed.ca for all their time and effort. Chartwell Classic Robert Speck is located in Central Mississauga at 100 Robert Speck.
Mississauga expert hosts presentation on household clutter and the risks to seniors’ health and safety
Home Instead Senior Care welcomed seniors and family caregivers to a presentation on Household Clutter recently. Guests came out to the Mississauga Central Library for the event, which included a presentation by Home Instead Senior Care as well as Motion Specialties. Guests enjoyed refreshments while learning about clutter and how to manage it – clutter can even be a safety hazard if not managed properly! The event was also the launch of Home Instead Senior Care’s public awareness campaign to educate families about clutter and household hazards.
The 2009 economic recession shook America to its core. People in the United States lost their jobs and valuable savings from their retirement savings plans. Studies show that Canadians are retiring earlier in life, because of less demand in the workforce, and less physically challenging jobs. In a recent study, due to the downturn, most people in the United States will now retire at the age of 70, instead of 65.
It is suggested that the new age of retirement be changed to 70, because this will slow down our OAD (old age dependency rate) by approximately 45 percent. As an incentive, Canadian pension plans will increase from 30-42 percent for those who choose to retire at the age of 70 instead of 65.
Since people are living longer, it is necessary to plan retirement savings as soon as possible, so that you have enough income to survive comfortably when not working.
Below is a checklist to follow for a comfortable retirement:
1. The average individual needs at least 75-85 percent of their pre-retirement income to retire.
2. Track expenses today, and forecast what you will need on a daily basis in retirement. Transfer your RRSP to an RRIF
3. Old Age Security and Canadian Pension Plans can be a danger for high-income seniors. Convert taxable income into capital gains that will earn money in the future.
Many retired seniors are looking for ways to stay active and get involved in the community. One of the ways this can be done is by volunteering at a local food bank. This will allow seniors to interact with other members of the community and do a great deed. There are many people who go hungry each day. By spending time at the food bank, seniors can help fight hunger, meet new friends and give something back to the community. Below are some of the great benefits for seniors.
1. Remaining active, both socially and physically is one way for seniors to maintain their health. Retired seniors often have extra time, and donating this time to provide a service for less privileged people is a great thing.
2. Food banks will have food drives aro9und every holiday. This is a great way to go out and meet new people. Collecting the food for the food bank provides a social outlet. In addition, seniors will be a part of a great cause.
3. Helping needy families can be very rewarding. Seniors will light up when a child comes into the food bank and knows that they have something to eat later that night. Most seniors will find their time volunteering will be very rewarding.
When seniors make the decision to relocate and find a new home, they may face some challenges. These seniors, regardless of their age, must be prepared for what will be involved. A move can be a serious change and can have many effects on seniors, including increased stress levels. The following list provides some tips on how to prepare for finding a new home.
1. If the senior needs assistance with things, such as lawn care, shoveling and maintenance, they should look into moving to a community for those over 55. Many times, these communities will offer services that can be a great help.
2. Seniors should do research on the area they are moving to. Make sure that there is a low crime rate and that there are other seniors in the area.
3. Choose a home that will meet your needs. If the goal is to downsize, make sure that you will still be able to bring what you need. Downsizing is one way to reduce a lot of the workload involved with owning a home. It also makes it easier for seniors to move around the home and stay organized.
4. If seniors may require some assistance with daily tasks, such as cleaning, shopping and laundry, it may be beneficial to move close to a friend or family member.
Planning for any outpatient care can be very stressful for seniors. This is especially true for those who need assistance at home. After having an outpatient procedure, some seniors may need some additional help while healing. Mississauga Home Instead Senior Care’s CAREGivers can be very beneficial for seniors in this situation. The following list contains some of the services that are offered.
1. The program can assist patients getting to and from follow-up appointments.
2. Clients can be accompanied to all different kinds of medical appointments. This can even include dialysis and chemotherapy treatments.
3. CAREGivers can help reduce stress and anxiety that many seniors experience before, during and after an outpatient procedure.
4. CAREGivers are specially trained to help clients with daily needs. This can include getting dressed, bathed and preparing meals. They will also help the patient follow any instructions that have been given by a doctor.
5. Many seniors who have had a procedure may be confused and tired. In some cases, they may not remember when to take their medications. This is another thing that CAREGivers can help with when the senior returns home.
6. The CAREGiver can even go to the pharmacy to retrieve any necessary prescriptions that are needed by the patient.
