Here’s hoping you all will heed the warning. Caregivers need to also protect themselves so that they do not spread the flue to their senior loved ones.

http://www.consumerfinance.gov/older-americans/additional-resources/

• Finger foods are very helpful.  As your loved one is walking and pacing in the house give them chicken fingers, carrot sticks, apple slices with peanut butter. Crackers and cream cheese, and small grape tomatoes. Obviously not at the same time??
• Use a Sippy cup with juices for hydration.
• Try to get them to eat with another person who can redirect them when they forget what they are doing. Along with the memory problems comes the inability to focus on the task.
• You may add dry milk to most foods to increase calories.  Use butter, rich breads, scrambled eggs with cheeses and ,mini-burgers with extra eggs and bread crumbs.  Actually think of all the foods that we try to decrease calories and just add to them.  Chocolate milk is good.
• Routine is important and should be maintained when meal planning. Keep your meals to at least 5 each day.

Do try some of these foods and let me know if they are helpful to increase your loved ones’ appetite. Do remember to weigh weekly.

Check back for more recommendations weekly.

For instance:

Do you remember in the fall when your grandmother canned many treats for the winter? Have you taken the time to share these thoughts with your adult children or grandchildren? Just thinking of canning gives me the picture of my grandmother making her favorite recipes, standing hours over the hot stove and letting me watch and learn.  When my husband and I were first married we canned many fruits and vegetables each fall for the winter.  Each time we opened a jar we again thought of our grandmother and talked about her.

This “active reminiscence” is vital in order to pass on to the next generation the wonder of their rich heritage.  We need to do more than remember the past with fondness; we need to act on cherished memories by repeating to our children and grandchildren the stories and the activities learned from our parents and grandparents. I call it “Reminiscing into the Future.”

Please take a moment  to send me a memory from your past that I may share with my readers, which will stimulate all of us to remember the season and the seniors that passed through our lives.  It’s a great way to honor the contributions made to our personal histories, and to remind ourselves how important it is to Reminisce Into the Future!

What groups have the highest risk for the flu?

• People with Asthma
• People with Diabetes
• People age 65 and older
• Pregnant women
• Parents
• School and Childcare Providers
• People who work in business and office spaces
• Travelers
• Health Care Workers

This blog will continue to give helpful hints on how to stay well during flu season, so keep looking for wellness information.

These are questions we should ask ourselves as we begin to determine how we are going to help our senior loved ones. As we make our occassional visit and spend the time with our loved ones are there ways that we can determine if they are lonely.

Yes, there are many symptoms of loneliness. Some of these are:

1. You notice that your loved one has very little to say. It is hard for them to maintain conversation with you.
2. You notice that they are not eating as well. Their clothing looks big on them.
3. You notice that they do not mention their friends. As you age your friendships shrink for many reasons: death, illness, inablity to visit, and your loved one’s inability to reach out to their neighbors etc.
4. You notice that they are showing signs of withdrawal and depression. They complain of boredom and can tell you that you shouldn’t go out of your way to visit them. This may demonstrate their growing sense of worthlessness.
5. You notice they do not keep up with the news or any current events.

It may be difficult to understand how companionship can alleviate many of these issues which can cause much pain for your family member. Companionship can be a life-saver. It provides stimulation, conversation, sociability, happiness and inner peace.  It helps your loved one to become involved beyond oneself. It lifts the mood, helping others, holding good thoughts and choosing to be happy. One does not need constant company, but well planned company and the right person is necessary. Needless to say finding the right companionship services require a interview visit, and well chosen companions whose personalities and interests have been very carefully and sensitively matched to the client.

If you have found yourself in this predictament please feel free to call Ivory House Health Services for a free consultation to explore your choices. At any age quality of life is important.

There are SOLUTIONS to these troublesome tasks. The caregiver should view the task as a new event and work on providing structure and the proper setting conducive to the activity. Boosting the person’s concentration and cooperation is the first step. Making sure that the environment has good lighting, a comfortable temperature, PRIVACY, AND NO INTERRUPTIONS IS MOST IMPORTANT.

Establishing a ROUTINE to do the tasks daily and at the same time is important. Continuing past and familiar activities is comforting.  For instance if the individual is accustomed to going out to   the hairdresser etc. then try to continue that activity. Within the home environment you could have the hairdresser or barber make the visit if going out is to stressful.

Remember that memory impairment makes multi-tasking impossible. Communicating instructions should be simple, identifying one step at a time, in a quiet and friendly manner.  Smiling and using a calm voice is most desirable.

If the grooming tools begin to be difficult to manage making adjustments by using an electric razor or making the toothbrush handle easier to grip will reduce the individual’s frustration.. Keep the tools in good working condition.  Be sure to clean the razor, remove hair from brushes and rinse the toothbrush.

Encourage the individual to do the tasks that he or/ she still have the ability to accomplish.  Please don’t lose patience. For instance, you may have to do part of the task and cue the person to finish the task. You may use visual and or verbal cues to make the activity easier. Maintaining WHAT THE INDIVIDUAL CAN DO IS VERY IMPORTANT TO SUSTAINING HIS OR/HER STRENGTHS AND CONFIDENCE.

Always be realistic with what you expect the person to do.  You may find that over time he or/ she may not continue doing the activity at all. Do not be forceful but always be creative, gentle and kind.  Remember not being able to recall your past nor control your future can be quite alarming.

As performing the tasks begin to fail introduce some new activity that does not require steps nor performance. For example let the individual use cologne or perfume, paint their nails or use dry shampoo. Life and living one’s life needs to be less stressful and calmer. Emotional support sprinkled with laughter and joy goes a long way in making life enjoyable. Eating ice cream instead of sour grapes will allow the individual to feel your concern and caring. Remember life is best lived within loving relationships and not disappointments. Even though the individual cannot perform the task within your timetable he or/she  still has 24 hours in which to get his grooming done. DON’T RUSH.

1. It is best to wash your hands with soap and warm water for20 seconds.
2. When water is not available use alcohol-based products (sanitizers).
3. Wash hands before preparing or eating food and after going to the bathroom.
4. Keeping your hands clean helps you avoid getting sick.
5. At the height of the FLU SEASON avoid large crowds.
6. If you feel that you have contracted the flu be sure to visit your primary doctor immediately.
7. Do not wait till the flu has hit your community. It takes several weeks to establish immunity.

Also don’t forget:

• COVER YOUR COUGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
• COVER YOUR NOSE WITH A TISSUE WHEN YOU SNEEZE.
• Do not rub your eyes with your fingers.  That introduces germs through the eyes.
• Internet information is available at www.cdc.gov
• PUT YOUR USED TISSUE IN THE WASTE BASKET

Ivory House Health Services are Geriatric Care Managers and Certified Nursing Assistants working together to allow seniors to live more safely in the comfort of their own homes. If not possible to remain at home, our staff is knowledgeable about the many options for varied assisted living facilities that are available in the Baltimore area.  For more information about our Care for the Elderly and In Home Care in Maryland you can contact Ivory House Health Services or call 1-800-704-3536.

Sometimes I get stuck.  It’s been one of those times.

I was asked by Stephen some time ago to write this column on Relationships@Work™ to share ideas and inspiration for Home Health and Hospice leaders.  Actually, it was months ago! I said ‘yes’ but I’m just acting on it today. I’ve been full of excuses, distracted by other projects, and just plain ole’ procrastinating.  Guilty!

I was reviewing notes in an old journal this morning and ran across the ‘Leap’ statement above. It’s a favorite saying of my colleague, Les Brown.  It stopped me cold and caused me to look in the mirror of my heart!  I had to admit I’d been stuck in a waiting mode on this project…waiting for the ideas to come, waiting for the right time to plant myself at the computer and start talking to you. . . waiting for the net to appear.  I lacked the faith to just begin, to put my fingers to the keyboard, to take a leap and trust that the net would indeed appear.

Isn’t that the key to getting things done and making things happen? Begin.  If we wait till we are in the mood, we could and often times do, wait for a long time.

If you are challenged by procrastination, you are not alone. It plagues all of us. It’s a nemesis for many of us. Even 2000 years ago, Paul wrote a letter to the Romans and said ‘what I don’t understand about myself is that I know what to do, but I don’t do it.  I know what not to do, but I do it anyway.’

If you find yourself avoiding an associate rather than confronting her with a discipline problem, or watching TV instead of exercising, or cleaning files when you need to be writing that report, then you, too, have fallen in the habit of procrastinating.

And it is a habit.

Procrastination breeds procrastination.  Remember in physics class you learned that “a body at rest tends to remain at rest?” Well, it’s true, isn’t it?  Once you begin a task, you’re more likely to continue.  It takes more energy to start something moving that it does to begin it.

OK, so if it’s so logical, then why can’t we do the things we ‘should’ be doing?

Some causes of procrastination seem to be:

- The desire to avoid unpleasant tasks. This actually causes stress because the task still needs to be done. Then guilt shows up and worsens the problem.

- The project is so overwhelming we don’t know where to begin.  So, we don’t.

- Worry and fear.  ‘I’m not good enough.  They won’t like it. Something will go wrong.’

Unfortunately, there’s a price to pay for procrastinating.  It affects people around us, too.  We can get cranky, sarcastic and judgmental and this can hurt our team and their productivity.  There can also be a loss of clients and dollars. We substitute paper work for making visits to physicians and discharge planners.

Want to break the Procrastination Habit?  Here are a few tips to help you:

* Set a deadline for completing the task. Put it on your calendar.  Tell someone so you are accountable.

* Break the project down in smaller pieces.  (Unless you are one of those who wants to start and complete it in one sitting. A friend of ours goes off to a hotel for 4 weeks to write a whole book).

* Do the unpleasant parts first. The rest will flow easier.

* Face your fears.  The best way to overcome fear is to do the thing you fear.  Ask yourself what the worst possible outcome could be.  Then have a solution ready. (That physician won’t see you this week?  Ok, call another one.)

* Promise yourself a reward when the task is completed and make sure you deliver on the promise.

* Don’t wait till you are ‘in the mood.’  Inspiration is 90 % perspiration.  Start moving and the mood will follow.  I promise!

Step Up!

* The one thing I’ve been putting off is ____________________

* The one action step I will take to start this project is ________________

* I will reward myself with ____________________ when I’ve completed it.

Have faith that the net will appear.  Take the leap today!

It’s what leaders do.

Reprinted from www.leadinghomecare.com

How understandable then, that we cling to this reality and symbol of freedom for as long as possible, even beyond prudent judgment and safety to ourselves and to others.

Take Heart.
Awareness of age-related changes and compensation for such changes can keep your driving safer and longer and can minimize the risk to others on the road.

First, let’s confess that accidents on the road do increase with age.  From ages 60 to 70, accidents increase even as more elderly drivers are on the road.  This statistic climbs higher after the age of 75 according to the American Geriatric Society.  A National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) publication reported that in 1997, older people made up 9 percent of the resident population but accounted for 14 percent of all traffic fatalities and 17 percent of all pedestrian fatalities. NHTSA reported further that on the basis of estimated annual travel, the fatality rate for drivers 85 and over is nine times as high as the rate for drivers 25 through 69 years old. Just the facts, ma’am. A piece of good news: older drivers involved in fatal crashes and fatally injured older pedestrians claimed the lowest proportion of intoxication–defined as a blood alcohol concentration of 0.10 grams per deciliter or higher.

Yes, we know that the functions essential to safe driving decline with age, such as visual acuity, hearing, and most importantly, reaction time.  Yet this does not mean that every senior citizen driver should hand in the keys.

Keep in mind that both medical conditions and the numbers of medications taken can increase the risks for accidents for the senior driver.  Understanding how age-related changes affect driving abilities will help seniors remain safe on the road.  And of course, please refrain from using alcohol prior to taking the wheel.

The following strategies can help seniors not only cope with the aging challenges of driving but also can provide increased levels of confidence.

1. Be aware of your own physical limitations. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Today, adjustments to vehicles often overcome age-related handicaps.
2. Get annual screenings for vision and hearing. Wearing corrective devices will increase individual safety and protect the safety of others on the roadways.
3. Pay attention to other risks, such as snow storms, fog, ice and threatening weather conditions, especially at night or for travel along unfamiliar roads. Other risks to concentration include eating, drinking  and use of a cell phone. Seniors need to focus their full attention on the road.
4. Always drive the posted speed limit.  Driving too fast or too slow is disruptive to traffic and dangerous.
5. Take a refresher driver safety class.  Know the rules of the road, even if this means seemingly tedious review and memorization.

Following these simple steps can go a long way in making elderly driving much safer for everyone on the road and in keeping senior citizens behind the wheel to enjoy and hold onto that ever precious independent living.