To help prevent getting the flu:
■Make sure your loved one gets a flu vaccination: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the best time to get a flu vaccination is from October through November. (Each year, a new flu shot is needed because the predominant flu viruses can change each year.) In particular, seniors (over 65) and residents of nursing homes or assisted living centers should get a flu vaccine. There even is a vaccine specifically designed for people 65 or older this year for better flu protection.
■Make sure they wash their hands often so that colds and flu aren’t passed through coughing, sneezing, and areas that have been contaminated. Liquid soap is a better product for germ control rather than bar soap or hand sanitizer.
■Limit exposure to infected people: If you have family or friends that have been ill, try to keep them away from your senior loved ones.
■Advise them to keep up with proactive self-care such as eating well, exercising, and getting enough sleep (to keep their immune system healthy).
■Open windows, when weather permits (its even worth bundling up a bit), to circulate fresh air.
If your loved one has already contracted the flu, here are some additional tips we recommend:

■Limit exposing other people as much as possible, to reduce spreading the virus.
■Have lots of tissues handy for sneezing or coughing to avoid spreading germs through hands. Throw tissues away immediately, then wash hands.
■Take care of their bodies: be sure they stay hydrated and get plenty of rest.
■Be careful with medications: Read medicine labels carefully, check with their doctor before administering a new cough /cold medicine (and check again, if any conditions have changed since the last time they took them), and check side effects.
■Frequently clean surfaces such as door knobs, counters and hand rails. Avoid cloth towels where germs may reside, and instead use paper.
■Monitor symptoms: Complications can land seniors in the hospital, so make sure that symptoms do not worsen (high fever, shortness of breath, chest pain). If they do, contact their doctor.
Remember that prevention is the best method, so do your best to help protect your parent or loved one from the flu!

1. Physical Activity: Whether someone is mobile or not, there are many different ways to exercise. It could be a simple walk; maybe tossing a light rubber ball; whatever the activity, the senior you care for can increase their energy. My sister, who leads activities at a senior home, explains how they pantomime actions as a way to move and stretch. For example, “We’re going to the grocery store…we’re going to buckle our seatbelt..reach up and buckle it…we’re going to drive our car…first make a left turn, now a right…we’re going to reach up onto the shelf to get a box…” Simple and brilliant!
2. Diet/Vitamins: Proper nutrition is extremely important for a senior’s well being (see Changing Needs in Nutrition blog). While all vitamins are essential, “the B-complex vitamins are essential to mental and emotional well-being” (http://depression.about.com/cs/diet/a/vitamin.htm). Make sure that your loved one is taking a daily vitamin specifically made for seniors (they are formulated to over-compensate for some vitamins that tend to be low in seniors).
3. Feed the Soul: Give your loved one opportunities to feed their emotional needs. Take them to church or activities, bring them to social or family gatherings, and/or give them access to books, their hobbies, etc. if at all possible.

There is no guarantee that your loved one will have a good attitude, because it really has to come from the inside. However, if you have enabled them to do these three things, you’ve really given them a great shot at enjoying their senior years.

If you are doing all you can and your loved one does not have a positive mental attitude, it’s possible that they are depressed and may benefit from either seeing a psychologist/therapist or being prescribed temporary or long-term medication for depression and/or anxiety.

If you want to become more educated on what your parent or loved one is experiencing, we offer free family/community education.

• Problems chewing
• Upset stomach
• Difficulty shopping or cooking
• Low appetite (can be as a result of decreased senses and/or less activity)
• Financial problems – affording food

When you are taking care of your parent, they luckily have you to assist with shopping and meal preparation. However, it’s important to realize that it probably isn’t enough to just feed them what you make for your family. You may need to try different foods that will accommodate their unique needs (e.g., softer, easier on their stomach, and since they typically consume less calories, “nutrient-dense”). Some food recommendations for seniors are:

• Fiber from vegetables, fruits, grain products, cereals, seeds, legumes and nuts are all important to maintain normal bowel function and lower the risk of chronic diseases. Good sources are whole fruits rather than juices, and colorful fruits like berries or melons are great! Good carbs, such as whole grains (over processed white flour) have higher fiber counts. Look for “whole” in the ingredient list for pastas, breads, and cereals.
• Vitamins are important for many reasons including minimizing bone loss (osteoperosis), lowering risks of fractures, slowing macular degeneration, reducing risk of Alzheimer’s, wound healing, and slowing memory loss and dementia. To improve absorption of iron, include vitamin C-rich fruits and vegetables with protein (e.g., a baked potato with roast beef, vegetables with fish, or fruit with chicken). Calcium can be consumed through dairy (milk, yogurt, cheese, etc.; cream cheese and butter do not retain their calcium!) or non-dairy sources (tofu, broccoli, almonds, and kale). Foods with vitamin E include whole grains, peanuts, nuts, vegetable oils, and seeds. Proteins (see below) are rich in vitamin B12.
• Protein needs are not very different as we age, but seniors will want to look for leaner, lower cholesterol, lower salt options. They also should vary their sources with more fish beans, nuts, eggs, milk, cheese, and seeds.
• Water is an often overlooked nutrient, but adequte water intake reduces stress on kidney function, flushes toxins and eases constipation. The ability to detect thirst declines as we age, so it is important that seniors don’t wait until they are thirsty to drink water. Seniors can drink plenty of water, juice, milk, and coffee or tea to stay hydrated, but can also get water through foods like melons, cucumbers, onions, apples, grapes or soup.
• Fats should be reduced as we get older, so focusing on good fats such as olive or sunflower oil, avocados, salmon, walnuts, or seeds (such as flaxseed) are great options.

Tip: Seniors often tend to want to eat the same food over and over, but variety of colors and textures are often the best way to get a variety of foods and nutrition.

You want to make sure your parent has the best chance at a healthy, energetic lifes, so take the time to grab those extra items at the grocery store to make sure they receive appropriate nutrition for seniors.

Our caregivers can make sure that your loved one has all of the nutrition they are needing. Get started with the Mom’s Best Friend senior caregiver placement process.

I was tickled by both events and the opposite reactions to the availability of technology for seniors. One client joined a streamline of family communication through email. The other client could not grasp how spending time composing an email on her end would save her very busy daughter time on the back end.

If you think about it, there have been three major communication changes in the last few years:

• Smart phones and the increased usage of texting
• Email (granted, this has been around a lot longer than a few years!)
• Social Media Sites

All three of these areas have made hand written notes, sending cards and long land line conversations nearly obsolete. One of our clients fussed to me the other day that her children sent birthday texts rather than sending their siblings cards. I didn’t even mention to her the possibility of wishing someone Happy Birthday via Facebook!

So I raise the question, at what point do you encourage a loved one to engage in new communication technology? If they are interested, be sure to educate them as you would a child or pre-teen who begins using the internet. Make sure they are aware of the risks such as:

• Misuse of personal information: Warn them about providing this without being sure the information won’t be abused.
• Internet Scams/Fraud: Predators focus a great deal on the elderly because they are so trusting and vulnerable. Be sure they are careful and don’t provide any financial information!
• Warnings/Scare Emails: Many emails are forwarded by people we know to tell us of some scary new crime, or some terrible incident that someone they knew just had happen to them. It can make your loved one fearful or anxious when there is no merit to the claim. Snopes.com is a great site to use to simply type in a couple of the words from the email, and search to see if there is any legitimacy.

Despite our comfort and convenience levels, be sensitive to your loved one’s time frame to becoming more technologically savvy. They may not act as quickly as you would like, but they will most likely catch on eventually. After all, they didn’t use ziplock baggies 60 years ago and now we can’t imagine living without them!

–Claire Maestri, Mom’s Best Friend Director of Senior Care, Dallas/Ft. Worth

Technology for senior is just one area where our caregivers can provide assistance. If you are debating whether or not you need senior help, we can perform an assessment to help you determine your needs.

Did you make the mistake of giving your mom or dad a bell or buzzer? Are you being woken up throughout the night, and you feel like you’re going a little bit insane? You do know that sleep deprivation is used as a form of torture, right?!

There is true evidence that if you are “on call” for 24 or more hours, both caregiver safety and patient safety can be compromised. According to WebMD, “Sleep-deprived people who are tested by using a driving simulator or by performing a hand-eye coordination task perform as badly as or worse than those who are intoxicated.”

This means that your risk of a motor vehicle crash increases, and so do your chances of make a medical error (e.g., they could give multiple doses of medication or forget medication altogether). Additionally, not enough sleep can cause depression and a weakening of your immune system. Further, you are going to have a terrible time performing work or other duties during the day.

There isn’t an easy solution to your loved one’s restless sleep pattern. As people age, sleep tends to be shallower and seniors wake more often. Older people often experience advanced sleep phase syndrome, where they are unable to stay awake during normal waking periods and unable to sleep consistently through normal sleeping periods. If you are their sole caregiver, you won’t be able to keep this up on a regular basis because you will need your sleep!

Please note that not all people with Alzheimer’s will display all of the signs, symptoms, or behaviors listed in the series and each person with Alzheimer’s may display different signs and symptoms than another person at different times of the progression.

Part 1: Hypothalamus (Hippocampus)
Alzheimer’s begins in the part of the brain that is called the Hypothalamus. (Hippocampus) This part of our brain contains our short-term memory center. This is generally the first part of the brain to be affected by Alzheimer’s. However the disease is not localized here. It will travel to all parts of the brain. That is what makes Alzheimer’s disease different from other diseases that involve dementia (such as Parkinson’s, vascular dementia, Huntington’s, Picks, and Lewy Body).

Information has to travel through our Hypothalamus before it can reach the part of our brain where information is stored, which is called the Cerebral Cortex . It is responsible for long-term memories and conscious thought. The Cerebral Cortex is one of the last parts of the brain to be affected by Alzheimer’s disease.

Alzheimer’s disease, over time, causes new information to no longer be able to pass through the Hypothalamus. You can think of it as if a “Dam” is being built in that part of the brain. Therefore, the person can no longer tell you the conversations they just had with someone, or tell you what they had for lunch, or if they took their medicines. They lose the ability to tell you what happened moments before in time, or what happened last week, two weeks ago, etc.

The challenge for families is that in the beginning stage of the disease, sometimes new information is able to travel through the brain without any problem, and your loved one can recall the information later. Then without warning the dam in the brain closes and new information stops before reaching the cerebral cortex. It is common for caregivers to feel or think that the person “is doing things on purpose” or they have “selective memory”. In fact, it is selective memory, but the person cannot control what is selected to recall and what not to remember. It is as if Alzheimer’s is opening and closing the gates to the dam in the brain and the person has no power to reverse the effects.

An important thing to remember is that it is absolutely not the case that “if the person would just try harder they could remember what they were told”. It truly is out of their control.

What does this mean for someone who has Alzheimer’s? As stated before, all new information can no longer travel through the Hypothalamus, so short term memory does not exist. This forces the person to function in their long-term memories. They can tell you what happened 10, 15, 20, even 50 years ago, but they cannot tell you what they did yesterday, or even 5 minutes ago. However, the longer they have the disease, more and more of the cerebral cortex will be affected. This results in the person seeming to go “backwards” in time.

Part 2 will focus on what happens when Alzheimer’s disease begins to affect the person Frontal Lobes of the brain. It is our frontal lobe function that truly make it possible for us to live independently.

–Guest Blogger: Jennifer Scott, Mom’s Best Friend Austin Director of Senior Care, has presented numerous speaking and educational presentations about Alzheimer’s disease and how to care for those suffering with dementia. Ms. Scott is on the faculty of the Center for Health Services Education and Research, where she teachs the upper level division courses in Assisted Living Management and Alzheimer’s and related dementia care. She is also a guest lecturer for the University of Texas Pharmacy School, and on the speakers bureau of the Alzheimer’s Association, Star Chapter.

1. Helping with a Daily Activity: Music is an effective distraction that can be used when the person is requested to complete a task they don’t understand or typically refuse, such as taking a bath. If the caregiver plays music in the background and participates in making the music a fun activity by singing or clapping during the task, the person focuses on the music instead of the focusing on the task they do not find desirable.
2. Setting the Mood: Use music to set the mood of the day or the mood of the task such as calm, soothing, music at night just before bed, and more stimulating music in the afternoon. Meal times can be very quiet when the person is no longer initiating conversations or if they have lost the ability to use words to communicate. Music in the background can change the mood of the meal to a joyous one, and music can stimulate long term memories, such as hymns and music from their generational era.
3. Unwinding for Caregivers: The caregiver can also use music as a source of relaxation and meditation. It is important for dementia care providers to continue to take care of themselves and to pay attention to their own needs during the difficult times of caregiving. Use music at night after the person they are caring for goes to bed. Spend 15 to 30 minutes just before going to bed to listen to soothing music. This can be “me time”. Listen with your eyes closed and try to only focus on the music. Pay attention to your breathing during this time. Complete relaxation for 15 to 30 minutes per day before going to sleep will result in more restful sleep and it is more likely that the caregiver will wake up rejuvenated the next day.

Music therapy is good for the soul of all, but particularly in regards to dementia care!

–Guest Blogger: Jennifer Scott, Mom’s Best Friend Austin Director of Senior Care

1. Develop a Relationship. It is important to know your loved one. When you have developed a kinship and empathy, acceptance and forgiveness happen much faster. You can understand the other person’s perspective easier. Understand your loved one’s limitations, fears, emotions, and needs.
2. Appreciate Value. You must value your loved one for who they are today. Their past accomplishments are to be commended, but they have a lot to offer today. Age merely permits new areas of growth, and retirement develops new areas of interest.
3. Give Purpose. We all need a purpose to continue our will to live. Our objectives were different when we were children than they were as we become adults. This is no different as we become seniors. In our later years, our goals should be understood and supported as we will most likely need more assistance to achieve them.

Joe applies this in his day-to-day care for seniors. I challenge you to apply it as you provide senior care for your loved one.

Think you might need help with your parents? Schedule a Home Help Assessment with Mom’s Best Friend Senior Care to make an educated decision.

Gourmet Ice Cream of the Month Club   http://www.findgift.com/gift-ideas/pid-98784/

Jigsaw Puzzle of your current address or home town  http://www.nytstore.com/Hometown-Map-Jigsaw-Puzzle_p_81.html?gclid=CIKg58_e7qUCFUeW7QodSmR8nA

Computerless Email Printer http://www.nytstore.com/Hometown-Map-Jigsaw-Puzzle_p_81.html?gclid=CIKg58_e7qUCFUeW7QodSmR8nA

Let me know what else you have in mind!

I also want to thank you all for a successful first year in blogging.  I hope that you have found the information informative and entertaining.

I found this article by Susan O’Brien and really liked the suggestions.  Please adopt, adapt and utilize her suggestions during this Holiday Season.  Remember that patience may be the best gift you can give an aged loved one.

10 Tips to Help Seniors Enjoy the Holidays

Ensure happier holidays for seniors with special needs or health issues

By Sharon O’Brien, About.com Guide

For most of us, the holidays are a wonderful time to share the joys of family life and friendship. But for many older adults the holidays can be highly stressful, confusing, or even depressing if their mental, physical and emotional needs are not taken into account.

If you have older friends and family members with underlying health issues, you can help them enjoy the holiday season more by following these simple tips, based on advice from specialists in senior medicine at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) School of Medicine:

1. Stroll down memory lane. Holidays provoke memories, which can be especially powerful in the later years of life. “Leading authorities have observed that memory and ‘life review’ are important parts of the aging process,” says Barry Lebowitz, Ph.D., deputy director of UCSD’s Stein Institute for Research on Aging. “Older people whose memories are impaired may have difficulty remembering recent events, but they are often able to share stories and observations from the past. These shared memories are important for the young as well—children enjoy hearing about how it was ‘when your parents were your age…’.” He suggests using picture albums, family videos and music, even theme songs from old radio or TV programs, to help stimulate memories and encourage older seniors to share their stories and experiences.
2. Plan ahead. If older family members tire easily or are vulnerable to over-stimulation, limit the number of activities they are involved in or the length of time they are included. The noise and confusion of a large family gathering can lead to irritability or exhaustion, so schedule time for a nap, if necessary, and consider designating a “quiet room” where an older person can take a break. “Assign someone to be the day’s companion to the older person, to make sure the individual is comfortable,” says Daniel Sewell, M.D., director of the Senior Behavior Health Unit at the UCSD Medical Center, who adds that these guidelines work well for young children as well as adults with mental, emotional and physical health issues.
3. Eliminate obstacles. If a holiday get-together is held in the home of an older person with memory impairment or behavioral problems, don’t rearrange the furniture. This could be a source of confusion and anxiety. If the gathering is in a place unfamiliar to an older person, remove slippery throw rugs and other items that could present barriers to someone with balance problems or who has difficulty walking.
4. Avoid embarrassing moments. Try to avoid making comments that could inadvertently embarrass an older friend or family member who may be experiencing short-term memory problems. If an older person forgets a recent conversation, for example, don’t make it worse by saying, “Don’t you remember?”
5. Create new memories. In addition to memories, seniors need new things to anticipate. Add something new to the holiday celebration, or volunteer for your family to help others. Enjoy activities that are free, such as taking a drive to look at holiday decorations, or window-shopping at the mall or along a festive downtown street.
6. Be inclusive. Involve everyone in holiday meal preparation, breaking down tasks to include the youngest and oldest family members. “Older adults with physical limitations can still be included in kitchen activities by asking them to do a simple, helpful task, like greasing cooking pans, peeling vegetables, folding napkins or arranging flowers,” Sewell says.
7. Reach out. Social connectedness is especially important at holiday times. “Reaching out to older relatives and friends who are alone is something all of us should do,” Lebowitz says. “Loneliness is a difficult emotion for anyone. Recent research with older people has documented that loneliness is associated with major depression and with suicidal thoughts and impulses.”
8. Beat the blues. “Holiday blues” are feelings of profound sadness that can be provoked by all the activities of the holiday season. Seasonal blues can have a particular impact in the lives of older people, according to Lebowitz. “In some people, the ‘holiday blues’ represent the exacerbation of an ongoing depressive illness,” he says. “Depression is a dangerous and life-threatening illness in older people. Tragically, suicide rates increase with age, specifically for older men. Depression is not a normal part of aging and should never be ignored or written off.”
9. Keep on the sunny side. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) or winter depression is an illness that can be provoked by reductions in sunlight during the short days of winter. It is important for people confined indoors, especially those at risk for winter depression, to make time for activities that will increase exposure to daylight, according to Lebowitz.

10.  Monitor medications and alcohol. If you have senior family members, be sure to help them adhere to their regular schedule of medications during the frenzy of the holidays. Also, pay attention to their alcohol consumption during holiday parties and family gatherings. According to Sewell, alcohol can provoke inappropriate behavior or interfere with medications.

“Older family members with special needs can get lost in the shuffle and chaos of happy family gatherings,” Sewell says. “So, with all the hustle and bustle of the season, just remember to be sensitive and loving. And plan ahead.”