Flu season is here, and while some seniors have let their guard down against the swine flu due to knowledge that they’re not in the greatest risk group, people 65 and older still need to make sure they safeguard themselves against H1N1. Seniors with existing health issues in particular are at greater risk for developing complications as a result of the illness which can have devastating results.

Those who should be especially aware of potential H1N1 warning signs include those seniors who have health conditions like blood disorders, cancer, chronic lung disease, diabetes, heart disease, kidney disorders, liver disorders, as well as neurological and neuromuscular disorders that can cause weakened immune systems.  Warning signs that all seniors should be on the look out for are outlined below, and those who have these symptoms should immediately seek a doctor’s attention:

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath

• Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen

• Sudden dizziness

• Confusion

• Severe or persistent vomiting

There’s no way to prevent H1N1 indefinitely, but all seniors should take the following steps to help safeguard themselves from the virus:

• Wash hands often or use alcohol based hand sanitizers that don’t require water

• Get plenty of rest to increase the immune system; ensure you get enough sleep on a nightly basis

• If recovering from surgery or another illness, focus on recovery. Hire a professional care agency or talk to a family member to step in to help out around the home so you can decrease your stress and get plenty of rest

Home Health in Greater Phoenix & Home Health in Central Phoenix helps elders and seniors in Phoenix remain at home safely and independently. Call us today at 623.583.5868, 602.265.8228 or 480.991.3959.

Most seniors live on a fixed income in older adulthood, and with little money coming in, and lots going out towards living and health care expenses, it’s especially important to be aware of every cent that’s spent and learn how to stretch every dollar further. Here are 10 tips for budgeting on a fixed income for seniors!

1. Talk to a professional – talking to a financial planner, either by using a service or speaking with one provided by a local branch of your bank can help you make sure you plan to meet your financial goals and needs. For example, they can help you get on track saving for future medical or care needs.

2. Don’t be afraid to ask for help – if you’re struggling to cover your basic needs then your local Area Agency on Aging can connect you with resources that can help

3. Find ways to reduce utility costs – keep blinds down and windows and doors closed to preserve optimal temperatures for your house

4. Walk, don’t drive – taking a car or public transportation can be more costly, so walk when possible and benefit your health and your wallet

5. Never make fast financial decisions – always ask for a second opinion before making decisions

6. Grow your own produce – plant a garden in your yard, a family member’s garden, or in a community plot to grow your own produce and cut down on food costs

7. Buy healthy items – convenient, pre-prepared items might be fast and easy, but they are less healthy and often  more expensive

8. Buy generic – generic brands are less expensive, purchase them for foods and for your medications

9. Carpool – it’s more fun to travel places with company anyways; share transportation costs by carpooling!

10. Plan to stay at home – aging in place is the more desirable option for most seniors, and it can be more cost-effective too

Via: Home Instead Senior Care

Home Health in Greater Phoenix & Home Health in Central Phoenix helps elders and seniors in Phoenix remain at home safely and independently. Call us today at 623.583.5868, 602.265.8228 or 480.991.3959.

It doesn’t matter how old you are, whether you’re 50 or 85, you lead a busy life and it can be hard to get through the day while keeping your energy levels up.  It might seem like a waste of your precious time if you take a nap in the middle of the day, but it can actually make the difference between accomplishing everything on your to do list, and falling short. If you don’t nap habitually, getting started isn’t always easy, even if you’re feeling exhausted so here are some tips to get you started:

1. Squeeze in a cat nap of 10, 15 or 20 minutes (but no more!) during the day when you feel your energy fading. Whether you’re at work, or at home, it can help improve your productivity, so while it may feel like it’s taking time out of your day, it will actually create it. If you decide to nap at work, make sure it’s on your break or lunch hour

2. Suggest that your workplace create a napping area since it can boost productivity! Not all workplaces have created an area conducive to napping, but it is becoming more popular.

3. Help yourself wind down and prepare for a nap by listening to calming music, using aromatherapy, or doing another activity that you know works to relax you

Via: workhappynow.com

Home Health in Greater Phoenix & Home Health in Central Phoenix helps elders and seniors in Phoenix remain at home safely and independently. Call us today at 623.583.5868, 602.265.8228 or 480.991.3959.

If you’re looking to hire a professional caregiver to help provide care for an elderly loved one, you need an agency that’s going to provide you with more than just the basics; you need a caregiver who will ensure that your loved one is safe and protected at all times. When interviewing prospective caregivers or talking to agencies, make sure that they have procedures in place to address the following areas:

1. Be aware of changes – seniors who are experiencing health changes, financial difficulty or other problems might begin to act differently. Often seniors who are experiencing problems might not be open about them due to embarrassment, but caregivers can speak with other family members if they notice anything unusual while spending time with their senior clients

2. Help address financial need – while it’s not a caregiver’s responsibility to pry into a senior’s finances, they can identify problems. If stacks of mail are piling up or collections calls are being received in the senior’s home, it’s possible bills aren’t getting paid. Again, a caregiver can approach this issue gently with the senior’s family, and suggest that a Power of Attorney be used if the issue appears to be that bad

3. Dispose of sensitive information – assist seniors by suggesting that they shred bills or other information that could compromise their safety

4. Know who is making healthcare decisions – caregivers should ensure that they have the contact information on hand for the family member or other individual for making these important decisions in case of a medical emergency

5. Suggest an advanced directive or living will – to help seniors secure their future wishes, suggest an advanced directive or living will so that their medical needs are fulfilled according to what they want

6. Determine how expenses will be paid – if the caregiver will be responsible for household purchases on behalf of the senior, it should be determined how this will be managed. Signed checks can be provided, seniors can open an expense account that the caregiver has access to, or if all expenses will be paid in cash provided

7. Be wary of strangers – caregivers should be wary of new friends that come into senior’s lives, especially if they are from a different generation. Seniors can become victims of scams because they are anxious to curb their loneliness with new social opportunities. With this in mind, caregivers should also work with seniors to investigate any charitable organizations or other causes seniors are thinking or donating to before a transaction is made

8. Provide a safe environment – in all circumstances, senior caregivers from a franchise should be responsible for identifying potential hazards in the household and ensuring that they are addressed to put their senior care recipient’s safety first.

Via: Keeping Seniors Safe

Home Health in Greater Phoenix & Home Health in Central Phoenix helps elders and seniors in Phoenix remain at home safely and independently. Call us today at 623.583.5868, 602.265.8228 or 480.991.3959.

Q – Don’t think I’m kidding when I tell you that the computer has changed my life. As a caregiver, every second counts, and being able to communicate in quick and efficient manners, and have access to resources for my personal and professional life are so convenient. I still feel like there are better ways that I can make use of technology to save me even more time. What can I do to make my computer work better for me?

A – The time it takes to do everything really counts when you’re a busy caregiver.  Here are some tips that should help you work more efficiently, though do keep in mind that they depend on your specific computer use!

1. Manage your email – sorting through your email to determine what’s total junk, what needs your attention immediately and what can wait until later can be a laborious and long task. Take advantage of software programs like Outlook or even Gmail that allow you to filter your email by sender, by subject and priority so every time you open your email, it’s well-organized  and your priorities are in place! Spam filters on these programs can also help you save time by eliminating the amount of junk email you receive; if these aren’t doing a good enough job try a program like Cloudmark’s Spam Blocker.

2. Use software that make repetitive tasks efficient – how often do you find yourself providing directions to your care recipient’s home when you require respite care? Every time you send them, you waste precious moments typing them out. Instead, you can try a program like Activewords that allows you to create a shortcut to frequently used data so it’s automatically inserted into a file or email!

3. Sign up for RSS feeds – if there are blogs or news pages that you frequent for your career or role as a caregiver, sign up for an RSS feed that will send relevant stories to your email (which can then be sorted and filtered) or use a blog reader like GoogleReader so you don’t have to sort through irrelevant data every time you try to catch up on your resources

Sources: Gaia

Home Health in Greater Phoenix & Home Health in Central Phoenix helps elders and seniors in Phoenix remain at home safely and independently. Call us today at 623.583.5868, 602.265.8228 or 480.991.3959.

Most women only have mammograms once every year, but in this time, anything can happen, so all women should examine their breasts on a monthly basis, especially if they are over the age of 40 or in their senior years. The earlier breast cancer is detected, the better the chances of recovery, so here are the steps that all women should know for breast cancer awareness month:

1. Remove all clothing and undergarments from your upper body

2. Stand in front of a mirror with your arms up and behind your head. Flex your hips and your chest muscles and be on the lookout for anything unusual

3. Lying down, place a pillow under your left shoulder and your left arm behind your head. Use your right hand to examine your breast, working your way around in circles from the outside in

4. Repeat the same steps for the right breast

5. During all stages of your self-breast examination, you want to look for the following:

• Lumps that have not previously been examined by a doctor. They don’t need to be sore or have any particular feeling in order to require medical attention

• Changes in the skin texture anywhere on the breast

• Thickening of the breasts

• One breast which is lower than the other, or one which is larger that seems to have changed size

• Unusual discharge from nipples that is sticky or bloody

Via: Family Doctor

Home Health in Greater Phoenix & Home Health in Central Phoenix helps elders and seniors in Phoenix remain at home safely and independently. Call us today at 623.583.5868, 602.265.8228 or 480.991.3959.

There’s nothing worse than getting out of bed every morning only to still feel tired; you just don’t feel like doing anything, seeing anyone or making the most out of your life when all you can think of is your exhaustion. Take control over your sleeping patterns, however, and you’ll find that you’re ready to embrace every single day to make it as productive and enjoyable as you can! This is easier said than done for many seniors, and if you’re one of them, then try these tips for a better night’s sleep and a better retirement:

1. Get the right amount of sleep for your body – everyone needs a different amount of sleep, make sure you get enough to feel well rested, whether it’s 5 hours or 10 hours

2. Regulate your sleep schedule – go to bed and wake up at the same time everyday in order to ensure that your body falls into a regular routine

3. Talk to your doctor about medications – if you’re having trouble sleeping, speak to your doctors about medications that might cause insomnia  and see if there are better alternatives

4. Try relaxing activities – yoga, meditation and other relaxing activities can reduce physical and emotional stress to help ensure a better night’s sleep

5. Set the stage – make sure that your room is dark and quiet, and ensure that it’s an environment even more conducive to sleep by keeping other activities, like watching TV, out of the room!

Via: WorkingCaregiver.com – “The Secrets to a 36 Hour Day”

Home Health in Greater Phoenix & Home Health in Central Phoenix helps elders and seniors in Phoenix remain at home safely and independently. Call us today at 623.583.5868, 602.265.8228 or 480.991.3959.

With October being breast cancer awareness month, it’s a good time to learn how you can help someone who has been diagnosed with breast cancer, or has had a recent scare. Your support is the best thing you can offer, and here are some ways that you can make yourself available to them:

1. Just listen – you don’t need to try and provide advice, especially if you haven’t lived a similar experience.  Just listen, lend them your presence and your ear so they feel they have the support of someone

2. Support with facts – instead of giving advice, do some research about the disease and provide the facts about treatment options, support groups that are available and other resources that could help

3. Support their decisions – no matter what your loved one decides through the treatment and coping process with breast cancer, support it

4. Don’t play a role – not knowing how to deal with someone with breast cancer sometimes causes people to act unusually. Simply be yourself, you’ll appear more genuine than if you try to play a role

5. Make a support network – have other friends and family members come together to extend their support so your loved one with breast cancer knows there are others there for her

6. Laugh and have fun – there might be a grieving process after a breast cancer diagnosis, but keep up the fun activities. Laughter really is the best medicine, so create enjoyable and memorable situations

Sources:

1. SheKnows.com

Home Health in Greater Phoenix & Home Health in Central Phoenix helps elders and seniors in Phoenix remain at home safely and independently. Call us today at 623.583.5868, 602.265.8228 or 480.991.3959.

Many seniors dream of retiring by the sea, but now there’s also the option to live on it in floating retirement cities like the Alegria, which is a cruise ship that features a city structure. We’ve seen floating communities before, but they haven’t always been affordable to the average senior; but floating cities do offer retirement living that’s attainable to any American senior. Start dreaming about your retirement spent on one of these ships that have the following features:

• 100 staterooms are available on the ship that are between 160 and 340 square feet and come fully furnished like a typical cruise ship

• The cost is between $159,000 and $399,000 for each room, plus a monthly maintenance fee, just like at a land-based condo

• The maintenance fee covers weekly housekeeping, all meals on the ship, a local country club membership, port fees, and a shuttle

• Each month the ship takes a trip to another vacation destination. On a monthly basis it travels to closer areas like the Bahamas, and once a year ventures farther out to sea to Central America or into the Caribbean

• 12 guest rooms are available to guests of the residents, at no cost and include all meals

Sources:

1. Let Life In

2. Homes for NH

Home Health in Greater Phoenix & Home Health in Central Phoenix helps elders and seniors in Phoenix remain at home safely and independently. Call us today at 623.583.5868, 602.265.8228 or 480.991.3959.

Many seniors who find themselves to be empty nesters later in life feel like they’ve lost their purpose. But instead of allowing their new lifestyle to bring them down, they should take advantage of this alternate stage in life and overcome empty nest syndrome in the following ways:

1. Take time to yourself – while your life might have been about everyone else previously while caring for children, a spouse and a household, as an empty nester, appreciate and take advantage of the quiet. Enjoy the time you have to yourself instead of allowing it to remind you what you no longer have

2. Make new connections – finding yourself with an empty nest can feel lonely, so fill the void by reconnecting with family members and friends, and making new ones by joining social groups and activities available in Phoenix

3. Renew marriage vows – it might feel like your life has been all about the children for decades, but reconnect with your loved one and renew your  vows to remind each other what brought you together in the first place!

4. Do something meaningful – being a parent is one of the most meaningful jobs , and finding a way to fill that void after the children have left home is a challenge. Do something else that makes you feel like you’ve accomplished something important; volunteer somewhere you can make a difference!

5. Get out there – with new found time on your hands, achieve the things you never had time to in the past. You can travel or take on a new hobby.

Via: Let Life In 

Home Health in Greater Phoenix & Home Health in Central Phoenix helps elders and seniors in Phoenix remain at home safely and independently. Call us today at 623.583.5868, 602.265.8228 or 480.991.3959.