What Should You Do if Your Senior Isn’t a Safe Driver?

Posted in Home Care Services in Hartford AL, Senior Care in Hartford AL |

March 4, 2021

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When you first realize that your elderly family member might not be safe behind the wheel of her car, you might be tempted to make some rash decisions. It helps if you stop and think before taking action.

 

Home Care Services in Hartford AL: Safe Driver

Home Care Services in Hartford AL: Safe Driver

 

Make Sure You’re Viewing This from a Safety Standpoint

In some ways, it might be a lot easier for you if your senior couldn’t drive any longer. You might worry less, for instance, and you might know where she is at all times. These aren’t bad reasons, necessarily, but the most important aspect of your senior’s ability to drive is whether it’s safe for her to do so or not. You run the risk of infantilizing her if you approach this from other angles, and that’s not good for either of you.

 

Understand Why This Is Difficult for Your Senior

This conversation is going to be tough, most likely. There are a lot of reasons that it will be complicated, and it’s important that you’re aware of those reasons so that you can help your senior through this. Your elderly family member faces a lot of challenges, especially if her health is not as good as it once was. This is just another area of life in which she’s losing abilities, and that’s not easy to reconcile. Keep that in mind as you talk.

 

Set Aside Some Time for an Honest Talk

This isn’t a conversation that you can have quickly or without both of you being honest with each other. You and your elderly family member need to both have time to explore and to express how you’re feeling and what you think about what’s happening. That might mean that you even revisit the conversation more than once so that you can both get to where you need to be.

 

Ensure Your Senior Has Options

Your elderly family member absolutely needs options with all of this. Just because she’s not able to drive any longer, that doesn’t mean that she should be stuck at home. There are more options available than you and your senior might realize, including the possibility of hiring senior care providers to do the driving for your elderly family member.

Not driving might even be a temporary situation, depending on your senior’s health and other needs. Talk to her about all possible scenarios and help her to find the answers that serve her in the best possible way.

If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Home Care Services in Hartford, AL, please contact the caring staff at Wiregrass HomeCare today. Call us at 334-539-5900.

Tips for Helping Your Senior Take Control of Their Parkinson’s Disease Care

Posted in Elder Care in Hartford AL, Home Care Services in Hartford AL, Senior Care in Hartford AL |

August 22, 2018

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Management and care of Parkinson’s disease need to begin as soon as your senior gets a diagnosis of the disease.

And the sooner your senior begins treatment and management, the better the chances are that they have of this treatment being effective, and the longer they will be able to enjoy greater functioning, independence, and quality of life. As a family caregiver, it is important to understand that starting at-home care and management does not necessarily mean you are immediately stepping in and taking over your parents daily life. In fact, encouraging them to remain as independent as possible, and empowering them to take control of their care and disease management is an important part of preserving their quality of life, and motivating them as much as possible.

 

Elder Care in Hartford AL: Parkinson's Disease Care

Elder Care in Hartford AL: Parkinson’s Disease Care

 

Use these tips to help your senior take control of their Parkinson’s disease care and management:

Consider Home Care. Introducing an in-home senior care services provider into your care routine as early as possible in your senior’s progression with Parkinson’s disease can be a powerful way to empower your parent to take more control of their daily life. With the customized services of a care provider available to them, they are better able to create and follow their own schedule and routine and engage in a lifestyle that is satisfying to them without always having to rely on you. Services such as transportation, physical support and assistance, and even companionship can allow your parent to better approach daily life, make decisions about what they want to do and when, and stay more active as they progress through the disease

 

Encourage them to keep a symptom diary.

Those living with Parkinson’s disease may find their symptoms and challenges confusing and unpredictable early in the disease. Having a symptom diary enables them to track how their body and their mind are responding to the disease, and what may exacerbate symptoms. While Parkinson’s disease does not have flare-ups like other diseases, the symptoms do fluctuate, your parent may find that they experienced increased symptoms when they are tired or stressed, or may find certain techniques more effective at managing symptoms than others. This symptom diary can also be a fantastic way to keep their doctor informed about their condition, so together they can adjust their care approach to best suit their needs

 

Help them to understand that this diagnosis does not mean that their life is over.

While Parkinson’s disease is progressive, the symptoms in the earliest stage tend to be very mild, and the progression is slow. This means your senior can continue to live a very active and fulfilling quality of life even as they progress. How they approach their disease can also make a tremendous impact on how their disease progresses. For example, eating a healthy diet, staying physically active, and following through with their doctor’s guidelines can all slow the progression, lessen the intensity of the symptoms, and preserve their health and functioning for longer

 

Taking on the role of being a family caregiver does not mean you are taking over your parent’s life.

In fact, one of your most important priorities, as you care for your parent, is to help them maintain as much of their independence and autonomy as possible. This is vital for their mental and emotional health, as well as their motivation to care for themselves and their physical health. There are many ways you can work toward this care goal, but one of the most effective and meaningful can be starting home care. Introducing an in-home senior care services provider into your care routine with your loved one gives them a greater sense of control over their life by enabling them to stay more active, get more involved in the world around them, and better manage their daily routine without always having to rely on your availability. This means your parent can take control of the care and management of their Parkinson’s disease, pursue a lifestyle that is fulfilling and meaningful, and maintain as much independence and safety in their own home as possible throughout their later years.

If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Elder Care in Hartford, AL, please contact the caring staff at Wiregrass HomeCare today. Call us at 334-539-5900.

http://parkinson.org/

Six Activities for Grandparents to Do with Grandchildren

Posted in Home Care Services in Hartford AL, Senior Activities, Senior Care in Hartford AL, Senior Health, Senior Safety |

February 7, 2018

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Sometimes it’s hard for senior citizens to connect with their grandchildren. This can be especially true when seniors have conditions that affect their physical or cognitive abilities. They may not know what to do with their grandchildren that both will enjoy. Yet, it’s important for grandchildren and grandparents to spend quality time together. If your parent struggles to connect with their grandchildren, here are six activities for them to do together.

 

Senior Care in Hartford AL: Activities for Grandchildren

Senior Care in Hartford AL: Activities for Grandchildren

 

#1 Play Board Games

Board games are a great way to pass time while doing something fun. There are games available for every age level, even very young children. And, those games can also be fun for adults. If your parent has dementia, look for games with simple instructions. Games that rely on luck, such as dice rolls, are good choices. Games are also excellent for older adults with physical disabilities since they can be played sitting down at the table.

 

#2 Bake Cookies

Young children often enjoy cooking, and what’s better than a warm batch of cookies? Even cookies that are as simple as those made from refrigerator dough can be fun for both. If the senior has cognitive problems that make cooking difficult or unsafe, adapt the activity to make it easier. For example, the grandparent and grandchild could just frost and decorate the cookies together.

 

#3 Do Jigsaw Puzzles

Jigsaw puzzles are an easy way to keep hands busy but also allow for conversation. There are jigsaw puzzles for all age levels and with pictures that appeal to all kinds of people. Look for puzzles with pictures of things that the grandchild enjoys, which will make them more likely to want to do the puzzle.

 

#4 Go for a Walk

Taking a walk together gives the two generations a chance to talk. And, since there are things going on around them, if they are at a loss for something to talk about, those things might spark something.

 

#5 Play with the Dog

Dogs are a great way to bridge the gap between older and younger people. Playing fetch with a dog is sure to bring smiles to both. Dogs often make conversations come easier.

 

#6 Play Video Games

Video games aren’t just for children. There are lots of video games on the market that adults enjoy, too. Sports games, like bowling or tennis, are easy for older adults to play and can be played while sitting down.

An elder care provider can assist your aging parent with making connections with grandchildren, too. If the grandchildren live far away, an elder care provider can help the older adult to stay connected with them through social media or by writing letters. An elder care provider can also help the senior to prepare for a visit from a grandchild. They can take the senior shopping for cookie baking ingredients, or to purchase new games or puzzles.

 

If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Senior Care in Hartford, AL, please contact the caring staff at Wiregrass HomeCare today. Call us at 334-539-5900.