Caregiver Support

Summer Heat Safety for Seniors The warmer weather may finally be here, but too much heat is not safe for anyone. It is even riskier if you are older or have health problems. It is important to get relief from the heat quickly. If not, you might begin to feel confused or faint.  Older people can have a tough time dealing with heat and humidity. The temperature inside or outside does not have to reach 100°F (38°C) to put them at risk for a heat-related illness. Headache, confusion, dizziness, or nausea could be a sign of a heat-related illness. Being hot for too long can be a problem (especially without air conditioning) and can cause several illnesses: Heat syncope is a sudden dizziness that can happen when you are active in hot weather. If you take a heart medication (beta blocker) or are not used to hot weather, you are even more likely to feel faint. Rest in a cool place, put legs up, and drink water to make the dizzy feeling go away. Heat cramps are the painful tightening of muscles in your stomach, arms, or…

COVID19 - Tool for if your loved one has to go to hospital In the new COVID19 world we are faced with numerous challenges and changes. When we have a loved one that must go into hospital for whatever the reason, your access and ability to assist is now limited due to hospital protocols and restrictions to limit the spread of COVID19. It is therefore important that families prepare in advance when we have a planned (or unplanned) trip to the hospital. Simple things like cell phones, chargers, pictures, books to read or other comfort supplies along with important information about your loved one will be critical regarding health history because you will not be there to relay this to the health care professionals. Amy's Helping Hands has created our More about me tool which can assist families in capturing important information and having a checklist of items to send when you have a loved one that has to go to the hospital.

Better Than a Diet: The Perfect Resolutions for a Family Caregiver If you’re among the 8% of Americans who actually realize their New Year’s resolution goals, well done! However, if you are like the majority of us, you’ve quit well before even turning the calendar page to February. Although obviously it’s commendable to attempt to better ourselves by resolving to get rid of 10 pounds or eat much healthier, for a busy family caregiver, there are some truly meaningful, achievable goals that will improve life throughout the year. Consider these suggestions: Find joy. Caring for somebody else is a labor of love, but may bring about challenges that make it difficult to focus on the daily positives which can kindle joy. Take some time on a daily basis to pause to find a reason to smile. Bring humor into the daily caregiving tasks to share laughter with your family member. Take pleasure in the feeling of the sun shining through the window as you’re folding laundry. Phone a relative who lifts your spirits for a brief chat. See the bigger picture. Make…

5 Tips for Helping Aging Parents with Finances Amongst the most sensitive topics for the elderly is recognizing when it is time to accept some help with money matters. Personal finances are both exceedingly personal and a representation of autonomy, and adult children in particular are sometimes met with opposition when helping aging parents with finances. Nevertheless, for many reasons, like the increasing frequency of senior scams and cognitive decline, it is vital that you’re sure the resources your loved ones have accrued through the years are safe and sound, and that bills are paid properly and on time. It is a concern that should be handled delicately and with diplomacy. Try these tips for a smooth transition to assisting a family member with finance management: The initial conversation. Approaching a senior loved one with regard to the need for help with personal finances can be challenging. Keeping respect for the older adult throughout the process is crucial, making it obvious that your intentions are not to “take over,”…

The Risk Factors for Caregiver Depression There’s no question that it’s a wonderful honor to care for those we love. Family caregivers experience a closeness and connection with those in their care that usually far outweighs the downsides. But there are challenges. A continuous to-do list to ensure the senior you are providing care for is as healthy and happy as possible. Household activities and errands to manage. Job responsibilities. The needs of other members of the family and friends. And don’t overlook self-care. The end result is an often daunting level of stress, that when left unchecked, can easily escalate to caregiver depression as well as burnout that may develop in any or all of the following ways: Thoughts of anger, unhappiness, hopelessness, stress Difficulty with falling or staying asleep during the night Lack of interest in previously-loved activities Eating significantly more or less than usual Delayed thinking And if left untreated, suicidal thoughts, or even attempts at suicide   This short online evaluation…

Sandwich Generation: Strike a Better Life Balance with These Tips Ask anyone in the sandwich generation if they’ve achieved a healthy life balance between caring for an older loved one, children at home, career, self-care, household tasks, etc., and you’re likely to receive a similar refrain: perhaps a sigh of longing, a huff of frustration, or a rolling of the eyes.  And if you happen to be a sandwich generation caregiver yourself, you may be struggling to find the time to even read this article in its entirety! Yet allow yourself just a few minutes to consider the following tips that may just help you to breathe easier and release some of the stress and pressure associated with so many responsibilities: Identify the top priority – and set everything else aside. In any given moment, you may find yourself pulled in multiple directions: your teenager needs help with a homework assignment, the dog needs to be walked, Mom is becoming restless. Determine which, if any, of these needs is truly a crisis or time-sensitive issue, and resolve to tackle…