Is It Time For Mom To Move Into A Retirement Home?

Recently I’ve been involved with 3 different families that have had to evaluate this question, is it time for mom to move into a retirement home? All 3 families had very different issues with mom’s physical/mental health and all 3 of them had very different ideas of when they thought it was time to move mom into a retirement home. Everyone of these families truly loves their mom and wants what’s best for her. Your situation, your relationship and how you relate to your mom will be unique to you and your family.

Some signs that it might be time for mom to move a retirement home
Give your mom a big hug (moms all enjoy being hugged) and make note of any of the following:

When you hug your mom does she feel thinner/heavier? Check her belt (if she wears one), has she added notches to the belt? Don’t assume that mom is doing OK, spend some time with her and watch her prepare a meal or two, go shopping with her. Is she remembering how to shop or cook? Weight loss/gain can be attributed to many different causes, so be sure to spend some time with mom in order to find out why she might be losing/gaining weight.

When you hug mom, does she seem more frail? Watch her get up from a chair and walk. Is she having more trouble getting up out of the chair and is she having difficulty walking across the room?

When you hug mom, does she have an unusual odor? If she does, there might be a change with her personal hygiene. Causes could be associated with depression, memory loss or even a physical ailment.

When you hug mom do you notice a change in her appearance? Is her hair out of place/messy? A senior who normally is very neat in appearance that starts to wear wrinkled or dirty clothes might be giving you an indication that mom is having trouble. Now it’s your job to find out why.

Social Activity
Does mom still get together for lunches or outings with friends or visits with neighbors? Is she still active with her hobbies, or has her social involvement declined? Has she let her membership expire at any clubs, or the library? Seniors cut back on activities as they age but if mom is showing no interest in any activities you’ll need to find out if she is feeling depressed.

How often does mom leave the house? If she doesn’t leave for days at a time it could be because she can’t drive or is afraid to take public transportation. Retirement communities have dedicated transportation for their residents and offer regular outings that may keep them more mobile and active, not less.

Check mom’s mail
Go through mom’s mail. If you find lots of mail scattered around, it should raise concerns about how bills and other matters are being managed. If you find piles of mail laying around, pick them up and put them in a safe place. These piles are also a trip hazard. While sorting through her mail, does she have any unopened personal mail, delinquent payment notices or unpaid bills? If so it could be the initial onset of memory loss. Are there thank-you letters from charities? Seniors are often targets to scammers. Some charities repeatedly ask givers again and again, your mom may not remember having donating to the charity the first time.

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How to Choose the Right Medical Alert Device

A lot has changed since the first “I’ve fallen and can’t get up” medical alert device was first introduced in the 1970’s.

A medical alert device or personal emergency response system is an alarm system designed to signal the presence of a hazard requiring urgent attention and to summon emergency medical personnel. These systems make it fast and easy for elderly people with health issues (especially if they’re alone), to get help in an emergency. It could be a slip, trip or fall, a fire, or some other event that requires immediate help. Other terms for a medical alarm are Personal Emergency Response System (PERS) or medical alert.

If you want to know how to choose the right medical alert device you will need to ask yourself, “What will work best in my mom’s situation.”
It can get complicated, but the most basic systems use a landline and consist of a central base and a remote help button you can wear around your neck or wrist at home. There are other wireless options and some GPS mobile solutions for active seniors on the move. There are even some PERS that automatically send an alarm when a fall is detected. With technology growth, the number of options has grown from a few basic, wearable devices with a button to call a response center. Systems now include a wide range of options for: fall detection, home health monitors, fitness trackers (everyone seems to wearing these now), and more.

Most systems have a wireless necklace pendant or transmitter that can be activated in an emergency with a simple push of a button. This activates the medical alarm to an alarm monitoring company’s central station, other emergency agency or other programmed phone numbers. Medical personnel are then dispatched to the site where the alarm was activated.

The medical alert industry is constantly changing. When choosing the right medical alert device, you can get alert options that are cellular, work on mobile devices, or even a smart phone app. Some companies have come and gone and new, innovative companies are entering the market.

There’s a range of options in choosing a personal emergency response system (PERS). But how do you choose the right medical alert device that’s best for your situation?

When selecting a PERS, begin by evaluating your loved one’s specific needs and abilities. You’ll want to consider their health both now and how it might change in the future. As an example, if mom has signs of dementia, would she understand how to operate a PERS? Or is something more automatic, like a fall-detection device, more appropriate? Does she have a condition, that will make communicating with a call center operator difficult?

Always ask if the company offers a free trial period so you and your loved one can see what works best for you.

There is a lot more information I want to share with you on the subject of PERS. So be looking for another episode of: “How to choose the right medical alert device.”

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How to Help Mom Stay Healthy and Happy

It’s never too late to learn good health habits to help mom stay healthy and happy. Eating right & light exercise can even make a difference to seniors who haven’t made their health a priority in the past. It’s the start of a new year and maybe that has you thinking it’s time be healthier. Or maybe you had an injury and out of necessity you’re trying to live healthier. Whatever the reason, read on for some ideas that can help mom stay healthy and happy!

If your mom takes multiple medications you should discuss them together with her physician, especially if the doctor is changing prescriptions. Ask questions about possible drug interactions and how the new drug(s) might affect her. When she starts taking any new meds it’s a good idea to pay attention to any new symptoms (drowsiness, loss of appetite and others) she exhibits.

It’s important that your mom be alert as possible. Some meds may cloud her mind or make her dizzy and this could lead to an accident or fall. Keeping your mom’s mind alert, or “In The Game”, “In the Moment” is so important to help mom stay healthy and happy. According to the Geriatric Mental Health Foundation, seniors can stimulate their minds by doing crossword puzzles, playing games, reading or writing. Simple activities like these can alleviate a decline in mental health and keep her mind sharp. This will help mom engage more with the world around her.

Exercise not only increases energy but improves memory and alleviates depression. Short strolls, long walks or a senior exercise program will help mom stay healthy and happy. Did you know that only a quarter of seniors aged 65-74 exercise regularly? Crazy right? Especially when regular exercise can reduce the risks of falls, strokes, dementia and heart attacks. If your mom doesn’t currently do any exercising the key here is to start off slow with simple easy-to-do exercises like standing up and moving her arms up and down and all around. Then work your way to walking or using resistance bands for increasing mom’s heart rate.

Eating the right foods will help mom stay healthy and happy:

The digestive system tends to slow down with age, so high-fiber fruits, vegetables and whole grains are important to include in moms diet. Seniors can lose their appetite as they age so you’ll need to make sure mom gets enough calories and nutrients to maintain healthy organs, muscles, and bones. And like exercise, if mom doesn’t eat the best foods now, you can help her by changing her bad foods slowly, one at a time over the course of weeks or months. If she is too stubborn or independent and wants her bad food, then you can either reduce the amount of the bad food you serve her or dilute the bad foods/drinks if possible.

Helping mom stay healthy and happy also helps you and your children to be able to spend more quality time with her in her own environment and not the hospital.

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Do You Know Where it’s Safe for Mom to Walk Outside?

Your mom wants to exercise, great!! Walking is the most natural exercise for our bodies so pick a place where it’s safe for mom to walk outside. Start with a location she is familiar with, like in her own neighborhood, on the sidewalk or streets, or maybe there’s a nearby park with a walking trail you can use.

When you’re walking in your neighborhood hone in on the condition and age of the street or sidewalk. Older neighborhoods tend to have sidewalks that are uneven due to settling or tree roots growing under them. If you’re going to walk in the street an “Off the beaten path” street with less traffic might be a better place to walk if the sidewalks aren’t in good shape. Should you decide to go to the park pay attention to the walking trail surface to make sure it is a smooth surface and doesn’t have any debris, uneven places or holes that might trip mom up.

Wear comfortable shoes made for walking. I used to buy any old pair of running shoes at the cheapest price. Then I went to a shoe store and got help, I was trying on 2 types of shoes, one for running one for walking. I didn’t realize what a huge difference in comfort there was. Since I mostly walk, the walking shoes were more comfortable for me. I also got the arch support insoles with them to add even more comfort.

Don’t let mom wear open heeled shoes, clogs, or sandals, they’re a fall waiting to happen. At the minimum she should have a strap across the back of the shoe. The bottom of her shoe needs to have a non-skid surface/tread of some sort so the shoe can get traction and not slide so easy. There are specialty shoes made with velcro straps that make it easy for seniors to put their shoes on.

If you’re using a walking cane make sure it is properly adjusted for you and of the correct type. While standing with your arms hanging down at your side, the top of the cane should be even with the crease in your wrist. A quad cane is not good for walking because it’s broad base makes it awkward to use.

If you live in a colder climate and have snow, pay close attention to ice on the path or walkway. When you are trying to find places where it’s safe for mom to walk outside in the winter, don’t forget that ice is hard to see even when you are paying attention and can cause a really terrible fall. Ice melting salts can be a lifesaving investment for juts a few dollars.

Watch out for sloped surfaces like driveways or inclines to pathways. It’s harder for your mom to see graduated surfaces unless they are marked/painted with high visibility colors. If your walking to or from your car in a parking lot, be aware of hazards like pot holes, rocks, accumulated dirt/sand. Parking lot dangers to also be aware of are unpainted parking stops and curbs.

Here’s a handy checklist to help you find a place where it’s safe for mom to walk outside:

1. Make sure to check the weather outside and dress appropriately so you can take your time and enjoy walking. Don’t rush.
2. Start with familiar surroundings close to home that have consistent, smooth sidewalks or streets. Or parks that have a walking trail.
3. Wear comfortable shoes made for walking, no slip-ons or sandals.
4. Some uneven surfaces are invisible to mom, keep an eye out for this. They can sneak right up on you.

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How to Keep Flooring Safe For Seniors, a 5-minute checklist

Keeping your senior safe from falls at your home or theirs starts with keeping them safe from slips & trips. If you have a loved elder, and you’ve ever wondered how to keep flooring safe for seniors, you’re in the right place.

Take the time to go through both your house and theirs with your “Eyes Wide Open” looking for potential floor hazards that could lead to a life changing fall. Get rid of all throw rugs, area rugs, electrical cords and mud or sand that was tracked in on shoes that might be loose on the floor. Remember, the number 1 floor enemy of seniors is area rugs. If you look at the underside of a throw rug you might (or might not) find some rubbery non-slip coating which is designed to keep the throw rug from sliding. But it can’t keep a throw rug from bunching up and causing a trip hazard.

A living room or any large room should have one continuous type of flooring throughout so there are no transitions or thresholds that will create a trip hazard. If you have any saddle thresholds between rooms it would be a good idea to remove/replace them so the floor transition from one room to another is as smooth as possible with no humps or bumps. As little as 1/4 inch change in the flooring height can cause a trip.

A Special Note About How to Keep Flooring Safe for Seniors in the Bathroom: The bathroom floor is a special surface and needs to have some texture to it so it remains non-slip even when it gets wet. The bathroom is the wettest room in the house. If you have tile in your senior’s bathroom you can add some non-slip strips to make it less slippery. You can buy rolls of this at Lowe’s, Home Depot or even on Amazon. There are also anti-slip treatments that can be applied to the floor to increase the coefficient of friction (make the floor less slippery). Wet floors are a dangerous slip hazard because it is hard for your senior to see where the wet spots are on the floor.

If you use any type of spray polish or cleaner, be aware of the over spray. The over spray from furniture polish can make your floor very slippery. Instead of spraying the polish directly onto the furniture, spray the polish into your polishing cloth, then wipe your furniture. This will leave your floors clean and dry. As a general rule, clean up spills and splashes immediately and keep your floor as dry as possible. While we are on the subject of cleaning up, picking up is also a very important daily chore. Anything loose on the floor can cause a trip hazard for your senior, like toys, dirt, extension cords and game pieces. Keep your floor clean & dry and your loved senior will have a much safer stay at their place or yours.

5-Minute Checklist to Keep Flooring Safe for Seniors
* Walk through yours & their home with your “Senior Hazard” eyes on
* Keep floors dry and clean
* Discard area or throw rugs
* Mark sloped or uneven floors with high visibility paint or tape
* Move electrical cords out of walking pathway
* Be careful when using polish and cleaners, avoid getting over spray on the floor

Why do Seniors Injure Themselves More as They Age?

Aging itself does not cause injuries. Everybody loses abilities and muscle strength with enough age. Seniors are at a higher risk of injuries because they tend to fall more due to aging muscles, declining eyesight or drug side effects. Just the fear of falling can affect a senior to where they are not as active as they once were.

Nothing good can come from a fall if you’re a senior. Seniors and their caregivers are interested in fall prevention because the risks are so great. Even though you cannot prevent all falls, there is a lot you can do to reduce the risk of a fall. If you can recognize a hazardous condition and avoid or correct it with your senior, you may have just prevented a fall.

Make sure your loved elder can see well enough to navigate unfamiliar places. If your senior is independent (Aren’t they all?) and is fearful that telling you that she/he can’t see well, they might not be honest about how well they can see. If you suspect that your senior’s vision is failing you can ask them questions to determine that your suspicions are true. Ask if they can tell you the time from a clock across the room. Or if they can see something going on outside.

Another common cause of falls is medication. Be sure to take stock in your senior’s current medical condition for signs of weakness, dizziness or illness. Review medications with them and visit with their doctor so you know which meds can cause dizziness or affect their balance. This puts you in a position to change the time of day that medications are taken or keep activities to a minimum if your senior must take medications with undesired side affects.

Falls are the third leading cause of unintentional death for the whole US population. But falls are the NUMBER ONE cause of death for those 71 and older. Statistics show that when a senior older than 65 takes a minor fall and nobody is around, they will most likely not tell anyone. The reasons can vary, from not wanting loved ones to worry about them or fear of losing their independence.

The good news is that a little exercise and diet goes a long way. Most types of physical activities are good exercise, like walking or just moving your arms up and down. You can move your arms sitting or standing, with or without hand weights. It kind of depends on your current activity level as to which exercises will help your senior the most. Steadying themselves with a chair helps with a lot of exercises because it makes your elder feel like they have a safety net to keep them from falling during an exercise.

Learning why your senior has fallen means that you’ll be able to figure out why your older loved one is likely to fall and take steps to help them. When you understand the reasons a senior might fall then you will be able to recognize hazardous situations and take precautionary steps to prevent them. Understanding what caused a fall can better prepare you to prevent a fall in the future. If your senior is having problems with a new drug prescription it won’t do you much good to add lighting to help your senior see better. Learn the “WHY” first then make adjustments to help your senior prevent falls.

Remember, seniors count on help from you, their trusted ally to help them avoid falls.