At http://www.myactivecommunity.com you can know more about over 55 communities and also find them. Get your ideal 55+ retirement home here.
Posts Tagged ‘Stay’
Commonwealth Advisory Group Concentrates on Helping Frail Elders Stay at Home
by bobcrabtree1 Posted: Monday, 1/18/2010DATELINE:
The last few decades have seen more number of Indians migrating to the western shores as the world gets flatter. Numerous opportunities in every imaginable fields have helped Indians to showcase their talent abroad and win accolades for themselves as well as the country. However, this situation has resulted in an unique social scenario in the country where today there are millions of elderly parents whose children have migrated abroad fighting a lone battle with age as well as the healthcare system to manage with their healthcare needs.
Over 55 Retirement Community – Seniors Never Had It Better As There Are Now Some Wonderful Places To Stay
by bobcrabtree1 Posted: Friday, 12/11/2009Previously it was believed that after people retired, the journey towards the end of life started off. However, the scenario has completely changed now. Today, age doesn’t limit a person from living a life they have always cherished and even if they have crossed the threshold of 55, they lead as spirited life as that of a young boy or a girl. Longevity of people has increased with healthy eating in the form of organic foods and high standards of medical facilities that are available. For the so called senior citizens who have turned 55 or have crossed it long ago and are hale and hearty, the world has now become an oyster where they can discover new surprises each day. Those of the senior citizens who are searching for something new, there is a over 55 retirement community that can become their new address.
A recent survey has found out an astounding fact that over seventy-five million aged people are choosing these retirement homes as their homes because there are some great advantages. And the best news is that, they are at peace with themselves as they have many options to select from now.
An interested person can opt for a residential community which showers with benefits like the chance to play golf, do swimming or engage in other sports events. Sporting activities like fishing, golf, boating, swimming etc. are indispensable part of this kind of living. The provocations of these activities are simply too much and thus there are many who want to experience them, even if they have never done so before. The ones who are choosy about the location, need not worry as there are plenty of sites. An over 55 retirement community can be easily available in the neighboring areas or locations where your relatives and immediate family live in. If you decide to stay in a warm and bright climatic condition, you will not be disheartened too. A quick glance through the internet will more than suffice the urge to settle down in a place of one’s liking. The people associated with real estate business have discovered this new trend and are fast building up these kinds of communities almost all over the country.
In almost all parts of the country these types of communities have come up now, owing to the fact that they become so popular. These are a couple of suggestions for you to follow while looking for Over fifty-five Community Housing.
• Give more emphasis on the location of the community if you are single or married. Or do you want to live at a neighboring place, which is not far off from your friends?
• Expand your search options beyond the known, to all those states where you had always wanted to live.
• You need to search for your over 55 retirement community carefully because there are many catering to different lifestyle needs. Make a list of the things that you think are absolutely necessary for you to have and you can then customize your search according to your needs.
At http://www.myactivecommunity.com you can know more about over 55 communities and also find them. You will surely find your perfect 55+ retirement home here.
DATELINE: PLYMOUTH COUNTY AND AVON, EASTON AND STOUGHTON, MA.
Old Colony Elder Services (OCES), a private, non-profit agency that provides seniors, families and caregivers with valuable resources and services, offers tips to help elders stay cool this summer.
Avoid strenuous activity or over-exertion in the heat. Even household chores such as laundry, vacuuming, gardening, mowing the lawn, painting and so forth should be put off until the weather cools.
Avoid extended periods of sun exposure. If you must be in the sun, wear a hat, sunscreen and sunglasses and bring an umbrella to create shade.
Drink plenty of fluids. Avoid caffeinated or alcoholic beverages.
Eat well-balanced, light meals. Try to avoid high protein foods as they will increase metabolic heat.
Wear lightweight, loose and light colored clothing.
When it’s hot or very humid, stay indoors in an air-conditioned area or near a fan.
Go to a place where you can get relief from the heat such as a library, theater or community area that has air-conditioning.
Avoid heat related illnesses
In extreme heat and high humidity, evaporation of perspiration is slowed and the body must work extra hard to maintain normal temperature. Heat related illnesses include heat cramps which are muscular pains and spasms in the abdominal or leg muscles caused by loss of water due to heavy sweating. To treat heat cramps – rest in a cool place and drink half a glass of cool water every fifteen minutes.
Heat exhaustion is when the body overheats in high temperatures and/or high humidity, causing a form of mild shock. A rapid pulse, intense sweating, nausea, headache, dark urine, pale and/or flushed skin and feeling faint are some of the symptoms of heat exhaustion. To treat it, get the person to a cooler place and apply cool, wet cloths to the face and body. Have the person drink cool water slowly every fifteen minutes. Watch the person carefully for signs of heat stroke.
Heatstroke occurs when the body’s temperature reaches 104 degrees Fahrenheit or above. It is severe and life-threatening. It’s typically caused by exertion in hot weather and dehydration. Some signs of heatstroke include rapid heartbeat, hot red skin, absence of sweating, dizziness, headache, nausea, irritability or confusion. Older adults may also experience fainting. If any of these symptoms are suspected, call 911 immediately. Then move the person to a cooler place, immerse in a cool bath or wrap him/her in wet sheets. Watch for breathing problems. If he/she has changes is levels of consciousness, refuses water or is vomiting, do not give him/her anything to eat or drink.
OCES has resources available to elders in their service area who meet the criteria for low income and who cannot afford fans or air-conditioning. For assistance or more information, call (508) 584-1561.
OCES serves elders, their families and caregivers in the towns of Abington, Avon, Bridgewater, Brockton, Carver, Duxbury, East Bridgewater, Easton, Halifax, Hanover, Hanson, Kingston, Lakeville, Marshfield, Middleboro, Pembroke, Plymouth, Plympton, Rockland, Stoughton, Wareham, West Bridgewater and Whitman.
For more information about services for seniors or if you know an elderly person (e.g., family, friend, neighbor) who you think might need assistance, contact OCES at 508-584-1561.
About OCES
Incorporated in 1974, Old Colony Elder Services (OCES) is one of 27 private, non-profit Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
The organization’s mission is to provide services that support the dignity and independence of elders by helping them maximize their quality of life; live safely and in good health; and, prevent
unnecessary or premature institutionalization.
The agency has 130 employees and operates more than 12 programs serving elders, their families and caregivers. For more information call (508) 584-1561 or visit the website at www.oldcolonyelderservices.org.
If you’re fortunate enough to have one or both parents still living,
Madelyn Kubin was a Kansas farm woman who overpowered her own failing health to care for her husband after he suffered a debilitating stroke. She chronicled her experience through writing letters to her daughter. Madelyn developed a myriad of coping strategies in order to maintain a positive attitude. The following survival tips are illustrated with excerpts from her letters.
Detach Yourself Mentally by Practicing ?Creative Indifference?
The routine of caregiving can be confining, tedious, and exhausting. Practicing ?creative indifference? can help shift your thoughts away from the drudgery of your daily activities and focus your mental energy in more positive ways.
Madelyn wrote about this philosophy after having a conversation with a friend who was suffering with terminal cancer.
?We talked about how we had changed because of the illnesses. He said he and his wife have developed a greater sense of humor. They see things funny that I guess most people wouldn?t. I told him I had developed a detached attitude. He says he calls it creative indifference and he has developed it too. I like that better, as detached seems cold. Whatever you call it, it means not allowing yourself to become emotionally ravaged by the progression of events.?
Learn Something New
Embrace the process of learning. Reading to expand your mind, developing a new skill, or even performing a routine task in a different way can be invigorating. Even though you may feel physically confined in your caregiving role, there are no restrictions on how far your mind can go.
Madelyn described it this way:
?I read that we have little root-like things called dendrites in our brain. The article stated that people can grow new dendrites to replace some that are lost from a stroke ? or even old age. The secret is to develop some new habits. It seems that one good way is to exercise, develop a new hobby or to get very interested in something different ? something a person enjoys. My flowers are my new hobby. As I was trying to get all the plants watered this morning, I couldn?t help but wonder if learning how to screw in hoses would help grow new dendrites.?
Savor Happy Memories
People who are chronically ill or suffer constant pain can become demanding, cranky, and depressed. Sometimes it can be hard to remember who your loved one was before he or she got sick. Remembering a happier time helped Madelyn look at her husband a little differently when she wrote:
?I?ll never forget Valentine?s Day, 1993 when we were in Port Richy, Florida. We were on our way to meet my sister, her husband, and another couple at a very elegant country club.
On the way, we stopped at a grocery store to see if we could find an inexpensive floral gift for Jean and her friend. We were about to give up when the clerk showed us an orchid mounted in a small white wicker basket. We selected two. I must have been looking wistful, because Quentin asked if I would like to have one. I said I sure would!
It was so pretty that I didn?t want to mess up the corsage by wearing it, so I kept it in the basket. Our meal was delicious. There was free champagne and a flower for each lady. As we drove around that day I had the most joyous awareness of how much I loved my husband of fifty-one years. The flower lasted three weeks. This is another experience I?ll never be able to repeat, but I?m so glad I have the memory.?
Madelyn survived her caregiving experience by taking care of herself physically, mentally, and spiritually. Although there is nothing that can make the job of caregiving easy, developing an attitude of creative indifference, learning something new, and savoring happy memories can help reduce the stress.
Resource box:
Elaine K. Sanchez, author of the tender, gritty, and uproariously funny book, Letters from Madelyn, Chronicles of a Caregiver speaks to audiences across the country about finding hope and humor in aging, illness, and long-term caregiving. For a free Caregiver
Madelyn Kubin was recovering from open-heart surgery. She had osteoporosis, macular degeneration, restless leg syndrome, and severe hearing loss. She lived on a farm six miles from a town of 10,000 people in the middle of Kansas, and she had very little money. And then, just a few months after Madelyn?s 70th birthday, her husband suffered a debilitating stroke and she became his caregiver.
For the next six years Madelyn maintained her contact with the outside world, and perhaps her sanity, by writing letters in which she disengaged her emotional monitor and wrote openly to her daughter about what she was going through and how she felt about it.
There are many lessons for all caregivers in Madelyn?s experiences. Here are a few, illustrated with excerpts from the book Letters from Madelyn, Chronicles of a Caregiver:
Claim Some Time for Yourself
Set aside some time for yourself each day to do something you enjoy. Read, meditate, or go for a walk. Let your loved one know this is YOUR time, and you do not want to be disturbed.
Four months after her husband’s first stroke, Madelyn wrote:
?The one place where I don?t give in to Quentin is when I want to sit up and read at night. He never wanted me to do that when he was well. Now he says he can?t sleep if the light is on, and the noise of the turning pages bothers him. He never has any trouble sleeping in the daytime. The dishwasher can be going, the TV can be on and the sweeper running and he can sleep without any problem. I told him last night to not worry if he couldn?t sleep while I was reading, because he wouldn?t have any trouble when it?s daytime and I?m working. I need some time for myself, and if he can?t sleep, he will just have to stay awake.?
Get the Right Equipment
Installing the right equipment will enable your loved one to maintain some independence, and it will protect you from unneeded physical strain.
In this letter Madelyn describes some simple adjustments that made a big difference:
“I came up with an idea in the middle of the night that Quentin approves of. Our bathroom door opens back toward the toilet stool, and it is so hard for him to get around it. I suggested we take the door off and have it open the other way.
By changing the way the door swings, Quentin can use his walker to get into the bathroom. As it is now, he has to use the cane, and that is not very satisfactory when he is so wobbly.
I?m also going to buy a plastic pad like they use under office chairs. That should make it a lot easier for him to scoot his chair up to and away from the dining room table. It will also make cleaning up spills a lot easier.
Get Out in Nature
Caregivers spend a lot of time cleaning up messes and performing distasteful tasks. Getting out in nature, even if it is only in your own backyard, can relieve stress and provide a pleasant diversion.
Madelyn wrote:
“This morning I looked out and saw a Blue Jay taking his bath, and before long there was a beautiful big red bird. He took a long time deciding if he wanted to get in the water or not, but he finally took a nice leisurely bath. When I looked out and saw him, I almost gasped. We will probably get a lot of interesting birds during the migration season. I?m putting out fresh water for them morning and night. It makes the kitchen work more interesting.”
Madelyn Kubin survived her caregiving experience by taking care of herself physically, mentally, and spiritually. Although there is nothing that can make the job of caregiving easy, there are resources and support groups that can help a person cope with it.
Resource box:
Elaine K. Sanchez, author of the tender, gritty, and uproariously funny book, Letters from Madelyn, Chronicles of a Caregiver speaks to audiences across the country about finding hope and humor in aging, illness, and long-term caregiving. For a free Caregiver