Signs that a Loved One May Need Caregiving Support
Upon visiting a family member or loved one, there are certain signs and red flags you should look for that may indicate a loved one needs caregiving support. Something as simple as stacks of unopened mail can indicate your loved one may not be cognitively capable of dealing with everyday life business affairs.
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Senior Care Tips & Activities for the 4th of July
The 4th of July is a wonderful time to spend with friends and family celebrating the founding of
America. But Independence Day celebrations can be difficult for seniors. Elderly family members may have trouble coping with the sunshine, heat, and activity that come with early summer festivities.
To help ensure everyone can join in this 4th of July, we have collected some
tips for celebrating Independence Day with elderly family members.
Senior-Friendly 4th of July Activities
Senior care providers might consider the following senior-friendly 4th of July activities when celebrating with an elderly family member.
- A backyard cookout is a classic July 4th activity for a reason and one that many seniors will be able to enjoy. Even if your mom or dad needs to avoid certain foods, the nostalgia and family time of a cookout can be a big boost to their emotional well-being. If your loved one has dietary restrictions or preferences, consider packing some of their favorite foods or adapting part of the menu to make it more senior-friendly.
- During the hottest hours of the day, you can escape from the sun by watching classic American movies. Consider older movies with patriotic themes, like Yankee Doodle Dandy, Patton, Drums Along the Mohawk, Glory, or Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.
- Many seniors enjoy crafting decorations or preparing food before 4th of July festivities. Stars and stripes decorations, paper flags, and red-white-and-blue Jell-O desserts are just a few senior-friendly ideas that you can make with your loved one.
No matter what you do this 4th of July, it pays to accommodate older relatives. "Taking the time to make Independence Day senior-friendly is rewarding for older and younger family member alike," says Visiting Angels of Pikesville Executive Director Dave Pyser. "After all, the 4th of July wouldn't be the same if the whole family couldn't enjoy themselves."
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Visiting Angels of Pikesville's Operations Coordinator and Walk to End Alzheimer's® Team Captain, Marcy Silver, is pictured attending the Baltimore Walk Kickoff. Would you like to join our team or make a donation to help us honor all of our clients who suffer from Alzheimer's disease and those caring for them? Here's our link (and THANK YOU for your support!)
This year the Walk will be on Saturday, October 27 and will again be held at the Canton Waterfront Park. There are two routes to choose from - the Full Route which is 3 miles or the Short Route at 1.5 miles.
Together, we can advance research to treat and prevent Alzheimer's, and provide programs and support to improve the lives of millions of affected Americans.
If you have any questions about the Walk, joining our team or donating, please call Marcy at 410.218.9506.
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Why Your Dad Can't Take Care of Mom Alone
"For better, for worse...in sickness and in health..."
About 7 percent of spouses are caring for a partner, according to 2015 statistics from the
Pew Research Center. Though it may seem like the ideal arrangement-Mom and Dad can stay home and care for each other-the reality is this: it's incredibly difficult for many caregiving partners to recognize the need for help and accept it before it's too late.
Your parents made a vow. They don't want to admit help is needed because, in their minds, that means they've failed. They put themselves last. And some reports show they pay the price: spousal caregivers (aged 66-96) who experience caregiving-stress have a 63 percent higher mortality rate than non-caregiving peers, per a report from the Family Caregiver Alliance.
Caregiving spouses may also be compensating for the true daily needs of their partner. Because your father is caring for your mom 24-7, he sees everything-for better, for worse. He may not tell you just how bad the "for worse" parts are, instead, focusing his updates on the better. Although positivity in caregiving is important, this kind of denial can lead to dangerous outcomes for both parents. It's vital that adult children dig deeper when it comes to the status of caregiving life at home-and make recommendations for support sooner.
Where the Heart Is
The house itself also tells the story of how caregiving has affected your parents. Keeping a perfect home is undoubtedly an unrealistic goal, especially when caregiving responsibilities take precedence. But maintaining a home is no small task, and when a spouse becomes a caregiver, that task becomes insurmountable.
Dad can't maintain the level of cleanliness he is used to if he's afraid to leave Mom alone in a room for more than five minutes. If Mom was the primary housekeeper, Dad might have a hard time keeping up with the laundry, dishes and cleaning while caring for Mom. Bills may pile up. Finances can quickly go o course. If a spouse not ordinarily responsible for meal prep is cooking on a few hours of sleep and a day of frustrating doctor's appointments, accidents are more likely to happen. If the spouse who needs care can no longer climb a ladder to replace a bulb, the spousal caregiver may try-and in doing so, entertains the risk of a fall or injury-which leaves both caregiver and care receiver without help.
Home care meets caregiving couples-and the families who love them-where they are. And by providing companionship, light housekeeping, transportation, meal prep or help with activities of daily living, they're not replacing the vital work of the spousal caregiver. They're complementing it and allowing it to go on for as long as possible. They're filling in the gaps. They're lightening a load of caregiving so they can work through grief as they care.
That said, always present the idea of home care support as a way for both parents to stay healthy and at home for as long as possible, arming the value of the care they're already providing and suggesting the benefits will go both ways-because they do. For more information on why your elderly parent needs more help than a friend or family caregiver can provide, click here.
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