We are just rounding out the tail end of winter and happily heading into milder, brighter days in the spring. Recently during the holiday season many of us have had the pleasure of spending time with our senior loved ones, which generally offers the opportunity to assess their current living and health situation and if their needs are still being met. If a higher level of care is needed, there are plenty of options available and there’s no better time than the present to begin looking into them accordingly.
“As the end of the holidays approaches, many people feel relief knowing the hustle and bustle is nearly done,” says Kelli Donner of Comfort Keepers. “Yet the day after decorations are packed away and the leftovers are in the freezer, surprisingly that relief can be replaced with feelings of depression, especially for seniors. Older adults are more likely to have difficulty with both pre- and post-holiday blues if they are more isolated from family and friends. Seniors are also more likely to be suffering from ill health, which can exacerbate feelings of depression that may arise after the holidays. According to the American Geriatrics Society, seniors may also feel blue after the holidays if they are facing money issues, and spent beyond a budget.
For seniors, the holidays bring up feelings of loss and loneliness for a spouse or close friends who have passed. If it’s the first holiday season one faces without his or her spouse or a life-long friend, that pain is still fresh.
Though it may be difficult to make plans to attend events and socialize if one is feeling blue, this is the time when reaching out matters most. Even a small get together can contribute to a happier outlook on the New Year ahead. If one’s health prevents traveling, invite friends over for a simple gathering. It can make all the difference as can connecting with grandkids while they have vacations from school—even if it’s by phone, email or Skype.
Seniors can also benefit from taking time to talk about their feelings after the holidays, whether with others at a senior center or church, or with a geriatric counselor. Often times just talking about sadness helps one understand it better and feel more in control.
The holidays can be exhausting at any age, but for seniors, travelling, shopping, cooking and decorating can take a much bigger toll than it once did. It is important to note that exhaustion sometimes feels like depression, so seniors should schedule more opportunities to nap or simply get a little extra rest.”
She also offers some ways to alleviate the post-holiday blues:
1) Plan a getaway in February or March, and target some place warm. It doesn’t have to be a big, expensive trip to keep one’s spirits up and provide something to look forward to.
2) Make a plan to learn something new. It can be anything from yoga exercises a person can do in a chair to learning about the computer.
3) Work with family members to create visible memories of the holiday season. Collecting favorite photos and cards, and telling stories about the photos is not only entertaining, but preserves the history of a family.
5) Consider taking decorations down slowly rather than all at once. Leave a wreath on the door, or garland along a bannister.
6) The American Geriatric Society Foundation for Health in Aging recommends volunteering as a way to ease the post-holiday blues. This organization suggests calling one’s church to learn about others who need help. One need not make a long-term, formal commitment to have a positive impact.
Along with combatting the winter blues for the next couple of months, it can be difficult to find a good way to start the conversation when the time comes that a higher level of care is needed. Lisa Arp with SilverRidge Assisted Living Community in Gretna offers the following advice for addressing tough subjects related to aging:
“This time of year can be especially difficult for those who are visiting from out of town and don’t see parents or loved ones on a regular basis. I actually did a segment about these issues on my radio show ‘Aging Matters with Lisa’ on 660 AM KCRO, which airs ever Thursday from 4-5 pm. When you go to visit your parents and/or loved ones, consider that quality of life is a very important, if not the most important, part of their everyday life. If you notice a decline in their quality of life and their day-to-day activities it is most likely time to start talking about what options they have. These are all hard topics to discuss but it has to happen for their quality of life to be better and to insure longevity in life as well.
My advice is this: Even if your parents or loved ones are not quite to a point of needing extra help or care, start the talk now. It is easier to broach the subject and have them be an active participant in the decision making for their future than having to have the conversation in the hospital where they don’t have a choice in the matter. Have some facilities or home health companies send you information so everyone involved can make an informative decision before a catastrophic event happens and decisions have to be made abruptly. If you do bring it up and you are met with negativity or anger that is a normal reaction. You need to get the subject opened up to at least get the idea into his or her head, and doing research will help you to be confident and prepared. Sometimes it has to be their idea, and there is nothing wrong with that. No one likes change, the unknown or having to come to terms with the fact they are getting older and need more help. But don’t wait! It is a To-Do list must. There are a lot of options out there and each one is different and may or may not be a good fit for them.
To keep away the winter blues, visit more often or have other loved ones visit as well if you can’t make it. Make sure the blinds are open, that they are bathing regularly and that they continue to change their clothes. See if there is food left out or old food in the refrigerator, and discuss Meals on Wheels so their nutrition is well balanced. Consult their doctor and make sure they have regular check-ups. Doctors can be of tremendous help when it comes to making informed decisions about care as well, especially since most folks these days have been seeing the same doctor for years and there is a trust that has been built. It is a must that you stay on top of their care for a good quality of life however you can. Don’t be afraid and if you feel guilty about asking questions, that is normal as well but remember that it’s for the best.”
Though they can be tough, conversations that address aging issues will provide clarity for everyone involved. “Having a good understanding of what your loved one needs will help you in finding the services that can help the most,” emphasizes Michaela Williams of Care Consultants for the Aging. “For instance, does your loved one need help with meals, medications, transferring and/or toileting? Once you determine your needs you can then ask the companies you are interested in if their services would be a good fit. If you are noticing changes with your loved one, it can be helpful to research a variety of different senior services that are available. Care Consultants produces the Elder Care Resource Handbook, which offers a complete listing of services available in the Omaha and Lincoln metro areas. It can be viewed for free online at www.careconsultants.com. In addition to a wealth of options for care and assisted living, Omaha also offers a wide variety of things for seniors to do in order to stay active and social. Finding out what your loved one is interested in and then looking at ways to accommodate any physical restrictions will help you figure out the best options. Home care can be used as a tool to keep your loved one involved in activities, as caregivers can take seniors to events and places that you may not be able to do yourself.”
“If you notice that your loved ones/friends/acquaintances need some extra assistance it is important to keep your loved one’s safety and well-being in mind,” agrees Mark Kresl of the Senior Health Foundation. “Most in-home care providers offer free evaluations to help you to better understand both the needs of the individual as well as the services offered. They measure the person’s ability to perform many functions that are vital to living independently. This is then used to determine what level of care would be most appropriate. There are also local organizations such as the Alzheimer’s Association and the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging that can assist with pointing you in the right direction and providing resources for services to assist your loved one. These resources are the best way to keep your loved one in their homes as long as possible.
He adds, “Studies have proven that people who volunteer their time, especially those who are over 60, receive health benefits that include reduced stress, lower incidence of depression, and greater life satisfaction. Senior residences are great places to volunteer your time no matter how old you are. For those who live in senior communities, I would also suggest being active by participating in outings or community events. Check out the local senior centers that offer a variety of activities and companionship. Omaha also has a few options of senior fitness or wellness centers that offer exercise, walking clubs, and activities that can keep a senior active, involved, healthy, and fit. Seniors can also stay active within their own home by doing favorite hobbies, crafts, puzzles, games, and more. Finally, there are non-medical home care companies such as Empower Home Care that offer companionship, personal care, and transportation for those seniors that could use someone to converse with, go for a walk, go on an outing, or get a ride to join in an activity with friends, at the senior center, or wellness center. It is important for seniors to stay active to maintain their health and well-being. It helps keep their mind, body, and spirit strong and positive.”
There are many opportunities for seniors to stay active, including formally organized activities for adults to attend as well as those that are more individually focused,” adds Jennifer Gibbons, RN, Director of Nursing and owner of Elite Professionals Home Care Company. “Joining a book club or simply going to a bookstore for socialization and coffee can both be fun! There are bowling groups, bible studies, craft groups, exercise groups and computer classes. Omaha is also a great place to get out and explore all the wonderful parks, trails and new development areas on nice warm spring days. All of these activities, along with many more, are great for older adults to stay active and involved. Staying social and active along with trying something new adds to an individual’s quality of life and happiness. Elite Professionals Home Care Company assists many of our clients in attending a variety of daily activities and helping our clients explore new places and things. We also provide transportation to and from activities for some individuals while for others our staff members remain with the individual and participate with them. Everyone enjoys the socialization!
However, as we are still stuck in the harsh winter season for a while longer, we encourage our clients to always ensure that they have proper amounts of food and water in their homes. When having to venture outside; dress in layers and use coats, hats, and gloves to ensure that the skin is not exposed. Wear shoes with traction on the bottom to prevent falls. If it is possible, be sure to go out with another person. When driving; be sure your car’s tires have good tread to prevent slipping, be sure to not let the gas tank levels get too low, have your battery and fluid levels checked when getting an oil change. Most importantly, if it is dangerous outdoors remain at home until the weather conditions improve! No outing is worth getting hurt! Be safe first!”
She also advises, “There is a great amount of information to know and understand when starting your search for a home care agency for a loved one and it can be very overwhelming. Call a few agencies and ask questions relating to your family’s expectations and needs. In my opinion, it is important to know if the agency is certified through Medicare and Medicaid, if the agency is licensed through the State of Nebraska and what type of background checks are done by the agency prior to hiring their employees. Other important questions to know and ask: what type of insurance is carried on the employees who will be in your home, what services are provided by the agency and the total cost of those services, what involvement will a nurse have in the type of care your loved one will receive and if there’s a charge for this nurse oversight. Staffing is also very important; how does the agency staff its visits and do they have a process to ensure visits or hours are completed if an employee is ill or cannot complete your visit that day? At Elite Professionals Home Care Company we help families answer all these questions with answers that will give them peace of mind. We take the time to get to know the family and make sure to understand their needs to ensure the transition is smooth. Be sure to choose the agency that you feel best meets your family’s expectations and care needs.
Elite Professionals Home Care Company offers a special 24-hour caregiver program. This program offers one on one care with around-the-clock assistance and is paid at a flat rate every day. It is specifically designed to allow for the patient to continue to do all of the things that they love in the community as well as in their home. The care is tailored to the patient so that the patient is able to continue doing the things they love; for example: going to church, participating in craft groups, attending exercise programs, etc.
If an individual is not ready for 24 hour care in their home, Elite Professionals Home Care Company offers anything from one hour visits per day up to 24 hours per day. These visits may consist of a homemaker for companionship/errands/cleaning, a certified nursing assistant for assistance with bathing/dressing/medications/ personal care, a skilled nurse visit, and physical, occupational, or speech therapy visits. Because Elite Professionals is Medicare and Medicaid certified, if one of our clients has a setback or a hospitalization they can return home under Medicare with the same company & caregivers that they are already familiar with. This eliminates the confusion and work of having to find another provider for those specific skilled cares.
Many long term insurance companies are including home health coverage in their client’s policies. We accept many different long-term care insurance plans from a variety of our clients. Those clients receive cares anywhere from 1 hour per day to 24 hours per day. Depending on the client’s specific long-term care policy, many of them have found that their home health care needs are very affordable!”
It may seem overwhelming at first, but there are a lot of resources available to help you with making informed decisions. “The first steps in finding a retirement community would be to choose an area of town and make a list of communities to visit,” advises Kalli Amend of Elk Ridge Village Assisted Living and Special Memory Care. “Look at expenses, decide on your budget and then do research to find out pricing. Once you gather that information you’ll know which places will work with your budget. Make a list of wants/needs, decide what is important and list those as your highest priorities. When you know what communities you’d like to visit and you have a good idea of the main factors that will influence your final decision, make appointments to meet and go on a tour. Word of mouth is also a great way to learn about retirement communities, so ask your friends and colleagues for their input too. Seniors and their families need to plan for the future instead of waiting for a crisis or a situation where they have to act fast and not on their own terms. Making the move sooner rather than later is always better for both the individual and their family.”
If a move is on the horizon or already scheduled for this spring, you may need to utilize a storage facility for the transition or for a temporary home for belongings until everything settles down or they can be picked up by family members. Strong Box Storage is a locally owned and operated facility that offers plenty of options for storage and moving supplies to get you relocated smoothly, and with the many security features, 24-hour access and on-site staff you can be assured that your belongings and treasured possessions are safe and can be reached whenever you need them.
For seniors and their loved ones, planning for the future will also include the details in the event of their passing. Nebraska Cremation is a full-service funeral home that is known for providing first-class funerals and creative cremations. Greg Nabity, Funeral Director and Cremationist for Nebraska Cremation, explains, “Our funeral home has been in operation since 1907, and since that time many things have changed–especially the popularity of cremation services. Funeral expenses are often a worry for seniors and their loved ones, and having options that can be individually tailored for each person really benefits everyone involved. I established Nebraska Cremation five years ago to serve people who desire the low cost, simplicity and convenience of cremation. Our Cremation With Certainty guarantee is our pledge to you that we meticulously care for your loved one every step of the way.
One of the appeals of choosing us for your cremation needs, in addition to our lower price, is our convenience. Complete cremation arrangements can be made my mail or fax, over the telephone, or at your own residence without ever having to visit our historic facilities directly. This eliminates any geographic barriers to selecting us for your cremation needs. Our central location in Wahoo allows us to bring our friendly, hometown service to a wide geographic area. You are welcome to visit in person, anytime you wish. When it comes to these types of arrangements, my best advice is to have an established plan in place as early as possible. This will allow you peace of mind that everything will be handled as it was meant to be when the time comes.”
Now is the perfect time for seniors and their families to reach out, find information, and begin making those important plans for the future—even if it’s just making plans for getting out more often this spring, arranging for necessary health check-ups or getting legal affairs in order. As you can see, whatever your needs there’s no shortage of wonderful resources in the Lincoln area who are more than happy to help you navigate your journey. Being proactive is the key to covering all of the bases and getting the most out of life at any age!