Senior Living Information Blog

How to Deal with a Difficult Sibling in Decision-making for an Aging Parent

It seems that every day I have a similar conversation with friends and colleagues.  “I can’t get our family on the same page about our elderly parent.  It’s like my brother came in from another planet.”  I laughed the first time I heard that statement but realize that’s exactly how I felt about my brother!

via www.transitionagingparents.com

Another great post on Dale's Blog.  Thanks for sharing so much of your personal story Dale, it helps us all!

Seniors for Living's list of helpful caregiving resources on Twitter

Thank you to Seniors for Living for compiling a helpful list of Caregiving resources that they follow on Twitter.  Thank you especially for including @seniorlivingexp we are honored to be part of such a great group of people!

You can also follow me on Facebook!

Communicating in Alzheimer's World

Alzheimer's Reading Room: Communicating in Alzheimer's World 

After repeatedly correcting my mother, telling her she just ate, and watching her get frustrated or angry, I finally realized something had to change -- this something was me. I had to change......

I love Bob's Blog, the Alzheimer's Reading room. This is one of my favorite articles because it speaks to anyone of us who has found themselves a little (.....) frustrated when trying to communicate with someone with Alzheimer's disease

If you are in that situation now, take a second and click the link at the top of this post a read his post. (And anything else on his site for that matter.) Keep up the great work Bob!

Are You or Someone You Know Caring For an Elderly Loved One?

A few years ago, I had the chance to meet Barbara Friesner, and Elder Care Expert and Founder of AgeWiseLiving.  A while ago, she created “The Ultimate Caregiver’s Success System” which I recommend to any caregiver dealing with an aging parent. 

Just in time for the holidays, she is offering $100 off AND a free upgrade on shipping so that you can order today and get it in time for Christmas.  It’s a great gift so I thought I would share some information on it!  I had them send me this description because I know she could explain it better than I!

Did you know that more than 1/3 of elder caregivers had long term health problems because of elder caregiving?

In fact, researchers have found that there is a 63% increase in mortality over 4 years, compared with non-caregivers.  And the numbers are worse when there is also financial strain.

Did you know that almost all respondents reported that they paid one or more expenses in order to help the care recipient? (Food, transportation, and medications were their three most common expenses.) And these are just miscellaneous costs – not including loss of pay, pension, social security, etc.

Barbara Friesner, Elder Care Expert, Generational Coach, and former caregiver to her grandmother, and her mother, has helped hundreds of families with their Elder Care issues.

That’s why she created “The Ultimate Caregiver’s Success System.” And right now, Barbara is offering it at $100 off the regular price! And right now, until December 22nd, you'll also receive a free upgrade from ground to air shipping at no additional cost! To order just click on this link “The Ultimate Caregiver’s Success System”

If you’re a caregiver or care about someone who is, please don’t wait until these statistics are about you. Give yourself or someone you love the gift of love and order “The Ultimate Caregiver’s Success System” at this special sale price today and get the help you need today.

”The Ultimate Caregiver’s Success System” is an amazingly comprehensive and information-rich resource that is guaranteed to address your most difficult questions, roadblocks, and communication breakdowns that are so typical for elder caregivers.

Because no one has time and money to waste – especially caregivers –“The Ultimate Caregiver’s Success System” is a very simple step-by-step and easy to follow program.

 The System includes “The Ultimate Caregiver’s Success GUIDE” which has checklists, examples . . . all kinds of information – that makes the process easy to understand and more importantly, easy to be successful. In addition, the System includes 8 CDs –6 seminars, 1 CD of all the forms in the book, and 1 CD with Barbara's rolodex of resources, plus the 3 CD boxed set of the Expert Series. That’s The Ultimate Caregiver’s Success Guide and 11 CDs.

Senior Living Choices Telesummit!

Dale Carter from Transition Aging Parents is putting together a 4 part informational telesummit on all kinds of senior living options.  You can learn about aging in place (staying home), CCRC's, Assisted Living (from me!!!) and nursing homes.  I encourage any and all of my readers to sign up for free and to spread the word to friends or family who may also need this information!  The link to the sign up form is at the bottom of this blog post.

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Do you have an aging parent?
Are you a caregiver of an elderly person?
Are you thinking ahead to your own later years?

You’ll want to listen in as four experts share their knowledge, experience and perspective on Senior Living options…and answer your questions!

Join Mark Hager, Jill Gilbert, Lisa Sneddon, and Eleanor Feldman Barbera for our…

*** FREE Telesummit ***

‘Choices: Senior Living Options’

Monday, November 2, 2009 8 pm Eastern
Tuesday, November 3, 2009 8 pm Eastern
Wednesday, November 4, 2009 8 pm Eastern
Thursday, November 5, 2009 8 pm Eastern

Each evening, we’ll explore one of the following:

• “Aging in Place” (11/02)
• Continuing Care Retirement Community -CCRC (11/03)
• Assisted Living (11/04)
• Nursing Home (11/05)

By the end of our Telesummit, you will walk away with a clear comparison and understanding of each Senior Living option.

These four experts will share their positive vision of aging and how we can partner with our aging parents and families in making the right decision at this point in time in our parents’ lives, as well as preparing for the future. I have chosen these experts very carefully. Join us and you will see why for yourself.

Here are just some of the questions each expert will answer:

• What is this living option? Why would someone choose this option over one of the others?
• What are the benefits and disadvantages of making this choice?
• After we make this choice, how do we find the right place?
• What’s the cost and how do we pay for it? Where can we get financial help?
• How can I best help transition my aging parent to this new type of living situation?
• How will I know when it’s time to make a change to another option?

Sign up now to get the Call-in details! The telesummit is free. You’ll receive a hand-out to make your note-taking structured and easy. Recordings of calls will be available for a fee.

Sitting outside enjoying a cup of tea...

You are never to old to twitter!  Or facebook or blog for that matter. 

Just read a wonderful article about Ivy Bean, a young (104 y.o.) lady that I happen to be following on twitter.  I have been following her for a while, so it was cool to see the article and learn more about her.

You can follow her on twitter @IvyBean104 and you can follow me @SeniorLivingExp

Here is a link to the article from CNN.

Free flowers & hugs? Yes Please!

I love this blog post on "Frugal Family Fun!".  If you are going to be frugal, why not share some free smiles & hugs.  I bet this activity was enjoyed by everyone she saw that day at their assisted living community.  But you have to see the pictures - as they tell the story best.  Free Flowers & Hugs!

Alzheimer's Reading Room, a great resource

Just read another short post on Bob DeMarco's fabulous blog, the Alzheimer's Reading Room.  This one was about how one of the first signs you might look for when someone has dementia that you might not think of is their feet!  Shuffling the feet could be a sign of early cognitive development.  Having worked in an assisted living community with a wonderful section just for those with dementia, I can attest to the fact that many of the residents did shuffle their feet.  It was if they were walking with out lifting their feet.

Anyway, that is just one of the many informative things I have learned or thought more about since I started following Bob on Twitter (@ALZHEIMERSread) and reading his blog.  Bob always sends out very informative tweets with links to various articles around the web and I feel like I am always learning (or finding!) something if I follow them.

When is it time to move a loved one to assisted living?

Patricia Grace is one of the many passionate elder care advisers that I follow on Twitter.  I recently ran across this article of hers and had to share as it is such a common question I get when people find out what I do. Here is the beginning of the article:

Making the decision to move a parent or loved from their home into an assisted living, retirement or nursing community is never an easy decision. If you find yourself questioning the safety of your parent(s) living alone then perhaps you and your family should consider the following:

• Are you concerned your loved one might wander off and not find their way home?
• Are you unable to provide daily social interaction with your loved?
• Are you getting frustrated and angry caring for your loved one?

If you answered yes to these questions then the time might be right to move that elderly person to a senior housing community. Although making the decision to move a loved one can be very emotional and difficult, once it has been accomplished it can lead to an improved quality of life for everyone involved.

You can read the whole article here: Moving your loved one, when is it time?

Stove Top Fire Prevention

One of our Facebook Fans Gayle,  made me aware of a product that can give you piece of mind if you are worried that someone may leave the stove on and cause a fire.

This can be used in the home or in an apartment complex or senior living community!  The company is called CookStop.  Visit their website for detailed information.

You can set the stove for use during certain hours of the day (ie: scheduled cooking times) or you can set the stove so the user must push a button to cook longer than set time - ensuring that they are attentive to what is on the stove.  This actually wouldn't be a bad product for me.  (My husband is always turning the oven off after I cook something.)

Oh and you too can become a fan :

Senior Living Experts, Inc on Facebook