When needing help with aging parents or older adults living in the Chicago area please contact one of our offices -  Home Care Chicago North Side (773) 784-4024, Home Care Chicago Gold Coast and Lincoln Park (773) 463-3500, or Home Care Chicago Downtown, Near West, South Side (312) 348-7238.

Recently, one of our clients who lived in a retirement community in Chicago declined to the point where she needed to move into a nursing home.

However, this was around the time of Passover, and her family couldn’t remember the last time that Grandma wasn’t with the family during this holiday.  Mrs. B now required assistance with multiple ADLs (activities of daily living), and her family would not be able to provide them to her. They contacted Home Instead Senior Care to get a companion to accompany her to the Seder.  The family told us it made their night to have Grandma there.

Although she has memory loss, it was so special that she still remembered all the words to all the hymns, and was able to sing along!  The family told us they will remember that Seder forever, as they are not sure how many more Grandma will be able to attend!

Gina Caplan - Client Services Director

Family Matters-40/70 Talk

Thinking back to when my dad was staying with me, I remember an incident when he had fallen when I was at work. When I came home glass was shattered everywhere from my glass top coffee table, and my dad’s arm was a mess from his fall. It terrified me, and these are the types of issues that can arise, when it is important to communicate with your elderly parent.

At Home Instead Senior Care, this kind of communication is referred to as the 40/70 Rule. This means that if you and your parents are in this age range, it’s a good time to sit down and bring up topics that concern their well being. Here are 7 tips listed from the Home Instead website that are helpful when you decide to have “the talk”.

Seven Tips to Help Boomer Children Communicate With Their Aging Parents:

1. Get Started.

If you’re 40 or your parents are 70, it’s time to start observing and gathering information carefully and thoughtfully

2. Talk it out.

Approach your parents with a conversation. Discuss what you’ve observed and ask your parents what they think is going on. If your parents acknowledge the situation, ask what they think would be good solutions.

3. Sooner is best.

Talk sooner rather than later when a crisis has occurred.

4. Forget the Baby Talk

Remember you are talking to an adult, not a child.

5. Maximize the Independence.

Always try to move toward solutions that provide the maximum amount of independence for the older person. Look for answers that optimize strengths and compensate for problems.

6. Be aware of the whole situation.

7. Ask for Help.

Many of the issues of aging can be solved by providing parents with the support they need to continue to maintain their independence.

When needing help with aging parents or older adults living in the Chicago area please contact one of our offices -  Home Care Chicago North Side (773) 784-4024, Home Care Chicago Gold Coast and Lincoln Park (773) 463-3500, or Home Care Chicago Downtown, Near West, South Side (312) 348-7238.

Image: unitedwaytarrant.org

Is Caregiver Support Right for You?

Looking back on the days that I was caregiving for my dad, I remember when I had been reaching out for support. I looked and looked in the Chicago area, and couldn’t quite find what was looking for. So…what did I do? I created my own support group! If you are wondering how one might do that, it’s really not as difficult as you think. I was able to find support through the church I attended. Also, some organizations in bigger cities are more than happy for individuals living in small towns to branch out and affiliate themselves with your group.

Call your local Area Agency on Aging, senior center, senior services organization, county information and referral service, university gerontology department, family service, or hospital social work unit for help with getting your group started. Fraternal organizations such as the Elks, Eagles, or Moose lodges may offer some assistance for you too. There are benefits to having a community support group, such as:

• People live near each other and meet in a given place each week or month.
• You get face-to-face contact with people and a chance to make new friends who live near you.
• Since the people are from your area, they’ll be more familiar with local resources and challenges.
• Gets you out of the house and gets you moving.
• If attend meetings regularly you will get the full benefit of the group.
• If you decide to start a support group, you are on your way to not just taking care of your senior, but taking care of yourself as well.

When needing help with aging parents or older adults living in the Chicago area please contact one of our offices -  Home Care Chicago North Side (773) 784-4024, Home Care Chicago Gold Coast and Lincoln Park (773) 463-3500, or Home Care Chicago Downtown, Near West, South Side (312) 348-7238.

Most family caregivers struggle to balance care for an aging parent or relative with other major responsibilities, including jobs and caring for children. This often means that there is little time to care for themselves, which can result in poor health and high levels of stress.

Below are some tips for avoiding and managing caregiver stress in Chicago from the experts on the Home Instead Senior Care Advisory Board:

• Work out: Exercise and enjoy something you like to do for a minimum of 20 minutes at least three times per week. Yoga or tai-chi, which teach inner balance and relaxation, are great stress relievers.
• Meditate: Sit still and breathe deeply with your mind as “quiet” as possible whenever things feel like they are moving too quickly or you are feeling overwhelmed by your responsibilities as a caregiver.
• Ask for help: According to a national survey by Home Instead Senior Care of adults who are currently providing care for an aging loved one, 72 percent do so without any outside help. You don’t have to do it all yourself.
• Take a break: Make arrangements for any necessary fill-in help (family, friends, volunteers or professional caregivers). Take a vacation if you need to.
• Eat well: Eat plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables, proteins, including nuts and beans, and whole grains.
• Take care of yourself: Make sure you get your annual check-up.
• Indulge: Treat yourself to a foot massage, manicure, nice dinner out or a concert to take you away from the situation. You shouldn’t feel guilty about wanting to feel good. Support: Find local caregiver support groups that will help you understand what you are feeling/experiencing.

When needing help with aging parents or older adults living in the Chicago area please contact one of our offices -  Home Care Chicago North Side (773) 784-4024, Home Care Chicago Gold Coast and Lincoln Park (773) 463-3500, or Home Care Chicago Downtown, Near West, South Side (312) 348-7238.

Caregivers, are you having feelings of anxiety, depression, and/or having mood swings? Is it hard to concentrate, and at times do you feel as if everything is out of control? If some of these feelings fit what you are going through, first of all you need to know that you are not alone. Getting support will help reduce the associated physical and emotional risks of ongoing stress. Remember, it is not selfish to focus on your own needs and desires when you are a family caregiver. In fact, it is a necessity to take initiative with your own physical and emotional care, or else it could make you less useful to the person for whom you are caring.

If you feel as if you need more support but don’t know where to turn, here are some helpful resources to turn to in Chicago. Try not to be reluctant to ask for help if you need it. Reaching out could be the key to alleviating a lot of the stress in your life.

Resources:

Home Instead Senior Care
888.484.5759
www.homeinstead.com

Leeza’s Place
888.OK.Leeza
www.leezasplace.org

National Family Caregivers Association
800.896.3650
www.nfcacares.org

Family Caregiver Alliance
415.434.3388
www.caregiver.org

Administration on Aging
800.677.1116
www.aoa.dhhs.gov

Well Spouse Foundation
800.838.0879
www.wellspouse.org

National Alzheimer’s Association
800.272.3900
www.alz.org

Image: Home Instead Senior Care

When needing help with aging parents or older adults living in the Chicago area please contact one of our offices -  Home Care Chicago North Side (773) 784-4024, Home Care Chicago Gold Coast and Lincoln Park (773) 463-3500, or Home Care Chicago Downtown, Near West, South Side (312) 348-7238.