As seniors get older and begin to struggle with living independently, they along with their families have some tough choices to make. Choosing a senior care option is not an easy decision, but one newly emerging trend for those seniors who require more than home care services is to use assisted living facilities (AFLs) which offer the following services and benefits:

1. Living independently – seniors in ALFs are often in one-bedroom or studio apartment buildings, so they have the privacy and independence that they require

2. Safety is offered – ALF apartments anticipate the safety needs of seniors and ensure that they include grab bars, ramps and other essential safety devices. Supervisors are always available to respond to emergencies

3. Seniors don’t need to worry about home maintenance – cleaning services, including laundry can be provided by ALF

4. Activity of daily living services are offered – bathing, dressing, and medication reminders can be provided. There are also special facilities for those who suffer with Alzheimer’s and dementia and designated services

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.

When visiting a senior relative this month over the holidays, be on the lookout for warning signs that their lifestyle may have become too much for them. Senior care experts recommend that families make note of the following things:

1. Learn about what your senior wants for the future – the holidays aren’t a time to bring up stressful conversations, but you can casually ask them about their desires for their future. If you learn they’re hoping to move closer to their grandchildren or to a warmer climate, that can help you understand for planning

2. Take a look at how they’re doing physically and mentally – simply being in a senior’s presence over the holidays will help you to evaluate their physical and mental health that could dictate their future senior care needs

3. Include the whole family – particularly if the senior you are assessing is a parent and you have siblings, everyone needs to be included in the discussions, at least until a family caregiver is decided to provide family care. Open the dialogue with your family members about the future of your loved one’s care

Via: www.stagesofseniorcare.com

Image: sxc.hu

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.

Thursday, September 24, 2009, at 5:02 pm by Bill Smith from evanstonnow.com

With the U.S. population aging, a growing number of people find themselves looking for answers and advice on how to best assist their aging parents.

A program “Everything You’ve Always Wanted to Know About Caring For Your Aging Parents But Were Too Afraid To Ask” will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 14, at the Unitarian Church, 1330 Ridge Ave.

The event is open to the public, and aimed at providing answers and advice to caregivers who may be caring for a spouse, parent, or loved one.

“We’ve found that people are hungry for information and answers”, said Stephanie Smart, one of the organizers of the event. “People have questions. They want to know what services and options are available, how the system works, what things cost and what Medicare will pay for.”

Stephanie Smart works for Home Instead Senior Care, the organization sponsoring the event.

The event will include several professionals from various services and areas of aging, such as Evanston Skokie Valley Senior Services, Trusts and Elder Law, Geriatric Care Management, Nursing Home and Assisted Living, Home Health, and Long Term Care Insurance.

The forum will begin with brief presentations from each professional, including helpful advice and resources. The second half of the evening is structured so that attendees can ask questions and talk one-on-one with any of the professionals.

The concept of having the ‘difficult conversation’ with an elderly parent will also be discussed. The 40/70 Awareness Campaign helps people understand the need for family discussions on matters related to aging. The “40/70 Rule” refers to need start talking about things like advance directives and planning when children are over 40 or their parents are over 70.

“This is not a sales or promotional event,” said Smart. “No one will be pitching any products, or services. The point of this is for people to get answers to their questions about caring for their parents. That’s our goal.”

For more information about the event visit www.HomeInsteadChicago.com or contact Stephanie Smart at (847) 673-1250, stephanie.smart@homeinstead.com

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!

DATE & TIME: Wednesday, October 14th, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

LOCATION: Unitarian Church, 1330 Ridge, Evanston IL, (847) 864-1330

FEE: There is no charge for this event

TO RSVP, OR FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Stephanie Smart, stephanie.smart@homeinstead.com

or call (847) 673-1250

Sponsored By: Home Instead Senior Care, Skokie IL

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.

Telling a loved one that it might be time that they need some help is never easy. Reactions are not always agreeable, because no one wants to lose their independence regardless of their progressing age. Here are 7 ways you can talk to your parents about senior care:

1. Remember change is difficult for everyone – their resistance might be frustrating, but think about how you would feel in the same situation
2. Give him/her time to come around – introduce changes slowly, but don’t force them. Eventually, the changes if for your senior’s benefit will be more accepted, once they get past denying they need help
3. Keep on trying – if you try to introduce a change and it’s not accepted, wait and try again. Sometimes even 15 minutes can make a world of difference
4. Keep them involved in decisions – let your senior know he/she does have a say in making decisions about care. However, do try and be persuasive about introducing care options
5. Offer a trial period – if they are resistant, persuade your senior to give your suggestion a try. A trial period with a home caregiver or with you helping around the house may help them to realize how much it can ease their burden
6. Present it as help for them – when suggesting you help them out or hire a caregiver, don’t present it as a result of their limitations, tell them it’s to have someone available to clean up around the house so they don’t feel obligated, or to help with moving of heavy objects
7. Know when to stop pushing – remember, that despite your concerns, your senior is still someone who is capable and allowed to make their own decisions. If you have tried the above to no avail, no when to stop pushing otherwise you might risk your relationship

Via: National Caregiver’s Library

image: jupiterimages.com

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.

In many cultures, it’s common for aging parents to move in with their children to be taken care of; in a kind of cyclical way that allows children to return the favor by providing a life for their parents, just as their parents did for them during childhood. But until recently, many cultures did not embrace this trend, and suddenly this is a trend that is growing. Today, approximately 43% of adult caregivers in Chicago and across the United States live with an older parent or relative; and in the past two years, this is a trend that has increased by approximately 60%.

Although President Obama and Joe Biden both have older generations of family members living in their homes, American families that are choosing to move their seniors into their homes are certainly not doing just to follow in their footsteps. So why is it that multigenerational homes are a growing trend?

• Families are sharing in caregiving duties and looking out for each other. Whether it’s because a senior in the family needs assistance, because a grandparent is providing care for grandchildren, or because the family is anticipating future needs, families are more focused than ever on providing for each other

• When seniors experience loss or struggle with the emotional effects of a devastating diagnosis, they can use the support of their family so that they don’t become isolated

• The economy is affecting seniors and their families, making it hard to cover basic costs of living. By coming together, seniors and families can share the financial burden of living to ensure that all of their needs are met

Via: Home Instead Senior Care https://www.homeinstead.com/Lists/doclistlib/Attachments/257/Too_Close_For_Comfort_Booklet.pdf

fotosearch.com

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.

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.

While it may be a perception that seniors living in Chicago have no reason to worry and cope with stresses that can be detrimental to their health, the reality is that with retirement there can come a great deal of emotional stress that can lead many American seniors to worry their way into an early grave. Sure, it may seem like retirement is all about margaritas on the beach, and leisurely visits with grandchildren and family; but even seniors who have left behind the stresses of direct family responsibility and careers have a great deal to worry about.

Seniors lead lives filled with the unexpected; with fixed incomes their financial stability is often uncertain; they worry about finding the finances to fund their medical needs; and they’re constantly coping with change, like the loss of a close friend or spouse which can turn their world upside-down and trigger stress. With all of these worries on their mind at all times, seniors can suffer from chronic stress and chronic worry which can ultimately lead to health problems.

In order to cope with these anxieties and manage their stress so it doesn’t have a detrimental impact on their health, seniors should choose activities that are physical in nature to help reduce tension and keep blood pressure low. The elderly can also cope with stress by engaging in activities that they enjoy; simply spending time with family, or doing an activity that puts a smile on their face can ensure that stress is coped with appropriately.

Sources:

1. SeniorJournal.com

2. Associated Content

3. The American Institute of Stress

Image Source: www.bt.cdc.gov

Q – My elderly mother lives in Chicago and I think she’s starting to struggle to manage in her home. I don’t think that she can keep up with the responsibility of maintaining a home, and I fear that she’s going to have an accident due to her declining mobility. I know she would hate to end up in a Chicago nursing home or assisted living facility, is there any way to keep her at home but get her some help?

A – There are professional in-home caregiving agencies throughout Chicago that would be perfect for your mom’s situation. While many people do believe that the only answer is to move a senior to nursing home or assisted living facility, seniors today do have options. Suggest hiring a caregiver to your mom to help her out with the tasks she struggles with, so that she’s not overextending herself to the point than an accident might occur. This may feel like a loss of independence itself, but when seniors can maintain their lifestyle, many are more receptive to in-home caregiving than the other options available. Contact an agency and try it out, nothing is forever, so if she’s not satisfied with the help she’s receiving, there’s no obligation to continue with it!

Sources:

1. Senior Journal

Image Source: pro.corbis.com

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.

The elder care industry is making a big transformation, from a structure where seniors were removed from their homes when they “got too old” to live on their own, to one where seniors are encouraged to maintain their lifestyles by seeking the help at home they need to do it.

Home care is the new and trendy way to care for seniors with Alzheimer’s, and there are some great reasons for it. First of all, it allows seniors to maintain something that’s familiar to them at a time when many of their loved ones and once familiar surroundings are becoming unrecognizable to them. This can be incredibly beneficial to their quality of life and even the progression of the disease. When choosing home care for a senior with Alzheimer’s, like those services offered by Home Instead Senior Care, seniors are offered comfort and safety, through receiving assistance with tasks that have become too challenging or that compromise their health and safety. Family members are also provided with a sense of reassurance, knowing that their loved ones are safe at home, and that their every need is cared for regardless of the limitations presented by their disease.

Alzheimer’s doesn’t need to cripple a senior’s lifestyle and quality of life, with the right help, they can keep on living their life as they’ve always planned to!

Sources:

1. Alz Info
2. Home Instead Senior Care

Image Source: pro.corbis.com

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.

Having had to go through the decision of bringing a senior home care provider into my father’s Chicago home when he was in the 70’s, I know just how hard it can be to know when it’s the right time. While I’m sure that every situation varies for each senior and their family, there were a few factors that made me determine it was the right time to help my dad by providing him with in-home care. For one, after recovering from an injury, I knew I wouldn’t be able to be there for his every whim once he returned home from the hospital, and I really wanted him to focus on his recovery, and didn’t want him to overdo it by trying to keep up with things around the house. Since I couldn’t be there all the time, I figured that an in-home care provider for seniors would be able to fill in the gaps.

Even after his recovery, we decided it was a good idea to keep the professional caregiver, because his doctor recommended that since his injury probably impacted his reflexes, he give up his car keys. While I had no problem arranging to drive my dad around to run errands, I knew that with my immediate family and my career, that I wouldn’t be able to accommodate him every time he needed me since I’d need to work around my schedule.

I would say, that anyone who sees their elderly parent or relative beginning to struggle, should consider home care to fill in the blanks.

- Stephanie, 45 Chicago

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.

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.