Caregiver Activity Ideas: Comedy

For senior citizens, a great way to continue to enjoy aging is by picking up a new hobby. Some common activities include walking, card games, water color painting, knitting, and more. In the U.K., Silver Comedy, a comedy training company, is leaving those usual activities behind and actively engaging seniors through comedy.

It is a great idea because there are many clear benefits of using comedy as a way to engage seniors, and incorporating comedy is a great idea for caregivers looking to diversify activities with their elder loved ones. Laughing with your loved one is perhaps one of the best ways to relieve stress, for both of you. Furthermore, engaging your senior in these activities will help prevent feelings of isolation and depression, as well as foster confidence.

Here is Silver Comedy's YouTube video explaining the benefits of comedy in the older population:

As a caregiver, you can try to incorporate comedy into your day as a way to break up the routine and enjoy a good laugh!

Caregiving and Depression

This week, Huffington Post included caregiving in a list of seven jobs associated with health risks. They reported that caregivers have the highest rate of depression, and 11% of caregivers have had a major depressive episode. Even more alarming, according to Caring.com, a survey revealed 25% of caregiver respondents suffered from depression. The national average reported by the CDC is 9%, so the incidence of depression among caregivers is more than twice the national average. Here at LTS we are trying to provide increased support to caregivers through WeCare+, with the goal of helping them manage stress and hence their feeling of helplessness.

Increasing knowledge is one step in addressing the occurrence of depression among caregivers. Understanding some of the emotional factors of caregiving is crucial to helping to manage potential episodes of depression. For example, it is normal for caregivers to experience frustration, anger, and guilt, but accepting this as part of the caregiving experience is difficult. Also, regularly seeing people you love in ill health can lead one to feelings of depression. It is especially difficult for caregivers who experience guilt when they take a break from caring for their loved ones. Furthermore, many caregivers have minimal knowledge of resources that can help them avoid or eliminate some of the stress involved with caregiving. These resources can address a range of caregiving issues, from emotional support to services and equipment that can help in the management of the care for their loved ones. Having the right level of support and information can contribute positively to managing stress and depression.

Knowing the symptoms of depression is an important step in managing the situation. Here is a useful fact sheet from the Family Caregiver Alliance about understanding, recognizing and treating caregiver depression: FCA Caregiving and Depression

Celebrating Aging

Here at LTS, it seems like we’re always finding different reasons to celebrate aging. The Legacy Project is doing this by gathering advice from over 1,500 elderly Americans. The advice is on a range of topics from relationships to well-being, and it’s intended for young people to use in their life.

One great compilation is a list of tips on how to be happier. The organizer selected 10 lessons from all of the responses he had received. The list covers career, physical health, relationships and more. Numerous studies have shown that positive thinking can lead to health benefits, decreased stress, and better mental resiliency. This list is a great starting place if you’re looking for some tips to develop a more positive way of thinking.

The list can be found here: Top 10 List From The Wisest Americans: How To Be Happier

Identifying with being a Caregiver

Here at LTS we are happy to see a discussion beginning about what employers can do for their caregiver employees. Most caregivers balance full-time employment with their caregiving responsibilities. This combination of responsibilities can affect your work in a variety of ways - missed work days, decreased productivity, reduction in pay to name a few ways. The role of caregiver can develop slowly into a full-time job. Sometimes, helping a parent out with a couple of bills becomes managing all of their finances. Many people don’t necessarily wake up one morning with the new role of full-time caregiver, so it can be difficult to realize that these added responsibilities mean you are a caregiver. A recent article from HR Executive Online offered some tips on recognizing that you are a caregiver. Here are some indications based on your answer to these questions.

• Do you visit someone or check in on them on a regular basis because of concerns about their well-being?
• Do you help with bills?
• Do you help with grocery shopping?
• Do you help with appointment scheduling?
• Do you help with transportation, such as driving an aging parent around?
• Do you worry about whether they are taking their medications?
• Do you feel stressed because of these responsibilities?

All of these and more indicate that you are a caregiver. Identifying with the role of caregiver will free you to seek help. There is a vast amount of information available about resources to tap into for help. There are also communities of people in similar situations to connect with, learn from and share successful coping ideas. You can also work with your employer to see if there is any support that might be available through your human resources department. Finding those sources and using them can help alleviate stress. The article from Human Resources Executive Online does a great job of describing the different aspects of caregiving and working, as well as possible solutions to this combination.

Here is the article from Human Resources Executive Online: Caring for the Caregivers, and here is the article from our Anne Harrington, our COO, about what employers can do for their employees: Employer Assisted Care: Not Just for Children.

Appreciate a Caregiver Day

Happy Valentine’s Day! We know that, traditionally, Valentine’s Day is usually about a spouse or significant other. However, here at LTS we want to focus on showing love to caregivers. Valentine's Day is a great opportunity to show them that you care and love everything they do for you. The average caregiver balances caring for a loved one, working a full-time job and caring for their family. The amount of stress they endure is unimaginable, and today is a great day to give them a break!

Flowers and Chocolates – A great, traditional way to show someone you care about them. Also, chocolate is good for your heart, so eat up!

Spa Gift Card – Give your loved one the opportunity to be pampered by someone else!

Coffee Shop Gift Card – It’s hard to squeeze in time for a coffee break, but having a gift card is a great excuse to take one.

Make a Meal and Bake Some Dessert – Everyone loves having homemade baked goods around, and it’s always great to have someone else cook a meal!

Write a Thoughtful Card – Tell them how much you care for what they’re doing, and show them that you appreciate everything they do for you.

Buy A Journal – Sometimes it’s hard to express in words the difficulties that come with caregiving,but journaling provides an alternative outlet for these emotions.

An Hour Break – It may seem like the opposite way of showing affection, but leave them alone for an hour! Let your loved one just take a break, and promise no disruptions.

We hope you have a great Valentine’s Day and appreciate the caregiver in your life today!

Anne Harrington featured in Voluntary Benefits Magazine

Long Term Solutions was very excited to see that an article written by our COO, Anne Harrington, was featured in Voluntary Benefits Magazine. The article provides insight into employer funded eldercare assistance. To read the article, click on the Voluntary Benefits Magazine button below!

Heart Health Month

February is Heart Health Month, and it’s crucial to educate yourself about cardiovascular wellness! Did you know that every 34 seconds someone in the United States has a heart attack? In the United States, heart disease is an epidemic. According to the CDC, one in three deaths is from heart disease and stroke, and it is the leading cause of death in the United States.

It’s time to bring awareness to heart disease, as many forms of heart disease are thought to be entirely preventable. In order to help bring national focus to heart disease, the CDC has launched The Million Hearts Campaign. It is focused on preventing 1 million heart disease related deaths by 2017.

They developed an acronym to help encourage cardiac health - ABCS:

Appropriate Aspirin Therapy
Blood Pressure Control
Cholesterol Management
Smoking Cessation

Here is the link to the website: http://millionhearts.hhs.gov/index.html. You’ll find more information about heart health, and you should take the time to educate yourself on heart health!