New Technology for Caregivers: Planning with Apps

Caregivers assume an incredible amount of responsibility and a majority of their responsibilities revolve around planning and keeping track of most, if not all, of their loved one’s care needs. Usually, this is in the form of tracking doctor’s appointments, managing their loved one’s medications, and keeping track of important documents.  Fortunately, with almost everyone using a smartphone, there are a lot of technologies out there that can help caregivers with this planning.

Keeping Track of Doctor’s Appointments:

It’s incredibly easy to lose those small business cards that doctor’s offices give out for appointments. This can be especially difficult for a caregiver trying to track multiple appointments with multiple physicians and specialists. Tracking all of the appointments in a day planner is an option, but remembering to bring the planner to every appointment can be difficult. However, planning applications, such as Google Calendar, can be a great asset. Appointments can be organized by color, so a certain specialist can be assigned a specific color. This calendar can be accessed from multiple platforms, and can be quickly pulled up while scheduling.

Managing Medications:

There are multiple medication management applications, and most app stores allow users to browse through screenshots and reviews before committing to one. There is a great application called RxmindMe Prescription. This is a perfect application for caregivers. The application allows caregivers to set up alerts on a daily, hourly, or weekly basis. The app allows caregivers to be as specific or as general as they want. For example, a caregiver could put in an alert that says “call mom to reminder her about heart medication,” or the reminder could be more specific and state “remind mom to take 15 mg of Doxycycline.”  The best part of this application is the “Prescriptions” feature. This allows caregivers to group specific medications in categories. For example, heart medication, could be broken down into Lasix and Advair. In addition to this, the caregivers can upload pictures of the pills and dosing instructions for each medication to ensure that they are providing their loved one with the correct medication.

General Caregiver Information:

Eldercare 911 is an app designed by Dr. Marion Somers who is a Geriatric Care Manager, and it’s an incredible asset to caregivers. This is an incredibly helpful app that is designed to provide caregivers with all of the information needed while in an eldercare crisis. There is information regarding what to do before the crisis occurs, at the hospital, while planning for discharge, post-hospital care and while in recovery at home. Under each one of these categories are several sub-categories with even more resources. For example, if a caregiver is preparing for the discharge of your loved one from the hospital, this app provides information on how to hire help for your home, dealing with feelings of being overwhelmed, understanding adaptive equipment and more.  It’s incredibly easy to navigate, and the amount of resources in this app is astounding.

Currently, all of these applications are free in the iTunes store. Caregivers may have to try a couple of applications before finding one that works for them, but, in the time that they will save in the long run, it’s worth adopting these technologies.

Caregivers at LTS: Brenda

“What I really love about working on the administrative side of Long Term Solutions is that at the end of the day I know the work we do is helping someone,” explained Brenda. “At the other end of the phone or on the other end of the assessment is someone who we’re helping. There’s a person behind every claim number.”

Caregiving is something Brenda has been doing full-time since 2000, and, because of this, she is really able to relate to the adult caregivers she talks to on the phone every day.

“Caregiving is very hard, but I’ve found that one line really helps the adult caregivers: 'it’s not easy raising a parent,'” said Brenda laughing.

This lighthearted humor is a part of her family, and she’s incorporated this into her caregiving duties. In 2001, when Brenda was just 36, her mother was diagnosed with sarcoidosis of the lungs, and eventually became wheelchair bound and required constant oxygen. Her father’s vision started failing and he was legally blind by 2001. Between 2001 and 2004, Brenda primarily looked after her mother because her mother continued to help with her father’s care, despite her worsening condition.

“They really complimented each other and that’s why their marriage was so successful. They were best friends. As they aged, their joke was that my mother was my father’s eyes, and my father was my mother’s legs, so together they would be a complete person,” said Brenda smiling.

Unfortunately, Brenda’s mother’s condition worsened in 2004 and she became very ill. Before she passed away, Brenda promised to watch after her mother’s husband and best friend. 

“I said ‘you can go and be at peace, I will always take care of dad. I want you to know that,’” explained Brenda. “I feel like it is an honor to do, as much as it can sometimes be frustrating.”

That is a promise that Brenda has fulfilled two-fold, and in 2004 she became the full-time caregiver for her father. Prior to her mother’s passing, she had moved in with her parents to provide better care for them. They lived in a home in Connecticut, and then together in a ranch house in Florida. After Brenda’s mother passed away, it was very painful for her father to live in the house he had shared with his wife. Brenda decided that they should move back to New England. They moved to Massachusetts in December 2006.

“Now we’re in a condo, and in a condo, you don’t have a lot of personal space,” said Brenda laughing. “It’s difficult at times. For example, if you don’t want to listen to the music my dad is listening to you don’t really have a choice. I’ve listened to a lot of Eva Cassidy.”

With her father’s diagnosis, it can be difficult for him to leave the house. He gave up driving about six months after he realized his vision was failing. Brenda has a difficult time encouraging him to leave the house because he has a natural tendency to be somewhat reclusive.

“He isolates himself at home, so, in a lot of ways, I’m his only social outlet in addition to being his full-time caretaker. I don’t get upset, but sometimes it gets to you.”

Instead of finding activities at the local senior center, he opts to spend most of his time with their miniature schnauzer, Maddie. She is 12-years-old, and also lost her vision this past year. The pair spends their day together, and they’ve worked out quite a schedule. The two go outside walking, and her father will take his seated walker and watch Maddie as she walks around. The two then make their way down the road to the gas station to buy scratch tickets, and then to Dunkin Donuts for lunch. In addition to their outside activities, they spend some of their day watching Home Shopping Network and researching their family tree with a computer that has been adapted to compensate for his reduced vision.

“I never realized that, until my mom passed away, my mom kept my father really in control and grounded. Without her, if left to his own devices, he will really do some silly, silly things,” joked Brenda. 

However, Brenda has worked incredibly hard to help her father maintain a sense of independence.

“That’s one of the things I always think about. How can I provide him with some independence? I always give him options for dinner, for example. I like him to have some control. It’s very hard to feel like you’re losing your independence, especially for men.”

From ensuring that the carpeting in their condo was flush with the walls and level with the hardwood floors so that her father wouldn’t trip, to hunting down a specialized stove to allow her father to cook, Brenda has actively pushed to provide her father with this independence. Brenda is now preparing to remodel their bathroom to make the shower more accessible.

“Well, the most rewarding thing about caregiving is knowing that my dad is happy where he is, and knowing that the quality of life that I’m able to give him is appreciated,” explained Brenda.

It’s this perspective and appreciation that has helped Brenda while working with other adult caregivers.

“My experience with my dad has really helped me. When the caregivers are stressed out, I know it helps just to have someone listening to them and telling them that we are there for them. I always say how lucky their parents are to have them as an advocate, and how wonderful it is that they take the time to be involved in their parent’s care,” explained Brenda. “It’s not easy for them. But, it can help if you put it into perspective – how much your parents did for you, and how much you can give back.”

5 Tips for Saying 'No'

As a caregiver, you probably have a natural inclination to say yes to every request for your time and assistance. This blog post is going to serve as a friendly reminder that you don’t have to always say yes, and it is okay to say no. Here are some tips for saying no:

1. Appreciate how much time you’re dedicating to caregiving, and accept that you are very busy. Once you acknowledge your jam packed schedule, it will be easier to say no.

2. Take time to think about a request. It’s okay to tell a friend that you need to check your schedule and get back to them. Avoid impulsively saying yes to everything.

3. Accept the request, but reschedule it to fit into your schedule. Practice saying things such as “I’m sorry, I can’t help you on Friday, but I could give you a hand on Monday.”

4. Practice saying no. Start with little requests, and eventually you’ll feel more comfortable saying no.

5. Quiet that voice in your head and stop feeling guilty. People won’t think you are rude or selfish if you say no.

Elderly and Strength Training

Activity is incredibly important for the elderly. According to the CDC, if you are over 65, you should get at least 150 minutes a week of moderately intense aerobic activity and strength training at least two days a week.

Over the past few months, there has been more and more research highlighting the great health benefits seniors can gain from weight training.  In the most recent research, strength training was credited with preventing Alzheimer’s, dementia and cognitive decline. In addition to mental benefits, weight training can help seniors strengthen their bones, reduce their risk of falling, and contribute to heart health. Furthermore, according to the CDC, strength training has been credited with helping to reduce disease and symptoms of arthritis, diabetes, osteoporosis, obesity, back pain and depression.

For more information on strength training and exercise ideas, visit the links below:

CDC: Growing Stronger – Strength Training for Older Adults

About.com: Dumbbell Strength Training for Seniors

Elder Care Information

The Bureau of Labor Statistics released the American Time Use Survey this past week, and there are some incredible figures regarding family caregivers.

According to The New York Times, this survey was started in 2003, and the numbers are based on the minute by minute activities of Americans during a specific 24-hour period. This is the first year that elder care data was collected, and here is what they found:

39.8 million people over the age of 15 acted as unpaid caregivers to someone over 65.

22.3 million ( or 56%) of these caregivers were women.

 23% of these caregivers were between the ages of 45 to 54.

22% of these caregivers were between the ages of 55 to 65.

16% of these caregivers were 65 and older.

23% of these caregivers were part of the sandwich generation, and cared for a child under 18 in addition to fulfilling their elder care duties.

This data was taken in 2011. With the first baby boomers beginning to retire, it will be interesting to see which areas increase during the next year. What do you think this means for the future of caregiving? What surprise you most about this data?

You can find the New York Times article here, and more statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics here.

4th of July for Caregivers

As a caregiver, holidays can cause unnecessary stress. For caregivers caring for ailing or aging loved ones, the fireworks, parades and picnics associated with Independence Day can be difficult to navigate for a variety of reasons – crowds, accessibility and noise level are just a few of them. There are some basic things you can do to avoid the stress, and planning is crucial to having a joyous Independence Day.

Here are some tips:

- Contact your local town or city office to ask about accessibility. Ask where the best firework viewing areas are, how early you should get there, and ask about parking.

- Plan to get to any fireworks or parades early. It will be easier to navigate with fewer people, and you’ll be beating the crowds.

- Find the easiest and least obstructed path to the bathroom.

- Bring snacks and water. It’s easy to become dehydrated with the warm July weather, so make sure you and your loved one are well fed and hydrated.

- Make sure you have enough sunscreen for you and your loved one.

- Dress your loved one in layers, and bring extra blankets and sweaters in case the temperatures drop after sunset.

- Bring a deck of cards or some other game to take up some time before the fireworks start.

- Stay in and watch the fireworks on television with your elderly loved one!

Have a safe and happy Independence Day!

Caregiver Stress Relief: Walking

For caregivers, taking a break can be incredibly difficult, and it can be next to impossible to incorporate a workout into the day. Exercising is crucial to stress relief and physical health, and for a caregiver, stress relief is top priority. That’s why walking is a great exercise option for caregivers.

Walking is a great fit for many reasons. First off, it doesn’t require a gym. You can walk anywhere and anytime without having to worry about setting time aside to drive to a gym or fitness class. Secondly, it’s an opportunity to have some time alone, which can be difficult to find as a caregiver. On the other hand, caregivers can walk with a buddy to incorporate some social interaction into their day. Whether walking alone or with a friend, the stress relief and mental health benefits are incredibly important. Lastly, there are numerous physical health benefits. Here are some from the Mayo Clinic:

• Lowers blood pressure
• Increases HDLs and lowers LDLs
• Reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes
• Is good for weight maintenance
• Increases strength

For more information on walking, take a look at this information from the Mayo Clinic by clicking here.

Let's Hear it for the Boys

Father’s Day is a great opportunity to discuss and appreciate a new trend: more and more men are stepping up and assuming the role of caregiver. Most caregivers are women, and this fact remains the same, but, according to the Alzheimer’s Association, in the last 15 years the number of men caring for aging loved ones has doubled.

Take some time out of your weekend to do something thoughtful for a male caregiver! In the meantime, read this great post from AgingCare.com about male caregivers: "Men as Caregivers"

Caregivers at LTS: Debbie

 “Where’s the nurse?” demanded a young and visibly stressed doctor.

Debbie was in a hospital room with her mother and two other nurses. Her mother had developed the flu and pneumonia simultaneously, and they were at the ER for the second time.

“No, where’s the nurse? The family member who is a nurse,” he insisted.

The nurses looked at each other, confused. Debbie was the nurse he was referring to, but she remained silent.

“I didn’t answer. I wanted to be called a family member and not a nurse,” she explained. “I am a nurse, but I’m also a daughter. Treat me as a daughter. I can’t visit my parents as a daughter. I have to always visit them as a nurse."

This struggle between being a daughter versus a nurse has been a source of great frustration. Being a caregiver is incredibly stressful, and being a nurse as well as a caregiver creates an additional stress. With her experience in nursing and working with caregivers, she was the perfect person to care for her parents. She knew about all of the resources. She knew about medical procedures. She knew what to expect as a caregiver. But, her role as her parent’s nurse quickly overshadowed her role as a daughter - a role she sometimes wishes she could get back. 

“It puts a lot of stress on me. I want to be there for the remainder of their lives having a cup of coffee, watching a movie, just sitting and not talking about making medical decisions,” she explained.

She became a full-time caregiver for two parents almost simultaneously. In November of 2010, her father was diagnosed with bladder cancer. He immediately began chemotherapy treatments, and Debbie was there to drive him to appointments, monitor the side effects of the chemotherapy, and be the nurse. In the middle of all of this, Debbie also became a full-time caregiver for her mother.

Only three months after her father’s diagnosis, in January of 2011, her mother was diagnosed with lung cancer. She had been complaining of shoulder pain, and her doctor discovered a mass in her lungs. She had to undergo immediate surgery to remove the cancer.

 “I had to find the right surgeon for her, set up the appointments, and advocate for her,” she explained. “All of this was happening simultaneously."

In addition to being a full-time caregiver for two parents, Debbie was working and taking care of her own family. She has a husband, two daughters in college and a son in elementary school.  She was devoting all of her time between work, her family, and her parents.

“During that course, I had to take a family leave. I couldn’t give 100%... and I feel, as an R.N., that I need to give 110% to my family.”

She also made the difficult decision to place her father in a nursing home so she could focus on her mother’s procedure. She knew that her father’s care needs would be addressed in a nursing home, and that combined with her father’s development of aspiration pneumonia, confirmed her decision.

“It was a lot of guilt and conflict because I couldn’t really take care of him in my home. I had to help my mother recover, take care of my son, support my daughters in college and work to pay their tuitions. So, it truly is a sandwich generation situation. And again, it was just me.”

With her father’s needs tended to, her mother underwent the procedure to remove the cancer. While there, she suffered from a weeklong ICU psychosis. Eventually, she was placed into a rehabilitation facility and was able to be move home with in-home help. Following that, with the help of Debbie’s mother and in home care, they were able to move her father back as well.

“We finally got him home. It’s been back and forth, and the hard part of all of this too, I mean it’s all hard, but the ironic part is they both got sick at the same time.”

This past April, Debbie’s father was admitted to the hospital with the flu and pneumonia. Shortly after, her mother was also admitted.

“When it hits, it really hits,” she said laughing.

During all of this, Debbie has strived to find some sort of balance. She took the advice that she gives so many caregivers on a daily basis: she sought outside help. She went to see a family therapist, which helped her put everything back into perspective and reach a balance. She recently starting golfing again, a hobby that she really enjoys. And, she received a tremendous amount of support from her colleagues at Long Term Solutions.

“Working really saved my life. We have our own LTS caregiver support group. We’re all about the same age. We all have parents aging who are in crisis, and we kind of pull for each other at this point."

Right now, her parents are both out of the hospital. Her father is still working with physicians to develop a treatment plan for with cancer, and Debbie can see that her mother is suffering an incredible amount of stress. However, this past week, Debbie didn’t go with them to her father’s oncologist appointment.

“I was going to go, but I’m trying to step back, and let them do it. I have to let them make their own decisions about what they want to do. Before I would have been, ‘I need to be there. You’re their daughter and you’re a nurse, and you didn’t go to that appointment?’ I have to get away from feeling the guilt.” 

Instead, Debbie went to work and made plans to go golfing that night.

Berries Delay Memory Decline

Here’s another great reason to incorporate fruit into your diet: berries may delay memory decline. In a recent study, researchers found that consumption of berries slowed cognitive decline in women 70 or older. In some cases, the cognitive decline was slowed for up to 2.5 years.

Blueberries contain an extremely high amount of flavonoids. These flavonoids are able to cross the blood brain barrier into the hippocampus, which is that part of the brain that is responsible for forming memories and learning. Interestingly, many medications aren’t able to cross this blood brain barrier.

So, be sure to put blueberries on your shopping list this week! You can read the full report here.

Caregivers and Social Media

This week, there has been a lot of discussion about the benefit of social media for caregivers. If you’re a caregiver, social media is a great way create a support group made up of caregivers, and to reconnect with friends and family.

There are many amazing websites that are created specifically to support caregivers, and one of the best features of these websites is the opportunity to vent. Talking to your friends and family can be incredibly helpful, and is a lifesaver on many days, but there is something extremely helpful in venting to a virtual group of caregivers. If you don’t feel like writing about your personal experience, you can read the experience of other caregivers and understand that you’re not alone in your feelings.

Social media is also a perfect way to stay connected with your friends and family. You can stay up to date on everything in their lives, and you can keep them posted on your caregiving duties. The best part about social media is that you don’t have to dedicate your entire day to catching up.

Here is a great piece from HealthyMagination.com with online resources for caregivers: http://www.healthymagination.com/blog/social-media-can-help-reduce-caregiver-stress/

Memorial Day: Outdoor Safety Tips for the Elderly

Memorial Day: Outdoor Safety Tips for the Elderly

Traditionally, Memorial Day is usually spent with family and friends around a grill. In order to have a fun, carefree Memorial Day, you have to take some safety precautions: 

Grill Safety: Before you grill, there are some important safety to ensure that the grill is functioning properly and to avoid any fires.

1.Place the grill far away from your home, your deck, trees, shrubs and any flammable items.

2. Scrub the grill! Remove all grease and fat. It can catch on fire if it isn’t cleaned properly

3. If you’re using a charcoal grill, be careful about using starter fluid. Ensure that it is out of the reach of children and pets, and only use starter fluid. Don’t use any other accelerants!

4. If you’re using a propane grill, check the gas tank hose for leaks. The National Fire Protection Association has a great test: apply soapy water to the gas hose. If there is a leak, you will see bubbles. If not, then start grilling!

5.Read the complete list of tips from NFPA here.

Food Safety: Practice extreme caution while handling raw food!

1. While handling raw meat, wash your hands for at least 20 seconds before and after handling food.

2. Ensure that the coals are lightly coated with ash.  Check that hamburgers reach an internal temperature of 160°F, large cuts of beef reach 154°F, and poultry reaches 165°F.

3. Read this list of food safety tips from the USDA here. 

Elderly Safety: Heat stroke and heat related illness can be a serious problem for seniors.

1. Have plenty of water available to keep your elderly loved ones hydrated.

2.When you’re setting up, be sure to place several lawn chairs and tables in shaded areas to keep your senior loved ones cool.

3. Leave the air conditioning or fans on inside a room so that seniors can rest there if needed.

4. Leave bottles of sunblock outside for your guests to use, and ensure that your senior loved one wears light, breathable clothing and a hat.

5. Know the symptoms of heat exhaustion and seek medical attention if any of your guests start showing any symptoms! You can see the full list of symptoms here.

Hope everyone has a safe and fun Memorial Day!

Halting the Stress of Caregiving: Meditation

At Long Term Solutions, we’re constantly examining new techniques to support caregivers in their journey. One great way to manage your wellness is through meditation.  

Now, we don’t mean adding another thing to a list of your ‘to-do’s,’ we don’t mean learning new meditation techniques, and we definitely don’t mean wasting fifteen minutes of your day. We’re talking about meditating on the most basic level possible. It can be as easy as stopping what you’re doing, no matter where you are, and taking five deep breaths. As simple as that! 

One place to try this is waiting for your loved ones during appointments. Caregivers are always shuttling their loved ones to and from doctor’s appointments, so instead of stressing out about the next doctor’s appointment, what’s for dinner, or an overbooked agenda, take some time to meditate. Take five minutes to focus on breathing and not the thoughts scrambling through your head. You don’t have to completely clear your head of thoughts, but just pause them momentarily. 

Incorporating five minutes of meditation into your day will have incredible benefits! Here are six steps to quieting your mind from Huffington Post.  

Caregiving and the Importance of Getting Outside

Caregivers are constantly being bombarded with things they should and shouldn’t do to help process the incredible amount of stress involved with caregiving. One thing is frequently overlooked, and it is probably one of the easiest things to do: get outside!

The health benefits of sun exposure and fresh air are incredible. First, it’s important for caregivers because sunlight is a necessary part of the production of Vitamin D. Vitamin D has been credited with reducing the risk of cancer, increasing bone health, reducing the risk of developing osteoporosis, and it is associated with better moods and increased happiness.

Aside from the health benefits, going outside will give you an opportunity to take a break from caregiving. If you incorporate 15-30 minutes of alone time outside, you will see both mental health benefits as well as physical health benefits! As always, be sure to wear sunscreen while outside, and only moderate amounts of sun exposure is recommended!

Click here for a list of 25 health benefits of sun exposure.

Caregivers and Mother's Day

As we’ve mentioned, caring for an aging parent is one of the most challenging tasks a caregiver can face. Caregiving is incredibly stressful and it is even more difficult for women caring for their mothers.  They can face frustration, anger and depression, and with all of the daily tasks, medications and doctor’s appointments it’s easy to forget about the person being cared for.

Mother’s Day is a wonderful opportunity for caregivers caring for their mothers to reconnect and to spend time remembering their childhood. If you are a caregiver caring for your mother, here are some ideas for a more meaningful Mother’s Day:

- Spend time together talking about your childhood, and what it was like when you were growing up.

- Look at old pictures together and see what stories the photographs inspire.

- Ask about your mother’s mother, and spend time talking about her family and experience growing up.

- Talk about your mother’s favorite activities when she was young. Did she like baking? Playing tennis? What did she do with her free time?

- Ask your mother about her favorite things – favorite memory, favorite vacation, favorite song.

Happy Mother's Day!