Research has linked social isolation to higher risks of physical & mental conditions; Alzheimer's & death are just two of them.  Becoming isolated frequently happens “naturally” and there are many ways to combat this issue.

Discussing senior isolation came naturally with my guest, Rebecca Graulich. She's a past guest who started a foundation to cope with senior issues. Recording this episode of the podcast was originally intended to be an update but turned in to much more.

During our conversation, we discussed ways to prevent senior isolation. Some of them are easier than others. Regardless, we need to do what we can. The first prevention is something we all need, a sense of purpose.

Having a sense of purpose makes us less likely to succumb to the negative effects of social isolation. Hobbies are an easy way to have a purpose in our senior years. Volunteering is another method of preventing isolation by giving back.

Having access to transportation is also important. If driving is no longer an option there are many options in addition to relying on family. Public transportation is one option but it's not always convenient.  Many communities have volunteer organizations that can drive our loved ones where they need to go. It may take some creativity to solve this issue but it's worth the time it takes.

Caring about someone or something else will always give us purpose. There are many things to keep in mind when considering a pet.  

If a pet isn't practical, perhaps volunteering at a shelter or helping a neighbor with their pets is an option. Pet therapy can actually lower blood pressure and stress. Caring for a pet is fun and rewarding for anyone who needs companionship.
More Ways to Avoid the Isolation Danger Zone!
These are just a few ways to avoid the dangers of loneliness. This blog post lists many others.

 

A Fuzzy Way to Prevent Isolation
Where Else To Find Fading Memories
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When it comes to eldercare we frequently need a partner. Even for those who plan ahead, making decisions for our loved one is a huge challenge. For those living with memory loss, it's nearly impossible to know what they'll need, when they'll need it and how we'll provide the care.

Enter and eldercare consultant.  What does an eldercare consultant do?  They provide a professional assessment of the needs and strengths of seniors and their families. They also provide immediate solution option so you get relief and support. Additionally, they can provide guidance about the most appropriate and affordable options. Lastly, they can then arrange for your chosen services to begin saving your hours of time.

Frequently, eldercare planning becomes a priority when an emergency has occurred. Obviously, this is not the ideal time to undertake such serious decisions. Additionally, for many of us, we aren't even aware of what services may be needed or what's available.

This podcast episode will introduce you to a consultant, what she can do and why you should consider hiring one.

Eldercare Consultant Website

When & How to Choose In-Home Care

 
Where Else To Find Fading Memories
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“You're too good looking to have Alzheimer's.”  Imagine hearing this from your doctor. The disbelief that someone could actually look vibrant, strong and healthy yet have Alzheimer's makes diagnosis more difficult.

Early-onset Alzheimer's is an uncommon form of dementia that strikes people younger than age 65. Of all the people who have Alzheimer'sdisease, about 5 percent develop symptoms before age 65. If 4 million Americans have Alzheimer's, at least 200,000 people have the early-onset form of the disease.

Imagine being in the prime of your life, close to the top of your career when suddenly you're having issues at work. Your boss is upset that you didn't follow through on the action items that were assigned to you. You're certain that this assignment was never discussed.

Now imagine being tested for depression, hormone imbalances all kinds of issues and not getting the answers you need. What is wrong? Is it you, the world, are you going crazy? That's the world that some people with early-onset Alzheimer's experience.

It's commonly assumed that it's the elderly who end up with Alzheimer's. While that is normally the case, there are many people living with the disease who may still have children at home. Due to the rarity of early-onset, we are less aware of this version of the disease.
Inherited Alzheimer's
The movie “Still Alice” (released in 2014) portrays Alice Howland, a 50-year-old professor of linguistics. Alice discovers that she has a rare form of Alzheimer’s disease. She has to think about what her future will be like with diminished cognitive capacities, and must face difficult conversations with her children, who might have inherited the disease.

In the movie, Alice has Familial Alzheimer's disease (FAD).  This a rare form of Alzheimer's that is entirely passed down through genetics. FAD accounts for 2-3% of all cases of Alzheimer's and usually has a much earlier onset than other types of Alzheimer's, with symptoms developing in people in their 30s or 40s

Alzheimer's disease isn't fully understood. Scientists believe that for most people, the disease has genetic, lifestyle, and environmental factors. There may be a hereditary component to Alzheimer's. People whose parents or siblings have the disease are at a slightly higher risk of developing the condition.

Regular listeners know, my Mom and Great grandmother had dementia or Alzheimer's. It's possible that my maternal grandmother had Alzheimer's as well. That puts me in a higher risk category. I cannot change my genetics so I focus on making the best lifestyle choices I can.
Doing What We Can to Avoid Inherited Alzheimer's
Lifestyle choices, all the things we know we should do but somehow manage to avoid doing. I exercise regularly, eat as cleanly as possible and I make getting the best sleep I can. Other lifestyle improvements include stress management.

Some examples of stress-management techniques include:

Meditation
Guided Imagery and Visualization
Hypnosis
Deep Breathing
Massage
Prayer

Trust me — it is not necessary to lock yourself into any of one of these stress relaxation techniques. Rather, it’s best to feel free to explore any or all of them to see which technique works best for you. Simply start with any of these techniques for a few minutes a day and you’ll quickly begin to experience better brain function. Then, find the techniques you tend to enjoy the very most and you’ll begin experiencing a whole new and improved — and less stressed — you!

With this in mind, my main sources of stress management are exercise, playing with my dogs and focusing on the beauty around me. As a result of producing this podcast, I am able to talk to many people who also help me with my caregiving journey.

Fading Memories is a place where you can get stress relief. Each guest offers a lot of inspiration and practical ideas. Best of all, there are a lot of laughs despite the serious topic.

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When should we consider in-home care for my loved one? How do we find the right help and where do we start?

First, if your loved one is struggling to perform basic activities of daily living it's probably time to get help. Part-time help to start might be the best way to go in the beginning.

Basic ADLs consist of self-care tasks that include, but are not limited to:

Bathing & showering
Personal hygiene & grooming (including brushing/combing/styling hair)
Dressing
Toilet hygiene (getting to the toilet, cleaning oneself, and getting back up)
Functional mobility, often referred to as “transferring,” as measured by the ability to walk, get in and out of bed, and get into and out of a chair; the broader definition (moving from one place to another while performing activities) is useful for people with different physical abilities who are still able to get around independently.
Self-feeding (not including cooking or chewing and swallowing)

Asking why the owner is in the caregiving business is a great place to start. You can train people on caregiving but you can't teach them how to care. The next place to look at is third party review sites.
Specific Questions to Consider
What specific services do you offer?  Some agencies do personal care as well as companion care but you may need nursing services. Caregivers can't administer medications. Knowing exactly what you need in terms of help will help guide you to the right company.

Additionally, other questions to ask could be; ” What is the minimum number of hours of care provided?  Is there a daily minimum? What are the rates, are they different at night or on weekends?”  It's helpful to know that the shorter number of hours makes it difficult to get a high-quality caregiver. Finding other chores they can do might be useful for you to have completed.

When you're working with an agency it's their responsibility to;

cover a shift if a caregiver is sick
provide insurance coverage for the caregiver
replace a caregiver if they aren't a good fit
Conducting background checks, etc.

Even though you're doing your best having in-home care allows you to maintain your relationship. As much as you want to be able to do as much as possible, getting help is likely to become necessary.

In-Home Care Self Assesment

Private Caregiver Site

Related Information (Long Term Care Insurance episode)
Where Else To Find Fading Memories
Be sure to share this podcast with other caregivers! Thanks. You can find us on social media at the following links.  Facebook    Instagram    Twitter

Also, check out our new YouTube channel where you can see us in action!

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Providing caregiver help isn't easy. Asking for help is just one more task in a long list of tasks.  Learning how we can provide help is the topic of this podcast.

Because of their ever-increasing workload, 65% of caregivers are hospitalized or die before their loved one. For that reason, finding ways to provide help that works for them is crucial.  Many caregivers don't ask for help for lots of reasons. Certainly, we can offer assistance without robbing them of their sense of self-reliance.

Help is frequently refused when adult children are offering. Although this is true, we can see that help is needed. Providing help in a way that will be accepted is our challenge to solve.

My conversation with Barbara Ivey was very insightful. Here are some of her tips.

Always make explicit, direct requests for help
Be reasonable
Take what you can get
Respect your potential helpers
ALWAYS let your helpers know how much you appreciate them

How To Offer Help
Finding ways to offer support starts with observing. Equally important would be listening. Hearing and seeing tasks we can help with should make acceptance easier. Many of the easiest ways you can help will mean the most to an exhausted caregiver.

Once an assessment of needs is made, make a list of who you can call on for help. You can find the right person for each task when you keep this list in mind. For example, I am not good at dealing with bureaucracy. Two minutes of “this is how it's done” and I am ready for murder. Thankfully, my husband has much more patience than I do and can tackle bureaucratic phone calls for me.

Handling tasks that a caregiver isn't good at can be a lifesaver. Certainly, it helps keep caregiver stress under control. Another method would be to find ways to allow a caregiver time to do what they enjoy. Barbara's Dad liked to do yard work. Visiting her Mom while he worked in the yard solved two problems. Dad was able to tackle the yard work without the worry that Mom would have a problem.
If You Know a Caregiver that Needs Help
Call or stop by rather than sending an email. Bring along something that will jump-start the help, like a meal. Instead of saying “let me know what I can do” ask “what can I do right this minute to improve your day?”.

Set up a time to work with them on an exhaustive list of everything they do on a daily basis. Prioritize the list then ask if they know anyone who could tackle some of the tasks listed.

None of us plan ahead for the day we'll become a caregiver. Many times this happens because of an emergency, leaving us unprepared.  Knowing ahead of time what services are available will make reaching out for help much easier.

When Your Parent's Won't Ask For Help (Article)

Reinforcements – How to Get People To Help You (book Barbara recommended)

It Takes A Village – (Senior Social Program with Kids)
Where Else To Find Fading Memories
Be sure to share this podcast with other caregivers! Thanks. You can find us on social media at the following links.  Facebook    Instagram    Twitter

Also, check out our new YouTube channel where you can see us in action!

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