Elder Care in Decatur GA Archives - Caring Companions Of Atlanta

Apr 12 2018

An Ounce of Prevention…

Hey friends!

We talk a lot in the older adult business about “resistance” and not wanting to admit one is losing their independence. We get it…look for a post specific to why older adults resist in a week or two. That being said, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure (or a ton…or mega-ton!).

The thing is, a fall for a senior can spell disaster. It is one of the top three reasons older adults end up in the hospital. Fifty percent of people that break a hip over the age of 65 never end up back home. Mom…dad, ponder that.

My father asked me what I wanted for Christmas this past holiday season and my “ask” was that he see his doctor to get assessed for his fall risk. Get with a physical therapist to make sure he is exercising to lessen the likelihood of a fall and engage an occupational therapist to evaluate hi physical surroundings.

Class Helps Prevent Falls Among Seniors

I came across an article in the New York Times the other day that merits a share. It shares how seniors in the Netherlands are getting educated on how to deal with declining mobility issues and fall safely. The link is below:

NYT Article On Fall Classes in the Netherlands

I am happy to say that Santa delivered my holiday wish and I feel better about my dad living on his farm in SW Michigan. My dad was a swimmer in his younger days (one year swam 365 miles at his health club!), and an avid camper and paddler. We took many float trips for days down rivers in the Ozarks camping along the way. I am not sure week-long canoe trips are in the cards with him in the near future, but at least I know he has done his part to be as safe as possible at home.

Happy reading friends!

Adam

Jan 26 2018

Dementia Workshop with Lynn Ross LMSW

We feel so lucky to have a professional the caliber of Lynn as part of the Caring Companions team! If you don’t know Lynn (but who doesn’t!), or if you do, we invite you draw from her extensive knowledge of the dementia space at 10 AM on February 10 at Clairmont Place Retirement Community in Decatur.

The talk, entitled “What do Living With Dementia and Motown Music have in Common? Maybe More that you Realize!”, draws terminology from iconic Motown hits to illustrate some of the challenges facing families struggling with dementia and suggest communication techniques that can help connect with persons suffering from the disease. The link below offers more details. We sincerely hope to see you there!

What do Living With Dementia and Motown Music Have in Common? Maybe more than you realize!

Adam

Nov 30 2017

How Can You Deal with Constantly Worrying about Your Aging Family Member?

As a family caregiver, it’s not feasible to simply tell yourself not to worry about your senior family member. What you can do, however, is to accept the worry for what it is, let it go, and come up with solutions that will actually help.

Elder Care in Decatur GA: Caregiver Worry

Examine Your Worries Closely

Most of the time when you are worried about something, you’re more likely to try to ignore the concern and not think about it. But when you tell yourself not to think about something, that becomes one of your most prevalent thoughts. Instead, try taking that worry and really looking at it closely. Figure out what is causing this worry and why it’s such a big concern for you. Don’t let it go for a long time.

Stop Berating Yourself for Being Worried

Giving up a big worry is really difficult to do. If you keep telling yourself to stop and that you really shouldn’t be worried, you’re going to feel guilty every time that you run into that worry again. Since you’re trying to resolve this concern, beating yourself up over it is not going to help. Resolve now to accept this worry and that you’re going to find a solution.

Find Ways to Let Go of Your Worries

There’s a funny truth about worry. When you look closely at it and stop trying to ignore it, you might find that it resolves on its own. Even if it doesn’t, there are things you can do that will help. The next time that you encounter this worry, remind yourself that a solution is in the works.

Do What You Can Now to Eliminate Causes of Worry

Sit down and make a list of what possible solutions can resolve the situation creating your concern. For example, if you’re worried because your senior still lives alone, brainstorm what could potentially make you feel less concerned. This might include having family members stopping by more often, hiring elderly care providers, or talking to your elderly family member about changing her living situation.

Worrying doesn’t do you any good, but you already know that. What it can do is show you where you need to take steps in order to keep your elderly family member as safe as possible.

If you or an aging family member are considering elder care in Decatur, GA, please contact the caring staff at Caring Companions of Atlanta 470-514-5954.