seniors Archives - Caring Companions Of Atlanta

Apr 19 2018

Older Adults and Bathing

It is a common call. A loved one picks up the phone and asks if we can push our caregiver (which has usually become part of the family) to encourage mom or dad to bathe…change clothes. Lack of hygiene is an indicator of where a senior is in managing their daily life. Cognition might be good and you will rarely hear complaints.

Dad’s clothes are stained and an he generally seems disheveled. In close proximity an odor is present. Doing laundry and getting in/out of a bath can become more difficult if mobility is in decline.

Our caregivers are trained to urge clients to bathe, be cautious about navigating their space and be on top of medications. In the case of bating, not doing so can man a urinary tract infection…a common reason seniors end up in the hospital. And, while a caregiver cannot insist dad bathes, a little creative encouragement usually gets the job done.

An article on Daily Caring addresses seniors and bathing. If your older adult lacks proper hygiene, don’t ignore it…ask questions and be creative in encouraging they clean up. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!

http://dailycaring.com/senior-bathing-whats-really-necessary/

Adam

Aug 04 2016

Home Health Hair of Atlanta…You are as Beautiful as You Feel!

I have mentioned the senior ecosystem many times in my posts and this is another in the series on that topic. As the older adult market continues to expand, so do services geared towards them. I continue to be amazed by the creativity and compassion I see in my fellow service providers.

Every week, a 92-year-old friend of mine makes a pilgrimage to the salon. Occasionally, I drive her. When I first was her chauffer it was a pretty quick trip. But lately, complications in her healthy have made it more and more difficult. He big weekly “social” was often put on hold and she suffered through no shampoo for a couple weeks at a time. I hated that. We’d visit at her house which helped, but she complained about her hair. Seems wanting to look presentable is not solely reserved for the young.

I first met Carolyn Marsh at a senior networking event of a lovely facility called Tapestry House in Roswell (an Insignia property). Carolyn owns a company called Home Healthy Hair (HHH) and at the meeting, she got up and did a brief spiel about her company. It is a remarkably simple yet brilliant concept. They take the salon to the older adult! Seems like the most ingenious concepts often the simplest! Way to go Carolyn!

Home Health Hair is a full service provider of hair and skin care in the home. They specialize in not only hair and skin, but also nails, reflexology…cosmetology (even aroma therapy!) all for older adults! HHH comes directly to the client wherever they reside, and is flexible about scheduling to make the service stress free and convenient.

Carolyn is a licensed Master Cosmetologist and is licensed in Aesthetics/beauty. She loves transforming a client into something truly special (remember, you are as beautiful as you feel!). She also is licensed in reflexology and does targeted massage of the feet, hands, and ears. The method of treatment is based on the principle that certain reflex zones in the body correspond to different body parts all of which are connected. The end result is greatly improved circulation and stress reduction for the client.

In her spare time, Carolyn is also a professional make-up artist and practices her art in film, theater and variety of other places.

I have mentioned Home Health Hair to my 92-year-old friend on numerous occasions. She remains steadfast on heading to the salon weekly (as she is able) but one of these days, I’ll get her to give it a try. And something tells me she will be happy she did!

If you want to speak to Carolyn or contact her about her company, her information is below. Thanks for doing what you do Home Health Hair! We all can use a little assist in feeling beautiful now and then!

Home Health Hair

May 10 2016

Daily Money Management for Older Adults

I met Chris Baker of Baker DMM. LLC about a year ago though a mutual friend. I was interested in what he did with the senior population and how he helped them with their day-to-day finances. In speaking with Chris, he mentioned that studies show that elderly people are conned out of $2.9 billion every year, but experts believe only 1 out of every 30 cases of elder financial fraud are ever reported. We all know people that have their financial house in order and “high-five” to all those seniors that do. However, if you have loved one that might be vulnerable to fraud or simply cannot keep up with their monthly bills or cash flow, Baker DMM can help. One instance of fraud can wreck someone on a fixed income.

I asked Chris to share some of his wisdom on seniors and money and he was kind enough to send me the piece below. Take a read…and If it sounds like your loved one, give him a call. He can help.

“Signs an Elderly Person May Benefit from a Daily Money Manager

All types of people can benefit from having a daily money manager look out for their personal financial interests. It can make life so much easier to know you can rest assured your money is being managed on your behalf.

The elderly benefit from a daily money manager for a number of reasons. They generally have a nest egg that needs watching over, but whether it be from a cognitive or physical impairment, they may have a tough time doing so on their own. In addition to these issues, elderly individuals are often targets for people who may not have their best interests at heart. Sadly, many times the people taking advantage of the Senior are the people they know best.

If you know an elderly person who would benefit from the services of a daily money manager, it can sometimes be tough to broach the subject. But there are signs to look for that should encourage you. If you visit them at their home, you may notice some of the following examples:

House is unorganized
Mail is starting to pile up
Valuables have gone missing
Bills are going unpaid
Utilities are cut or in jeopardy of being cut

If you are a service provider, you may also notice odd things with their documents. Perhaps a change of address shows up on their financial statements or bills. They may change their power of attorney or loved ones may inform you of a new “friend” who is isolating them. Someone new may even be moving in. If you ever notice new relationships, signatures, or documents that might seem suspicious, this should set off alarm bells.

So whether you’re a loved one, or a service provider, if you see any of the above mentioned events occurring, please reach out to Baker DMM so we can figure out the best way to help your loved one or client.”

Thanks for the info Chris…I know I am going to keep my eyes peeled for those that might be in distress. If you want to contact Chris, please see a link to his website below, a testimonial (let’s face it, we want to know who handles out money!) and his contact information.

Cris Baker, CPA

Managing Director

678.828.4314

http://www.bakerdmm.com/about-us/

Adam

Apr 29 2016

Sometimes the Most Helpful Assistive Devices are NOT the Most Sophisticated!

As the Baby Boomers age we’ve seen a slew of new assistive devices hit the market. Many are quite impressive. I recently wrote a Blog about ones based on technology that included a device that fits in the shoes of Alzheimer’s patients to monitor wandering. There were also sensors that could be placed at points throughout the home to make sure the patient is following their normal routines. Very helpful for remote caregivers.

I met Molly Dye at a networking meeting a while back. She is in the assistive device business and is founder of a company that produces CareZips®. A piece from Molly is below that describes the product. CareZips® are not computer operated…nor are they leading edge technology. That being said, sometimes it is the simple things that can have a real impact…for the caregiver, families and the senior. Molly writes:

“With the aging of America, I hope to see a different mindset in our communities, with more people creating new and innovative products and methods that bring ease & dignity to caregiving. Let’s face it…with advances in healthcare and a flood of senior citizens forthcoming, there will be more and more needs. My decision to develop CareZips® was borne out of trying figure out a simple solution to an old problem.

CareZips® are a unisex 3-zipper trouser, that allows for an easier and more dignified change of the adult brief. How does it work? The product has a special and unique frontal opening, making it physically easier for caregivers to change the brief while reducing exposure. This might not seem like a big deal…but for those of us that have changed a patient or loved one, the struggles are real. Take a look at our Website and you can get an idea of how CareZips® work.

http://www.carezips.com.

I really hope America starts thinking about eldercare in a different light. As Baby Boomers age, there will be more people in need than caregivers to take care of them. Simple products can increase the efficiency of caregiving and make life a lot easier for the senior.

I keep my eyes open for simple products that make life easier. Some examples include TidyTops and StandUp Walker. TidyTops are laminate smocks that resemble clothing…are easily washable and prevent people from staining their clothes while eating, doing art projects or any other messy endeavor. StandUp Walker helps seniors stand up on their own independently. What simple but important solutions to help our older adults can you find?”

To Molly’s point, big ideas are not necessarily complicated or based on technology. And we all need to being thinking of how to help make senior transitions more comfortable, efficient and dignified. Way to go Molly!

Adam