The Senior Sage - Advice for Assisted Living and Skilled Nursing Residence - Blog

Dealing with the Post Holiday Blues

12/26/2014

We all know that this time of the year is very stressful - even if you aren't taking care of an elderly person. But for those of us that are caregivers, the post holiday blues can slow us down. Don't let that happen to you this year. Start with acknowledging that your load increases this time of year and cut back on some of your activities. Do you really need to create the perfect holiday? Does your house need to be perfect? Should every meal be a candidate for a magazine cover? No! Christmas and the New Year is not about what you see on the commercials on television. It's a time to reconnect with family, friends and perhaps faith. So cut back, ask your family to pick up some of your activities, take some time to do something for yourself. Next time you get a cup of coffee or tea at the local coffee joint - don't walk out with it. Sit down, grab a section of newspaper and drink it there before continuing your day. Build time into your day doing something you enjoy. You'll feel better for it and no one but you will be impacted. Really. Best wishes for a safe, sane, and healthy New Year! We'll see you in 2015.

Take care and stay healthy!
Debbie Carroll
Founder, The Senior Sage

Happy Holidays to All - Please make some time for yourself!

12/21/2014

So this year I’m taking my own caregiving advice and following Michael Plontz’s advice as well.

First, I’m taking 5 days off during the holiday season and getting away with my husband! I’ve put in place supports for my mom so that we’re both feeling confident that she will be in good hands. I’ve secured additional help from her assisted living facility, our hospice and my daughters.

Second, I’m letting go of some holiday traditions. I’ve done a great majority of my Christmas shopping online and have said no to holiday gatherings that will add stress. Let’s give each other the permission to say no and feel good about it!

I’m also taking the time to exercise if only for 15 minutes a day. Exercise is really a great stress reliever and now that I’m exercising regularly I see a HUGE difference in my mood.

Let us know what you’re planning on doing to make the holiday season easier for you and your loved ones. If we all share an idea or two it may help another caregiver!

Today’s picture is from last Christmas and is of one of my daughters and granddaughters, as well as my mama!

Take care and stay healthy,
Debbie Carroll
Founder, The Senior Sage

Get this App for your Smart Phone

12/1/2014

We need to preface this blog with saying that we don't have any interest in this app, the company that makes it, or anyone associated with it. We are not getting any referral fees (we make it a policy NEVER to collect a referral fee) nor do we stand to benefit in any way from app sales.

Ok, that clears the air. The App we're talking about that everyone (young, old, middle-aged) should have on their smart phone is called ManDown. (Read more on their website at www.ManDown.com) Their website says it was developed by firefighters, which makes sense when you learn what it does. Once activated, the App monitors the phone's movement. If the phone does not move after the initial alarm, it plays a sound after 30 seconds. Then, if the phone is not moved for another 30 seconds, it goes into Full Alarm mode. In Full Alarm mode the phone emits a loud signal and at the same time sends a text and email message to recipients you set. The messages also contain the GPS location of the phone.

We bought the ManDown app in the Apple App store (it is also available on Android phones) and tested it. It worked exactly as described and at a $1.99 one-time charge, it was well worth the price.

So if you care for an older person, if you have kids and want to know where they are, or if you are concerned for your own safety, get this app, install it on your phone, personalize it with your own contact information, and breathe a little easier.

Take Care and Stay Healthy,
Debbie Carroll
Founder, The Senior Sage

National Caregiver Month

11/28/2014

November is National Caregiver Month

The Huffington Post has been running a great series on caregivers. Since November is National Caregiver Month, they have been shining a spotlight and writing many features on and about caregivers.

At The Senior Sage, we're big believers in using technology to make our jobs easier. This latest article on the Huffington Post goes in depth in 5 innovation that make life easier for Senior and their caregivers. The link to the entire article is here.

1. The Touch 3 by Samsung smart phone. Any smart phone is a great idea for a senior, this one has some additional features that make it even more senior friendly.

2. TCL Vibe - It assists the hard-of-hearing to wake up with an extra loud ringer and a vibrating wrist band. Great idea to wake up from an afternoon nap!

3. BeClose - a bit on the more expensive side, but you may wish that you had it when you didn't. It uses discrete wireless sensor in the home to keep track of your loved ones. Sounds creepy, but could be oh so helpful.

4. MedCenter Personalized Reminder Alarm - helps your loved ones remember to take their medications on time.

5. Glucose Buddy App and Quadioarm - no, not a substitute for a doctor's visit but a way to send the doctor information about blood sugar and pressure that may avoid an in-person visit.

Next blog, we'll talk about a smart phone app that we think is vital for the person you care for - and perhaps you as well - an inexpensive way to get help when you need it.

Take Care and Stay Healthy!
Debbie Carroll
Founder, The Senior Sage

Could there be hope for caregivers?

11/14/2014

We're going to run out of caregivers. People like me, you and your neighbor. No, not tomorrow or by the end of the week - but soon. Too soon. In 2010, there were seven people (or potential care givers) for every person over 80. By 2030, there will be four people for every person over 80 and by 2050 there will be fewer than three. These numbers are from a recent AARP report, that looked at the number of "aging-in-place" caregivers in the United States. (Aging-in-place means that an aging individual remains at home as opposed to being moved into a common care facility.) Care for those aging-in-place is generally provided by children, who themselves are aging quickly.

Baby Boomers are particularly effected. Boomer women had fewer children than the generations before them and some have opted out of having children at all. The Senate Aging Committee is looking at a novel solution to the looming problem. Senator Bob Casey is drafting a plan to form a National Caregiver Corps.

This is from the Committee:
"Volunteers who participate in the program would receive specific guidelines and structure from the Department of Health and Human Services in order to provide assistance to families by "cleaning, preparing food or even shopping for people who want to remain at home" as they age, as well as respite care for existing family caregivers. The proposal also includes providing volunteers with a stipend, tuition credit or even academic credits."

What do you think? Is a Caregiver Corps a good idea? Leave a comment below and let me know your opinion. As always, I will share them with our elected officials.

For a complete downloadable PDF copy of the AARP report, click here.

Take Care and Stay Healthy!
Debbie Carroll
Founder, The Senior Sage

Time to Separate Taking Care of our Aging Population from Politics

11/6/2014

In September, Forbes Online published a great article about next year's scheduled White House Conference on Aging. Scheduled for 2015, it will be held in the year of the 50th anniversary of Medicaid, Medicare, and the Older Americans Act. The last conference was held in 2005, which in our nation's quickly aging population, is a real shame. There are many issues that impact older Americans and once a decade is not enough for our political leaders to focus on this problem.

But, as the Forbes article suggests, the conference has the potential to turn into a political platform, in which case it may not be a bi-partisan effort. The White House has asked Congress for $3 million to put on this conference, a pitiful amount as most conference planners will tell you. Is this effort doomed from the start? Not if Executive Director Nora Super has her way.

Ms. Super is a former lobbyist at AARP and the Kaiser Permanente HMO, and a former senior public relations aide at the Department of Health and Human Services. She knows the issues and many of the players, but given a limited budget and limited influence at the White House, it remains to be seen whether she can get the president to pay attention to issues that have never been at the top of his agenda.

The Conference website is now live, check it out for yourself at this link. We'll follow this topic as it unfolds, we really hope that the top leaders who we elected will pay attention to the issues that impact an Aging America.

Take Care and Stay Healthy!
Debbie Carroll
Founder, The Senior Sage

Please vote in the upcoming elections

10/27/2014

Please do yourself and all the other caregivers a favor and seek out candidates and propositions that impact senior Americans and their caregivers and go out and vote on November 4th. It is important that our voices are heard and that our elected officials know that we care about those we care for. So regardless of your political affiliation, please vote for candidates and causes that effect you.

Please read this great article from Health Affairs Blog about the importance of forging a political force.

Take care and stay healthy,
Debbie Carroll
Founder, The Senior Sage

Guest post from Fawne Hanson

10/15/2014

Todays post comes from Fawne Hansen, a wellness coach who specializes in chronic stress. Caregiving can be a very rewarding job, but unfortunately stress among caregivers is extremely common. Ignoring the symptoms of stress can eventually affect physical and mental health, but following some simple stress management tips can make a big difference. This article was originally posted on Fawne's website here.

Please remember as you're taking care of your loved one(s), it is important to take care of yourself.

Take care and stay healthy!
Debbie Carroll
Founder, The Senior Sage

Can I get paid to be a family caregiver?

10/7/2014

This article has some conversation starters that you can use in your family before an aging parent needs care. One option not discussed is moving your aging parent into your home and charging them room and board. Please talk to an elder law attorney who can draft a rental agreement, as well as help with changes to trusts or powers of attorney.

According to the Caregiver Action Network; Each year more Americans are caring for a loved one with a chronic condition, disability, or the frailties of old age. There are as many as 90 million family caregivers in the U.S. today. Two out of every 5 adults are family caregivers. 39% of all adult Americans are caring for a loved one who is sick or disabled – up from 30% in 2010. Family caregivers are the backbone of the Nation’s long-term care system. According to a 2011 AARP study, family caregivers provide $450 billion worth of unpaid care each year. That’s more than total Medicaid funding, and twice as much as homecare and nursing home services combined.

The economic impact of being a family caregiver hit home with me several years ago when I stopped working to care for my mother. Not only did I lose income, I also lost social security contributions that could have been accruing. Unfortunately, my mother was not in a position to financially reimburse me.

The burden that caregiving families are facing is overwhelming and more needs to be done to help financially support caregivers. Consider sharing your story with your legislative representatives so they understand the role of caregivers and the families they represent, or leave a comment here and I will forward your comments to the right government leaders.

Take care and stay healthy,
Debbie Carroll
Founder, The Senior Sage

Economic Impact on Caregivers

6/7/2014

The Senior Sage

Read this Investopedia
article if you're a caregiver. It details the financial impact for families when one member cuts back on their working hours or stops working altogether. The effect of cutting your working hours not only reduces today's cash flow, but can affect your 401K contributions and social security benefits for years to come.

Take Care and Stay Healthy
Debbie Carroll
Founder, The Senior Sage

Author

Debbie Carroll is the Founder of The Senior Sage and knows first hand what it's like to be a caregiver.

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The Senior Sage assists in coordinating community and in-home resources. The final decision about your care arrangements must be made by you. In addition, the quality of a particular provider must be solely determined and monitored by you. Information provided to you about a particular provider does not imply and is in no way an endorsement of that particular provider by The Senior Sage. The information on and the selection of a particular provider has been supplied by the provider and is subject to change without written consent of The Senior Sage.

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