Okay, now I’ve seen it all! I’d like to hear from you - caregivers - does your elderly client or aging loved one need one of these?

Do you suppose a person who needs a cane to help keep their balance while walking really needs to know how far and fast they go? How fast do you think someone who needs a cane to walk really can utilize a tool to help him/her measure how fast they go? But I’d like to hear from you!

Yet when I think about it… what a great tool to keep our elderly striving to stay healthy. I’d prefer seeing our aging motivated rather than giving up and vegetating.

The reasons the Pedomostick was created may have been for health reasons. It  looks just like a regular cane (without the hook at the top, more like a guide stick for the blind), but the technology inside allows for the tracking of important health information.

It tallies your footsteps, calculates calories burned, measures distance traveled, and tracks time spent walking (all in a day’s work). For those late night strolls, the Pedomostick has a built in headlight to further guide you on your path. Read more here.

If you care for someone with Alzheimer’s and they hate to bathe, I went online to search for good tips that might assist a caregiver in the bath process.

According to William G. Hammond, JD an elder law attorney and founder of The Alzheimer’s Resource Center, he believes music is a good way to help - it’s good therapy. Some Alzheimer’s patients react very well to music. It helps them feel less stressed. it decreases emotions of agitation or aggressive behavior. Play soft music and add fragrance in the bathroom. Mr. Hammond says that it will make bath time inviting. You can try to use the same rituals your loved one used before when taking a bath or a shower. Routine is extremely important for persons with Alzheimer’s. Read William G. Hammond’s full article.

Peter Whitehouse, M.D., Ph.D., University Hospitals Case Medical Center says - the most important thing is to try to make the bathing experience least threatening and so to create a regular habit, a routine, around it. Read and listen to what Dr. Whitehouse has to say here.

I hope this helps!

Image Source: icarefamily.com

Traveling is fun for all of us, especially the planning part. What’s fun for me is visualizing my upcoming trip, doing the research on the destination(s) and researching what to do while away.

But for some people, planning a trip can be a scary endeavor. But now that a lot of us go online when we get the travel bug, there are good, resourceful websites that help. Travelers can find prices, read reviews, and get suggestions before ever committing to spending any money.

If you are open to packing the most adventure into a trip, that will work best for you. Start with fare searches this allows price comparisons of the major airlines with flight departures and arrivals.

If the traveler is looking for the less expensive trip available - you might want to look at Hotwire or Sidestep.

Read more on Associated Content - Five Sites that make it easy

Image: grouptravelmarketing.com.au

Simple exercises to help you heal that I have done after Mom’s passing and now after Hanna. It’s a letter writing “letting go” process that completed over a period of several days. My personal letter writing to Hanna will extend over a two week period… I’m not ready to let go.. but through this week’s Grief and Loss Series, I am getting there. In the letter writing, the first one is written to the one or situation that you recently lost, then the second is a response to the first letter after several days. When both are written.. put away in a safe place, then both are read in the order they were done.

From the book “Healing Grief ” by James Van Praagh

Letter Writing - The first letter

Prepare your space, have pen, paper & envelope,

Center self & be prepared to work

When ready - start writing your letter to the person or pet who has passed or situation that you lost

Describe exactly how you are feeling and what you want that person/pet/situation to know

Write how the passing of the loved one or the change in the situation has changed your life

Express everything including anger blame you might have repressed

After you’ve completed the letter, review it to make sure that everything is covered.

Now, put it in the envelope, seal it and put it in a safe place

In a couple of days, repeat the exercise but this time instead of writing a letter to someone or about something, write a response to the original letter.  When you are thoroughly finished with the response, put it in an envelope, seal it and place it with the first letter.

Two days later, take out both letters and open them up in the order in which they were written. Notice the difference in your present feelings about your loss. Begin to evaluate your changes. Let to and recharge.

Peace be with you..

Carol

Image 1: blogs.nashvillescene.com

Innovative Sewing Needles - Throw away your magnifying glasses when you sew!

These are great, especially if you have trouble seeing the eye of the needle, like I do.  I enjoy mending holes in favorite socks and stitching a torn skirt hem. But what can be frustrating to me is trying to get the thread in the needle!! Ugh! So frustrating… there are times that I give up trying, which is disappointing because simple sewing tasks are a favorite past time.

If you are a senior seeking help eliminating the frustration of small eye needles… here’s a great product for you - I think I’m ordering one today!

Click here is see more Innovative Sewing Needles