Most families who care for an elderly loved one admit that the best thing about helping an aging loved one is providing the best care they possibly can. Others say what keeps them going is a sense of accomplishment, while staying connected and becoming closer is what motivates them.

When I helped my aging parents, it was the latter. My relationship with mom (especially) became close. It was my pleasure to be with her; helping her cook, clean house, run errands, drive her to the doctor, etc. My Dad, on the other hand, like working outdoors; in the yard, on the house (fixing it up), and on the car. I can’t say I liked any of those tasks.

When families are interviewed and asked what they like least, most say “finding no time for themselves”.  When asked if they believe they live to close to aging relatives, they admitted “yes, and rated stress as a 5 on a scale of 5″.

There is a study that you might want to read: Penn State Intergenerational Programs,  offer these tips:

Get the whole family to participate.
Avoid conflict by working to ensure upfront that family members see eye-to-eye about roles. (My family flunked this one.)
Ask for help.
Make family unity key.
Find threads of common interest.
Keep lines of communication open.
Distinguish between private space and shared space.

It’s a good study to read. My family needed it.

Image: yeohwilliam.blogspot.com

Welcome to the September 8, 2009 edition of boomers and seniors - News you can use.

Gina LaGuardia presents A Caring Workplace: Employee Benefits Related to Caregiving posted at Seniors For Living, saying, “Caring for an elderly relative can impact work productivity and Caring Workplace is a unique benefit that provides employees a referral service and counseling.”

Elisha Knackwood presents Top 50 Healthcare Policy Blogs posted at Nursing Assistant Guides.

Boomer Trends

Debra Joy presents True meaning of happiness, as taught by our grandchildren posted at B celebrated, saying, “M.J. Essenmacher, successful career woman, learns what true happiness is from her grandchildren”

Carebuzz presents Healthy Aging posted at WorkingCaregiver.com Researchers recently identified four healthy lifestyle factors that could go a long way toward reducing your father’s risk of contracting common and deadly diseases.

Senior Housing

Kaye Swain presents Caregiver’s Checklist When Time to Relocate posted at SandwichINK Real Estate Info, saying, “What if one of your loved ones has to head for the hospital unexpectedly and you need to be closer? Or an aging parent not-so-unexpectedly needs to move in but your house is too small? For many, moving will be a necessity. Here’s a helpful checklist for Senior Home Care Givers to help winnow out the inappropriate properties as we go out apartment or house hunting in the area we are preparing to relocate to.”

Patricia Grace presents Adult day care…the best kept secret in eldercare posted at Aging with Grace CareConnection.

Health and Wellness

Gina LaGuardia presents Exercise Improves Spatial Memory in Seniors posted at Seniors For Living, saying, “Can the right exercise program help seniors improve their spatial memory, allowing them thier independence for longer? The answer is encouraging!”

Viki Kind presents A Timeline Tool For When You Are In The Emergency Room posted at KindEthics.com, saying, “Make sure you are listened to in the Emergency Room. By Viki Kind at KindEthics.com.”

Kaye Swain presents Seniors Staying Busy Having Fun posted at SandwichINK.com, saying, “Staying busy is vital for all ages, including senior citizens. Here’s some fun ideas to share with our aging parents, along with a great resource with even more ideas. Bridge anyone?”

Carolyn Friedman presents Top 50 Oncology Blogs posted at Nurse Practitioner Schools.

Heartstrong presents Carotid Artery Stenting Can Prevent Strokes posted at Healthy Hearts with Heartstrong.

Brooklyn White presents 50 Social Sites to Connect With Other Patients Online posted at Nurse Practitioner Schools.

Jimmy Atkinson presents 25 Free Open Courseware Classes About Your Health posted at Medicine. Technology. Web..

Taylor Coburn presents The 7 Areas of Life posted at Motivia, saying, “All areas of our life are interconnected. Shifts in one area can have a profound impact on other areas, like your health.”

Kate Hopkins presents 50 Great Tools to Double Check Your Doctor posted at Online Nursing Classes.

Charles Chua C K presents All About Living with Life: Baby Boomers – The 7 Ingredients of Happiness posted at All About Living with Life.

Yield to Pedestrian presents Grandparents, Grandchildren Tip #4: Spend Your Time posted at Extra (Hour)dinary Parenting.

Senior Care/Caregiving

Dale Carter presents Five Reasons You Should Contact an Ombudsman for Your Aging Parent posted at Transition Aging Parents, saying, “Did you know every state has a long-term care ombudsman? One of their roles is to respond to problems and complaints. But, their main role is to educate the public and assist families when they are contemplating a new living option for their aging parents. Read more about the value they offer.”

Debra Joy presents Celebrating Grandparents posted at B celebrated, saying, “This article is a sweet memory I have of my own grandmother and an announcement of a contest we are having to celebrate grandparents”

Carebuzz presents 6 Ways Caregivers Can Make Mealtime Easier for Seniors posted at Minnesota Care, saying, “In order to help ensure that seniors eat properly at every mealtime, and that it becomes a more pleasant experience, then here are a few tips that caregivers can follow.”

Carebuzz presents Adaptive Clothing: Reducing the Physical Demands of Caregivers posted at Minnesota Care, saying, “As caregivers, one of our most physically challenging jobs is to help a Minnesota senior who is relatively immobile with dressing.”

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transforminglifeafter50.org
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