Caregiver News & Notes

Had to take a respite from my usual topics to include a post about a contest sponsored by Orville Redenbacher and supported by the website TableforFive.net. There! I believe that I have done my job!

By Eric Holm

One of the most difficult tasks of a senior is maintaining your mobility. Because of this, you may need a variety of mobility products that will make your life easier. One of the most basic products you will find helps a great deal is a regular cane. There are so many different types and styles of canes, so you might want to try them out before you decide on one. Using products such as these will help you be able to maintain your freedom for much longer than if you went without them.

Of the many mobility products on the market, one of the most useful ones is for the bathroom. Taking a bath is something that most seniors like to do themselves for many different reasons. In order to do this on your own without falling, there are benches that help you get in and out of the tub without losing your balance. There also are railings that can be used as well. Because things tend to get slippery in the bathroom, you might also find it helps to have grippers on the door handles. The great thing about the grippers is that you could use them on all the door handles in your home, not just the bathroom.

If a cane does not do the job anymore, there are alternatives to a wheelchair. The most common is a walker or a rollator. These are similar except the rollator has wheels so you do not have to pick up the device when you walk like you do with a walker. Many of the newer mobility products come equipped with a basket as well. This is great for use outside of the home because you will not have to worry about not having any free hands to carry the mail or your shopping purchases.

Other mobility products that you will find come in handy are for helping you do everyday tasks such as apply lotion and brush your hair. Limited mobility does not always mean you have trouble walking, but that your arms do not reach the way they once did. There are extra long handles you can get that makes these tasks easier. These make bathing and grooming yourself easier so you do not feel as if your arms are exhausted afterward. Life for seniors has gotten a lot better. We can help you with our full line of senior mobility aids.

Eric Holm, Publisher and Manager for Independent Care Products. Our elderly care products include, low vision aids, mobility products, arthritis aids,hearing products, one handed products, elderly hygiene products, voice activated products, talking products, and more. Use our free information and resources.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eric_Holm

In an effort to provide more alternatives to nursing home care Tennessee has begun offering a service called “in-home respite care” that allows a state-funded caregiver to actually move into a home. The move recognizes that primary caregivers need a break or assistance periodically.

Apparently, Tennessee has the dubious distinction of providing the lowest funding of all states in the U.S. for alternatives to nursing homes. This is a positive step but obviously more needs to be done in the Volunteer State.

You can read the news story on the website of WKRN-TV in Nashville.

The emotional and physical toll on those taking on the responsibilities of being a full time caregiver is often overlooked, even by the caregiver. Taking care of their own mental and physical health is crucial in order for a caregiver to provide proper support and maintain balance in all the roles that they fill.

One method of coping is to reach out and interact with other caregivers. This article in the Asbury Park Press discusses the importance of connecting with others in similar situations. Many discover that they are not alone and that the sometimes upsetting and disturbing feelings that they have are not abnormal.

The Convalescent Aid Society (CAS) of Pasadena, CA has been providing assistance to the elderly and incapacitated since 1923. Residents requiring devices that help them with mobility or recovery can obtain free medical equipment simply by asking for it. It is the group’s pleasure to help. Read more here.

Caregivers in Monmouth County, NJ will have access to information and resources that will help them manage the chronically ill person in their care. The program is called VieBridge Connections and it can be accessed online by residents of Monmouth County. Read the full story in the Examiner from Allentown, NJ.

What I find encouraging about this program is that it is specifically targeted at the family member providing care at home. Caregivers are frequently thrust into a role for which they are unprepared and the demands can be overwhelming. The VieBridge Connections program seems to recognize the very unique role of the non-professional home caregiver and attempts to provide support with specific information about caring for the chronically ill at home. Let’s hope that this type of program becomes more widespread so more caregivers can recieve this type of assistance. 

Yet another article about adult day care from Dallas via the Providence Journal. I like to post these articles because they usually contain comments from caregivers about their experience. The more we read about others in the same situation the less isolated we feel.

The Kansas City Star offers some insights into the challenges facing home caregivers and support options available in  the Kansas City area. Break Time Club offers caregivers an opportunity to enjoy some time for themselves by allowing them to leave someone in their care with other qualified caregivers.

The article also describes trends that indicate that society is recognizing the value of those providing care for a family member in their home and developing other support mechanisms along with tax relief.

I found this quite moving and insightful article in the online version of The Jewish Press. It speaks to the challenges and quiet difficulties faced by the spouse providing care for a partner. Often the ill or disabled spouse receives recognition and sympathy while the caregiving spouse dutifully provides for all of the needs without much support.

In this article, a husband suffering from MS nominates his wife for a caregiver award. His words and his gratitude are inspiring and heroic. The article is one of a series titled, “Understanding The Cargiver Of The Chronically Ill: The Person Behind The Chair.” If you are a caregiver, I think you will find comfort and a sense of inclusion as you read about the experiences of others in similar circumstances.

In a move that demonstrates the growing recognition of the increasing number of family members providing healthcare services at home, Rutgers Cooperative Research and Extension of Cumberland County in Millville, NJ will offer four classes specifically targeted at the home health caregiver.

“Few adults have any training or experience caring for someone with a serious illness; they become family caregivers suddenly and are frequently overwhelmed by their caregiver responsibilities,” states Sharon P. Blase, a family and community health sciences educator.

High fives to this group for taking the initiative to give those  that find themselves taking on a role for which they are simply not prepared. Let’s hope other organizations follow this example.

You can read more here.