The relationship between a caregiver and a senior can often stay in place on the roles each other plays: one person meeting the physical needs of another. While this dynamic gets the job done, it can hinder the benefits each person may receive from moving beyond simple roles and creating a closer connection. How can they do this? A simple way to unite seniors, caregivers, and even family members is through gardening.

Benefits to Seniors 

Seniors can feel depressed or feel less willing to participate due to the limits of their age and health. Gardening takes these restrictions into account. Those who cannot kneel and dig can grow potted plants on a windowsill. Those who can’t cut and weed can do the watering instead. There’s a task for everyone regardless of ability.

Gardening gives seniors a sense of purpose and allows them to provide what they receive – care. It also offers the following opportunities:

• Communing with nature
• Appreciating growth
• Moving the body
• Thinking creatively
• Solving problems
• Staying organized
• Feeling like part of a team

Seniors then can enjoy the fruits of their labors as a healthy meal or a pretty bouquet of flowers on the table. This process can lead to improved mental, emotional, and physical health. Even a senior who lives in an apartment or community without a garden can enjoy having indoor plants.

Benefits to Family Members

As aging progresses for a senior, family members may be unsure of activities that can still be performed. Family members are also taking into account the physical limitations. Fortunately, gardening can be done no matter what limitations the senior may face. Gardening is an easy way to include everyone of all generations and capabilities. It can become a family hobby and encourage visits and involvement with seniors.

Benefits to Caregivers

The job of a caregiver is demanding and challenging and can take its toll over time. Caregivers and seniors can enjoy taking a break from everyday tasks like light housekeeping or running errands to spend time providing companionship through gardening. This is also a benefit for caregivers to relax and take part in a pleasurable endeavor while still maintaining their professional roles. It also allows them to get close to those they serve, building communication, compassion, trust, and appropriate friendship.

Caregivers Who Garden

These positive effects of gardening are not reserved for a select few but are within reach for all. At Home Helpers of Drexel Hill, we understand the value of gardening and other nonconventional activities for seniors, family members, and caregivers. Our caregivers are prepared to participate in different hobbies to bring hope and healing to seniors and their families. Contact us to find the right caregiver match for loved ones.

You may have planned for retirement, but have you given the same amount of attention to what happens to your finances after retirement? Most people do not realize they should continue to review their financial picture to manage their assets, monitor their income, and protect their interests for the years to come. Seniors especially can benefit from an annual financial review or meeting with an elder law attorney to make sure they have a financial plan for the future. Three aspects of financial planning to consider are:

1. Medical Expenses 

As you probably already know, Medicare may not cover your medical costs for hospital or physician care, outpatient services, or prescriptions. Changes to Medicare and supplemental plans can happen every year, so it makes sense to review your beneficiary information, assets, and insurance to account for any new laws or regulations. While you consider how to manage those expenditures, you should also look over your revenue sources to be sure you are managing your funds efficiently.

1. Understand Your POA

Having a traditional power of attorney may not offer enough protection for your senior. Other options to consider:

• Financial POA, for issues directly related to your income and resources
• Durable POA, which allows someone to act on your behalf if you become incapacitated
• Medical POA, for medical decisions when you cannot make them yourself

These specific powers of attorney are also different than an advanced directive, such as a living will, or a do not resuscitate order. The truth is that you can and should have all of these documents prepared before you need any of them.

1. Find an Elder Law Attorney

When a senior needs assistance navigating the many possibilities for financial planning, they can turn to an elder law attorney for guidance. This specialized field of law is devoted to geriatric issues and can include financial planning as well as legal services. A good elder law attorney can advise you or your loved one on retirement assets management, medical, life, and long-term care insurance, legal documents, and more to ensure that your nest egg is not only safe for your estate, but also that needs are met during golden years.

Planning to effectively manage the situations that may arise can protect not only your finances, but medical needs as well. Home Helpers can be part of your team to assist you and your loved one with care, companionship, resources, and other services to preserve your dignity and quality of life. We have resources for guidance in financial and legal aspects of your life.  Contact us to learn more about what we can do for you and your family. 

Being a senior caregiver is a responsibility that knows no season. Each season brings its own range of challenges that caregivers have to be aware of in order to take adequate precautions. There are lots of ways that the winter season in particular can present problems to people living with Alzheimer’s, and especially for those who experience sundowning. Addressing the ways that winter challenge senior family members is wise, and remember – you can always depend on Home Helpers for assistance during this important time of year.

What Is Sundowning?

Sundowning is a particular dimension of Alzheimer’s disease that some of those who have been diagnosed experience. It is characterized by a marked distress, confusion, anxiety, and disorientation during sunless hours of the day. Other seniors experience a heightened degree of sleepiness during the dark portion of the day, which can interrupt the schedule that caregivers maintain for the well-being of their family member.  Mornings and evenings can become increasingly challenging as a result of sundowning, which can be prolonged as a result of the increased number of dark hours during winter months.

Seniors with Alzheimer’s are likely to depend on visual clues to successfully navigate their environment; the changing daylight hours can complicate the tasks that can normally be taken care of independently. Dressing, light cleaning, and taking medication can all be complicated because of decreased visibility. 

Tips for Managing Sundowning

There are some simple, practical ways to address sundowning in people with Alzheimer’s:

• Open curtains to capture the fullness of available daylight
• Place additional lights in the homes and switch them on earlier
• Install motion detectors to switch lights on in rooms and hallways

If your family member tends to spend time outside, adding strips of reflective material to shoes, hats, jackets, and other garments will help improve their visibility during low light.

Changing Weather and the Effect on Seniors

The winter brings several seasonal changes, including falling temperatures. Even in locations where temperature does not fluctuate to a large degree, the decreasing daylight hours can contribute to sundowning symptoms. The increased confusion and disorientation can complicate caregiver tasks and make the day harder on everyone.

Although sundowning can occur at any time of year, the increased hours of darkness during the winter months can make winter especially challenging for many caregivers. Even though it gets dark earlier, caregivers may have an inflexible work schedule that does not allow for effective sundowning management each day. Home Helpers offers specialized Alzheimer’s training to our caregivers. Please call us if you or someone you know are in need of assistance with non-medical options.  

With the weather warming up, many seniors are eager to spend more time outside basking under the sun’s glow. We at Home Helpers of Drexel Hill encourage seniors to spend more time outside, but we also urge taking precautionary measures to be protected from the sun. Be sure to pack a few expert tips whether you’ll be going outside in the sun yourself, or if you’re are a caregiver.

Keep Plenty of Water Nearby

One of the best things caregivers can do for seniors is to be sure they have a ready supply of water on hand. While everyone is susceptible to dehydration, seniors are especially vulnerable, mostly because they don’t have the same ability to retain water as people who are younger in age. Long drives, lengths of time spent outside, and walking around all require plenty of H2O.

Pay Attention to Medication

Some prescriptions alter how a person feels when exposed to the sun, making it essential that seniors or their caregivers check labels on medications. Reaching out to a primary care physician for more information before heading outside is also stressed. Medications are sensitive to the sun and heat in general. Some medications should not be stored at high temperatures, such as those inside a car parked in direct sunlight. The effects from heat exposure can alter the medication dosage.

Wear Plenty of Sunscreen

Sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 is highly recommended for seniors who enjoy spending time outside. One thing to stress is the reapplication of sunscreen every two hours. Besides sunscreen, wearing the right colors and fabrics also goes a long way in protecting seniors from the effects of the sun while staying comfortable. Light and natural fabrics are often the best choice for anyone venturing outside during the warmer and sunnier months of the year.

Shades Are Essential

No matter your age, wearing proper eyewear during the summer is a great way to take preventative measures for sun exposure. For seniors especially, eye irritation and even vision loss are common due to overexposure from the sun. Sunglasses designed to deflect UV rays are vital. It is important to stay in the shade when possible.

Keep Skin Well Moisturized

Staying in the air conditioning is a cool idea in the heat, but the cold air can also harm the skin. Overexposure to the cold air can dry out the skin making it necessary for seniors to constantly moisturize their skin. If the air conditioning is always necessary then be sure to wear a quality moisturizer that keeps skin smooth, soft, and well-hydrated.

Home Helpers of Drexel Hill encourages taking preventative measures to avoid situations that can become unnecessary. For even more suggestions on what the elderly community can do to stay cool and comfortable in the summer heat, please do not hesitate to reach out to our office.