Friends for Life

Communication & Education Help Caregivers Combat Resistance

inez — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 20:14:56 +0000

The following article was reprinted with the permission of Home Instead.

While family caregivers and senior care professionals might recognize that an older adult needs help, seniors often don’t want it, potentially putting their health and safety at risk. Family caregivers may lack the communication skills needed to talk with their aging loved ones about this sensitive subject and the practical knowledge of the options and services that are available.

“Reassuring a senior loved one that you have the same goal in mind will help,” said family caregiving consultant Dr. Amy D’Aprix, author of From Surviving to Thriving: Transforming Your Caregiving Experience (www.DrAmyCaregiving.com). “Start with: ‘My goal for you is to be independent, too. You know I can’t be here all the time. A little extra assistance will help you stay home.’”

Consider these tips, from the Home Instead Senior Care^® family caregiver support series Caring for Your Parents: Education for the Family Caregiver:

Be mindful of your approach and speaking methods.
Move toward solutions that provide the maximum amount of independence for the older person.
Look for answers that optimize strengths and desires.
Remember that you are talking to an adult, not a child.
Not everything needs to be solved right away.

Other tips that can help families address sensitive situations such as money troubles, dating or driving are available at www.4070talk.com.

For more information about family caregiving and communicating with a senior loved one, go to www.CaregiverStress.com.

Key Lime Delight

Sherry — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 22:24:33 +0000

Since August is “Stay Cool Month”…we decided to make a key lime pie for cooking class. Made them very happy to get to enjoy their own homemade pie for snack that afternoon!

The Reunion

inez — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 23:22:12 +0000

Ann was visiting one of her favorite guardianship clients, when she decided to ask, “What would you like more than anything in the world? Mary said, “I’d like to see my sister once more before I die.” Working this out was a challenge since her sister lived in a nursing home several hours away and Mary was frail. Twice the trip was scheduled and cancelled because of Mary’s health. Finally, she was well enough to go and with her doctor’s help, all the details were worked out.

When the two sisters saw each other for the first time in ten years, everyone cried. For four days they were inseparable. Lots of photos were taken of the reunion and placed in albums for each of them. On the way home, Mary was quiet. Then she turned to her care manager and said, “I think I’d like to go back for Christmas!”

Waco Tribune Herald Story About Our Dancers

inez — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 04:21:23 +0000

Today, the Waco Tribune Herald featured a story written by Wendy Gragg about ballroom dancing at our Adult Day Care Center. She tells how much our clients love it and you can read the article.

A New Walker

inez — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 21:07:52 +0000

The cartilage in both her knees was gone and advanced arthritis in her shoulders and back made it painful and exhausting to walk, but this elderly woman made it to our offices to ask us to help her replace her broken walker. When the pain is so bad I can’t stand it, I pray.” I was amazed at her courage to just keep trying! She said, “Well, honey, I don’t have any choice, I can’t just sit down and quit.” We found her a donated walker and she was able to go to church that night.

The Free Cruise

inez — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 04:27:38 +0000

An 89 year old called us one day saying. “I am the stupidest old woman who ever drew a breath!” A nice young man had called to tell her she had won a ‘free cruise’ so she signed up! She thought it was a little strange when he asked for a credit card.

“I knew I couldn’t use it since I can hardly walk, but I thought, if it’s free I’ll give it away to someone.” But then I got my credit card bill and there’s an $800.00 charge on it for that cruise! I don’t know what to do! I am so scared….I am just so stupid, can’t believe it! I don’t have $800, what am I going to do?”

We assured her that she wasn’t stupid. We told her that lots of people bought the ‘free cruise’. Then we called on her behalf and, in spite of a firm policy against refunds, they issued her a credit for the full amount.

Piccadilly

inez — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 22:16:43 +0000

You could barely see her house from the road. She had not eaten a real meal in years. Her plumbing didn’t work. It had been several years since she had been able to cook or bathe. She was afraid to let anyone know she needed help so she withdrew inside her house and little problems grew into huge problems. When we were asked to help her, we found her a new place to live where she had someone to cook for her and people to care for her. She was hard to catch after that. Every time the bus pulled up for a field trip, she was first in line. She called me one day from the mall and said, “Have you ever been to Piccaddilly? They have all kinds of food here. You just pick anything you want. It’s wonderful!” How does anyone in this country live to be 76 years old without ever going to a cafeteria? Piccaddilly was by far her favorite field trip.

Website Changes

inez — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 19:33:07 +0000

As you may know by looking at our website, we have been making a lot of changes. We hope you enjoy our stories and feel like you are a part of Friends for Life. While you are looking around, we hope that you find something that you like and/or a way that you can help us help others. We are now on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube to help connect with our many volunteers, clients, and friends. Thank you and we look forward to reading your thoughts and comments!

The Electric Bill

inez — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 04:21:54 +0000

We first met her when we got a call from someone who was concerned because she was driving recklessly. When we caught up with her we discovered she sat on several telephone books so that she could see out the windshield. She was desperately trying to hold on to her independence but osteoporosis made it almost impossible for her to drive.

I could barely hear her one day when she called. I knew she needed help. All I could really make out was ‘hot’. She was close to ninety. She had advanced osteoporosis. She had been in the hospital and she had taken a cab home. Her electricity had been turned off while she was gone and in July it is really hot in Texas. It was over a hundred degrees in her house. On the little table by her chair in the living room was an envelope. It was her electric bill. She had forgotten to mail it. We called the electric company and they turned on her electricity immediately.

Best of Friends

Sherry — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 22:17:41 +0000

Good friends cutting up and having a good time after Dancercize. One of the things I love best about the Adult Day Care is that so many of the people that attend have become great friends. When they walk in the door each day they are so excited to come see each other.