Summer is finally here!
With this special time of year comes outdoor fun with family and
friends. From barbeques and beach days to vacations, everyone looks forward to
the carefree fun that summer promises. However, for those providing care for
family members, enjoying the summer months can be a challenge. Meeting the high
demands of caregiving creates difficulty planning get-aways and trips,
especially if an elderly family member is traveling with you. Frustrations can
run high and ruin any vacation. The information below spans a wide range of
helpful topics, from respite care to safety checklists, so you and your loved
ones can enjoy the summer months and balance your responsibilities at the same
time.
September may bring an end to summer, but it is also marks
the start of Fall Prevention Awareness Month. Falls are the leading cause of
injury in older adults. In our “Why Wait Till Fall?” guide, we outline some
simple steps you can take to avoid falls and create a safe environment for your
elderly family members and for you too.
Life, Liberty and the
Pursuit of Happiness
Protecting What Matters Most
Elder abuse is a topic most people want to avoid discussing.
The stresses of interdependence between a senior and their family can often create
what is known as “caregiver burden” for family members. This can lead to very
real physical and mental health problems for the caregiver who, in turn, may be unable to keep from lashing out verbally
or physically against elders in their care. Below are some valuable resources
and information on how to recognize and protect against elder abuse.
National Committee of
the Prevention of Elder Abuse
The National Committee for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (NCPEA) is an
association of researchers, practitioners, educators, and advocates dedicated
to protecting the safety, security, and dignity of America's most vulnerable
citizens.
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Elder Abuse and Neglect
By learning the signs and symptoms of elder abuse and how to act on behalf of
an elderly person who is being abused, you’ll not only be helping someone else
but strengthening your own defenses against elder abuse in the future.
Read More
Checklist:
Recognizing the Signs of Elder Abuse
Use this checklist to understand possible signs. Many of the conditions and
events listed below may be an indication of elder abuse. If you notice the
following occurrences or conditions, it is important to carefully monitor your
relative's care.
Read More
Take a Break
Maintaining a Healthy Balance
Taking a break
from caregiving, even a short one, is necessary to maintain friendships, social
activities, health and overall balance in one’s life. Once a healthy lifestyle
and relationships are lost, they can be difficult to regain. Respite care is a
valuable option for caregivers, and is often needed long before they admit. Sometimes stress can stay high even with
respite care if a family waits too long
to get help. Everyone has limitations, everyone needs a break sometimes. Learn
more about respite care and elder care management through these informative
articles.
What is Respite Care?
Respite care provides you a temporary break from your daily care giving responsibilities
strengthening your ability to continue taking care of your loved one without
burning out.
Read More
Respite Tips for
Family Caregivers
An informative brochure that encourages family caregivers to consider using
respite services and offers suggestions about ways to make their respite time
most effective.
Read More
Respite for Persons
with Alzheimer’s Disease or Related Dementia
The ARCH National Respite Network and Resource Center offers a downloadable PDF
fact sheet with information about respite care for Alzheimer’s patients and
their families.
Read More
Family Travel: Traveling With Seniors
When traveling with a senior family member, there are many things to consider
when making arrangements including transportation options, accommodations and
food choices.
Read More
10 Tips for Traveling with Your Loved One
If someone you love has Alzheimer’s disease, there are many things to
consider when planning a trip. Don’t plan a trip without first considering
these 10 tips.
Read More
Why Wait Till Fall?
Promoting Awareness,
Preventing Accidents
Falling is a serious problem for aging adults and is the leading cause of injury and injury-related death among
the elderly. Fall prevention awareness is a simple, yet critical subject that
should be thought about in terms of a healthy lifestyle, not just a checklist. The
following reference materials cover a range of fall-related topics including
valuable information on preventing falls, a fall fact sheet, and preventative
safety tips.
Fall prevention: 6 ways
to reduce your falling risk
Falls are the leading cause of injury and injury-related death among older
adults. Here are some simple steps that can be taken to prevent falls.
Read More
Falls Among Older
Adults – Fact Sheets
These fact sheets produced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) summarize several alarming statistics regarding falls among the elderly.
Fact Sheet 1
Fact Sheet 2
A Housing Safety
Checklist for Older People
Your senior family member’s home should be a place in which he or she can be
safe from accidents and injuries. This checklist will help you identify and
correct common safety concerns that are easily overlooked.
Read More
