February 2019 - Green Tree Home Care

You were looking forward to retiring and enjoying your days doing crafts you want to do?

Or perhaps you thought retirement meant you would get to watch all the TV shows you already enjoyed?

But the truth is that you’re stir-crazy and looking for an opportunity to do something else.

If the above scenario describes you, then this post is for you!

In today’s post, I will talk about volunteering for retired professionals and give you 12 ideas for volunteering in your community and abroad.

Why you should stay active even if you’re retired

A research study showed that people are 15% more likely to live longer when they have a sense of purpose for their lives versus when they don’t.

When people wake up and go to work everyday, that sense of purpose (whether we want to admit it or not) keeps us alive.

For most retirees, when this sense of purpose is removed, their health begins to wane.

The average person in the United States retires at the age of 65.

With more and more people living until they are 100 years old, it is likely that you still have a few more decades of productivity.

Staying active and involved in community activities, with a business or even on a volunteer mission abroad could be your answer to such an outcome.

Do you want to keep your mind and body healthy longer, why not sign up for a volunteering experience?

Volunteering for retired professionals. Here are 12 ideas.

Crossing guard for your local school

Kids need crossing the street when they go to school.

How neat would it be if you signed up to be a cross guard to manage traffic and help the kids cross the street at school?

Teacher’s helpers

This might require some clearance work with the state you live in, but you could become a teacher’s helper at your local school.

Volunteer police officers

You can become a volunteer police officer for your city.

It will require a police background check.

You will be able to do things like:

Telephone calls to witnesses and victims
Answering the phones
Filing different types of paperwork
Perform vacation house checks
Perform “You’re not alone” house checks

If you live in San Diego and would like to learn more about becoming a volunteer police officer, go here.

Aid missions abroad

Churches and other charitable organizations like Operation Smile are constantly performing aid missions in poorer countries.

Volunteering with aid missions abroad may require that you buy your own ticket.

If you have the funds to do it, this is an excellent opportunity to volunteer.

If you are a retired nurse, doctor or teacher, it may be another opportunity for you to use your skills for good.

Teach a college class

Colleges always appreciate experienced professionals when it comes to hiring faculty.

In your case, and if it is allowed by the school, you could volunteer your knowledge to instruct college students.

You could also find out about volunteer opportunities besides teaching.

Teach a local class

Can’t teach at a local college? Start your own class!

What are you good at? Writing? Gardening?

If you let people know, they will show up for your class.

Hospital helper

Opportunities to volunteer at the hospital abound.

Find out how you can help from a hospital near you.

Volunteer with the Peace Corps

The Peace Corps is not just for the young folks.

Older adults bring different skill sets that are immensely valuable.

Host an international student

As a former international student in the US, I know first hand that life can get lonely.

A lot of international students are miles away from their culture, language and everything they’re familiar with.

Hosting them is a great way to welcome them to the country. Plus you get to learn about a different culture right in your home.

Volunteer to work at an animal shelter

Love animals? Work at an animal shelter.

Volunteer at a local prison

A lot of impact can be made here!

Volunteer as a foster parent

Becoming a foster parent is another great way to make an impact.

It is never easy raising children.

And for a lot of foster kids, they have been through life situations that are traumatizing.

You just might be that safe haven they need.

Did any of these spark an idea for you?

If so, share it with someone else looking for volunteering ideas for retired professionals.

It is not easy to watch your loved one go through memory loss.

If you’re a family caregiver, chances are that you’ve know this person your whole life.

This is hard. And understandably so. None of this comes with a manual.

How can you help a loved one going through memory loss?

In today’s post, we will go over ways to help a loved one going through memory loss.

I will also touch on tips to help you deal with your emotions as a caregiver as you walk through this season.

How to help a loved one going through memory loss

Not all memory loss is related to Alzheimer’s Disease

First of all, it’s important to note that not all memory loss is related to Alzheimer’s Disease.

There are a number of medical conditions that lead to memory loss.

These include tumors or infections in the brain, a blood clot in the brain, emotional stress and mental health issues.

To be certain that none of these medical conditions are causing memory loss, talk to your loved one’s doctor.

It is better to treat a condition when the exact cause is found.

Have a frank conversation

Do you notice that your loved one is increasingly making bad decisions or judgments because of their forgetfulness?

If your loved one is still able to understand and have a conversation, you might want to sit down with them and discuss what the options are for their care and safety.

We don’t want forgetfulness to be the reason they get into a car accident, for instance.

Identify tasks that have become harder and provide support

Which tasks have become harder for your loved one to complete?

If they have forgotten how to put on their shirt or tie their shoelaces, you can provide more support here.

Or you can tell hired home caregivers to focus on those areas during the day.

Encourage medications

One of the most difficult things to do for a loved one going through memory loss is getting them to take their medicine.

Nobody loves medicine.

So it makes sense that your loved one will refuse it.

However, if it is important that they continue to take this medication, there are a few things you can do.

Crush medications and mix them with a soft food item such as apple sauce or yogurt. This doesn’t apply if the drug is an “extended release” drug that is only supposed to released inside the body.
Ask your doctor if there are other ways for your loved one to receive the medication other than in pill form.
Sometimes, if they have forgotten to take their medicine, it might be simple enough to just remind them that “this is good for your health so let’s take it real quick”.

Play games that improve memory

Games that allow your elderly loved one to think or memorize facts are great for improving brain health.

A study published by the American Society for Geriatrics in 2014 showed that when elders train their minds through thinking and memory games, they are able to improve their cognitive abilities and remain sharper for 10 more years!

They also found that the group that played these memory games were better at performing activities of daily living such as bathing and dressing up.

Sudoku, Scrabble and crossword puzzles are just a few examples of games that keep the brain healthy.

These types of games are easy to buy at your local store.

You will also find a giant library of games on the AARP website.

Encourage foods that improve brain health

People who eat a diet that is high in protein, high in good fats and moderate carbohydrates report feeling sharper and more alert than people on a high carbohydrate diet.

Foods high in protein include eggs, meat, fish, beans, lentils and peas.

Vitamin D and Vitamin B12 are also important for brain health.

Help them set up a safe home environment

Falls are among the top causes of death and injury for seniors.

Keeping the house safe involves time and effort but it will reduce the risk of falls for a forgetful seniors.

A few ways you can improve safety around the house include:

Tape down or remove area rugs to avoid tripping over them.
Keep the floors as dry as possible.
If you have a 2-story home, you and your loved one may want to consider a stair-lift. This will help them get up and down the stairs easier.
Lighting should be adequate. At night, keep night lights on so that your elderly loved one can see where they are going.
In the bathroom, using bathmats to add friction or shower cares for those with mobility issues will also reduce the risk of falls.

To read about 21 tips on keeping your senior safe at home, read this post.

Use visual prompts around the house

It might not be easy to help them recollect everything, but as a caregiver, you can use visual prompts to remind your loved one of things.

For instance, you might keep birthday, doctor, dentist appointments, etc., written on a large board in an accessible hallway of the house.

You might set an alarm that reminds them to take their medicine.

Visual reminders are helpful also for hired home caregivers who may not know everything about your loved one.

Consider your own emotions as well

Last but not least, it is important to consider your own emotions as a caregiver.

Dealing with these types of changes in a loved one you’ve known your whole life is difficult.

I highly recommend that you speak with a mental health professional about any emotional difficulties you might be facing.

There are so many ways to take care of yourself as a caregiver so that you can provide the best care to your loved one.

To read more on self-care for caregivers, read the following posts.

5 self-care tips for the family caregiver

7 ways to relieve stress as a caregiver

Caregiver self-care-7 ways to take care of your emotional health as a caregiver.

Everyday lapses in memory are normal.

We forget what day it is but remember later. Or we might forget where we placed the keys when we came home last night. But then we find it later.

These are normal.

However, when forgetfulness begins to interfere with your daily life, there is a cause for concern.

It is however also important to remember that forgetfulness does not necessarily mean a person has Alzheimer’s Disease.

In fact, mild memory loss and forgetfulness can be a normal part of aging.

As we get older, our bodies go through many changes and this includes changes in the brain.

Thus, you might realize that it is harder to learn new things or that you don’t recall facts as easily.

How can you even tell that the forgetfulness you’re experiencing is related to Alzheimer’s or not?

In today’s post, we will go over the key differences between Alzheimer’s and mild memory loss related to aging.

And, we will also talk about how to cope with memory loss as you grow older.

Let’s dive right into it.

Coping with Memory Loss-Important Things To Know

So what are the differences between mild memory loss that is related to aging and memory loss related to Alzheimer’s?

With mild memory loss, you might make one bad judgement that is unusual for you once in a while. When memory loss is related to Alzheimer’s you make a series of bad judgments or decisions.
With mild memory loss, you might forget a day and remember it later. For memory loss associated with Alzheimer’s, a person loses track of time completely.
Once in a while we all forget a word to use for something we are describing. If the memory loss is related to Alzheimer’s however, you might have trouble having a conversation.
Losing things from time to time to normal. When you find that you are losing things all the time and/or being unable to find them, Alzheimer’s might be in the picture.

What causes memory loss and forgetfulness?

The fact that the mild memory loss you’re experiencing is not related to Alzheimer’s doesn’t mean you shouldn’t talk to your doctor about it.

Apart from aging, memory loss is associated with:

tumors or infections in the brain
medication side effects
a head injury that might have happened if you have fallen recently
drinking too much alcohol
stress or emotional issues
elder abuse

To make sure none of these medical conditions in responsible for your memory loss, talk with your doctor.

Early interventions for memory loss and forgetfulness are always helpful.

Coping with Memory Loss- 8 strategies to help you cope

So how do you as a person experiencing memory loss cope?

Talk to your doctor the moment you start noticing that forgetfulness is interfering with your day-to-day functioning. They might be able to recommend a medication course that helps reduce the progression of memory loss.
Eat more food that improves your brain health.
Take care of your emotional health as well.
Arrange your home in such a way that it is safe and you reduce the risk of falls. For useful tips on how to reduce the risk of falls in your home, check out this post.
Write important information down and place it in a visible area. Birthdays, your doctor’s number and such key information can be written on a large piece of paper and be placed on your refrigerator for instance.
Set reminders or use alarms to remind you of important events throughout the day.
Let a trust family member or friend know where vital documents such as your will, advanced directives, social security and financial information is located. This way, they can provide that information when you forget.
You might also want to consider a fiduciary to help you manage your finances and financial obligations.

Memory loss and forgetfulness are certainly difficult topics to navigate.

But there is help and it is possible to thrive in spite of it.

The tips shared in here will be helpful to you if you’re in that place or are a caregiver with a loved one in that place.

If you found this post helpful, consider sharing it with someone else that might be dealing with memory loss and forgetfulness.

What are the best websites for seniors in 2019?

With millions of websites out there it can be hard to determine where to find reliable resources online.

In this post, I will be outlining 7 of the best websites for seniors and their caregivers.

Ready? Let’s jump right in.

AARP.org

The American Association for Retired Persons (AARP) website is an excellent resources if you’re looking up to keep up with senior/eldercare news, facts and figures.

Being an AARP member also gives you access to discounts on travel, car rentals and even on healthcare. And their educational resources are top-notch as well.

Eldercare Directory

It’s time to locate a caregiver or housing facility for your loved one but you don’t know where to start? The Eldercare Directory will help you locate home care agencies, home health agencies and federal programs so that your loved one can get the help they need.

US Department of Health of Human Services

The US Department of Health and Human Services is another rich resource you can tap into as a senior.

Resources you can access here include:

Elder justice issues
Resource locators which are in some ways similar to the Eldercare Directory
Retirement planning advice
Government programs that are available to seniors usually at a cheaper cost.

The Green Tree Home Care Blog

This post wouldn’t be complete if we didn’t mention this blog! Over the last year, the content team over here at Green Tree has been working hard to bring you well-researched and written posts that educate you on everything from chronic health issues, mental health for caregivers to end of life planning.

Grab a cup of coffee or tea and read through our blog for advice on aging and care-giving.

Savvy Senior

The Savvy Senior is a nationally syndicated column that is researched and compiled by the NBC Today show contributor Jim Miller.

This column appears in more than 400 newspapers and magazines across the nation and covers everything from end of life questions to employment for seniors to Medicare and Medicaid.

Check out the Savvy Senior here.

Our Time

It is never too late to fall in love. Our Time is a dating website dedicated to people 50 and over.

Looking for a new life companion?

Create a profile on Our Time and see how it goes!

YouTube

YouTube is not just for young people who are social media savvy! And it is not just for getting entertained or for getting information on how to fix something around your house.

There are a number of seniors who are creating useful and engaging content around their life experiences on the platforms.

Have a cell phone camera? You can start a YouTube channel and share your thoughts and experiences on camera as well.

Not only can you grow a following on YouTube, it can be a source of good income as well.

Was this post helpful? Consider sharing it with someone else who is looking for helpful websites for seniors.

You are never too old to dream a new dream!

And even though it is February, we are still early enough in the year that you can start with new goals RIGHT NOW.

So for our senior friends out there who are wondering if doing something new at your age is out of the question, think again.

In today’s post, I will share 15 goal ideas for seniors that you can implement in 2019.

15 Goal Ideas for Seniors in 2019

Learn a new language
Visit a new city
Explore a different part of your city on the weekends
Try a brand new exercise
Re-read the books on your shelf
Get to know the neighbors
Learn to play a new instrument
Buy a journal and write down your thoughts daily
Drink more water
Haven’t created a living will/advance directive? This is an excellent time to create one.
Reading a book too tasking? Start listening to audiobooks. Audible allows you to try audiobooks for free for 30 days.
Go on iTunes or any podcast listener in the Android Play Store and listen to a new podcast.
Start a micro-business. These days, you don’t need a whole lot to start a business. In fact, there are a number of apps, websites and even free community tools that will allow you to make an income without having to leave your house.
Walk outside and enjoy your natural surroundings.
Declutter. Ah! I now so many people are scared of this word. And especially so when you live in a house where your kids and perhaps grandkids grew up. Getting rid of anything is hard. I have a hard time getting rid of things too! But perhaps decluttering will give you more headspace to thrive? You will never know until you try!

So there you have it. 15 goal ideas that will help you pump some new juice into your life.

Have you tried any of these? How did they work for you?

If you enjoyed this post, share it with someone else who is looking for new goals this year.

Volunteering for retired professionals. Here are 12 ideas.

Why you should stay active even if you’re retired

Volunteering for retired professionals. Here are 12 ideas.

Crossing guard for your local school

Teacher’s helpers

Volunteer police officers

Aid missions abroad

Teach a college class

Teach a local class

Hospital helper

Volunteer with the Peace Corps

Host an international student

Volunteer to work at an animal shelter

Volunteer at a local prison

Volunteer as a foster parent

How to help a loved one going through memory loss-8 tips for caregivers

How to help a loved one going through memory loss

Not all memory loss is related to Alzheimer’s Disease

Have a frank conversation

Identify tasks that have become harder and provide support

Encourage medications

Play games that improve memory

Encourage foods that improve brain health

Help them set up a safe home environment

Use visual prompts around the house

Consider your own emotions as well

Coping with Memory Loss

Coping with Memory Loss-Important Things To Know

What causes memory loss and forgetfulness?

Coping with Memory Loss- 8 strategies to help you cope

7 Best Websites For Seniors & Their Caregivers

AARP.org

Eldercare Directory

US Department of Health of Human Services

The Green Tree Home Care Blog

Savvy Senior

Our Time

YouTube

Goal ideas for seniors for 2019!

15 Goal Ideas for Seniors in 2019