Care-giving is difficult.

It becomes even more difficult when you have a loved one with Alzheimer’s Disease.

No matter who you are, Alzheimer’s Disease always throws people for a loop.

How do I communicate with him/her if they can’t remember me?

How do I keep them involved in activities?

How do we interact?

These are all valid questions that have no easy answers.

However, it is possible to keep to your loved one engaged even though they might have Alzheimer’s.

So how do we go about that?

In a survey that was put out by Self Magazine just last year, caregivers were asked to share their best tips on keeping their loved ones with Alzheimer’s engaged.

They shared the following tips.

How to keep a loved one engaged when they have Alzheimer’s Disease

Help them do the things they have loved to do for a long time

Thanks to a part of our brains known as the hippocampus, there are activities that we do automatically throughout life. This is true even for people with Alzheimer’s Disease. Chances are that your loved one still remembers how to dance, sing or play their favorite board game. They may not be able to explain why they are able to it; but it still stands that they can.

If you notice that they are still able to perform some of their favorite activities, create opportunities that allow them to be involved in those activities.

Modify activities they enjoy so they do so in a safe manner

For certain activities, it is possible that your loved one will not be able to carry them out in the same manner as they used to. In fact, in some instances, it may be unsafe for them to carry out those activities.

If this is the case, you will need to find ways to adapt the activity so that they can still participate in a safe manner.

Find out what goals they have and help them accomplish them

Has your loved one allowed a dream or goal they have always had to slip out?

Perhaps they have always wanted to visit a particular place or see someone in concert?

Help them fulfill that goal.

Help your loved one connect with other people with Alzheimer’s Disease

It is likely that your city has a meetup or community event for people with Alzheimer’s.

You may even find that the group like this is helpful to you as a caregiver.

Don’t force any activity on your loved one

If they don’t want to engage in a particular activity, don’t force your loved one.

It is always best to find activities they are interested in and help them be involved that way.

Help them exercise whatever cognitive ability they have left

If there are skills that have not been impacted by the disease, help your loved one exercise those.

It will give them a sense of purpose.

Allow them to help with household chores they are comfortable with

If they can help you put the dishes away, let them!

Those moments are always a great time to get them to participate in a family activity while helping them maintain a sense of purpose.

Read aloud together

Read aloud with your loved one. You might even find that reading material from their earlier days will spark excitement and conversation.

Keep trying

You haven’t yet found what will help your loved one engage?

Don’t worry. Keep trying new things each day. Listen to them when they speak. See what they already gravitate towards.

And then use that information to help them engage in life.

Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s Disease is not an easy road for anyone to travel. These tips were shared by caregivers who have already walked the road. Tailor them to your experience and watch your loved one begin to engage.

If you found this post helpful, consider sharing it with someone else looking for tips on how to help their loved one with Alzheimer’s Disease engage.

Let’s be honest: it gets challenging to go out to shop as we get older.

Some of the most common causes for this include:

Mobility issues
The inability to drive to places (not to mention the impatience of drivers these days)
The inability to reach items that may be high up on shelves
The stress of waiting in line to pay for your items

Who wants to go and wait at the pharmacy for 30 minutes just to fill prescriptions?

But you love to shop! So what’s a shopping-lover like you supposed to do?

Well, thankfully, in 2019, we have the internet.

And we have a myriad of services that will have everything from groceries to clothing delivered to your home.

In today’s post, I will share some of those services with you so that you can enjoy all the products you love right from home.

Shopping services for the elderly

Amazon Prime – Amazon has come a long way from being the website where students bought textbooks. Amazon Prime costs $12.99 per month, or $119 if you choose to pay for it yearly. This allows you to get free shipping on millions of items sold on Amazon. Plus in most cases, you can have the items delivered to your home within 2 days.

You can shop for everything including shower gel, shave cream, razors and household cleaners.

And the great thing about it? You don’t have to step a foot out of your home.

Amazon Fresh – Get your groceries delivered to your doorstep within a few hours of ordering. Amazon Fresh costs $14.99 if you’re already an Amazon Prime member.

Instacart – Instacart is another service that promises to have “groceries delivered in less than 1 hour”. If you live in the Greater San Diego area (or in California), you will be able to order from stores like Aldi, Jimbo, Sprouts, Smart & Final, Costco, Petco (hurrah for your pets!), Sam’s Club and Whole Foods.

Jet – Jet is an online department store that gives you access to everything including groceries, home furniture and electronics. They deliver to your home as well.

FreshDirect – If you live in New York City, FreshDirect will work nicely for you. They are an online grocer that delivers to homes and offices.

PeaPod – Peapod is another online grocery delivery service that you might consider for getting groceries on your doorstep.

Chewy – Have a pet? Get everything you need for him or her on Chewy.com. They even have an “autoship” service that will automatically send you replacements for items as you begin to run out. You can simply set a schedule on their website and they will send you your pet supplies as requested.

Check with your local store

Many stores in the United States now offer an “order online and pick-up” in store service. This will still require that you drive to the store but it cuts down the amount of time you would have to walk around and shop for your own items. Stores like WalMart, Vons and Target offer such services now.

Some pharmacies also offer home delivery. It is just a matter of asking your preferred pharmacy if they have it.

Did you find this post helpful? Share it with someone else looking for easier options for shopping!

Summer is around the corner and some of us are already dreaming of the warm weather, cool drinks and long days.

But it is important to not forget about skincare as you go about enjoying your summer.

In today’s post, we are talking about 10 summer skincare tips for older adults.

Let’s dive right in.

10 summer skincare tips for older adults

Remember to wear your sunscreen. Whatever you do, don’t leave the house without sunscreen on your skin. Doctors recommend that that use sunscreen that contains a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15. Sunscreen that contain SPF protect your skin the ultraviolet (UV) rays of the sun. UV rays are notorious for causing certain types of skin cancers.
Sunscreen is wonderful, but even then, it does not protect you 100% from the sun’s UV rays. Thus, it is important to also wear protective clothing. Make sure to have on hats and long sleeved (but airy) clothing.
Put some extra sunscreen on those areas of your skin that are the most exposed-your arms, back and legs-are always worthy of extra care.
As much as possible stay out of the sun between 10am to 4pm. This is when the UV rays are the strongest. Staying out of the sun during this time helps with reducing your exposure to harmful rays.
Drink more water! Drinking water is good for so many reasons. Because it is hot during the summer, it is easy to lose water from your body and become dehydrated. Dehydration has an effect on your skin. Drinking more water will keep your skin nice and hydrated all summer long. This is important because we lose more water and become more easily dehydrated as we get older.
Use moisturizers that keep dry skin at bay.
Use aloe vera to soothe sunburns. You wore the sunscreen and the protective clothing but how many of us know that even after all that, sometimes the sun still burns you? Well, if you do happen to experience a sunburn, aloe vera is great for soothing the pain. **Make sure to check with your doctor if you’re not allergic to aloe vera before you use it.
Use a face mask to reduce oil build-up on your face.
Exfoliate your skin to reduce pores so you can enjoy smooth skin all summer long!
Don’t forget about your lips. A lot of people forget about their lips during the summer. But this area of your skin needs as much help as it can get during these months. A simple lip balm helps always.

And there you have it: 10 summer skincare tips so that you can enjoy the summer to the fullest.

If you enjoyed this post, share it with someone looking for skincare tips for the summer.

Summer is right around the corner.

While we’re all looking forward to bright and sunny days-not to mention the warmth-skin care is still important.

For a lot of seniors, summertime means days of dehydration and dry skin.

As we age, our skin cells lose the firmness they once had.

This means that older people lose water from their bodies easily and thus are more prone to problems related to dehydration.

And as if dry skin wasn’t enough, that dry skin very often leads to itching. None of these things are fun!

In today’s post, I’m going to talk about what you can do to cure dry skin for yourself or an elderly loved one.

Cure for dry skin in the elderly-Tips to help you beat it

Use moisturizers, creams and lotions on your skin everyday and throughout the day. Not all lotions are created equal. Some of them just seem like the manufacturers did not even want to make the lotion. These are not helpful and dry out almost as soon as you put them on your skin. Established brands that have historically sold thick lotions are the best to buy if you want to get your money’s worth. I would even dare say that if you’re not afraid of the grease, petroleum jelly might be a wonderful solution to keeping your skin moisturized.

Use a moisturizing soap or body wash when you take a shower. There are soaps and body washes that are harsh and which dry out your skin. Avoid these if you are trying to cure dry skin.

Use a humidifier in your room so that your skin, mouth and nose don’t dry up at night.

Drink more water. This might seem obvious but a lot of people miss it. If you want to stay hydrated, you will have to drink more water. I’ve heard some people say they don’t like the taste of water. If you’re one of those people, you can make your water more palatable by adding fresh fruits that flavor it.

Avoid the sun during the hottest part of the day. The hottest part of the day is usually between 10am-4pm. If you need to be out, make sure you have sunscreen and protective clothing on.

SIDE STORY:There was a time I got bad heat exhaustion from being in the sun for too long. I grew up in the tropics and thought I could handle the sun. Well, I was 100% wrong and learned that day that following simple rules like staying hydrated and wearing the appropriate protective clothing is a must if you want to avoid dehydration.

Don’t forget your electrolytes

Last but not least, don’t forget your electrolytes. As you drink, make sure you are not forgetting to keep up with you electrolyte levels. Having low levels of sodium and potassium for instance can also cause problems for you in the summer. Drinks like Gatorade are helpful when it comes to hydrating and keeping your electrolyte levels right.

Plus they contribute to the health of your skin.

The Wrap Up

Enjoy your summer! And take care of your skin.

Enjoyed this post? Share it with someone else who needs solutions for dry skin.

What is melanoma and why should you care?

Well, as we come out of an unusually cold winter, it is not odd that you would want to leave the memory of winter behind and embrace sunnier and hotter days.

In fact, I am all for it!

However, in our excitement to enjoy the sun, it is important to pay attention to skin conditions that can be triggered because we are over-exposed to the sun.

One such condition is melanoma.

In today’s post, I am going to touch on 7 facts you need to know about melanoma and how you can prevent it from happening to you and your loved ones.

Melanoma Facts: What you need to know

What is it?

A melanoma is a type of skin cancer that is directly related to an over-exposure to the sun.

It happens when the pigment-producing cells in your body- melanocytes- become mutated (and no longer function properly).

How dangerous is it?

While melanoma is a less common type of skin cancer as compared to other types such as basal cell skin cancer, it can be more dangerous.

This is because melanomas are more likely to metastasize (spread) from one area of your skin to other organs.

And this is why melanoma is not a skin condition to be trifled with in the least.

Melanoma is more common in fair skin

While melanoma can happen regardless of race, it is more common in people with fairer complexions.

Which part of the body do melanomas occur?

Melanoma can happen anywhere on the skin but it is more likely to occur on those areas of the skin that are more exposed. For men, melanomas will typically appear on the chest and back. In women, melanomas occur commonly on the legs.

What causes it?

A melanoma is regularly caused by an over-exposure to the UV rays of the sun.

An artificial source of UV rays such as a tanning bed could also result in melanoma.

It is possible however for a melanoma to occur in an area of the skin that is not exposed to the sun.

What does a melanoma look like?

Large brownish or reddish spot. In darker people, it may look like a much darker area of your skin.
A mole than changes color, size or bleeds.
Sometimes the mole is multi-colored and does not have regular edges.

If you notice any of these signs, talk to your doctor immediately so you can get tested.

What can you do to prevent melanoma?

What can you do to keep this skin cancer away?

Avoid the sun during the hottest part of the day. This usually is between 10am to 4pm.
If you need to be out, wear sunscreen containing an SPF level of at least 15. Wear some sunscreen even in the winter!
Wear protective clothing, hats, etc to protect yourself from the exposure.
Be aware of drugs that make you more sensitive to the sun (yes these exist!). Ask your doctor if any of the drugs you are taking make you more sensitive to sunlight.
Avoid tanning beds. I know it’s a popular trend but it is much cheaper to stay cancer-free.
If you notice any changes in your skin as I described above, talk to your doctor immediately. It is better to have it ruled out as a harmless mole than to find out the worst later.

So get out there and enjoy the sun as we enter the warmer months. We deserve it!

However, make sure you’re taking the necessary precautions to take great care of your skin to keep melanoma away.

Enjoyed this post? Help us spread the word!

Dealing with difficult parents.

You probably have heard this before: that there is no real manual for parenting.

The opposite is true as well: there is no manual for dealing with difficult parents.

And yet, at some point in life, as an adult child, you may come to a place where you have to make decisions on behalf of a difficult parent.

How do you navigate those waters?

Even though I don’t claim to know it all, in this post, I will share some tips on how to do just that.

Dealing with difficult parents

When you’re dealing with a difficult person, they may not enjoy you telling them that they are wrong. In fact, I can say without a doubt that difficult people DO NOT like being told they are wrong. Instead of yelling “You are wrong!” and stomping out of the room, consider the following instead.
- Include them in the discussion when it is time to make a decision. Ask for their opinion throughout the conversation.
- Respect their opinion even though you may think it is wrong. Say something like “Dad/Mom, I am glad you brought that up” or “that is a very valid point”.
- Even if you cannot include all of their ideas in a decision that is being made, include elements of their ideas.
- If you have to make a decision that goes completely against what they have communicated, make sure the decision being made is in fact in their best interest. Break the news to them in a respectful but firm voice. They may argue at first, but when it is communicated the right way, you increase the chance that they will agree to it.

Include someone they respect in the conversation. Your parent is bound to have someone they respect and listen to. Sometimes it might be a sibling of yours, a clergyman or an old friend. Where appropriate, include these people in the decisions leading up to the decision-making.

Ask them what their fears are. Sometimes people are difficult because they are afraid of the unknown. If you can have an honest conversation with such people, they can open up and discuss what it causing them to be afraid. Once you uncover these fears, this is a good avenue to allay those via conversation.

Remember to take care of yourself as well

Take care of yourself. In dealing with a difficult parent, it is important to take care of your own mental health. You cannot treat people with care and compassion if you’re not providing care and compassion to yourself. Talk to a mental health care provider, join support groups and get all the help you can get so you can better help people around you.

Create boundaries. As much as you love your parents, it is important to create boundaries so that difficult parents don’t have a negative impact on you, your spouse and children. If a decision will cause too much tension in the family, it might be necessary to let the issue go but still create boundaries so that everyone involved is protected. Toxic family relationships have done more harm than good throughout history.

Have you had to deal with a difficult parent?

How did you cope?

What tools did you use to navigate these waters?

If you found this post helpful, share it with someone else who might be dealing with difficult parents.

You have an elderly loved one?

You love them dearly but your job and life has moved you far away from them.

It is not secret that they are getting older.

And it is getting increasingly hard for them to get around the house and complete tasks like they used to.

Perhaps health concerns like diabetes, COPD and arthritis have now shown up as well.

What should you do as a concerned child or loved one?

Aging in place and why it’s so important

It is becoming more and more common for older people to stay in their homes.

Think about it: if you had lived in one place for 40 years, would you want to leave it?

You raised your kids there.

You celebrated a lot of “firsts” in that house.

A lot of holiday celebrations have happened in that house.

And most importantly, you know where everything is in that house.

Very few people want to move from familiar surroundings if they can help it. And for a lot of healthy older people, they would rather stay at home until the very end.

How can you help your elderly loved one age in place?

As great as an assisted living facility or nursing care facility may be, it is not home. Thus if you’re finding that your loved one is resisting the move, you might want to consider an alternative.

So how can you help your elderly loved one achieve this goal of living at home even though they might have challenges?

The obvious choice here is home care.

A home care aide can help your loved one with:

Bathing and showering
Skin care
Dental care
Grooming
Make-up
Dressing
Movement
Changing briefs
Providing bathroom reminders
Companionship

And that is just the tip of the iceberg.

A great home care company is aware that your loved one wants to feel at home in their own home.

And so they will strive to make sure that your loved one is receiving all the comfort and care that they need to be at home safely.

Not sure what to look for in a great home care company?

We compiled 15 questions you can ask any prospective home care company in this blog post.

Why you should go for it

Once you have asked the questions on our list and are satisfied with the answers, going with a home care company is an excellent idea.

You will be able to rest your mind about knowing that you are helping your loved one thrive in their own surroundings with the proper help.

If you live in the San Diego area or in Orange County and would love for us to provide care for your senior loved one, we would be happy to.

You can reach us easily at (800)-518-9277 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Click here to read testimonials our clients have left us.

Slowly but surely this year’s brutal winter is fading away. The weather is getting nicer and it is time for you to get out and enjoy it.

Getting out is great for you at any age.

If you’re looking to stay active and healthy as a senior, outdoor activities are a great option.

Furthermore, it is a well-known fact that physical activity is helpful when it comes emotional, mental and cognitive health.

Participating in outdoor activities may also be a great way for you to meet new friends and build healthy relationships!

Basically, no matter how you spin it, outdoor activities are great for you no matter how you look at it.

In today’s post, I am going to give you 12 outdoor activity ideas that you can get involved with this year.

Outings for seniors: 12 outdoor activity ideas for seniors

Walking-Walking is always the easiest way to get outside. It doesn’t have to be a long walk. It could be a simple walk around your neighborhood which might include saying hello to everyone as you go along.

Running-If you were a runner in the past, this might be a good one to pick up again.

Hiking-Do you have hiking trails in your city? Visit them and take a hike.

Beach walks-This is certainly an option if you live in the San Diego and Orange County areas. I don’t know about you but there is something calming about walking near a beach and hearing the waves crash on the shore.

Climbing-Check to make sure this is a healthy activity for you before you get involved in climbing. Climbing can certainly be on the “daredevil” side when it comes to outdoor activities. So make sure you’re cleared to climb before you do.

Cycling-Cycling is another classic outdoor activity that does not require expertise except unless you will cycle complex trails. A ride in and around your neighborhood might be just what you need.

Swimming-Swimming is great exercise and laying in that water is always relaxing!

Fishing-Apart from the great conversations that can happen as you fish, you just might catch your dinner.

Bird-watching-Are you a nature enthusiast? You might enjoy bird-watching.

Hunting-While I have never understood the thrill that hunters have, they definitely seem to enjoy the experience. If you live in a rural area that allows hunting and you have the appropriate license, this might be a really good one for you.

Geocaching-Wikipedia defines geocaching as an activity where people use GPS receivers and other navigational techniques to find boxes and containers that are marked by coordinates all over the world.

If you ever enjoyed treasure hunting movies or would love to treasure hunt yourself, geocaching may be an excellent activity for you.

Camping-Sleeping in a house may be comfortable but it can get boring! Enjoy nature directly by camping out in the woods!

Fruit-picking-You will get your exercise in and have fruit for days to come.

There you have it- twelve outdoor activities for seniors.

And all of them accessible enough that you could start participating today.

If you enjoyed this post, share it with someone else who might be looking for outdoor activity ideas suited for them.

Earlier this week, I talked about 12 ways you could volunteer your time as a senior.

But why should you volunteer as a retired senior?

In today’s post, I am laying it all out and giving you 8 reasons you should volunteer as a senior.

Ready?

Let’s dive in.

8 reasons you should volunteer as a senior

Volunteering gives you a sense of purpose and that can contribute to a longer life. In a Canadian research study, psychologists showed that people who had a strong sense of purpose lived longer.

Volunteering also benefits your psychological health. You are less likely to feel depressed or lonely when you are doing something meaningful that brings you fulfillment.

When you volunteer as a senior, you get to use skills you have acquired over the years to help others. If you were a doctor, nurse, teacher or a professional in another field, retirement does not mean the end of using your skills! Using your skills to help the less fortunate is more than fulfilling and could give you that “second lease” on life you crave.

You could learn new skills as a volunteer. Do you love to learn? Volunteering is a great place for you to learn the skills you always wanted to learn while helping others.

Volunteering could also help you rediscover a passion that you had long forgotten about. Practicing that passion might even become a source of income for you-if that is something you desire.

By volunteering, you might find you build a community of friends and connections you didn’t have before. Healthy friendships and relationships impact our health more than we realize.

Volunteering also gives you an inner sense of satisfaction.

We all love to give back to communities that have been helpful to us in the past. Volunteering is an opportunity for you to show such appreciation.

Retiring from active employment doesn’t mean you’re no longer important to society.

In fact, we need your skills and talents in so many capacities!

And one of the best ways to contribute is to volunteer as a senior.

If for nothing at all, one of the 7 reasons above will spur you on to volunteer your time and skills.

Did you find this post helpful?

Share it with someone who is looking for reasons to volunteer as a senior.