Summer is winding down to a close and the Fall season is upon us.

Bye bye lighter clothes; hello jackets that keep as nice and warm.

Unfortunately however, as the year winds down to a close, so does the incidence of the common cold.

And as advanced as medicine has become in the last 100 years, there is still no cure for a cold.

But there are things you can do to help you or your elderly loved one get over a cold quicker.

For your senior loved ones who have a generally weaker immune system, every little bit of help when it comes to preventing and fighting a cold is important.

In this post, we will go over ten home remedies for the common cold that you can try this season.

10 home remedies for the common cold that work

Break out the chicken soup

In a research study that was published in Chest, a journal which is put out by the American College of Chest Physicians, scientists showed that chicken soup is helpful in fighting the cold.

In that study, they showed that chicken soup prevented the movement of a type of immune cell that supports inflammation called neutrophils. By inhibiting the movement of neutrophils, chicken soup prevents inflammation and helps you fight off the cold faster.

If there ever was a reason to drink more chicken soup, here it is!

Ginger

Ginger has long used in traditional medical practices of many cultures. I remember back in the day, my grandmother would actually give me raw ginger to chew when I had a cold. I don’t recommend it but it sure was effective!

Ginger contains a chemical called 6-gingerol. According to a study published by the Natural Products Communications Journal, has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

This means that drinking ginger tea or consuming something with ginger in it when you have a cold will help your immune system better fight off the cold virus.

Citrus

You have probably heard the advice to drink orange juice when you have a cold.

This is accurate. Citrus plants like oranges, lemons and limes are rich in vitamin C.

Vitamin C is excellent at boosting your immune system which is exactly what you need to fight off a cold.

Blow your nose regularly- but in the right way

Blowing your nose to get rid of mucus that is blocking your airways is helpful in helping you recover quickly from a cold.

It is however important that you blow your nose the right way.

If you/your elderly loved one has recently had surgery, blowing your nose too hard is not advisable.

Go to bed early

Getting adequate sleep is important to your overall well-being; and especially during a cold.

Getting to bed early when you have a cold can be a game changer.

Honey

We will forever be grateful to bees for providing us with honey.

Honey contains several antimicrobial agents that will help you fight off your cold. Additionally, it is well known in research to be a cough suppressant.

But not all honey is created equal. Some brands of honey are 50% sugar syrup!

Make sure whatever you buy is 100% pure honey so you can get all the benefits.

READ A RELATED POST: How to get ready for flu season

Use salt water as a nose rise

Salt water helps to break up the congestion and removes mucus, bacteria and viral particles from your nose.

To prepare your own home nose rinse, mix a quarter teaspoon of salt and a quarter teaspoon of baking soda in water.

Using a bulb syringe and holding one nostril closed, rinse your open nostril 2-3 times.

Repeat for your other nostril.

Stay warm

As I mentioned above, cold weather brings the cold along with it.

Keeping warm during this time will help you recover faster.

Drink hot fluids

Still with the theme of keeping warm, drink hot fluids.

Hot fluids also can help with breaking up mucus and relieving congestion.

Hot tea and hot chocolate are excellent choices.

Try over the counter cold and cough medications

Last but not least, there is no rule that says you cannot pop into your local pharmacy and grab some over-the-counter medication to help with your cold.

A lot of the over-the-counter cold medications typically contain acetaminophen which helps with all those aches and pains. It is also likely to contain an antihistamine such as diphenhydramine which helps with congestion and suppresses any cough you might have with the cold.

Antihistamines also help with sleep- which as we discussed above is important to helping you heal.

Closing Thoughts

The common cold is annoyingly uncomfortable.

But at least once this season, they may be a few days you come down with it.

In this post, I have armed you with 10 home remedies for the common cold that are proven to work.

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Estate planning sounds so grandiose that you could easily dismiss it.

The reality however is that everyone has an estate.

It may not be a million dollars in liquid cash, but as long as you own it, it is an estate and thus you should make preparations for it for two scenarios:

• If you ever are unable to make decisions because of an incapacitating illness
• In the event of your passing away

What will happen to your finances, homes, cars and investments when you pass away?

Have you appointed a power of attorney if you are ever unable to make decisions that affect your life?

As a caregiver, are these questions you have brought up to your elderly loved one?

I’ll admit. It is difficult to talk about death; let alone plan for it.

However, talking about it and making plans now will avoid a lot of confusion and family drama later on.

Estate planning simply refers to an advance plan you make that decides who (a person/people or organization) gets your possessions once you die.

In today’s post, we will be talking about estate planning basics everyone should be aware of.

This information is useful for you both as a caregiver and as an individual.

Estate Planning Basics- Here’s What You Should Know

7 Facts about estate planning

1. Everyone needs a plan. Not just seniors or retired people.
2. If you don’t have an intentional estate plan, your state government will decide what happens to your possessions after you die. It is unlikely that you would be happy with it. All the more reason why you should have an estate plan.
3. Planning your estate will help you organize your records. Sometimes you may not even realize that certain bank accounts or money due you is part of your estate. By planning now, you can account for all those pieces of property you don’t even think about.
4. As I mentioned earlier, planning now will avoid family drama later. So many families are thrown into turmoil with lawsuit after lawsuit after a loved one passes away and no will is left.
5. Pass on your values on money and hard work when you plan your estate.
6. A good estate plan also includes creating an advance directive where you appoint a power of attorney who can make health decisions for you if you are ever in a state where you cannot make decisions for yourself.
7. An estate plan will ensure your dependents are taken care of in the event of your death.

Yes it is true- an estate plan will not completely wipe out or solve the issues raised above.

It can however significantly reduce their occurrence.

What should your estate plan include?

Your estate plan should cover as wide of a scope as possible.

Even though we cannot cover them all in this post, your estate plan should the following areas.

PLEASE NOTE: Even though we are including many of the aspects of estate planning here, please talk to your attorney to make sure all your bases are covered.

1. Protecting your assets. It is important during estate planning for you to take stock of what you own. It is important to make a list of bank accounts, investments, homes, cars, furniture etc that are in your name and nobody else’s. If you co-own something, it is important that you and the person or persons who co-own the asset with agree to what will happen to your portion in the event of your death. Write down this agreement. A lawyer should also witness the agreement. And even with things that you co-own, depending on state law, your portion could go to the surviving co-owners who can then decide whether or not they want to turn your portion over to your family.
2. Business planning. If you own a business, what happens to the business after your death is also an important thing to include in planning your estate.
3. Disability and illness. In case of a disability or incapacitating illness, what decisions do you want to be made? Where will the money come for your care?
4. Elder care. What are your preferences when it comes to elder care? How will your loved ones pay for it? Whether you or your elderly chooses home care or assisted living, there will be a cost involved. Being clear as to your preferences will clear up confusion later on.
5. The administration of your estate. This involves naming an executor who will oversee the distribution of assets after your death.
6. Giving. Do you want to leave money to an organization you care about? Estate planning will help you take care of that as well.
7. Inheritance. Do you plan on leaving portions of your estate to a surviving spouse, children, grandchildren or other relative? Estate planning includes planning the inheritance you will leave behind. Setting up beneficiaries of plans such as life insurance, 401Ks and IRAs are also included here.
8. Retirement planning. Planning for your retirement starts NOW. Not when you are ready to retire. This is why I mentioned above that estate planning is not just for the elderly.
9. Trusts.
10. Guardian appointment. Estate planning is not just for the elderly. If you have minor children, it is important to name a guardian who will take over the care of your children in case of your death. You love your children and want to leave them in the hands of someone who will do a great job. Not someone the state has appointed to take care of your children.
11. Funeral arrangements. These will include plans for your funeral ceremony and decisions as to where you would like to be buried or whether you would like to be cremated.
12. Estate taxes. You don’t want to leave your family with huge tax bills for your estate. Speak with a lawyer who is well-versed in tax law about this. It will help to reduce this financial burden for your family after you die.

Recommendations

As you can see, you have to take a lot into consideration when you are planning your estate!

And this is the reason why planning your estate starts right now.

As a caregiver/adult child/loved on of an elderly person who has no such plan in place, it is best if you can encourage them to do so as soon as possible.

As a young person who is reading this, all this advice applies to you too.

We recommend that you or your elderly loved one begin by making a list of all you own and then using the different categories stated above, make a plan for what will happen in case of your death.

Once you have written this down, you can hire the services of a lawyer for a few hours to oversee what you created and offer suggestions.

The point here is to have a plan in place before you ever need one.

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Deciding between assisted living and home care is an overwhelming process.

When a loved one has come to a point where they need assistance in their daily routine, you have a big choice to make. You start to research all of the different care options available. Should you look at assisted living or in home care? Which one is better for you? 

How do you make the decision between assisted living vs home care without feeling guilty?

And how do you make a decision that suits your financial situation?

There is no doubt that there are many factors to consider.

In this post, I will be breaking down each side to help you come to decision that works for you, your aging loved one and your family.

Assisted Living Vs Home Care: How Do You Choose?

Assisted Living

One of the biggest reasons people don’t choose assisted living is because of the high costs.

There is also the issue that sometimes aging family members don’t do well when they are away from the rest of the family.

And then of course, there is the guilt a lot of family members feel due to a sense that they are “abandoning” loved ones by choosing assisted living.

Let’s tackle each of these.

Cost

Costs of assisted living will vary based on the city and state you live in.

However, it is easy to look at the price of assisted living listed on the brochure and conclude that it is not for you.

Have you however taken a moment to calculate the costs of providing in-home care for your elderly loved one?

Apart from hiring experienced in-home caregivers who do an excellent job, perhaps providing care at home means you have to take a cut in your work time.

This is a financial cost too.

Perhaps home care requires that you modify your home to assist the mobility needs of your aging relative.

There is a respectable cost incurred here as well.

Factor in additional “fringe” costs of keeping your loved one at home and it is possible that you will come to the conclusion that assisted living costs about the same.

Emotional Guilt

Another reason people choose against assisted living is emotional guilt.

Your parents or aging relative might have been your caregiver when you were growing up.

You love them dearly. And so the thought of signing them up for assisted living feels like you’re abandoning them.

Perhaps your current job is too demanding and you can’t give them the full attention they need.

Your feelings are completely valid.

In such circumstances, it is a good time to talk this situation over with your aging loved one.

During this conversation, it will be important to be completely honest with your aging loved one about why keeping them at home is no longer feasible.

Assure them of your love for them and follow through with visits and constant support if you finally settle on assisted living.

Helping Your Loved One Cope With Separation

This point ties into the one above.

As human beings, we consider change a threat- whether that change is small or big.

Thus, it is natural for your aging loved one to feel that they are no longer wanted when you suggest assisted living as a care option.

This could even lead to a depressive state for your elderly loved one.

If necessary, talk this through with a licensed therapist to make sure you are on the same page with the decision.

To help your aging loved one cope with the separation, it might also be wise to pick them up for family events throughout the year so they don’t feel isolated.

Home Care

We’ve talked extensively about the advantages of home care on this blog.

As a company, we truly believe choosing excellent home caregivers can provide you with the relief and peace of mind you need while ensuring your aging loved one gets the best care.

However, we also believe in doing what is best for your family and particular situation.

With that clarification,  over the long haul, home care is sometimes cheaper than assisted living.

Additionally, your aging loved one will not be separated from their family. Do they verbalize that they feel safer at home? Are they part of community organizations such as a church or volunteer at the local hospital? In these instances it might be a smart decision to keep them at home while they receive in-home care.

It also means you will not have to spend money on gas, tolls and car maintenance to visit your loved one- as the situation would be with assisted living.

In assisted living facilities, one-on-one care is not possible.

With home care, personalized care is the standard.

On average, caregivers spend 20 extra hours per week caring for their loved ones.

Choosing professional home care could help you regain those 20 extra hours back.

And that guilty feeling of “abandoning” your aging loved one? That fear is removed. Why? Because you still get to enjoy your aging loved one in an environment they feel comfortable in.

Do you live in the San Diego area?

Are you in need of reliable home care professionals? Green Tree Home Care can help! Give us a call today at 800-518-9277.

We agree: It is not an easy decision

If the answer were straightforward, we would all know it by now, right?

Ultimately when it comes to choosing between assisted living vs home care, you have to think about what makes sense emotionally and financially in your situation.

This post lays out the broad picture of what you can expect should you go one route or the other.

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It might sound absurd, but investing in a shower chair could save you thousands of dollars and save the life of your elderly loved one.

According to a report by the Centers for Disease Control, in the US, falls are the leading cause of death for seniors.

That is ahead of all the common causes of senior deaths including Alzheimer’s, heart disease or any kind of infection.

One in four adults above age 65 falls everyday.

In 2014 alone, there were 29 million senior falls resulting in 7 million injuries and resulting in $31 billion in annual Medicare costs.

In short, when a senior falls it can be both expensive and deadly.

One of the places seniors fall is in the shower.

As an excellent caregiver, you want to avoid this.

In this post, I will go over the reasons you should seriously consider getting a shower chair for your elderly loved one.

5 Reasons A Shower Chair Is A Must For Your Loved One

#1- A shower chair will save your loved one’s life

I already mentioned that over 7 million injuries occur as a result of falls each year.

When these injuries happen, there are several things that could happen.

Broken bones are one such injury. As we age, our bones become less dense and so fractures happen easily.

One of the complications of a fracture are embolisms (blood clots) which are notorious for killing people without them showing any symptoms. A break in the spine or neck could paralyze your elderly loved one.

Skin breaks can also occur during such a fall and lead to a stubborn infection.

Safety with a shower chair to avoid this.

#2- A shower chair will save you money

Yes, a shower chair may not be cheap upfront, but not investing in one could be costlier.

Whether you’re paying out of pocket or you have great health insurance, the costs of a fall soar very easily.

It is likely that when they fall and obtain an injury, they will have to be sent to the emergency room.

In the emergency room, the doctor may determine that it is better for them to be admitted at the hospital.

Surgery may be needed if there are critical muscles/organs/bones injured during the fall.

Hospital-acquired infections are common among the elderly. This could prolong hospitalization.

As you can see, there are costs at every turn when a fall happens and medical attention is sought.

Most of these can be avoided by providing your elderly loved one with a shower chair.

#3- A shower chair promotes independence

I know I’ve talked mostly about a shower chair preventing falls.

However, another great benefit of getting a shower chair for your elderly loved one is that it promotes a sense of independence for them.

As people age, they begin to have a sense that they have lost control of most things in their life.

Kids leaving home, more people their age dying plus progressively getting physically weaker can trigger depression in elders.

One of the areas in life that is private to each one of us is the ability to take a bath/shower without assistance.

Losing that as well can be a big blow.

A shower chair allows your elderly loved one to perform this daily function with little assistance and helps them maintain a sense of independence and control.

#4- A shower chair is also helpful for caregivers

A shower chair is helpful for caregivers too.

In case there is a day they absolutely have to give your elderly loved one a bath, having a shower chair will make a caregivers work easier.

It is easy to maneuver and give a good bath when the other person is seated.

#5 – A shower chair can be used on a trip

Most shower chairs are designed to fit a standard shower.

Going on a trip for a few days?

The shower chair can be folded up and packed up at the back of a van.

No need to worry about falling or injuries while on your trip!

Closing Thoughts

Falls are expensive and are a leading cause of death in seniors.

The good news is that falls are preventable.

One of the common places in the home a senior is most likely to fall is in the bathroom.

A shower chair can keep your senior loved one safe and alive.

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No matter what age you are, downsizing is a difficult transition.

There is therefore no doubt that downsizing your elderly loved one’s home in preparation for a move to live with you or a move to live at a nursing home is difficult.

In this post, we will go over how you as a caregiver, can make downsizing a home as painless as possible for your elderly loved one.

Downsizing a Home – How to Make it as Painless as Possible

Downsizing and moving a home you have lived in for 20, 30 or 40 years is not a light issue.

When you add in a sense of a loss of control, things get sticky quickly.

As a caregiver, it is important for you to realize that no matter how you slice and sautee it, downsizing will take an emotional toll on you and your elderly loved one.

Have an open discussion

The road to an efficient downsizing and moving transition is paved with discussion.

If there is enough time to prepare, I recommend that the conversation starts at least 3 months before the actual event.

People do need time to grieve losses. Getting rid of items that have sentimental value and moving out of a home triggers a sense of loss in many ways.

First, there is the loss of the physical items.

And then, there is a fear of the loss of the memories those items represent.

Last but not least, there is a sense where the elderly adult begins to feel a sense of loss of control over their very lives.

Those are heavy emotions to navigate.

Having an open discussion will help them come to terms with what is happening and give them an opportunity to psychologically let go.

During the discussion:

• Mention clearly why downsizing and moving have become necessary for them. Perhaps they currently struggle to move around or they are forgetting to take their medication. Be kind but clear that you have their best interests at heart.
• Ask them how they feel about downsizing and moving. As I mentioned already, the introduction of this topic will already make an older adult feel like they are losing control over their life. It is therefore important they their input is taken seriously during this discussion.
• Discuss a plan with them. Once you have their input, it is time to discuss a plan. I’ll expand on that below.

The plan to downsize (PLUS A CHECKLIST)

Having the discussion ahead of time also gives you a long period over which to spread downsizing.

Chances are that you will have to go through a number of possessions that have been accumulated over the years.

Giving yourself time to sort through and get rid of things reduces the stress felt by everyone.

You can print off the checklist below to make sure you help your loved one downsize efficiently.

• Make a list of what your loved one would absolutely love to keep. It makes it easier when it comes to getting rid of sentimental items. Have a notebook where you make important notes on what they want to keep.
• Set a firm date for completion of the downsize and/or move. This gives everyone a deadline to work towards.
• Start by going through the house room by room. It helps to make the de-cluttering and clean up process easier.
• Get rid of the unimportant things first. Expired food, drinks and medications in shelves can cabinets can be tossed first.
• Get rid of or donate old clothes and books. Goodwill, churches/places of worship and The Salvation Army are good places to start donating.
• Alternatively, you can help your elderly loved one start a yard/estate sale to make some money off their old items.
• Shred old/cancelled checks, banks statements older than 7 years or any other document that is outdated but which has sensitive information on them. Avoid senior scams!
• Locate and collect important documents like wills and Advance Directives. These need to be stored securely if possible in a safe deposit box until it is needed.
• Keep de-cluttering for a few hours each week and remember to keep things lively and stress-free.

Selling the home, vehicles and changing addresses

• Do they need to sell their house? You will need to speak with a real estate agent and make arrangements for listing, showing and finally selling the home.
• File a change of address at the post-office for your loved one so they don’t miss any important mail. You may also have to change their address directly with banks, financial institutions (if they have investments), insurance companies and publication subscriptions. This is a good time to cancel any of these mailings your loved one will no longer need.
• Vehicles can also be donated or sold.
• If there are pets involved, make sure to have plans for them too.
• Cancel utilities like gas and water.
• If it is financially feasible, get in touch with professional movers. Otherwise, get the help of friends and family to help with the final move.

Items that have sentimental value

Because sentimental items can be a point of contention, it is best if you do this last.

If you have already made a list of items they want to keep, this should make things easy.

But do expect resistance against getting rid of certain items like heirlooms and even things as simple as particular clothing their children wore.

Closing Thoughts

Downsizing your elderly loved one’s life to a few suitcases and boxes is an immensely difficult decision.

Having a candid discussion and a solid plan ahead of them makes the transition easier.

In this post, I gave you a check-list you can print out and use to help your loved one downsize and move with grace and dignity.

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