Real Estate

10 Reasons Why Downsizing is Beneficial for Seniors

Getting rid of old goods is a great way to feel refreshed and invite more freedom into your life. Here are 10 reasons why downsizing is an important step to take for yourself and for others, too!

1. It can help you prepare for a future move.

If you’re considering moving into an Assisted Living or Independent Living facility, downsizing your existing home can help make that transition much smoother.

2. It can help you make room for assistive devices and other home modifications.

If your home will need a bath installation, guardrails and other adjustments for better mobility, removing extra furniture, foliage and unused merchandise can help make these home modifications a breeze.

3. Downsizing can help make room for a live-in family member or caregiver.

4. It can benefit those in need in your community.

Unused goods, especially unwanted appliances, old furniture and other household items are always welcome at local shelters, furniture banks, group homes, churches and crisis centers.

5. It makes housecleaning a breeze.

6. You can earn extra money.

7. It can help keep your home safe.

Moving out home furnishings can help open up tight hallways and living spaces.

8. Your home will look better (and bigger).

9. You will have more space for company.

10. Letting go of things will feel better.

It can be difficult to detach yourself from things you’ve owned for many years, but you may feel better knowing that an unused item is living out its intended purpose in the hands of someone in need.

Thank you to Senior Directory, and The Bridge at Ooltewah for this article.

Click HERE for full article.

3 Ways to Help the Elderly Cope with Grief and Loss

3 ways to help the elderly cope with grief and loss

At some point in our lives, we’ve all experienced what it is like to grieve the loss of someone that we love and cherish.

And while older people may have had more experience dealing with losses, losing an adult child, a spouse, or even leaving one’s family home can leave the elderly devastated.

In order to help our elderly loved ones from spiraling into depression, we must find ways to help them cope with grief and loss in positive ways.

Signs of grief in the elderly

Many older adults may not outwardly show signs of grieving, but carers and relatives should be on the lookout for physical and emotional distress.

Grief can manifest in crying or even a reluctance to cry, and a change in eating habits can also be a sign of distress.

Losing interest in family, friends and hobbies is another indicator of grieving, as well as having difficulty in sleeping, concentrating and making decisions.

If your elderly loved one is experiencing any of the above, here are some ways to help cope with grief and loss.

1. Visit regularly

Whether your elderly loved one is living at home or in an assisted care facility, it’s important to make time to visit on a regular basis.

Your visits will provide something to look forward to and will prevent the feeling of isolation.

Keep your loved one updated on positive things that have been going on in the world and bring something that they may like, such as a basket of favourite food or baked goods. Watch to learn more

2. Let them express their grief

Let your elderly relative or friend know that it is okay to mourn. Don’t offer to fix things or make things better, at a time like this, the best thing that anyone can do is just be there and listen.

Offer your support, and keep in mind that a touch or a hug can do more to help your grieving loved one than any words.

3. Make them feel secure

Grieving older adults need to feel secure during this difficult time and will need the love and acceptance of family and friends.

Don’t be critical if they need to escape briefly from grief – nobody can grieve all the time and they may need to do something for themselves to feel good, even just for a while.

So, if they want to go out and head to the mall or go for a nice walk, offer to be with them if they want company.

Helping your elderly relative or friend cope with loss is a process, and it may take some time before they can heal.

But your love and support can help during this difficult time, so be there for your loved one as they try to cope with grief.

BIG Thanks to Jane Sandwood and Hello Care for this content.

For full article click HERE

6 Tips for Long Distance Caregivers

There’s no doubt — trying to take care of aging parents from a distance is hard. Whether you live an hour away or are caregiving for a parent in a different state, stress and guilt take an emotional toll.

You can’t be there in person all the time, so what can you do?

1. What You Can Do

It’s ok that you can’t do everything for your parent. What are your strengths? Are you good with money? Once you know what you can do, you’ll be able to make a plan that covers the gaps.

2.Explore Different Living Arrangements

Other families find what makes the most sense to have the parents move closer to the adult children. If moving is simply out of the question, hiring in-home care — either full-time or part-time to provide some support. Senior living communities are an option that can provide 24/7 access to health care, assistance with activities of daily living, enriching programs and activities, and a built-in social network that helps combat loneliness.

3. Have a Family Meeting

Whether it’s in person, on the phone, or via Skype or FaceTime, gather the family together to get everyone on the same page. You all need to understand what the issues are and what your parent wants.

4. Plan Visits

It’s important that you actually get to see your loved one from time to time. Be sure to spend quality time with your loved one.

5. Have an Emergency Plan

If your loved one has an accident or other emergency, you need to have a plan in place so you can get there on short notice. Set up a support system of people who can step in for you while you’re gone, whether it’s helping with the kids, the pets or your job.

6. Stay Connected

Some families schedule conference calls with doctors or senior living community staff to get up-to-date information about their parent’s health. If you have a neighbor who regularly checks on your parent, get updates from them. Keep in touch. Phone calls and emails are a simple way to reach out, and they go a long way toward keeping your relationship strong.

With some strategic planning and a team effort, you can make sure your loved one is getting the assistance they need. Watch to learn more.

For the full article on whereyoulivematters.org click HERE

How to Get Up From a Fall

How to Get Up From a Fall: Step-by-Step Guide for Seniors Presented by Lumen5

According to the CDC, more than 1 in 4 people age 65 and older fall each year. Even worse, after an older adult falls, lying on the floor for a long time or getting up incorrectly could cause additional injury – even if they weren’t seriously injured from the fall itself.

For example, someone who isn’t able to get up or call for help may develop serious complications like dehydration, hypothermia, pneumonia, or pressure sores. Watch to learn more Knowing what to do if a fall does occur and practicing ahead of time will give them confidence that they’ll be able to help themselves and minimize injuries Seniors should only consider getting up if they’re not injured or dizzy from the fall.

Watch to learn more If you find that your older adult has been injured in a fall, don’t move them, that could make their injuries worse. Watch to learn more Instead, call 911, keep them as warm and comfortable as possible, and wait for emergency responders to arrive.

How to get up from a fall when there are no injuries

1. Stay calm and still.

2.Don’t move for a few minutes because moving too quickly can cause more harm.

3. Figure out if you’re injured.

4. Slowly move hands and feet, arms and legs to check for pain.

5. If there are no injuries, slowly roll onto your side, starting the movement with your head and moving down your body toward your feet.

6. Take a moment to rest.

7. Slowly push up into a crawling position and crawl slowly on hands and knees toward a sturdy chair or piece of furniture.

8. Don’t rush and rest as needed.

9. Place your hands on the seat of the chair, one at a time.

10. Supporting yourself with the chair, bring your strongest leg up to a 90 degree angle by putting that foot flat on the ground.

11. The other leg stays in kneeling position.

12. Slowly push up to standing using both arms and legs.

13. Slowly turn around and lower yourself onto the chair.

14. Sit and catch your breath for a few minutes before doing anything else.

For full article and video demostration

Click Here

Steps to Take after Your Spouse Dies

The death of your spouse is a period of unimaginable grief. Unfortunately, there are many legal and financial obligations that will not wait.

Here is a checklist to help guide you through the most important tasks you need to complete:

Don’t make any life-changing decisions.
Request certified copies of the death certificate.
Speak with your spouse’s employer.
Call your spouse’s insurance company and file a claim.
Probate your spouse’s estate.
Gather the financial records.
Switch over accounts and cancel credit cards.
Contact government offices.
Switch emergency contact information.

A checklist is a good way to help with the immediate tasks. However it’s recommended to have a financial plan to help with the larger issues, like planning for retirement or evaluating Social Security claiming strategies.

Activities of Daily Living (ADL’s)

Activities of Daily Living (“ADL’s) is a phrase used in the medical insurance field to determine the type of long-term care a person needs and what type of insurance will cover the costs.

ADL’s are routine activities that all human beings carry out on a daily basis. They include:

(1) Feeding oneself;

(2) Bathing and cleansing one’s body;

(3) Getting dressed by oneself;

(4) Mobility (either by walking or using mechanical assistance) to get from one place to another;

(5) Personal hygiene (including brushing teeth, combing hair, etc.); and

(6) Using the toilet independently.

Most insurance coverage for nursing home care becomes effective when a person is unable to perform two or more ADL’s without assistance.

It is estimated that nearly half of all people who reach the age of 65 will spend time in a nursing home or require assisted care at their own home at some point during the remainder of their life.

As those numbers increase, it will create additional financial pressure for insurance companies as well as the Medicare, Medicaid and VA Healthcare systems.

The ability to assess ADL’s is quickly becoming an important, if not key, component in triggering insurance coverage of medical costs as well as qualifying for certain government benefits at the state and federal levels.

For your free home ADL Evaluation Checklist visit SeniorMoves.org and join our community of Advocates For the Aged.

NOTES:

Nearly 54 million seniors today make up approximately 20% of the total U.S. population. As the baby boomer generation (born approximately between 1946 – 1965) continues to age, approximately 10,000 will turn 65 every day for the next 20 years!

Parent Projects is a multi-sided media platform where family, friends and professional advocates of the aged connect with “verified” senior-oriented professionals and resources focused on downsizing. We take the stress and intimidation out of the process for families relocating in America using our educational and self-help downsizing guides found at ParentProjects.com. Through the our “Verified” Professionals directory, advocates can access the pre-screened professional services they need on their terms with the financial and personal safety peace-of-mind their families deserve.

CONTACTS:

Facebook: @ParentProjects

Instagram: @ParentProjects

Website: www.ParentProjects.com

CHAPTERS:

0:00 – Intro

0:08 – What a ADL is

0:28 – Examples of ADLs

0:51 – ADL estimates

1:30 – Free home ADL evaluation

1:38 – Outro

Aging Parents From A Distance

The fact is, seniors living alone in their 70s and beyond may keep serious problems to themselves because they don’t want to worry you or feel like a burden.

On your next visit, look for these clues that can help you determine if you need to step in or seek for help.

House:

Mail is piling up, garden not attened to, laundry all over the place, house doesn’t look good, and family member might look pale and not eating or taking medication as they should.

Kitchen:

Charred pots and pans, and burned stove and countertops. Expiered food can signal problems with regular grocery shopping and good nutrition.

Other areas:

Unfilled prescriptions or chaotic medicine assortments can suggest needed treatments are being missed or a potential drug mix-up. Bruses can signal bumping into furniture or falling. Off moods and behavior can signal if there us something wrong and your missing.

Seek help when you first feel uneasy.

What To Tell Your Aging Parents About Debt

What to Tell Your Aging Parents About Debt Retirement can be an [ideal] time or a struggle depending on how well you’ve prepared. Four in five households approaching retirement hold debt, a ratio that has remained steady for several decades. Debt forces a growing percentage of retirement-aged people to continue working. Reducing or eliminating debt can be an important step in crafting a viable retirement, If you have parents trapped in debt and nearing retirement, now is a good time to look into senior citizen financial planning and have a talk about the future.

Start a Conversation: The first step to helping your parents with debt is to open a line of communication. Choose a time when you can put other obligations on hold and focus on your parents.

Listen To Their Needs: Your top priority in your discussion should be to make sure your parents have the means to cover necessities like food, home costs and health care. Be gentle and calm in your demeanor, and ask how you can help meet these needs or find resources to help them.

Help Create or Manage a Budget: Some people simply need help managing their post-retirement budgets. If too much of your parents’ income is being used to repay debts, it’s wise to consider debt reduction options like debt management, debt settlement and debt consolidation.

Have Siblings? or Other Family: Financially dependent adult children or family can put a further strain on struggling parents. If your parents are struggling to pay their own bills, they shouldn’t have the additional burden of paying their children’s debts and student loans.

Get Outside Help: Churches often provide tax services to older parishioners, as do senior centers, local governments and other social groups. Finding the right financial professionals and building trusting relationships can be as important to the elderly as finding the right doctors.

Thank You to Bill Fay & Debt.org for this article.

www.debt.org/advice/parents