People with Passion Working in Minneapolis Senior Care

Today more seniors than ever before need a caring hand, whether that is in the form of occasional companionship, household help, mobility assistance or medical senior care.

Many Minnesota seniors believe that their only choices are to live alone or to live in a Twin Cities senior facility. But another option is to obtain care in the home from licensed and trained caregivers. At Home Solutions specializes in this middle ground between complete independence and care in a senior living facility. For many seniors, obtaining home care gives them peace of mind and helps them to remain in their home.

Last month, we highlighted the volunteer work of Kristin Kopp, owner of At Home Solutions. In this post, we wanted to share a little bit about the people, practices and the passions that make up our staff and caregivers. Enjoy getting to know us! We hope it will help you to know that if you choose At Home Solutions home care, you or your loved one will be treated with caring and respect by staff members who are not only trained but who truly love the work they do.

Our Hiring Practices

You might be wondering: How do they make sure they are hiring quality people who are suited to working with seniors and adults with disabilities?

We start with a lengthy interview to learn about the individual and ensure that they have the personal skills we need on our team. After the initial interview, the candidate must undergo drug screening. We also check their criminal background and driving record, and personal and professional references. We also review Minnesota Department of Health records to ensure the candidate has no past violations. Finally, when we bring our new At Home Solutions staff member on board, they attend a three-day orientation with us to learn our practices and policies. Each staff member also attends ongoing training. In this way, we ensure that we work with the most caring, high integrity individuals who support our mission and commitment to high quality care.

Our Staff

Meet Heather, CSA. Heather is the Operations Manager for At Home Solutions, and in this role she matches our caregivers with our clients to ensure relationships are built for long term success. Heather believes strongly in our mission to provide trustworthy home management support services to adults in transition and their loved ones.

Meet Tanja, Care Manager and Scheduler. Tanja  is a registered nurse and has both worked and volunteered for local and national non-profits in the area of program support and administrative work. She has a personal commitment to helping seniors and people with disabilities and has designed and implemented creative arts programs for adults with dementia.

Meet Hope, our Scheduler and Administrative Assistant. Hope has a degree in Sociology, with a focus on community and family, and is actively involved in her children’s school and extracurricular activities.

Meet Camille, RN. Camille has worked in geriatric nursing and long term care settings as both a caregiver and RN. She also volunteers for a local community outreach program.

Meet Kris, our Care Manager. Kris is an RN and a graduate of Lutheran Deaconess School of Nursing. She has worked in Geriatric Nursing and Long Term Care both as a caregiver and in an administrative capacity. She is an advocate for turning to professional caregivers, when the time has come to seek assistance and obtain peace of mind.

Meet Linda, an At Home Solutions Caregiver. Linda loves working with senior citizens. She has a lengthy medical background and has worked extensively with cancer patients of all ages. She loves to see those she cares for smile and enjoy life.

Meet Kristin, an At Home Solutions Caregiver who is pursuing a degree in nursing.  She is passionate about helping people and has realized through her work at AHS that personal care is her true calling.  She loves to help people maintain their dignity and independence in the comfort of their own homes.

The caring staff at AHS are the mainstay of our business, and they are passionate about working with the senior community and those with disabilities. As you can see, each of these individuals has a personal commitment to help people live comfortably and well in their home, and to receive just the right amount of care.

How to Find Volunteering Opportunities with Minnesota Seniors

Do you ever wonder how you can make a difference in the life of a senior in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area? With the rising numbers of elderly people today, and a challenged economy, there are many opportunities for helping out seniors in need, providing companionship and more. This post was inspired by the work of our own Kristin Kopp, Founder and President of At Home Solutions, who has been an active volunteer for over 20 years. You can read more about Kristin’s volunteer activities on Our Story page.

What Do Volunteers Do?

Did you know that Americans devoted an estimated 8.1 billion volunteer hours in 2010? Where do all those volunteer hours go? Volunteers today are involved in every aspect of community service from working at non-profit agencies to serving meals, helping with low-cost housing construction, decorating senior living communities with festive décor and much much more. The only limits to what can be done or accomplished through volunteering are the limits of our imagination.

How Do You Find Volunteer Jobs and Get Involved?

Finding volunteer opportunities with seniors in Minnesota or another area of special interest or skill simply involves a little bit of hunting. In this blog post we provide some resources to help you get started finding ways to volunteer with senior care centers, help homebound seniors, or find just the right opportunity based on your skills and interests. No matter what kind of service project or volunteering makes sense for you, you will enjoy making a difference.

1. Deliver meals to seniors.

One of the most fundamental needs you can help to fill is meal delivery. The statistics:

• There are over 5,000 senior nutrition programs in the U.S.
• Over one million meals are delivered to seniors each day.
• According to the Meals on Wheels Association of America, the “volunteer army” that serves these meals at congregational facilities and individual homes is somewhere between 800,000 and 1.7 million people.
• Here in the Twin Cities 400 volunteers are needed daily to delivery meals.

To find a meal delivery opportunity, you can:

·         Start at the Take Action page of the Meals on Wheels Association of America.

·         Start at the Deliver a Meal page of the Twin Cities Metro Meals on Wheels organization.

2. Start with VolunteerMatch.org.

Volunteer Match has a search tool that you can use to find volunteer opportunities by location and interest.  For example, a Volunteer Match search on seniors in Minneapolis, MN turned up the following opportunities:

• Visit with seniors in a memory care home.
• Set tables and serve meals to seniors in a senior living community.
• Help out at a spa day for seniors by providing manicures and massages.
• Visit homebound seniors to provide companionship.
• Provide chore help, such as fall raking.

3. Browse government service and volunteering organizations.

Several U.S. government organizations provide resources and databases for volunteers. Here are a few examples.

• GetInvolved.gov: This government organization provides links to many resources and affiliated programs, including Senior Companions. The Senior Companions program has a focus on helping seniors to continue living independently in their homes. As a volunteer, you can take advantage of a range of resources as well as specialized volunteer training.
• Serve.gov: This nationwide service initiative, spearheaded by President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, is designed to provide opportunities for all citizens to help meet the growing social needs resulting from the economic downturn. The site includes a search feature where you can scout for service opportunities and projects by keyword and location.

4. Think of ways for kids and teens to help seniors.

Volunteer roles are very often filled by already busy adults. What about kids? Kids can bring a boatload of energy and fun to senior centers and senior living communities. And the kids and teens can benefit too. Volunteering can help enhance their understanding and compassion toward others, help them to see that elderly people are just as three dimensional and interesting as young folks, and even provide work experience that can be added to a resume. Teens can even find volunteering abroad opportunities to expand their horizons.

Here are a few resources for thinking up ways kids and teens can volunteer with seniors:

• DoSomething.org: DoSomething is an organization with a youth focus that encourages involvement. Kids can find opportunities, join “Do Something Clubs” or start their own club.
• Kidz World.com: The Kidz’ World Working with Seniors page provides excellent inspiration for ways in which kids and teens can make a difference in seniors’ lives.
• Cross Cultural Solutions.org: The Cross Cultural Solutions site is full of ideas and resources on volunteering overseas. Volunteer opportunities to be found on the site include helping people with disabilities, helping women to gain life skills and providing elder care.

5. More ideas for helping others.

The online resources are endless for finding volunteer projects, whether related to senior care or other interests. For example here are some idea pages and volunteerism databases:

• Idealist.org: Idealist is devoted to nurturing the desire to make a difference in the world.  You can search by volunteer opportunities, internships, programs, jobs and more, and refine your search by keywords and location, including many countries worldwide.
• Help Others.org: The Help Others site provides ideas for helping others in many ways, including simple acts of kindness.
• SmartVolunteer.org: The Smart Volunteer database is an excellent starting place for those who want to apply their professionals skills to their volunteer roles.  You can search many categories from accounting to legal to writing and editing, and find opportunities by zip code.

And finally, you can simply use your favorite search engine to find opportunities in your area of interest or expertise in your area. For example you could search “volunteer with seniors in Minneapolis, MN.” No matter how large or small your volunteer role, your efforts can make a difference!

5 Ways Home Management Services Help Seniors Remain Safe

Senior home services can provide home management help to ensure that a Minnesota senior citizen can remain comfortably and safely in their home. Home management services for seniors can include a range of tasks such as assessing the senior’s needs and providing any needed safety modifications.

Here are five ways senior home services can help to enhance a senior’s safety and well-being:

1. A professional assessment of the senior’s needs.

Changes in a senior’s physical and mental health as they age may or may not be readily apparent to a family member or caregiver. A trained senior home services consultant knows how to ask the right questions and perform a thorough evaluation of the elderly person’s needs. For example, an assessment may include the senior’s ability to safely navigate the home, prepare nutritious meals and to safely bathe or shower, as well as the senior’s need for companionship and community.

2. A professional assessment of the home’s safety.

Many things we take for granted can pose challenges and safety concerns for seniors. Senior home services consultants can help to determine whether hand railings are needed in certain areas, if necessities such as the telephone and furniture are well placed for safe and optimal use, and whether floor mats pose a safety hazard due to slipping.

Other assessments might include fire safety. For example, the senior home services provider might assess whether cords are frayed or too close to a heat source, whether oven mitts are placed too close to stove burners, and so on.

Watch Kristin Kopp, owner of At Home Solutions explain more about home management services when she was interviewed by Seniors on Screen.

3. Providing basic home adaptation services.

A senior home services provider that is trained in occupational safety can make many needed adjustments. For example, the service provider can convert throw rugs that slip into secure non-slip rugs, re-arrange furniture so that items such as ottomans do not pose tripping hazards, and that reaching for certain items does not pose risks to the senior.

4. Providing referrals to qualified service providers for home adaptations.

Some home adaptations that are needed to ensure senior home safety require a handyman service. These adaptations may include making changes to stairways, adding ramps and installing grab bars and hand railings in hallways and bathrooms. In these cases the senior home services consultant will typically refer these adaptations to a trusted service provider in the Minneapolis area who is skilled at making these changes.

5. Providing companion care, geriatric care or travel assistance.

Many seniors benefit from occasional companion care visits or assistance getting to the store, a place of worship or to social events. The appropriate caregiver will be assigned depending upon the senior’s needs. If the senior has a medication regimen, a nurse practitioner can be assigned to set up the medication schedule, while a home health aide may be assigned to manage the medications.

Seniors living alone benefit from companion visits or geriatric care visits because they provide social interaction, ongoing safety assessments, and personal care services such as meal preparation, bathing assistance and light housekeeping.

In each case, home management and senior care services can be tailored precisely to the needs of the senior, and modified over time to meet changing requirements.

Eight Common Scams Against Seniors

Today there is a growing trend for scammers to target senior citizens in Minneapolis. Common scams include door-to-door sales and telephone pitches regarding insurance policies and other “hot button” issues for seniors. Here in Minnesota, our “Minnesota nice” values may contribute to seniors being more trusting and less willing to shut the door or hang up on unwelcome callers.

 According to the Better Business Bureau of Minnesota, there are a number of reasons why seniors are more vulnerable to scams:

• They are more likely to be at home to answer the phone or greet someone at the door.
• Seniors tend to be more trusting and may not suspect that a friendly stranger is a con artist.
• Elderly citizens are often lonely, and may be susceptible to a friendly approach, even if it is a sales pitch.
• They may have a need for home repairs or services that they are physically incapable of handling themselves, which can expose them to pitches from itinerant workers who stop by to offer low-cost repairs.
• Seniors are often on fixed incomes, which may make them vulnerable to high yield investment promises or savings on medical care.
• Elderly people may own their home outright, making them a target of predatory lenders.

Most Common Scams Against Seniors

First, let’s look at the most common scams targeting retirees, senior citizens and adults with disabilities. Then we will cover how to avoid them.

1. The Grandparent Scam.

With this technique, the scammer calls the senior on the phone, posing as a grandchild in trouble, or a friend of the grandchild. Gary Johnson, Senior Outreach Manager of the Better Business Bureau in St. Paul, MN describes this scam.

“The primary scam that I hear about around the region is the Grandparent Scam:

‘Grandma this is Tim. I am in jail and need your help. Don’t tell my parents. I am so embarrassed.’

They are then asked to wire funds out of the country and the money is gone. One of the reasons seniors are targeted is that people 65 and older control approximately 70% of the assets in the country. That makes our demographic a big target for the Scammers.”

Quick Tip: Ask for a phone number where your grandchild can be reached or the name of the detention area where he is being held. Call the grandchild’s home or cell phone and ask for him. Chances are, he will answer the phone or his parents will know right where he is.

2. Domestic or Foreign Lottery Scams.

There are many versions of this scam, all of which require that you provide your account information or submit payment to cover processing fees, foreign customs, taxes or other costs in order to receive your prize. You may be told you must submit a payment through personal check, wire transfer, direct deposit or other means. The hucksters may make contact through a letter, phone call or email, and you may be asked for your bank account number or social security number in order to transfer funds.

Some of the most common forms of this scam include an announcement that you have won a very large sum of money in a foreign lottery or that you have been awarded money in a legal settlement or class action lawsuit due to illegal telemarketing by a foreign business.

Quick Tip: Never give out confidential information, even your home address, to a stranger.

3. Home and Garden Handyman and Remodeling Scams.

This type of scam typically shows up via a door-to-door sales person offering to perform work on your home or in your yard, often at a bargain price you “can’t refuse.” Here are some examples:

• A roofing company suggests that they can provide roof repairs or replacements at a fraction of the cost of their competitors, typically asking for up-front payments to begin work.
• A tree service tells you that one of your trees is diseased or was damaged in a recent storm and must be cut down.
• A plumber or home repair outfit tells you they will make repairs or do handyman work.

There are many problems with these scams. For instance, there may not be anything wrong with the “diseased” tree. The home repairs, if they are even completed, may be shoddy and done by inexperienced personnel with the only real goal of getting you to pay them money. And if you are asked to pay in full up front, you may never seem them again.

Quick Tip: Do not open your door to someone you do not know, unless you have a friend or relative with you to help ascertain the nature of the visitor’s business and whether the person can be trusted.

4. Discount Health Plan Schemes

Fake discount health plans are becoming more common today with the hubbub in the healthcare world, and the resulting confusion. Seniors are particularly vulnerable due to increased medical care needs. With this scheme, the caller claims to be with the government or a government sanctioned company and tries to sell you a health plan that offers medical services at discount rates.

Quick Tip: Ask for the company name, phone number and website so you can perform your own research. If these details are not provided directly, hang up.

5. Investment Scams

Investment scams come in a variety of forms, and may even occur through established investment firms. Unnecessary fees, short term investments, promissory notes, and unregistered securities are examples of some of the investment opportunities that have turned up as being scams.

Other investment scams show up as a free offer of some kind. The hoax focuses on creating trust so that the unsuspecting fraud victim supplies personal information or investment funds. You may receive offers of high returns on investment or free trips, and typically you will be pressured to make a commitment of some kind on the spot. These scams are often Ponzi schemes or empty promises designed to obtain access to your money.

Quick Tip: If you receive a call from an investment company soliciting your business, ask for the company name, phone number and website so you can perform your own research. Also be sure to review your financial statements and ensure that you understand all fees and charges. 

6. Fake Charities

Alas, even companies posing as Minnesota charitable causes may not be trustworthy. Today, due to the challenged economy, some companies are using an emotional appeal to tap into seniors’ desire to support a cause. In some cases the company calling you may be an actual charity set up as a 401c(3), but very little of the money actually benefits the cause. Some charities may request that you purchase something you otherwise would not have been interested in buying, such as magazine subscriptions, while others request donations of money, cars or other property to help support “those in need.”

Quick Tip: Do not donate money to a charity without first researching whether the organization is registered with the state by visiting the Minnesota Attorney General’s website at www.ag.state.mn.us or calling 1-800-657-3787.

7. Jury Duty Scam

Barbara Johnson Hannah, a Certified Pre-planning Specialist and Family Service Specialist for Aftercare informed us of this scam in which someone calls and claims to be a “Jury Duty Coordinator” and threatens to prosecute you for failing to report to jury duty.  If you protest that you never received a summons for jury, the scammer asks you for your social security number and date of birth so he or she can “verify the information and cancel the arrest warrant.” This is a fraudulent attempt to obtain your personal information in order to steal your identity. 

Quick Tip: Never give out your social security number, except to those you trust completely. No legitimate company or organization will request this information over the phone.

8. Phishing scams.

With this common scam, you receive an email suggesting there is a problem with one of your accounts. You may be asked to click a link to another site to verify your information. Often the email looks legitimate, and may even include a well-known company logo. These emails are often written poorly and are addressed not to the individual but generically, such as “Dear Customer” or “Dear Account Holder.”

Quick Tip: Never click links inside of emails unless you have verified that the sender is who they say they are, and never supply personal information or PIN numbers online. A legitimate company will never request confidential information this way.

How to Thwart Scammers

Seniors and their friends, family members and senior caregivers must all work together to help prevent these crimes. The good news is that there are many simple things you can do.

Tips for Seniors

1. Do not allow strangers into your home. Do not even open the door to a stranger if you are alone. And do not do business with anyone who just shows up at your door.
2. Never disclose your social security number, credit card number, check routing information, or bank account information to telemarketers. No one except those closest to you, whom you trust completely, should have access to any of your account information, your social security number, or other identifying information that could be used to steal your identity or access your funds.
3. Recognize that people who “sweet talk” you may have ulterior motives. Be wary of any stranger who pours on charm, and/or uses pushy, high pressure techniques or fear tactics to obtain your personal information, close a deal or make a sale.
4. Be firm. Simply telling a caller that you require their contact information and website to perform your own research or have your relative evaluate their company may be enough to thwart their attempts if they are con artists.
5. Simply hang up. You can feel free to just hang up the phone when you receive unwanted calls, phone calls from solicitors, and especially anyone asking you to send a check, wire transfer, or other payment for future services.
6. Never pay money to collect your winnings. It is important to know that legitimate lotteries deduct applicable taxes from the awarded winnings, rather than requiring money up front.
7. Carefully check out any company you plan to do business with or hire. Turn to trusted relatives for help researching the legitimacy of charities, home services, investment firms and other companies that may benefit from your business or contributions.
8. Do not pay an entire amount for a repair or home remodeling project up front. A good rule of thumb is to pay only 1/3^rd for the company to begin work.
9. If it sounds too good to be true, it is. Do not let a desire for a better nest egg prevent you from using good judgment.
10. Pick up your mail as soon as it is delivered, and do not leave outgoing bills in the mailbox. Take them directly to the post office, have a relative do it for you, or pay securely online.

Tips for Family Members and Caregivers

1. First, as a trusted family member or senior caregiver, be on the watch for unusual activity around the senior’s home. Some home service scammers have been thwarted simply because someone asked them what they were doing on the property. Watch for signs that the senior may have fallen prey to a scam artist, such as new magazine subscriptions or new knick knacks around the house.
2. Review the senior’s accounts, including bank accounts and investment accounts for unusual fees or charges. And ensure that you fully understand and have checked out the legitimacy of any investment vehicles, such as IRAs, stocks and mutual funds.
3. Register the senior’s phone number with the National Do Not Call Registry at 1-888-382-1222 or www.donotcall.gov.
4. Check out any company the senior wants to do business with through the BBB at www.bbb.org. If you want to hire a repair service or handyman, you can obtain a list of accredited services through the BBB.
5. Obtain a shredder and ensure the senior shreds any documents with identifying personal information.
6. Help to set up Social Security or pension benefits so they are direct deposited into the senior’s account.
7. Screen all caregivers who are hired to assist the senior or provide in home care.

Additional Resources

The following websites provide excellent information on how to spot scammers and how to stop them in their tracks:

• The Minnesota Attorney General’s office: http://www.ag.state.mn.us/. View the Scams section for detailed information.
• The Better Business Bureau: http://www.bbb.org. You can research companies to determine their rating and whether they have complaints filed against them.
• The BBB’s Consumers page: http://minnesota.bbb.org/consumers/. This website page contains a number of resources including a Top Scams page.
• Adult Protective Services, such as those offered by the Minnesota Department of Human Services: http://www.dhs.state.mn.us/. Go to the Aging page, then look for Adult Protection to learn about how to report financial or other exploitation of seniors.
• Hoax Slayer: http://www.hoax-slayer.com. This site provides more information on common hoaxes and scams.

How Does Companion Care Differ from Nursing Care

And Which is Right for You?

Seniors remaining in the home need varying levels of companionship, assistance and care. To meet these varying needs, in-home senior care services range from weekly companion visits to round-the-clock care, with nursing assistance for everything from mobility to medications.

In this post, we will share some great information with you on the different levels of care, and how to determine which level of care is right for the senior in your life. We also invite you to watch our short video for additional information.

Identifying the Need for In-Home Care

One of the first steps, of course, is determining that care is needed. Here are some of the many reasons seniors and their families seek out in-home companionship and/or nursing care for seniors in Minneapolis:

• The senior needs help with tasks in the home such as light housekeeping, cooking or dressing
• The elderly family member is not getting enough social interaction, which can lead to low morale or depression
• The senior is in declining health and needs assistance with bathing, mobility, transport to errands, shopping, church or social events
• The primary senior caregiver is a busy family member, and is not able to provide the full amount of care needed
• The primary caregiver needs respite care to take breaks from senior care and attend to other personal or family needs
• Medication management has become a challenging task for the caregiver
• The senior has experienced a fall or has a challenging health condition, and requires daily personal care services

As you can see, there are many reasons for turning to an in home care service, from simple companionship to complete senior assistance.

In some cases, the senior may not want to consider an in-home caregiver, even though family members feel that there is a need. The home health care company you choose should help introduce the concept of in home care services in a way that is caring, friendly and non-threatening.

Comparing Companion Care and Nursing Care

Once you determine that some amount of care is needed, the next step is to decide how much care the senior needs and how often. Every senior is different, of course. Everything from age to social interaction needs to the senior’s mental and physical health profile must be taken into consideration. Let’s look at some of the options.

Companion Care

Companion care and other caregiver services can be tailored to the senior’s level of need, from just two hours per week to as much time as you wish. Here are some examples of basic companion care services:

• Companionship, chatting, playing cards
• Home care and pet care
• Housekeeping, bed making and laundry
• Letter writing and mail management
• Medication reminders

Nursing Care

Home health aides, certified nursing assistants (CNAs) and registered nurses (RNs) can be assigned to provide more in-depth care and medical assistance whenever services are needed that require caregivers with specific skills, training or certifications. Read the extensive qualifications we require when we employ a CNA or RN. Here are some examples of home health aide and nursing care services:

• RN case management services
• Medication review and medication management
• Bathing assistance, grooming and hygiene
• Dementia care
• Ambulatory care
• Feeding assistance
• Hospice support

Together with your home care agency, determine the right amount of care for the senior based on a review of the senior’s mental, physical and emotional needs. 

In some cases, the need for in home care services may decrease over time, such as when the senior is recovering from an illness or injury. In other cases, the need may increase with time, if the senior is experiencing a decline in mental or physical health. If the senior moves to an assisted living facility or nursing home, the At Home Solutions team can continue to provide services to the senior in the new location for continuity of care.

When the senior is receiving nursing care, the registered nurse case manager will perform scheduled follow-ups to assess the senior’s medications and/or perform the medication set-ups, and will also act as a liaison to the senior’s physician.

As the senior’s family member or personal caregiver, you can be assured that the senior’s needs will be met by the appropriate level of in home care services.

Respite Care for the Caregiver

If you are a senior caregiver, you may be among a growing number of adults who cannot remember the last time they sat down and put their feet up. 

A survey completed by the AARP and the National Alliance for Caregiving, with funding from the MetLife Foundation, revealed that an estimated 66 million Americans were providing care for adults, both young and old, as well as children with special needs. These caregivers provide 20 hours of care per week, on average. In other words, many caregivers are working a part time unpaid job.

Even when the caregiving role is provided with love, and even with the many rewards it can offer, caregivers can experience fatigue and burnout. In this post we’ve provided some tips and resources to help you, the caregiver, to be sure that your own needs are met.

Tips for Caregivers

One of the first steps you can take as a senior caregiver is to acknowledge that you do have a job, and that job is one that can be both physically and mentally demanding.

When you acknowledge that your caregiving role is work, it goes without saying that taking breaks, rewarding yourself for hard work, and ensuring that you factor in breaks from your caregiver tasks are important considerations.

We’ve aggregated some helpful ideas for you from the National Family Caregiver’s Association and other resources across the web to provide these additional tips:

• Educate yourself on your loved one’s illness or condition. Doing so will help you to communicate more effectively with other family members and physicians.
  
• Accept your feelings. Senior caregivers very commonly experience complex emotions. Whether they are feelings of grief, burnout or even resentment, understanding how you feel, and letting go of any sense of guilt about what those feelings, can help you provide even better care.
  
• Acknowledge your need for downtime. This should be a “no brainer” and yet a surprising number of caregivers attempt to push through fatigue and just keep going. Be to take breaks whenever you can.
  
• Accept help from others. If people offer assistance, just say yes. Be sure to provide specifics on how they can help, including timelines. Most likely, your helpers will be happy to pitch in and will appreciate specific instructions.
  
• Write down your thoughts. Fears and worries can tend to grow and multiply. Writing them down in a notebook or journal can help to make them seem more manageable. You will also be able to define questions for doctors and make note of any caregiving tasks that you can hand off to others.
  
• Seek professional help. Fretting? Depressed? Don’t ignore these signs. Seek help from a professional counselor or your doctor if your roller coaster ride of emotions includes anxiety or depression.
  
• Be open to changes that support your loved one’s independence. Evaluate and be open to ideas that promote your loved one’s independence. Whether that may include an electric wheelchair or other technologies, these changes may give your loved one more independence while giving you some relief from some of your caregiving tasks.
  
• Remember that you are not alone. Create community with other caregivers to share ideas. You will not only feel more supported, but you may learn some things you would never have thought of on your own.
  
• Find a local senior center in your area. Senior centers and area agencies on aging exist in may communities. Through these centers, you may have access to free and low cost resources and activities.

Caregiver Resources

When you are feeling overwhelmed and anxious about your senior caregiving responsibilities, here are some additional resources you can turn to for ideas and help:

• At Home Solutions (yes that’s us!): Respite care is one of our specialties. We provide support to your loved one, which helps you get the respite care you need. Be sure to visit our Caregiver Services page.
• Independent Home Living: Programs that provide knowledge, tools and resources for empowered caregiving, maximum senior independence and living within your budget through web-based tools and a free call-in service.
• The Well Spouse Association: A non-profit organization that advocates for and addresses the needs of individuals caring for a chronically ill and/or disabled spouse/partner.
• The National Family Caregiver’s Association: A non-profit organization that provides education and support to the millions of Americans who care for loved ones, including elderly, disabled and chronically ill family members.
• MinnesotaHelp.info: A listing of resources and agencies to help those caring for aging, disabled, or chronically ill loved ones.

And remember, if you are stressed or burned out, your ability to provide care to your family member will be compromised. Caring for yourself and ensuring that you don’t become incapacitated yourself is important both for you and for your loved one.

Preventing Falls in the Elderly

Frank is 91 years old, limber and healthy, and has lived on his own in the Minneapolis, MN area since losing his wife two years ago. This last winter, on a cold December morning, Frank went out to get the newspaper, stepped over any obvious icy patches, and… went down. He had not realized that a dark patch on the driveway was black ice, a common winter hazard in cold climates like Minnesota.

This story has a happy ending. Frank spent several months in a rehabilitation facility while he healed from fractures in his wrist and ankle and followed a strict physical therapy regimen. He is at home now, living independently again. But the incident undermined Frank’s confidence and that of his family members. And it could have been much worse.

Fall Prevention Tips for Seniors

Frank’s scenario is not uncommon today with the baby boomer generation now in the senior years. According to the National Safety Council, falls are a leading cause of senior citizen injury deaths, which are estimated at 16,000 annually in the US. A large percentage of seniors want to live at home for as long as they can, which can increase risks for those not attended by in home caregivers.
The causes of falls for seniors range widely from home safety conditions to changes in physical and mental health status, and many are preventable. To help you assess ways to reduce risk, for yourself or a senior in your life, At Home Solutions, LLC offers these tips:

•    Review and correct potentially slippery conditions inside and outside the home

• In winter, cover walkways and driveways with sand
• Indoors, remove sliding area rugs or replace them with non-skid mats
• Place non-skid mats inside and outside of tubs and showers

•    Use adequate footwear both indoors and outdoors

• Use shoes and slippers with good tread or non-slip soles
• Make sure all dress shoes provide support and are non-slip

•    Keep floors clear of tripping hazards

• Move any extension cords out of walking areas
• Place duct tape over any cords that cannot be moved
• Keep shoes, umbrellas and gear in bins rather than in entry ways
• Make sure low furniture, such as ottomans and end tables are placed out of walking areas and are kept in predictable places

•    Install handrails and safety rails where appropriate

• Make sure stairways have secure and sturdy handrails
• Areas to consider for safety rails include the bathtub, next to the toilet and hallways

•    Maintain physical and mental activity

• Encourage and assist with stretching, walking or senior aerobics, if within the senior’s capabilities
• Play games such as cards, board games, and word games to enhance mental clarity and stamina
• Provide companionship, conversation and socializing opportunities

•    Maintain vision prescriptions and good visibility in the home

• Regularly check for cataracts and glaucoma
• Ensure prescription lenses are kept up to date
• Keep prescription glasses on the night stand
• Install night lights by bedsides, in hallways and in bathrooms
• Place a touch lamp on the night stand
• Install good lighting on stairways and in hallways

•    Schedule regular doctor’s appointments and bring a checklist

• Review all medications
• Request blood pressure checks when sitting and standing, as a dramatic change in blood pressure can cause light headedness
• Request checks on balance and strength and request physical therapy when needed to make improvements
• If dizziness or hearing loss is an issue, request a referral to an ENT specialist to address any vestibular problems
• Assess mental clarity

•    Finally, consider home care services to provide assistance or companionship to the senior

• These services can range from occasional companion care or home health services to round-the-clock care

Home care services such as those we provide from At Home Solutions of Minnesota can make a huge difference in the well-being of elderly people who remain in the home. Even just taking care of the little things like laundry, cooking, changing linens and providing medication reminders can dramatically improve home safety and enhance the sense of security for a senior.

When the need is greater, such as when a senior needs bathing assistance, ambulatory help, or medication management, home care services can be increased to meet those needs. An RN case manager can be assigned to provide oversight of home health aides and ensure that medications are kept up to date.

Whether occasional or daily, caregiver and companion services can help to ensure that a senior’s home environment is safe, and that the senior receives regular assistance with the tasks of daily living.