Tips on Talking to Seniors

During the holiday season, we may be spending more time with older family members. Communicating with the seniors in our lives can sometimes be challenging. Physical and medical factors, such as hearing/vision loss, memory loss, or ill-fitting dentures, can leave the elderly feeling angry and frustrated when they are unable to keep up with even a simple conversation. They may feel lonely and isolated, and may fear a loss of control in their lives when asked to discuss personal matters. And ever-changing telephone technology presents its own obstacles to communication for the senior set. However, there are several strategies and skills we can use to ease the communication process with our loved ones and keep the stress level down.

Patience is probably the most essential tool of all when talking to the elderly. This includes listening carefully, not rushing the speaker, and never interrupting or finishing their sentences for them. Understand that the elderly may speak more slowly, and may be focused more on “reflecting” than “action.” Don’t try to rush the process or the speaker may become stubborn or resistant. If they are repeating the same stories, ask them for new details or further information.

Try to understand what’s important to your parents. Ask their opinion or tell them about your day. Pull out some family photos and ask questions about them. Ask seniors about their careers, military service, or the way they raised their family. Share in their grief, worry, or joy.

If talking about a concern, be sure to only bring up one issue at a time. Keep it simple. Ask questions and offer more than one acceptable solution. Give them a choice as to what they think is best. Remember that issues of control and independence become very important as we age; involve them in the decision process.

Use careful, thoughtful speech by speaking slowly and enunciating clearly. Use a calm tone. Treat the elderly with respect and avoid using patronizing language or tone.

Reduce background noise and distractions, such as the tv or radio. And be sure your loved one uses whatever assistive aids are available, including hearing aids, eyeglasses, or amplified telephone headsets.

When discussing something important with the senior, take notes for them to help them remember what was said. Rephrase important points, and ask questions to confirm they understood. Morning is usually best for discussions on important issues.

If understanding or being understood is a problem, ask for help from a family member or caregiver.

By making time and taking special care, we can ensure that our elderly loved ones feel heard and appreciated, and we can better enjoy the time we spend together.

Senior Helpers can provide caring in-home companions for your loved ones. For more information please visit our website at http://www.seniorhelpers.com/wheaton.

Holiday Gifts for Seniors

Shopping for the seniors in our lives doesn’t have to be hard, it just takes a bit of creativity. Before you shop, there are a few important things to keep in mind: your loved one’s interests/hobbies, their capabilities (special needs or limited abilities), and your own budget. And gift giving doesn’t have to cost a lot, often gifts of our time and companionship mean the most.

Here are some gift-giving suggestions to get you started:
• Coupon book for fun activities or help with things around the house (for example, tickets to play or sports event; certificate for grooming services for their pet; organize their photos with them or make a memory book)
• Gift certificate (beauty salon, restaurant, movies, grocery store) or prepaid phone card
• Arrange for household help: cleaning, caregiving, decorating, lawn care
• Gift baskets: books, fruits, gardening supplies, stationery, games/puzzles/crosswords
• Homemade gifts & crafts are good personalized gifts: photo gifts (photo tote, digital pic frame), scrapbooks, silk flower arrangements
• Offer them transportation: either you driving them or a taxi service
• Medical related items: a pillbox/organizer, medical emergency notification system
• Large-print books or large-faced playing cards with card-holder
• Home gadgets/electronics
1. Large faced clocks
2. Flashing light doorbell
3. Big numbered phone or cell phone; sound-amplifying phone
4. Tv remote control with large numbers
5. Talking bathroom scale or talking alarm clock
6. Electronic talking calculator
7. Lighted magnifier/flashlight

• Make or purchase a shawl or throw for warmth
• Keep them warm: A space heater or a donation to the gas or electric bill
• A box of special food goodies that meets their dietary restrictions
• A special class for seniors (ask local Office of the Aging) ex. Genealogy, exercise
• Books on CD; an IPod; dvd collection of old tv shows they used to watch
• Massaging back pillow or neck roll, or a gel seat cushion
• A new robe, or sweatpants & shirt…easy to put on with no fastenings; warm & comfortable
• Hygiene items such as soaps, shampoos, lotions, lip balm
• Lap desk

Whatever you choose, be sure to make it a point to spend time with your senior and enjoy their company. Senior Helpers provides in-home care for seniors and can help take care of your loved one. Find out more at http://www.seniorhelpers.com/. Let’s make this a holiday season to remember!

Winter Tips for Seniors

The wintery weather has arrived! It is important to keep our seniors safe and healthy during the cold weather season, by taking some additional precautions and planning carefully. Check on your senior often, and consider the following chilly-weather tips:

• Dress warmly in loose-fitting clothes, in layers. Be sure to wear a hat & scarf. Mittens keep the hands warmer than gloves. Button or zip-up your coat.
• Watch out for frostbite and hypothermia, two of the biggest dangers for seniors in winter. Most susceptible body parts are fingers, toes, ear lobes, and noses. Look for numbness and a white cast to the skin, which indicate that warmth (not scalding) is required. To prevent hypothermia, keep the thermostat set at 65 degrees or above.
• Hold onto the railing when going down steps; sprinkle salt on them if it’s icy.
• Wear shoes that have a good rubber tread to avoid slips and falls.
• If using a cane, be sure the rubber tip is in good condition; if not, replace it.
• Always take your cell phone with you, in case of emergency
• Keep hydrated. Though it is easily forgotten, drinking water (6-8 glasses a day) is still important in the winter.
• Stock up on medications, food, and water. During periods of severe weather, seniors should not go out unless they absolutely have to.
• If shoveling snow, take frequent breaks. Cold weather and exercise both put additional strain on the heart, so be careful and rest when tired.
• Protect your skin with heavier, more protective creams and lotions. Skin loses moisture in the colder months, causing dryness and itching.

Senior Helpers can help care for your loved ones in their home, visit us at www.seniorhelpers.com

Bathroom Safety for Seniors

For seniors with mobility issues and other physical disabilities, the bathroom can be a dangerous place. Sometimes creative adjustments need to be made to accommodate the elderly while keeping in mind their safety, ease of use, comfort, and easy accessibility. Bruising, broken bones, overmedication, burnt skin, and other physical trauma can result from negligence in bathroom safety. Most accidents that occur in the bathroom take place while the senior is getting in or out of the bathtub, making this a great place to concentrate our safety efforts.

The following are bathroom safety tips for seniors:

Put in a walk-in shower or walk-in tub: These are much safer, easier to access, and comfortable to use than a standard tub. They allow for easier bathing and washing.

Fitted shower seats: Seniors may need to sit down to allow them to bathe easily

Grab bars: Very important to install inside the shower, along the tub wall, and along the toilet wall

Use rubber bathmats or ones with suction cups to prevent slipping

Install an elevated toilet seat to prevent strain on the back

Install proper bathroom lighting: the elderly may have trouble seeing and may need a brighter light during the day as well as a nightlight at night. Make sure the light switches are low enough for the senior to reach easily.

Keep medications secure; seniors with memory loss can get confused and take something they shouldn't

Keep floors dry and use a non-skid floor wax (if at all); if using a throw rug, make sure it is slip-resistant

Set the temperature on the hot water heater low enough so that the senior cannot scald him- or herself

Avoid keeping sharp objects like razors or scissors in the bathroom

By taking the proper safety precautions, bathing and grooming can be a relaxing and safe time for the senior. Be sure to assist those with balance or mobility issues.


For more information on Senior Helpers and to find out more about local in-home care services, visit www.seniorhelpers.com/wheaton or www.seniorcaredupage.com

Preventing Memory Decline in Seniors

Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of memory loss and mental deterioration. Research has shown that people who continuously exercise their mind through various mental activities can help to prevent memory loss and decline as they age by regenerating new neurons in the brain. A great portion of our brain remains underutilized throughout the lifespan, which means there are a lot of inactive brain connections just waiting to be nurtured and developed. Our mental faculties need exercise if they are to remain useful. Activating underused nerve pathways and brain connections can be an enjoyable exercise!

The following tips demonstrate easy ways to keep the brain active:

•Get plenty of sleep, exercise regularly, and eat a balanced diet. The functioning of the mind is related to overall physical health.
• When someone calls on the telephone, try to guess who it is before they identify themselves.
• When doing an everyday task, involve more than one of your senses: for ex., buttoning your shirt with your eyes closed, showering with your eyes closed
• Reading, doing crossword puzzles/Sudoku, or playing yahtzee, scrabble, or chess are all mentally stimulating. Playing bingo has been found to improve both memory and hand eye coordination in the elderly
• Learning a new hobby or a new language will also exercise your brain.
• Mix things up: take a new route to church, brush your teeth with your opposite hand, shop at a new grocery
• Join a club or organization where you can interact with other people. Discussions activate the mind.
• Work jigsaw puzzles. Then try to rework them in a faster period of time.
• Try to work simple riddle books, word games, or children’s math books to challenge the brain
• Read a lot. This exercises the mind much more than watching tv. After you’ve finished a chapter in a book, write a one or two word sentence about it. Be sure to try new types of books, such as biographies, poetry, or travel
• Wake up nerve pathways in the morning: Before getting up from the bed, start moving your toes…flex them, extend them, stretch them and wriggle them. Slowly rub and massage your toes up the other feet, then do the same with your fingers. Besides stimulating the brain, it will also make you feel cool, refreshed, and energetic.


Practicing mental exercises every day is so important. With a little effort you will find ways to add many similar challenges to your daily routine. If you keep your brain busy, it will not let you down!

Senior Helpers is a professional care-giving company with caring in-home companions to help you maintain independence and assure your family that you have the best attention. See us at www.seniorhelpers.com and www.seniorcaredupage.com.

Assessing the Need for Care

During the holiday season, people who live a long distance from their aging family members often go to visit them. This can be a great time to assess their well-being and determine if additional care is needed. The following are aspects to consider when checking in on a loved one:

• The inside and outside condition of the home: Is it clean? Has it changed? Are the shades drawn and house dark when you arrive?
• Is there food in the refrigerator? Is it fresh or spoiled?
• Are there piles of unopened mail? Are bills being paid?
• Is the laundry being done or is dirty laundry piling up?
• Check the person’s appearance: Are they bathing and grooming? Change in weight?
• Any evidence of incontinence, such as smells or stains?
• Does he or she appear unsteady when getting up or down from the chair?
• Does the senior visit with friends and relatives regularly, or are they isolative?
• Check for increasing forgetfulness, missing appointments, getting lost/wandering
• Is the person still able to drive safely?
• Check for signs of confusion, depression, poor judgment, or poor decision making

Any of these can be warning signs that additional help is needed. Senior Helpers provides companionship and personal care to seniors in the home, and can offer a solution when an elderly loved one is in need of additional care. Visit us at www.seniorhelpers.com for more information.

Seniors and the Internet

Learning to use the Internet can help seniors to stay more connected to their friends and loved ones. It can be a nice hobby for those with a lot of free time. And learning something new can give the senior a great sense of pride and accomplishment. However, many seniors do not see a reason why they should learn to use the Internet, and may need encouragement to do so.

There are various ways that seniors can learn how to use the Internet:
• Classes- These may be found at community colleges or senior centers. There are often classes geared toward seniors and generally charge a very low fee.
• Grandchildren- They often have the most knowledge about computers and can be surprisingly patient with their grandparents.
• “Dummies” books about computers- Easy to read and understand.
• Experimentation- Seniors will likely benefit from some simple instruction, and time to play around and explore the computer on their own.
• Explanation of the basic parts: a) websites and servers; b) email: how to send, open, and use the address book and attachments; and c) web browser and getting from website to website
• Allow time for questions from the senior, to ask about anything they don’t understand

Be sure to tailor the instruction to the senior’s experiences and interests, and show them how they can use the Internet to stay connected and to find out more about their hobbies & interests.

Some notes on Safety on the Internet are also important:
1. Never click on a link sent to you by someone you don’t know
2. Never respond to an email asking for personal or account information
3. Don’t believe that someone you don’t know is going to give you money. Especially beware if an email asks you to “help transfer funds” or “help transfer your prize money”. These are scams.
4. Also be cautious about filling out online quizzes or surveys; the information can be shared by many companies and can have negative consequences (ex. Making it harder to get insurance).

The Internet can be a fun and useful tool for seniors. While it takes some effort to learn something new, many seniors have done just that and are pleased with what they have accomplished and what they are now able to do. Keep the learning sessions fun and give the senior plenty of time to practice. Using the Internet (safely) is a great way to expand our loved one’s interests and broaden their world.

For more information on Senior Helpers and to find out more about local in-home care services, visit www.seniorhelpers.com/wheaton or www.SeniorCareDupage.com

Helping Seniors Enjoy the Holidays Again

The holidays can bring mixed feelings for many seniors as they may remember holidays of the past and realize how much their lives have changed. Many seniors are dealing with the loss of loved ones and that feeling of loss can be magnified during the holidays. Also, many seniors face the loss of certain capabilities they once had. But with a little effort, families and caregivers can find many ways to make the holidays a special time for their loved ones. Creating new traditions can be enriching and enjoyable for the elderly as well as other members of the family.

In planning a holiday celebration, be sure to include your senior and ask them how they would like to celebrate. It is important to keep the senior’s rountines and preferences in mind; too much change can contribute to anxiety so we need to be careful about not overwhelming them.

For family members who provide care for seniors, please consider encouraging seniors to participate in the preparations as much as they are able. For example, even if they can’t cook, they can contribute recipes and suggestions for the holiday meal. Contributing to the planning and preparations can help all family members fulfill their sense of purpose and belonging. Seniors might help decorate baked goods, put stamps on outgoing holiday cards, set the holiday table, or pass out gifts to open. If there are dexterity or vision problems, the caregiver can help address envelopes or write note cards.

The following activities are great ideas for all families that include senior members:

Get children and teens involved with their grandparents. The caregiver can provide holiday and craft materials for the senior and children to help make up centerpieces for the holiday table. Scrapbooking is also fun; use family pictures or take candid shots of the loved one. These kinds of activities can go a long way to strengthening those family bonds.

During a holiday dinner, shine a "spotlight" on each person at the table, with each guest offering a story that demonstrates why this person is special. You could write the comments on 3x5 cards and give them wrapped in ribbon or mounted in a collage.
Encourage the giving spirit by helping the loved one go through pantry, linens, and clothing to find things to donate to a shelter or charity.

Gather loved ones and rent “The Nutcracker” musical; serve with some special holiday treats. Another idea is to take the senior on an outing to a local church or school to see a holiday choir perform.

Senior Helpers can help those seniors who need some assistance with holiday preparations by providing companions who are screened, bonded, and insured. We want our seniors to have the best holiday season possible! Contact us at www.seniorhelpers.com.

Get Grandma on SKYPE

SKYPE is one of the best resources available on the web and provides the ability for users to video chat with each other! Imagine the joy grandma would feel when she can not only talk her far-away grandchildren but also see them at the same time. What could be better than that! Well, it does get better because it is free!

To use SKYPE, grandma would need a computer with an internet connection, a microphone, and a webcam. The SKYPE software is available for free from www.skype.com.

If you are even a little techie, please consider donating some of your time at a local nursing home or assisted living facility and help them get SKYPE working on one of their computers. And, they may need some help getting started using the service.

It is such a wonderful technology and it could bring such joy to the lives of a lonely senior!

Vet Benefits for Seniors

Veterans Benefits for Seniors

There is a little known benefit that can help wartime veterans who need assistance get the help that they need! It is called the Aid and Attendance benefit from the Veterans Administration. It would seem as if few social workers know of this benefit. I recently attended a "Hometown Heros" seminar in Bellwood IL, and I was the only organization in attendance that had information on the AId and Attendance benefit.

This benefit is also available to the surviving spouses of veterans (as long as they were still married at time of vets death).

To qualify for the benefit, a vet must:
- have served during a foreign war
- be eligible for pension
- have an income below a certain threshold
- have a net worth below a certain threshold (house which is primary residence and car are not counted in net worth)

For more information on this benefit, send an email to: lsinclair@seniorhelpers.com

To see Senior Helpers website: www.seniorhelpers.com
For the Wheaton IL office, see www.seniorhelpers.com/wheaton or www.seniorcaredupage.com

And, thank a vet today!

Is Humor Really the Best Medicine?

April is National Humor Month!


“Through humor, you can soften some of the worst blows that life delivers. And once you find laughter, no matter how painful your situation might be, you can survive it.” Bill Cosby

It defuses fear. People are scared of their bodies. Humor can crack through the ice and take the fear away.

It relaxes you. Medical procedures such as surgery are stressful. When you push any engine, including your body, to its maximum, every once in a while it slips a gear. The ways the body manifests that are irregular heartbeats, high blood pressure and increased sensitivity to pain. When people use humor, the autonomic nervous system just tones down a bit to take it off high gear, and that allows the heart to relax.

Stress Reduction. For example, after open-heart surgery a patient might say, “My chest really hurts.” And I would say with wink, “Oh, does it feel like someone opened you up, cut the bone and operated in there?” That tells them the pain is normal and making the recovery stress free.

Anti-Depressant. Humor can help with depression in a couple of ways. First, having something to laugh at can distract somebody from their feelings of disappointment, guilt and lack of self-worth. A reprieve from these feelings may lead to openness to a positive self image. Second, having a humorous perspective implies having the ability to step back from one's immediate perception of the world and see the world through wider lenses. By cultivating this humorous outlook, one may be able to see themselves more objectively and outside their normal negative thought.

Cardiovascular Workout! Laughing helps our heart rate and blood pressure temporarily rise, we breathe faster, oxygen surges throughout our bloodstream, and several muscles get exercised. Our face, shoulders, diaphragm, abdomen, & other muscles are involved in laughter outburst. Laughter is even referred to as "inner jogging" as it can burn up many calories per hour as a brisk walk.

So, LAUGH HARD AND LAUGH OFTEN!

Call Senior Helpers if you can benefit from in-home senior care. Visit us at http://www.seniorhelpers.com/ or www.seniorhelpers.com/wheaton

Is Senior Caregiving a Good Job for Me?

It is well known that as senior citizens age they usually need some assistance. Many families helping their senior aged loved ones opt for private duty caregivers to help their aging family members. Many people are aware of the opportunities in senior caregiving, and wonder if the job is right for them.

If you are considering being a caregiver for an elderly person, here are some things for you to consider to determine if it is the right job for you. Consider each of the items below.

• Do you enjoy being with an elderly person?
• Are you willing to do plenty of light housekeeping to keep the senior's house clean and tidy?
• Are you willing to care for the senior's pet if they have one?
• Are you compassionate and able to be supportive and provide your senior charge reassurance and moral support?
• Are you willing to plan and prepare meals to the liking of the senior you care for?
• Are you willing to help a senior manage their household, assisting with paperwork?
• Are you a person other people can depend on?

These are a few essential things you should think about before pursuing a job as a senior caregiver. One outstanding senior care company is Senior Helpers. You can find them at www.seniorhelpers.com

If you are near DuPage county Illinois, please visit us at www.seniorhelpers.com/wheaton

We serve the following cities in Illinois: Aurora, Naperville, Wheaton, Glen Ellyn, Lisle, Warrenville, Bloomingdale, Roselle, Glendale Heights, Winfield, Carol Stream.