5 Ways to Help Our Loved Ones through Retirement and Old Age

 

Many adults actively look forward to retirement because it means ample free time and the ability to leave the workforce behind. However, retirement and old age can be a challenging time for adults. These years may be rather lonely, filled with bored days and an empty home. Older adults may also face physical and financial challenges that can cause them stress, pain and grief. It can be difficult to watch your loved ones during this time of their lives, but there are some things you can do to help them cope.

 

Make Regular Visits

Many older adults spend long hours alone at home each day. This can be an isolating and depressing experience, and this type of lifestyle can be difficult to endure mentally and emotionally. If you live nearby, make an effort to make regular visits. If you live farther away, offer to fly your loved one to your home for a lengthy visit, or plan a longer visit periodically to break up the monotony of their daily life.

 

Offer Suggestions and Ideas for Fun

Because you cannot be with your loved one around the clock, you may consider making suggestions for fun ways to spend their free time. Encourage them to become active with social activities at a local senior center, and assist them with transportation if possible. You can also bring them books, crafts and other items that they can have fun with when you are not visiting.

 

Provide Financial Support When Necessary

Financial stress is unfortunately rather common for older adults. You may consider speaking openly with your loved ones about their financial status. Offer budgeting ideas, or assist them with finding a more affordable housing solution if necessary. In some cases, providing them with regular financial assistance may be helpful.

 

Monitor Their Health

You may also get in the habit of inquiring about their health regularly. Ask how well-checks and doctor visits went. Actively observe their mental state, and take note of any changes that may be a concern. If necessary, set up doctor appointments so that your loved one receives the healthcare needed at this time of life.

 

Assist them with a Wheelchair or Other Mobility Features
Mobility can become an issue later in life. According to Medical For You, there are a number of mobility devices that may be used to promote their independence for as long as possible. This may include a wheelchair, a walker or a scooter. You can help with the selection and purchase of the device, and you can ensure that the home is suitable for accommodating the mobility device.

 

Retirement may be highly anticipated during working years, but retirement and old age are not always easy or enjoyable. You can help your loved ones with this time in their lives by adopting some of these ideas.

 

Categories: Help, loved one, old age, retirement

Cancer: How to Help Your Loved One Deal with Terminal Cancer

 

One of the most common challenges in life is hearing the news that a loved one has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. It can be devastating to both the individual and loved ones, making it important to offer your support in the final stage of their life. Although it can be difficult to help a loved one deal with the diagnosis, there are a few steps to take to help them stay emotionally strong and have their physical needs met.

 

Reflect on Old Memories

Don’t be afraid to reflect on the good memories from the past that you share, which can allow your loved to have a greater appreciation on the best parts of their life. Go through old photos, watch home videos, and don’t be afraid to laugh or cry during your time together.

 

Avoid Pity

Avoid showing pity for your loved one, which can make the individual feel isolated and more of a victim. Show your support by having honest conversations, making jokes, and by continuing to treat them like an adult. It will allow the patient to feel respected and more like a human being even when dealing with a terminal illness.

 

Seek Out Hospice Care

Although you may be able to go grocery shopping or clean the home of your loved one as they deal with terminal cancer, they’ll likely need more care than you’re able to provide. Seek out hospice care for professional help that will allow them to stay comfortable in their own home and receive the physical care that they need (Source: Cornerstone Hospice and Palliative Care).

 

Take Time to Listen

It’s common for cancer patients to go through a number of emotions after receiving the diagnosis. Take time to listen and allow them to vent, show their frustration, play the blame game, and experience fear. Each stage is normal to experience, making it important to remain flexible and simply listen when your loved one needs to process what they’re going through.

 

Although it may feel awkward or painful to help your loved one deal with terminal cancer, there are a number of ways to help them cope with the reality of the situation. By offering your emotional and physical support, it can help them to remain strong and feel loved in the final stages of their life. You’ll be able to strengthen your relationship and make the process easier by remaining close to the individual instead of distancing yourself.

 

Categories: cancer, how to help, loved one, Terminal Cancer

How To Find The Best At Home Care For Your Loved One

 

Caring for a sick or elderly loved one on your own is difficult, and depending on the needs of that individual, you might find that you need professional help. Home health care agencies specialize in treating patients with different medical conditions, but not all agencies are the same. There are certain things you need to ask and considerations you need to make before picking the right type of at home care.

 

 

Determine the Needs of Your Loved One

One of the first things you need to consider is the needs of your loved one. Someone recovering from a stroke needs more care than someone recovering from a heart attack or someone with a few mobility problems. Home health care companies can offer support in the form of grocery shopping, preparing meals and personal hygiene, but those agencies can also administer medications, take care of medical equipment and perform other professional tasks.

 

 

Look at Assessment Plans

An assessment plan refers to how a company decides on the level and type of care your loved one needs. It’s important that you ask the agency how it develops its assessment plan and how often it adjusts that plan. A good agency should work with caregivers every week to find out about the condition of its patients and any services they need to add or remove from that plan.

 

 

Ask About Payment Arrangements

Unless you have unlimited funds at your disposal, you probably can’t afford to pay outright for your loved one’s care. When talking with companies that specialize in home health in Colorado or another location, ask if the company has an agreement in place with Medicare or Medicaid. These government funded organizations can pay for a portion or the total cost of that care. Some companies may also work out payment plans with you for shorter types of care.

 

 

Meet with Caregivers

Choosing the right type of care is easier when you meet with the caregivers working for that company. You can see if the personality of that worker meshes well with the personality of your loved one and if you feel comfortable with that person in your home. Take the time to ask some personal questions, including how long the person worked in the field and if they can follow the rules of your home.

 

 

You have a number of options when it comes to caring for a loved one at home, but professional agencies can reduce some of the stress that you feel and make your loved one feel more comfortable. Determine the needs of your loved one, look at the assessment plan used by the facility, take care of payment arrangements and meet with caregivers before making your final decision.

 

Categories: at-home care, best, how, loved one

Four Helpful Steps to Lead Your Addicted Loved One to Sobriety

 

By Lizzie Weakley

 

Millions of Americans suffer from an addiction to alcohol, prescription drugs or illegal substances. With that number so high, it is quite likely you may one day find yourself in the position of attempting to help a loved one who is struggling with a substance abuse issue. While you won’t be able to completely solve their problem for them, there are some things you can do to help your loved one begin their journey to recovery.

 
1. Be Emotionally Available

Too many friends and family members turn away from an addicted loved one either because they don’t wish to be around that kind of behavior or because they feel their absence will encourage their loved one to stop their substance abuse. While you will certainly have no wish to do anything to encourage any addiction behavior, your love and support is very much needed. Let them know you still love them no matter what happens and encourage them to get professional help. Your support could make all the difference in the world to a person lost in addiction.

 

 

2. Refuse to Enable

While you don’t want to withhold your affection for the substance abuser, you must not do anything that will enable their behavior. Though it will most likely hurt you to do so, you must always refuse to give money to a substance abuser. Even if your loved one tells you he plans to steal or do something else undesirable to get money for his addiction, you must not give in to the temptation to help them. If you feel you must pay their rent or keep them fed, it is important that you pay their rent directly or buy them food rather than ever hand over a single dime.

 

3. Bring Supporters Together

If your addicted loved one is blessed with extended family and friends, then this is the time to bring them together to help you convince the one addicted that his problem has spiraled out of control. This type of intervention can be informal with just family and friends or you can hire a professional substance abuse counselor for a more formal session. Often, this type of outpouring of love and support from several people can help to open the eyes of the addicted person and encourage him to get the help he needs.

 

4. Rehab or Recovery Program

Once you have helped to show your loved one that it is time to seek professional help for his addiction, you will want to help him find an appropriate program. Usually, a phone call to a rehabilitation or recovery center like Ascend Recovery will get the ball rolling and have your loved one on his way to recovery. He may be considered as an inpatient or an outpatient and will be able to receive help with withdrawal symptoms, specialized counseling, behavioral therapy, and relapse prevention to help pave the way to a completely successful recovery.

 

These few steps could quite literally make the difference between life and death for your loved one. Do what you can and be sure to reach out for help from a professional substance abuse counselor to help ensure a successful recovery for your loved one. You can be assured that once your loved one has beat the addiction, he will be eternally grateful to you for all of your love and hard work.

 

Categories: addicted, helpful steps, loved one, sobriety

How to Cope with the Unexpected Death of a Loved One

Dealing with the loss of a loved one is never easy, but it can be even more difficult when it happens unexpectedly. Sadly, there is no way that we can ever know for sure how long another person will be in our life. However, it is important to let your positive memories help you when you are going through a rough time. After all, it is natural to grieve when someone who has touched your life passes away, but you need to take steps to ensure that you do not become overwhelmed by depression.  

Tips for Coping with the Loss of a Loved One

1. Surround Yourself with Friends and Family – Many people feel the urge to become more isolated after a loved one dies. However, this will simply exacerbate your feeling of sadness, and it can make it much harder to get your life back on track. Therefore, after you take a few hours or a day to spend some time alone processing your loss, it is vital to surround yourself with a support system.

2. Go to a Grief Counselor – If you are having difficulty expressing your feelings to your friends, you should strongly consider scheduling an appointment with a grief counselor. In many cases, it is easier to discuss everything that is on your mind with someone who does not know you because you will have less fear of being judged. Additionally, a trained professional has the necessary experience to help prevent you from sinking into a long-term depression.

3. Do Something to Honor the Memory of Your Deceased Loved One – Everyone has something that they are passionate about, and you can use this to provide a positive outlet for your grief. For example, if the deceased individual was dedicated to a specific cause such as animal rights, you could host a fundraiser to make a large donation in their name to their favorite no-kill animal shelter.

4. Allow Yourself to do Something Pleasurable – If you love going to the beach, traveling or even just going to the movies, it is a good idea to indulge yourself during a difficult time. After all, no one can spend every second of the day consumed by grief without developing serious emotional issues. Therefore, you should permit yourself to do things that bring you joy.

Dealing with a Wrongful Death

Sadly, many people who die unexpectedly are the victim of a wrongful death. Therefore, if your loved one died as the result of someone else’s negligence, it is a good idea to consider speaking with an attorney. One group of NY wrongful death lawyers urges people to seek an attorney in their state, as laws vary widely from state to state. After all, the family will most likely deal with financial issues as a result of the death, and the responsible party should be held accountable for their actions.

Regardless of whether or not you are dealing with a situation that could end up in a courtroom, it is most important to take care of your emotional well-being. By properly taking care of yourself throughout the process, you will be better equipped to deal with your grief.

Melanie Fleury lost her youngest brother in a wrongful death in 2011. The Perecman Man, NY wrongful death lawyers , knows that no amount of money will bring back a loved one who has been lost in an avoidable accident. However, seeking a lawyer may be able to help pay for medical care and other expenses.

Categories: loved one, unexpecected death, wrongful death