The holidays are meant to be a joyful time spent with family and friends, but for some seniors the stress of holiday travel can take its toll. Let’s face it, the process of getting to a destination is never fun, but it is possible to reduce the stresses with these tips:

1. Don’t travel with anything you don’t need – keeping your luggage as light as possible will avoid extra baggage charges and be easier to manage. Ship gifts ahead of time rather than travelling with them

2. Remember it will be busy – leave extra time, it’s likely you’ll encounter crowds, such as long lines when checking in at the airport

3. Keep costs low – by researching your travel options you can keep costs low. Don’t book the first flight you find, find the best price, and if staying in a hotel, find the best deal!

4. Travel with a companion – travelling can be less stressful if you go with a friend or family member, so try to avoid travelling alone

5. Double and triple check your packing – make sure you travel with all of the essentials, especially your medications, so check what you’ve packed before you travel

Via: About.com

Coming up with new and interesting meals for seniors is not an easy task for caregivers, but during the fall and winter months it’s a great time to take advantage of unique recipes. One unique fall recipe is pumpkin pancakes that’s both hearty and healthy to eat at any meal of the day. It’s simple and easy to prepare for even the busiest caregivers, and has great nutritional content for the seniors who enjoy it!

Here are the ingredients that you’ll need to prepare pumpkin pancakes:

• 1 cup  of all-purpose flour

• 1/4 cup  of packed brown sugar

• 1 1/2 tsp of baking powder

• 1/4 tsp of salt

• 1/2 tsp of cinnamon

• 1/2 tsp of ground ginger

• 1/4 tsp of nutmeg

• 1 large egg, beaten lightly

• 1 tbsp of canola oil

• 1 cup of nonfat milk

• 1/3 cup of pure pumpkin canned or fresh

Heat up a griddle or non-stick skillet, and if necessary, spray with cooking spray or a light oil.

To prepare the pancakes, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, ginger, cinnamon and nutmeg in a bowl; and in a smaller bowl, mix together the oil, egg, milk and pumpkin. Combine the two bowls together by adding the wet ingredients into the bowl of dried ingredients and let them stand for 5 minutes after stirring.

Once the batter for the pancakes is prepared, scoop 1/4 of a cup of the batter onto the skillet or griddle. Once bubbles appear and the edges are cooked, you can turn the pancakes. Total cooking time for the pancakes should be about 3 1/2 minutes each.

Family caregivers got the recognition that they deserve this year, with an official Proclamation from Barak Obama recognizing the achievement of caregivers and all that they do not only for their families but for society on the whole. Here is a portion of Barak Obama’s official Proclamation; the President is recognizing family caregivers for National Family Caregiver’s Month so make sure you do the same!

The true strength of the American family finds its roots in an unwavering commitment to care for one another. In difficult times, Americans come together to ensure our loved ones are comfortable and safe. Whether caring for a parent, relative, or child, our Nation’s caregivers selflessly devote their time and energy to the well-being of those they look after. During National Family Caregivers Month, we honor the individuals providing essential services to family members who could not otherwise look after themselves.

Every day, family caregivers assist loved ones with tasks ranging from personal care and homemaking, to transportation and financial assistance. As the foundation of America’s long-term care system, these individuals give millions of Americans the peace of mind and security that only family can provide.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim November 2009 as National Family Caregivers Month. I encourage all Americans to pay tribute and support those who are caring for their family members, friends, and neighbors in need of assistance.

Via: The Family Caregiver

When the weather changes, more and more people, especially seniors turn up the heater or face new challenges like shoveling snow. Senior citizens need to be mindful of their health when preparing for winter by reviewing some simple safety suggestions.

• Carbon monoxide and smoke detectors should be working—If your home or your senior’s home is not equipped with the detectors, install them on every floor. If your home is fully equipped, winter is a good time to change the batteries.

• Buy a fire extinguisher—Every senior’s residence should have a working fire extinguisher, and every senior should know how to use it.

• Space heaters can take your space up in flames—Space heaters are notoriously dangerous. Every senior should keep themselves and any items at least three feet from the heater.

• Think about your feet before leaving home—Seniors should always wear sturdy shoes with a good sole when winter weather looms outside to avoid breaking a hip.

• Grab on to something—A senior’s hands should always be attached to available handrails or have your cane or walker when moving about in winter conditions.

• Do not out do yourself with the snow shovel—Rather than risk a back or heart injury, hire a neighbor to shovel the walk or do it yourself with the help of modern technology shovels like the wovel, a shovel on wheels.

Via: MSNBC

Any family who has been through the process of choosing care for a senior loved one, knows that it’s one of the most difficult decisions they’ll make. Trusting the care of one of the most important people in your life is not an easy thing to do, particularly with some level of distrust regarding elder abuse that has received media attention in nursing homes in particular. But, if you’re going through the process, you can find a suitable home care agency that will ensure that your senior receives the best care; you just have to make sure that you ask the right questions and do your research. Consider these tips when exploring home care options and choosing a home care agency:

1. Know what’s out there – to choose the best option, explore them all. Even if you have home care in mind, visiting a nursing home will only help to reassure you of your decision

2. Ask the opinion of others – the best feedback you will receive on home care places you’re exploring is from other trusted friends and family members who have been through the process

3. Interview someone at the service – before you even meet with a caregiver, interview someone in charge at the home care service about what they provide, and what their specific policies are

4. Ask about licensing – the home care service should have appropriate licenses as required by their jurisdiction; ask about this, and also find out if the home caregivers have any specific level of training

5. Be straight forward – to make sure that that important senior in your life receives adequate care, don’t sugar coat what you’re dealing with. If your loved one is difficult with certain tasks or activities, let them know so they can reassure you by talking about how they’d address these circumstances

Via: Family Caregiver Alliance

Family caregivers are unsung heroes. These are the people that sacrifice things from their own personal lives to take care of elderly and ill family members. These amazing people do not get the recognition they deserve. A campaign is in effect to petition for the development of a stamp that will provide awareness to the general public. It is important to acknowledge that these caregivers go above and beyond, often times sacrificing their own needs to care for another. Some important facts about family caregivers include:

• An estimated out of pocket expense of $5,531 per year which include travel and transportation, medical care co-payments, food and household goods

• These additional expenses result in the cutting of leisure activities, personal savings, vacations and putting off home improvements

• More than a third of caregivers use their own savings to provide for their loved one

• Almost half of current caregivers have had to quit their job in order to keep up with caregiving responsibilities

• The annual estimated expense is much higher for long-distance caregivers

• These expenses increase levels of stress and can have an effect on the over-all health of the caregiver

• The financial burden that comes along with being a caregiver can have serious emotional effects

Sources:

caregiving.org

stanford.wellsphere.com

November is National Family Caregiver Month, a time to address the challenges that family caregivers face, lend them some support and appreciate everything that they do for the most important people in their lives.

Most family caregivers don’t just provide care to their senior parents or relatives, they also have careers, often some that come with a great deal of responsibility; and it’s not unusual for them to have families of their own with young children and a household to maintain that also add to the sometimes overwhelming responsibilities that they face on a daily basis. Yet, while being a family caregiver can be incredibly stressful, most family caregivers would never change anything for the world, because their lives are most rewarding when they’re taking care of others.

But for those who aren’t family caregivers, including seniors who are on the receiving end of care, it’s easy to underappreciate just how much caregivers give to others, and truly recognize the efforts that they put in. National Family Caregiver month is the time to take a long hard look at the family caregivers in your life and everything they do, and remember to say thank you!

Via: FamilyCaregiving101