It is not always easy to choose the perfect gift for an elderly family member. This year, take the time to find something that will be of use. There are many new gadgets on the market that are geared towards seniors. These gifts often make daily chores and tasks simpler. Below is a list of some items that may make the perfect gift for any senior.

1. If the senior lives alone, a Medical Emergency Notification System is a great gift to ensure their safety.

2. Cell Phones with Easy to see and use buttons.

3. If the senior is a pet owner, a pre-paid walking service or grooming is a great gift.

4. Gift certificates to the barber or hairdresser, especially if they will come to their home.

5. Pre-pay a season of lawn mowing and landscaping.

6. Wall clocks with a large face so they are easy to see.

7. If the senior is hearing impaired, a flashing light doorbell or telephone will be of great use.

8. Universal TV Remotes with large buttons.

9. Lap tables can be handy to eat on and can also provide a place for small items, such as remotes and eyeglasses.

10. Clothing with zippers or large zipper pulls.

Source: associatedcontent

Image Source: sxc.hu

Throughout the year senior caregivers have the tendency to put everyone else first. Over the holidays, the focus needs to return to their own well-being. Help them relax and step away from their caregiving responsibilities with the following gift ideas:

1. Respite care – a break from caregiving responsibilities is appreciated by most caregivers, whether they’d admit it or not. Hire a service to provide respite or step in yourself, offering assistance once a month, or even just one time!

2. Entertainment gift certificates – send them for a night out at the movies or dinner with a gift certificate

3. Spa services – a day out at the spa can be rejuvenating for a female caregiver. Treat them to the chance to relax!

4. Subscription to a book club or movie service – this is something they can do to relax while providing care. Movies can be enjoyed with their senior, and books can be shared

5. Service to help them at home – caregivers have so much to take care of, help them maintain responsibilities of their own homes with cleaning services for inside the home or for yard work

Via: AgingCare

Image Source: www.sxc.hu/

There’s nothing scarier than when a senior with Alzheimer’s wanders away from home – except when that happens during the winter months and they are out there, braving the elements on their own. Many caregivers have this fear, and it can be a great motivation to make some changes around the home that can help to prevent wandering:

1. Install alarms that tell you when external doors or windows are open – you need to give seniors with Alzheimer’s the freedom to move around their home, but even a home alarm system that chimes when doors or even windows are opened can warn you that your loved one might be wandering away

2. Disguise doors – if you don’t want seniors wandering between rooms or outside, paint rooms so the doors blend with the walls

3. Discourage wandering with signs – post signs on doorways inside the home, reminding seniors with Alzheimer’s what can be found on the other side. If there are rooms that seniors should not go in, or doorways that lead to outside, label them with “do not enter”!

4. Give seniors a safe area to walk around – seniors with Alzheimer’s often find themselves restless. Having a secure backyard or garden area can get them out of the home when they feel the need to wander in a safe manner

Via: About.com

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

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

The holidays are meant to be a time of joy and happiness, and this is the season that seniors can find themselves feeling the most lonely and isolated, especially at a time of year where there’s Halloween, Thanksgiving, Hanukah and Christmas all right around the corner. Whether you’re a senior who finds yourself feeling down at this time of year, or a family member, caregiver, or friend who exhibits signs of the holiday blues, try these tips to prevent emotional distress during the holidays:

• Don’t expect too much – if big family get togethers haven’t been a big part of holidays recently, don’t expect them or you’ll only face disappointment

• Don’t do things that are too stressful – holidays are meant to be a time of enjoyment, so if there are certain tasks that surround the holidays that stress you out, avoid them!

• Volunteer – surround yourself with others in the community by volunteering and giving back

• Don’t isolate yourself – when holidays aren’t the way they used to be, seniors might become isolated; join in on activities in the community, get together with friends and make sure you don’t have to be alone

• Maintain a healthy lifestyle – to keep your spirits up, take care of yourself. Exercise, eat well and limit  alcohol consumption

Sources:

1. 4Therapy

2. About.com

Q – I live a plane ride away from most of my grandchildren, and while there’s no way to physically bridge the gap, I feel like I’m missing out on all of the little things that they do. Talking on the phone or sending an email helps to bring us closer, but sometimes, I just want to be able to see what my granddaughter is wearing, or watch my grandson’s facial expressions while he tells me what happened at school that day. How can I make the distance seem a little bit closer?

A – Try using a webcam; it will help to feel more connected. Here are some tips to get you started:

1. Get the webcam – many laptops that are sold today come with webcams, even a few computer monitors also have webcams built in. If your computer doesn’t have a webcam, you can buy one for as little as $20

2. Set it up – most webcams will come with software and drivers you can install to get it setup. Follow the instructions and put the webcam itself so it comfortably focuses on your face

3. Find a way to chat – to connect with grandchildren, you will need to both use the same type of program that supports webcam chat. Instant messengers like MSN and AOL have webcam chat, or other programs like Skype offer it as well. Choose one that will also be safe for your grandchild to use

Sources:

1. CowboyFrank

2. All Business

Every day when you log onto the internet, you might think that social networking, searching for information, and answering your email are all simple mindless activities that you do to pass the time. But guess again, because for every hour you spend online you’re actually managing to enhance your mind and improve your memory. The greatest benefit comes from using the internet as a resource for information; simply reading through search results that derive from your inquiry creates complex cognitive processes that can strengthen your mind, but everything you do can have its benefits!

This comes as great news for older adults who are spending more and more time online, up to 6 hours a week, generally staying connected using everything the internet has to offer. Gone are the days when older adults were thought of as technophobes, and it works in your favor!

Talking about senior tracking technologies can open a can of worms. There are people who support the developments and others that are dead set against them because of the “big brother effect”. People on both sides of the argument are very passionate about their viewpoint. That being said, new technologies are constantly under development that leave room for discussion. The new Ambulatory Sneakers, which have tracking devices embedded in them (set for release in the spring) walk a fine line. While if used for their primary purpose, of preventing tragedy when 60% of seniors with Alzheimer’s wander away from their Minnesota homes and get lost, they can be lifesavers; those misusing the technology only create more ammunition for the critics of tracking technologies.

The sneakers, which discreetly track senior’s movements, transmit their location by GPS technology back to a computer, allowing someone on the other end to keep an eye on their every move. Although this product is being marketed towards seniors, it will naturally get a bad name when concerned parents start using the innovative fashions to track the whereabouts of their teenagers when they go out on a Saturday night. Sure, no matter which way you look at it, these technologies do make it seem like big brother is always watching, but if used correctly, they can save a lot of heart ache and tragedy for seniors with Alzheimer’s and their families.

What do you think? Share with us.

Via: Washington Post

Q – I find that the older my mom gets, the more time she spends confined to her Minnesota home. I’ve asked her why the change, and she says as far as she’s concerned, it’s just part of being a senior, because age makes it more difficult to get around. I’ve offered to take her out anytime she wants, but she says it’s just too difficult…is there anything available on the market that could improve my elderly mother’s mobility so she starts getting out again?

A – New technologies are coming out on the market that can help improve the lives of seniors greatly, and help give them back the gift of their independence. The latest innovation that certainly could reduce the challenges of mobility for your elderly mother is an electric walker.

About the ICIO Personal Transporter for Seniors:

• It has a convertible design

• Seniors can choose to use the personal transporter as a traditional 3 wheeled walker

• During periods when they’d like to move at a faster pace, they can stand on an attachable support and activate the electric function

• The device is suitable for seniors as their level of physical mobility changes, since it also converts into a mobile scooter with a seat

• With the personal transporter, seniors can venture out for exercise and convert the device if they get tired, giving them the security that they won’t be stranded

Sources:

1. TrendHunter

2. The Design Blog

3. TrendHunter