Online resource for carers September 30, 2009
Posted by columbiaagedcare in articles.Tags: aged care, aged care support, carers resource, carers support, Columbia Aged Care Services
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Australian Ageing Agenda has reported that people caring for ageing family members have a new source of information and support with the launch of www.agedcarer.com.au.
The new website enables family carers to access articles, videos and discussion forums covering a broad range of issues associated with the caring role.
It was developed by aged care nurse, Emma Hamilton after she noticed that most people felt confused and isolated when they tried to navigate the aged care system.
“I have seen residents coming in who are very frail and vulnerable and have high-level care needs,” said Ms Hamilton.
“I have also seen so many family members who have provided high level care for a long time and this website is for them.
“It’s not just about helping them find services but it’s also about providing assistance with physical care.
“It explains things like what happens when people become frail, why they get pneumonia and what happens when they fall.”
Drawing on her own expertise and by consulting with industry experts and associations, Ms Hamilton has spent the past two years writing articles and filming videos for the site.
“When I was looking for video material, there was not much Australian content and I felt we needed something representative of Australian families,” she said.
“So I went and talked to carers about what they were doing and had discussions with them about their own experiences. It’s a great way to get information and everyone has something to share.”
The site has a number of community tools that list the services available in different council areas. At the moment, they only cover Sydney’s north but Ms Hamilton expects this is an area of the website that will grow.
She hopes that the suite of services available on the site will empower carers and family members.
“All these issues are universal. Once you start talking to people about dementia or caring for an older family member, you realise that there are so many people doing it,” she said.
“But there is nothing about it in the public media and when it is, it’s usually negative. If people start sharing information and if nursing homes start to be a bit more transparent, it will help prepare carers for what is coming up.
“They need more support and they need to feel valued because a lot of the burden of care is falling on them. Otherwise they will just throw their hands up in the air.”
Seven Tips for Happier Families September 23, 2009
Posted by columbiaagedcare in articles.Tags: aged care, columbia aged care, Columbia Aged Care Services, elderly, elderly living arrangements, elderly parents, multigenerational families
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To take proper care of elderly parents, younger children often decide it is necessary for their parents to move in under the one roof. The initial transition period can be difficult on the children and their family as well as the elderly parents. Home Instead Senior Care have provided seven tips to ensure multigenerational families can live happily together.
1. Take a family partnership perspective. Everyone needs to be informed and to give input into the arrangements.
2. Set expectations right away. People understand it’s not just what they get out of it, but how they fit into the family.
3. Ask for help. Engage your children in responsibilities around the home and make it clear to adult siblings that you expect them to be involved. If extended family members will not help with respite care, arrange for a professional caregiver service.
4. Make family unity key. Routines, rituals and traditions help draw the family unit together. Plan a family movie or game night or take a walk together.
5. Find threads of common interest and build on those to develop deeper relationships. Focus on activities that provide simple ways to generate a common bond, such as ethnic cooking, family history, health or wellness.
6. Keep lines of communication open. Recognise the importance of “my time” and “our time.” Try to take everyone’s needs into account. Visit www.4070talk.com for more information about bridging the communication gap between seniors and their boomer children.
7. Distinguish between private space and shared space. Shared space should be stocked with material inviting for all ages and items that could stimulate discussion, such as a child’s project or “brag book” of photos. Make clear rules regarding the private spaces set aside for each member of the household.
Makeover Tips for Seniors September 16, 2009
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Home Instead Senior Care and actress and skin-care expert Victoria Principal have joined forces in writing an article to help seniors look and feel better from the outside in with a little help from family caregivers.
Principal says, “When you get up in the morning, look in the mirror and don’t like what you see, you can say, ‘You know, I’ve looked better before. What am I going to do about it?’”
She advises that older-adult men and women eat balanced meals, stretch and exercise every day, and remember that attitude is everything.
“How we talk to ourselves is very important. If we’re cruel to ourselves, it’s very difficult to be animated and have fun. And that makes it more difficult to take positive steps,” Principal said.
Check out the following tips for seniors, and for the caregivers who help them, from Principal and Home Instead Senior Care.
Women
- Keep hair healthy with regular cuts or trims at least once a month.
- Use a shampoo that doesn’t strip the hair or scalp. Follow with a leave-in or rinse-out hair rinse that coats the shafts of the hair.
- Base your wardrobe around black, brown and taupe. Think monochromatic (the same color on the top and bottom) because it elongates and slims. Use color around the face. For example, try combining a black jacket and black pants with a pink scarf.
- The skin is the largest organ of the body, so it’s important to treat it with care. Use a cleanser that doesn’t include perfume or create too many suds, but leaves your skin ready for the next step: a quality moisturizer. Remember to moisturize around the eyes, but use only a product that was created for those areas and one that won’t irritate them.
Men
- Your overall image and appearance will be much enhanced by staying clean and maintaining proper hygiene.
- Shave regularly – never using aftershave (it contains alcohol and fragrance, neither of which should be on or near your face.)
- Make sure to get a good-quality haircut at least once a month.
If you can’t manage this on your own it is a good idea to ask for assistance from a friend or caregiver to help keep you looking and feeling good from the outside in.
Nutrition Tips For Seniors September 2, 2009
Posted by columbiaagedcare in articles.Tags: aged care, Aged Care Australia, Columbia Aged Care Services, healthy lifestyle, Nutrition, Senior health tips
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Stanford Wellsphere have written an article to help seniors improve their diets and help them understand what exactly they should be eating to ensure they are getting all the vitamins and minerals they need.
At every stage of life, nutrition is vitally important. We all require healthy foods to help our bodies thrive, regardless of age, but seniors and elderly men and women have specialized nutritional needs.
There are several factors affecting nutrition and healthy dietary choices for seniors. One area that greatly affects the health needs of the elderly is basic body composition.
Hormonal activity, for example, decreases as a person ages. This results in weight gain and the loss of muscle and bone. Other health considerations for people in their senior years are outlined in the following points:
Fluids
As we age, the amount of water found in our bodies naturally decreases. Certain personal habits can also affect these fluid levels. Many seniors don’t drink enough water simply because they don’t feel thirsty. Others find it inconvenient or even difficult to pour a glass of water. These difficulties can cause elderly people to become dehydrated very easily. It is recommended that seniors drink at least one ounce of water for every 2.2 pounds of body weight.
Protein
We need protein for good health at every stage of life. Protein prevents wasted muscle and supports a healthy immune system. While most seniors need less energy, they should still eat protein rich foods every day. Fish, eggs, poultry and lean meats are all good sources of protein.
Carbs and fiber
You are probably already aware that seniors require extra fiber. A fiber rich diet combined with plenty of water is valuable in preventing constipation. Further, the carbohydrates found in pasta, cereals, bread and other grain products are an essential ingredient to provide the energy needed by active seniors.
Dietary Fats
The body’s natural metabolism slows down as age increases, so nutrition for seniors means less fat in their diets. It’s important to note that fat should be limited, but not eliminated altogether. You can trim the amount of daily fat intake by choosing fish, lean meats, low-fat dairy products, and fat-free or fat-reduced preparation methods.
Stay Strong with Calcium
Calcium is a vital element of nutrition for seniors, and many people simply don’t get enough of it. The daily calcium requirement for seniors is about 1,500 mg per day, a figure that can easily fall short. Older people with digestive problems often struggle with drinking milk, but there are many alternative calcium sources. Try to incorporate non-fat powdered milk into your recipes. Other foods such as low-fat cheese, yogurt and even broccoli are delicious, calcium-rich options.
Iron
Seniors should eat a diet rich in natural sources of iron, including choices like lean red meats and breakfast cereals. Too many older women and men live with iron deficiencies.
Think Zinc
Zinc is one of the often-ignored contributors to good nutrition for seniors, and because zinc isn’t readily absorbed by the body, many adults don’t get enough. Seniors should eat healthy portions of poultry, meat and fish to help meet their daily zinc requirements.
Vitamin B12 and Atrophic Gastritis
Men and women in their senior years often suffer with a condition known as atrophic gastritis, a deficiency of B12. The vitamin B12 is only absorbed into the system when an intrinsic factor is present in the stomach. A person with atrophic gastritis, however, will suffer from an inflammation of the stomach that causes bacterial overgrowth, impeding the intrinsic factor. Supplements are available from the doctor to help patients suffering from vitamin B12 deficiency.
People of all ages need a health, balanced diet to grow and remain healthy. It’s important to have a balanced diet with the proper amounts of nutrients, vitamins and minerals. Seniors should be particularly careful about their diets, as they must deal with additional age-related health concerns. Ageing causes change, but proper nutrition brings strength and vitality to every body.
