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Resources for Families

You’ve been gathering with family members to celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas for as long as you can remember… but this year, things are different.

Your mom’s dementia is worsening, and your dad has become very frail. You worry that they may not be able to make it to the celebration and, if they do, that they won’t enjoy the family gathering.

What should you do?

“The holidays can be particularly challenging for older loved ones who have memory or mobility issues,” said Austin Blilie, Chief Operating Officer at Tudor Oaks Home Care’s parent organization, ABHM. “It’s important for family members to be aware of the challenges and make a plan to cope with them – so that their older loved ones feel included… not burdensome.”

Blilie offers these tips to help you and your family make the holidays joyous for everyone. Continue reading Helping Your Aging Loved Ones Enjoy the Holidays

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News / Resources for Families

Did you know…

  • More than 34 million Americans have provided unpaid care for an adult age 50 for older last 12 months.
  • The majority of caregivers (82%) care for one other adult, while 15% care for 2 adults and 3% for 3 or more adults.
  • About 15.7 million family caregivers care for someone who has Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia.
  • Upwards of 75% of all caregivers are female.
  • Family caregivers spend an average of 24.4 hours per week providing care. Nearly 1 in 4 caregivers spends 41 hours or more per week providing care.
  • On average, caregivers spend 13 days each month on tasks such as shopping, meal preparation, housekeeping, laundry, transportation and medication management.
  • The average age of a family caregiver is 49.2 years old.
  • The average age of a care recipient is 69.4 years old – with 47% of recipients age 75 or older.
  • The average duration of a caregiver’s role is 4 years.

*Source – Family Caregiver Alliance

“Family caregivers are super stars,” said Austin Blilie, Chief Operating Officer at Tudor Oaks Home Care’s parent organization, ABHM. “These statistics show that, while caring for an older loved one is extremely rewarding, it can also be challenging and exhausting.” Continue reading Family Caregiving Fast Facts

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Resources for Families / Resources for Seniors

While it can sometimes be challenging, more and more seniors are turning to technology to help them remain in their homes as they age.

“Certainly, nothing replaces the personal touch, but technology can help improve seniors’ lives and help them age a little more gracefully” said Austin Blilie, Chief Operating Officer at Tudor Oaks Home Care’s parent organization, ABHM.  “It can also give their families much needed peace of mind.”

A new U.S. News and World Report survey, shows an overwhelming majority of seniors (93%) consider aging in place an “important goal”. To accomplish that goal, about half (49%) are adopting assistive technologies at home.

According to the report, the top reasons why survey respondents have started using assistive or health-related technologies are: Continue reading Aging in Place With the Help of Technology

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News / Resources for Families / Resources for Seniors

Have you gotten a flu shot?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone 6 months old and older should get a flu shot, with rare exceptions.

Because our immune systems weaken with age, it’s  especially important for older people to get immunized. In recent years, it’s estimated that between 70 percent and 85 percent of flu-related deaths occurred in people 65 and older and between 50 percent and 70 percent of seasonal flu-related hospitalizations have occurred among people in the 65-plus age group.

Health experts say the best way to protect yourself and your senior from potentially serious complications is with a flu vaccine. Here’s what they want you to know: Continue reading Flu Shot Facts

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Resources for Families / Resources for Seniors

When it comes to falls, the odds are stacked against our aging loved ones.

“According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one out of every four seniors will fall this year – it’s the number one cause of injuries among people age 65 and older,” said Austin Blilie, Chief Operating Officer at Tudor Oaks Home Care’s parent organization, ABHM.  “Of course, falls often result in injuries, like broken hips, but they can also cause a senior to become fearful or depressed – making it difficult for them to maintain their independence.”

September 23 – 27 is National Fall Prevention Awareness Week, so we’re joining with other organizations to share practical tips to reduce the risk of falls. Blilie says there are 10 simple things you can do to help keep your aging loved ones on their feet. Continue reading 10 Tips to Keep Your Senior on Their Feet

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News / Resources for Families / Resources for Seniors

In the U.S., nearly 7 million people age 65 and older currently have Alzheimer’s disease.  By 2050, that number is expected to double.

“Working with seniors and their families, we understand that just thinking about the possibility of Alzheimer’s is very scary,” said Austin Blilie, Chief Operating Officer at Tudor Oaks Home Care’s parent organization, ABHM.  “That’s why we’re joining with other organizations to raise awareness and challenge the stigma around Alzheimer’s and other dementias.”

Alzheimer’s is a brain disease that causes a slow decline of memory, thinking and reasoning skills. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, there are 10 warning signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia. Continue reading Ten Signs and Symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia

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Resources for Families

Are you feeling overwhelmed or worried?

Have you lost interest in activities you used to enjoy?

Are you sleeping too much or too little?

“Caring for an aging loved one can be incredibly rewarding, but it can also be challenging and stressful,” said Austin Blilie, Chief Operating Officer at Tudor Oaks Home Care’s parent organization, ABHM. “When you’re taking care of someone else, it’s easy to forget about your own health and wellbeing. Recognizing the signs of caregiver stress is the first step to preventing it.” Continue reading It’s Okay To Not Be Okay

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Resources for Families / Resources for Seniors

How many prescription drugs do your aging parents take? If they’re like most seniors, they take at least one – probably more.

While medicines can help us live longer and healthier, taking them the wrong way or mixing certain drugs can be dangerous – and, according to the Department of Health and Human Services, as many as 55% of seniors fail to take their medications as prescribed.

“Managing medications can be difficult for a variety of reasons,” said Austin Blilie, Chief Operating Officer at Tudor Oaks Home Care’s parent organization, ABHM. “We’ve worked with seniors who have trouble reading the small print on their pill bottles and others whose memory issues prevent them from taking the right pills at the right time.”

Below are ten tips to help you or your aging loved ones avoid common medication mistakes. Continue reading Navigating the Pill Box

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Resources for Families / Resources for Seniors

You installed grab bars in the shower, improved lighting in dark hallways and tightened the handrails along the stairways. Are there other things you should do to make your aging mom’s home more senior friendly?

“It’s important for seniors and their families to think about all of the challenges that may threaten their ability to safely age in place,” said Austin Blilie, Chief Operating Officer at Tudor Oaks Home Care’s parent organization, ABHM. “In addition to simple home modifications, like picking up throw rugs and adding grab bars, technology is making it easier for seniors to age in place.”

There are many new gadgets and technologies that simplify daily activities and help keep seniors safe at home. Here are some of our favorites: Continue reading Ten Tech Gadgets That Can Help Seniors Age in Place

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Resources for Families / Resources for Seniors

During a recent visit with your mom, you noticed that she let others do the cooking – which is unusual, because she’s always loved preparing family meals.

Has she lost interest?

Is she having trouble remembering or reading the recipes?

Is arthritis limiting her ability to pick up heavy pots and pans?

What does she do when others aren’t there to help? Are her meals healthy or just convenient?

“There could be many factors at play”” said Austin Blilie, Chief Operating Officer at Tudor Oaks Home Care’s parent organization, ABHM.   “We know that, for some of our clients, cooking just isn’t fun anymore – especially if they live alone and are just cooking for themselves. For others, limited mobility, cognitive decline and worsening vision can make it more difficult to put a healthy meal on the table and clean up afterward.”

Advanced meal preparation is one way to make mealtime easier for aging loved ones and their caregivers. It also promotes healthy eating habits and reduces the amount of wasted food.

Here are a few tips to make meal prep easier. Continue reading Meal Prep Made Easy

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