They say it’s the most wonderful time of the year, but for many, the holidays can be lonely and sad at times.

This can be especially true for seniors who may have endured the loss of a loved one, or are experiencing physical or emotional difficulties that make it hard for them to recapture the joy of holiday seasons past. The cold weather and shorter days can contribute to their sense of melancholy.

While there’s no one-size-fits-all solution for holiday depression, there are some things that might help.

• Often, one of the best gifts to give a senior is quality time together. Offering to help write holiday cards together, inviting them over to decorate or just spending a few hours reminiscing can go a long way toward boosting their morale.
• If your senior is no longer able to participate in certain holiday traditions, try modifying them or creating new ones. For example, they may not be able to stand on their feet as long as they used to for holiday cooking and baking, but they can stay seated to decorate cookies.
• Help a senior in your life set up Skype or FaceTime to connect with faraway relatives and friends over the holidays.
• Sometimes, helping others is the best way to help ourselves. If a senior you know is feeling blue over the holidays, encourage them to do something in the community, such as visiting other seniors who may be isolated this holiday season, sending cards to deployed military personnel, or reading at a local school. Here are some other ways that seniors can give back.
• While many seniors will benefit from spending time with loved ones and participating in holiday activities, sometimes they just need a little space. Try not to push it if your senior is sending a clear message that they don’t want to do something – even if you think it will cheer them up. Instead, try to meet them where they are… or at least halfway.

For more information about the well-being of seniors, please contact Home Instead Senior Care serving the Detroit metro, Oakland County, Macomb County, Wayne County, and Southeast Oakland County at 248-203-2273, visit our website, or Like us on Facebook.

We’re pretty sure that it’s no coincidence that November is both National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month and Family Caregivers Month. It just makes sense that Alzheimer’s awareness should go hand-in-hand with a heightened awareness and compassion for those who care for people with the disease.

That’s one of the reasons why Home Instead Senior Care has teamed up with Lauren Miller Rogen and Seth Rogen as part of their Hilarity for Charity organization to offer grants for in-home care services to eligible U.S. and Canadian families through the Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care Relief Grant Program. Care will be provided by professionals trained in how to most effectively and compassionately assist individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.

As Lauren Miller Rogen, whose mother was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s at age 55, puts it, “With no proven way to prevent, cure or even slow the progression of Alzheimer’s, and an increasing number of diagnoses, we know that the number of families needing support services is only going to grow. We hope to ‘share the care’ by helping as many families as possible with this program.”

At Home Instead Senior Care serving the Detroit metro, Oakland County, Macomb County, Wayne County, and Southeast Oakland County, we know all too well how many local families have been touched by Alzheimer’s and we want to help. That’s why we want to encourage any family caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s to apply for a grant for respite care through the Hilarity for Charity program

It is only by taking care of ourselves that we can fully serve the needs of others.

For more information about our services, please contact Home Instead Senior Care serving the Detroit metro, Oakland County, Macomb County, Wayne County, and Southeast Oakland County at 248-203-2273, visit our website, or Like us on Facebook.

The theme for Talk About Your Medicines Month this year is “Let’s Get In Sync,” and we think that’s a perfect and very relevant topic for many seniors, in light of the startling statistics about seniors and medications.

We know that four out of five people over 65 have at least one chronic health condition and that many are on multiple medications. We also know that many of these medications can have negative interactions with each other, which is why it’s so important for every member of a senior’s care team: from doctors, to pharmacists, to caregivers, to seniors themselves be aware of all of the medications they are on, their refill schedule and their interaction warnings.

One way to do this is through Align My Refills, a new partnership between the National Council on Patient Information and Education (NCPIE) and the American Pharmacists Association (APhA). More than 5000 pharmacies nationwide participate in the program, which is called Med Sync, and that number continues to grow.

There are several good reasons to ask your pharmacist to enroll you in Med Sync. They include:

-Enlisting the pharmacy as a health advocate: By enrolling you in Med Sync, your pharmacist can take a more proactive role in ensuring your prescriptions are refilled and being taken properly.

-Remembering to refill: One-third of consumers have missed a dose of their medication because they didn’t refill their prescription before it ran out. Missing dosages can lead to serious side effects and even death.

-Convenience: By being able to pick up your prescriptions once a month, you are saving trips to the pharmacy.

Of course, there are some medications that are not appropriate for Med Sync, such as antibiotics, ointments, eye drops, and “as-needed” medications for pain, which is why it’s important to talk to both your pharmacist and your health care provider about how Med Sync can fit into your overall health program.

For more information about the care and well-being of seniors, please contact Home Instead Senior Care serving the Detroit metro, Oakland County, Macomb County, Wayne County, and Southeast Oakland County at 248-203-2273, visit our website, or Like us on Facebook.

By now you’ve probably heard the news that the first case of Ebola has been discovered in the U.S. and that has a lot of people on edge.

While it is a little scary, there’s another virus going around that kills up to 50,000 Americans every year and many put off taking the single most effective precaution available to prevent it. We’re talking, of course, about the flu… and the importance of getting a flu shot.

While flu shots don’t protect against all strains of flu, they are a huge step in the right direction. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) cites one study that says flu vaccination was associated with a 71% reduction in flu-related hospitalizations among adults of all ages and a 77% reduction among adults 50 years of age and older during a given flu season.

For seniors and those who care for them, protecting against flu is especially important. 90 percent of flu-related deaths and more than half of flu-related hospitalizations occur in people age 65 and older.

Also, since seniors tend to have a more vulnerable immune system, they are more likely to catch flu from someone with whom they have regular contact. That’s a strong case for senior care workers and family members to get the shot. Another one is their own well-being. It’s tough to care for another person when you’re besieged with aches and pains yourself.

In addition to the shot, the CDC offers these preventative actions in order to halt the spread of germs:

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people and while sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them.
• If you are sick with flu-like illness, CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone, except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.)

During flu season, it’s also important to ensure you are getting enough sleep so that your immune system is working as well as it can. At Home Instead, we have options such as overnight care and respite care that can help with this. For more information, please contact us at 248-203-2273 or visit us at www.homeinstead.com/283.

The recent suicide of Robin Williams at age 63 shocked his many fans but it does calls attention to an alarming trend toward suicide in older adults.

In fact, it’s estimated that up to 20 percent of suicides in this country are committed by seniors, with the highest success rate belonging to older white men.

Senior suicides can happen for a number of reasons, the chief among them being depression which, it’s estimated afflicts about one-fourth of all U.S. seniors.

Because of the stigma that has long been associated with mental illness, seniors tend not to express their depression the way a younger person might, so it’s important to be on the lookout for warning signs. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), these include:

• Persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” mood
• Feelings of hopelessness, pessimism
• Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness
• Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities
• Decreased energy, fatigue, being “slowed down”
• Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions
• Difficulty sleeping, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping
• Appetite and/or weight changes
• Thoughts of death or suicide; suicide attempts
• Restlessness, irritability
• Persistent physical symptoms

A sense of isolation or bereavement can increase their overall feelings of despair. If your senior is exhibiting any of these signs, it’s important to have them see a doctor for a complete physical to determine whether the cause of their symptoms a chemical imbalance or a physical ailment, bearing in mind that the following are some physical conditions that can contribute to symptoms of depression:

• Thyroid disorders
• Diabetes
• Parkinson’s disease
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Strokes
• Tumors
• Some viral infections

Some medications, including those taken for blood pressure and arthritis, as well as certain hormones and steroids may also cause symptoms of depression.

Regardless of the cause of your senior’s depression, it is important to see that they get medical attention right away. Every case of depression is different, so it may be important to try out different therapies until you hit upon one that works. After that, you should continue to monitor closely to ensure that it continues to be effective and that your senior is keeping up with it.

If you’re concerned that your senior is contemplating suicide, contact their health care provider or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255).

For more information about the well-being of seniors, please contact Home Instead Senior Care serving the Detroit metro, Oakland County, Macomb County, Wayne County, and Southeast Oakland County at 248-203-2273, visit our website, or Like us on Facebook.

September is a big month for fighting cancer. In fact, the American Cancer Society (ACS) promotes awareness for more types of cancers during this month than in any other month of the year. They are:

• Childhood Cancer
• Gynecologic Cancer
• Leukemia and Lymphoma
• Ovarian Cancer
• Prostate Cancer
• Thyroid Cancer

We know that many people who read this blog are caring for seniors in their lives, and that sometimes it’s hard to put their own health first. But with all the attention these types of cancers will be getting over the next few weeks, there are a lot of good reminders to schedule a full health screening to ensure that you have your best shot at early detection — and treatment, if necessary.

Most women know the ACS’s recommendations for breast cancer screening (yearly mammograms starting at age 40, clinical breast exams about every three years for younger women, regular self-examination for all women), but not everyone is familiar with the guidelines for how often you should be screened for other types of cancer.

For example, women over 40 should have a pelvic exam to look for gynecological cancers (including ovarian) at least once a year – more often if they are in a high risk category. This is in addition to their annual Pap smear – although women who have had a total hysterectomy or who are over 70 and their Pap smear has been normal for 10 years, may forego the Pap.

For colorectal cancer and polyps, the ACS recommends the following testing schedule after age 50, for both men and women:

Tests that find polyps and cancer:

• Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years, or
• Colonoscopy every 10 years, or
• Double-contrast barium enema every 5 years or
• CT colonography (virtual colonoscopy) every 5 years

Tests that primarily find cancer:

• Yearly fecal occult blood test (gFOBT) or
• Yearly fecal immunochemical test (FIT) every year or
• Stool DNA test (sDNA)

Prostate cancer screening guidelines are a little less cut and dried, due to a high rate of false positives. The ACS’s stance is this:

Starting at age 50, men should talk to a doctor about the pros and cons of testing so they can decide if testing is the right choice for them. If they are African American or have a father or brother who had prostate cancer before age 65, men should have this talk with a doctor starting at age 45.

While different types of cancers have different recommended screening frequencies, many of them have one thing in common: early detection can be the difference between being a victim and being a survivor.

Please make time for your own good health this September, and remember that we are always available for respite care if you need a break. Just contact Home Instead Senior Care serving the Detroit metro, Oakland County, Macomb County, Wayne County, and Southeast Oakland County at 248-203-2273, visit our website, or Like us on Facebook.

This month, we are excited to launch the 40-70 Rule program which is dedicated to helping adult children of seniors and their parents talk about issue related to aging before it’s too late.

The program gets its name from the ages by which experts recommend these conversations should have already started: 40 for the adult child, 70 for the senior parent. Recently, new research has found that, in a lot of families, these important discussions aren’t happening. In a recent survey, 34 percent of adults who participated are conversation avoiders. That is, they haven’t talked about any important end-of-life issues with their parents or children, or they have talked about just one issue.

We’re hoping the 40/70 Rule program will change all of that. At the heart of the program is The Action Plan for Successful Aging, which you can call our office at 248-203-2273 for, or you can preview here.

The action plan is an interactive guide to six of the most common conversations that seniors and their adult children need to have:

• Living Choices
• Financial Choices
• Health
• Relationships and Dating
• Driving
• End of Life

For each of these topics, the plan shows an ACT (Assess, Consider, Talk) approach, with step-by-step worksheets to help you and your family through the process.

We learned this was important because nearly one-half of adult children (49%) surveyed say there is still some information they would like to know about their parents’ personal situation, including their health, financial or housing care needs, so they can help them if necessary.

In other words, families know they need to have these conversations, they’re just uncomfortable or don’t know where to start.

We’re hoping that the Action Plan for Successful Aging, as well as the other materials we’ve developed for the program, can help. One tool that many have found useful already is this conversation tree, an at-a-glance way to quickly identify what your family’s specific issues are, and some quick resources to help you start addressing them.

As always, we’re here to help you through the process. For example, if your senior would prefer to age in their own home, as statistics show that 90 percent do, our CAREGivers can help ensure they are able to do so safely and independently. We also offer transportation options for seniors who have stopped driving and we can provide other local resources for professionals who specialize in helping seniors and their families plan for the future. For more information, please contact Home Instead Senior Care serving the Detroit metro, Oakland County, Macomb County, Wayne County, and Southeast Oakland County at 248-203-2273, visit our website, or Like us on Facebook.

There are times in life when trying to eat healthily means giving up things you really love. And then there’s August. That glorious month of the year when the farmer’s markets are teeming with fresh fruits and veggies, when you can’t keep up with the bounty growing in your garden and when every bite you pop into your mouth is tastier and more nutritious than the last.

And, of course, for many of us, the star of it all is the tomato.

Tomatoes are an especially great option for seniors because of their versatility and the pizazz they bring to many dishes without adding salt or extra fat. Seniors who enjoy gardening can even grow them themselves in pots or a hanging planter, which saves them having to bend or weed.

Best of all, tomatoes are healthier than anything so delicious deserves to be. Here are some of the ways that eating more tomatoes can benefit you and a senior in your life.

• A whole lotta lycopene: Lycopene is to tomatoes what cake is to your birthday: just when you think it can’t get any better, it does! Tomatoes are packed with this powerful anti-oxidant which, many studies have shown, can reduce the risk of certain types of cancer (including prostate, colon and rectal cancer) and heart disease and also combat sun-related skin damage and bone density loss.
• Beats vitameatavegemin (without the loopy side effects): Tomatoes are a great source of vitamins A, C, K, folate and potassium, as well as thiamin, niacin, vitamin B6, magnesium, phosphorus and copper all important vitamins and minerals for seniors.
• Provides fiber optimum: One serving of tomatoes (about a cup) provides about seven percent of your daily recommended amount of fiber.
• Evens out the highs and lows: Chromium in tomatoes helps to regulate blood sugar.
• Prevents blurred lines: Some studies show that Vitamin A in tomatoes may help reduce the risk of macular degeneration, an irreversible eye condition.
• Restores comfort levels: The anti-inflammatory bioflavonoids and carotenoids in tomatoes may help reduce chronic pain.

There are lots of ways to add fresh tomatoes to your diet or to your senior’s. At Home Instead Senior Care serving the Detroit metro, Oakland County, Macomb County, Wayne County, and Southeast Oakland County, some of our CAREGivers incorporate tomatoes into meals in the following ways:

• Scrambled in eggs as a sodium-free alternative to salsa or ketchup
• Diced into homemade or store-bought soup to increase flavor and nutritional value
• Tossed with pasta in lieu of sodium and sugar-packed jarred sauce
• Broiled atop chicken or fish

For more information about ways that a Home Instead Senior Care CAREGiver can make mealtimes more nutritious and enjoyable for a senior in your life, please contact Home Instead Senior Care serving the Detroit metro, Oakland County, Macomb County, Wayne County, and Southeast Oakland County at 248-203-2273, visit our website, or Like us on Facebook.

George Burns once said, “Happiness is having a large, loving, caring, close-knit family in another city.”

But whether your family lives near or far, chances are, every once in a while you probably plan a family reunion or big family party where all the generations come together, reminisce about old times and make new memories.

This can be a particularly special time for seniors, who are eager to catch up with loved ones that they haven’t seen in a while. But, as with every party or event, it is important to keep in mind a few things to ensure your senior will be safe and comfortable while they are enjoying the festivities.

Accessibility: If you are planning your family party at an outdoor venue, such as a park or lake, make sure that it is accessible for your senior. If you are worried that your senior will have to walk a long distance, consider renting a wheel chair or a golf cart or asking the facility management if you can drive a small vehicle to the party site to assist a guest with mobility issues. Also, check ahead of time to ensure there are nearby, well-lit and accessible restrooms.

Weather: Seniors have a much harder time with heat than younger people, so it is smart to have an air-conditioned indoor space, or even an air-conditioned car, to which they can retreat in the heat. It is a good idea to encourage them to dress in light, loose layers, wear plenty of sunblock and a sun hat with a wide-brim, and drink lots of water.

Food: Summer party food is the best food but the high fat, cholesterol and salt that come along with things like fried chicken, barbecue and chips can make the picnic table a landmine for seniors on a restricted diet. Try to include fresh fruits and veggies when you’re menu planning and consider offering a healthy alternative to the main course, such as grilled chicken or fish, or veggie dogs.

Crowds: Even though most seniors are thrilled to see the whole family all together, large crowds can be a bit overwhelming, especially when seniors aren’t used to them, have hearing issues, or are easily confused. Try to find a place a bit off to the side where your senior can settle and let people come to them in groups of one or two. This way, they’ll have a chance to spend some one-on-one time with everyone while staying out of the fray.

For more information about the care and well-being of seniors, please contact Home Instead Senior Care serving the Detroit metro, Oakland County, Macomb County, Wayne County, and Southeast Oakland County at 248-203-2273, visit our website, or Like us on Facebook.

What would you say if we told you that the fourth leading cause of death in America is preventable about 80 percent of the time?

Not bad odds, eh?

Despite this, stroke still kills about 130,000 people each year, and is a leading cause of serious, long-term adult disability. As with so many critical health events, the best key to avoiding stroke is prevention.

The National Stroke Association divides the risk factors for stroke into two categories: Controllable and Uncontrollable. They are:

Controllable Risk Factors:

• High Blood Pressure
• Atrial Fibrillation
• High Cholesterol
• Diabetes
• Atherosclerosis
• Circulation Problems
• Tobacco Use and Smoking
• Alcohol Use
• Physical Inactivity
• Obesity

Uncontrollable Risk Factors:

• Age: persons 55 and older are more at risk but stroke can happen to anyone at any time.
• Gender: approximately 55,000 more women than men have a stroke each year.
• Race: African Americans have almost twice the risk of first-ever stroke compared with whites and  Hispanics and Asians/Pacific Islanders are more likely than whites to have a stroke as well.
• Family History
• Previous Stroke or TIA
• Fibromuscular Dysplasia
• Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO or Hole in the Heart)

As you can see, the controllable factors mostly boil down to making positive health choices, such as those outlined by the American Stroke Association, and treating existing medical conditions.

But one of the factors listed as uncontrollable: a previous stroke or transient ischemic attack, or TIA, is also one of the most certain harbingers of an oncoming stroke and is something to which close attention should be paid.

Up to 40 percent of all people who have experienced a TIA – often referred to as a mini-stroke –will go on to have an actual stroke. Furthermore, most studies show that nearly half of all strokes occur within the first two days after a TIA.

The risk factors for TIA are pretty much identical to the risk factors for stroke, and, as with stroke, sometimes the symptoms occur so quickly that people don’t even realize they’ve had one:

Someone having a TIA (or a stroke) may experience one or more of the following symptoms:

• Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
• Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
• Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
• Sudden trouble walking, dizziness loss of balance or coordination

With TIA, the symptoms usually last less than 24 hours before disappearing. Still, while these mini-strokes generally do not cause permanent brain damage, they are a serious warning sign of stroke and should not be ignored.

If you suspect that you or someone you are with is having a TIA, you should call 9-1-1 immediately. Every moment counts, and the faster a stroke or TIA victim is evaluated and treated, the better their chance to avoid serious damage or future stroke.

Work with your physician on an appropriate treatment plan for you. Generally speaking, after a transient ischemic attack, the American Heart Association and National Stroke Association offer these recommendations for preventing future stroke:

• rapid evaluation, preferably within 12 hours of the onset of symptoms
• access to same-day diagnostic imaging
• aggressive attention to blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, atrial fibrillation, and other conditions
• control of risk factors such as smoking, obesity, and physical inactivity
• use of aspirin, aspirin plus extended-release dipyridamole (Aggrenox), or clopidogrel (Plavix) to prevent the formation of further blood clots
• surgery (carotid endarterectomy) or endovascular therapy (angioplasty with or without a stent) to open a narrowed or blocked carotid artery.

TIA is extremely serious and should be taken seriously. However, with proper diagnosis and treatment, it may be just the warning sign you need to prevent or limit the damage of future stroke.

For more information about the well-being of seniors, or to arrange for the services of a trained CAREGiver for a senior in your life, please contact Home Instead Senior Care serving the Detroit metro, Oakland County, Macomb County, Wayne County, and Southeast Oakland County at 248-203-2273, visit our website, or Like us on Facebook.