pill organizers for seniors

    Pill organizers become a necessary part of life when you have at least 20 pills a day to be spread over four pill-taking sessions. There are several sites devoted to these on the Web, or the ubiquitous Amazon.com that really does have quite a complete collection at good rates. The new models with alarms incorporated are fantastic...if you know what you are doing. My sister found two solutions for my mother when we thought she was still capable of taking care of herself: one, a watch with an alarm that would go off four times a day, the other a pill organizer with an alarm in the top that would go off at the appropriate times. The advantage of the watch is that it is always there on your wrist so you can't miss it. The disadvantage is that it requires that you then go and take your pills without forgetting to do so in the interval. For people with short-term memory problems or dementia, this is asking a lot. For the alarm on the pill organizer, since my mother didn't remember what this thing was, she would ignore it. We know now that she never really used these useful tools properly.
     If you have the feeling that your loved one is not taking his/her pills regularly, then I suggest that you get the alarm watch for yourself so that you can call them to check that they are taking their pills. Don't forget: the more aggressive you are ("Did you take your noon pills yet??"), the more you will be told: "Of course, dear" (Mom) or " Of course I did! I'm not stupid!" (Dad). We all know what that means. It's not that they necessarily want to deceive you, it's more that they don't want to disappoint you or admit that they can't handle this sort of thing. Because of her memory problems, my mother is not convinced at all that "all those pills" have anything to do with her very good present health. Because she can't remember that, last fall, she had 5 TIA's and a stroke within two months, she tends to shrug off the pills. If I weren't there to prepare the daily pile and insist on their importance, I know that she wouldn't take them.
   I think it's important to be sensitive to the reality of the situation, it may feel good to find gadget or techno solutions to problems but seniors have trouble keeping up, either for lack of understanding or worse, for lack of interest. That means that the caregivers must furnish the effort, either by being there themselves or by making sure that someone, friend or paid help, is available to check on the medication issue.

ramps for seniors with dementia

There comes a time when adapting the home to the condition of your dementia patient becomes crucial. The minute we introduced a walker into our house, I had to take up most of the rugs, particularly in the bedroom and halls. I also noticed that my mother was more and more apprehensive of making the one step down to the garage or to the patio, and I always was there "just in case". I hadn't really thought about a ramp because my mother, as most dementia patients, hates change and didn't want to change the appearance of her home, particularly as, in her mind, she had not changed so there was no need to. Nevertheless, her legs were weakening from the lack of activity and she had neither the strength nor the balance to make the step easily.

Of course when she later temporarily lost the use of her legs and had to spend 3 weeks in rehab, we had a serious problem. I constructed a temporary ramp out of old second-hand murder mysteries (thank goodness we are avid readers!) with roofing tiles laid over them. I wish I had taken a picture! It was pretty solid, but definitely temporary. Even the handyman had to admire it. Thank goodness he was able to put together an excellent one in an afternoon. Ours is wood which is no problem since it is inside the garage, and it is made specifically to our requirements: it is quite wide so that my mother doesn't fall off while trying to get around the dogs and it is a VERY gentle slope so that she doesn't balk at using it on her own. She feels much more independent with it: she can go sit outside to watch the dogs in the yard (she is afraid they will somehow get out the gate). Fortunately my mother does not have the wandering problems associated with Alzheimer's.

While I had not been able to find an appropriate ramp in the stores near us, I subsequently found that they are readily available on the Web. My favorite Allegro Medical Supply has quite a nice choice of ramps according to your personal needs and at good prices.

We were able to have one made reasonably ($100) by a handyman whom we had already had dealt with. If you don't know a handyman though, I can suggest that you contact your local Alzheimer's Association. They will most certainly be able to refer you to a "senior assistance and referral network" which will guarantee that the people you are put in contact with are "Elder Friendly" businesses. This is particularly reassuring when you come from out of state and don't know how or where to start.

Bathroom facilities for seniors

Oddly enough, Medicare will not contribute to bathroom facilities except under some extreme duress conditions such as there being no toilet on the same floor and the patient being bedridden. Here again, I can only recommend that you think long-term in the matter of what sort of toilet facilities you are going to get. Paying a bit more the first time is better than paying twice.

While we were at the hospital after my mother's fall, she could not even help the nurse and myself to get her from the bed to the toilet so we used a "3-in-1 commode". This is a portable john with raised handles and a removable pan. It can be installed over a regular toilet without the pan.

Even after two weeks in rehab, it was obvious that she needed help to lower herself onto the toilet seat because the one bar fixed to the wall was not helpful enough. She was a bit offended when she got home and saw that I had installed a 3-in-1 commode over her toilet, but when she realized that she could now use it by herself thanks to the raised handles, she was quite appreciative and got used to it quickly. The advantage is that, should she ever become bedridden again, I will already have the rest of the equipment (the pan and lid) right there so that I can put it next to her bed and use it as a real commode. My only advice here would be to measure your ordinary toilet seat. Some are particularly elongated, so it is best to get the appropriate size for everyday usage.

Baby monitors for seniors

When I first moved in with my mother, she was having such trouble walking that she moved from her room to the guestroom, and I moved into the den right next door to her. That way she could always call out for assistance during the night and I could get to her fast enough to avoid any accidents, of any sort. It was reassuring for me to know she could call me. Finally though, she got strong enough, both physically and mentally, to want to return to her own room. It was a great step towards more independence but it did mean that I could no longer be sure to hear her and help her. As she was walking so much better though, I wasn't too concerned.

Several months later, I was wakened very early by her shouts. I found her on the floor, incapable of using her legs properly. She had had to drag herself to the livingroom to call me. She, of course, had no recollection of how nor even where she had fallen. She spent three weeks in the hospital and rehabilitation center where I stayed with her to calm her fears and bewilderment. Sleeping next to her gave me such reassurance that I realized that I would have to find a solution for home. I certainly didn't want to move into her room with her. I went back to the Web to find a solution for seniors.

There are several intercom or walkie-talkie type systems available. It would require, however, that my mother remember to use it which she wouldn't because she wouldn't remember that it was there or what it was. I settled on a baby security monitor. It was an excellent, inexpensive solution to my problem. I didn't even have to take the video option since snoring old ladies are hardly as cute as little baby. I have it on all day and the range is so good that I can even hear her go into the kitchen to make herself a coffee (of course she DOES shuffle her feet quite a bit). As I spend quite a bit of time in my room at the computer, the monitor allows me to know when she is sleeping or awake and pottering around in her room. That, in turn, allows me to know when would be a good time to propose an activity liking folding the laundry, going to get the mail or go out for groceries.

I know that a real "for seniors" system with two-way communication can be invaluable in the care of an invalid, just for the peace of mind and reassurance that it can give both parties, as well as sparing the caregiver all sorts of trips back and forth to the invalid's room. In the case of dementia though, I am sure that it could only bring confusion, at least initially to the demented, then perhaps aggravation to the caregiver when the patient, finally or maybe, figures out how it works and demands a response at any or all moments.

I have told my mother often that she need only call me and I will come; but since I don't want to emphasize the presence of the monitor, and have hidden it behind her curtains, when she wants me, she comes all the way to my room. That's great! This is a big house and since she refuses to go to physical therapy, this is a good way for her to get some exercise!

time for respite

The need for respite care is something that appears OVER and OVER, on all the caregiver sites, as being crucial. I personally was not ready to pay too much attention to that advice when I first moved in with my mother a year ago. First the physical and mental changes in her were so dramatic that I couldn't imagine thinking about anything BUT her. The first few months of watching her every step, controlling her diet, dealing with her memory loss, calling 911 left my head spinning. I DIDN'T want to join a chat or compare notes. I didn't want help because I was convinced I didn't need help. I certainly didn't want to leave her to someone else's care to take time for respite. I was convinced that I was essential to her well-being.

Then her health started to improve. Of course. As any health care person can tell you, the better the person is cared for, generally the more he or she will thrive. All of a sudden I realized that we were no longer in an "emergency" situation. My constant physical presence was no long really crucial. My mother was even able to move back to her room instead of the guestroom next to mine. I finally realized that I was in this for the long run. The person who now needed help was me. The notion of finding "time for respite" started to make sense. Caregiving is an incredible balance of self-abnegation and self-recognition. It is essential that the caregiver be aware of what he or she can or is willing to do. Many caregivers have family members or friends who are willing to take over the care duties for a time so that the caregiver can become his/herself for a while, take a little time for respite. For others, things are a little more difficult.

Our own family is so spread out that I find myself totally alone for the day-to-day care. I have great support from my family through the phone and e-mails, but that doesn't really help me be me. I needed respite, so back to the Web! I think the main source of information was www.eldercare.gov. More than just the respite issue, this site addresses many other aspects of taking care of a senior. It also allows you to discover what is available in advice and assistance in your area. Attending caregiver training sessions allows you to see that you are not alone... and that your situation is far from the worst!!

On-line glasses for not quite so seniors

My love affair with on-line shopping started last fall when my mother was not well enough to go out Christmas shopping, but was too afraid to stay at home alone. I got into on-line catalogues and had the time of my life.

After whetting my appetite on gifts for others, I decided to look around for something for myself. I realized that what I really wanted were a pair of bifocal glasses. I usually only wear reading glasses, but I AM getting older and the TV is slowly getting blurrier. I decided to try a pair of on-line glasses, bifocals. Since I only really need them to watch about an hour of TV at night while doing my crochet, I didn't want to spend big bucks. On the Web, people were saying that on-line glasses were great so I decided to order a pair and see what I'ld get.

I must mention that my eyes are very close together so that I look like an owl when I wear full glasses. It is honestly depressing for me to try on glasses; they look so good on the shelf, then when I put them on... I figured that on-line glasses might be a solution because ALL the measurements are listed so I could check out the WHOLE selection just in function of the bridge width! There were several sites available and even one where I could put a picture of myself and see how the glasses would look. I wound up on Zennioptical's site and I must say, I had days of fun, checking out all the glasses. Since this was a bit of a lark, I took my time but of course wound up with very staid bifocals as you can see, since it is hard to break old habits (of being reasonable). BUT 40$!!, signed, sealed and delivered. How cool is that!! and they are GREAT!

I wouldn't recommend these for my mother (who has very bad eyes), or for any seniors with dementia, mostly because she is not receptive to anything new. With her loss of memory she is only comfortable with things that are familiar: her glasses, and what she looks like with her glasses on. But if your senior doesn't have these kinds of problems and would just like to "change how they look a bit", then why not!!! Fun is fun. At these prices, who cares, and it never hurts to have an extra pair of glasses around the house.

Since I am not my mother so on-line glasses, let me on them! I now have prescription sunglasses for distance, glasses for distance (I can't believe how working in the garden is so much more interesting now that I can see the plants) and the latest, full-size reading glasses. My choices of frames are getting funkier and funkier. It is so handy to have an extra pair of glasses in my bag and ... learning to draw is SOOOOOO much easier now that I can see both what I am drawing and what I have drawn!

Local medical supplies dealers

I must admit that, though I'm a great fan of the Web and on-line shopping, for the medical supplies I went with the local medical supplies dealer. First I got caught out by time then also by ignorance. I usually live in Europe, so when I moved in with my mother, I knew nothing about Medicare and what was available to my mother. Also I moved in because of her memory loss, not expecting the TIA's, the stroke or the fall. Mental problems became secondary to the physical ones. I really didn't know where to turn for help and advice on the senior supplies.

Fortunately my mother has been going to the same pharmacy for years and they are connected to a great medical supplies store. I'm giving you their site, mostly so that you can see what you should expect from a good site:www.brevardmedicalequip.com. I think they are only a local organization but they are really wonderful. If you live in the area, I seriously recommend them. They list most of the Medicare requirements and limitations. It was through them that I was forewarned of Medicare's policies.

This brings us to the final possibility for medical equipment: leasing. With a local medical supplies dealer, you are going to get equipment that will be serviced easily and quickly. Also, if there is a change in the physical status of your senior, then a local dealer will change your equipment accordingly without all the hullabaloo that an on-line servicer might require. It is definitely something to consider and check out in advance. I was VERY surprised to see the prices at Brevard Medical Equipment, they definitely matched what I was seeing on the Web and some were even purposely limited to the Medicare contribution. It may be sympathy with the senior market or just good marketing in general since there are a lot of seniors here in Florida, but it was certainly a relief to me.