HowToDoThings.com Living with the Elderly

How To Create an Obituary

Cassandra — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 19:13:58 -0500

With the popularity of the Internet and online newspapers, obituaries no longer have to be short blurbs under 50 words. Several sites are now including full obituaries for everyone, not just celebrities and politicians. When faced with a death of a loved one, it is difficult to decide how to summarize his or her life in a short article tribute. Follow the steps below and you can create an obituary your loved one would be proud of.

How To Survive as a Caretaker for the Elderly

margnorton — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 11:46:25 -0600

Baby-boomers are struggling to care for their elderly parents. The estimates are that one out of every four adults is now caring for someone else. In the next 20 years, this number is expected to double. Many of today's caretakers are being referred to as the "sandwich generation." They are raising a family and also caring for an elderly parent at the same time. There can be advantages to this, but it is taking its toll. Caregivers are less productive at work, miss more time from work and are more stressed. For the past three years, I have assisted with my mother's care. Prior to that, I was my mother-in-law's caretaker. The following are my suggestions on how to better cope with this situation.

How To Find Senior Care Resources

Laura512 — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 18:50:00 -0600

Finding senior care resources can be challenging if you don't know how to start. There are many resources available to help senior citizens. Since some senior adults are not comfortable using the Internet, this article includes resources for seniors that are available both on the Internet (online) and off the Internet (offline).

The following is an offline list of sources for finding senior care resources:

How To Help Your Senior Who Is Hearing Impaired

L544 — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 10:19:00 -0600

Hearing impairment has far reaching implications not only for the individual with the loss, but also for those close to them. A recent study by the University of Florida indicates that 62% of elderly people admit to difficulty hearing. When you consider our aging population, this is a staggering number of people coping with hearing loss either directly or indirectly as a result of a family member or loved one who is hearing impaired.

In order to effectively help the hearing impaired senior in your life, consider the following tips:

How To Find Senior Housing

Lenore262 — Fri, 01 Dec 2006 16:35:00 -0600

For many seniors, growing older may mean a change of residence. Changes in your financial situation, your growing inability to do routine maintenance or personal changes in your life may give you a very clear signal that it's time to make a move. But a change of residence can be both a challenging and traumatic event. These suggestions for finding senior housing may help to reduce your stress.

How To Find Senior Travel Packages

Laura512 — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 17:04:00 -0600

Many airlines, hotels, and cruise lines offer discounts to senior adult travelers. By taking advantage of these deals you can save hundreds, even thousands, of dollars (depending on how often you travel). Since there are many deals out there being advertised as discounts for senior adults, it pays to shop around for the best deal.

Remember that sometimes promotional offers that are open to all travelers can be cheaper than discounts designed specifically for senior adults, so don't rule those discounts out when you plan your trip. In addition, retired senior adult travelers may take advantage of other discounts by traveling at non-peak times when other travelers would be in school or working.

Most senior travel deals begin at age 65, but a few begin at age 55, or even at age 50! If in doubt, contact the company that is providing the travel service and ask them for the age requirements for their senior adult discount program.

How To Understand the Effects of the Great Depression

Lenore262 — Sun, 26 Nov 2006 16:35:00 -0600

The Great Depression was a national and, in some respects, international catastrophe that paralyzed our society for nearly a decade. As Americans reflect on the history of the last century, they cannot help but center on the Great Depression as either an era which they endured or out of which they were born. Knowing how to understand the effects of the Great Depression can lead Americans to a fuller comprehension of the source of many of their attitudes and values. Here are a few good sources that can lead to a better understanding of the effects of the Great Depression.

How To Plan for Senior Independent Living

Laura512 — Sat, 25 Nov 2006 08:10:00 -0600

Not all senior adults require assistance. Many live independently in their own homes or in senior adult apartments. Many others live in assisted living residences where they receive a small amount of assistance. If you are elderly and intend to live alone, some safety precautions may be necessary. Use the following checklist to increase your safety at home:

Environmental concerns. It may be necessary to make changes to enhance the safety of your home, or to move into a smaller and safer environment. Surfaces such as tables and countertops may need to be lower to accommodate a wheelchair.
Avoid falls. Falls are a common cause of injury for the elderly. To minimize falls, stairs may need to be equipped with ramps or lifts. The bathroom is another frequent place for falls. Make sure that you have skid-proof surfaces installed in the tub and on the floor.

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How To Find Senior Personals

Lenore262 — Fri, 24 Nov 2006 16:47:00 -0600

Common sense and statistics tell us clearly that as our population ages, there will be a growing number of seniors who, through the death of a spouse, midlife divorce or prolonged single lifestyle, find themselves in their senior years looking for companionship, long-term relationship or marriage. But seniors often feel uncomfortable about how to respond to this need. While some rely on chance, senior socials or just give up, others have discovered another way to meet new people that is safe, discreet and allows you to maintain your distance and your dignity. Using senior personals can give you the tool you need to access a social life that may be closer than you imagine. Here's how to find senior personals.

How To Plan Your Nursing Care Routine

Laura512 — Fri, 24 Nov 2006 09:56:00 -0600

If you care for your elderly loved one at home, you will need to plan a workable daily routine to implement his or her care. There is no one nursing care routine that will meet the needs of all elderly individuals living at home. Each nursing care routine will be different based on the individual needs of your loved one.

The most important factor to keep in mind when designing a nursing care routine for a loved one at home is her medical needs. If the doctor says that your loved one needs to be turned in the bed every four hours to avoid sores, then the nursing routine must allow for her to be turned every four hours. Likewise, if the doctor says that she needs medication every six hours, the nursing routine must allow for her to receive medication every six hours.