Home Care: Seniors with complex chronic illnesses such as Alzheimer’s, advanced dementia, congestive heart failure, chronic pain, those who can no longer self-direct etc. can often be well cared for with senior residential care services. Using professionals to asses each individual situation, caregivers can be brought in who understand the special needs of these seniors.  Additionally, there is now new technology such as sensors which detect falls or alert when there are changes in lifestyles which may be a signal of a change in health status and are making an impact in the ability for seniors with complex problems to stay at home.

Seniors needing home care have numerous choices. Selecting an agency which has the right personnel can make a huge difference for children taking care of parents. An agency whose goals are to alleviate the pressure from the children are very aware of the stress and struggles they go through.  They know that care of a parent can be draining. A good agency will address this and look for ways not only to help the senior with their physical care, but also how to help the entire family situation.

When selecting home care for seniors, make sure you look at all the options. Don’t rush into this as the choice you make can greatly affect the way your parents live.

Many adult children struggle with their concern for their aging parents, especially in regards to driving. For many, seniors independent living includes maintaining freedom, independence, spontaneity, and the ability to stay involved in outside activities. For many, continuing to drive is a symbol of this independence.

For adult children taking care of parents, approaching the subject of when to discontinue driving is a sensitive issue. And while senior drivers are at added risk, many older drivers will place self-imposed limitations on themselves as they age. Many seniors will discontinue night time driving, decrease the speed in which they travel, and  avoid rush hour traffic.

Each family needs to address the issue of when to discontinue driving, but the following 7 tips for older drivers can be a good starting point.

1. Stay physically active-this improves the strength, coordination, and flexibility.
2. Manage chronic conditions-especially those that may affect driving ability such as medications that cause drowsiness or low blood sugar related to diabetes.
3. Schedule regular vision and hearing tests-these are common age related problems that make driving difficult, especially at night.
4. Understand your limitations-for example, if arthritis is a problem, use a steering wheel cover for easier grip.
5. Drive under optimal conditions-avoid nighttime driving and rush hour traffic, or driving when tired.
6. Plan ahead-know the route you plan to take and get directions ahead of time to new destinations.
7. Update your driving skills-local community organizations such as AARP offer refresher courses for older drivers that may even earn an insurance discount.

Children who are looking for care of parents often need help when trying to decide which assited living facility is the best for their loved ones. That is why CareGrade has created a service which offers a free care options adviser to assist the children in their search. Each adviser has at their disposal a list of assisted living facilities, nursing homes, senior care homes, adult day care, home care  and other senior care services that they have personally reviewed. The adviser works with the family to detrmine what their needs are and what facilites fit those needs. Once the list has been narrowed down, each client receives reviews so that they can make an informed decision.  The advisor helps guide them to make the best choice, but ultimatley it is a decision that the family usually wants to make. Armed with the right information, this decision is made much easier.