Individuals cannot determine their quality of life by looking at just one aspect of their wellbeing. Instead, they must evaluate their emotional, intellectual and physical states, in order to paint a more complete picture. This multiplies the considerations when making life-changing decisions, including where and how best to live—whether assisted in a nursing home or independently in their own homes.

“There is a time and place for every living situation” says Dianna Holmes, COO at People TrueCare, “Most seniors will want to stay in their homes because of the strong emotional bonds they have with it.”

Along with these emotional ties, there may also be health benefits to staying at home rather than opting for the assisted living of a shared facility.

For instance, “It’s clinically proven that large groups of people often share communicable, viral infections, things like colds,” Holmes says, “Individuals living in single-family residences have stricter control over their environment and the comings and goings of other people.”

Evidence also suggests that infection rates are lower for individuals recovering from surgery at home than those in a facility.

Remaining at home also allows seniors to maintain their customary diet, individually tailored to any eating restrictions they may have. “It’s much harder to get what you want when a kitchen is cooking for a large group, rather than for a single table,” Holmes explains, “You can’t underestimate the nutritional benefits of home-made and from-scratch cooking on an individual’s long term health.” adding that individuals living at home are also in a better position to dictate their meal times.

Remaining in a familiar setting also allows seniors be physically close to their possessions they treasure, keep a schedule they’re accustomed to and do activities they prefer.

“When considering what an ideal living situation is for Mom or Dad, ask them what their goals are,” Holmes recommends, “Every situation is unique. Finding a customizable solution that keeps people in their own homes can be a great option.”

High-tech gift ideas can delight the elderly, help with their day to day and connect them to loved ones.

The global village’s latest high-tech gadgets are not just the playthings of the young. The young at heart can also be captivated and entertained by new technology, and some of it is actually quite age appropriate. Best of all, the latest touch-screen devices, like Apple’s iPad, also double as powerful tools. Their dead-simple, ease-of-use means that they can help seniors overcome some of aging’s mounting obstacles.

When considering a high-tech gift for a senior this holiday season, think about how it could help your loved one with one of their daily challenges.

Can they hear you now?

One common health issue that seems to plague most of the aging population is their failing sense of hearing. If they miss most parts of the shows they watch, this can lead to frustration, boredom and increased isolation. Give them back the gift of hearing with earphones which they can use for watching TV. Read up on this blog to find the best one.

What time is it, dear?

A simple gift that can make a big difference is a talking clock. We all want to know the answer to the eternal question: “What time is it?”. If our vision is impaired or our ability to read a clock is gone, having a clock that will tell you the time can be a real life saver.

Don’t click, just poke.

The choices are endless when we think of tablet computers these days. My personal favorite is the iPad: it’s easy to use, has a crisp display, and is incredibly multipurpose, from reading and socializing, to gaming, and staying up to date on current events.

Combined with an Internet connection, a new generation touch-screen device is not unlike giving a senior a hand-held, interactive window, allowing them access to places, news, stories and events from the outside world. With video conference calls, they’ll feel closer and more connected with their loved ones, especially when mobility and geography are issues. Give them access to the entire world, at their fingertips.

I’m a book person.

Simpler tablets, the Kindle or Nook may be good hand-held options as well. Make a list of what your loved one will use the tablet for the most and gear your purchase toward those features.

For seniors with an extensive library of actual books, the splurge item this holiday season may be  Merlin’s Desktop Electronic Magnifier, a device that magnifies books or documents onto a LCD screen. For those who were avid readers or enjoyed viewing family photo albums, the Merlin Magnifier makes it all possible again. Reading and turning the pages of a book is such a simple, eternal pleasure and one that seniors especially enjoy.

Much of today’s technology for seniors often involves machines for monitoring their heath. Luckily, that’s changing. Remember, technology is fun for all ages and anyone can learn to use it in this day and age, in particular with this latest generation of ultra-user-friendly multi-purpose gadgets.

Remember, the gift of technology will not alone suffice: invest time and reconnect to your loved ones by teaching them how to use it and then get access to a whole new world, at the touch of a button.

National well being statistics show that the elderly who return home after a spell in a hospital fare better over the long term than in-patients who transfer to a nursing home.  

Despite the numbers, there’s an untold story that’s all too common: dismayed children of elderly parents complain that their mothers or fathers went into the hospital but never returned to their prior living arrangements. Now, they’re institutionalized in a nursing home, which wasn’t really the plan. This narrow funnel is good news for nursing homes, unfortunately, the statistics show that it’s bad news for the individuals and their families.

With healthcare costs at these institutions skyrocketing, families may wish to give home care a second thought. Caring for seniors in their own homes is more cost effective, promotes faster healing, decreases the risk of a facility acquired infection, and allows individuals to retain their independence and control over their lives.

There is a lack of awareness among the general public about home care as an option, which makes a nursing home seem like the only choice. This is simply untrue.

When an elderly parents are being discharged from a hospital, their children should ask the following three questions to evaluate whether a nursing home is indeed the right choice.

1. Is the elderly parent safe at home?
2. Has the parent experienced a significant decline in their abilities from admission to the hospital to discharge?
3. What kind of care will a facility provide the parent that would not be able to be achieved at home?

If their answers are “yes,” “no” and “nothing,” home care could be a better option.

Now, let’s compare the following two examples:

Example 1:
A 94-year-old woman developed an infection in her blood stream that lead to an extended hospitalization. Prior, she was living in an assisted living facility but able to walk 150 feet with a walker and to care for her own personal needs. However, at the time of her discharge from the hospital she was transferred to a rehab facility because she now required antibiotics for the infection, oxygen at all times, assistance from someone to get in and out of a chair and was unable to care for her own needs.

Example 2:
An 86-year-old man with Alzheimer’s, who was otherwise healthy, fell at home and suffered no injury. Despite, out of precaution, he was kept overnight for observation and then also transferred to a rehab facility. Yet, upon discharge he didn’t experience any functional decline. He was transferred from the hospital to the rehab facility despite having the same functional status as when he was admitted.

Both of the patients in the above examples were given the same discharge plan from a hospital, yet, clearly, their situations were quite different.

In the second example the individual could have easily been discharged to his home with home care professionals providing the rehab therapy. With Alzheimer’s patients, the fewer the disruptions there are to their daily routines, the longer they will maintain their current cognitive abilities.

The woman in Example 1 greatly benefited from the nursing at the rehab facility as they had both physical and medical needs that required constant monitoring.

We are all consumers of healthcare and we should be educated about our choices and options.  Senior True Care professionals can help you to evaluate all the options to maintain senior’s life quality. Do not hesitate to contact us.

Affordable networks allow seniors to enjoy many of the amenities retirement communities offer — without having to leave their homes.

Read this article about retirement communities

It has already been several years since Jennifer Murray took over the duty of making the annual Thanksgiving turkey from her mother.

But, Murray noticed her regular weekend visits were increasingly busy: helping with the upkeep of her parents’ household. Lately, it seemed there had not even been time for a walk in the park with her dad or a talk over tea with her mom.

Murray, an only child and MBA candidate at Notre Dame University faced, a looming dilemma. After her MBA, she will relocate to Chicago.

“They are still well enough to remain in our family home but do not have a strong support network,” she says, weighing her options, “Of course, I’ll be back for Thanksgivings but my parents need more regular assistance.”

Dianna Holmes, MSW, HFA, was a local nursing home administrator. She was recently appointed chief operating officer of People TrueCare, and can now confirm, “In these situations, home care is a perfect solution.”

“Seniors who stay in the familiar surroundings of their own home fare the best, both mentally and physically,” she says, “What many people do not realize is home care often is very reasonable as our home care professionals only work the hours necessary to meet the individual needs of our clients. Seniors residing in a skilled nursing facility pay for 24-hour care even if it is not needed.”

Senior TrueCare services allow you to continue living in the quiet and peaceful comfort of your home longer, going about your customary activities, eating your favorite home-made foods and living at your own pace. Senior TrueCare provides targeted assistance and thoughtful oversight to clients and families. Having a mature, personal home care professional to support those making a choice to remain at home, is a beautiful option.

For Murray, discovering Senior TrueCare as an option meant piece-of-mind: “I’m so glad knowing someone will be there, to stroll with my dad, run errands, make sure the house is taken care of and have a chat with my mom.” As mom and dad’s needs change, Senior TrueCare can assist in navigating their journey even if they would require 24-hour services every day in the privacy of their home.”

For more information regarding Senior TrueCare, contact Dianna Holmes at People TrueCare, (260) 333-6440. They are always open and ready to serve.

See full article in Senior Life Newspaper