Elder CareTips (TM)

The newsletter for all elder caregivers.Sent to you twice a month, and only by request.Please feel free to pass on Elder CareTips (TM) to anyone you think might be interested.

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In case you hadn't noticed, the name of this newsletter has changed. By necessity, not by choice. I recently received a rather curt notice that someone had trademarked the name "Eldercare Matters" at just about the same time I began using it. This is a fight I could probably win, but life is way to short to battle over the little things. So, I've changed the name of the newsletter in the interest of focusing on the things that really do matter in life. You'll notice that this name *is* being trademarked, so I hope we won't have to make any more drastic changes.

(By the way, this newsletter is better :-)

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> Baffled About A Gift For Someone In A Nursing Home? <

Grandmother only needs one more box of perfumed dusting powder complete a set of 12 on her crowded closet shelf. Uncle John doesn't wear the ties he already has, and the box of caramels George got last year pulled out his dentures.

Every year it gets harder and harder to find the perfect gift for our loved ones who live in nursing homes. They don't need, or can no l onger use, most of the things that catch our eyes. In desperation we often end up wrapping something we know in our hearts will be wrong.

You already know what the best gift is: A visit from you.

If you can, of course you do plan to visit. But you don't want to empty-handed. If you can't be there in person, you want to send something that will be received and used with joy. Here are some ideas to get you started:

*A subscription to the local paper or a favorite magazine (for those who can read the small print), or to the large print Reader's Digest

*Large print crossword and word-find puzzle books

*A colorful wall calendar with important dates marked (birthdays, graduations, anniversaries, special events), along with...

*A basket of greeting cards for every occasion, so your loved one can be part of these events by sending cards independently. Include pre-addressed labels, three or four for each person, so your loved one can easily address the envelopes. Add a roll of stamps if you are confident they won't be "lost."

*A quilt, afghan, or blanket from home - re-sized if necessary to fit the nursing home bed. If fabric is left over from re-sizing, use it to cover a small, soft pillow

*Prepaid "gift certificates" for the facility's beauty/barber shop

*Non-poisonous plant if your elder is interested and able to take care of a plant. If not, choose a pretty silk plant.

*Videotapes of special family events that you can watch together

*Recorded books and music

*A scrapbook of captioned pictures - people, places, and things - that will bring happy memories and stimulate conversation throughout the year

You'll find many more gift ideas for seniors in the article at
http://www.eldercareteam.com/resources/articles/gifts.htm

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"I believe you should live each day as if it is your last, which is why I don't have any clean laundry because, come on, who wants to wash clothes on the last day of their life?"

Child, Age 15

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> Tie One On <

If you're buying a shirt or tie for your husband/father/other older man this year, you might be doing him a favor if you double-check his neck size. Just because he's been wearing the same size for years doesn't mean it's the right size any longer.

Medical researchers recently discovered that 67% of the subjects they studied were buying shirts with collars that were smaller than their necks.

Another study says that tight neckties (and by extension, shirts) can cause visual problems. A too-tight collar or tie can press on the jugular vein, increasing pressure within the eye. This is one of the leading risk factors for glaucoma. If a tight necktie is worn during an eye examination it can even cause a false diagnosis of glaucoma. If he never wears a tie, and never buttons the top button, it won't matter. But if he's in the habit of buttoning up, think about buying the next larger size. If nothing else, people will congratulate him on having lost so much weight.

If you'd like to read the whole report, it's at
http://www.torontofreepress.com/2004/health113004.htm

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> Care Tip: The Stairs <

5 will get you 10 that, if your elder lives in a two-story house, the stairs to the second floor are carpeted. If they aren't, you're in luck today.

Put on your leather-soled dress shoes and walk down those carpeted stairs next time you're there. You have to be extra careful that your foot doesn't slip down off the rounded edge of the carpeted step, don't you.

Those stairs would be much safer without the carpeting. They'd be easier to keep clean, too (ever try vacuuming the carpet on the stairs - now that's a mean job).

Take a peek and see what's under there. It might even be beautiful hardwood. If it isn't, it won't take much to paint the risers and put down safety treads.

Talking about stair safety isn't often successful at first. I often hear some variation on the theme of, "I've never in my life fallen down those stairs." So, 5 will get you the other ten that you'll meet resistance at the idea uncarpeting the stairs.

Take a look under there first, then visit your local home supply store for ideas before you bring up the subject. If you can offer one or more solutions to objections about ugly stairs you standa much better chance of eventual success.

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The hardest thing in life is to learn is: which bridge to cross and which to burn.
--Laurence J. Peter

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Don't keep us a secret. If you know other people who should be reading this too, then do them and us a favor by telling them about Care Matters: Mastering The Eldercare Maze (TM). Just send them to this link:
http://eldercareteam.com/resources/newsletter.htm

We have an ever-growing collection of articles on the subject of caring for older adults. Some have appeared in this newsletter, some haven't. Browse around as much as you'd like at
http://www.eldercareteam.com/resources/articles/index.htm

'Till next time, stay warm...
Molly

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Molly Shomer
Head Coach
The Eldercare Team
http://www.eldercareteam.com
mshomer@eldercareteam.com
Box 700291
Dallas, TX 75370
(972) 395-7823

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© 2004 Molly Shomer, All rights reserved. You are free touse material from "Care Matters: Mastering The EldercareMaze"(TM) as long as you include complete attribution, including live web site link and email link. I would appreciate it if you would let me know where the material will appear.

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