SYNERGYHomeCare.com Spring 2016
A FRESH STARTSPRING CLEANING FOR SENIORS Spring is here, which means everyone is preparing for the biggest cleaning event of the year - spring cleaning. For seniors, spring cleaning carries extra benefits, from socialization to exercise. The idea of cleaning your home from top to bottom on your own may seem intimidating, but we’ve put together some tips to take the tension out of the task! Spring cleaning isn’t just about wiping down surfaces and mopping the floors, it’s also a time to reorganize. Keep a donation box and a trash bag with you as you make your way through the house to get rid of any extra items you don’t use, like magazines, newspapers, books and old knickknacks. Remove unnecessary furniture that obstructs traffic flow, organize cabinets so the most frequently used items are easily accessible and throw away any old items from the pantry or refrigerator. Take stock of the medicine cabinet. Check all items for expiration dates. Are the medications stored in their original containers? Are they stored in a cool, dry place? Discard any unused or expired medications.
DE-CLUTTER Cleaning doesn’t
MAKE IT FUN have to be a chore,
so try to make it fun. Create a “Spring Cleaning Club.” Gather a bunch of your friends and family and divvy up chores based on what’s easiest for you and them. Certain chores, such as sweeping or dusting, don’t require much bending or reaching, so they’re safe tasks for seniors to do.
MIND YOUR MEDICATIONS
Replace the
SOUND THE ALARM batteries in
all smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. Run a test to ensure they’re working. Check to
BE A FIRE INSPECTOR make sure
your home has a fire extinguisher inspected within the past year. If you are unsure how to use it, ask a family member or friend for a brief lesson. Keep the fire extinguisher in an obvious location easily accessible in case of emergency. Set the speed dial on the phone for emergency contacts. Appoint a neighbor as an emergency backup. Find a friendly neighbor and implement the buddy system; keep an eye out for problems and have contact information for each other’s emergency contacts.
CREATE AN EMERGENCY PLAN
I
f you want to build and retain muscle, staying active and pumping iron can help. But did you know boosting brain power can be as easy as lifting a fork to your mouth?
Nutritionists suggest incorporating a diet rich in seven basic foods can lead to the brain’s continued growth and development and benefits your focus, comprehension and memory.
DARK, GREEN LEAFY VEGETABLES Chock full of folate and other vitamins, leafy greens contain antioxidants that promote new brain cell growth. Additionally, regular consumption is linked to a decreased risk of dementia later in life.
especially the oily varieties,
FISH offers both vitamin D and
omega-3s to help with focus and concentration. It also protects against memory loss. These ready-to-
NUTS AND SEEDS go snacks are
packed with vitamins and protein. They help boost the mood and regulate the nervous system.
Filled with fiber, B
OATMEAL vitamins and protein,
oatmeal helps keep both brain and heart arteries clear and increases memory. Because it’s a whole grain, it digests slowly to give you steady energy. In addition to preventing memory loss, blueberries are high in vitamin C and antioxidants, so they naturally stave off both short and long-term illness.
BLUEBERRIES
Milk and
LOW-FAT DAIRY PRODUCTS yogurt
(preferably plain, nonfat Greek) support brain health because they’re loaded with B vitamins and protein to help you concentrate. This sweet treat gets you going by increasing the blood flow to the brain — especially dark chocolate. Look for a high concentration of cocoa. That’s where all the nutrition and brain benefit can be found.
CHOCOLATE
Spring 2016 | SYNERGYHomeCare.com
3
1 W
hen it comes to estate planning, most people focus on the money. But many times, it’s the personal possessions, like a painting or a piece of jewelry, that create the most problems – turning family members into foes. Brotherly love can deteriorate over a tool set once owned by Dad. Once inseparable sisters can become squabbling siblings thanks to a tea set. The legal term for these possessions is “non-titled property.” Rather than leaving a loving legacy to your family, you can unwittingly create a family feud IF you don’t invest some time and thought into how to distribute your personal possessions. Sentimental value can actually outweigh the monetary worth of an item.
In a recent survey, baby boomers selected personal possessions more often than financial inheritance as important in legacy planning. Having a will is key. Fifty-four percent of baby boomers did not have one, according to a 2012 report from Texas Tech University. If you
die without a will, the state determines how your estate is distributed and how the assets are allocated. Many states let you attach a codicil to your will indicating that you’ve made a separate list distributing your possessions. Experts suggest the list be kept separate from your will, so you don’t have to go through the expense of updating your entire will if you decide to change or add to the non-titled property distribution list. Most importantly, be sure your will contains a provision explicitly mentioning the list’s existence. Otherwise, your wishes will not be binding. Marlene Stum, a professor at the University of Minnesota and author of “Who Gets Grandma’s Yellow Pie Plate?” says we’re not always good at guessing what family members will find meaningful. She suggests asking family members to create a list of items they would like to have with the understanding it’s a guide for planning, not a guarantee of giving.
Here are some other methods Stum suggests for determining who gets what:
Ask family members to itemize 10 things each wants with sentimental value and 10 things with a monetary value. Share everyone’s list. If two siblings want the same item, let them negotiate. They can trade or give up something or, if feasible, split the item between them.
2
Give each family member a sheet of adhesive dots or sticky notes, with a color assigned to each relative. Ask them to place a dot on what they want.
3
Family members can bid on items using “funny money,” such as poker chips or fake bills.
4
Family members roll dice, with the winner of the first roll receiving first choice; the winner of the second roll receiving second choice, and so on. After the first round, the selection order is reversed. After two rounds, family members roll again to start a new order. If you decide to choose who gets what without family input, Stum suggests you determine a process for resolving conflicts and specify it in your will or trust. One option is to assign an independent third party as the executor, such as a mediator. Add a clause to the will saying, “if my kids are unable to agree after 30 or 60 days, then Mr. X is the final arbiter.” Family members will have the
opportunity to work it out, but they know that if one gets in the way of a fair settlement, someone has the authority to say who gets what. Another idea: gift it now. When you know certain family members would enjoy receiving an item after your death, why not give it to them now? Instead of buying a present for a birthday or other holiday, present them with the coveted item. You’ll get great joy and satisfaction seeing them enjoy the gift. You can also ask that the transfer of personal property after your death be a celebration of life. Ask family members to gather in your memory and share stories and meanings of significant belongings. Knowing your final wishes can help your family avoid a fight and help you rest in peace.
IT’S ABOUT THE CONVERSATION by Carla Sutter, MSW Director of Operations SYNERGY HomeCare
WHO WILL SPEAK FOR ME WHEN I CAN’T SPEAK FOR MYSELF? This is the question that health care professionals are going to be asking themselves and their clients this month and throughout the calendar year. For the past five years April 16th has been designated as National Healthcare Decisions Day. The goal is to educate and encourage anyone over the age of 18 to document key health care decisions and to communicate one’s wishes to family and friends.
WHY SHOULD I THINK ABOUT COMPLETING A HEALTH CARE DIRECTIVE WHEN I AM HEALTHY? Completing an advance care directive document (Health Care Directive, Living Will, and/or Health Care Power of Attorney) is the first step in having your healthcare wishes honored. None of us can predict when we are going to face an acute medical situation. Accidents, sudden medical crises and chronic and progressive diagnoses can find us in a situation where we are unable to communicate our wishes for next step interventions.
WHAT IS A HEALTH CARE DIRECTIVE/LIVING WILL? Advance care documents may be titled differently depending on the state you are completing it in. These legal documents allow you to document your plans you want to make for your future health care. These documents allow you to complete two key tasks. First you document your wishes or plan for care. Second, you choose to appoint a proxy decision-maker to make medical care related decisions on behalf of you if you are unable to communicate your wishes.
WHAT KIND OF CHOICES CAN I MAKE IN MY DOCUMENT?
For more information on how to divide non-titled property along with helpful worksheets, visit the “Who Gets Grandmas Yellow Pie Plate” http://www.extension. umn.edu/family/ personal-finance/whogets-grandmas-yellowpie-plate/
Many of the documents have questions that prompt you to consider different treatment choices. These may include but are not limited to decisions in regard to CPR, location of care, nutrition and hydration, pain medications, ventilation and intubation, organ donation and autopsy. Depending on the state you reside in, you may be completing one document which also gives you the option of designating an Agent/POA for medical care or you may be required to fill out a separate form for this designation.
WHEN IS MY ADVANCE DIRECTIVE USED? As long as you are capable of making your own choices then you will control and communicate your own medical wishes. If you cannot make choices for yourself due to cognitive decline or medical condition, your health care team will follow your wishes as outlined in your directive or with additional conversation with your designated proxy.
WHERE DO I START? You can talk with your physician office or look on your state Attorney General’s website for documents and guidelines. Spring 2016 | SYNERGYHomeCare.com
5
ADULT COLORING BOOKS ARE THE LATEST CRAZE & HAVE MAJOR HEALTH BENEFITS
C
oloring books aren’t just for kids anymore. The coloring craze is a big trend among adults who consider the activity a stress reliever. Amazon.com reported that a coloring book was the top selling book in January. Did you know this creative outlet can be beneficial to the overall health of the seniors?
works the creative side of seniors’ brains that may not get regular stimulation. The best coloring templates include those that take cues from the past to help trigger memories. For example, if a senior grew up on a farm, a coloring page which includes farm scenes might help them remember their childhood.
Adults 65 and older who participated in creative activities, such as coloring made fewer trips to the doctor and had fewer health problems than their counterparts who did not participate in such activities.
“Anything that has a meditative, mindful impact is good for all of us,” says Dr. Jessica Leon, a licensed psychologist who employs art therapy in her practice. “For seniors, coloring can exercise the brain. The activity can make them reminiscence about their childhood – sparking long forgotten memories.”
Source: A study by the National Endowment for the Arts. According to art therapists, coloring can enhance joint health and flexibility because the senior needs to use their fine motor skills when picking up and using colored pencils or markers. Coloring is also thought to improve one’s mood. The Mayo Clinic also lists coloring as a form of relaxation art. Relaxation art may help improve concentration and general mood for Alzheimer’s patients. Experts say coloring 6
SYNERGYHomeCare.com | Spring 2016
Art therapists say picking up the hobby will add all sorts of color to a senior’s world. Flexing those creative muscles can have an array of benefits, including:
IMPROVES MOOD RELIEVES STRESS PROMOTES SOCIALIZATION & REMINISCING PROVIDES AN OUTLET FOR SELF-EXPRESSION IMPROVES DEXTERITY PROMOTES MINDFULNESS PROVIDES A SENSE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT
Coloring activities are fun and will help many “grown-ups” remember they are children at heart. Revisiting this much-loved childhood pastime is well worth the effort.
SHOW OFF YOUR COLORING SKILLS POST YOUR ART
facebook.com/synergyhomecare/
CONTRIBUTE TO OUR FACEBOOK ART GALLERY STEP 1
Break out those colored pencils or markers and start coloring your way to a happier and healthier you! Coloring is more fun when done with friends or family, so invite them over for a coloring party.
STEP 2
Add your completed coloring page on our Facebook page. If you need help ask your family, friends or your SYNERGY HomeCare caregiver.
STEP 3
Make sure you tag all of your friends and family when you add your artwork to our Facebook art gallery.
Spring 2016 | SYNERGYHomeCare.com
7
The Most Trusted Name In Home Care Does your loved one have the care they will need this spring?
Our Customizable Care Services Fit Any Lifestyle Companionship Light Housekeeping Medication Reminders Personal Care Errands & Shopping Transportation Bathing Assistance Meal Preparation Respite Care Daily Living Assistance
Call for your FREE Care Assessment!
(877) 432-2692
To learn more visit us online - www.synergyhomecare.com