Prioner to President in one Lifetime

The true greatness of anyone is how he or she touches the hearts and the soul of not just those he meets but of those that he does not meet.  The world lost a great man when Nelson Mandela passed away.  A man who became and remained one of the leading citizens of the world as a Senior citizen.

Quotes from Nelson Mandela:

Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.

 

I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.

 

A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination.

 

If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart.

 

For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.

 

If you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with your enemy. Then he becomes your partner.

 

There is no passion to be found playing small – in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.

 

It always seems impossible until its done.

 

After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb.

 

There is no easy walk to freedom anywhere, and many of us will have to pass through the valley of the shadow of death again and again before we reach the mountaintop of our desires.

 

There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children.

 

We must use time wisely and forever realize that the time is always ripe to do right.

 

A good leader can engage in a debate frankly and thoroughly, knowing that at the end he and the other side must be closer, and thus emerge stronger. You don’t have that idea when you are arrogant, superficial, and uninformed.

 

Money won’t create success, the freedom to make it will.

 

There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have altered.

 

Does anybody really think that they didn’t get what they had because they didn’t have the talent or the strength or the endurance or the commitment?

 

Let there be work, bread, water and salt for all.

 

Let freedom reign. The sun never set on so glorious a human achievement.

Money “Cents”

I talk to Seniors everyday, partly because that’s my job but mostly because I love working with and helping Seniors.  More often than not I learn from their accumulated wisdom and experience.  What never fails to amaze me however is that Money still causes so much anxiety to people in their 80’s and 90’s.

People will call and say that they need help for their Mother, but when it come time to look at the collars and cents of it all, they are not sure if they can afford to have someone come in an provide Homecare for their Mom.  This could be absolutely true and naturally I would never question the veracity of their statement.  But I will ask them to turn the equation a little bit…..

Is this Home the right place for Mom and is it where she wants to be ?

Will Mom be able to stay at home and maintain a quality of life that meets her approval without someone coming in to help ?

Will Mom be moving in with you or some other family member if she can’t stay living on her own ?

What will it cost to accommodate Mom at a family members home (renovations etc.) ?

Is there even anyone who can provide the assistance Mom needs at that home ?

What will it cost to move Mom out of her home ?

What will it cost per month to have Mom living in a Seniors residential setting ?

If we were to provide the minimum amount of service that was needed, how will that cost stack up against those listed above ?

Often time the answers are either blank stares or “I don’t know”.  To these people I give them homework to do – find out the answers for themselves and then call me back.  I could tell them the answers but then I become a salesman and I hate salesmen.

Once people look into and start to understand the costs associated with having a family member move out of their home they can match that up with their family members wishes ( knowing that given a choice most people don’t want to move – it is a traumatic enough situation regardless of money).  This gives you a way to compare your options and to make an informed decision.

Sometimes people come back to have us provide the Homecare and sometimes they don’t.  Either way, I’ve done my job and I’m happy because now they know what the options are, how to evaluate them.  They can come to an honest decision that will be in the best interest of the Senior.

Rehab & Homecare – The Perfect Holistic Match

Recently I’ve been speaking with a number of Rehab specialists as well as Case Managers and we’ve all come away with that ‘light bulb going on’ feeling.

A key component of Rehab is to restore and maintain the maximum level of independence that the individual can realistically and safely attain.  That mirrors the desires of Homecare perfectly.  Homecare wants to help ensure independence and allow the individual to live their life with the respect and dignity that they deserve, and to help them along the way.

A fully integrated Rehab and Homecare approach becomes holistic as it addresses the body, the mind and the environment where the person chooses to live.  When working in tandem, a proper rehab program and an appropriate homecare program will optimize not only the well-being of the individual physically, but they will also ease the stress and strains of daily living.

Helping people to be healthy, happy and independent is an honourable goal.  Rehab and Homecare can help achieve that goal.

Home Safety Tips

While I’ve brought up safety for Seniors before, I found this list and thought I’d share it with you too.  I have no idea where it came from but I use bits and pieces of this list all the time when visiting in peoples’ homes.

 

• Keep all areas of the home, including hallways and stairs, well-lit, but free from glare
• Remove scatter rugs, or attach a nonskid backing to them
• Reduce the risk of falling on uncarpeted floors by ensuring that they are not slippery – do not use high gloss polish
• Use night lights; particularly in the bedroom, hallways, and bathrooms
• Keep the stove area in the kitchen free of towels, curtains, and other things that might catch fire
• Inspect electrical cords for fraying or cracking; be sure they are placed away from walking paths, but not under carpet or furniture, where they could present a fire hazard
• Set the hot water temperature at 115 degrees or below on the water heater
• Use slip-resistant decals or non-skid mats in the tub or shower
• Install grab bars in the bathtub and by the toilet; be sure the screws go directly into the wall studs, so they stay securely in place
• Check to be sure that extension cords are not overloaded
• Install smoke detectors on every floor of the home and test them monthly
• Destroy out-of-date medications and those which are no longer being used
• Keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen, and teach everyone of age to use it
• Place a telephone in the bedroom and post emergency numbers by all telephones
• Keep space heaters away from flammable materials, and be sure the room is well ventilated
• A three-pronged plug should be used in a three hole outlet, or an adapter should be used
• Always turn off heating pads before an older person goes to sleep
• Have an emergency exit plan and an alternative plan in case of fire
• If the older person has a disability, call the local fire department and let them know

 

Basic Rules for Communicating

Communication means exchanging information with others. We exchange information about feelings, opinions, and facts. People can tell if a friend is feeling sad or in pain, or is happy, and they can tell the same about us. We often communicate what is going on with us through one of three methods: verbal communication, written communication, or nonverbal communication.

There are four basic rules for good communication:

Be a nonjudgmental observer and listener. It is important to learn to receive information in a nonjudgmental way, that is, in an accepting manner without expressing your opinions. It is necessary to develop the skill of recognizing when your opinion is important and when you should not express your judgment.

Be a careful listener. Always listen when someone speaks to you and listen to what the person says. Listen to what is left out of the conversation and listen for the tone of the voice of the speaker and his/her breathing pattern. Is it fast or slow? Does it make sense? Listen to what the speaker says, not to what you think the speaker says. Sometimes it’s helpful to write down what the speaker says in order to remember.

Be sensitive. There are times when people do not want to talk – at those times you should respect their wishes. There will be times when saying nothing may have more meaning than any words or facial expressions on your part.  Sometimes a pat on the shoulder or hand means more than anything you could say. Simply being near in a moment of trouble may be the most comforting message of all.

Be courteous. Courtesy means being polite, considerate, and cooperating with others — you should be courteous at all times. Easier said than done, but try to understand how you are feeling and why (this may give you time to alter your behavior before you act impolite).

Always be a good listener and listen to what others say and what is not said. Listen to the way something is said.  Being a good listener will make you a better person.

Adapted from Jeffrey Johnson

Long Distance Care Giving

In today’s world, long distance caregiving is quickly becoming not only a reality but also a necessity.  As it has become more and more common for families and friends to be separated by great distances, at some point in our lives, our parents, grandparents, Aunts and Uncles, or even our brothers and sisters may need in-home care.

Your parents say that everything has been going along smoothly, when you saw your parents over the holidays they seemed to be coping just fine.  One phone call is all it takes and suddenly you are faced with the challenge of long distance caregiving, and the questions start…..usually with “oh my God, now what ?”

What factors lead to the phone call ?     Do your parents need assistance with walking ?     Has their physical and or emotional health been declining ?     Are they able to prepare nutritious daily meals ?     Are they able to shop for themselves ?     Are they able to manage their bills and financial responsibilities ?     Are they taking their medication on-time ?     Are they still able to drive safely ?     Are they in need of companionship ?     Are they able to dress and groom themselves ?

Hopefully the answer is yes to most of these, but what about the answers that are not yes ?

Here are some tips…………

Educate yourself and your family, and to prepare ahead of time.

It’s frustrating to be separated by distance and be trying to manage things remotely, so share the workload with other family members.

Talk to the home where they live, talk to the CCAC, ask neighbours or call City Hall and ask to speak to someone at the Seniors Center (they’ll probably just give you a phone number, but its somewhere to start).

Make sure that there is lots of communication, there is nothing worse than setting something up for someone only to find out that that is not what they want.  Phone and visit as often as you can.

Let go of the guilt, everyone lives where they live for a reason, and long distance caregiving is manageable.  Nobody wants you to give up your life to look after them, so accept long distance caregiving for what it is.  A tool to let everyone live better.

What is Homecare?

It sounds like a very simple question doesn’t it?  Home care in its most basic form is how we help people to maintain their integrity, dignity and respect.  Sure, Homecare includes helping with the laundry, doing the dishes and vacuuming.  It also means setting up medication reminders and helping with personal care (toileting, bathing, and changing clothing daily).  To some, companionship may be extremely important as well.

If you ask Seniors who are receiving Homecare what the real benefit is, you’ll find out that Homecare gives them the opportunity and choice to stay living in their home and in their community.

As we get older the day to day activities get a little more challenging.  Getting downstairs to do the laundry, pushing the vacuum or even the basic cooking and cleaning may become real challenges for many Seniors.  They may even become too much of a task for many Seniors.

Without some assistance with these tasks many Seniors become isolated. They may not be eating healthy, or they may not be able to look after themselves or their home to the same standard that they have always done.

Imagine if you will, not being able to manage these things on your own anymore.  How would you get things done?  Who would you turn to in order to get them done?  The most difficult question of all, are you willing to ask for help?

Homecare means looking after all these little things, and all the not so little things too.

Homecare gives respect and dignity where it is needed the most – at home.

Homecare Services include the following types of things…..

Assistance with Hygiene

Meal Preparation

Medication Reminders

Light Housekeeping

Errands and shopping

Companionship

Respite care for family

Palliative & Chronic care