Rhode Island

When planning for my grandfather’s 90th birthday party, there were a lot of things to consider. For his 80th birthday party, we had a larger event, inviting some of his family to come over from England in his honor and held it at a large hotel where they lived. There was dinner, dancing, and a lot of lively activity between the members of our family. Although this is still an event that he talks about and remembers fondly to date, we were hesitant to do something so grand because his priorities and overall health had changed. He’s always struggled with his hearing, but in recent years, he has almost completely lost his ability to comprehend what people are saying, and this is only made worse when there are large groups of people and background noise to contend with. So while it would have been nice to include all of the people who have had a significant impact in my grandfather’s life, we knew that his 90th birthday party would no longer be about him; he would be left out of the conversation and isolated on a day that should be his.

Instead of having a big party, we opted for a quiet affair with only immediate family members in attendance. Just having 4 generations of family together in one room definitely made it a special day, with his child, grandchildren and great grandchildren all there to honor his life. We didn’t plan anything elaborate to do, we simply spent time together and were able to make sure that my grandfather was always included and enjoying himself. He had always been a strong man, but when his eyes welled up with tears at the end of the night; we knew that we made the right choice and that his 90th birthday would be something remembered fondly.

Personal account by Beth Hodgson, writer for Carebuzz

Home Instead Senior Care in Rhode Island provides non medical home care services for seniors and the elderly who choose to live at home instead. Please call us for more information on our in-home care services at 401-667-2923.

We all have someone in our lives who just can’t seem to step away from their computer, Blackberry or office. For these people, work is always one of the top priorities that give them a sense of self-worth and accomplishment; and it certainly pays off! But what happens when these people retire and they no longer have the responsibilities to get them out of bed everyday? After leading busy, successful lives it can be hard to sit still in retirement and live the quiet life; for these people, that life can be as bad as death itself. But instead of admitting defeat, retired professionals can give back to the business community by volunteering their time with the non-profit organization SCORE, which recruits successful, retired professionals to mentor up and coming entrepreneurs in the business world.

By working with SCORE, seniors can share their wealth of knowledge and experience with other Rhode Island small business owners and entrepreneurs, and still feel like they’ve got their thumb on the pulse of business and responsibility. Volunteering with an organization like SCORE can give once professional successful seniors a reason to get out of bed each day, while knowing that they’ve still got it!

Sources:

1. AgingCare.com
2. SCORE

Home Instead Senior Care in Rhode Island provides non medical home care services for seniors and the elderly who choose to live at home instead. Please call us for more information on our in-home care services at 401-667-2923.

Many Rhode Island seniors claim to fear the use of new technology; but despite their hesitancies, it’s never too late for an old dog to learn new tricks. Computers aren’t just for the younger generations, seniors can benefit from computer use in a number of ways; strategy based computer games are a great way to exercise their minds and improve memory skills; and the internet gives seniors to a wealth of information that allows them to educate themselves about health and aging. Caregivers can try to help educate seniors at home about basic computer and internet use, or they can find a class offered by a local college of community center in Rhode Island.

Computer classes offered for seniors can include the very basics; including turning it on and off, moving the mouse, and opening and closing programs. Basic computer introduction classes for seniors may also touch upon word processing skills; like opening Microsoft Word, typing, saving the document and printing. Since many seniors looking to learn about computer use are likely to try and use the internet both as a resource and method of communication through email; they might be interested in taking classes to learn about the basics of web browsing and sending and receiving email. For those who have rusty typing skills or who have had no previous experience with typing on a typewriter; typing classes can also be beneficial to seniors who want to start using the computer.

Sources:

1. UINTA Education Center
2. Suite 101

Image Source: pro.corbis.com

Home Instead Senior Care in Rhode Island provides non medical home care services for seniors and the elderly who choose to live at home instead. Please call us for more information on our in-home care services at 401-667-2923.

Tea parties may have a menu that’s focused on health, but it does give Rhode Island seniors and their friends and family the opportunities to indulge in foods and drink that likely aren’t part of their daily diet, and that’s where the fun begins. Afternoon tea food and drink should consist of finger foods, baked goods and a wide selection of beverages; some suggested menu items for seniors hosting tea parties include the following:

• Assorted black and herbal teas, which can be served in a pot or by the bag. Popular selections include orange pekoe, green tea, earl gray, rosehip, mint, chamomile and lemon tea. The menu should include both caffeinated and decaffeinated teas.
• Coffee should be available for those who aren’t tea drinkers, and decaf coffee should be included
• Hot apple cider is a great beverage for children attending afternoon tea
• Water and other cool drinks should be on hand, especially for outdoor tea parties on warmer days. Iced tea can be a great option to maintain the tea party theme, but still give a cold alternative to tea party guests
• Cream, milk, sugar, honey and lemon should be included for people to put in their tea and coffee
• Baked goods like fresh scones, english muffins, biscuits and crumpets, tarts, cakes, pastries, shortbread
• A variety of small tea sandwiches, both with meat and alternatives for those who might be vegetarian
• Devonshire cream (clotted cream) can be a great topping choice for the pastries
• Jams, marmalade and other toppings should also be on hand

Sources:

1. Suite 101

Image Source: pro.corbis.com

Home Instead Senior Care in Rhode Island provides non medical home care services for seniors and the elderly who choose to live at home instead. Please call us for more information on our in-home care services at 401-667-2923.

Q – As a home senior caregiver in Rhode Island I am always asking my elderly care recipient about her interests, and trying to find activities that she would like to do at home with me. Recently, she suggested quilt making, which sounds like a fantastic idea because it’s something that can be done at home, it doesn’t require much physical mobility, and it’s something that will keep us occupied long-term. I am totally on board with trying quilt making with my care recipient, but I’m not sure what we need to get started.

A – You’re absolutely correct that quilt making is a great activity for seniors, and its popularity amongst that demographic only solidifies it. To get started with quilt making, you do need a few tools, but aside from the material you use to make the quilts, you will only need to purchase them one time. Most quilting tools are relatively inexpensive if you are planning on making the quilts by hand; but it is also possible to make a quilt using a sewing machine if you are willing to make a bigger purchase.

Here is a list of the basic tools that you will need to start quilt making with a senior:

• Threader with magnifying glass
• Crafters magnifying glasses
• Table leg risers to increase table height and reduce bending
• Transparent rulers
• Ruler handle
• Rotary cutter and mat
• Fabric scissors
• Quilters measuring tape
• Curved safety pins
• Quilt pins
• Quilting thread
• Walking foot
• Marking tools
• Fabric eraser
• Hand quilting needles
• Thimble
• Quilting pattern/templates
• Sewing machine quilting needles (if you plan to use a machine)
• Fabric for quilting

Home Instead Senior Care in Rhode Island provides non medical home care services for seniors and the elderly who choose to live at home instead. Please call us for more information on our in-home care services at 401-667-2923.

Image Source: pro.corbis.com