Tips for Keeping Seniors Safe in the Heat: Water, Water EverywhereSeniors are more at risk for dehydration in general because they have a lower fluid content and a decreased thirst response. So the trick to staying hydrated, especially when its really hot, is to drink plenty of water, even when you dont feel thirsty.Many medications can cause dehydration, such as beta-blockers and diuretics prescribed for people with high blood pressure. Some allergy or anxiety medications trick our bodies into not sweating and as a result, we dont FEEL hot so we dont drink water.Its critical to understand how a seniors medications are affected by the heat. Read the drug insert, research it online or consult with a physician.Staying hydrated can prevent dizziness that often accompanies dehydration and since dizziness can increase the risk of falls, drinking lots of water can reduce the likelihood of a fall-related injury.Tips for Keeping Seniors Safe in the Heat: How to Stay CoolAvoid being outside during the hottest part of the day.Wear breathable, loose-fitting clothing like cotton or linen.Seek air-conditioned places. If your home doesnt have AC, visit a local cooling station, the library, a recreation center, a senior center or a mall. Local Area Agencies on Aging can connect seniors with rides.Close windows and curtains to block out sun and heat during the day.Drink plenty of fluids but avoid alcohol and caffeine.Take a cool shower, bath, or sponge bath. Keep a cool washcloth on the back of the neck.The CDC recommends using electric fans only when the temperature is below the high 90s. Any hotter and AC or a cool shower works better at cooling.Limit your oven useIf your house is hot, try to spend time during mid-day at a facility that has air conditioning such as the library, a senior center, a friends house or a movie. Tips for Keeping Seniors Safe in the Heat: Managing MedicationsAs we age, we often become more sensitive to medications and high heat can make it worse.Medications for high blood pressure like beta-blockers and diuretics can make some people dehydrated, which can be exacerbated by high heat.Some allergy or anxiety medications trick our bodies into not feeling overheated which can lead to dehydration or heatstroke.If someone you know is taking medications like these, its important to check on them regularly when its hot. Make sure they are taking the appropriate dose, staying hydrated and staying out of the heat.This article was submitted by Synergy HOMECARE in Daphne, AL and can be reached at 251-621-1900.

Are you one of the Sandwich Generation that is faced with the biggest juggling act of their lives? In addition to caring for their spouses, children, careers and own selves, theyve taken on caring for their aging, often disabled, parents. Whether the parents are living with their adult children or their children are helping them in their own homes, the struggle is real. To give their best to their family, career and parents, they have to also give their best to themselves.How to Care for EveryoneCaregiving is not a static process where you identify a concern, find a solution, solve the problem and be done. The reality is that you will face ebbs and flows and its important to be prepared for the long term by anticipating changes that come along with aging. The Big Juggling ActMary Ellen Gornick, a work-life innovator for Fortune1000 companies who has spent more than three decades in the eldercare industry, sums up the challenges of the Sandwich Generation: Being a parent in todays society is challenging in itself. Along with school and the pressure to succeed there, our kids are constantly on the go from one activity to the next. And we all recognize how hard it is to keep work at work and not bring it home. Now add in having to care for Mom or Dad and juggle the myriad of needs they have depending on where they are in the aging process. If the Sandwich Generation caregiver doesnt take care of themselves, the stress will quickly increase and family, work and the relationship with Mom and Dad will suffer. We just cant let that happen.Quality TimeSpending quality time with family is everything. From going on a vacation to running errands together, the time that you spend with your family is important and to be cherished. For family caregivers, making the time to connect with one another may not be attainable as youd like and its common to feel a disconnect with your children or partner when much of your responsibilities are elsewhere. With this juggling of responsibilities, the time that you spend on yourself and your own health can dwindle. In a study done to measure the effects of family caregiving, only 15% of surveyed family caregivers reported that they had very much time for themselves, while 26% reported having somewhat time. Not being able to care for your mental health may impact your relationships with those you love and enjoy. The study also found that adults caring for their aging parents long-term were considerably less happy in their marriages when compared to those who had only recently become family caregivers.Balance Through  EngagementThe good news is that it is possible to create a sense of balance between your duties as a family caregiver and a parent and/or spouse/partner. In order to connect the two areas of your life, involve your children in caregiving in some capacity. Not only does helping out with caregiving allow your children to bond on a deeper level with their grandparents, but it also permits them to gain a sense of responsibility and maturity.Your Relationship  Gornick shared that adult siblings, spouses and partners can also join the caregiving team. Too many assume that Sandwich Generation caregiving implies just one person, but the concept of family caregiving is important, she said. Sharing the care either physically, emotionally or financially can make a big difference in ensuring that one person does not burn out.Alignment with Mom and DadWhen the adult children and aging adults are aligned with the reality of the situation and in agreement about how to handle it, it is much easier to put resources in place, Gornick said. If not, that is where the stress and difficulty come into play. If the child wants to get help and the aging adult is in denial about the situation, conflict may arise, making it extremely challenging to move forward.Guilt, the Four-Letter WordWe see two big barriers to not getting help, she said. There is guilt on the part of the Sandwich Generation caregiver who often wants to do more to assist and feels like if they dont, they will have failed. And then Mom or Dad doesnt want to let go of their independence or accept their vulnerability. They dont want to be a burden. Both parties have key emotional issues that have to be addressed in order to move forward with accepting the help that is available.Your CareerAs a family caregiver who is also balancing a job, it can be easy to become overwhelmed with the different responsibilities that are placed in your path. For a member of the Sandwich Generation, who is likely working full time and may even be at a high point in their career, the stress of caring for an aging loved one may begin to affect performance at work. For many people, what we do for a living can be an integral part of our identity as well as our livelihood, so coming to terms with life changes that can impact our feelings of employment and financial security can be incredibly stressful and lead to high levels of anxiety, said Gornick. She pointed out those who constantly feel under pressure at work, have a short fuse, cant focus or notice their work is slipping should consider asking for help.Taking Care of YourselfTaking care of your mental and physical health is key to living a balanced life. With that said, it is easy for family caregivers to focus their time and energy on caring for others rather than themselves. However, making the time to indulge in your own needs does not equate to selfishness. When it comes to caregiving it is crucial to find the time for yourself and your own needs. Its important to be aware of how caregiving can lead to imbalance in key areas of your life so you are better equipped to respond and regain balance.Emotional ImpactDepression: While being there around the clock for your kids, aging loved ones and your job, you may find yourself experiencing new emotions. Within minutes you can go from feeling accomplished in your actions and efforts to feeling discouraged. As a family caregiver, youre met with new challenges every day and you may feel as though you cant keep up.Anxiety and Stress: Anxiety is one of the most common psychological impacts for family caregivers. Many describe experiencing feelings of frustration, helplessness, anger or even guilt. Feelings of guilt are often prevalent as many family caregivers do not believe that their actions are adequate to take on the responsibility of caring for an aging loved one. Physical Health: You may be aware of the mental strain of caregiving, but its also important to take note of the physical impact such stress can cause.  Take the time to treat your health with care. Try to fit in some exercise where you can, make regular appointments with your doctor, and give yourself some respite care when your mind and body are feeling overworked.What to Do:Join a local support group for family caregiversAsk for helpOrganize your lifeKnow what resources are availableTake time for yourselfTake care of your health. It is easy to forget about our own health when we are so focused on someone elses. Schedule regular check-ups and screenings with your doctor or dentist to make sure you are staying healthy. Your family needs youall of them!Aging is inevitable. Being unprepared is not. As a family caregiver in the Sandwich Generation, you should have several goals:Be a great parent to your childrenBe a great spouse or partnerKeep your career on trackExtend your parent's independence while allowing yourself the joy of being their son or daughterAnd finally, you want to have a balanced life, one where you are happy.If you identify as being in the Sandwich Generation, when reading this blog, you probably nodded your head in agreement a few times. The subtext is to not be afraid or reticent to ask for help, as a little bit of help today will help you tremendously down the road in this marathon.If you can imagine removing one thing youre responsible for each day to make your life less stressful, what would it be? What if someone else picked up the kids from school, got them snacks or took them to their extracurricular activities? Maybe even started preparing dinner? Or took your mom to her doctors appointment? Or the kids are off school for the day but you have to work?When our daily routines fluctuate, especially when the unexpected happens, it can be stressful. Consider having a caregiver for a few hours each day to take care of that one thing youd like to remove from your daily responsibilities. Having a caregiver you can count on each day to remove stress from your lifeits like buying stock in yourselfyoure investing your health and future. As previously mentioned, Caregiving is not a static process where you identify a concern, find a solution, solve the problem and be done. The reality is that you will face ebbs and flows and its important to be prepared for the long term by anticipating changes that come along with aging.Having a caregiver for a few hours a day is a safety net that will help you and your family ride the ebb and flow of living in the Sandwich Generation. Call SYNERGY HomeCare of Daphne for a no-obligation home assessment at (251) 621-1900.

The holiday season is upon us, and if youre like me, Im sure youre looking forward to in-person celebrations and gatherings. This is something to be especially thankful for after two years of social distancing.All this together time is great for re-connecting as well as getting up to speed with how your aging loved ones are faring. Its also an opportunity to take note of any concerning physical or cognitive declines. Of course, our older family members might not come right out and tell us about any decline in health as they fear they may lose their independence. Thats why I recommend engaging them in casual conversation that takes into consideration their feelings.  Here are five main areas to assess: Activities of daily living. Can they pass the peas at the dinner table? Im somewhat joking here, but if it appears that your loved one has lost a lot of strength or dexterity that makes a simple task difficult, there may be some physical decline. Other things to inquire about could be the last time they got their hair cut. Take note of their appearance: Are their clothes clean? Do they match? Are they bathing? If it appears that they have lost some weight, ask them what they have been eating lately. This can tell you if they are having trouble with food shopping or cooking. A noticeable loss of weight is a definite cause for concern, as it could indicate an underlying health condition.The home environment.  If you are visiting their home for the holidays, check to see if the home is more cluttered than usual. This could be a sign they are having trouble keeping up with housekeeping. You can also check the refrigerator and cabinets to get a sense of how well they are eating. Additionally, take a look at the expiration dates on the medicine bottles and appropriately discard any expired medicationsprescription as well as over the counter ones. Throw away any expired food items, too. Memory. A great way to assess memory is by engaging in a conversation about current events you know this family member would typically be following. It could be the weather, sports, entertainment or politics. If they dont elaborate on their responses to your questions, they may be protecting themselves from being found out that they are experiencing some memory loss. You can also ask what they did earlier in the day or a few days ago to see if they are having trouble putting together a sequence of events. Mobility. Take note of how they move about the house. Are they grabbing onto furniture to steady themselves? Do you notice any bruising which may indicate a recent fall? Go on a walk with them to see if they tire easily or seem unbalanced. In addition, look at their car for any dings or scratches.  Social engagements. Isolation is often a gateway to depression, which can negatively impact memory or activities of daily living. Ask about friends they are in touch with either in person or on the phone, as well as any regular activities or recent outings. Are there activities they have stopped doing? Are there things they wish they could do but dont have a companion or a ride?If you notice any concerning changes, its important to act now, before a crisis presents itself. Consult with your siblings and other family members to see if they have noticed similar behaviors. If so, the next step is to make an appointment with the loved ones primary care physician to rule out any emergent health conditions.The good news is that the growing desire to age in place means that more and more people are turning to in-home care for that extra assistance. Whether a loved one needs a companion to help them stay active, more personal care such as assistance showering, or full-time support for a chronic condition, SYNERGY Home Care can help. Dr. Macie P. Smith is a licensed gerontology social worker who is focused on helping families support their aging loved ones through long-term care. Specifically, Dr. Smith educates caregivers on how to care for seniors with dementia. She is an advocate for specialized care and assists others in finding a way to provide a better quality of life for individuals with Alzheimers or dementia. Dr. Smith has dedicated over 22 years of her life working in gerontology and assisting families in finding personalized solutions for dementia care. For more articles by Dr. Macie Smith, go to https://synergyhomecare.com/blog/.This article was submitted by SYNERGY Home Care of Daphne, Alabama.  You can reach them at 251-621-1900