Caregiving | Trinity Christian Life Coaching

Caregiving Monday: 10 Arts and Crafts Ideas for Senior Adults

Posted on September 15, 2014August 24, 2016 by trinitychristianlifecoaching

At 90 years old, GG* still attends crafts at church each Tuesday morning.

GG has always loved crafts and enjoyed numerous projects over the years. Although she’s not able to do as much as she once was, just the fellowship is good for her.

Some craft ideas are:

Make a book—cutting out various pictures from magazines and writing memories that go with the pictures, they can create a
Sand Art is a Fun and Enjoyable Activity

book.
Crochet/Knit—this is a popular pastime and even with numb hands, GG continues to occasionally pass the time in this way.
Sand Art—I tried this with a group this weekend, and it was a huge hit. They can mix and match an assortment of sand colors. There are also numerous plastic containers that can be chosen and this is a very affordable craft.
Flower Arrangements—whether the flowers are real or silk, this is a great idea for decorating a room or giving as a gift. With dried flowers there are numerous other ideas such as potpourri and dried flower sachets.
Bead Projects—GG has made bead dolls, trees, ornaments and other items with various beads over the years. We still have many of these and they are beautiful.
Blankets—there are great ideas for blankets, whether it is sewing one or creating a No Sew Fleece
What better way to say “Thinking of You” than with a homemade card?

Blanket.
Collage—using the pictures cut out from magazines create a collage or memory board
Make Cards—I love this idea, because who doesn’t love getting a card? Cards can be made for numerous occasions from Christmas and Valentine’s Days to Thinking of You to Happy Birthday to Thank You Cards and much more.
Color Decorations—whether it is coloring shamrocks for St. Patrick’s Day, cut out Valentines for Valentine’s Day, decorate Easter Eggs, or make candy canes there are numerous ideas for making and coloring decorations for use.
Paint Bottles—again there are numerous ideas out there that can be used for decorations.

Join the Conversation: What other arts and crafts ideas can you think of?

*Name Altered

Caregiving Monday: 10 Simple Activities for Advancing Alzheimer’s

Posted on September 8, 2014August 24, 2016 by trinitychristianlifecoaching

Are you looking for simple activities for your loved one? Is your loved one in the middle to advanced stages of Alzheimer’s?

String items on a string...you may want to use edible items if you are concerned with being put in the mouth — String items on a string…you may want to use edible items if you are concerned with being put in the mouth

These are a fun ideas you may want to try:

Folding—while you are doing laundry, ask to help you fold washcloths and socks. If they are able to do more advanced folding, that’s also great. Even if you have to redo these tasks, thank them and praise them.
Stringing—take a handful of cheerios, fruit loops, etc. and ask your loved one to slide these on the screen. Then you can either save them for Christmas {if it’s near} or put out for the birds to feed on.
Sorting—gather a collection of buttons, rocks, spoons and forks, bottle caps, etc. and ask to sort these items. One reminder is to make sure they do not place these smaller items in the mouth.
Coloring—working with dementia patients, I discovered they love to color
Play Dough—allow them to make something out of play dough or even clay. This is a great activity for their hands.
Name that….—whether you have a stack of pictures of Presidents, family members, friends or celebrities, you can play
Cut out coupons, pictures, or scriptures. You may want to considerable child’s scissors.

“Name that Person” and ask to name. If the loved one doesn’t know, give them gentle hints and prompts.
Dolls—you can cut out and color paper dolls, or find a doll or stuffed animal your loved one can hold and cuddle. We did this with one lady and just holding a doll helped her anxiety.
Play Cards or Games—pick activities and games your loved one will enjoy playing and be able to follow and understand
Roll a Ball of Yarn—take a ball of yarn and let your loved one roll it up into a ball
Cut out pictures—give a magazine and ask your loved one to cut out pictures for you

Bonus Idea: What in the bag?—put a collection of various items in a bag and pull one out at a time. Allow your loved one to touch and feel and tell you what the item is.

Join the Conversation: What other activities have you tried?

Caregiving Monday: 10 Activities with Music for Senior Adults

Posted on September 1, 2014August 24, 2016 by trinitychristianlifecoaching

Do you wish you could find activities with music for your loved one?

When I go into nursing homes we often do various activities with music. Many of these you can also do at home.

Balloons and balls are a great way to encourage movement

Here are a few ideas:

Toss a balloon { or beach ball} back and forth during a song
Purchase a set of rhythm sticks and keep the beat {could also clap hands}
Use Scarves and make different movements to the music
Egg Shakers—shake to the beat of the music {or make your own using rice and beans}
Assortment of Instruments—play different instruments during a song. You could also use different containers and pots and pans for various tones.
Dance—if your loved one cannot physically get up and dance, hold hands and slightly sway to the music {this is always a huge hit}
Sing Simple Songs—remind your parents of when they taught you or your children songs. Many love songs such as The Wheels on the Bus, Three Blind Mice, Incy Wincy Spider, etc. You can also use the movements.
Make Up Your Own Song—find a subject and make up a song about it, even if it is a song about items you see in the room
Scarves is another great idea that has a number of uses
Sing A Long—sing along to some of your loved ones favorite songs, whether it is hymns, Jazz, or oldies. Sometimes I even use visual prompts for shorter songs where there is a picture for each word.
Sing To Patient—sometimes just singing to your loved one or putting on a calming CD is the best medicine. If your loved one easily becomes agitated, this might be a great way to calm the patient down.
Bonus Item: Name that Tune—use familiar tunes and ask to name that tune. It’s amazing what memories certain songs may prompt.

Join the Conversation: What other activities can you think of with music?

Caregiving Monday–7 Ways to Help Senior Adults Deal with Loneliness

Posted on August 25, 2014August 24, 2016 by trinitychristianlifecoaching

Last week we discussed loneliness in senior adults. This week I would like to explore suggestions on how to help senior adults deal with their loneliness.

Schedule regular outings if possible for your senior adult

Visits—schedule regular visits with family, friends, church {or society/community} members, etc. Ask friends to visit your senior adult on a regular visit, but remind them your loved one tire easily. Ask them to not stay for more than an hour or two. If you have a large family nearby, maybe everyone could take a day each week for a short visit.
Schedule outings—schedule regular outings for your loved one {if they are mobile and able to go}. Find friends already going, ask a neighbor or search for a senior transport company for transportation. This could be a community {especially if they are in a retirement community} outing, to church, to the theatre or movies, to concerts, or to other activities s/he enjoys.
Senior Action—this is a great resource for senior adults with numerous activities and often you can arrange for transportation through your local senior action center.
Adopt a Pet—if your senior adult loves pets, adopting a dog or cat might be a great idea for companionship.
Music—lifts spirits and helps combat the loneliness. Find or make CDs of his/her favorite songs that can be played. Also, inquire at church or in the community about an individual/group that can come sing for your loved one {if homebound}.
Pets are great companions for senior adults
Discover a passion your senior adult loves and have them teach someone else—this could be a neighbor, grandchild, caregiver, etc. However, it makes them feel useful and needed. Along with the fact that they are doing something they love. It doesn’t matter if it’s gardening, cooking, sewing, putting together puzzles, working on model cars, etc. If your senior adult is physically unable to do the task themselves {not able to bend or stand for long periods} they could sit in a chair and give directions.
Teach technology—if your senior adult is still mentally able, teach him/her how to Skype, email, text, etc. this is a great way to maintain contact with children, grandchildren, siblings and friends. If your loved one is mentally unable to understand the setup, possibly you or a caregiver could set things up for regular visits. This is a great way to maintain contact for family members that do not live nearby.

Caregiving Monday: Loneliness in Senior Adults

Posted on August 18, 2014August 24, 2016 by trinitychristianlifecoaching

One of the greatest complaints in senior adults is loneliness. Particularly as they grow older, are limited in their abilities and/or stamina, become home bound and experience the loss of the majority of their friends. I’ve heard GG*, Mrs. H, Mrs. B, Mrs. T, and Mrs. W {all women I worked for} all make these same statements.

As family and friends it is important to understand the limitations the senior adults in our lives face and to be understanding to their plight. Often this loneliness leads to depression in our loved ones. They often feel cut off and possibly abandoned by the outside world.

Often they just want someone to listen as they talk. Some senior adults have no one to visit, while others may have a steady stream of visitors. There are numerous factors that lead to this such as size of family, how long they’ve lived in the area, involvement in their church, community, society, etc.; amount of friends still living, age, etc.

What ways can you help your senior adult not feel so lonely?

*Name altered

Next week: Ways to Help Senior Adults Deal with Loneliness

Caregiving Monday–Musical Ear Syndrome

Posted on August 11, 2014August 24, 2016 by trinitychristianlifecoaching

After GG* broke her neck four years ago, she began complaining about noises that were not there. Often she hears people talking, songs that are not being played, etc.

A visit to the doctor and some research showed that she has a condition called musical ear syndrome. This is most common in individuals with severe hearing loss. After breaking her neck, GG developed severe hearing loss.

GG often tells us that we think she is crazy, but we actually believe her. We understand what she’s dealing with but have a difficult time making her understand what she’s hearing.

Musical ear syndrome is classified as phantom sounds in the ear and brain that are considered “auditory hallucinations.” More women than men are willing to admit that they suffer from musical ear syndrome.

Some enjoy the sounds or music they hear and others wish they would go away.

GG will sit in her chair and carry on a full conversation with these voices that are talking to them. I’ve watched GG carry on a 20-30 min conversation with these individuals. However, this is typical for individuals that struggle with musical ear syndrome {MES}.

Even though GG wears hearing aids and they help to an extent, they are not a catch all.

Do you know of anyone that struggles with MES?

*Name altered

Caregiving Monday–The Importance of Staying Hydrated

Posted on August 4, 2014August 24, 2016 by trinitychristianlifecoaching

We were recently concerned that my grandmother had become dehydrated. In these hot temperatures of 80s, 90s, and even 100+ degree weather, it is important for senior adults to stay hydrated.

When a senior adult becomes dehydrated this causes confusion, lead to muscle cramps, lead to fatigue, headaches, irritability and increase the possibility for falls.

However, GG* and other senior adults that I’ve worked with do not like to drink much. One excuse commonly given is they do not want to go to the restroom very often.

Meal times is when most senior adults have the bulk of their liquid intake. I’ve tried explaining to GG that she needs to drink at least 8 oz of water at breakfast and then 8 oz in each three hour block she’s up. Unfortunately, we ignores me and looks at me like I’m crazy.

There are some tips that might encourage senior adults to drink more:

Fix special beverages s/he will enjoy {ex. GG loves hot chocolate, so I fix her a cup each morning}
Milk in cereal
Jello is a great way to help the elderly stay hydrated
Cup of tea in the afternoon with crackers and fruit
Soups
Fruit—especially those such as grapes, oranges, watermelon, cantaloupe, etc. that are water based
Juice—there are many to choose from but check the contents for one more water based and less sugar based
Popsicles—again there are many to choice from, but look for one that is healthier and more water or juice based and less sugar based
Foods that are water based such as applesauce, yogurt, cottage cheese, pudding and jello.

Remember that it is important to encourage regular sips of water throughout the day. Many senior adults only take baby sips.

It is important to drink plenty of water, especially in extreme heat.

Also, encourage heavier consumption in the morning and afternoon than in the evening. Most senior adults do not enjoy getting up to go to the restroom on a regular basis.

How do you encourage your senior adult to stay hydrated?

*Name altered

Caregiving Monday: 10 Things to Never Say to an Alzheimer’s Patient

Posted on July 28, 2014August 24, 2016 by trinitychristianlifecoaching

Having a conversation with an Alzheimer’s Patient can be very frustrating at times. Often they do not have the ability to carry on a conversation, do not remember what you are discussing or cannot find the proper word they are searching for.

However, there are some things we should never say to an Alzheimer’s patient.

I know you remember—they honestly don’t remember; instead reminisce with them, you could say “the address was 10” and see if they can finish the address
I know you can do this—allow them to try, but if they can’t then don’t force them
You could just do this if you would try–they want to but are not able
You’re stupid, lazy, dumb, etc.—they honestly have no idea how to do what you ask; that cognitive ability is gone
You’re wrong—even if they are there is no need to stress them out or argue with them
That person is dead—unless specifically asked I never told; instead use therapeutic lies “they are not here right now, etc”
Don’t bring up any subject that might upset or anger them
Why can’t you remember—again reminisce; don’t make them feel bad
Don’t you remember when you used to…; don’t you remember Uncle “so and so”—they don’t; maybe ask “Was it Uncle Arthur that drowned in the fishing hole?” and then see if they remember
Well you can do it if you’d only try—sometimes they can do it if they’d try, but often they just don’t have the cognitive ability

What else would you never say to an Alzheimer’s patient?

Tweetables:

10 Things to Never Say to an Alzheimer’s Patient

Caregiving Monday: 10 Ways to Care for the Caregiver

Posted on July 21, 2014August 24, 2016 by trinitychristianlifecoaching

Being a caregiver is very exhausting. When you add these responsibilities on top of work, children and other responsibilities, it is easy to become overwhelmed. I’ve discovered it is important to care for yourself, because if not you’re not good in caring for your loved one.

Tips to care for yourself are:

Take a walk or exercise
Read a book
See a movie
Go out to eat with friends
Find a hobby or craft {such as gardening, etc}
Get a massage or medi/pedi
Join a support group {even if it’s online}
Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Implement a support team.
Keep a journal to write in
Eat right and get plenty of sleep

What do you do to care for yourself as a caregiver?

Tweetables:

10 Ways to Care for the Caregiver

Caregiving Monday: 10 Tips for Putting a Caregiver Plan in Place

Posted on July 14, 2014August 24, 2016 by trinitychristianlifecoaching

Becoming a caregiver can be very overwhelming. This is especially the case if the shift has been sudden instead of gradual. Although it’s always best to discuss your parent’s wishes with them long in advance, there are times when that is not possible. Here are a few tips to help you in putting a caregiving plan in place.

Keep a list of important phone numbers of people to call. Have one for both you and also a list for your loved one of phone numbers.
Decide who will make the decisions. Obtain a Power of Attorney. Even if it is just for medical needs, it is important to have one in place.
Decide who will pay all of the finances and add them to the checking account. Determine what can and cannot be afforded. How much {if anything} are you or siblings able to assist financially?
Determine what your loved one’s wishes are for the future as far as a nursing facility, funeral plans and if they want to be buried or cremated. Go ahead and determine all of this in advance and it will not be as difficult later on.
Obtain or update wills, living will, power of attorney, etc.
If the individual is living alone {or with an older spouse} invest in a lifeline that can be used in case of falls. If the individual is known to wonder you may want to invest in an electronic tracking device.
Keep a list of the individual’s medicines for any future hospital or Dr visits. Also determine if you need to prepare the medicine.
Access what your loved one is capable of. Do they need meals prepared, someone with them at night, help with household and yard duties, are they even able to stay by themselves are all questions you need to take into consideration. Then plan accordingly.
Have a current picture on hand of your loved one if they have a tendency of running off. You may also want to look into ID Jewelry.
Investigate any needs to prevent falls. Do they need handles at doors or in the shower? A shower chair? Are they in need of a walker or cane? Do certain rugs need to be removed? Determine the best course of action for fall prevention and implement

What else have you done to put a caregiver plan in place?

Tweetables:

10 Tips for Putting a Caregiver Plan in Place

Caregiving Monday: 5 Activities You Can Do to Keep Your Loved One Active with Alzheimer’s

Posted on July 7, 2014August 24, 2016 by trinitychristianlifecoaching

Do you struggle with finding activities for your dementia patient? Often it is difficult to find activities they are able to do or to keep their interest for long. None of these activities have to be very long, but are a couple of ideas of activities to help keep the brain active and interacted.

Music is always great. It soothes the soul and reaches into the recesses of the mind where other avenues may not be able to reach. Put on a CD with your loved one’s favorite music or sing along with them. Even if all they remember are songs you learned as a child, this is a great device to keep them active. Depending on their capabilities you can add activity to the music such as tossing a balloon, using scarves, using instruments, etc.
Puzzles are a great way to keep the mind active. This can be a physical puzzle, cross word puzzle or Sudko {depending on the person’s interest}. Depending on the individual’s capabilities even easy puzzles designed for toddlers are worth the effort.
Picture books are a great way to help a person remember family, friends, and places. You can help them flip through the picture book and ask who that person in. Begin to talk about memories of that person or place and allow your loved on to fill in some of the blanks.
For more advanced cases of dementia when they are limited in their ability, ask to help you fold washcloths and socks. Even if you have to refold them, at least you are making the person feel useful. Please wait until you’re in another room to refold them.
Older people love to dance. Even if they are not physically able to stand up and dance, you can hold their hands and swing your hips. For them this is dancing. They may not want to do this for long but even a short song like Let Me Call You Sweetheart or On Moonlight Bay is a start.

What activities have you done with Alzheimer’s patients?

Tweetables:

5 Activities You Can Do to Keep Your Loved One Active with Alzheimer’s

Caregiving Monday: Reader Feedback

Posted on June 30, 2014August 24, 2016 by trinitychristianlifecoaching

Today, I’d like to do something a little different. I want to hear from you!

What are some of your greatest concerns as a caregiver?

What are some of your greatest joys as a caregiver?

In what areas do you need help?

What agencies do you rely on?

Thank you for taking a moment to tell me about your joys and struggles as a caregiver!

Tweetables:

Share Your Caregiving Story

Caregiving Monday: A Rite of Passage

Posted on June 23, 2014August 24, 2016 by trinitychristianlifecoaching

Friday is a very big day in our family. GG* will turn 90. This a huge rite of passage and milestone.

GG has been looking forward to this moment for the past year. The day after she turned 89, she would tell people “I’ll be 90 in 364 days.” From that time on she has been counting down.

GG is slowing down and I don’t know how many more years she will be with us, but we are going to honor and celebrate this milestone with her while we have the opportunity. We have a number of events included and surprises for her on this special day.

I’ve discovered that the older an individual becomes, the greater the bragging rights. As senior adults grow closer to 90 and even 100, the greater the bragging rights they have. I’ve even sat among a room of senior ladies, who do their best to outbid one another in their age.

“Well, I’m 89 years old and 6 months.”

“I’m 89 and 10 ½ months.”

“I’m 91 years old.”

“I’m 94 years old and 9 months.”

“Well, I’ll be 100 in three days.”

This is just some of the conversation you hear among these senior adults. I find it very sweet and heartwarming to see how proud they are of their age and the wisdom these individuals extol on the younger population.

Just as turning 16, 21, 25, and 40 were rites of passages for many of us in our younger days, each birthday becomes a rite of passage and bragging rites as you grow older.

What birthday was a rite of passage for you or a loved one?

*Name Altered

Tweetables:

The Rite of Passage for Senior Adults

Bragging Rights for Senior Adults

Caregiving Monday: The Longest Day

Posted on June 16, 2014August 24, 2016 by trinitychristianlifecoaching

June 21^st, is the longest day of the year. It is also the day that the Alzheimer’s association brings light to this devastating disease.

Their slogan is “Grab your friends. Do what you love. Honor those facing Alzheimer’s.”

In essence, they ask that you take this one day, form a team, do something that you love and raise money for Alzheimer’s from sunrise to sunset.

The longest day is this coming Saturday. One of GG doctors brought this to my attention. He will be participating in a sport’s camp that day.

Other suggestions are dance, rock climb, hike, cook, swim, craft, music, walk, paint, cycle, garden, card games, theatre, rollerblade, golf, or combine multiple activities together. This is an opportunity to put on your creative thinking cap and come up with something you love to do to support this cause.

A few facts according to Alzheimer’s organization:

Every 67 seconds someone in the United States develops Alzheimer’s
1 in 3 seniors die with Alzheimer’s or a form of dementia
More than 5 million American’s are living with the disease
Alzheimer’s is the 6^th leading cause of death in the US
In 2013, more than 15.5 million caregivers provided unpaid care hours
Almost 2/3 of those with Alzheimer’s are women
More than 60% of Alzheimer’s/dementia caregivers are women

What will you do to remember those suffering from Alzheimer’s on Saturday?

Tweetables:

The Longest Day, raising Alzheimer’s Awareness

Caregiving Monday: When You’re Next in Line

Posted on June 9, 2014August 24, 2016 by trinitychristianlifecoaching

Within the last month, GG* has said goodbye to two of her first cousins. One of these cousins she was very close to. For the last year, all the two of them talked about was turning 90. Their birthdays were only 29 days apart. Sadly, our cousin died four days before her 90^th birthday.

Her birthday was a bittersweet day for all of us. We knew she was better off and no longer in pain, but we missed celebrating this monumental milestone with her. When her son asked her what she wanted to do for her birthday, she said one word, “Home.” We knew she was at her eternal home and that was where she wanted to be.

With the loss of both of these cousins, GG said “I’m the oldest now.” What she didn’t verbalize, but hung in the air was the statement “I’m next in line. I’m next.”

Just as our cousin was ready, we know that GG is ready when the time comes. However, verbalizing this to ourselves isn’t easy. The biggest lesson I’ve learned in caregiving, is you can’t sweep things under the carpet. It’s best to deal with the current situation and accept it, instead of living in denial.

There are days when I am exhausted from caregiving, but I keep reminding myself to love and appreciate this time with GG*. Her statement rings in my ears from time to time, but I chose to be appreciative for this time we’re together.

What are you thankful for as a caregiver?

*Name Altered

Tweetables:

When A Senior Citizen Loses All of Her Friends

The Loss of Friends for Senior Adults

Caregiving Monday—Using Caution When Combining Medications

Posted on June 2, 2014August 24, 2016 by trinitychristianlifecoaching

The doctor recently prescribed a several new prescriptions for GG* to start. We slowly started these, implementing only one new pill at a time. We waited at least one to two weeks before starting a new one.

The reason we waited was because if there was a side effect to use, we wanted to know which pill was the result of the interaction.

GG has some medications that cause hallucinations as a side effect. On one of these, we even asked her primary physician for a second opinion before starting the medicine. He assured us we should start the medicine. We felt better after having a second opinion.

Thankfully someone stays with GG at night, because the night she started the new medication she was up all night. The issue was not vomiting, as we had been advised, but hallucinations. GG has a history of hallucinations due to medication and that is one of the reasons someone stays with her at night. We have had to alter medications in the past due to these hallucinations.

These hallucinations can get interesting at times. No matter how much you try to reassure GG no one else is here, run the imaginary people out or even play along with her, she often doesn’t believe you.

GG: “You think I’m crazy.”

Mama: “No, I believe you. But you have to believe me when I tell you no one else is here.”

GG: “Okay.”

Several hours later.

GG: “There’s that little boy over there.”

Me: “He left.”

GG: “Where did he go?”

Me: “I don’t know. I guess home.”

GG: “You’re lying. He’s right here.”

Me: “Time for you to go home little boy.”

GG: “Now you’re just being silly.”

That’s just a sampling of the conversations we have. At times it is difficult not to laugh in front of GG. Other times you just have to play along and go with the flow.

However, if you know there is a lingering issue with medications, ask the primary physician before starting a new one. Even if you have to get a second or third opinion.

From what GG physician has said once you get 6-8 medications mixed together, you are looking at a new ball game. So please keep this in mind when you are speaking with the physician about prescriptions.

If there are lingering issues with medications, you may want someone with your loved one the first few days of a new prescription.

What are some side effects new medications have caused in your elderly loved one?

*Name Altered

Tweetables:

Using Caution When Combining Medications in the elderly

What are the side effects of too many medications in the elderly

Caregiving Monday—Lifeline A Life Saver

Posted on May 26, 2014August 24, 2016 by trinitychristianlifecoaching

Over the weekend, GG* gave us a good bit of excitement.

We received a call from lifeline on Saturday afternoon stating that GG was not responding. Mama headed that way, while I called a neighbor and asked her to check on GG.

There are times when GG accidentally presses her lifeline or will press it due to hallucinations. We felt sure that this was why she’d pressed the lifeline this time.

However, the neighbor was able to assure us that this was a genuine need. GG was weak after using the bathroom, lost her balance and fell into the shower. Thankfully she as alright, but EMS arrived to help her up and check her over. If there had been a serious injury, we know from experience, they would have transported her to the ER.

Having the lifeline is a saver. GG did not have to stay in the tub until I arrived later that evening. The EMS was able to safely get her up and check her over. Lifeline promptly sent EMS out when they were unable to get an answer {sometimes this is due to GG being hard of hearing, but we’ve come to realize it is better safe than sorry}.

By the time Mama arrived, EMS was on the scene and helping GG to her feet.

Although GG has someone with her on a daily basis and we stay with her at night, we are unable to be with her around the clock. Knowing that she has her lifeline in case of an emergency is a relief to us as caregivers. We know that she will press the button {as long as she’s physically able} to summon help. It helps to know that someone is there to help her when we’re not.

Earlier this year, GG had a neighbor that refused to take the necessary precautions to prevent her numerous falls. This resulted in a sad tragedy.

We do not want that for GG and encourage her to take her precaution necessary. Having the lifeline is just an additional precaution in providing the best care necessary for GG.

What precautions do you take to prevent falls?

*Name altered

Tweetables:

Lifeline A Life Saver

How lifeline can really safe a life

The time saver of lifeline

Caregiving Monday: The Loss of Patience

Posted on May 19, 2014August 24, 2016 by trinitychristianlifecoaching

The other day I took GG* {my grandmother} to get her hair fixed.

The drive to the beautician takes all of two minutes. Her appointment was at 11am, but GG believes in being early. At 10:30 she began out the door and I explained to her we still had twenty minutes before we needed to leave.

Once we arrived at the beautician, I told them to give me a call when I needed to pick her up. I returned to her house and cleaned up. {The best time to clean is when she isn’t there}.

When they called me to pick her up, I told them I had to finish making the bed and wiping out the sink and I would be there. Ten minutes later I arrive, to which GG remarks, “It’s about time.”

“She just told me she’s losing patience,” the beautician told me.

“Be patient,” I reminded her.

“I don’t have to,” she said. I just stared at her, wondering if she was 90 or 2 years old. She reminded me of my young niece and nephew in that moment.

What I realized was that as people grow older they lose the patience they have gained over the years. The slightest thing often bothers them and they want things right then when they want them. Sort of the same way a 2-5 year old wants to demand their own way.

In what way{s} have you noticed your loved on losing patience?

*Name altered

Tweetables:

Older people often lose their patience

How older people want their own way

How older people and toddlers are similar