Mary King's Blog

Posted by Mary King

Autumn means brisk temperatures and blustery days – stimulating for many people who love the cold – but a sign that many older people dread. Aches and pains seem to get worse as the temperature drops. It's easy for older people to become depressed during the long cold winter months as many are stuck indoors. Ice and snow increase the possibility of falls among the elderly, making conditions too dangerous for many seniors to venture outdoors.

What can older people do to stay active indoors during harsh winter months? As crazy as it may sound, a Nintendo Wii Fit program might add stimulation to an elderly person's day – and create fun for the entire family. Grandchildren and parents can get Grandma and Grandpa to exercise a little each day and have a good laugh, too! It's better than nodding off in front of the TV all day or watching movies.

Fitness programs, dancing, and video music programs are fun for kids of all ages – including children that have disabilities who have limited mobility. Break out a few CDs or burn favorite selections at home on the computer for hours of fun and physical exercise. Speaking of dancing, have Grandma or Grandpa teach the kids a few classic steps for more great family entertainment – and exercise.

How about indoor gardening? Gardening therapy is terrific mind and body exercise for anyone stuck indoors, and garden project possibilities are endless: try indoor plants or vegetables in container gardening, creating dish gardens, or herb gardening. Start a collection of cacti or African violets. A small work area on a back porch or some other suitable spot is all that's needed for potting plants. Grab a few supplies like pots and bagged soil, plant food and a watering can, and maybe some newspaper to keep any mess under control. A small old table makes a great work area.

Need some gift ideas for the holidays or a birthday? Go green with gardening gifts and make someone happy while helping the environment. Ergonomic tools, by the way, are easy to handle for people who have difficulty with hand grip. Next spring, when gardening moves outdoors, try extension tools for elderly gardeners and anyone else who has trouble bending or reaching.

There are many things to do indoors for people that are elderly or family members with physical or mental limitations. Creating new projects is half the fun. Fend off depression and moodiness with stimulating activities. Caregivers are just as prone to inactivity and dull moods during cold winter days, so be sure to keep things moving to beat the winter blues.

Posted by Mary King

Welcome to the Caregiver Support Blog; featuring family caregiver support for all ages and situations.

Caregiver support encompasses a broad range of topics and ideas. Some topics can be applied to a specific age group, while others may apply to family members of any age. In the past, caregivers have stereotypically been associated with caring for elderly persons – aging parents, frail grandparents, aunts, uncles, or in-laws advanced in age. Care-giving can apply to anyone of any age, and caregivers can likewise be young in age, young at heart, or in the golden years of retirement.

Medical advances and better drugs continually create the opportunity for a better and more productive lifestyle. People who are elderly, and those clients young and disabled, need more than what traditional methods of care-giving have to offer. How does this impact the home caregiver? Are there new and improved resources – services available to assist the primary person responsible for caring for a loved one?

Adults who work outside the home have an enormous undertaking trying to manage caregiver obligations and work responsibilities. Employers are beginning to see the light, realizing that elder care assistance programs are just as important as childcare benefits. Adding such assistance can reduce employee stress and reduce the number of days absent from work, therefore increasing company production. As baby-boomers age into retirement years, many young adults who are now in the workforce will be be called upon to care for senior family members. Elder care is fast becoming part of American culture.

Legal issues for young and old make up a huge part of what a primary caregiver has to deal with. Issues such as conservatorship for an elderly person, black widow scams, and petitioning for guardianship of the disabled teenager, are just three article ideas that readers may find useful. There is much more information to come as well, as the topic of caregiver support continues to expand in content and inform readers of all ages.