Some places come with a more stressful quality of life than others. If you’re considering a move from your Phoenix home to another part of the United States; there are a few things to evaluate to determine if your retirement will be enjoyable and stress-free.

1. Population and crowding – consider the population density in the area. The more populated it is, the more likely it becomes that there can be crime, petty problems between neighbors, and other factors that can influence your overall quality of life. If you’re looking for a quieter retreat where you can relax in privacy, avoid cities like Chicago (ranked the most stressful place to live) where crowding is high.

2. Employment – even in retirement, the level of unemployment in your area can affect your quality of life. You don’t need to be in the workforce for it to have an impact! Unemployment rates attest to the overall state of the economy.

3. Air quality and weather – the air quality can affect your overall health, which greatly impacts your quality of life, as well as your finances. Also choose a climate that brings you the most enjoyment.

4. Home values – with rising interest costs and decreasing home values, it can be a worry that you might lose your home in older adulthood or find it unaffordable. Low home values can also mean little equity when it comes time to sell. Choose a place to live where home values seem to be higher and holding strong.

Via: Yahoo! Real Estate

Image: money.aol.com

Home Care Central Phoenix and Home Care Greater Phoenix provides elder care and senior care in Phoenix. Call us today at 623-583-5868, 602-265-8228 or 480-991-3959.

After a long life of independence and the freedom to take control over their own lives, many seniors dread getting older and getting to a point where they need to accept help from a family member or professional caregiver. Agreeing that help is needed is a big step for Phoenix seniors, and it can take a while to help get your loved ones to that point, even when their health or safety is at risk.

Here are 7 ways that you can convince your senior to accept home care help:

1. Remember change is difficult for everyone – their resistance might be frustrating, but think about how you would feel in the same situation

2. Give him/her time to come around – introduce changes slowly, but don’t force them. Eventually, the changes if for your senior’s benefit will be more accepted, once they get past denying they need help

3. Keep on trying – if you try to introduce a change and it’s not accepted, wait and try again. Sometimes even 15 minutes can make a world of difference

4. Keep them involved in decisions – let your senior know he/she does have a say in making decisions about care. However, do try and be persuasive about introducing care options

5. Offer a trial period – if they are resistant, persuade your senior to give your suggestion a try. A trial period with a home caregiver or with you helping around the house may help them to realize how much it can ease their burden

6. Present it as help for them – when suggesting you help them out or hire a caregiver, don’t present it as a result of their limitations, tell them it’s to have someone available to clean up around the house so they don’t feel obligated, or to help with moving of heavy objects

7. Know when to stop pushing – remember, that despite your concerns, your senior is still someone who is capable and allowed to make their own decisions. If you have tried the above to no avail, no when to stop pushing otherwise you might risk your relationship

Via: National Caregiver’s Library

Image: www.jupiterimages.com

Home Care Central Phoenix and Home Care Greater Phoenix provides elder care and senior care in Phoenix. Call us today at 623-583-5868, 602-265-8228 or 480-991-3959.

Many Phoenix seniors find themselves on very limited budgets in older adulthood; it can be enough of a challenge to pay the bills and health care expenses, so it can be challenging to find room in the budget to accommodate fitness needs. Of course it’s possible to exercise for free by getting outside and active, but some seniors prefer to get the exercise under the supervision of a senior fitness expert, and that can comes with big costs. However, that’s not to say that seniors can’t get fit in the comfort of a fitness facility, under the supervision of fitness experts, because there are fitness facilities that cater to the many needs of seniors.

Silver Sneakers fitness centers are free to seniors who have Medicare or a Medicare supplement plan. For a Silver Sneakers Fitness Center near you in Phoenix, please click here - Silver Sneaker Locations. With their free memberships they have a Senior Fitness Adviser assigned to them to show them the equipment and amenities of the facility, and they offer fitness classes for seniors and health education seminars. Whatever your budget, and whatever your age, fitness doesn’t need to be sacrificed with Silver Sneakers!

Sources:

1. Silver Sneakers
2. Suite101

Home Care Central Phoenix and Home Care Greater Phoenix provides elder care and senior care in Phoenix. Call us today at 623-583-5868, 602-265-8228 or 480-991-3959.

Phoenix families often ask what the benefits are of hiring a senior caregiver to provide home care in order to understand why they should do it. The benefits are endless, so the question really should be more, why shouldn’t you hire a senior caregiver? Hiring an in home caregiver gives seniors the option of remaining in their own homes, and maintaining some level of independence they might not otherwise have if they were to move to a nursing home or assisted living facility.

Home caregivers for seniors can also change the lives of family caregivers, who can find themselves devoting their lives and their time to care for a loved one. Family caregivers don’t need to give up their responsibilities, but with the help of a senior caregiver, can get the break that they need from someone who is able to allow a senior to maintain their chosen lifestyle, schedule and routines rather than have their world turned upside down just because they’re getting older.

Hiring a senior caregiver to help a loved one at home is about providing them the independence they deserve and allowing them to age with dignity while maintaining the way of life that they’ve chosen for themselves. Giving it all up would be too grave a loss, but with the option of home care, it doesn’t have to come to that for Phoenix seniors.

Source:

1. Caring.com

Image Source: portlandinhomecare.com

Home Care Central Phoenix and Home Care Greater Phoenix provides elder care and senior care in Phoenix. Call us today at 623-583-5868, 602-265-8228 or 480-991-3959.

Home care negligence is unfortunately a sad reality that exists in the Phoenix elder care industry. While negligence and elder abuse often occur at the hands of senior care providers in nursing homes and assisted living facilities; these problems can occur in a senior’s home just as easily. As family members of seniors, it’s important that we spot the signs when a loved one is being abused or neglected so that appropriate action can be taken and further issues can be prevented.

To determine if a senior in Phoenix might be suffering from elder abuse or neglect, be aware of the following signs:

•    Sudden changes in the senior’s behavior
•    Physical injuries like bruises, scrapes, cuts, or even broken bones
•    A nursing home not allowing family members to see patients alone
•    Pressure sores or signs that restraints have been used
•    Sudden, inexplicable weight loss in the senior

Home care negligence can include a number of scenarios that range from less severe to more extreme, but all are serious issues that should be addressed.

•    Failure to provide food or water, even when a senior complains of hunger or thirst
•    Failure to assist with personal hygiene needs
•    Failure to provide clean, safe living conditions
•    Failure to provide supervision in situations where accidents may occur
•    Failure to provide appropriate prescription medicals on time or at all

Sources:
1.    Care Home Negligence
2.    EZine Articles

Home Care Central Phoenix and Home Care Greater Phoenix provides elder care and senior care in Phoenix. Call us today at 623-583-5868, 602-265-8228 or 480-991-3959.

Home Care Central Phoenix and Home Care Greater Phoenix provides elder care and senior care in Phoenix. Call us today at 623-583-5868, 602-265-8228 or 480-991-3959.

Senior rights need to be protected, and since 1973 The Silver Haired Legislature has been doing just that by offering government help for aging Americans in many states across the US by giving seniors a voice.

The Silver Haired Legislature ( SHL) are a group of citizens aged 60 and older, who are formally elected in each participating state to ensure there is a legislative involvement that focuses upon the needs of aging adults, while providing an open discussion forum for senior issues. The TSHL was first founded in Missouri in 1973, and has now been adopted by 31 states in the US, including Texas, Alaska, California, Florida, Louisiana, New Jersey, Utah and many others.

Elected volunteer officials of each state’s branch of the SHL are elected upon 2-year terms, and sworn in by the Secretary of State to become formal members of the organization. In the state of Texas, these elderly advocates select ten priority issues faced by older Americans and present them to the Texas Legislature for support when they’re in session during odd-numbered years. The 31 other states involved with the SHL follow a similar format to the Texas branch, and regularly provide advocacy support to senior issues that are occurring within their jurisdictions, while providing educational resources through the partnership with the Area Agency on Aging for senior citizens who are living with these problems.

The SHL tries to ensure that its senior representatives are approachable by both elderly members of the communities they represent and their families who are concerned about their welfare. Since the SHL members can be voted in to serve multiple consecutive terms, they often become recognized members of the senior community, which creates an open dialogue about the concerns and needs of senior citizens who feel they finally have someone to represent their voice and listen to their concerns.

To learn more about the SHL representatives in your area or approach them with an aging issue that requires government support and advocacy, visit the website of your local branch or contact your local Area Agency on Aging for more information about the SHL and how they can help you.

Sources: http://www.txshl.org/index.cfm
http://www.txshl.org/about.cfm
http://www.nemoaaa.com/shlfacts.htm

Home Care Central Phoenix and Home Care Greater Phoenix provides elder care and senior care in Phoenix. Call us today at 623-583-5868, 602-265-8228 or 480-991-3959.

The Silver Haired Legislature, present in 31 states across the US, advocates the needs of aging adults, which includes providing guidance and support to their family members. One of the major issues that has been on the minds of the SHL relates to the sandwich-generation; those family caregivers who provide assistance to any aging relative, while raising their own young families and managing careers. Not only can providing care for an elderly parent or other relative take a physical toll on the lives of these Americans, but it can also carry a serious financial burden which only grows as life expectancy continues to rise. The Oklahoma SHL is trying to pass Senate Bill 725, which has been cleared by the Senate, but has not yet been heard by the House. This Bill will provide a tax deduction to families providing care and support for its elderly members.

Not only is The Silver Haired Legislature in many states focused upon legislation that will provide family caregivers financial support, they provide community resources through the Area Agency on Aging to help educate seniors and their families about rights, care issues, and other factors which can impact the lives of older adults. The Texas Silver Haired Legislature offers online courses for family caregivers; understanding that when balancing responsibilities, it’s important to offer educational resources which can be accessed at their convenience. These courses provide useful tips relating to care techniques, provide community support for common care-related issues, and makes them aware of the resources available.

Once per session, the elderly advocates of The SHL meet to discuss and vote upon which issues faced by older Americans that they will present to the Senate. First, however, the groups in each state reach out to the senior community to learn about what issues the population believes requires government support. Every year, when the SHL and Senate are in session, the Texas Senior Advocacy Coalition organizes Senior Day at the Capitol. This took place at The Capitol in Austin on February 10th. Seniors and their families were invited to attend independently or with the groups they’re involved with where they had the opportunity to mingle with representatives of the SHL and of the state legislature to voice their concerns and learn about senior living resources. Seniors and their families are also welcome to contact SHL representatives directly by phone or email, or approach other state advocacy groups which will present the issues before the SHL.

The Silver Haired Legislatures across the United States exist to represent the needs of older adults.  So Families, it’s time to get yourselves and the seniors in your lives involved in advocacy for senior welfare.

Sources: http://www.oksenate.gov/news/press_releases/press_releases_2007/pr20070925b.html
http://www.txshl.org/training.cfm
http://www.txshl.org/calendar.cfm