Buying a practical gift is the best way to go when purchasing something for an elderly individual. Many seniors do not have a lot of extra space to store things they do not use. When choosing a gift, you want to make sure the gift will be used. More so, make sure the gift is easy to use! Below you will find a list of 10 items that are great ideas for senior gifts.

1. If the senior lives alone, a Medical Emergency Notification System is a great gift to ensure their safety.

2. Cell Phones with Easy to see and use buttons.

3. If the senior is a pet owner, a pre-paid walking service or grooming is a great gift.

4. Gift certificates to the barber or hairdresser, especially if they will come to their home.

5. Pre-pay a season of lawn mowing and landscaping.

6. Wall clocks with a large face so they are easy to see.

7. If the senior is hearing impaired, a flashing light doorbell or telephone will be of great use.

8. Universal TV Remotes with large buttons.

9. Lap tables can be handy to eat on and can also provide a place for small items, such as remotes and eyeglasses.

10. Clothing with zippers or large zipper pulls.

Source: associatedcontent

Image Source: sxc.hu

Shopping for the holidays can be a challenge, but for senior caregivers, the ideas are really quite simple – buy them a gift that allows them to focus on themselves, even for a few hours or a few moments. The following are great ideas that will be a holiday hit with any senior caregiver:

1. Respite care – a break from caregiving responsibilities is appreciated by most caregivers, whether they’d admit it or not. Hire a service to provide respite or step in yourself, offering assistance once a month, or even just one time!

2. Entertainment gift certificates – send them for a night out at the movies or dinner with a gift certificate

3. Spa services – a day out at the spa can be rejuvenating for a female caregiver. Treat them to the chance to relax!

4. Subscription to a book club or movie service – this is something they can do to relax while providing care. Movies can be enjoyed with their senior, and books can be shared

5. Service to help them at home – caregivers have so much to take care of, help them maintain responsibilities of their own homes with cleaning services for inside the home or for yard work

Via: AgingCare

Image Source: www.sxc.hu/

During the winter season in particular, the thought of a senior with Alzheimer’s wandering away from home is even more alarming. This is all the motivation that caregivers should require to start making some big changes around the home that can help prevent wandering in Alzheimer’s seniors:

1. Install alarms that tell you when external doors or windows are open – you need to give seniors with Alzheimer’s the freedom to move around their home, but even a home alarm system that chimes when doors or even windows are opened can warn you that your loved one might be wandering away

2. Disguise doors – if you don’t want seniors wandering between rooms or outside, paint rooms so the doors blend with the walls

3. Discourage wandering with signs – post signs on doorways inside the home, reminding seniors with Alzheimer’s what can be found on the other side. If there are rooms that seniors should not go in, or doorways that lead to outside, label them with “do not enter”!

4. Give seniors a safe area to walk around – seniors with Alzheimer’s often find themselves restless. Having a secure backyard or garden area can get them out of the home when they feel the need to wander in a safe manner

Via: About.com

Looking forward to the holidays? We are too. But like you, we know that holiday travel can also be stressful, especially as we get older. Seniors like us need to plan carefully to prevent too much travel stress that way the holidays remain a happy and joyful time to look forward to!

1. Don’t travel with anything you don’t need – keeping your luggage as light as possible will avoid extra baggage charges and be easier to manage. Ship gifts ahead of time rather than travelling with them

2. Remember it will be busy – leave extra time, it’s likely you’ll encounter crowds, such as long lines when checking in at the airport

3. Keep costs low – by researching your travel options you can keep costs low. Don’t book the first flight you find, find the best price, and if staying in a hotel, find the best deal!

4. Travel with a companion – travelling can be less stressful if you go with a friend or family member, so try to avoid travelling alone

5. Double and triple check your packing – make sure you travel with all of the essentials, especially your medications, so check what you’ve packed before you travel

Via: About.com

The holidays are a time of togetherness; about spending time with family and those who mean the most to us. But for many seniors who have experienced loss, the holidays, whatever they may be, can become a time of loneliness.  It is, however, possible to prevent the holiday blues and the emotional distress that begins to signify the holidays for many seniors:

• Don’t expect too much – if big family get togethers haven’t been a big part of holidays recently, don’t expect them or you’ll only face disappointment

• Don’t do things that are too stressful – holidays are meant to be a time of enjoyment, so if there are certain tasks that surround the holidays that stress you out, avoid them!

• Volunteer – surround yourself with others in the community by volunteering and giving back

• Don’t isolate yourself – when holidays aren’t the way they used to be, seniors might become isolated; join in on activities in the community, get together with friends and make sure you don’t have to be alone

• Maintain a healthy lifestyle – to keep your spirits up, take care of yourself. Exercise, eat well and limit  alcohol consumption

Sources:

1. 4Therapy

2. About.com

Do you use a webcam to keep in touch with your grandchildren that live far away? If so, we’d like to hear your favorite moments and memories that have made you feel closer to your loved ones despite the distance.

Webcams make it possible to catch all of those little moments that you might miss otherwise. Having that visual connection makes it feel like you’re right next to each other having a conversation, rather than being at the other end of the phone line, or simply typing words in an email. Here are some tips for getting started with a webcam to communicate with your grandchildren if you aren’t doing it already:

1. Get the webcam – many laptops that are sold today come with webcams, even a few computer monitors also have webcams built in. If your computer doesn’t have a webcam, you can buy one for as little as $20

2. Set it up – most webcams will come with software and drivers you can install to get it setup. Follow the instructions and put the webcam itself so it comfortably focuses on your face

3. Find a way to chat – to connect with grandchildren, you will need to both use the same type of program that supports webcam chat. Instant messengers like MSN and AOL have webcam chat, or other programs like Skype offer it as well. Choose one that will also be safe for your grandchild to use

Sources:

1. CowboyFrank

2. All Business

There is no feeling worse than sitting at home wondering what’s become of your elderly loved one who suffers from Alzheimer’s and has wandered away. Every time the phone rings, for hours on end, you begin to wonder if someone is calling because they have found the senior injured, or even worse, deceased from an accident or injury during their journey while lost and confused. But for some, the prevention of this situation is not enough to consider using a tracking device to help keep track of older adults who suffer from Alzheimer’s and dementia. Some people believe it takes away the privacy and independence of a senior; others know that it does that while offering protection and safety which both should come first.

Despite the controversy of senior tracking devices, there is quite a market out there for them, with more refined technology constantly under development. The latest is a pair of shoes with a tracking device that submits location details back to a computer. The Ambulatory Tracking Shoes are set to go on sale in the spring, and a portion of the costs might be covered by Medicare.

Where do you stand in the argument about senior tracking technology? Share with us what you think about these tracking shoes.

Via: Washington Post

For seniors who live independently with medical issues that require management, there is an increased risk that they will put their health at stake while missing doses of medication, or doubling up on them accidentally. Of course, this is an issue that can occur amongst people of any age, but seniors do tend to have a cocktail of medications that they need to take daily which can increase the chances of improper use. As seniors can also struggle with memory issues, the risk of poor medication habits is increased even more. A new system can help seniors manage their medications, and in turn, their health more effectively:

uBox Smart Pill Box Features:

• Storage - 14 chambers for pill dispensing for 2 weeks worth of medication or multiple types of prescriptions

• Alert system – seniors who find themselves unable to remember when it’s time to take their medications are alerted with flashing lights and a buzzer

• Protection against duplication – so seniors do not accidentally take the same medication again, seniors cannot get the device to open unless it’s time to take a pill

1. MIT News

2. TrendHunter

Image: web.mit.edu

It seems like we’ve all encountered a home bound senior at some time in our lives. The thing is, when we’re younger, we often think that seniors are remaining isolated by choice when specific health limitations aren’t keeping them confined to their San Diego homes. But it becomes clear that with the aging process, when mobility becomes more limited, there is a greater challenge involved with stepping outside just to run simple errands. Since so many seniors find it difficult to get around, new technologies are being developed to improve their quality of life that is affected by mobility.

About the ICIO Personal Transporter for Seniors:

• It has a convertible design

• Seniors can choose to use the personal transporter as a traditional 3 wheeled walker

• During periods when they’d like to move at a faster pace, they can stand on an attachable support and activate the electric function

• The device is suitable for seniors as their level of physical mobility changes, since it also converts into a mobile scooter with a seat

• With the personal transporter, seniors can venture out for exercise and convert the device if they get tired, giving them the security that they won’t be stranded

Sources:

1. TrendHunter

2. The Design Blog

3. TrendHunter

Unfortunately in our society ageism is everywhere; it doesn’t matter where you live, discrimination and mistreatment of older adults everywhere, including San Diego. But just because it occurs doesn’t mean it’s okay. Take a stand against it with these tips for abolishing ageism:

1. Look beyond stereotypes – seniors are often characterized for their limitations and other negative associations that come with aging. These things don’t say anything about the person, and they shouldn’t be judged on them. In reality, seniors might be intelligent, capable and caring once you look past stereotypes and get to know them

2. Understand aging – the more we know about the aging process, the more we’re likely to accept the things that come with aging and understand that there’s some things we’ll all deal with

3. Watch out for ageism – ageism occurs in many essential services, like housing, health and even the senior care industry itself. Be aware of the signs and verify policies that organizations have to prevent discrimination due to age

4. Talk to seniors about their experiences – once we understand how deeply some seniors have been affected by ageism, by listening to their stories, it will motivate us all to avoid discrimination ourselves and discourage it in others

5. Bridge the generational gap – when generations interact on a social level, everyone gets a better understanding of each other and younger generations can come to see seniors as people, rather than looking at their health issues or physical limitations

6. Provide support – support organizations that address aging and talk to your elected area representative about pushing for change

Sources:

1. Canadian Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse

2. Global Action on Aging

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