4 Ways Senior in Prescott Can Celebrate Christmas This Year!

Seniors who want to try something a little different for Christmas this year may want to attend a fun holiday-themed event in their town. The staff at Home Care Assistance, a leading provider of in-home care Prescott, AZ, families trust, has compiled a list of local events that offer seniors a way to celebrate the Christmas season in a welcoming, festive atmosphere.

1. Last-Minute Nonprofit Stocking-Stuffer Bazaar

The Prescott Activity Center at 824 East Gurley Street will be hosting this holiday bazaar on December 17th from 10am to 4pm. This event gives seniors the chance to give back, socialize, and shop for high-quality, low-cost gifts, crafts, and baked goods from over 50 clubs, schools, and nonprofit organizations. They will also have the opportunity to enter raffles and win fabulous prizes. Admission is free.

2. It’s a Wonderful Life, the Musical

The Yavapai College Performing Arts Center at 1100 East Sheldon Street will be hosting this holiday musical on December 18th at 3pm. This classic holiday movie where a town gets new hope, a man is redeemed, and an angel gets his wings takes the stage in this compelling musical, which may make seniors believe once again in the true magic of Christmas.

3. Gingerbread Village and Ice Skating

The Prescott Resort and Conference Center at 1500 Arizona 69 will be hosting this annual gingerbread festival through January 2nd. This festive event has become a holiday tradition for many families across Arizona for almost 25 years. Here, seniors and their families can start their own tradition of viewing the gorgeous gingerbread houses while getting a little exercise at the skating rink.

4. Enchanted Christmas

The Prescott Gateway Mall at 3250 Gateway Boulevard will be offering this holiday light attraction on December 23rd from noon to 9pm. Seniors can feel the holiday spirit, create memories with family and friends, and stay warm as they stroll through the themed rooms that have been beautifully embellished with over 500,000 lights. Highlights of this event also include structures from Dickens Christmas to the Polar Express train touring around the village.

If you are unable to attend events such as these with your senior loved one, consider hiring a professional caregiver from Home Care Assistance to provide companionship, transportation and much more. We are a leading provider of Prescott, AZ, respite care, and we also offer specialized care for seniors with Alzheimer’s, dementia, and Parkinson’s. For more information on our in-home care services, call a qualified Care Manager at 928-771-0105 today.

Visit us online @ www.homecareassistanceprescott.com 

5 Reasons Aging Adults Should Stay Away from Alcohol

Though most medical professionals would likely claim drinking alcohol in moderation is safe for people over 65, excessive drinking can lead to a host of hazards and serious health conditions. Prescott in-home senior care experts share 5 of the top reasons seniors should avoid drinking alcohol.

1. Alcohol Can Interfere with Certain Medications

The National Institute on Aging reports alcohol combined with aspirin can cause intestinal bleeding. Some medications, such as cough syrups, already contain alcohol. When taken with sleep aids or pain pills, alcohol can depress the central nervous system and even cause death.

2. Seniors Are Sensitive to the Effects of Alcohol

Seniors can develop complications with alcohol even without changing their drinking habits. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) explains seniors carry less water in their bodies than younger adults, which makes diluting the alcohol more difficult, causing seniors to become more intoxicated than they would have when they were younger.

3. Drinking Increases the Risk of Falling

The NIH also says seniors often lose their balance and fall, and alcohol can increase this risk. In addition, older adults have thinning bones, which can break easily. Studies have shown the rate of hip fractures in seniors increases with alcohol use.

4. Alcohol Negatively Impacts the Immune System

As people age, their immune system loses viability. Studies at the University of Colorado Denver have shown older adults are at higher risk for infections like pneumonia. Alcohol exacerbates this risk by damaging the immune system, and it also makes it more difficult to recover from infections.

5. Drinking Can Lead to a Variety of Serious Health Conditions

The American Academy of Family Physicians reports alcohol use can increase the risk of many age-related health conditions. Drinking can cause high blood pressure, leading to a stroke or heart attack, it can lead to dementia, depression, and cancer, especially liver cancer, and it can also cause poor sleep, insomnia, and malnutrition.

In addition to alcohol, there are many other things your senior loved one should consume in moderation or avoid entirely. To learn more about senior nutrition, reach out to Home Care Assistance. We also offer specialized Parkinson’s, stroke, and dementia care Prescott seniors and their families can rely on. For more information on our in-home care services, please call one of our qualified Care Managers today at 928-771-0105.

Visit us online @ www.homecareassistanceprescott.com

4 Reasons Why Caregivers Are Crucial For Seniors With Critical Illnesses

When a senior is critically ill, it is important to surround him or her with the right types of care to keep them stable. Professional caregivers play a valuable role in helping ill seniors and their families manage this difficult time.

1. They Assist with Medication Management

When managing a critical illness, seniors are often prescribed multiple medications, which can be difficult to keep up with when they are not feeling well. For this reason, caregivers in Prescott, AZ, are trained to help seniors stick to their medication schedule, and they also guard against overdosing and keep an eye out for signs of a bad reaction to a new medication. If a senior does have a problem with a medication, a caregiver can speak with the senior’s medical team to report what he or she has observed.

2. They Stay Alert for Changes in Health

A senior’s health can fluctuate rapidly when he or she is critically ill, which is why Prescott, AZ, live-in care often needs to be provided around the clock. If a senior’s fever spikes at midnight, an overnight caregiver will notice. Additionally, the caregiver can alert emergency services immediately if the senior suddenly takes a turn for the worse.

3. They Promote Positive Emotional Health

Having a strong emotional attitude plays a major role in helping seniors battle serious illnesses. Caregivers provide opportunities for socialization that help seniors stay positive. From offering a gentle smile upon entering the senior’s room to sharing a joke they read in their email, caregivers help lighten the mood every day.

4. They Help Prevent Injuries

Independent-minded seniors are often tempted to do more than their bodies can handle during a time of illness. Often, a senior’s health worsens due to an injury sustained while trying to cook or take a bath. Caregivers help with these and other daily tasks so seniors are less likely to slip and fall as they move through the house.

Learn more about the in-home elder care Prescott, AZ, families trust by calling Home Care Assistance at 928-771-0105. Our respite and 24-hour caregivers can provide medication reminders and transportation to medical appointments, assist with mobility and exercise, and help with a wide array of tasks around the house. Reach out to one of our knowledgeable Care Managers today.

Visit us online today @ www.homecareassistanceprescott.com 

4 Halloween-Themed Events for Seniors in Prescott

With Halloween around the corner, there are plenty of fun upcoming events in Prescott for seniors to enjoy. The Prescott, AZ, senior care professionals at Home Care Assistance have put together a list of local Halloween-related events where your aging loved one can have a hauntingly good time.

1. Fall Festival for Families

The Prescott Public Library at 215 East Goodwin Street will be hosting this fair on October 27th from 4pm to 6pm. At this festival, your loved one can spend precious time with his or her family or Prescott caregiver while playing games, enjoying yummy apple refreshments, and listening to not-too-scary stories appropriate for the whole family.

2. Halloween Bowling

The Antelope Lanes at 6301 East Second Street will be hosting this holiday event on October 22nd from 3pm to 6pm. Costumes are appreciated, but not necessary. Your loved one and his or her friends can have a blast dressing up in costumes while getting some exercise through bowling, and they can even participate in the costume contest and potentially win a prize. If your loved one takes the grandkids, there will be a bounce house that will keep the kids entertained. Seniors who attend this event will also be giving back to the community because all proceeds will be donated to Books to the Rescue.

3. A Haunting Experience Tours

A Haunting Experience Tours at 2105 Blooming Hills Drive offers 2-hour walking tours on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights by appointment. Your loved one can have a memorable time ​walking the streets where famous lawmen and outlaws once roamed, feel the chill of passing spirits, and learn about the past history of the town.

4. Zoofest

The Heritage Park Zoological Sanctuary at 1403 Heritage Park Road is hosting this festival on October 29th from 9am to 5pm. At this daylong festival, your loved one can view the exhibits, feed the animals, play fall-themed games, make Halloween crafts, and sample some tasty seasonal food. Your loved one can also save a dollar on admission by bringing a canned food item that will be donated to the Yavapai Food Bank.

Attending holiday events can give your loved one’s overall health a significant boost. If your loved one needs transportation or other assistance while attending events such as these, turn to Home Care Assistance. We are a leading provider of live-in and respite care Prescott, AZ, families trust, and we also offer comprehensive Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and stroke care. For more information on our senior care services, call 928-771-0105 to schedule a free in-home consultation with one of our friendly Care Managers.

Visit us online @ www.homecareassistanceprescott.com 

LONG TERM CARE: Starting the Conversation about Long-Term Care with Your Loved One

When a loved one who is aging at home, particularly one with a chronic or disabling condition, begins to exhibits signs that help is needed, it’s best to initiate a conversation as soon as possible. This discussion can be difficult for all family members and initiating the exchange may be stressful and uncomfortable.

Your loved one has worked hard all of his or her life, and has made many sacrifices in order to be able to enjoy the “golden years”.  They may exhibit concern about personal changes in health and how these changes may affect their future independence. Most older adults prefer to live out their aging years at home.

While many fear moving to a skilled nursing environment, most can avoid this by getting the assistance needed at home, before a crisis occurs. Adult children can be helpful by identifying increased isolation, as well as any decline in their parent’s health and functioning level. For example, they may notice changes in cognitive functioning, such as short term memory loss. 

It is important to begin the conversation early to recognize the values and lifestyle your loved one wants to retain. Explore how your parent is handling fundamental self-care activities when assessing the potential need for in-home care.  These basic daily activities include hygiene, eating, health care needs and other daily living tasks, as well as tending to finances, transportation, and care for their home. Once you have identified the areas that may create a risk of your loved one losing their independence, you have a good starting point for the conversation.

Beginning the Conversation

Pacing and timing will be crucial in determining how the conversation is initiated and conducted, and may affect a successful outcome. Start the conversation over time, and in doing so, take it slowly. In these conversations, identify and confirm your loved one’s values, goals, and fears. This will enable you to create an empowering experience to help break down any obstacles that may exist. Practice empathy and imagine being in their position.

When beginning the conversation, use open-ended questions, such as “How are things going around the house? Or “How are you managing your/your loved one’s illness?”

The two largest factors that appear to be most important to older adults are the loss of independence by having other people seemingly control their lives and having a strange person in the home. Along with that comes the fear of the unknown, particularly when there is the possibility of receiving care at home or moving into a facility.

Family Meetings

Before having a family meeting, determine who should be involved directly or indirectly in any decision-making. Involved people may include extended family members, close friends, or a physician. Consider including an independent third party as a mediator, such as a member of the clergy or an Aging Life Care Professional. Making use of a third party can reduce the burden on adult children. A care manager can answer detailed questions about the process of having in-home care and can speak to the benefits that will be provided to your loved one. They may also help in pinpointing a schedule to provide the necessary safety, oversight and assistance needed to reduce the risks of a potential fall, hospitalization, medication error, or any other factors that may threaten your loved one’s ability to remain at home.

Determine the best place to have the meeting. It is most important that your loved one feels safe and comfortable in the environment where the meeting is to be held. 

Use the first meeting as a time to explore the values, goals and fears that may exist. Speak slowly and make sure you are in a comfortable atmosphere with ample time to have the conversation. Do not have these conversations on the telephone, or in a rush.

Older adults often need “pacing,” in that they may take a longer period of time to digest information and respond.

The meeting can then approach the topic of home care in a more focused discussion that can lead to a plan.  

Prepare an agenda ahead of time to help you stay focused. The agenda should include:

o   Identification of values and fears of your loved one

o   Daily care needs to ensure your loved one can remain at home safely as long as possible

o   Discussions of quality of life and changes that can be made to improve it

o   Financial concerns

o   Roles each person would like to assume

o   Strategy with a timeline of tasks and goals to move forward

 At Home Care Assistance, we focus on not only providing assistance with the basic activities of daily living. Our goal is to reconnect our clients with the hobbies and ideas they love and may not have access to due to health changes. We focus on matching caregivers to the clients as we believe our clients must enjoy the company of the care provider to feel comfortable in a long-term relationship.

Submitted by Carol White, Owner of Home Care Assistance at Depot Marketplace in Prescott, (928) 771-0105, www.HomeCareAssistancePrescott.com.

Classic Books Seniors Will Love The Second Time Around

Classic literature will always hold value because these books are thought-provoking works that stand the test of time due to their strong, purposeful language, colorful characters, and captivating themes. However, perceptions of these books may change as people grow older, and these stories can affect them in different ways. Prescott elderly care experts have put together a list of few classic tales aging adults may want to revisit later in life.

The Hobbit

Though many seniors have likely seen Peter Jackson’s silver screen version of this classic J.R.R. Tolkien tale, the book is still worth reading once more. Not only is it rich with fantastic feats of courage and bravery, but it carries a poignant message about tapping into inner reserves of strength when they’re needed most. Both fun and exciting, The Hobbit is great way for seniors to comfortably while away the hours, and it can also be a tremendous source of inspiration.

The Catcher in the Rye

As the main protagonist of J.D. Salinger’s classic book, Holden Caulfield is riddled with enough angst to make him relatable to any teen. However, it is his pervasive sense of isolation that also makes him relatable to many seniors. Though this troubled 16-year-old can come off as a know-it-all at times, his adventures are captivating and his allusions to the sources of his pain are intriguing. Having raised children of their own, aging adults giving The Catcher in the Rye a second read can gain a far better understanding of why this young boy is so prone to personal disaster.

The Great Gatsby

F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel is a good read for any senior who loves dreaming of opulence, money earned fast and dishonestly, and friends who won’t leave their side even during the darkest and final hours. Not only is The Great Gatsby an incredibly captivating literary work, but it also has built-in layers of meaning most readers only understand after decades of building, maintaining, and even losing friendships.

Love You Forever

A bit more recent than the other books on this list, Love You Forever is by no means an adult book. In fact, some seniors might remember reading this Robert Munsch book to their own children many years ago. This short and beautifully illustrated work takes the reader through every stage of the child protagonist’s life as his mother does all she possibly can to make him feel comfortable and loved. At the book’s very end, the young boy has become a grown man and, just as his mother once stole into his room to rock him to sleep, he now steals into hers to provide the same sense of comfort and support.

Reading regularly is a wonderful way for seniors to stave off cognitive disorders like dementia and Alzheimer’s. If your loved one needs more mental stimulation in his or her life, turn to Home Care Assistance. We are a leading provider of Alzheimer’s and dementia home care Prescott, AZ, seniors can count on, and we also offer comprehensive stroke and Parkinson’s care. For more information, call one of our qualified Care Managers today at 928-771-0105.

Visit us online @ www.homecareassistanceprescott.com 

Top 4 Leisure Activities for Aging Adults in Prescott

After retiring, people over 65 often have extra time on their hands, which gives them a chance to pick up a new hobby or just enjoy some of the fun and relaxing activities their local communities offer. In Prescott, there are plenty of leisure activities seniors can partake in, and the Prescott, AZ, in-home senior care experts at Home Care Assistance want to share 4 your aging loved one might enjoy.

1. Appreciating Art at the Phippen Museum

If your loved one wants to learn about local artists, he or she should head over to the Phippen Museum. Located just north of the Heritage Park Zoological Sanctuary, this small museum is home to dozens of rotating and permanent exhibits. In addition to receiving discounts on their own admission, local seniors can also buy affordable group passes for family and friends. Yearly memberships include unlimited free admissions and a 10 percent discount at the museum store.

2. Going on Wine Tours

A wine tour is a great way for your loved one and his or her closest friends to spend a little time outdoors while learning more about the art of making wine. Many of the leading wine tour companies offer free pickups and drop offs throughout Prescott, Sedona, and the surrounding communities, which is an excellent option if your loved one no longer drives or would like to avoid driving after a wine tasting tour. Companies like Sedona Wine Adventures even offer discounted food and drinks for groups of 5 or more.

3. Playing Games at the Adult Center

Playing competitive games is one of the best ways your loved one can keep his or her mind active and alert, and the Adult Center of Prescott is the perfect place to learn new games or enjoy the classics. Throughout the week, this center hosts a number of small events for adults who would like to try out games like mahjong and dominoes. Membership packages currently start at $55 per year and offer seniors access to gaming events, language classes, and the pool and exercise facilities.

4. Joining the Prescott Photography Group

With iconic scenery and beautiful views throughout the area, Prescott is the perfect city to learn more about amateur photography. The Prescott Photography Group accommodates photographers of all ages and skill levels and offers a variety of online and offline resources, including forums and how-to books. Members are invited to meet at the Prescott Public Library once a month to discuss tips, tricks, and stories about their latest photography adventures.

By hiring a Prescott, AZ, home caregiver from Home Care Assistance, your loved one can receive transportation any day of the week to enjoy activities such as these. Our caregivers also make wonderful social companions and are expertly trained to help seniors maintain happy and healthy lives. For more information on our elderly care services and to schedule a free in-home consultation, call 928-771-0105 today.

Visit us online @ www.homecareassistanceprescott.com