Category: Misc

Your senior loved one deserves to travel and see the world, and post-retirement is the perfect time to hit the road. There are many fun places to see, full of new experiences, lively cultures, and beautiful sights. If your loved one has a bucket list, encourage him or her to check off one destination at a time. Here are some of the exciting places your loved one should visit post-retirement. 

1. Hawaii

Many of the tourists who travel to Hawaii are retired seniors. Although most people believe this US state is geared toward the younger crowd, there are many senior-friendly activities available on the different Hawaiian Islands. This allows your loved one to explore and participate in activities at his or her own pace without worrying about keeping up with others. Your senior loved one can enjoy the beaches, island cruises, forest trails, park tours, luaus, and much more.

Whether your senior loved one is able to go on vacation or not may depend on his or her health. If your elderly loved one is living with a serious medical condition and needs help managing the tasks of daily living, reach out to Senior Stride Home Care, an Oshkosh home care company you can trust. Our caregivers are available 24/7, there are no hidden fees in our contracts, and we offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee on all of our in-home care services.

2. Alaska 

An Alaskan cruise is perfect for senior retirees who love to hike offshore. Your loved one can be as relaxed or as active as he or she wants while traveling on an Alaskan cruise. There are itineraries for seniors only, in addition to activities your loved one can do with family and friends. Seniors can stay on board or go offshore to see the wonderful wildlife and scenery Alaska has to offer.

3. Miami, Florida 

This location may seem like a wild party spot, but it is actually an exciting destination for senior retirees. Your loved one can enjoy time at the beach or visit one of the many museums, botanical gardens, shopping centers, and restaurants in the area. These fun activities can help your loved one remain social while learning new things that could preserve his or her memory. 

4. Nevis 

Each year, many people travel to the Caribbean to enjoy the beautiful sights and fun activities. Nevis is the ideal choice for seniors because it doesn’t have all the noisy casinos and loud parties. Your loved one can enjoy a peaceful vacation tasting the fabulous cuisine, visiting the greenest islands, going to the fun golfing venues, and looking at the spectacular views of historic sights, including sugar mills and the wildlife at Nevis Peak. 

5. Sedona, Arizona 

This US location is less than an hour away from Phoenix, and it should be on the top of a retiree’s traveling list. It is located in a geological wonderland, surrounded by amazing scenery. Your loved one can see the red rock formations that change colors as the light and weather fluctuates. Seniors do not have to worry about traveling by foot. Instead, they can take jeep tours to go bird watching and more. Your retired loved one can also enjoy the stunning art scene or spend the day at one of the many spas in Sedona. 

Older adults with limited mobility or other health conditions may need assistance going outdoors or managing day-to-day activities. Performing daily tasks while simultaneously managing the symptoms of a serious illness can be challenging for seniors. The Oshkosh live-in care experts at Senior Stride Home Care are available 24/7 to make sure your loved one has the care he or she needs to remain safe and comfortable while aging in place.

6. Williamsburg, Virginia 

If your loved one enjoys history, this is the perfect post-retirement vacation spot. While visiting Williamsburg, he or she will have the opportunity to experience what it is like to be an original settler while staying at one of the many Colonial Houses. Your loved one can take a tour, visit the saddle makers, or meet up with the historical characters who act out the details of early life in America. This includes portrayals of the Founding Fathers and First Lady Martha Washington. The rich history could keep your loved one’s mind stimulated and active. 

7. Big Sur, California

A road trip allows seniors to travel at their own pace while enjoying the beautiful scenery. Highway One is a stretch of highway known as the Big Sur Coast, which is between Carmel and San Simeon. There are wonderful inns and resorts where seniors can sit in their rooms and soak up the gorgeous views. This is an inexpensive trip seniors can take with their friends and family, allowing them to bond and create everlasting memories.

Planning a trip while providing daily care for an elderly loved one can be a challenging task for family caregivers. If you are the primary caregiver for a senior loved one in Oshkosh, respite care is available when you need time away from your important caregiving duties. At Senior Stride Home Care, our respite caregivers are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to help your loved one manage everyday tasks in the comfort of home while you have the chance to take a much-needed break. Call us at 920-717-1767 to schedule a free in-home consultation.

The older people get, the more they want to find little ways to keep life simple. Doing so can benefit seniors and their caregivers by minimizing how much effort is put into everyday tasks and freeing up time to enjoy life. If your elderly loved one needs help managing everyday tasks or encouragement to adopt a simpler lifestyle, consider hiring a caregiver.

Oshkosh, Wisconsin, home care professionals can be a wonderful boon to seniors. Whether they require around-the-clock supervision or just need assistance with exercise and household tasks a few days a week, seniors can enjoy a higher quality of life with the help of trusted in-home caregivers.

If you aren’t sure where to start to help your loved one simplify his or her life, these tips can help. 

Pay Bills Online

If your loved one gets a large amount of mail each day, there may be a way to eliminate some of it by going paperless. Most utilities can be paid online these days, and most banks can send statements via email. Look for other ways to stop your loved one’s mail from piling up on various surfaces throughout the house. 

Hire Someone to Do Light Housekeeping

Keeping the floors mopped, the sheets washed, and the shelves dusted can be overwhelming in the senior years. Many family caregivers have their own home to take care of. Consider hiring a professional caregiver to take care of some light housekeeping at your loved one’s house. If you can’t afford a professional, talk to other friends and family members about setting up a rotating schedule. 

Eliminate Unnecessary Medications

Most seniors over the age of 65 take several vitamins and prescription medications. Look at what your loved one is taking and ask the doctor if any of it can be eliminated. For example, maybe your loved one was anemic at one time and was taking iron pills twice a day, but his or her blood levels are back to normal. Ask the doctor if your loved one can take just one pill or cut them out completely. 

If your elderly loved one requires assistance with medication reminders or other daily activities, consider hiring a caregiver. Oshkosh respite care professionals can assist seniors with a wide array of daily tasks, offering family caregivers the chance to focus on other personal responsibilities or take a break to prevent burnout. Whether it’s for a few hours a day or a few days a week, respite care is the perfect solution for family caregivers who are feeling overwhelmed.

Take Time to Declutter the House

Clutter tends to build up over time. Take a week or a month and help your loved one sort through everything piled up in the closets, spare rooms, basement, attic, and garage. Decide if it’s necessary for your loved one to hold on to every birthday card he or she has ever received. Clean out old clothes that no longer fit and donate them to charity or have a garage sale. 

Downsize

For many seniors, taking care of a home or living alone may be too overwhelming. Many seniors don’t want to spend their golden years cleaning and mowing the lawn. Talk to your loved one about downsizing to a smaller home or apartment if his or her current home is too much to manage. He or she may enjoy moving to a retirement village, which would offer plenty of social options. Your loved one may even want to move in with a relative. Approach the subject carefully so your loved one does not feel pressured into selling a beloved home.

Aging in place can present a few unique challenges for older adults. Some only require part-time assistance with exercise or meal preparation, while others are living with serious illnesses and benefit more significantly from receiving live-in care. Oshkosh, WI, Senior Stride Home Care are leaders in the elderly in-home care industry for good reason. We tailor our care plans based on each senior’s individual needs, our caregivers continue to receive updated training in senior care as new developments arise, and we also offer comprehensive care for seniors with Alzheimer’s, dementia, and Parkinson’s. Call us at 920-717-1767 to schedule an in-home consultation or to hire a dedicated caregiver for your senior loved one.

Planning activities for seniors with impaired vision requires a little creativity. However, you can keep your loved one engaged by exploring activities that involve the other senses. Through involving the senses of touch, hearing, and taste, you can provide seniors with impaired vision a variety of experiences that stimulate their mind and body.

Aging adults who require assistance with the tasks of daily living can benefit from reliable in-home senior care. Oshkosh, WI, families trust in Senior Stride Home Care to provide the high-quality care their elderly loved ones need and deserve. Our caregivers are trained to help seniors prevent and manage serious illnesses and encourage them to make healthier decisions as they age.

1. Sculpting

There are many arts and crafts that can be enjoyed by seniors with limited vision. However, sculpting might be a new one for many seniors. Sculpting is a sensory experience that allows seniors to dig their hands into clay and feel the art as it is being created. Seniors can share the art with other friends who have impaired vision because they can also use touch to feel the features. Seniors can sculpt with classic materials such as clay, or they can increase the sensory experience by using other materials such as metal and papier-mâché while creating their work of art.

2. Attending Lectures

Many communities host low-cost educational lectures. Help your loved one check with a library, a senior center, or a local community college to find lectures he or she might be interested in. Your loved one might also be interested in motivational speaking events. Alternatively, your loved one could listen to recorded audio lectures and take them to doctor appointments and other places where he or she has to wait.

Some seniors need assistance with transportation to events and medical appointments. If your aging loved one needs help managing the tasks of daily living and you’re searching for a reliable, expertly trained caregiver, Oshkosh, WI, Senior Stride Home Care is your top choice. At Senior Stride Home Care, our caregivers strive to make aging in place a safer and more comfortable experience for seniors so they can enjoy their golden years in better health.

3. Playing Modified Games

Many classic board games come in versions designed for seniors with visual impairment. For example, there are dominoes with raised dots that your loved one can feel and large-print versions of decks of cards that may be easier for him or her to see. There are also video and computer games that involve audio play, which can entertain your loved one.

4. Listening to Music

Seniors with visual impairments can enjoy listening to their favorite songs and benefit from its soothing effects. Arrange for your loved one to attend a concert with a caregiver. Seniors who really enjoy music can also learn to play an instrument, which can be modified to accommodate limited vision.

5. Gardening

Gardening can be healing for a senior’s body and soul. A garden provides a multisensory experience that can fill a senior with joy, even if he or she has impaired vision. Encourage your loved one to plant fragrant herbs and flowers such as lavender. Your loved one is likely to smell the beautiful scent of his or her hard work every time he or she steps outdoors. From adding plants with texture to bold blooms that brighten up the outdoor space, there is always something to do in a garden and seniors will usually find something interesting to keep them busy.

Some seniors need occasional assistance at home, and oftentimes the family members who take care of them need time away to run errands, take a nap, go to work, or take a vacation. Oshkosh, WI, part-time care experts from Senior Stride Home Care are available on an as-needed basis, giving your family peace of mind that your loved one will remain safe and comfortable while you relax or focus on other important responsibilities. Call a qualified Care Manager at 920-717-1767 to learn about our senior home care services and to schedule a free in-home consultation.

If you are the family caregiver of a senior loved one, there are several legal documents you need to consider. Oshkosh senior care providers discuss a few important legal papers caregivers need to know about.

Durable Power of Attorney

A durable power of attorney allows family caregivers to act on behalf of their senior loved ones when they become incompetent to act on their own. The document allows you to control money, sign legal contracts, sell real estate, and do many other things on behalf of your loved one. Unlike a power of attorney, a durable power of attorney gives you rights only in certain areas.

Conservatorship

If your senior loved one cannot make any decisions for him or herself, you can ask a judge to appoint you as a conservator. This document requires you to look after his or her basic care. Every decision you make in this regard must be approved by the court.

Living Will

You may want to encourage your loved one to complete a living will. This document allows seniors to decide whether or not they want to be put on life support if they cannot speak for themselves. This document is also known as an Advance Health Care Directive Form. It’s important to note that a living will is not needed if you are the conservator or have durable power of attorney.

Do Not Resuscitate/Do Not Intubate (DNR/DNI) Order

These orders can be combined with the living will, if desired. This document tells the medical team if the senior wants CPR or other rescue breathing techniques should he or she stop breathing.

If you need time to prepare an important legal document, but you can’t leave your senior loved one alone at home, call Senior Stride Home Care. We offer a range of customized senior care plans to help boost your loved one’s health and wellbeing while you tend to other important work. For high-quality and experienced respite and live-in caregivers in Oshkosh, get in touch with one of our friendly Care Managers today at 920-717-1767.

In our complex, fast-paced world, a cell phone is no longer a luxury but a necessity. Being able to quickly call another person can spare your loved one stress and possibly save their life. In June 2015, Forbes reported on the best cell phones for seniors. None of them involves a contract or cancellation fee. Oshkosh in-home senior care professionals summarize the details of the top-rated models.

1. Doro PhoneEasy 626 from Consumer Cellular

This flip phone features a bright screen, extra-loud speaker, shortcut keys for quick contact, and a camera. It is also hearing aid compatible with a visual ring indicator. The Emergency Help button on the back can provide timely assistance through GPS technology, identifying your loved one’s location.

2. Jitterbug5 from GreatCall

Also a clamshell design, the Jitterbug5 has a simple yes/no navigation system. “Urgent Care” is an option to connect your loved one around the clock with a nurse or doctor for medical advice. Jitterbug5 exceeds Federal Communication Commission requirements for hearing aid compatibility. It is one of the few cell phones that works with telecoil hearing devices.

A unique feature of this phone is the ability to program automated medication reminders. With the caregiver app, you can log onto a smartphone, tablet, or computer and check your loved one’s whereabouts using GPS. The app also alerts you when the phone is used to contact emergency personnel.

A “5Star” emergency button on the phone connects to a certified Urgent Response Agent. Each professional is trained to handle a medical emergency or provide assistance if a caller becomes lost or feels unsafe. Using GPS, an agent can dispatch emergency personnel to any location.

3. SnapfonezTWO

This cell phone responds to voice commands via a “speaking keypad.” The full-color screen is easy to read. Upon pressing the red SOS button, the phone sends a text to designated contacts. The SnapfonezTWO is also hearing aid compatible with enhanced volume and a speaker phone. Other senior-friendly features include easy navigation and an LED flashlight.

Contact List

In addition to your phone number, help your loved one program phone numbers of other emergency contacts. Save the phone numbers of your loved one’s physician, clergy, local police, fire department, and a taxi service.

If you are concerned about your loved one’s safety, in addition to purchasing a senior-friendly cell phone for him or her, consider hiring a caregiver from Senior Stride Home Care. Apart from increasing safety both in and outside of the home, our trained caregivers can help your loved one manage everyday tasks and boost his or her overall wellbeing. We provide reliable respite and live-in home care. Oshkosh families can contact a Care Manager at 920-717-1767 for more information and to schedule a no-obligation consultation.

Whether your loved one goes out to parties or stays inside handing out candy on Halloween, he or she will need a creative costume. Below are four clever DIY costumes that Oshkosh home care providers recommend making with your loved one.

1. The Silent Knight

Make fun of the old Christmas song “Silent Night” by dressing your loved one as an actual knight. Use lead sheet with a bird’s feather to make the helmet for protective armor. Spray paint on a non-slip safety mat to make the armor and sew the edges of the item to complete the look. Add a piece of duct tape over your loved one’s mouth to finish the Halloween costume and add a bit of humor to the holiday.

2. A Senior in High School

Help your loved one feel young again by dressing him or her up as a high school senior. Get a pile of books, pick up a letterman jacket from a thrift store, and spike your loved one’s hair with a bit of gel to transform him or her into a different type of senior for the night. Additional props include a pair of high tops sneakers, some pom poms, or a basketball.

3. Colonel Sanders

Get people in the mood for KFC on Halloween by dressing your loved one as Colonel Sanders with this classic costume that will turn heads. The costume is easy to put together with a white suit, browline glasses, and a black string tie with formal attire from former decades. You can even visit a local KFC restaurant to obtain a red basket that your loved one can carry around and collect candy with on Halloween.

4. The Queen of England

Ladies can feel like royalty for the night by dressing up as The Queen of England. Have your loved one wear her best coat dress and a formal hat or crown to match. Accessories can also be worn such as a broach that can be worn on the chest and a pair of pearls worn around the neck. She can even use a small handbag and carry around a tea mug so that your loved one is more recognizable.

Boost your loved one’s spirits this Halloween and all year round with help from Senior Stride Home Care. We are the leading provider of both live-in and hourly home care Oshkosh seniors trust to make life at home more manageable without compromising their dignity. Contact us at 920-717-1767 today to talk to an experienced Care Manager about our comprehensive in-home services.

Retiring and becoming a senior citizen does not necessarily mean that an individual becomes physically incapacitated. Providers of senior home care in Oshkosh know that there are many older adults who enjoy an active lifestyle. Some seniors fall into the extreme end of the spectrum and are celebrated as amazing athletes.

D. Paul Miller

Health and fitness remains a priority for this retired Illinois Wesleyan University professor. His favorite sport to take part in is cycling. At the age of 95, Miller was the oldest competitor in the 2013 National Senior Games.

Jacinto Bonilla

In 2006, Bonilla read an article in Men’s Health concerning the sport of Crossfit and began training and competing. In 2012, Bonilla placed 17th in the Crossfit world competition in the 60+ division. At 76-years of age, he continues competing in the sport and is a Crossfit instructor in Brooklyn, NY.

Sister Madonna

At 86 years of age, the “Iron Nun” remains an avid Ironman and triathlon participant. Her running career began with jogging at the age of 48. Crediting the “man upstairs” as being her coach, the Roman Catholic nun has completed 360 triathlons and 45 Ironman competitions.

Paul Tetrick

Professional cyclist Alison Tetrick has a unique relationship with one of her competitors. He also happens to be her grandfather, Paul Tetrick. The 86-year-old won 12 U.S.A. Cycling Time Trial Championships. He also placed ahead of his granddaughter in the 20K Paula Higgins Memorial Record Challenge Time Trial.

Steve Rounds

At the age of 66, Rounds became interested in the sport of rowing. Since that time, the 87-year-old achieved 20 world titles in the sport. Though frequently winning the event, Rounds strives to break the 2K-world record.

Yuichiro Miura

In 2013, Miura became the oldest person to reach the summit of Mount Everest. He was 80 at the time. The senior mountain climber boasts having made the journey three times. Miura was over 70 when he confronted the famous summit for the first time.

When it comes to maintaining vitality, Senior Stride Home Care can help. As the leading provider of stroke, dementia, and Alzheimer’s home care in Oshkosh, we promote the physical and emotional wellbeing of the seniors in our care. Learn how we can help your loved one achieve the golden years he or she deserves. Call 920-710-CARE (2273) today to set up a free consultation with a reliable Care Manager.