As summer winds down, one time-honored tradition is taking place across the country – the fair. From smaller county fairs to grand state fairs, your community is gathering together to enjoy many of the things that make your hometown or state a great place to live. Talk to your senior home care provider about the best way to have your loved one enjoy a few hours at the fair while staying safe.

There are Plenty of Activities for Older Visitors at the Fair

Senior Home Care Morris County NJ – They’re Never Too Old to Go to the Fair

While many may only think of the extreme rides like the Crazy Mouse or the Zipper that appeal mostly to the young, fairs are also a great place for people not quite as young to gather and enjoy themselves as well. There is almost guaranteed to be something for everyone and something your elderly loved one will enjoy!

Crafts and Competitions

Fairs are famous for their blue-ribbon competitions where people enter their largest watermelons, their best-baked pies, and even giant quilts made by hand. If your loved one has a special talent, she might even like being entered into one of these time-honored contests. If not, she’s sure to enjoy a leisurely walk around to see all of the entries.

Animals

Depending on where you’re from, many fairs have petting zoos and competitions for pets and domesticated animals. Your loved one might enjoy watching a dog show, horse wrangling, or some chicks hatching. If she’s an animal lover, the fair might have something right up her alley.

Food, Food, and More Food

Fairs are notorious for some of the most outlandish, yet delicious food that while you shouldn’t enjoy regularly, it makes for a great fair treat. Giant corn dogs, waffles on sticks, and triple-scoop ice cream cones are just a smattering of what your loved one may like to enjoy during a visit to her local fair.

People Watching

Don’t forget about finding a bench, having a seat, and just enjoying watching all of the families enjoy their day at the fair. It’s a great way to feel connected to the community.

Here are a few top considerations your senior home care provider can help with if going to the fair for a solo visit is not in the cards for your loved one.

Transportation

It’s not uncommon to have to park a long distance from the fair and then make the trek there on foot. A senior home care companion can drop your loved one right off at the front gate.

Mobility Assistance

Speaking of long walks, just walking around some big state fairs can easily be 10,000 steps and if your loved one isn’t used to that, you might consider having your senior home care provider pack up a wheelchair to help her around in. Depending on the terrain, an ECV might be a good choice as well.

Safety

Many fairs attract huge crowds which can mean there are people there who might want to rob or bother your elderly loved one. Having an escort like a senior home care provider will help her stay safe if anything should happen.

Weather Prep

It’s still summer, so sunscreen, bug spray, and plenty of water should all travel with your loved one when she visits the fair to help her stay in good shape as she visits each area.

It’s fair to say, your loved one is going to love going to the fair again.

If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring professional Senior Home Care Services in Morris County NJ, please talk to the caring staff at Generations Home Health Care today.

Providing Home Care in Somerset, Essex, Union, Morris, and Hunterdon Counties. Call us today at (908) 290-0691 or (973) 241-4534.

Staying sociable during the COVID-19 epidemic was made easier because virtual activities did not require individuals to physically be together. However, lifting pandemic limitations is no reason to abandon online interaction altogether. In fact, seniors with mobility challenges or compromised immune systems may remain socially active via virtual social activities without worrying about physically going somewhere or being exposed to potentially hazardous infections. In-home care providers can help your senior engage in this way of socializing.

In-Home Care Hunterdon NJ – Socializing Online Still Has Benefits for Seniors

Several activities can keep seniors engaged, but sometimes it may be difficult for them to find the motivation to participate. They may have problems coming up with exciting ideas for themselves or staying with a schedule that keeps them engaged. If this describes your elderly parent or other loved one, you might consider hiring in-home care providers. With the help of in-home care providers, your senior can discover enjoyable activities that accommodate their individual needs or restrictions. However, in the last few years, getting out and seeing people has become harder for the elderly.

What else can your loved one do? You and their in-home care aides can encourage them to opt for online options!

Why Virtual Events Are Beneficial for Seniors

Humans are wired to be sociable. The health of an introvert depends on their ability to engage with others. Numerous studies have shown that socializing benefits your health in many ways, including lowering your stress levels, keeping your brain healthy, and warding off illness.

If you or an elderly loved one has trouble moving about, participating in social activities online may be the ideal way to stay connected. Homebound seniors may find that engaging in virtual conversations with others might help them feel less alone and improve their physical and mental health.

How to Find Virtual Events for Seniors

Online networking is convenient since it expands your circle of friends outside your immediate vicinity. Play games with individuals from all over the globe or join a book club with folks from various regions of the nation. Here are some ways to find those online virtual events for seniors.

Use the library as a resource. A lot of the time, your seniors’ local library will host talks or events that they will also host on zoom. Stop by and grab your senior a printed calendar with zoom links necessary to attend. Numerous community centers and libraries provide low-cost or no-cost online activities for people of all ages. You may discover whether a local group offers any online courses by visiting their official websites.

Let them take a virtual class. Signing up for a class is another wonderful choice for retirees who want to expand their social circle and their knowledge base. You or your loved one may be interested in enrolling in one of the live courses offered by groups like Virtual Senior Academy or the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) via their Senior Planet program.

If you still can’t find a local online event and have multiple seniors in your life, it’s time to start something on your own. This is the time to start a book club or online art group that all of the seniors in your life can use to connect with each other and do an activity. You can also start marketing this group to other people in your community. You may be surprised to find how much it grows.

If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring professional In-Home Care Services in Hunterdon NJ, please talk to the caring staff at Generations Home Health Care today. Providing Home Care in Somerset, Essex, Union, Morris, and Hunterdon Counties. Call us today at (908) 290-0691 or (973) 241-4534.

You may not know this, but on October 23rd, it’s time to celebrate National Make a Difference Day. You can do this in so many ways, and it might be a good time to visit your parents or seniors. This day is a good day to find out what needs to be done around the house and how you can help them out. If a senior wants to get out and make a difference, this is a good chance for an in-home care provider to drive them to a volunteer opportunity.

In-Home Care Berkeley Heights NJ – October 23rd National Make a Difference Day

There are many ways the senior you love can get out and make a difference and ways for you to show you care while making a difference in your senior’s life. National Make a Difference Day takes things to a whole new level which encourages and promotes helping each other. Millions of people come together to volunteer on projects and make a change. Small changes and actions can impact the nation as a whole.

When you see your parents next, mention the national holiday that is still gaining popularity. See if the in-home care assistant can help take the senior to do something. If the senior cannot do anything, ask the in-home care specialist what needs to be done around the house. Even if you are not a volunteer, you can still make a change that will impact the seniors’ lives.

Things You Can do for The Senior

Firstly, ask what needs to be done. If the senior cannot remember, ask the in-home care advisor who is with them every day. They will have a good idea of what needs to get done they cannot do legally and things the senior cannot do either. This is a good place to start, and it will feel rewarding to help your parents or loved one.

Mow the Lawn

Caregivers can do small tasks and help manage the household, but they may not do yard work. Having a yard is a ton of work for a senior, and if you have the time on October 23rd, you should stop by to mow your loved one’s yard.

Pressure Wash the Driveway

Simple activities for you may not be for the senior. If they own a house with a decent driveway, clean it off for them. This makes the driveway look nice and also keeps it from growing mildew or anything else that may make a senior fall.

Things the Senior Can do for Others with Some In-Home Care Help

If your loved one is still mobile, they may want to volunteer on October 23rd. They may have even already heard of this day. The great news about volunteering is the in-home care provider can ensure transportation for the seniors, especially planned in advance. Here are a few ideas for them.

Read to Kids

If a local hospital accepts volunteers to read to kids, this may be a great way to make a difference. This is something that even a senior who isn’t super mobile can do.

Picking up Garbage

Local parks need a lot of volunteer love. If your senior has a favorite park they like to go to, they can volunteer to trail clean and pick up garbage. This is great for seniors who are a little bit more active or can stand for a few hours.

If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring professional In-Home Care Services in Berkeley Heights NJ, please talk to the caring staff at Generations Home Health Care today. Providing Home Care in Somerset, Essex, Union, Morris and Hunterdon Counties. Call us today at (908) 290-0691 or (973) 241-4534.

September’s Classical Music Month was established in 1994 by President Clinton. The benefits gained by listening to classical music are plentiful. Studies have found that listening to this type of music reduces stress and lowers blood pressure. It exercises the brain. It helps with balance and gait.

Home Care Warren NJ – Five Modern Classical Musicians to Play for Your Parents

Your parents likely know older classical musicians. Spend Classical Music Month introducing them to more modern classical musicians.

Here are five to try.

Ofra Harnoy

Cellist Ofra Harnoy has several bestselling albums to her name. She’s won several Juno awards between 1986 and 1993. She also holds several “Best of” awards from music magazines.

Start your parents with the four-disc Vivaldi concertos. Back to Bach is a newer album that will appeal to them. Don’t overlook Imagine, a collection of her classical instrumental versions of many Beatles songs.

Jennifer Higdon

Jennifer Higdon has won a Pulitzer Prize for Music and several Grammy Awards. The composer has worked with the Atlanta Symphony, the Chicago Symphony, the Dallas Symphony, the National Symphony, and several others.

Have your parents listen to Cold Mountain (The Santa Fe Opera). After that, celebrate America’s music with All Things Majestic.

Kronos Quartet

The four musicians in Kronos Quartet focus on a variety of musical genres including contemporary classical music. They started in the 1970’s and include two violinists, a viola player, and a cellist. They’ve won several awards including Grammy awards in 2004 and 2018.

Pieces of Africa was a #1 album. Lyric Suite was a Grammy winner. Start with those albums and see what your parents think.

Max Richter

Here are a few suggestions for albums to introduce your parents to. Three Worlds: Music From Woolf Works is a tribute to Virginia Woolf’s writings. Recomposed is his take on Vivaldi: The Four Seasons.

This composer and pianist is one of today’s most popular contemporary classical artists. He’s sold well over one million albums, and his music is streamed even more than that. If you’ve seen the Golden Globe winner Waltz With Bashir or HBO’s The Leftovers, you may have already heard his music.

John Williams

John Williams’ music is probably familiar to you and your parents. He’s known for the music in the Star Wars movies. He’s also known for the Jurassic Park theme and music in many other movies like Harry Potter, Jaws, Raiders of the Lost Ark, and Saving Private Ryan.

Listen to all of them on John Williams: A Life in Music. Even better, get The Music of John Williams: The Definitive Collection to experience most everything he’s done.

Home Care providers help provide the care your parents need when you can’t. Home care aides can make sure your parents are entertained and engaged throughout the week. They can put on music for your parents, watch a movie with them, or take them out for a drive. Call our home care agency to arrange caregivers.

Source:  https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/music-and-health

If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring professional Home Care Services in Warren NJ, please talk to the caring staff at Generations Home Health Care today. Providing Home Care in Somerset, Essex, Union, Morris and Hunterdon Counties. Call us today at (908) 290-0691 or (973) 241-4534.

Your dad is home following social-distancing rules under he COVID-19 guidlines. He’s also getting very bored. That boredom has him going outside and looking for things to do. He’s starting to talk about missing his friends and wanting to visit his children and grandchildren. Volunteering may be the best way to keep him from breaking social-isolation guidelines. These four organizations need work-from-home volunteers.

Home Care Services Warren NJ – Four Organizations That Need Work-From-Home Volunteers

The Library of Congress

By the People is a division of the Library of Congress that uses volunteers to transcribe historical letters and documents, add keywords to images, or review the work other volunteers have done and verify its accuracy. Transcription doesn’t require your dad to register. Tags and review work does require him to register. To sign up or learn more, visit https://crowd.loc.gov/.

The National Archives and Records Administration

If your dad is good at reading cursive handwriting, he could volunteer with the National Archives. They need volunteers to read and transcribe letters and other historical documents into their online system. If that’s not appealing, volunteers are also needed to view old photos and other images and add tags. Sign up at https://www.archives.gov/citizen-archivist.

Red Cross

The Red Cross uses digital volunteers to monitor forums for people who need help from the Red Cross. They also share information through social media and listen to those who need someone to listen to their fears and concerns in a compassionate, helpful manner. To learn more, your dad should visit https://redcrosschat.org/digitalvolunteer/.

Smithsonian

Your dad could sign up to be a Smithsonian Digital Volunteer. He can find projects that best match his interests. He’ll be transcribing historical documents like manuscripts, field notes, diaries, logs, and ledgers. The projects range from transcribing Freedmen’s Bureau documents to the field notes of a scientist who spent time observing birds and plants in the Andes. He can sign up at https://transcription.si.edu/.

Have you talked to your dad about home care services? If he’s feeling stir-crazy because of the current pandemic, he’s more likely to try to go out and do things as normal. He finds he’s low on sugar and risks the trip to the grocery store. He needs more Advil, so he goes to the pharmacy.

Home care services aides can keep him at home by running errands for him. They can arrange prescription refills and pick them up. They can clean and sterilize your dad’s home. They can cook his meals and make sure he’s not showing signs of the virus. If he is, they can make sure he gets the care he needs. Most importantly, home care services aides can make sure he has supplies and opportunities to stay busy with hobbies and volunteer opportunities.

If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring professional Home Care Services in Warren NJ, please talk to the caring staff at Generations Home Health Care today. Providing Home Care in Somerset, Essex, Union, Morris and Hunterdon Counties. Call us today at (908) 290-0691 or (973) 241-4534.

Volunteering is more than helpful to others, it’s good for your mom’s health. According to the Corporation for National & Community Service, older adults who volunteered had lower rates of disability and mobility issues and improved mental and physical well-being.

Home Care Bernardsville NJ – Five Ways to Get Your Mom Involved in Her Community

Depression is one area that studies have looked at. People who volunteer often have lower stress levels and rates of depression. For those who do become depressed, people who volunteer seem to have a shorter span of being depressed. It’s clear that volunteering is good for your mom, so how do you get her involved?

Take Her to a Senior Center

If your mom is not active at her local senior center, she should be. In addition to having opportunities to socialize and meet others, volunteer opportunities are often posted or shared with the senior center’s guests.

Look Online

Sites like AARP have listings of volunteer opportunities in each area. Your mom can search by interest and location. She’ll have plenty of time to research the volunteer agencies and organizations before she makes a call or signs up online.

Join Her in a Volunteering Opportunity

Join your mom. If she’s not alone, she may be more willing to volunteer. Find something you’re both interested in and look for volunteer opportunities in that interest. For example, if you and your mom love to read, you could volunteer to read to children in the hospital. If you love to crochet, you could make hats and blankets for cancer patients.

Call the Hospital

Hospitals always need volunteers. They need volunteers for gift shops, information desks, and flower deliveries to rooms. Some hospitals also need volunteers who will sit and rock the infants in the NICU ward.

Find Volunteer Opportunities She Can Do at Home

Some volunteer opportunities are easily done from home. Knitting and crocheting blankets, hats, socks, and squares are some of the more common ones. Stuffing envelopes for non-profit agencies is another.

As your mom’s needs change, make sure you continue to match her changing abilities with the help she receives. Some of the things older adults find harder as they age are remembering to take medications, shopping for groceries, and preparing meals. Home care services help with this.

A home care aide can cook meals, plan menus, and join your mom at the store. The home care provider  can dine with her, clean the kitchen after a meal, and keep her fridge organized. Call our agency to find out how much home care providers cost and how often you can have caregivers stop by.

If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring professional Home Care Services in Bernardsville NJ, please talk to the caring staff at Generations Home Health Care today. Providing Home Care in Somerset, Essex, Union, Morris and Hunterdon Counties. Call us today at (908) 290-0691 or (973) 241-4534.

Outdoor summer activities can be just the thing to get your senior active and excited about her life again. But they can also be occasions in which your elderly family member gets overheated too easily. Preparing for these activities in advance helps to ensure that they’re as safe as possible for your senior.

Senior Care Essex County NJ – Get Ready for Outdoor Summer Activities with Your Senior

Keep an Eye on the Weather

With outdoor activities, you want the weather to be clear and nice, of course. But you also want to make sure that the temperature won’t be too high. If your senior is likely to be exposed to high temperatures, you need to make sure that you’re prepared for whatever might happen. Sign up for weather alerts. You can customize them for temperature, humidity levels, air quality, and even pollen types and counts.

Snacks and Water Are a Must, Too

Even if your senior is only going to be out for a couple of hours, it still makes sense to pack some snacks that won’t go bad and some water. Pack a few bottles of water or at least make sure that you’ll be able to refill a reusable water bottle no matter where you go. Have some water before leaving, too. As far as snacks go, you might want to avoid anything that could melt or snacks that are full of sugar.

Wardrobe Matters When it’s Hot

What your senior wears outside in the heat and the sun very much matters. Loose clothing, preferably with long sleeves and legs, might be the best choice as long as the material lets lots of air through. The long sleeves and legs allow for some sun protection, which can be vital. Keep in mind as well that lighter colors reflect heat while darker colors tend to capture heat. That means that your senior could feel cooler in lighter-colored clothing.

Don’t Forget Sunblock, Hats, and Umbrellas

Accessories can help where her wardrobe lets your senior down a bit. For instance, if she doesn’t have or want to wear longer sleeves out in the sun, a big floppy hat and a sun umbrella can make up the difference. Don’t forget sunblock, either. Spray-on versions can be a lot easier and faster to apply and to reapply throughout the day.

Getting outside when the weather tends to be nicer is one of the best aspects of summer. Your senior may need some additional help to ensure that she’s safe and healthy even in hot weather, though. It can be a good idea to hire senior care providers, especially if your elderly family member enjoys going on day trips outside during summer when you can’t be with her.

If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring professional Senior Care Services in Essex County NJ, please talk to the caring staff at Generations Home Health Care today. Providing Home Care in Somerset, Essex, Union, Morris and Hunterdon Counties. Call us today at (908) 290-0691 or (973) 241-4534.

July is National Wheelchair Beautification Month and many cities and towns across the United States are encouraging people to participate. Often they hold parades or theme contests so that people who are confined to wheelchairs can have some fun and express themselves creatively. Seniors are usually excited to participate in the activities but will need some help from family caregivers and home care providers to make the dream a reality.

Home Care Essex County NJ – 5 Ideas to Decorate an Elderly Person’s Wheelchair

The internet is full of inspirational ideas for decorating a wheelchair, whether it’s manually operated or electric. Some decoration ideas are elegant in their simplicity while others require lightweight frames to change the look of the wheelchair. Family caregivers and home care providers should work closely with the elderly person to allow their personality to shine.

Here are 5 ideas to decorate an elderly person’s wheelchair, with the help of family members, friends and home care providers:

Royal Throne

Make the wheelchair into a regal seat fit for a king or queen. Using cardboard, build up the back so that it is quite tall. Gold paint, faux jewels, and lush fabrics can transform the wheelchair into a proper throne. To complete the look, give the elderly person a crown, cape and scepter to symbolize their power.

Superhero Vehicle

From Batman and Wonder Woman to Captain America and Superman, superheroes have never been so popular. With a little ingenuity, family caregivers and home care providers can help seniors change their wheelchair into the Batmobile, for example. Similarly, the wheelchair can take on the colors and logo of their favorite crime-fighter for a true transformation.

Fairy Tale Creatures

A wheelchair doesn’t usually figure into classic fairy tales, but that shouldn’t stop an elderly person from picking a fairy tale theme. With help from family members and home care providers, a wheelchair can become a pumpkin carriage, scaly green dragon, unicorn, flying carpet, chariot or a ship. There are lots of examples online where people have turned fairy tale themed wheelchairs into some amazing works of art.

Space Ships and UFOs

The mysteries of space intrigue and inspire, but an elderly person can master all the mystery by changing their wheelchair into a rocket ship. Using cardboard and a lightweight wire frame, seniors can make it look like they are piloting a rocket, space shuttle or futuristic space ship. In a similar style, the wheelchair can turn into a funny UFO, complete with rope lighting and an alien pilot.

Nature and Flowers

While the wheelchair is a modern technical marvel, seniors can bring in elements of nature to their decorating theme. Using faux greenery and flowers, the wheelchair can become a jungle or a meadow. Tropical flowers, faux palm trees, sea shells and a beach towel embrace a beach theme. From snowy mountains to an underwater theme, nature can inspire some pretty clever decoration ideas.

National Wheelchair Beautification Month is a wonderful way for seniors to have a little fun, take pride in their assistive device and work together with family caregivers and home care providers to exercise their creativity. Even if they don’t win the local wheelchair decorating contest, they’ve already won so much more.

If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring professional Home Care Services in Essex County NJ, please talk to the caring staff at Generations Home Health Care today. Providing Home Care in Somerset, Essex, Union, Morris and Hunterdon Counties. Call us today at (908) 290-0691 or (973) 241-4534.

Being a family caregiver gives you the unique opportunity to spend more quality time with your aging parent, and to encourage the rest of your family to do the same. If you are a member of the sandwich generation, that is, caring for your parent as well as children, you can help to boost family relationships and improve your care efforts by setting aside time for all of you to spend time together. While there are countless activities that you can enjoy together, playing board games together is a fun, accessible, and inexpensive way that you can be together and have fun without having to leave the home.

Use these tips to encourage spending quality time together as a family playing board games:

Elder Care Somerset County NJ – Spending Quality Time as a Family Playing Board Games

• Choose one that is accessible to everyone playing. You want there to be enough challenge that it is fun, but not so much that it will be overwhelming and frustrating.

• Go over the rules in their entirety before playing the game. Even if you have played many times before, reviewing the rules can be instrumental to a young child or an elder with cognitive functioning decline being involved confidently.

• Consider teaming up so that there is a younger person and an older person on each team. Spread out the capabilities so that each team is as evenly matched as possible.

• Don’t be afraid to change the rules to accommodate the needs of your family. Just make sure that these changes are clearly stated at the beginning of game play.

• Don’t just think about playing the game. Use this opportunity to talk, share, and connect as a family.

Starting elder care for your aging parent can be a fantastic way to encourage a higher quality of life and to ensure that they get all of the care, support, and assistance that they need both when you are able to be with them and when you are not.

This elder home care services provider can step in to fill care gaps that might exist in the efforts that you give them as well as to provide additional support and services that help your parent to remain safe, healthy, happy, and comfortable, while also encouraging as much independence, activity, and fulfillment as possible as they age in place.

This can be particularly beneficial if you live at a distance from your parent, or your schedule or personal limitations are such that you cannot be with them as often as you want to, or cannot fulfill all of their needs in the ways that are right for your parent.

Source:  http://www.healthfitnessrevolution.com/top-10-health-benefits-board-games/

If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring professional Elder Care Services in Somerset County NJ, please talk to the caring staff at Generations Home Health Care today. Providing Home Care in Somerset, Essex, Union, Morris and Hunterdon Counties. Call us today at (908) 290-0691 or (973) 241-4534.