Heading Home for the Holidays?
Time to Assess Needs of Aging Loved Ones

Article submitted by Melinda Reyes, Vice President In Home Services.
For more information, she can be reached at 480-222-7325 or by e-mail: mreyes@azseals.org, or visit their website: www.easterseals.com.

Easter Seals Offers Tips for Adult Sons and Daughters this Season
Gathering to celebrate and reconnect with family and friends for the holidays is a highlight for all, young and old. Along with the turkey, menorah, tree, gifts and good tidings, going "home for the holidays" provides an opportunity – especially for long-distance caregivers and adult children – to evaluate the ever-changing needs of aging loved ones.

This holiday season, many Americans will visit with an aging parent or other loved one over the age of 65. For some, such visits offer the first opportunity in several months to spend time with their parents. Adult children may notice slight changes in their parent's lives from previous visits, signs that could indicate a need for increased support.

"Caring for our aging population -- our parents and grandparents -- is a growing concern for Easter Seals," said Jed Johnson, Easter Seals assistant vice president, Adult and Senior Services. "Family situations and the needs of an aging parent will unfold over time, but the best time to begin planning for care is before it's needed."

Help for "to be" Caregivers
Today, more than 50 million people provide care for a chronically ill, disabled or aging family member or friend. By 2030, the population of Americans over age 65 -- and those family members who care for them -- is expected to double.*

To help, Easter Seals has developed several resources that offer guidance for families providing care for their aging parents, including its new Loving Conversations booklet and Aging in Stride book, online resources for adult day services, and solutions for common transportation challenges. The tools share advice on healthcare, living arrangements, alternative forms of transportation, financial management, legal issues, and community support groups and organizations. Most important, Easter Seals can walk families through the necessary, tough discussions and overall decision process. To order copies of the guidebooks or learn more visit www.easterseals.com.

"The role of caregiver can be complicated. It is one of life's most important -- and potentially rewarding -- challenges. Knowing what warning signs to look for and having the right information for difficult decisions can make all the difference," added Johnson.

Holiday Check-In
When visiting with older loved ones this holiday season, Easter Seals recommends taking time to evaluate their current and future needs. Considering the following may help you begin to determine what's best for your parents' care.

Does your aging parent ...

• Eat regularly, maintaining an adequate diet and healthy weight?
• Easily locate and take appropriate medication when needed?
• Drive safely?
• Properly maintain finances and remember to pay bills on time?
• Take care of personal hygiene?
• Keep up typical routines, activities and social engagements?
• Generally maintain a safe and clean household?

And, remember ...

• Start by listening to your parents. Involve them in the decision making process as much as possible.
• Consult with a doctor, accountant, lawyer, clergy or other advisor before implementing any medical, financial or legal steps.
• Be sure to visit and thoroughly investigate any daily living or care facility you may consider.

About Easter Seals
Easter Seals is a long-time provider of center and home-based services for older adults and their families, providing therapeutic programming, medical rehabilitation, and assistance with daily living activities (bathing, dressing, eating). Programs also offer respite for family caregivers. Many centers target specific populations such as persons with Alzheimer's disease or younger adults with developmental disabilities, while others serve diverse age groups and diagnoses.

For 85 years, Easter Seals has been providing services that help children and adults with disabilities gain greater independence. Our primary services -- medical rehabilitation, job training and employment, child care, adult day services, and camping and recreation -- benefit more than one million individuals with disabilities and their families each year through more than 500 centers nationwide.

*Administration on Aging, Profile of Older Americans, 1999