Robot Pets?

There is plenty of documented evidence that caring for a pet is therapeutic for older people. The closeness and companionship of a cat or dog can bring a sense of comfort and calmness to both the senior and the pet.

What if the person is unable to care for a pet? Well, there is an option out there. Developed in 2003 by the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology in Japan, "Paro", the robot seal, is a furry creation designed to arch its back when scratched, turn its head to make the reach easier when rubbed, and coo and whimper just like a baby seal. Because Paro is so lifelike, people tend to believe in it and be affectionate to it. The creator, Dr. Walter Shibata, says he modeled the robot after a baby seal because people think they are cute but have little experience with them. Dr. Shibata says people that interact with the robot tend to be cheered up, motivated and talkative, just like those who care for animals.

At this time, the robot is not widely sold in the United States and like any new technology, is a bit pricey. But perhaps, its time has come.

The Power of Water

Water is pure liquid refreshment. Not only is it necessary for your body to digest and absorb vitamins and nutrients, it also detoxifies the liver and kidneys and carries waste from the body. According to Dr. Donnica Moore, founder and president of Sapphire Women's Health Group, a small 2% drop in body water can cause fuzzy short term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on a computer screen or a printed page. Mild dehydration is one of the most common causes of daytime fatigue. According to Dr. Moore, 75% of Americans have chronic dehydration.

Outside the body, water continues to be a powerful force, particularly for healing. The many proven benefits of exercising in water include relief of pain and muscle spasms, increased range of motion, increased muscle strength, faster recovery from many types of surgery and more. A simple explanation for the benefits of water therapy is that the buoyancy supports and lessens stress on the joints, allowing freer movement to occur. In addition, the water acts as a resistance to help build muscle strength. Therefore, though you must use your muscles more while in the water, it doesn't feel strenuous.

Older people can benefit from more water inside and out. So drink up! For water therapy or a great workout without the pressure on your joints, find the nearest pool and get going! As always, check with your doctor before beginning any exercise program.

Walk with Sticks?

In my research on exercise for the elderly, I came accross an article on Nordic Walking. The walking technique was developed in Finland ( hence Nordic) in the 1900's as training for cross country skiers. Walkers use poles to push off with each stride, and used properly, this walking gives a whole body workout. The poles help take weight off the weight-bearing joints and increase stability which is great for any age!

Nordic Walking is becoming more popular with seniors in the United States and poles can be purchased on line or at sporting goods stores everywhere. If you are talented enough to make your own poles, make sure the height is correct for your legs and stride, and be certain to install rubber tips that will grip any surface. Wrist straps can be made of velcro and you are good to go!

I'm going to see about a pair of sticks for me and my mother. I'll let you know how that goes.

Now We Wait

This morning was my mother's monthly appointment to check the levels of blood thinner in her system. Until recently, I took her for this blood work every week and her medications were adjusted each time as necessary. Her new doctor felt that was excessive and told her he didn't do things that way. Needless to say, the new schedule made ME happy, so long as it was good for Mom.

This appointment was also the first time she had been back to her primary care physician since the last visit to Memory Care. I spoke of this in my post Let's Face It...Who Likes Exercise? as exercise was one of the things suggested to keep the brain functioning better for longer. No one can be really certain they have the beginnings of Alzheimers disease, but the doctor at Memory Care felt there was enough concern from the initial testing that Mom should go ahead with the full battery of tests, including an MRI. If she wanted to. And up to today, she wanted to! According to Mom, she "just didn't want to say anything about it right now".

So now we wait. I hope I'll be ready to hear the verdict when she finally is ready. In the meantime, lots of exercise to do!

The Times of Your Life

Ahhh...Valentine's Day. Just the name conjures up visions of roses and candy, romantic dinners and love is in the air. What better time to change the focus from all that needs to be done for your aging parents to all the ways to express your love for them?

Time is fleeting, and while it is a scarce commodity for you, it is even scarcer for your parents. You don't have to spend a lot of money to show your love for them. Spend some time with them. Create lasting moments to remember with photos, a hug, and a sincere "I love you".

I'm sure I sound like a Kodak ad, but these are the times of your life. Will you remember?

The 40-70 Rule

I was happy to see in the Port Clinton News where a national company has started a campaign urging adult children to initiate conversation with their older parents about the "delicate" issues. By delicate, I mean when to stop driving, and money, among others.

Home Instead Senior Care has called its public education campaign the "40-70 Rule". If you are 40 and your parent is 70, it's time to begin the conversation on their wishes as they age. As I wrote in my post Never Too Soon To Plan, this is not always easy. Parents don't always want to discuss sensitive issues with their children. Some may not see their children as adults and that is a big hurdle to get past. On the other hand, many adult children don't want to get involved early and find themselves in crisis mode when they must be involved.

The Home Instead campaign has a "40-70 Rule" guide they will give you for free. According to the arcticle in The Port Clinton News, the guide provides many tips and conversation starters to help break the conversation barrier. You can pick one up at your local Home Instead Senior Care office or call 877.733.5050. You can also visit online at www.4070talk.com.

To Be or Not To Be...Guilty, that is

Living thousands or even hundreds of miles from your elderly parents can be like living on another planet. Independence is of primary importance with many older people. . So much so, they may not tell you over the telephone when something is wrong. Unless you are very good at detecting small changes in their voices or noticing a change in schedule and other deviations in their daily lives, parents can fool their family into believing all is well.

Why would they do that? Most say they just don't want the kids to worry. They know it is hard for the family member to drop everything to get to them and expensive to boot! But do they recognize the guilt their children experience at not being there for Mom and Dad? Could be another very good reason for not telling them. If they don't know, how can they feel guilty? Too bad it doesn't work that way.

I know myself that in the days when I was a long distance caregiver, the feeling of guilt because I could not be there got overwhelming at times. Part of that, too, was because I could not find services available for help at their home. Fortunately, times have changed and even in their small town, services have increased. The Administration on Aging is responsible for a website called Eldercare Locator. Eldercare Locator is a resource for state and local agencies that could be the answer to your prayers. The office can be reached by telephone as well at 800.677.1116.
I'll be discussing more on where to go for assistance in subsequent posts. In the meantime, be good to yourself. Guilt only wears you down.