Month: February 2020

How to Help a Senior Search for Housing

Searching for housing at any age is both fun and stressful. Add in that you are also trying to think about the care and medical support you need. The stress can cause a family to be on edge. When a senior is searching for housing for a senior, the family’s own expectations about how it will go and what the senior needs may not align with reality. Many are inaccurate in what they are searching for when it comes to housing for the senior. So, what can you do to help out and get good results? I am so glad you asked, because this is where my expertise as a nurse and care manager and placement navigator come into play with good results.

1. Perspective – First of all your senior once was young and active and didn’t need your help. They have quirks and things they like to do that you do not. This is okay. Many family members try to place their loved one in a location or building that they themselves would choose. Or the family member picks a location where they want the individual to “get involved”. As we age our world gets smaller and our desires can change. While some people thrive in a more active community, active communities are not for everyone. Bear that in mind when considering options for your family member. May I also suggest getting a specialist such as myself involved. Referral agents are experts at helping seniors find placement because they do this every day. They can help you along this path of change and decision making.
2. Address Concerns – Ask your senior what concerns them. It is as easy as that. Are they afraid of the strangers? Are they afraid of being alone? Are they afraid of not being able to be alone due to all of the activities?
3. Address Fears – If your senior is grumpy about this decision to move for care needs find out the root of the problem. Many times it boils down to the fear of the unknown. Even when someone wants to change or get help they are comfortable where they currently are and so bad is better than change sometimes. When dealing with moving a senior addressing their concerns, fears and challenges around moving can eliminate the barriers. Without the barriers change is so much more acceptable.
4. Provide Real Support – As we age decision making is just not as easy. There is a lot more to factor in and many seniors get information overload impeding the actual decision to move. As a family member support is being literally along for the ride. Ask the questions they have, write them down and then review them together later.
5. Provide the Gentle Push – When a decision is made there is a lot that needs to happen. Help the senior with paperwork, move planning (house sell, packing, estate sale), check-in. This is a major change and even for the better they really need you.

Local Outings that Will Entertain

Seniors have done a lot to help make this world a better place and they better out lives in ways we may make fun but help a lot. That is why they deserve to be spoiled. The seniors in my life know how much I appreciate them. I had to ask those seniors what they do for fun. Here our some of the things that entertain.

While my criteria is very helpful you will see that there are other factors that entertain seniors and they do not always follow the rules.

1. Casino – One of the biggest in our area that seniors love to entertain is the Casino. I have a theory about this but it is only a theory. I think the seniors get to try their luck at something that could make them money but I also think they like the socialization and what many see as a good deal. (I don’t get it but I am not a senior yet.) I was told the senior likes it for the great deals on food, never mind they lost a hundred dollars on the slots. They like the attentiveness of the waitress and becoming a regular. The last reason I was told is because they are lonely and being around others allowed an interaction in a way that didn’t happen in other, less expensive settings.
2. Bingo – Another location I have done and do not find the appeal, but many seniors who never have done bingo start this age old tradition once they get their senior card. I was told similar reasons to the above.
3. Senior Centers – Thank goodness this hit the list for entertainment because my gosh do we have some great senior centers around town. And might I just add that no two senior centers are alike. If you know a senior who is bored or lonely and didn’t like the first senior center they visited encourage them to check others out. Lakewood Senior Center has a membership with professional level photography, knitting clubs, exercise classes and art to name a few. Puyallup Senior Center is a very active outing and guest speaker friendly group. There is always someone to interact at that senior center when you come in.
4. YMCA – The local Silver Sneakers clubs at the YMCA have made them a place to entertain and remain healthy. Win- Win if you ask me. My favorite part about this location is they have senior parking at several of their locations, meaning they score well on my senior friendly scoring card.
5. Coffee Shops – I can not say it enough, seniors get lonely. If they go to a local place on a regular basis they are bound to get to know a person or two. I think that we have so many amazing local coffee shops that the waitresses get to know their names. What a wonderful way to give back as a server. Next time you go to coffee look for your regular seniors and make an extra attempt to say hello. That could be you someday.

Lisa Doyle is a local registered nurse, the founder of CayCare, a geriatric care manager and the mother of 3 beautiful children. You can find Lisa teaching online courses or teaching local preplanner’s workshops. Go to caycare.com to see where you can learn more from her.

What makes a location senior friendly? I am so glad you asked.

1. Good lighting. Not too bright but not too dim. Vision for a senior is already impaired just from aging and the reduced function of the rods/cones in the eyes. The lighting is essential to make a location “senior friendly”.
2. Noise control. Hearing tends to reduce as we age either from damage or normal signs of aging. So limited background noise allows a location to be senior friendly.
3. Easy accessibility. If there are narrow walkways or steps then senior friendly a location is not.
4. Patience when ordering. Whether is waiting in a line or ordering a location is only considered senior friendly in my book if they accommodate the wait. Seniors need more time to process menus and read instructions. They need to have the time it takes to adequately review instructions or menus meaning you better be patient if you want my rating.
5. Parking. The parking needs to be close by and there needs to be enough relative to the location that a senior is able to access even when busy. I am pleased to announce several locations scored well in this arena but then failed in most other criteria. Our seniors need to be able to park close enough that they aren’t worn out once they walk in a location. The smartest way to eliminate this as an issue is have >80 parking spots aside from handicapped. I love this idea but it hasn’t caught on. If you know of a place honoring our seniors in this way please share with me and I will be glad to share with the readers.