Easy Living Services, Inc.
In-Home Care 
Personal Care - Companion - Homemaker 
 
770-442-8664
December 2009
In This Issue
ELS Holiday Gift Certificates
Great Gift Ideas for Seniors
Holiday Senior Check Up
Join Our Mailing List
Featured Article
Join the Easy Living Services Alzheimer's Disease Support Group..meeting in January 2010.
 
Share feelings, collect vital tips and find fellowship with others impacted by Alzheimer's Disease.
 
Call
770-442-8664
 to register!
 

Welcome to Easy Living Services special "Holiday Edition" newsletter filled with tips and resources designed to equip you and your aging loved ones to enjoy this holiday season to the fullest.

We welcome your comments and feedback! Please visit our blog spot to discuss your favorite seasonal tips and solutions ELS Blog.
 
Wishing you every happiness during the holidays and a properous New Year.
 
Debby Franklin, Owner                 debby
Easy Living Services, Inc.
 
 

 

 
Give the Gift of "Peace of Mind" 
 
Easy Living Services, Inc. has over 15 years experience in providing Atlanta families with quality In-Home Care.  
 
Gift Certificates and Holiday Help is now available for families with special needs...
starting from $65.
 
Make someone holiday presentson your list smile with caregiver service from Easy Living! 
 
Call us at 770-442-8664 for gift certificates and seasonal specials. 
 
Great Gift Ideas for Seniors
 
Carefully picking gifts for seniors and the elderly can be challenging as senior citizens often have special needs, a lack of storage space, and/or limited abilities. 
 
Out of ideas?
 
We've compiled a list of ideas that are sure to be a hit this holiday season.
 
1.  Magazine subscriptions make great gifts for seniors and can serve to keep your loved one up to date on their personal interests and hobbies.  Best of all there's no wrapping or postage!
 
2.   Restore a beloved photo and dress it up in a new frame.  Photo restoration can be done at many photo centers located in discount department stores.  Shop flea markets and antique stores for unique frames.
 
3.   A Christmas stocking filled to the brim with personal care items is a welcomed gift for many seniors.  For most seniors, it has been years since they enjoyed their own stocking from "Santa"!
 
4.  Tabletop trees are great gifts for seniors since many are
physically unable to put up their own holiday trees.  Decorate the tree with family photos and items commemorating special events.  Live, pre-decorated trees are available at garden centers and less expensive artificial trees are sold at discount stores. 
 
5.   Call local a local landscaper or lawn care professional in your loved one's area and pre-pay for a season of lawn mowing and general lawn care.  
 
6.  If your elderly loved one has a pet companion, a truly appreciated gift would be pre-paid pet exercising services. 
These services are especially helpful during winter months as well as the heat of summer when walking a pet may be dangerous for senior citizens.
 
7.  There are many very practical items that are geared toward making independent living at home easier.
 
Purchasing and installing home safety items like shower grips, guide rails and tub chairs can be a really welcomed gift.   
 
Large faced electric wall clocks make a helpful gift as eye sight may diminish with age.  No battery to replace and easy to see from a distance.
 
Flashing light doorbell and flashing light telephones can also benefit an elderly loved one who may be hearing impaired.  Check on-line for sources.
 
Remotes with tiny numerals make watching television difficult for seniors.  Eliminate the frustration with the gift of a Large Button Universal TV remote.   Additionally, cell phones with larger buttons are now available for seniors....check your local cell phone store for options.
 
8.  Arrange for in-home hair grooming or salon treatments.  Check with local barbers or hair dressers for availability.  You can pre-pay for the service and arrange the in-home appointment for a convenient date & time for your loved one.
 
Perhaps you have thought of another terrific gift idea...Blog about it today!  Go to ELS Blog 
Holiday Visits:  Opportunity for Senior Check-Up 
 
Do your parents live in another city, state or country?  Do you enjoy a lengthy visit with them at the year-end holidays? 
 
If this is the case, remember to take a complete assessment of their current care needs while you are visiting.  This will allow you to prevent emergency care planning later and eliminate the added stress that last minute planning can cause.  It is also a good time to assess the home for issues which may be a safety concern due to mobility or vision issues.  Use the following as a guide when assessing your loved one's current condition and needs:
 
Medical Conditions:
Keep detailed records on all current medical conditions and make certain that these conditions are being monitored by his or her physician.  Record contact information for physicians,  including all specialists and keep readily accessible. 
 
Medications: 
Are the medications organized and are they being taken consistently?  Are prescriptions being refilled appropriately?
 
Home Safety:
If mobility or hearing & vision losses are becoming issues, find out what products you can purchase to make daily activities easier.  Is it time for a telephone with larger numbers or a louder ring tone? Are bathrooms equipped with grab bars and other safety essentials. Assess what areas of the home are becoming a challenge and find solutions.
 
Driving: 
How is their driving ability?  Take a ride with them to determine their current abilities. 
 
Retirement Care: 
Where do your parents or loved ones want to receive care in the event they suffer a medical emergency?  Find out if they would prefer to recouperate at home with the assistance of a professional caregiver.
 
Guardians:
Who has been assigned the Power of Attorney and the Power of Attorney for Health Care?  Make sure all family members know who will make vital decisions and where all documents are kept, including "Do not resusitate orders" and Living Wills.
 
Resources: 
Learn what care providers are available in the area from
house cleaners, helpful neighbors and friends to In-Home Care services.  Keep a list handy to avoid a last minute crisis. 
 
Excerpted from Eldercareabcblog.com 
 
 
Check out our website www.easylivingservices.com to learn more ways to care for your aging loved one from a distance.
Including a Frail Loved One in Holiday Festivities 
 
The festive season is here!  If a relative has entered a nursing facility or is confined to home, how do you include them in holiday celebrations?  The following suggestions can make the season meaningful while keeping stress levels manageable for the whole family. 
 
Try and include your loved one in holiday preparations to the best of his ability.  Contributing in even small ways - such as signing cards or helping select gifts from a catalogue can make him feel valuable and create a sense of partnership. 
 
Reminisce about past holidays to help your relative get into the spirit.  Share special memories, bring in photo albums or favorite music, or watch a classic seasonal movie. 
 
Plan visits when you are not rushed for time.  Bring children or grandchildren to visit when possible.  Decorate your loved one's room or home with window clings, children's artwork, garland or a miniature Christmas tree.  Bring homemade treats to share. 
 
If your loved one is able. plan short outings in order to help them better experience the joy of the season.  Check with local senior centers for holiday activities that might be appropriate for your relative.  Also, consider checking out local holiday music programs at schools or churches.  These can be a fun and inexpensive way to "get into the spirit".  Short visits to your home to participate in or simply observe holiday preparations like baking, decorating or gift wrapping can be great family time, as well.
 
When planning to include your aging loved one in holiday plans, make sure to plan well in advance, set realistic expectations and be prepared to modify traditions. 
 
Excerpted from Article by Lisa M. Petsche