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Spring has Sprung: Make the Best of It!

2/16/2010 12:00:00 AM

Four tips for making the most of spring with your aging loved one.

Commit to a Healthy Routine

Daylight-savings time is the perfect excuse to make overdue adjustments to your sleep, exercise and mealtime routines. Instead of viewing this springtime tradition as an “interruption” to the daily schedule, be proactive. Help your senior avoid stress by making a list of the essential time-based routines, such as doctor’s visits and medication schedule, and then turn your attention to fun ways that you can use the extra hours of sunlight. Invite the whole family to discuss their ideas, write them down and post them on the refrigerator.

Reconnect With the Outdoors and Each Other

If your senior is mobile (either walking or in a wheelchair), take a walk together and notice the changing season. If they are unable to leave the house, hang a bird feeder in the window and station yourself together with a pair of binoculars. Take a moment to relax and catch up over a cup of tea on the porch, or next to an open window. Feeling the warmth of sun on your face is a mood booster (sunshine and mood are positively correlated). When the sun is shining and weather is warm, people tend to be happier. Whether it’s a family member, neighbor or church member, take this time to enjoy the changing weather and each others company.

Lose the Clutter

Follow Mother Nature’s lead by replacing snow and frost (dirt and dust) with green (clean). Forced air heaters and closed windows can trap dust and dirt indoors. A deep housekeeping – including tasks such as shampooing the carpets, wiping down the walls and cleaning out the fridge – can help create a healthier home environment for seniors. While you’re in cleaning mode, be sure to tackle the clutter inside of closets, pantries, stairways and storage areas, which can present safety hazards for the elderly, who are at risk for tripping and falling. Donate items that haven’t been used in awhile, or organize a yard sale. Download the Homewatch CareGivers Guide to In-Home Senior Safety (PDF) for more information.

Therapeutic Gardening

Gardening offers a therapeutic connection to nature, and growing your own produce puts you in control of a healthy diet. Sit down and plan a garden together. Have fun reminiscing about the types of vegetables, flowers and herbs that your family loves. Consider the best place for planting — perhaps moving the herb garden to an inside windowsill and tomatoes to a pot on the porch will make plant care and maintenance easier for your senior. Request catalogues and mail order seeds if you’re too busy or unable to visit the local nursery. If you’re planning a spring break visit to distant relatives, digging and preparing the garden can be a fulfilling cross-generational activity (be sure to pack your best work clothes!). Planting flowers in the yard creates a sense of pride and beautifies the neighborhood.

More About Homewatch CareGivers

Homewatch CareGivers is a premier caregiver agency, providing home care for all ages. We invite you to visit www.homewatchcaregivers.com, where you can read articles related to home health, Dementia Care Tips and home care news; or download PDF home care resources. From health care coordination and hospital discharge planning to home care transportation and daily living assistance, let our family of caregivers care for yours.

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