In This Issue:

Getting Ready for Thanksgiving…

Thanksgiving with Seniors: A Recipe for Success!

-Caring for the elderly-Family Caregivers Month!-Caregiver Spotlight-A Tasty Recipe

Welcome to the fall issue of:

The Senior Solution! I S S U E 3 1 N O V 2 0 1 3

Hello and welcome to SENIOR SOLUTIONS, an informative monthly newsletter that offers tips on caregiver solutions, aimed at helping you or your

loved ones maintain independence.

At Your Place is locally owned by a Registered Nurse with over 27 years of experience in Home Care, Home Health and Hospice. At Your Place specializes

in providing non-medical, in-home companion care for the elderly.  We

offer many in-home services including companionship, light housekeeping,

laundry, meal planning and preparation, incidental transportation, errand

running, and personal bathing and grooming assistance.

 Our company is proud to be a service to our community, to provide seniors with peace of mind and quality of life.  We

are also proud to provide employment to caregivers and to give a little love as we provide

this service.

Autumn has finally caught up to us and Thanksgiving is right around the corner! Families all over the country are beginning to prepare themselves for turkey, stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce, green bean casserole… And we haven’t even gotten to the desserts yet! But perhaps the yearly routine that we all love and stress over has now become more complicated this Thanksgiving—with a new responsibility engulfing our plates… the be independent, lucid, or physically capable like they used to be. And the idea of preparing a piecrust seems to inconsequential compared to the preparation of receiving Grandma or Uncle Joe. Well this new season does not need to become overwhelming, for there is plenty of advice out there to help you and your loved one transition! First of all, when preparing meals for seniors, there are some things that you should know. As they grow older, seniors are not able to metabolize food as well nor are as sensitive to flavors as in the past. Do not be upset if a loved-(continued on pg 2)

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NFC Month is organized each year by the National Family Caregivers Association and is designated as a time every year to thank, support, educate and empower family caregivers. "This year we are encouraging people to speak up during National Family Care- givers Month." said Suzanne Mintz, NFCA president and co-founder. "One of the most important attributes on being an advocate for your loved one is the willingness and the ability to speak up and keep your eye on the ultimate goal, protecting not only the health and safety of your loved ones but for yourself as well."

For more information and to learn how to get involved, visit: www.nfcacares.org

one does not leap for your famous casserole dishes like they used to—rather consider making something special that is more tailored to their dietary needs. Here are some tips from http://www.associatedcontent.com/ :

1. Make food that can be easily chewed and swallowed. Dentures reduce the ability to produce saliva, and rough or dry foods cause much difficulty.

2. Use less salt—for too much can cause dangerous spikes in blood pressure or induce too much water retention. (You can always salt your food on your own plate!)

3. Add more savory seasonings to make up for the lack of salt.

4. Choose recipes with high nutritional value to make up for lack of appetite. A good website for information on nutritional content is www.nutritiondata.com or AARP’s recipe site.

5. Engage your loved ones with questions—find out what they enjoy eating these days, what are their favorite dishes, and what they do not like.

Perhaps their dietary issues are not as big of a concern as is the change in

memory loss. Early warnings for Alzheimer’s or dementia are frequently first perceived or confirmed at family gatherings, often times for the simple reason of only being able to assemble a couple times a year. Here are some great tips on how to look out for a loved one who is facing memory loss.

1. Examine the cupboards and refrigerator. Is there expired food?

2. Drive their car and check the levels of the tires, oil, and antifreeze.

3. Investigate the house. Check for cleanliness. How well are the pets taken care of?

4. Talk to their neighbors—perhaps they can even keep an eye out for your loved one.

5. Check for a decline of personal hygiene, organization, and cleanliness.

Above all, sit down with your loved one, find out what is bothering them, if there is anything you can help with. Ask, ask, ask. When engaging them, stick to familiar routines; avoid strange and

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Maple Walnut Cake!INGREDIENTS:

Cake1 c. chopped pitted dates1 c. whole-wheat pastry flour¾ c. all-purpose flour1 c. toasted walnuts, divided¾ tsp. baking soda1 large egg

2 tsp. cider vinegar1 TBLSP vanilla extract

Glaze2 TBLSP pure maple syrup1 tsp. cider vinegar¾ c. confectioners’ sugar1-2 tsp. water, if needed

PREPARATION:Preheat oven to 325°F. Coat a 10-in springform pan with cooking spray.

Place dates in a small bowl. Pour boiling water over them to soak. Let cool to room temperature. Process whole wheat flour, all-purpose flour, 2/3 c. walnuts, baking soda and salt in a food processor until the walnuts are completely ground and the mixture resembles coarse meal. Transfer to a medium bowl; make a well in the center. Puree the dates and soaking water in the food processor until smooth, scraping down the sides as necessary. Add egg, ¾ c. syrup, oil, butter, 2 tsp. vinegar and vanilla and process until smooth and creamy. Scrape the date mixture into the well in the dry ingredients and stir together gently until just combined. Transfer to the prepared pan.

Bake the cake until a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean, 30-35 min. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely. Run a knife around the edges to loosen the cake, if necessary, and remove the sides of the pan. To glaze the cake: Carefully lift the cake from the pan bottom and place on a cake stand or serving plate. Whisk maple syrup, vinegar and confectioners’ sugar in a TIPS: Bake the cake several hours before to allow proper cooling time. Prepare

the glaze when ready to be served. To toast walnuts: cook in dry skillet over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until fragrant and lightly browned, 2-4 min.

The turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, green been casserole, and the cranberry sauce have all been consumed, and now everyone is reclining back and stating that they cannot stuff another bite. But yet there is always room for dessert! While we can always entertain the traditional pumpkin or pecan pies—which are irrefutably scrumptious, why not wow your family with a twist of inspiration! (And a healthier choice I might add…) Reminiscent of a British sticky toffee pudding, this cake gets its moisture fromt dates, and toasted walnuts and maple give it an

www.eatingwell.com

Think Outside the Box This

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Spotlight On Caregivers Some Things to Consider as a New

Caregiver:When people hear “caregiver,” they often

think only of professional caregivers. In fact, most caregivers are family members or friends. A caregiver is anyone who gives assistance to another adult who is ill, disabled, or needs some help. The care may range from modest tasks to round-the-clock assistance. And, while each person’s experience is unique, the following are common challenges that many caregivers face: Less time for personal and family life.

Caregiving takes time. As a result, caregivers have less time to spend with other family members or less leisure time for themselves.

The need to balance job and caregiving responsibilities. Caregiving tasks—such as taking your father to the doctor—usually must be done during work hours. This can present problems on the job.

Financial hardships. The products and services associated with providing care can be costly. Those costs can quickly add up.

Physical and emotional stress. Caregiving can be physically and emotionally stressful, especially for those providing intense levels of care for long periods of time.

Being aware of the additional stress these challenges can entail and planning for them can help you better cope with these new responsibilities.Meeting Loved Ones’ NeedsThe following are some steps that new caregivers can take to address their older loved ones’ needs.Determine housing options and preferences. Are your older relatives still able to move

freely and do things around the house?

Have they thought about living somewhere else? Options to consider could include staying in their current home with some help, moving into a form of assisted living, staying with relatives, or entering a nursing home.

Learn the Medical History. Do they have any medical conditions or

health problems that are hindering their ability to live independently?

Who are their doctors? What medications do they take?Make a list of people in their personal support system.Get contact information for everyone on the list. i.e. emergency contacts, other close friends and relatives, neighbors, etc.Create a Financial Profile. List sources of income, list expenses,

accounts and investments. Get important account numbers in case these

are needed in an emergency.Review legal needs. Determine which legal documents they need

—wills, advance directives, trusts, powers of attorney, etc.

Find out where they keep important documents such as birth certificate, deed to home and insurance policies.

Gather information about services that can provide help.These services can include home care, adult day services, home-delivered meals, and help with everyday activities.

At Your Place800 N.E. Tenney Road

Suite 110-558Vancouver, WA 98685 Call us today at: (360) 859-3085