Since I am actively involved in caring for elderly parents as well as being a member of the baby boomer generation, flirting with being a senior citizen (depending on which seniors discount I am looking at) and writing all about it, I often visit various medical and caregiving sites for news and updates of interest to myself, my family, and of course, you!  While visiting various caregiving sites this week, I found several interesting news updates for many of us caring for the elderly parents and relatives in our families:

• Anthony Cirillo shared encouraging information for those caring for elderly parents who are veterans at his website, Who Moved My Dentures? Essential Information for Boomers on Healthcare, Aging and Caregiving.

• In addition to the new book on Lewy Body Dementia Disease, that just came out, I discovered there is also a new book recently published, Help! What Do I Do Now? Caring for Your Loved One With Alzheimer’s by Nancy Nicholson, LBSW. Ms. Nicholson has both professional and personal experience in caring for elderly parents and other seniors with Alzheimer's Disease accompanied by dementia symptoms. It definitely looks interesting. 

• There has been a new government study that finds two pesticides associated with Parkinsons Disease. Having dealt with this disease with several family members, including my senior dad, from the early stages of Parkinsons Disease to the difficult end stage of Parkinsons Disease, this was especially interesting to me:

"New research shows a link between use of two pesticides, rotenone and paraquat, and Parkinson's disease. People who used either pesticide developed Parkinson's disease approximately 2.5 times more often than non-users.

The study was a collaborative effort conducted by researchers at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), which is part of the National Institutes of Health, and the Parkinson's Institute and Clinical Center in Sunnyvale, Calif.

"Rotenone directly inhibits the function of the mitochondria, the structure responsible for making energy in the cell," said Freya Kamel, Ph.D., a researcher in the intramural program at NIEHS and co-author of the paper appearing online in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives. "Paraquat increases production of certain oxygen derivatives that may harm cellular structures. People who used these pesticides or others with a similar mechanism of action were more likely to develop Parkinson's disease."  You can read the entire article about this Parkinsons Disease news by clicking here.

• MedPage had an important warning about breast cancer and cigarette smoking, "Cigarette smoking — both past and present — was associated with an increased risk of invasive breast cancer among postmenopausal women, a prospective cohort study found. " I am not a smoker, by the grace of God Who made sure the cigarettes I sneaked from my parents tasted AWFUL (no filters ). But I grew up surrounded by smokers – parents, grandparents, in-laws, and more. And according to this article, that means I am at higher risk than someone never exposed. It's vital for us to be setting the right example for our grandchildren, as well as protecting them from any second hand smoke from us! 

• I was very encouraged to notice that the Womans Day magazine for March, 2011 has a complete section for caregiving – The Ultimate Caregiving Guide, including Afford the Cost, Choose the Right Doctor, and Manage the Stress. You can read one of the articles, The Caregivers Survival Guide, online. If you are interested in reading the rest of the articles, it may still be available at grocery stores or book stores, or you can probably find a copy at the library. 

Kaye

I have some serious baby boomer and senior citizen news for those of us in the Sandwich Generation, dealing with the issues of caring for elderly parents with dementia symptoms – specifically Lewy Body Dementia. There is a brand new book out on this subject,  A Caregiver's Guide to Lewy Body Dementia by Helen Buell Whitworth and Jim Whitworth. I knew that if your loved one is in the midst of this or you want to know more about it to SEE if they might be dealing with it, you'd want to know about this book.

Amazon currently has seven reviews up for this book – all giving it the maximum of 5 stars! Most seem to be written by children caring for elderly parents with Lewy Body Dementia Disease as well as one written by an RN specializing in in caring for the elderly with dementia symptoms and she wrote, "I was not knowledgeable about Lewy Body dementia until I was introduced to the information in this book. Specifically, there are differences in the medical treatment of Lewy Body and Alzheimer's. Inappropriate medications given to Lewy Body patients can harm them. This book is an invaluable resource for Long Term Care facilities education, as well as Home Health Care training. Practical, concise and invaluable for families and direct caregivers at all levels."  Sounds like an excellent book for a caregiver's library. What do you think?

P.S. If you are looking for my Pink Saturday post, just click here, where you'll discover all things PINK and GREEN and plenty of St Patricks Day party blog activities and ideas, not to mention more cute country shamrock clipart. It's a St Patricks Day Blog Round-Up of various sites to enjoy all around the web. I'll keep it

updated between now and the 17th with new sites as I discover them. It's especially nice for those in the Sandwich Generation who aren't able to get out and about much due to caring for elderly parents and babysitting grandchildren. Our very own St Patricks Day fun, right in our own home. See you there! (You can also get there by clicking the cute St Patricks Day snowman clip art up in the right column!)

P.P.S. If you'd like your own copy of Lewy Body Dementia Disease by the Helen Buell and James Whitworth, just click here. 

Kaye

For many of us in the Sandwich Generation, this winter will be the stuff of which tales are told to our grandchildren for decades to come. Tales of snowstorms that keep on coming, snow drifts taller than giants, and ice storms to end all ice storms. In other words, it's just plain COLD. We are relatively warm here with temps staying around 20-30 most of the time (compared to some friends who are averaging -20!) Still and all, some days it's tough to stay warm. And that's especially true for those of us in the Sandwich Generation who may have to run out on errands for aging parents or special needs grandkids or even doctor appointments for ourselves - even on days that would normally keep the Abominable Snowman home in front of his own fire! 

Not only that, but for those of us caring for the elderly parents and relatives in our family, we also have to take into consideration the fact that most senior citizens' "internal thermometer" seems to make a drastic change sometime in their 60s or 70s. Which means they're often freezing on days we're roasting on. Which then means that on days we're freezing on, we need to make sure they are staying warm enough not to get ill or have to deal with hypothermia!

Pittsburgh Live had an excellent quote from Dr. Larry Jones, director of the burn center at Western Pennsylvania Hospital in Bloomfield.  "Elderly people and the very young are particularly susceptible to hypothermia because their immune systems are not as good, and they tend to not have the built-in insulation that other people do…Older people who are confused because of senility, dementia or medications can be susceptible to hypothermia because they might not realize they are not properly dressed for cold weather."

One thing my Sandwich Generation family, including my senior mom, my granddaughter, and I, all do to stay warm in this cold weather is wear "long underwear." My personal favorite, which several other family members also love, is the thin, almost silk Cuddl Duds long underwear. Generally I can get by just fine wearing only the long pants under my jeans, coupled with a sweat shirt when I am cold, that I can remove when I get hot. (Yup, this baby boomer still needs to keep doing that ). They are so nice and thin and soft and comfy they fit easily under anything and don't send chills up my back when my dry hands touch them. And they really do keep you warm. I forgot to put mine on the other day and went out in the wind and snow just to get the newspaper. I came straight in, feeling like I had two popsicles for legs, and put them on immediately. And guess what, all you PINK SATURDAY fans – they have some PINK Cuddl Duds long underwear as well as white and black. Hmmm, those would make great Valentine or any time gifts for the elderly parents in our family, wouldn't they?

Hot chocolate (love that Swiss Miss) and hot Lipton tea, perhaps sweetly sipped from one of my great aunt's vintage pink flowered tea cups, is another of my winter tips for myself and my elderly parents. My senior mom, on the other hand, is a strong proponent of hot coffee and hot soup, and most afternoons you will find some of each bubbling away in the kitchen.

Whatever we do, it's vital we keep a close eye on our elderly parents, as well as our young grandkids, to make sure they stay hale, hearty, healthy, and warm enough during this winter time. Got any more tips for us - pink or otherwise – to help us as we're taking care of elderly parents and young grandkids and working hard to keep all of our Sandwich Generation family warm during the cold winter chills? We'd love to hear. And for more cute Pink things of all sizes, shapes, and creativity, visit Bev at Pink Saturday.  

P.S. Want more info about the pink Cuddle Duds long underwear? Just click here.

Kaye

SeniorsForLiving.com is a great site that I have worked with for over two years. We did several Baby Boomers and Seniors: News You Can Use blog carnivals together and as a result, I got a chance to get to "know" Gina LaGuardia and Michelle Seitzer. I have been very blessed by them and by working with them in the area of caring for the elderly parents in our families and consider them and their site a terrific resource for all of us in the Sandwich Generation.

Therefore, I am so pleased to tell you that today I am featuring a guest post written by SeniorsforLiving.com’s Michelle Seitzer. Before committing to life as a full-time freelance writer, Michelle spent 10 years in the senior living and advocacy world, serving in various roles at assisted living communities throughout Pennsylvania and Maryland, and leading the charge for Alzheimer’s as a public policy coordinator for the Pennsylvania chapters of the Alzheimer’s Association. She has blogged for SeniorsforLiving.com since November 2008 and currently resides in York, Pennsylvania, with her teacher husband and two Boston Terriers. You can also follow her on Twitter and Facebook. So, without further ado…

Caring for Elderly Parents? Choosing the Best Assisted Living Community for Your Loved One

By Michelle Seitzer

At some point in the life of your senior loved one, you may have to help them make a big move…and it might be one of the most difficult decisions you will ever make. 

Are you a homeowner? Think back to the days of looking for your first home: securing loans, submitting paperwork, driving around neighborhoods and writing down phone numbers, asking residents about the local school system, getting your first home inspection done, etc. Not an easy process and not one that moved too quickly, right?

Choosing the best assisted living community for a loved one should also be a complex process, a decision not to be arrived at in a hurry. Unfortunately, many families find themselves in crisis situations, needing a higher level of care as soon as possible, and the process must be expedited. This often leads to rushed decisions that don’t always work out in the best interests of all parties involved.

It doesn’t have to be a long and painful process, but there are a few things you should keep in mind when you begin the search to avoid future complications…

First and foremost, if you don’t already know what your loved one has in mind, ask! Ask Mom what she envisions as the best community setting for her golden years. Ask Grandpa what his ideal living situation is. Their desires should fully guide the decision-making process. If there are cognitive impairments that limit the ability to talk freely about what they want, do your very best to get their thoughts on the matter. Bring them along for visits and watch their non-verbal responses closely. In fact, even if there is no Alzheimer’s/dementia symptoms, bring your loved one along to every visit, even if it means taking a day off from work or scheduling a tour at a time that might not suit you: remember, it’s not you who will be living there. 

Definitions of assisted living vary by state, as do the costs and the state regulations enforced therein. Do a little research to find out what the state regulating agency is, and check out the community’s record of code violations (often available on the agency’s website). Don’t just look for a clean record, look closely at the severity of the violations, how they were (or weren’t) resolved, and make your decision accordingly. (Very few communities, even the best ones, have a completely spotless record – keep that in mind.)

Here’s a big one: Don’t just go on appearances. You’ll see some absolutely beautiful facilities and some that leave much to be desired in terms of aesthetics. But chandeliers and plush carpet do not always imply quality care, likewise, outdated tile floors does not equal poor care. Choose your battles. If appearance is important to your loved one, consider it, but don’t let it be the sole basis of your decision. The lobby might not be the prettiest room you ever saw, but that doesn’t mean Mother’s room can’t look smashing if the senior living community’s the right fit otherwise. 

Visit lots of senior housing communities. It might seem like a hassle, but it’s worth it to find the best fit.

When it comes to costs, read the fine print and ask lots of questions. Specialized services, like meal/medication reminders, are often charged a la carte. Make sure you know all the hidden costs before signing on the dotted line.

Visit on off-hours, like Friday nights and Sunday mornings, when the staff complement is not quite as robust as the Monday 7-3 shift.  Staff coverage is very telling of a community’s ability to provide quality care for your loved one WHENEVER they need it.

Talk to the direct care staff. The receptionist, activities director, and nurses’ aides are going to have a much clearer picture of how things flow on a day-to-day basis, even though you’ll likely meet with the marketing director for the official tour. Even better: talk to the residents. That being said, be sure to take what each resident and receptionist says with a grain of salt. There may be bitterness on the part of a resident who didn’t want to move, which may cloud their perspective of the facility. Some front-line staff members may not agree with all of management’s decisions, but if they are happy in their job, it will show. 

Finally, think about the things that will change dramatically for your loved senior parent after the move-in day dust settles: privacy, independence/autonomy, possibly a loss of their car, the downsizing process (many seniors who make this move are going from large homes filled with decades of stuff into a one-bedroom apartment). Be sensitive to these massive life shifts, and support them through each challenge, even after the papers are signed.

Start searching for local communities now at SeniorsforLiving.com. 

My senior mom and I faced one of those specific family crisis situations Michelle referred to with my senior dad when he was in the end stage of Parkinsons Disease. This would have been great advice for us then and it's great advice for all of us who are caring for elderly parents right now. A terrific help for each of us in the Sandwich Generation. Thank you, Michelle, for such an interesting article.

P.S. SandwichINK is also joining Bev for PINK SATURDAY. Lots of pink sites full of interesting and encouraging pictures and information for those of us in the Baby Boomer and Sandwich Generation, dealing with the issues of caring for our elderly parents while also babysitting grandchildren (and yes, they'll find fun pinks of interest to them as well. ).

Kaye

The New Old Age section of the New York Times online, with news for seniors and senior caregivers, has been a favorite eldercare resource of mine for years, long before they won the SeniorHomes.com Best of the Web 2011 for Senior Living Blogs. Every time I visit, I discover interesting articles, great comments, and terrific food for thought to help us as we stay busy dealing with the Sandwich Generation issues of caring for the elderly parents in our families, along with caring for kids, babysitting grandchildren, etc. And today was no exception.

They have a very interesting article, In Sickness and In Health, written by Paula Span, covering the topic of a healthy spouse coupled with a spouse whose health is deteriorating. My senior parents and I dealt with that situation in a variety of ways for over 20 years , due to my dad's Parkinsons Disease, so I was especially interested as I read the article. It definitely gives some interesting insights into a couple of different families and their situations.

At first, when my my dad was in the early stages of Parkinsons Disease, he and my mom were able to handle all the necessary caregiving, which wasn't much.  As the Parkinsons disease progressed, they reached a point where they knew they needed some extra support. At that point they moved cross country to buy a home in a retirement community within ten minutes of my home. With high quality exercise equipment easily available in their community, and me nearby to help as needed, they were able to continue being primarily independent for several more years.

As his health deteriorated, I became more and more involved, driving them on errands, taking them to doctor appointments, and spending more time with them at home as well, to help as needed. Still, they were mostly independent and we were all happy about that. 

As he progressed to the end stage of his Parkinsons Disease, the time finally came for them to need quite a bit more help. In June, they moved into my master bedroom, which I turned into a cozy apartment for them, complete with a mini refrigerator and their own couch and beds. That way, they could be part of the whole family when they wanted, but the could also retire to their own suite when they needed more peace, quiet, and privacy. When he got even worse and our family was grief-stricken to find he had to enter the hospice program, it was a blessing that they were already settled in with us and we didn't have to move them. 

Sadly, due to some medication he was taking, he went from a sweet, rational father to an angry stranger struggling with dementia symptoms. At that point, we did look into a nursing home for him, while my mom would have stayed with me. We were so grateful for the hospice medical team who kept working with us and were able to find the right combination of medications that brought him back almost to his normal self and enabled him to stay in our home for the last few weeks here on earth.

It wasn't the easiest time in my life but God kept us "keeping on." We were blessed by help and support from other family and friends as we dealt with all the different situations including grief along with hospice issues, and I was so glad my parents could stay together until "death did them part."  

Over the years, some members of our family have made good use of the C.C.R.C.'s mentioned in the article, while others went the traditional nursing home route, with plenty of visits. As with so many other situations in life, there is no "one size fits all" solution to caring for the elderly parents and relatives in our family as their health deteriorates. All we can do is do our best as we trust in God to lead us along the way.  How about you? What direction are you going in?

Kaye

Looking for interesting Baby Boomer and Senior Citizen News? Welcome to the latest Boomers and Seniors: News You Can Use Blog Carnival here at SandwichINK this month, full of great news and resource articles just for you! From caring for elderly parents, to the Sandwich Generation issues in general, to financial questions the never-aging baby boomers generation is often asking, to fun activities for grandparents and their grandchildren, you're bound to find news and articles with good tips and info just for you!

Caring for the elderly including our senior parents:

Dale Carter has written a great article, What is a Major Transition Really Like for Your Aging Parent? which you can find at her site, Transition Aging Parents. Not only that…

The resource-full website, Aging with Grace, is the online home for Patricia Grace who is a geriatric care specialist. But she has an online home away from home with her weekly eldercare podcast at Blog Talk Radio and there you can find out more about her AND Dale Carter as you listen to her interview of Dale Carter and learn Dale's steps for success in caring for elderly parents at home, along with information about Dale's brand new book! Just click on the arrow and enjoy!

Matt Johnson, from HealthBridge In-Home Care, asks the vital question, "How do you know if your loved one has Alzheimer's Disease?" in his article, At Last, A Trustworthy Way to Diagnose Alzheimer's Disease, with a very encouraging and hopeful answer!

Shelley Webb, an RN and family caregiver, writes an interesting article on her viewpoint of the HIPAA Law at The Intentional Caregiver, Why My Mom and I Hate the HIPAA Law! I am so in agreement with her! 

Raymond Fernandez20 presents the Top 50 Aging and Gerontology Blogs at Masters in Gerontology. There are some great and useful resources on this list and I'm looking forward to going through them and bookmarking several.

Nesher has some excellent ideas at Alzheimer's Disease: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment for helping those caring for elderly parents with Alzheimers Disease or other dementia symptoms during a particularly difficult season of life, in the article, How to manage Alzheimer’s patient who refuses to eat?

Grandparents and Their Grandchildren

Webkinz stuffed animals and their virtual world offer a wide variety of activities for grandparents and their grandchildren to connect and spend time together. It's often educational and always fun. And it's even one of those great ideas for grandparents to stay in touch and close to grandchildren when living far away. Kaye Swain, right here at SandwichINK, has started a multi-part series to help grandparents learn how to use the Webkinz website and have fun with it, step-by-step, and you can find part 1 at Webkinz Stuffed and Virtual Animals – Activities for Grandparents and Their Grandchildren.

Bible Memory Verses activities are another fun way for grandparents and their grandchildren to have fun together in a multitude of ways. This summer at SandwichINK, Kaye Swain and her grandchildren have been enjoying memorizing 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8 and 13 – all about that very important subject of LOVE.

Shayne Packer, a fellow member of the never-aging Baby Boomers Generation AND grandparent of almost as many grandkids as me, writes at Grandparents TLC. He is very much a techie grandparent and great when it comes to teleconferencing. That's an area I struggle with but he really has it wired and in his article, How to Videochat With Your Grandkids, he shares some fun ideas to help grandparents to stay in touch and close to grandchildren when living far away.

Shayne Packer is also the Technology Reporter for GrandMagazine.com and writes the monthly "Cyber-Savvy Grand" column. This month's article is Hottest Websites for G'Kids. As he puts it, "they'll love 'em and learn lots too!"

The Sandwich Generation Issues

One of the harder "joys" of the Sandwich Generation issues is caring for elderly parents who are still driving – particularly when you are beginning to suspect that they shouldn't be. Elizabeth Thielke wrote a very interesting article on just that topic, Seniors Involved in More Severe Car Accidents, at Seniors For Living.

Eliza Fayle has some fascinating facts and numbers for those of us in the Sandwich Generation, along with tips to help us sustain and nourish ourselves in How to Nourish the Sandwich That Is You, at Silver and Grace. 

Diabetes can hit at any age – from our grandchildren (usually Type 1) to the never-admit-to-aging Baby Boomers Generation (often Type 2) to our senior parents. It can definitely be one of the more challenging of the Sandwich Generation issues. Mia Taylor provides us with a great resource list, The Top 50 Diabetes Blogs, at Masters in Public Health. 

I have a lot of faults, but I'm very grateful that being lazy is usually not one of them. I suspect it probably isn't yours either. However, as fellow members of the extremely busy Sandwich Generation juggling the myriad of issues that come our way, Diana Dang has a very helpful post, 100 Healthy Recipes for Lazy People, at Nursing School Search Blog. It's full of quick and easy recipes and that's perfect for us in the Sandwich Generation. 

The Never-Aging Baby Boomers Generation

Would you believe, I was still going to school at 50! I finally earned my AA in Real Estate and had so much fun in my writing classes it helped jump start my blogging site. Boomerator has a great article at Seniors For Living about how much company I have with the too-busy-studying-to-be-aging Baby Boomers Generation. Check out Going Back to School When You're Over 40, 50, or 60.

And if you are caring for elderly parents and they want to get in on the education action as well, here's an encouraging article from Elizabeth Thielke and Seniors for Living, "95 Year Old Receives Her High School Diploma!"

Jeff Rose, CFP, has been very busy writing this month. He presents Medicare Part B Rules, Coverage, and Eligibility at Consumer Boomer. 

Jeff Rose has also written two interesting articles for those dealing with inheritances at Good Financial Cents. Understanding Inheritance Taxes is a vital issue for many of us who have been caring for elderly parents.  In addition, Jeff wants to let us know 3 Things You Must Know About Inheriting an IRA.

Speaking of IRAs, PT presents 5 Things to Know About Roth IRA Withdrawals at PT Money. This is important info for our senior parents as well as many of us in the Baby Boomers Generation. 

Marilyn Stowe presents a sad but important-to-know set of statistics in Silver Divorce: until divorce do us part?  at the Marilyn Stowe Family Law and Divorce Blog. The most important thing I learned from this? It's never too early OR too late to need to be proactive in working on all our relationships, starting with our spouses. My sweet husband is safely ensconced in heaven, but when he was here, we made weekly dates a high priority and I encourage each of you to do the same. Even if you are just walking around the block together or popping up to Dairy Queen for a sundae, it's so important to spend time alone, communicating, and enjoying each other's company. It's vital for your marriage and vital for the example you are setting for your family and friends!

Well, that's it for the latest Baby Boomer and Senior Citizen News at the Boomers and Seniors: News You Can Use Blog Carnival. We're so glad you came to visit and look forward to seeing you at the next one hosted by Gina LaGuardia and the SeniorforLiving.com Staff on August 10, 2010. You can find past posts and future hosts on the blog carnival index page. And YES, we'd love to have you enter blog posts for our next issue. You can do that easily by clicking right here! 

P.S. In case you are wondering about the SandwichINK interview with Patricia Grace – Aging with Grace, it had to be postponed due to technological difficulties. As soon as it's rescheduled, I'll keep you posted.

Kaye

Welcome to the SandwichINK Boomers and Seniors: News You Can Use blog carnival for April 13, 2010. We've got several interesting and intriguing articles to educate, inform, and encourage you, from updates for those dealing with dementia symptoms to trips for grandparents and their grandchildren to ways to simplify landscaping designs for our elderly parents and ourselves and so much more. Join us as we travel around the blogosphere with interesting Baby Boomer and Senior Citizen news and articles of interest to the Sandwich Generation caring for elderly parents and helping with their grandchildren.

SENIOR HOME CARE / CAREGIVING:

Matt Johnson presents How to Pick 8 Types of Dementia Out of a Crowd at HealthBridge In-Home Care. Very useful information for the Sandwich Generation wrestling with the issues and concerns of dementia symptoms.  

Many of us in the Sandwich Generation can easily relate to the interesting Start of Our Story, a daughter’s transition into the Sandwich Generation of caring for an elderly parent along with her own children at I Want To Go Home.   

Dale Carter presents 3 Survival Tools for a Caregiver posted at Transition Aging Parents, saying, "Here are 3 simple but powerful tools to address the emotional and personal well-being of the caregiver."

Denise Brown from Caregiving has a great resource article, National Underinsured Resource Directory Assists Americans Struggling with Health Insurance Costs and Access to Care, which helps underinsured individuals and families locate important resources and seek alternative coverage options or methods to cover their healthcare needs.

While most of us hope and pray we can continue caring for elderly parents in their home or ours, circumstances don't always allow for it. Following the great motto of the Boy Scouts, "Be Prepared," Patty Grace has some good insights in Finding a Good Nursing Home found at Aging with Grace CareConnection.

Encouraging news from Kirsten Whitten for those caring for elderly parents and concerned about dementia symptoms. Her article, Identifying Alzheimer’s in Its Earliest Stage, at The Alzheimer’s Care Blog, discusses new findings dealing with neuroimaging and an increased ability to ‘see’ Alzheimer’s disease at its earliest stage! 

IDEAS AND ACTIVITIES FOR GRANDPARENTS AND THEIR GRANDCHILDREN

Kaye Swain from SandwichINK presents Memory Activities and Tips for The Baby Boomers Generation of Grandparents and Their Grandchildren. As members of the Baby Boomers Generation caring for elderly parents and grandchildren, elderly memory loss is at the top of our minds. Here are some tips and ideas for Baby Boomers and their grandchildren to help protect our older memories while cultivating their younger memories. 

Shelley Webb, from The Intentional Caregiver, has written a great post featuring a wonderful parable for all of us in the Sandwich Generation caring for elderly parents while helping with our grandkids! I have to say, The Wooden Bowl always brings tears to my eyes! How about you? It definitely is an excellent reminder to set a good example that we want our grandchildren and children to follow!

Elizabeth Thielke has written a fascinating article, Spotlight on a Unique Senior Lifestyle: RVing, at Seniors for Living. As she wrote, "A mobile lifestyle can be a way to simplify life, be near family and friends, see the country and it can be affordable with a little creativity." And yes! She has some great ideas to help with that. I'm definitely saving this article in case I ever get brave enough to give it a try. It sounds great for all of us Baby Boomers Generation with grandchildren all over the country! And wouldn't the grandkids have fun on a trip with the grandparents! Which is why I put it right between the Grandparenting section and the Senior Citizen Housing section.  

SENIOR CITIZEN HOUSING AND LANDSCAPING DESIGNS:

SandwichINK Real Estate Info has some suggestions for easing some of the Sandwich Generation issues of stress in the article, Landscaping Designs Can Ease Stress from Sandwich Generation, recommending that we use the great spring weather as an opportunity to have a chat with our elderly parents about simplifying their landscaping designs, making things easier for both the seniors and their care givers!

Tom Bills, at In-Law Suite, presents Geriatric Care and Assessment, saying, "Having the counsel for a geriatric care manager can be extremely beneficial in helping one care for an aging parent or elderly loved one. A geriatric assessment test is an effective tool in helping to determine eldercare needs." 

HEALTH AND WELLNESS ISSUES FOR THE BABY BOOMERS GENERATION CARING FOR ELDERLY PARENTS

Colin Timberlake writes in his article, The Training Log: The Wrong Advices, about a member of the exercise-instead-of-aging Baby Boomers Generation, Eddie Izzard. Definitely an encouragement to all of us. 

I loved the great analogy Colin Timerlake used in his article, Fitness and Aging: The Body as a Hinge. This is an excellent reminder of how important it is for all of us, particularly those in the Baby Boomers Generation, to stay active and keep exercising to keep our “hinges” in good shape!

Edna Bhacker presents 9 Little Known Secrets to Living Past 90 posted at Nursetini , saying, "In a world of technological advancements, in which medicine benefits a great deal from new developments, it is little surprise that the human lifespan is increasing. However, it is not as long as it could be." 

SMART FINANCIAL INFO FOR THE BABY BOOMERS GENERATION AND THEIR ELDERLY PARENTS:

If you've been wondering how the much talked about health reform will affect your elderly parents, Six Ways Health Care Reform Will Impact Seniors is an interesting and timely news update for seniors from Matt Johnson at HealthBridge In-Home Care. 

"For some, a fixed annuity becomes more attractive when combined with long term care benefits," writes Mr. ToughMoneyLove in Annuities with Long Term Care Benefits at Go To Retirement. 

Consumer Boomer presents When Should You Sign Up for Medicare posted at Consumer Boomer, saying, "Here’s a look on the how and when to start your Medicare benefits."  Definitely important information as you can really get penalized if you don’t sign up at the proper time!

Kelly presents Tax Strategies for Canadian Seniors – Part 1, writing "Tips for Canadian Seniors on preparing their income taxes. The 3 part series covers tax deductions, tax shelters and tax credits." You'll find this useful information at imPOWERage.

And for those of us in the U.S. pulling our hair out as we try to get our taxes done while juggling the Sandwich Generation issues of caring for elderly parents while babysitting grandchildren, here’s something to give you a bit of a smile. Madeleine Begun Kane presents Taxing Times posted at Mad Kane's Humor Blog. 

I just watched a Numb3rs episode where the senior dad was exiting retirement and busy job hunting because of the economy. And he’s not the only one in the Baby Boomers Generation thinking about that. Justin Milano presents McDonalds Applications Are A Great Choice For Seniors posted at McDonalds Applications. Having worked there in my youth, I can say McDonald's is an excellent employer in many ways.

Well, there you have it. The Boomers and Seniors: News You Can Use blog carnival for January 26, 2010. We hope you enjoyed all these great articles and look forward to seeing you at the next edition. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page. Also, we'd love for you to submit your blog article to the next edition of Boomers & Seniors – News You Can Use using our carnival submission form. 

A big SandwichINK welcome to all of you dealing with the Sandwich Generation issues of caring for elderly parents and helping with your grandchildren. 

Welcome, also, to all of you visiting from the very fun 2010 Ultimate Blog Party at 5 Minutes for Mom! This is the second year SandwichINK has participated and it's definitely one of the highlights of my blogging year! 

To celebrate this party, we get a chance to discover new sites, meet new friends, learn valuable information useful to moms, dads, and grandparents of all ages, including grandparents of twins, and maybe even win a terrific prize or two! 

SandwichINK is excited to announce we are giving away TWO $20 gift certificates for Amazon this year! You can use it to buy a book full of resources to help you while you are caring for elderly parents, including those with dementia symptoms. Or perhaps you'd rather get fun and new ideas for trips and activities for grandparents and their grandchildren. You could even use them to download your favorite praise and worship songs to encourage you and your Sandwich Generation family!

To enter:

Leave a comment below with your email (which won't show to anyone but SandwichINK ). That will enter you for the Amazon gift card giveaway here at SandwichINK. (For extra entries, you can tweet about this, add it to Facebook, sign up for the SandwichINK free email, and/or blog about it at your own blog. Just leave a comment letting me know each thing you've done. And if you already subscribe to the email, let me know that as well. ) Contest ends at 11:59 p.m. on 4/15/10.

Visit 5 Minutes for Mom's 2010 Ultimate Blog Party, along with other sites participating in this blog party, leave a comment there with your email, following THEIR directions. Be sure to list SandwichINK's gift card THERE as one of your choices for prizes. You should then be entered in the drawing for all their prizes including the SandwichINK giveaway there.

While you're visiting the various sites participating in the Ultimate Blog Party, keep your eyes open for other fun giveaways at the individual sites. And if you spot other blogs of special interest to us grandparents in the never-aging Baby Boomers Generation and the Sandwich Generation, caring for elderly parents and helping with our grandchildren, including grandparents of twins and other multiples, we'd love to hear about them.

Some sites I've already discovered:

• A good friend and fellow grandmother and blogger, Cindi Matthews and her site, Moomette's Magnificants, who is giving away the cookbook, How to Roast a Lamb; New Greek Classic Cooking 
• A new friend and also a fellow grandmother blogger, Patty Coleman at Living In Amazing Grace who is giving away a 9-piece makeup kit at her site.
• For all of us grandma and grandpa of twins, my twitter friend, @TwinHappyJen is also going to be part of this Ultimate Blog Party and is giving away a copy of her cute book, Two Snowflakes. CONGRATULATIONS Jen for winning the co-prize for Best Children's Books for Twins and Multiples.
• Shelby of Double Up Books, who owns a bookstore for Twins, Triplets, and More is another great resource for grandparents of twins. She is giving away a book and a baby outfit from their Gaga for Mama line.  
• New to me – NanaHood – The Second Half of the Motherhood Journey. They are giving away Mozart for a Mother's Soul, a beautiful gift book that includes a Mozart CD. Sounds delightful!  

 Speaking of prizes –  I'm hoping to win:

• 17 – CmomGo – $200 Apple Gift certificate – I need to update my iPhone and this would be perfect!
• The Grand Prize – from 5 Minutes for Mom, the gracious hosts of this fun Ultimate Blog Party - Toshiba Satellite L505D-ES5025** Perfect for a Sandwich Generation blogger!
• 39 – Be My Guest Certificate from the Hilton Garden Inn – Perfect for visiting my Sandwich Generation family.
• 1 – Win a $150 shopping spree at Pedal Cars and Retro Collectibles. Wouldn't the grandchildren love these! 
• 15 – Win a $25 e-gift certificate to the Disney Store from Couponing to Disney. This never-aging member of the Baby Boomers Generation LOVES their T-Shirts.
• 19 – Prize package of preschool toys! from Hasbro Toys – Favorites of my grandchildren!
• 36 – From A Virtual Hobby Store and Coffee Shop – The winner will receive 2 year-long magazine subscriptions…one to Taste of Home and one to Simple & Delicious. Perfect for my senior mom. 
• USC 6 – One complete baby outfit from Double-Up's Gaga for Mama line – includes a bodysuit, pants, bib, and summer hat. Perfect for my upcoming new grandbaby.
• USC 28 – How to Roast a Lamb: New Greek Classic Cooking from Moomette’s Magnificents. Another one for my senior mom. 
• USC 20 – Mozart For A Mother’s Soul from NanaHood is a beautiful gift book that includes a Mozart CD. Great after a busy Sandwich Generation day of caring for a senior mom and fun activities for grandparents and grandchildren. 
• USC 59 The very first print of “Enchanted Forest“ from The Creators Palette. It is absolutely gorgeous.
• Anything else that is available  

Well, once again, a GIANT welcome to all of you, in and out of the Baby Boomers Generation and the Sandwich Generation! Have a delightful time site-seeing at 5 Minutes for Mom and the 2010 Ultimate Blog Party! Also, be sure to check out Saturday Blog Party Site-Seeing for the Sandwich Generation. But first, I hope you enjoy this encouraging Praise and Worship music. It's one of my favorite songs from the new WOW 2010 CD, In The Hands Of God by the Newsboys using one of my favorite resources, Smllebox! (I love that you can )

A HUGE THANK YOU to all of the great people behind the 2010 Ultimate Blog Party at 5 Minutes for Mom and the hard work that's gone into making it so great!  

Don't forget – for regular info and resources to inform and encourage the Sandwich Generation dealing with the issues of caring for elderly parents and helping with their grandchildren…

As baby boomers caring for elderly parents, Alzheimer's Disease and dementia symptoms are concerns that are at the top of many of our lists. We may not be dealing with that right now, but there's always a big question mark in the back of our minds. Will it come? Is my elderly parent's forgetfulness normal? Should our elderly parents be reacting that way? For that matter, I know from reading that many of my compadres who are starting to realize that they are in the aging baby boomers generation are asking some of those questions about themselves. 

I was reading an interesting article today that reminded me of a great idea I read and thought you might find it useful as well. In 6 Symptoms of Dementia, Wendy Dawn wrote that, for caregivers, "It is helpful to keep a journal of symptoms to share with the patient's physician. This will help the physician understand the progression of the disease and its manifestations." Excellent advice! I try to do that with all the different things my senior mom and/or I experience. And this is a particularly important area! 

Not only that, though. Journaling can also help all of us Sandwich Generation elder caregivers decide if we need to get help for our elderly parents due to dementia symptoms or if things are probably ok. The Alzheimer's Association has a wonderful checklist of 10 things to watch for, 10 Signs of Alzheimer's Disease. One way to keep track would be to copy this list and then check it every few months. Read each item, then type or handwrite our current observations of our senior parent along with the date. Quite often, you'll realize with relief that they are doing ok. By dating them, you can then observe whether or not they have really gotten dramatically worse or if it is just your anxiety making it seem so. 

You can also find a wonderful and detailed list of the Stages of Alzheimer's Disease and how various dementia symptoms may or may not fit in with each stage. This is another excellent resource to assist you in journaling and recording any and all changes you may, or may not, be seeing and helping you to put them into the proper perspective.

As caregivers for seniors, it's easy to get worried and think that things are worse than they really are. It's also easy to think, "oh no, it's just my imagination." These two lists are a big help for the Sandwich Generation, enabling us to really focus on what's going on, see if there is anything concrete to discuss with our elderly parent's healthcare providers, and help us make a reasoned and well-thought-out decision either way. And if you ever do need to see a doctor about concerns for your elderly parent, having this type of detailed journal should be an excellent resource for your elderly parent's doctor as well.

Not only that, but all my friends who are worried they are aging too fast for the baby boomers generation can check themselves out on this list as well. And hopefully, they will put their concerns to rest as they realize that they, along with the rest of the world, are primarily suffering from too much to do and too little time, so yes they forget ocasionally. But so do the 20-somethings who frequently help me at the doctors and the stores. I have to confess, everytime a 20-something forgets something, it makes me feel a bit better over the times I forget things Seems silly, probably, but I'll take those words of encouragement any time! How about you?

My senior dad grew up in traditional pants but once he retired he switched to the oh-so-comfortable blue jeans, which he loved. As his Parkinsons Disease progressed, he had to add mens elastic waist jeans to his shopping list and that worked quite well for a while.

When he was placed on hospice, however, in the end stage of Parkinson's Disease, he no longer felt comfortable wearing his trusty blue jeans. The zipper was too hard for his shaking hands to handle. There wasn't enough "give" in the jeans, themselves, when he was shifting in his wheelchair. And he hated having to change when going from bed to wheelchair a few times a day, but jean material just wasn't comfy for him in bed.

He would have preferred Khaki like the Eddie Bauer elastic waist pants above or these Falcon elastic waist pants for men (which come in big and tall sizes) but I didn't even think to look at Amazon at the time. Now, of course, that's always my first stop – since it's so wonderfully handy for a busy Sandwich Generation granny nanny, dealing with the issues of caring for elderly parents and babysitting grandchildren! (Aren't these sharp looking?)

At my mom's request, I went on a comfy-clothes hunt for him, expecting to find sweat pants quite easily. It must have been the wrong time of year because it took me two or three stores, but I finally found some nice, thick mens elastic waist sweat pants in a soft fabric that he really liked. I bought several and he pretty much lived in those all day.

Now we are close friends with a senior couple who are going through something similar. He is not on hospice, but his Parkinsons Disease symptoms have progressed quite a bit. Dealing with shaky hands and less control of his body overall, he, too, needs to make a major adjustment in his pant choice. Unlike my dad, though, he doesn't like sweat pants. He still wants to wear regular slacks, as he has for over 75 years. He just wants them to be easier to get up and down.

Once again, my senior mom and I went on a bit of a hunt to help them and came up with some good looking options for mens elastic waist pants, twill pants, and drawstring pants:

 - My senior mom and I have ordered from this company several times over the past year and been quite pleased with their service and their clothes. I noticed they do offer womens and mens elastic waist pants and their prices are always reasonable. Just search for "full elastic."  If you are interested in ordering from them, sign up to get their online notifications first. They frequently send out great coupon offers – from free shipping to discounted clothes. In fact, they are one of the companies I am affiliated with. If you look in the columns to the right, you'll find their latest special – just for you.

Some other options I discovered include:

• HABAND – This seems to be one of the least expensive of our choices. My senior mom spotted a flyer from them in our Sunday paper and I noticed they were online, as well. They offer full, 360 degree mens elastic waist pants, including mens jeans. You can also get flannel-lined elastic waist jeans or twill pants that would be great for an elderly gentleman who tends to get chilly easily.
• SILVERTS - Their website states they have been providing adaptive clothing for 80 years. In addition, Amazon carries one pair of velcro pants from Silverts. When I see a company partner with Amazon, I feel more confident ordering online from that company. They, too, offer mens elastic waist pants.
• BUCK AND BUCK - They are based in Seattle and their site explains they've been in business for 31 years. I liked the fact that the can convert any of their clothes to velcro, giving you plenty of choices. Even dressy church clothes would be easy to get on and off, then. They also offer mens elastic waist pants, including twill pants. And if you're like my senior dad in the early stages of Parkinsons Disease, they also offer full elastic waist mens jeans.  

Kaye