Caregiver Activities for the Week

Monday: Do a creative activity today. Tapping into your creative side can be very relaxing and calming.

Tuesday: What did you do for yourself last week? Write it down and how it made you feel. If you didn't do anything for yourself last week, make sure you take time this week to do something for you.

Wednesday: Are you still affectionate with your loved one? Do you give him/her hugs? Pat their back? Hold their hand? Often it is easy to overlook these things as we focus more on caretaking, but being affectionate is very important.

Thursday: Write down your favorite moment from last week that you shared with your loved one. How did it make you feel?

Friday: When was the last time you cried? Crying can be a great emotional release if you have a tendency to bottle up your emotions. Sometimes we don't know why we are crying, but that's ok it is an emotion that everyone needs to feel from time to time.

Saturday: Take your loved one to the art museum. This has been said to be a relaxing activity to those with Alzheimer's and Dementia. Everyone has an opinion when they see an art piece, and the great thing about opinions is that there is no wrong answer.

Sunday: Organize and prioritize next week's activities

Home Safety Tips for Alzheimer's Patients

Home safety is an important thing for any senior, but it is even more important when we are caring for someone that has Alzheimer's or Dementia. Things that you may not have thought of as a risk before is suddenly something you need to be aware of. Here are some tips to keep in mind in each room of your house.

Outside:

• Mark the edges of steps with bright colored tape
• Think about putting a ramp in, instead of steps
• Make sure there are no objects laying around that can cause falls, such as hoses

Kitchen:

• Lock up household cleaning products
• Install childproof locks on door latches
• Keep prescriptions in a locked cabinet
• Remove knobs from the stove

Bedroom

• Have a night-light
• Get rid of any throw rugs
• Have some type of intercom system in place so you can hear any noises in the bedroom

Bathroom

• Remove the lock from the bathroom door
• Have grab bars installed by the toilet and in the shower
• Remove small electrical appliances from the bathroom
• Insert drain traps in sinks

Living Room

• Remove throw rugs
• Hide the remote controls for the tv, dvd player, and stero system
• Clear walk ways of electrical cords

Laundry Room

• Keep detergent and other products in a locked cabinet
• Latch the doors to the washing machine and dryer so objects don't get placed in there.

Garage

• Keep all tools and other dangerous items locked away
• Lock all cars
• Make sure the garage is well lit and clear of clutter

For more tips on home safety go to http://www.nia.nih.gov/

Caregiver Activities for the Week

Monday: Have you gone through pictures recently? Looking through pictures with your loved one is very relaxing and often brings pleasant memories back for him or her.

Tuesday: A fun activity to do with your pictures, if you have not already, is to put them in a photo album, or make a scrapbook with them. This is a fun activity that both of you can do together.

Wednesday: When was the last time you and your loved one got out into the community? Tulsa seems to always have events going on, last weekend they had the first ever Rib Festival. Find community events that would be of interest to your loved one, and go together.

Thursday: Are you feeling overwhelmed? Write down all of the things on your to do list, and determine which tasks you can afford to delay for a bit, and which ones are top priority. Making a list and prioritizing can often lift the weight off of your shoulders. If you feel that all of your tasks need to be completed in the near future, then consider asking for help so you can relax some.

Friday: Write down whatever you are feeling today.

Saturday: Go out and enjoy the nice fall weather.

Sunday: Plan activities for next week.

Fire Safety

October is Fire Safety Month.

Older adults tend to be more vulnerable to fire-related injuries:
· People 65 and older are twice as likely to die in fires as any other age group.
· The fire death rate for those 85 and over is four times the national average.
· Seniors are at a higher risk of fire injury .
Reduce your risk of fires:
· Make sure your smoke alarms and CO2 alarms are in working order.
· Flammable liquids stored in the house or near sources of ignition can cause fires and explosions. Store these materials in a well-ventilated area away from living quarters.
· Don't keep large quantities of combustible materials in the house, especially near escape routes such as hallways
· Look for electrical problems. Flickering lights, loose switches and damaged cords are warnings of electrical fire.
· Place fire extinguishers in accessible areas. Know how to use them.
· Teach everyone to get everyone to safety and cal the fire department first.
· Post emergency numbers at each phone including who to call in case of fire. Also, post your own address and telephone number because a panicked person can forget these.

Written by LEH

Caregiver Activities for the Week

Monday: Since the weather is rainy today: Think of a fun indoor activity you can do with your loved one. Read, do a craft project, catch up on chores, etc.

Tuesday: Today spend an hour or two with someone you haven't seen in a while. Maintaining relationships with your friends and family is very important.

Wednesday: Write about whatever is on your mind currently....positive or negative.

Thursday: Have you heard of the Advantage waiver? This is a resource that could be very useful for your loved one. Go to http://advantage.ok.gov to learn more.

Friday: When was the last time you said yes to someone that offered to help? If it has been a while since you said yes, think about why that is and write it down in your journal. Knowing when to accept help is very important as a caregiver.

Saturday: When was the last time you went to the movies? With all the fall movies coming out there is sure to be a movie to your liking. Go and have fun...eat some popcorn.

Sunday: Plan your activities for next week

Remembering 9/11

When I woke up today and realized today's date, September 11, I was immediately taken back to that day eight years ago. I remember the feelings that came rushing in when what had just happened sunk in...sadness, horror, disbelief.

Today I think it is important for us to remember that day eight years ago, and do something to honor those who lost their lives. Below are some ideas of activities that you can do.

• Community Service Projects
• Volunteer at a local nursing home, adult day center, YMCA, etc.
• Talk about what you remember about that day
• Call or do an activity with your family today
• Look through photo album

There is nothing we can do to erase the pain of that horrific day, but we can honor today and those that were lost.

Oklahoma Seniors Games

In October the Oklahoma Senior Games will be coming to Tulsa. Men and women over 50 will be coming from all over Oklahoma for a chance to compete and continue on to the Natinoal Senior Games. There will be 21 different sports to compete in. Some of the sports include basketball, croquet, badminton, tennis, and much more.

The Senior games will kick off on October 1 with a Gala at the Greenwood Cultural Center. At the gala there will be dinner, dancing, and a silent auction. The event will be free for all participants in the Oklahoma Senior Games.

There is also a casino night that is scheduled for October 6 at River Spirit Casino from 6:00 to 11:00 p.m.

If you know someone that you think would enjoy being a participant in the games then go to www.oklahomaseniorgames.org or call 918-596-2527. If you do not want to be a participant still go and show your support to all the athletes, it is sure to be a fun time.