Imagine a scenario where you could provide your aging loved one with exceptional care while also taking care of yourself. It might sound like a dream, but it’s a reality through respite care. In this blog, we’ll explore the remarkable benefits that older adults and their families can gain from respite care services. If you’re in Sun City, Menifee, Lake Elsinore, Murrieta, Temecula, Poway, or the surrounding areas and seeking highly qualified, warm, and honest caregivers, read on.
 

Imagine having a companion who’s not just there to assist you but also to bring warmth and comfort into your daily life. That’s the essence of companion care services, and in this blog, we’re going to explore the invaluable benefits that these services offer to individuals and families across Sun City, Menifee, Lake Elsinore, Murrieta, Temecula, Poway, and the surrounding areas. If you’re seeking highly qualified, warm, and honest caregivers, you’ve come to the right place. Let’s delve into the world of companion care services and discover how they can enhance your life.

Life is not easy, and often we are thrust into situations requiring us to trust others who have advanced knowledge or training in a specific area. We can easily understand this when we need a painter, an electrician, a plumber or other home professional. We want to work with someone who will do the job at the right price, at the right time, and in the right way, leading to the right outcome. We strive to find a professional who has both a reputation for honesty and excellence in the community, and a passion for the work they do.

Applying those same principles when a loved one is in need of assistance can even be a greater challenge, but is of critical importance. At Great Life Senior Care, we have put together some important questions and answers to provide guidance in your decision-making journey into home care.

Have you noticed there are a few hints out there that fall is coming? Perhaps it is the children wearing backpacks, school buses appearing on the streets, or parents shopping for back-to-school items. Are some of the trees in your neighborhood beginning to change color? Have you noticed an afternoon breeze kicking up, or enjoyed a cool morning lately? If you have been shopping recently, you may have seen pumpkins and other fall décor making an appearance on store shelves. Even Krispy Crème has introduced the pumpkin spice version of their popular donuts just this past week.

After the slower pace of summer, warm weather, vacations, and a break from routines, many of us are looking at our schedules, thinking about refocusing our goals while we plan for fall. For those of us with elderly loved ones, this is also a good time to evaluate how they are doing. Every year that goes by for an aging family member can result in subtle changes providing clues that some help at home is needed. Being observant and asking the right questions can help protect your loved ones and improve the quality of their lives. Here are a few common signs that someone may need assistance at home.

As we prepare to celebrate our independence on July 4th, it is a perfect time to give thanks for those who set us on a course of freedom by creating the founding documents of the United States. Even today, almost 250 years later, our hearts are stirred with love of country and patriotism, as we consider the longing for freedom held by these courageous men.

Fathers are tenacious, hardworking, and willing to make sacrifices for their families. The job of being a father is extremely challenging and about much more than receiving accolades and high fives. Fatherhood takes work and a willingness to have difficult conversations. Fathers need to inspire their children, and teach them about inner strength, while showing kindness and discipline through their own words and actions. Fathers should give respect and in so doing they earn respect from those they love most. The list of responsibilities and duties of a father are exhaustive and limitless. This month we simply want to honor fathers who have instilled lessons in their children’s lives, helping them grow into strong, capable adults.

A glimpse of the surrounding hills in our communities is evidence of new life – wildflowers are popping out all over the place. Birds are chirping and nesting, spring lambs and calves are making their entrance, and gardens are growing, all reminders of new life that comes in the spring. It is fitting that the celebration of Mothers and Grandmothers comes in this wonderful month of May.

As I sat reminiscing about the many Easter Celebrations we have hosted for our children and grandchildren over almost 50 years of marriage, I chuckled at the creative inspiration and outright funny ways we have made the holiday memorable for our loved ones. Of course, we repeatedly provided the traditional meals of ham, yams, rolls, veges, salad, pies and so much more, which were always a big hit (feed them and they will come)! Yet it was the other ways we celebrated that really created some great memories.

These included such things as Easter scavenger hunts, sidewalk chalk drawings, competitive relays, silly games with jelly beans, pin the cottontail on the Easter Bunny, and Easter puzzle competitions. The annual Easter Egg Hunt that followed was sometimes held indoors at home in rainy weather, or outside in the yard, sometimes at various parks or playgrounds. One of the biggest highlights was the annual water balloon toss. Win or lose, there were always smiles and the “Oh no, here we go,” followed by shrieks as cold water splashed on participants as those balloons popped. The winners would shout their victory, then a massive water balloon fight with the remaining balloons would ensue.

It is known that New Year’s Resolutions are often discarded by the end of January. Whether they are fitness declarations, weight loss, eating healthy, self-improvement, educational goals, organizing your home, improving relationships, most are abandoned soon after the New Year as we discover wanting to make changes is not equal to making them. The inherent desire to improve areas in our lives is noteworthy and commendable. We want to be better human beings, take on new challenges, reach our potential, and thus improve the quality of our lives.

As a wise employer once told me as I was striving to learn and improve my performance, “Work on one area at a time. Zero in on that. When you have made progress, work on the next…then the next. Soon you will find you have made lasting changes!” In sports terms, it is easy to become overwhelmed and give up when your eye is not on the ball, especially in this busy world where we are pulled in so many different directions. If you can’t focus on the ball, you will never make that shot, score those points, and win the game. While managing one thing at a time sounds simple, blocking out the noise from the stands or the distractions that consume our time, it can be almost impossible. We must be intentional with our goals. They will not be achieved without diligence and attention.

It is true that sometimes simple things in life can touch others for generations. This often includes finding that special someone to love, joyful clattering of raising a family, sights and smells of Holiday events, or laughing together as memories are made. Even the loss of a loved one can bring tears, followed by smiles, as we recall the life stories and personalities, the differences that loved one made in our lives. Though we may forget some details as the years go by, we don’t often forget the feelings those experiences invoke.

The Story of Silent Night is one that has brought joy and music into the lives of millions of people through the years, yet its simple beginnings could have ended quietly without much impact. The song, “Silent Night” is about a calm and bright night such as we experience when stepping outside on a cold, clear winter evening. It is about the birth of a tender and mild newborn child, words written by a young priest in Austria, Joseph Mohr, in 1816.

As I strode into Lowe’s Home Center in mid-September on a mission for fresh paint, I was stopped in my tracks as I noticed a fully lit up Christmas Display. Gnomes, snowmen, Santa and his reindeer, Mickey Mouse, along with every conceivable type of fully lit, decorated Christmas Tree were shining. What happened to Fall? Where were the colored leaves, wreaths, and hay bales? Halloween and Thanksgiving had disappeared altogether in a rush to capitalize on Christmas, where lies a substantial portion of the annual income for many businesses far and wide. I was snapped to attention as I thought about the implications of this.

Fall is my favorite season! There is something about the cooler temperatures, leaves falling from the trees, and anticipation of the holidays that is refreshing after a long hot summer. The kids are back in school, fall décor and candy corn are showing up on store shelves, and plans for fall festivities are underway. Truthfully, I have already made nut breads and my favorite Lemon Iced Ginger Cookies to bring the season closer. The month of September is chocked full of fun offering many opportunities to reconnect with friends and family. Here are some highlights and ideas to make the season memorable, so please enjoy my four favorites!

As seniors, we often feel the change of seasons beginning when our grandchildren return to school. The mixed blessing of letting go of summer festivities and getting back into a routine mark a change in our behaviors, attitudes, and responsibilities. In the inland empire, we find ourselves counting the days until the hot summer sun surrenders to fall with cool breezes and rain showers. We look forward to opening our windows for fresh air, getting around town without feeling overheated, taking casual walks, or sitting on our porch enjoying the cool mornings.

Without the changing of seasons, life would be too much the same day in and day out. Just as the times change, each one of us also have the opportunity to change, pursue new friendships, take on a new hobby, learn something new, or volunteer with our church or community. There are many seniors who make doing these things a regular part of their lives, yet there are others with serious health issues or financial challenges that make even doing simple things very difficult. This is where spouses, friends, relatives, and home health care workers can be the hero, as they help loved ones solve simple problems or manage tasks that seem insurmountable. Perhaps you are one of those who feels they need a new beginning, a purposeful way of living your life while helping or encouraging others.

In early 2022, journalists at National Geographic magazine and AARP collaborated on a project called the “Second Half of Life Study.”  It involved 2580 adults and asked questions about the issues of aging, covering health, finances, happiness, home and many more topics that affect the lives of seniors. 

50 to 75 years ago, the norms for Fathers were quite different than they are today. Many Mothers stayed home with the children, while Fathers went off to work, part of a daily ritual culminating in great cheers when dad arrived home. There was something magical about that moment, one that the family looked forward to with anticipation. It was a time for sitting around the dinner table, hearing about the day, making sure the kids were on track with homework, and taking a few minutes to watch the nightly news. Sometimes this was followed by listening to the radio, taking a walk, playing a game, watching a current series on TV, or catching up on sporting events.

The next few days would generally follow a similar pattern -- until at last… Saturday arrived. Then there was yard work, taking care of the pool, fixing flat bicycle tires, playing catch with the neighborhood kids, shopping for essentials, and hopefully a little rest and relaxation. Those two weeks of vacation each summer couldn’t come soon enough, and everyone in the family loved the change in routine. Road trips, seeing new sights, and trying to figure out how to keep the kids occupied in the back seat was a major undertaking. Singing silly songs in the car was one of the tools used to keep everyone engaged and laughing. There were no cellphones, or handheld gaming devices to pass the time. Still, by the time the road trip was over, with a trove of memories and a sigh of relief from everyone, they scrambled out of the car and headed for the front door, happy to be back home.

Spring is in full bloom. In our own community, new growth is appearing on our hedges, roses of all shades and varieties are blossoming, and daffodils and irises are bursting out of the ground. While there are occasional showers on the horizon, May is a month of sunshine and warmer temperatures, offering a prelude to summer. Soon, kids will be out of school, swimming pools will open, and shorts and flip flops will be everywhere. Family vacations, picnics, and all types of family fun will make an appearance. The summer nights almost become magical as routines change and a slower pace of life takes hold for a few short months.

At Great Life Senior Care, we look forward to opportunities to touch the lives of the amazing seniors in our communities and assist in making their lives more enjoyable and productive. The May Calendar offers some unique ways to show kindness and appreciation to others, celebrate with loved ones, make timely purchases at lower prices, and plan for the future. We will touch on five ideas in this month’s post.

It is time to get out and enjoy the warm, refreshing sunshine. Wildflowers are blooming, the hills surrounding our beautiful communities are green, and the evenings are cool and comfortable.

Here we are in March already, and spring is right around the corner – the promise of warmer nights and bright sunny days. It is time to plan those trips, enjoy the outdoors, get your natural Vitamin D, and remember why we live in Southern California where the weather is clear and sunny most of the time.

For seniors, this is a time to plan game nights, take rides in the car, enjoy dinner with a friend, take long slow walks, invite the cool breeze and sunshine into the house, and enjoy your family. Maybe you would enjoy a small garden this spring with easy-to-grow tomatoes and crisp peppers or spring flowers. Whatever you enjoy doing outdoors, March is a wonderful time to start making plans.

The month of February is the shortest month of the year, often mixed with cloudy, windy, or rainy weather, early sunsets, and cold temperatures. Who doesn’t love a cup of hot chocolate, coffee, or special tea and a cozy blanket nearby for those chilly mornings? In Southern California, thankfully we are often surprised with a few days in the 70’s when the sun’s warmth is streaming in the window or shining on your back as you take a walk as those clear blue skies highlight the snow-covered mountains around our valleys. Yet there is more to February than meets the eye, and a variety of opportunities to celebrate and enjoy fun with family or friends.

2021 has been a year of changes. Besides changes in their health status or living conditions, many seniors are faced with the challenges of handling everyday affairs. It is easy to get bogged down with details, a never-ending to-do list, paperwork, and other things that can cause anxiety or fall through the cracks resulting in problems later. Staying on top of things creates peace of mind. As memory or health issues begin to arise, it is common for seniors to sometimes be confused or miss important details.

Here are 8 simple things you can do to help seniors start the year off right. Consider taking a few hours in the month of January to review these areas.