Traveling CareGivers

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Planning by caregivers can avoid holiday stress

Phoenix home care caregivers from Care To Go can be reached at 800-818-0407 or on the web at www.Care-To-Go.com

Travel Companions for Senior Travel and Phoenix Elder Travel Assistance can be found at www.CareToGoTravel.com

Holiday travel can be stressful for anyone, especially Seniors.  Elder Travel can be accomplished easily and safely with the assistance of Care To Go Travel Companions serving Phoenix, Scottsdale and the East Valley.  Care To Go Travel Companions also available from California and St. Louis.

Published: Sunday, December 13, 2009 at 4:01 a.m.
Last Modified: Sunday, December 13, 2009 at 2:13 a.m.

The holidays are times for family gatherings and happy memories, but for families caring for persons with memory impairment, the holidays may be filled with stress and frustration. To assist families and persons coping with Alzheimer’s during the holidays, the Florida Gulf Coast Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association developed 10 Holiday Survival Tips.

If you’re caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s at home, host a quiet gathering. Television, conversation and meal preparation may make the environment noisy or over-stimulating. To avoid disorientation, tone down blinking lights and large decorative displays. Avoid candles and decorations such as artificial fruits that could be mistaken for edible treats.

Involve the person with the disease in holiday preparations to the extent they are comfortable. Open holiday cards and wrap gifts together.

Caregivers also must consider their needs. Bake fewer cookies or ask others to help with meals. Let family members and friends help with cleaning and shopping for gifts. Ask a close friend to stay with your loved one while you do something fun.

You can’t control the progress of Alzheimer’s, but by planning and setting firm boundaries, you can avoid needless holiday stress and enjoy the warmth of the season.

For the complete article of the 10 Holiday Survival Tips developed by the Florida Gulf Coast Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, visit www.alz.org/FlGulfCoast or call 1-800-772-8672.

Phoenix home care caregiver series Holiday Stress continues on next post

Caregivers from Phoenix and Scottsdale home care watch for Holiday Anxiety

The Holiday season can bring extra anxiety to seniors in situations involving illness or loneliness.

Caregivers from Care To Go providing phoenix home care and travel companions watch for signs of extra holiday stress.

Holiday travel can be a source for extra anxiety too. The use of a Travel Companion can ease the stress of holiday elder travel. Travel Companions can assist with senior travel to help with everything from packing, getting to the airport, handling the flight and arrival at the destination easily and safely.

What’s Your Anxiety Level For Cancer?

During a stressful illness such as cancer, caregivers often become anxious. They may be afraid of what the future will bring, worry about their loved one’s illness, and worry about their own ability to handle all the tasks of caregiving. These are normal reactions that may last from a few days to a few weeks. But a more intense anxiety, beyond ordinary worry, can develop over time and keep people from doing things that are important to them.

Did you know anxiety can be managed and treated so people enjoy life again? Below are some of the symptoms of serious anxiety.

• You tire easily, yet have trouble sleeping 
• Your body is constantly tense 
• You have racing thoughts. 
• You are unable to control how much time you spend worrying 
• You have frequent aches and pains that can’t be traced to physical illness 
• You are irritable most of the time 
• You have had angry outbursts that are unusual for you 
• You find yourself trembling or shaking 
• You have noticed a racing heart, dry mouth, excess sweating, or being short of breath 
• You feel the worst will happen (even though no one has told you that)

Some worries are normal for people who are taking care of loved ones with cancer, and sometimes people will have 1 or 2 of the symptoms for a short time after starting to care for a loved one. You may want to talk with friends, family or a doctor about these concerns. Some people find that it helps to get more information about managing caregivers’ responsibilities, including how to talk about cancer, and how to find a support group.

However, it is important to see a doctor if your anxious feelings are strong, if you have fearful thoughts, or if you can’t accomplish your ordinary, daily activities. Another sign you may need help is when your anxiety lasts for more than two weeks. If you have any of the above symptoms, we encourage you to print out this checklist and talk it over with a doctor, nurse, social worker, or other professional on your cancer care team.

Contact Care To Go travel companions at 800-818-0407

Disabled Traveler Accessible Travel

This horror story was reported by a business man who asked to remain anonymous but wants to express his concern of the frightening truth about unpracticed laws and unscrupulous people.

After an unexpected accident a successful businessman was forced to dawn crutches for a short period while his injury healed. This injury so effected his ambulatory ability he was subject to the use of a wheelchair while navigating large public dwellings.

Traveler X as we’ll call him states he was asked by airport security to step aside while a handful of able bodied passengers where shuffled through the security process in order to speed things along. This seemed almost understandable for the first two passengers escorted through security. The issue arose when the 5th then 8th passenger was paraded through the detector.

Finally Traveler X was asked to step up and practically disrobe while funneling his travel-ons through the conveyor. Once through he was asked to quickly pick up his belongings, which by this time had been pilfered through like rummage, and proceed to his destination.

When Traveler X informed the security teem of his concern for there treatment of his belongings, they quickly retaliated by expressing their dismay at his lack of consideration for their efforts.

Traveler X boarded the plane and completed his journey…only to find himself in a worse scenario a few weeks later. After missing a connecting flight our temporarily less able business man found himself sitting in a strange airport with no wheelchair assistance, no one available and it appeared no hope of ever receiving any service.

By a stroke of luck there was a flight attendant exiting the plane after performing whatever closing procedures they conduct.

The attendant was an angel, the only light in this experience. She asked if she could be of any assistance and promptly contacted the facilities wheelchair assistance department.

A wheelchair attendant delivered mobility assistance, baggage was received and business was attended. Stories like this are common although not to the point of epidemic proportion. I believe this  in-part to there being an abundance of good in this world  despite its obvious flaws. A Travel Companion and traveling caregiver who is skilled in home care as well as travel situations can make all the difference.

The Issues Before Us Aren’t Difficult to Grasp…

Compassion maybe the first step.  Some seem to lack empathy for situations they may be unfamiliar with. This is natural which is why the Disability Discrimination Act is in-place.

The legislations main goal is to protect everyone and provide proficient service for the less able in public dwellings and communal surroundings. It does this by firmly stating basic guidelines for assisting the less able while in or near any public establishment.

Specific conditions are covered by law i.e. Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s, Cancer, HIV just to name a few. The link above leading to the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) will provide details.

Overall equality for the less able is what the Act shoots fore. Unfortunately at times it falls short. Not necessarily due to any fault of its own but more due to the responsibility of the factions controlling its’ execution.

Those Responsible For Making Things Happen, Need Someone to Make Them Make Things Happen

In many cases that someone will be YOU! You will need to take hold of your particular situation. Apply your best decorum and persuade those in question to first acknowledged you, then assist you. This is an unfortunate truth and warrants attention.

Story after story reminds us that we have a ways to go in bringing awareness to the corporate moguls that additional measures may need to be taken in assuring pleasant travel experiences for all.

Eric Lipp founder of the Open Doors Organization believes the airlines know exactly what needs to be done  but simply are unwilling to shell out the cash to bring airport and airline accessibility to a peak!

Eric has Von Hippel Lindau, a condition that has led to his ambulatory disability. Needles to say Eric is to familiar with the obstacles plaguing the less able. Eric non-profit organization (ODO) is dedicated to bringing awareness to the door step of corporate America. Eric peaks at national conventions such as the National Restaurant Association Hotel-Motel Restaurant Show and the Society for Accessible Travel and Hospitality World Congress. Eric is the recipient of the 2003 Access to Freedom award given by travel agents from around the world. Eric’s’ commitment is unprecedented as an advocate for the less able.

Consistent Lack of Monitoring, Poor Internal Management, Less Than Perfect Contractors and Poor People Skills Seem to Be the Overwhelming Norm In Reported Disability Discrimination Cases

The problem will continue until the moral standards of society has stepped up a notch. None of the conflicts, misunderstandings, bouts of confusion or blatant lack of concern will cease until individuals directly involved, from the wheelchair attendant to the CEO of the airlines takes ownership of the situation and lays down the law.

There are Several Pre-Trip Procedures You Can Implement to Aid In a Smooth Boarding and Flawless Arrival

1. Know Your Rights!
2. Contact travel agent familiar with needs of less able.
3. Book hotels and accommodations before arrival.
4. Confirm with agent or for yourself that accommodations are accessible and friendly.
5. Always, Always Arrive at Departure Destination Early!
6. Pre-arrange for DME storage arrangements with travel agent or airline.
7. Familiarize yourself with location of hospitals and police stations for longer trips.
8. One very important aspect of creating a DREAM vacation or getaway is making sure you choose a destination established as disabled friendly. If you are aware that your destination may not comply with all DDA regulations then be warned and travel at own risk.

Now that all is out in the open and eye brows have been raised, there is a lighter side to speak of. The number of reported disability discrimination cases  even-though high is not out of control and with help from disabled travelers such as yourself we can be sure that our voices won’t go unheard. Hopefully we can bring enough attention to the situation people within the system will improve the system.

Submitted by Care To Go Travel Companions

For Phoenix home care and Scottsdale area homecare, or Travel Companions contact Care To Go 800-818-0407

Are You Depressed? A Checklist for Caregivers – Care To Go Cautions Phoenix CareGivers to be Alert for Holiday Depression

Caregivers at Risk for Depression

Contact Care-To-Go.com for complete caregiver and travel companions information

Growing Elder Population Will Increase Need for Caregivers

In the United States, more people are living longer, and as they do the need for caregivers will continue to grow. These forecasts from the U.S. Census show the trend clearly:

• By 2030, one American in five will be 65 or older (that adds up to 72 million people!)
• By 2045, the number of Americans 65 or older will reach nearly 90 million (twice what it is today
• By 2050, the “older old”–those 85 and up—will number nearly 21 million
• By age 65, nearly nine out of ten Americans cope with at least one chronic health condition.

What this boils down to is that for the foreseeable future seniors will constitute an ever-increasing percentage of the population. Forty years from now, there will be more than 80 million Americans age 65 or older who suffer from chronic health problems and who need care. Many, if not most, of these people will be cared for by family members, typically their adult children. As a result, more people than ever will be involved in eldercare.

The overall impact on society will be both broad and deep. The medical needs of seniors, for example, will claim more and more of the resources of the healthcare system. In addition, as more people become caregivers, their absence from the workplace will affect employers and the economy generally. By the end of this century, nearly every aspect of society will have been changed in some way by the graying of the population.

Care-To-Go is a Phoenix, Scottsdale, and East Valley home care and Elder Travel Companion Company.  They may be reached at 800-818-0407

Priceless Caregiving: Stories of Elder Care Success, Courage and Strength (Paperback)

Beth Bates owner of Care To Go, Phoenix, Arizona featured contributing author tells Louise’s story from a CareGiver perspective. Louise’s story includes both home care caregiving as well as her Travel Companion experience.

Product Description

These stories are true, heartwarming, and life-changing…. showing how elder care services of all kinds have impacted the lives of senior clients and families.

"Priceless Caregiving" will take you on an emotional journey that gives you inspiration and hope. The stories themselves specifically show how elder care has saved seniors’ families from stress, worry, and sleepless nights. The stories also teach all of us the importance of helping our aging loved ones maintain independence and choice for life.

Readers will be amazed at how caregivers have not only changed the lives of seniors, but also their family members.

This insightful and inspirational book dispels the common myths and misconceptions associated with elder care services. The real-life stories within will help the reader discover how positive and motivating having a team of caregivers and a support system can be for the entire family. Priceless Caregiving reinforces how important it is to choose a reputable elder care service that cares about their clients like family, and provides information to help you make the right decisions for you and your aging loved ones. We owe great thanks and tribute to the tireless caregivers who wrote this book.

Each contribution is from a real life hero for our senior population.

Priceless Caregiving Stories is available on amazon.com for $21.95.

Contact Care-To-Go.com for copies of the book at discounted prices. The book is scheduled to hit the shelves about December 21, 2009

About the Author

Valerie VanBooven RN BSN is the author of Aging Answers (2003) and The Senior Solution (2007). Priceless Caregiving is her third book written specifically for seniors and their families. Valerie is the owner of LTC Expert Publications LLC, a consulting company dedicated to helping elder care and senior service providers with marketing efforts both online and offline. She is a social media marketing expert and online marketing expert.

Care To Go Travel Companions can help with double charging.

Some airlines are now charging for two full fare seats for obese passengers. Care To Go Travel Companion service are aware of such policies and can book flights where this charge does not apply or choose a flight that has room and therefore will not charge the extra charge.

When involved in elder travel, there are many special arrangements that should be made to accommodate seniors requiring travel assistance.  Care To Go also provides home care.

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – United Airlines, a unit of UAL Corp, will require obese passengers bumped from full flights to purchase two seats on a subsequent flight, matching the policy of some other carriers.

When

The change brings the Chicago-based in line with eight other airlines including Continental, Delta, JetBlue and Southwest, United spokeswoman Robin Urbanski said on Wednesday.

"Last year we had 700 complaints from passengers who had to share their seats," she said.

Under the new policy, obese passengers — defined as unable to lower the arm rest and buckle a seat belt with one extension belt — will still be re-accommodated, at no extra charge, to two empty seats if there is space available.

If, however, the airplane is full, they will be bumped from the flight and may have to purchase a second ticket, at the same price as the original fare, Urbanski said.

If the bumped passenger chooses to cancel the trip, the ticket will be refunded with no additional charge.

The policy is effective immediately.

Huge Cruise Ships Prepare for Launch but Face Uncertain Waters

Travel Companions CareGivers from Care To Go looking for good vacaton deals

ByMike Estrel, Wall Street Journal

PORT EVERGLADES, Fla. — Oasis of the Seas will make quite a splash Saturday when it embarks on its inaugural seven-day cruise in the Caribbean with some 5,400 passengers aboard.

Towering 20 stories above the sea and nearly as long as four football fields, Royal Caribbean cruises Ltd.’s newest vessel cost $1.4 billion to build and is about a third larger than any other cruise ship now plying the seas.

And, with its 13 retail shops, 21 pools and 24 restaurants, the ship offers the most outsized example of the cruise industry’s bet that huge ships with amenities like multistory cabins and 300-foot water slides will help buck slack demand.

View Full Image

Jason Henry for The Wall Street Journal

Among the seven "neighborhoods" on Oasis of the Seas are the Pool and Sport Zone and Central Park, which features 12,000 plants and trees.

But Oasis, and several other super-sized ships that will launch soon, face stiff head winds. Cruise lines have been able to fill their ships during the recession, but only by offering steep price discounts. Yields—the amount they make on each passenger—are down about 15% this year amid a broad drop in consumer spending. Travel agents say they see signs of a turnaround in 2010 cruise bookings, but fourth-quarter demand has remained very soft. And while big cruise-ship companies are still booking profits this year, helped in part by lower fuel costs, their margins have shrunk.

Even some competitors say Royal Caribbean may have gone too far in the size race. Micky Arison, chief executive of Carnival Corp., the world’s largest cruise company, says his company looked at building a similarly sized ship earlier this decade but decided the profit margins weren’t sufficient. There’s a market for bigger ships, he says, but one as large as the 225,000-gross-ton Oasis risks having the feel of "a huge mall."

Still, Carnival is also bulking up. It launched the 3,650-passenger, 130,000-gross-ton Carnival Dream in September, and it announced this week that it has ordered another similarly sized ship costing $750 million. And the No. 3 player, NCL Corp.’s Norwegian Cruise Line, is spending $1.2 billion for the 4,200-guest, 150,000-gross-ton Norwegian Epic, which is slated to start service in the summer.

Sailing in Choppy Waters?

A zip-line hangs across the Oasis of the Seas’ Central Park "neighborhood."

But Norwegian is hedging its bets. While it’s going ahead with the 4,200-passenger Epic, it canceled an order last year for a similarly sized sister ship. "You have to be on the cutting edge, not the bleeding edge, of innovation," says Kevin Sheehan, NCL’s chief executive. He believes cruise prices won’t climb back to 2008 levels for another three years.

As more big ships are launched, the Cruise Lines International Association estimates North American capacity will grow 8% in 2010 and an additional 5% in 2011. Even Italian-owned Silversea Cruises, which specializes in small, ultra-luxury ships, is launching one later this month that can handle 540 passengers, or nearly a third more than its next-largest vessel.

Consumers’ wallets were thicker in late 2005, when Royal Carribean, the world’s second-largest cruise company by market share, decided to take the plunge with Oasis, and, a year later, to add Allure of the Seas, an identically sized sister ship, which will join the company’s rapidly expanding fleet late next year.

In the Journal’s video series on leadership, Royal Caribbean International CEO Adam Goldstein shares his management advice,including how he organizes his schedule. He makes a spreadsheet with a row for every day of the year and columns for morning, day and night activities.

But industry executives say they have to take the long view: Ships take about three years to build and have life spans of 30 years or more. "At some stage in [Oasis's] life we’re going to have big ups and big downs. This is probably a bigger down than we ever imagined," says Richard Fain, Royal Caribbean’s chief executive, but, he adds, he has no regrets. "I think Oasis of the Seas will be one of the highest returns on investment our industry has ever seen," he says.

Indeed, Oasis has had strong early bookings and initial double-digit percentage-price premiums over smaller rivals, according to industry trackers. Room rates for Oasis’s inaugural voyage ranged from $1,649 a person based on double occupancy for a 149-square-foot interior stateroom to $16,659 for the 1,524- square-foot Royal Loft Suite with an 843-square-foot balcony.

The ship offers a casino with gaming tables and nearly 500 slot machines, a 1,380-seat theater for Broadway-style productions, an exercise center with nearly 200 machines and twin 40-foot-high rock-climbing walls, a skating rink, and seven "neighborhoods," including one called Central Park that has more than 12,000 plants and trees. "This is as close as the industry has gotten to a Las Vegas resort," says cruise-industry consultant Rod McLeod of McLeod.Applebaum & Partners.

But the sheer size of Oasis also poses logistical challenges. Few ports are equipped to handle it, restricting its itinerary. If Oasis were to ferry passengers to land by smaller boats, "it would look like Normandy at D-Day," Mr. McLeod says.

Travel Companions can assist elder travelers on cruise ships and other vacations.  When it comes to elder travel assistance on ships, or senior travel assistance anywhere, a good traveling caregiver can make the trip not only possible, but very rewarding and enjoyable.

Improving Communication from Scottsdale home caregivers and Care-To-Go.

One of the most important ways to help communication is not only to ask "How are you feeling?" but also "What are you feeling?" If you think about it, "How are you?" is one of the most common questions we ask, but it can be a rather thoughtless one. The expected response is "Fine" or "Good." It doesn’t allow for much discussion. When you ask, "What are you feeling?" you are digging a little deeper. Someone who is asked that question will get the impression you want to know how he really is doing.

When you ask the question, "What are you feeling?" be prepared to hear anything. The person could say he thinks a lot about death or he is worried about what the future holds for his children. Or maybe he is afraid he will not survive a year. Be ready to really listen and hear the answer he gives you. You do not have to have a reply, but you must be ready to hear the pain or harsh thoughts that the question might provoke.

People with cancer sometimes like to get the opinions of those closest to them about their illness, treatment, and treatment outlook. Be open and honest, but don’t try to answer questions that you don’t know the answers to. The person with cancer will sense your honesty and appreciate it. If you want to know more about this, please see our document called When Someone You Know Has Cancer. 

Venting feelings

During their illness, people with cancer may express anger and frustration to those around them. This can upset family members and friends, but it may help to remember that people often displace their feelings onto people close to them. They do this because the people closest to them are a safe outlet. They know you will still be there for them, even if they behave badly or create tension. Often, the person is really frustrated and angry about the cancer and the losses it brings, but that is hard to put into words. So she may take her angry feelings out on family, friends, or anyone who happens to be around at the time.

Phoenix Scottsdale, Chandler and Mesa CareGivers trained by care-to-go have experience in elder communication.  Caretogotravel travel companions also are trained on special senior needs.

Keeping Seniors Safe in Chandler, Arizona This Holiday Season

Care-To-Go offers advice for scottsdale and phoenix home care caregiver.

Visit www.Caretogotravel.com for ideas for senior travel companions and elder travel.

(ARA) – Even if you’re not driving through a blizzard, the effects of winter weather pose a mobility challenge for everyone, whether it’s the possibility of slipping on the sidewalk around your home or delayed flights due to icy runways. This is particularly true for seniors and aging loved ones.

Cold temperatures only add to the frustration of winter travel. It’s little wonder that some people forgo the fun of holiday gatherings to stay home. For seniors, in particular, the ice and snow of winter is more than a discomfort – it’s a hazard. It’s so easy to slip and fall that many choose to stay inside, rather than take the risk of an injury from falling. Going outside to simply get the mail can seem like a chance they don’t want to take.

The best way to face down winter and all its challenges is to think ahead and be prepared. A few simple solutions will make winter much safer – and more enjoyable – for you and any guests you might invite over.

* Get the right gear – Clothing has to go to the next level in winter and serve a real purpose. Not only do you need added warmth, you have to have traction gear for ice and material that will keep out the dampness of snow, sleet and rain. Clothing technology has come a long way in helping us deal with winter. New, lighter-weight fabrics fend off sub-zero cold and all kinds of precipitation without adding bulk, which is great for everyone, but particularly for professionals who need to maintain dress standards at work.

Most shoes just aren’t able to stand up to the conditions of winter, and become hazardous when the world is glazed with ice. Innovative products like Stabilicers, ice cleats from 32 North, make any shoes into ground-gripping wonders. A variety of Stabilicers models are available. The Stabilicers Lite is adaptable to a wide variety of casual shoes and can be put on using only one hand. Plus, they’re small and easy to stash, so you can easily carry them with you when you travel.

* Prepare your car – Winter driving poses its own unique challenges and needs. First, make sure your car is ready by checking that its fluids are temperature-appropriate and up to the correct levels, its wheels are in good alignment, its tire treads are in good condition, and that its battery, belts and hoses are in good shape.

Whether you’re driving long distances to visit the family or just heading to work, it’s a good idea to keep an up-to-date emergency kit in the vehicle in case you become stranded. Include good jumper cables – if the ones you have are getting worn, spring for a new pair because if you get caught in the cold with a dead car, they will be your ticket home. Also include blankets, a flashlight, flares, a first aid kit, a small shovel, a window scraper and a bag of something that will help you gain traction, like kitty litter, sand or salt. Extra hats and gloves can be handy, too, as can small, non-perishable snacks like energy bars or granola bars.

* Pay attention to your property – It’s important to keep a close eye on your gutters, steps and sidewalks, even when you’re not in the middle of a snow or ice storm. Make sure that icicles aren’t forming, or if they have, knock them down (carefully) to avoid damage to your home and to prevent them from falling on anyone.

If ice forms on your walkways, keep ice melt, sand or salt near the door so you can easily distribute it and prevent slips and falls. When the snow starts to fall, be sure to shovel regularly. If you’re a city dweller, your neighbors will thank you. If you’re not, you’re taking steps to protect yourself and any visiting guests. The Stabilicer ice cleats can also come in handy while you’re doing these chores, giving you better traction to make the job quicker, so you can get back in out of the cold.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Visit us at www.care-to-go.comif you have questions, or need help for an aging senior in the area.