The Sandwich Generation . . . Helping Your Aging Parents
by Carol Abaya, M.A.
for release September 10, 1999
Are you juggling doing errands for your aging parents, your children,
yourself and working at the
same time? Are you tired, stressed out and upset that your once vibrant
parent is now frail and
needy?
Do you feel alone? Rest assured you are not alone! The Sandwich Generation
is dedicated to the
50 million Americans who may have elder/parent care concerns and/or
responsibilities.
GADGETS
There Are Many Gadgets To Maintain Independence
Question: My mother, 71, is wheelchair bound and gets frustrated because
she has to wait for
someone else to help her in and out. We can't be there all the time
and can't afford full time help.
We need help.
Question: My father loves to play poker with his friends, but a stroke
has resulted in partial hand
paralysis so he can't hold the cards. He's getting depressed because
he misses his friends. We're
trying to find another activity he can enjoy. Any ideas?
Question: My mother loves to read, but her hands and arms are painful
from arthritis. So she can't
hold a book for any period of time. How can we help her?
Question: My mother is in a nursing home and loves to keep in touch
with all her grandchildren,
who are scattered all over the country. A mini-stroke weakened her
writing hand, and she has
trouble holding a pen. She's frustrated.
Question: An elderly uncle, had hip replacement surgery and can't put
on his socks. My aunt is
also elderly and can't help him. They live in their own home and can't
afford someone to help with
such a small chore.
Question: My father has trouble chewing, so he eats very slowly. His
foods gets cold and then he
refuses to eat. He's lost too much weight. Help needed.
Answer: Millions are in the same situation as these seniors. There are
many marvelous gadgets
that can help people maintain their independence.
* There are sliding boards and seat turntables which can help a person
move her/himself from a
wheelchair to a regular chair or bed.
* There are card holders so a person can still enjoy playing even if
he can't hold the cards
properly.
* There are book holders which can be placed on a table and others that
can be put on a chair or
bed.
* There are specially designed pens that enable a person without hand
strength or with debilitating
arthritis to write. There are also specially designed flatware that
are easier to use and help a
person maintain in dependence.
* There are both simple and elaborate sock or stocking helpers. My mother
used one successfully
after her hip surgery.
* There are specially designed plates and bowls in which hot water is
placed under the food
serving part, thereby keeping food warm for a longer period of time.
A visit to a medical supply store or a call to the Arthritis Foundation
1-800-283-7800 or the
American Chronic Pain Association 1-916-632-0922 will help you locate
appropriate helper
gadgets.
These gadgets make marvelous holiday gifts.
* * *
Question: My sister, 72, fell and broke her leg. She will be in a nursing
home for an estimated four
weeks care plus physical therapy. She has a walker in the nursing home,
but the home said we
have to pay if she takes it home. Is this correct?
Answer: No! Medicare will pay for the walker and your sister can take it home. It's her's.
Medicare pays for a semiprivate room, meals, skilled nursing and rehabilitative
services, and other
services and supplies. Equipment such as walkers are also covered.
For Medicare information call 1-800-633-4227. The operators are very helpful.
* * *
Do you have a question? Send it in. Although letters cannot be answered
individually, appropriate
letters will be answered in this column whenever possible. Letters
may be edited. Send letters to
Ms. Carol Abaya, c/o Name\Address of YOUR newspaper or e-mail her at
SandwchGen@aol.com.
Carol Abaya is an international-award-winning journalist and creator
of the unique magazine The
Sandwich Generation: You & Your Aging Parents.
NOTES TO EDITORS: text = 540 words; other material = 160 words
We would appreciate it if you would include the "Globe Syndicate" bug at the end of the column.
©1999 by Globe Syndicate, all rights reserved.