Monday, April 27, 2015

Aging Parents: Mother's Day Gifts--Fashionista or Frumpy Dumpy, What's a Daughter to Do cont. 2

Eileen Fisher has shops throughout the US (click Store locator)). Her high quality, easy-care sweaters and tops look good on all body types and all ages. Forget that the models are always young and cool-looking. 60 and 70-year-olds, especially larger women, love the sweaters (some come in brighter colors). The proportions are "generous."  "Small" can easily translate to EF's "PS" or "PM ." Because it may be harder to get the size right, if mom doesn't already wear Eileen Fisher clothes, don't buy on-line.


While styles are “today”--possibly surprising--many are perfect for older women. I'm guessing (based on one pair of slacks that I've worn for a decade) all of her knit slacks have elastic waist bands and fit well on skinny or overweight women. Paired with a loose top and loosely fit cardigan sweater, muffin tops--as well as flabby arms--vanish.
Try to find them on sale at......



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Thursday, April 23, 2015

Aging Parents: MOTHER'S DAY GIFTS--Fashionista or Frumpy-Dumpy, What's a Daughter to Do?

 Look good, feel good. New clothes can lift spirits 
                                    and that helps parents age well.
  Most women like to look good, yet aging issues, including lack of energy, may dampen a woman’s enthusiasm for buying clothes. Mother’s Day provides a chance to update older women’s wardrobes. For fashionista’s daughters, shopping for Mothers is fun; for others it’s a chance to help frumpy-dumpies look good.


 My 101 year-old mil’s favorite clothing catalogs (now on-line) are below, carrying a wide variety of  smart, well-priced clothing and accessories for women ages 50+++. No wonder they’re popular with many older women, as seen by the commenters’ ages.

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http://helpparentsagewell.com/2015/04/21/aging-parents-mothers-day-gifts-fashionista-or-frumpy-dumpy-whats-a-daughter-to-do/

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Great Personalized Mother's Day Gift 2015 from Help! Aging Parents

.....A great Mother's Day Gift--for Mothers and Grandmothers
thoughtful, personal, one-of-a-kind

I love reusing stuff and this wonderfully-decorated picture frame caught my eye several years ago at Linda's home. She decorated it for her mother with an old photo of the two of them, surrounded by various mementos and "stuff." Click photo to enlarge. Personalization possibilities are limited only by our imagination. 

It's inexpensive and easy to make--just get the frame, buy some glue, and gather all the meaningful mememtos, unmatched earrings, and old jewelry and buttons you can find.

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Sunday, April 12, 2015

Aging Parents: Forcing Resistant Parents to Do What's In Their Best Interest

FORCING ELDERS?
  
Can we force resistant parents to do what's in their best interest when they're dead set against it, maintain our relationship, and have no guilt?  

SOME STRATEGIES TO AVOID FORCE, GET COMPLIANCE

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Thursday, April 9, 2015

Aging Parents: When Parents Resist Help and Advice

SHOULD WE FORCE ELDERS TO DO 
WHAT WE THINK IS BEST?

The short answer is “no”–assuming aging parents have what 101-year-old Sr. Advisor R calls “a good head on their shoulders” and they’re doing nothing that threatens life and limb. If we try to force something that even suggests limiting parents’  independence or autonomy, we enter dangerous emotional territory.......

What is the motivation to force elders to do something?
1.  our feeling about parents’ judgment
2.  the consequences of–and for–our relationship with parents (earlier, now, future)
3.  Parents’ age, health, near-accidents or scary events, a doctor’s recommendation or friends’  recommendations may contribute.

Possibly omitted, however, is this thought–


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Friday, April 3, 2015

EASTER AND PASSOVER THOUGHTFULNESS THAT HELPS PARENTS AND ELDERS AGE WELL

Passover and Easter: Another chance to lift elders' spirits and Help Parents Age Well 

Easter and Passover celebrate miracles. While we can't make miracles, showing thoughtfulness to our elders is precious. (Actually it can be a miracle if normally unthoughtful family members decide to "buy in.") And adding interest to life helps parents and the elders we care about age well.

Grocery stores, drug stores, and Dollar-type stores have countless inexpensive items for Easter baskets.

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A little cash and a little creativity, and ribbon and some cellophane if you like, can turn an ordinary basket into an unexpected surprise that lifts spirits and brings smiles.
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A bottle of wine, a and a box of matzos anchor Passover baskets nicely. Candy, flowers and/or green plants are a happy addition to all holiday baskets.



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Thursday, April 2, 2015

Aging Parents: How Dangerous is Caregiving to One's Health?

11% of family caregivers report that caregiving has caused their physical health to deteriorate. [The National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP--2009), Caregiving in the U.S. National Alliance for Caregiving. Washington, DC.] - Updated: November 2012


 

Family caregivers who are in good health are in a better position to help parents age well. No surprise here.  Reading the statistics about family caregivers' health several years ago was sobering. The Family Caregiver Alliance's  2012 "Selective Care Statistics Fact Sheet," reports: "of those caring for someone aged 65+, the average age is 63 years with one third of these caregivers in fair to poor health." The November 2012 report's fact sheet is easy-to-read but long. However, it's well-organized by topics--eg. gender, age, impact on working female caregivers, gender and care tasks--making selective reading easy. Example: 

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