It can be hard to find the right gifts for older fathers. So many times, older Dads tell us they don’t need anything. If they have downsized or given up certain activities, we may feel at a loss for ideas for gifts for our older fathers. As Father’s Day nears, we’re here to help with great gift ideas for older Dads!

You might also want to check out our Gifts for Seniors guide and be sure to grab our coupon code, for $5 any purchase at Silverts.com. This site has great adaptable clothing and senior-friendly products, as gifts for older fathers on special occasions or any time of year.
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Here’s our lineup of Top Five Father’s Day Gifts for Older Fathers:

*Click the titles for hyperlinks directly to the online sites where you can purchase these items.

Yesteryear Jigsaw Puzzle

Puzzles are a great activity for both fun and keeping the mind engaged! They’re great for rainy days or for older fathers who can’t get out and about as easily as before. This puzzle is easy for people with arthritis and low vision due to the large pieces. The picture is a fun collection of things from years gone by, for enjoyable reminiscing.

Reader’s Digest Large Print Edition Subscription

This popular periodical is enjoyed by many older Dads. Now, get the large print edition and provide your older father many hours of reading enjoyment for the next year.

If your Dad prefers other publications, many of them are available in large print. A subscription to a magazine or newspaper (or digital versions if Dad uses an e-reader or iPad) makes a useful, enjoyable gift.

Origin of Last Name Print

Great for geneology and history buffs, or any Dad proud of his family heritage. Makes a nice decorative item and discussion piece, great for adding a personal touch to an assisted living apartment or nursing home room.

This lists information about the origin of your surname, other people in the past that had that name, where it was derived from and the country of origin. It also includes a description of the arms, crest and motto of the family.

Classic Games Collection Mega-Screen Solitaire

Perfect for Dads who enjoy games, this device (with multiple games) can add hours of solitary fun to the day. Games like this also sharpen the brain and this handy device is portable, so it’s great for traveling or wait times.

For active older fathers, sports equipment and sports clothing make great gifts. Or, you might want to plan an outing to a sporting event or do an outdoor activity together. It’s always great to encourage the older adults you love to stay active, and it’s fun to get out and enjoy the time together! Our senior concierge services can assist with logistics and accompany your Dad if you don’t live nearby and want to plan something special (or need an extra hand).

Titleist Personalized DT Solo Golf Balls

For the active older Dad in your life who loves a good (or even bad) game of golf. Golfers always need more high quality golf balls, like these from Titleist. Golfsmith offers a great array of products for the older golfer in your life. Great gifts for older fathers who enjoy a day out on the course!

Our founder, Linda Chamberlain, will be speaking at an upcoming Alzheimer’s education event in Clearwater. The event, at the Madonna Ptak Center for Alzheimers and Memory Loss at Morton Plant Hospital, will feature the movie Still Alice and a discussion of important Alzheimer’s information.

Still Alice is a movie based on the 2007 novel by the same name, about a woman diagnosed with Early-Onset Alzheimer’s disease. It is a touching portrayal of the disease and its effects on the individual and family.

In addition to the movie, the event will offer Alzheimer’s education from Dr. Diana Pollack, Director of the Memory Clinic and specialist in Alzheimer’s and other dementias. She will speak about brain health and answer Alzheimer’s education questions. Linda Chamberlain’s Alzheimer’s education section will contain legal information that individuals and their families need to know when facing Alzheimer’s disease.

Join this important Alzheimer’s education event on June 5th, from 10:30-1:00. Please RSVP to Celisa Bonner at the Madonna Ptak Center for Alzheimer’s and Memory Loss by June 2nd (spaces are limited): 727-298-6384 or Celisa.Bonner(at)Baycare.org.

If you have questions about Alzheimer’s education or services, we also welcome your calls to our eldercare team. We offer comprehensive assessments, care planning, patient advocacy and assistance with a wide array of services and programs (and help navigating them). Contact Aging Wisely at 727-447-5845 any time!

Today we share an elder care story from a long-time Aging Wisely client, in the words of her cousin who helps manage her elder care from a distance. Mary became a client back in the early 2000s, when our team was engaged to help with some planning decisions.

We’ll let Mary’s cousin, Joe Skalski, describe in his words why our elder care team was engaged and how we have helped:

I used Aging Wisely to help Mary back in the early 2000s to assist with some life decisions. Mary’s parents provided for her care well into their 80s, but then her father died followed by her Mom’s entry into an assisted living facility that specializes in care for Alzheimer’s patients. Mary had been so dependent on her Mom and Dad after the death of her husband decades ago.

As Mary’s parents aged, there was quite a gap in her care. Some family members have pitched in here and there to help out a great deal, but of course we all have our own lives to run as well, our own work that requires time and dedication, and our own immediate family members for whom we must also dedicate time and effort. Aging Wisely took care of getting Mary emotionally healthy to continue independent living and making sure some of her important needs were being addressed despite her disability and inability to meet certain needs on her own. 

Joe contacted Aging Wisely again in 2013 to provide supportive services to ensure Mary could continue living independently, while staying safe and healthy. She has a local family caregiver who takes her to medical appointments and EasyLiving caregivers, arranged by her elder care manager, who visit twice/week for some household and personal care tasks, socialization and transportation. When Joe contacted Aging Wisely this time for services, he was particularly concerned about her transportation needs, ensuring she got her medications and was taking them properly and the need to develop a system for her spending money needs beyond what her food stamps covered.

Whether it came to getting her a podiatrist who does home visits, making sure her laundry is done or having someone assist her with grocery shopping, I can rest assured that my cousin is being taken care of despite the 500 miles that separate us.

As our elder care team works with clients in many different situations, our goal is always to increase the client’s (and family’s ) quality of life. This means different solutions for different people, but also a focus in the way we interact with clients and the expectations we set (and advocacy to ensure ongoing quality) for those who are engaged to assist them (be it their household help, elder care staff, medical providers or assisted living staff). This focus means we often hear the kind of feedback Joe mentions below.

Mary consistently gives me great feedback on her interactions with Aging Wisely staff and the personal care helpers they have coordinated for her.

The end result is a more positive experience of life in general, the ability to live the fullest life possible despite health issues or other limitations. We’re pleased to hear Joe’s description of how this has worked for Mary:

She has gone from a state of constant fear for the future to one where she looks forward with a degree of confidence she never had before. 

For the concerned family member like Joe, the result is peace of mind. Our elder care team prides themselves on communication, and each client care plan lays out how and when we should communicate with involved family members or other caregivers as well as expectations for visiting and emergency response, goals and plan.

As Joe shares, Their regularity of reporting to me has been quite a comfort.

Our team offers eldercare advice based on many years working with numerous clients and families. Today, we share our secret to making eldercare easier for everyone (and life better for your aging loved ones): the schedule.

Why is a schedule so useful for eldercare and well-being for elders?

• Healthy aging means staying active, both physically and mentally. The person’s health situation might place certain limitations on activities, but studies continue to show the importance of active engagement in life for physical and mental health. Exercise and physical activity can stimulate the brain’s ability to maintain old network connections and make new ones vital to healthy cognition and help elders maintain physical functioning and prevent/delay disease. Post-retirement health declines are mitigated when a person stays active, has social support or continues part-time work (or volunteer work).
• Routine creates comfort and stability. We all tend to have preferences for when we like to get up and go to bed and things we like to do throughout the day. Our routines can be comforting and create our sense of home, even when other things change. A routine schedule is especially important for people with dementia or cognitive problems.
• A schedule helps set expectations, especially if you have professional caregivers involved in eldercare. It helps to set expectations of what the “caree” prefers in terms of eating times, wake/sleep times and other daily routines, along with tasks and activities that should be completed. This is one of the great benefits of in-home care versus the group setting of a care facility. An elder can continue to follow whatever routine he/she wishes. Our EasyLiving team uses a unique Life History and Daily Routines Questionnaire to develop a customized home care plan.

Our eldercare experts’ words of wisdom about schedules:

1. Routine activities are the “comfort foods” of our lives. Don’t underestimate the value of these activities to someone. Make sure to let caregivers know about them. Consider important routines in planning activities (there’s nothing worse than planning a big activity when all the other person can think of is missing People’s Court).
2. Of course, meals are the real comfort food of our lives. Don’t underestimate the importance of meals and food traditions. As we age, our appetites and nutrition needs may change, making meals even more important to us physically. Sometimes elders living alone experience loneliness at meal times, which can lead to poor eating habits (eating too little, snacking only on junk food or overeating). Having mealtime companionship and help preparing meals can improve nutrition and reduce loneliness.
3. Channel your inner Cruise Director. Get creative with activity ideas. Your elder “caree” might not be able to do the same things they used to, but there are often ways to modify activities. Take a look around the local community for events, classes and groups. Check the local senior center, but also look at community centers, special interest groups, libraries, theaters and more.
4. Don’t overschedule. This is especially important when you’re a long-distance caregiver making a visit, or when a hired caregiver first starts. You might be tempted to pack in lots of important appointments and make the most of the time, but remember your loved one probably doesn’t function at the same pace you do. It’s also good to allow for unexpected delays and to leave time for talking and relaxing together (and for hired caregivers to build a relationship).
5. For hired caregivers, create a daily schedule and be specific. Schedule tasks, so that you don’t run into the problem of caregivers saying they thought it would be handled on a different day/by someone else. Schedule in tasks and appointments in specific time slots. For activities, you might set aside activity time but leave a few different ideas for what can be done during the time, or make notes about alternatives (for example, an outdoor activity with an indoor option in case it rains). Be as specific as possible and provide guidance.

For more great “insider” tips from our eldercare experts, sign-up with one click for our monthly email newsletter. Contact our eldercare advisor for a free consultation via email or at 727-447-5845.

Image courtesy of arztsamui at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

It’s time for a “senior care reality check”, say many experts in the field of aging, including our own Executive Director at Aging Wisely and EasyLiving, Alex Chamberlain. Alex was recently interviewed as part of SeniorCare.com’s report on the misconceptions about aging.

As Alex shared, “when it comes to aging or chronic care needs, everyone thinks they will be okay or that they have family to take care of them” and lack of preparation “just makes conflict and hard choices more likely”.

Fortunately, there are more choices than ever. As Alex urges, “think about what you want as you age and then learn a little bit about the realities”.

Alex shares, “Unfortunately as an owner of a home health business, I have seen the good, the bad, and the ugly. I have seen families’ quality of life disappear due to being unprepared for the challenges of long-term care.I have seen loved ones and family members never speak to one another again because they weren’t prepared and began fighting over everything”.

The families who navigate the challenges successfully did their homework, got help from quality professionals, and availed themselves of the choices that were best for them. The statistics shared in this report and the opinions of all the experts point to the same important advice: be prepared!

To talk to Alex Chamberlain about this thoughts on this subject or get more information from our expert team so that you can be prepared, contact Aging Wisely online or call 727-447-5845.

Alex Chamberlain, Aging Wisely and EasyLiving Executive Director, shares his expertise here and on our EasyLiving blog regularly. Alex is a Clearwater Chamber Young Professional of the Year and has been named a top business leader by several business publications. Most importantly, Alex has a passion for bringing innovation to eldercare and has dedicated his career to giving families better options and creating a better environment for caregiving professionals. Connect to Alex on Linkedin.

**Graphics are from Seniorcare.com’s Report on the Major Misconceptions of Aging. Read more details of the report there and Help Close the #SeniorCareGap by sharing this and making sure others are aware!