It can be hard to come up with appropriate gifts for seniors. It is especially tough to come up with fun, useful ideas for gifts for seniors in nursing homes, assisted living or receiving in-home care. Our Aging Wisely team brings you great summer gifts for seniors. Now, all you have to do is visit the links below to find these great senior-friendly gifts. We’ve picked out some especially nice summertime gifts for enjoying the great outdoors!

Over-Sunglasses Solar Shields  

Great eye protection for those beautiful sunny days! They also offer extra protection after eye procedures or for those with eye conditions or sun sensitivity. A practical senior-friendly gift for summer and year round!

Ergonomic 4-Piece Garden Tool Set

For the senior gardener in your life, these ergonomic tools make gardening more comfortable and accessible for those with arthritis, swelling or difficulty with manual dexterity. They’re easier on the hands and arms, even for those who don’t have any health issues. If your aging parent enjoys gardening, these are the ideal gift!

Fujifilm Instax Mini 7S Instant Camera

Now your elder loved ones can capture favorite moments and enjoy them right away with the Fujufilm Instax Mini 75 Instant Camera. This easy-to-use, point-and-shoot camera is great for family reunions and special events. It has auto flash with automatic adjustment for great pictures even in low light. The grandkids will love it too!

Peterson Field Guides Eastern Birds Book: Large Print Edition

For the bird watchers, this large print guide makes birding easy. Peterson is well known for its quality bird field guides. Bird watching is a great way for elders to enjoy the outdoors and nature and this guide will be a much loved companion.

Personalized Pewter Windchimes

When picking gifts for seniors, something personalized is always appreciated. The lovely melody of these windchimes is perfect for enjoying a porch or in the breeze of an open window. Get the oval engraved with a personal message, inspirational quote, family name or whatever you like. This is a great way to personalize a space for your senior loved ones!

Get Aging Wisely’s complete Gifts for Seniors guide, along with a special coupon for senior-friendly clothing and adaptive items! Sign up for our newsletter for more great senior-friendly and eldercare tips.

The Aging Wisely/EasyLiving Alzheimers Walk Team

We proudly kicked off our Walk to End Alzheimer’s team last week! We will be raising funds and spreading Alzheimers awareness leading up to the event on October 24, 2015. Read more about why we participate in the Walk to End Alzheimers and contact Laura Ashford if you would like to get involved. This is a worthy cause to support, given the huge impact Alzheimer’s disease has on families and society. Join us in supporting the Alzheimer’s Association’s vision of “a world without Alzheimer’s disease”!

Alzheimers Education

In our continued mission to fill the need for education about Alzheimers and other forms of dementia, we will once again be offering a free Alzheimer’s disease class. This is a great opportunity for elders, family caregivers, healthcare professionals or anyone to learn more about the disease. Click here for the Alzheimers Class flier and make sure to RSVP!

If you need help with Alzheimer’s disease concerns, contact our team at 727-447-5845 any time! We offer a free consultation to help you determine what resources you might need and can assist from pre-diagnosis through dealing with the various stages of the disease.

We’re officially kicking off our Walk to End Alzheimer’s 2015 team this week!

Our team will be participating once again in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Pinellas County. The walk is scheduled for October 24, 2015 at Bright House Field in Clearwater. For more event details, visit the Walk to End Alzheimer’s 2015 Pinellas County event information page. Stay tuned for more details about our team and fundraising events! If you want to participate in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s 2015 with us or find out more, contact Laura Ashford at 727-447-5845.

Why do we participate?

We walk because we know the toll that Alzheimer’s disease takes on individuals, families and the community. We believe in the importance of Alzheimer’s research and support programs. We are grateful to contribute to the Alzheimer’s Association’s vision of “a world without Alzheimer’s disease”.

About the Walk to End Alzheimer’s

The Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s® is the world’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Held annually in more than 600 communities nationwide, this inspiring event calls on participants of all ages and abilities to reclaim the future for millions. Together, we can end Alzheimer’s disease, the nation’s sixth-leading cause of death.

Alzheimer’s Support

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease (or are concerned about memory loss), we encourage you to contact us for resources and a free consultation.

Aging Wisely and EasyLiving focus on individual services and support, but also community education about dementias such as Alzheimer’s. We have a large catalog of resources on Alzheimer’s topics and we offer Dementia Workshops on a regular basis. We help connect people with resources such as support groups and community assistance and we hope to help fill the gap for quality Alzheimer’s awareness and education.

You may want to check out some of the following resources:

Guide to Memory Loss: Old Age, Dementia, Alzheimer’s?

Slideshow: Dementia Care Tips

EasyLiving Alzheimer’s Specialty Care

Alzheimer’s Planning Considerations

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Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia can be isolating, for the person and the caregiver:

• A study in the U.K. found that about 1/3 of people reported losing friends after an Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Also, almost 40% of people living with dementia reported being lonely (increasing to 2/3 of those who lived alone).
• Social engagement, on the other hand, can have a protective effect against dementia symptoms.
• Many studies indicate that social isolation and withdrawal from activities are common among caregivers.
• And, on the other side, dementia caregivers who are satisfied with their social relationships show fewer negative psychological symptoms.

Why is social isolation common for those with dementia?

• Many times, people don’t understand the disease or how to interact with the person. They may be afraid of the disease (or even irritated by symptoms they don’t understand) and withdraw from contact.
• The individual may feel ashamed and embarrassed by mistakes and therefore stop participating in activities.
• Practical concerns may get in the way. The person may not be able to get to activities after he/she stops driving and have difficulty remembering appointments and trouble taking initiative.
• Dementia caregiving is often a 24/7 job, meaning that most caregivers reduce activities and social time. Dementia caregivers may also feel emotionally isolated from friends who aren’t in the same situation.

Tips for overcoming social isolation for dementia patients and caregivers

• Help friends and family understand the disease and encourage them to ask questions or express their concerns. Here’s a list of great books to help children understand dementia and you might want to share some basic resources with friends as well as being honest about your experiences and feelings.
• Encourage humor! Laughter can be a lifesaver for dealing with uncomfortable feelings and awkward moments in dementia.
• Facilitate visits and continued activities. This might require a little logistical planning and modifications, but it’s worth the effort. We offer suggestions for senior-friendly activities and ways to modify activities on our EasyLiving blog, as well as concierge support for attending outings.
• Caregivers often benefit from support groups and/or professional counseling. This is an outlet for dealing with feelings and challenges of caregiving, which can help you maintain healthy relationships with friends, colleagues and spouses.
• Respite care should be incorporated into dementia care early in the process (get a free respite care checklist!).

What can friends or community members do?

• Keep an open dialogue. Don’t be afraid to ask “stupid questions”.
• Offer concrete assistance, as well as emotional support, to the caregiver. Understand if they turn down your invitations, but also ask if there are ways you might help or what they need to be able to attend. Keep reaching out and don’t be offended when a caregiver does not reciprocate.
• Educate yourself to reduce fear and misunderstanding. Check out some tips about communicating with people with dementia and how to connect.
• Increase Alzheimer’s awareness and help debunk myths and fears.

Are you facing the challenges of dementia care? Get help from a care manager, your partner in caregiving!