How Caregivers Can Make The Most of National Grandparent’s Day

By Roz Jones

September 11th is National Grandparent’s Day, a time to celebrate the special bond between grandparents and their grandchildren. While the day is mostly about showing your appreciation for the older generation, it can also be a great opportunity for Caregivers to spend time with and gain some advice and wisdom from their elders. Here are five tips on how to make the most of this special day.

Thank your grandparents for all they’ve done for you: Believe it or not, grandparents are indispensable. Whether they are looking after young children in the family or cooking a meal for Sunday dinner, grandparents seem to always show up when needed. Express your gratitude for them by simply saying “thank you”. Spend family time with them because at that age nothing brings them more joy than their offspring.
Spend time with them, whether that means going out to eat or visiting them at home: Include your grandparents in your plans for the day on September 11th. Whether you are looking to go out to eat for the day or looking to cook dinner for the evening, extend an invitation, you may just make their day!
Show them how much you appreciate them with a small gift or thoughtful gesture: Sometimes simply saying thank you isn’t adequate enough. Check out this article to find out 10 ways you can show gratitude when “Thank You” is inadequate.
Tell stories about your childhood and the things you loved doing together: Reminiscing on the good times is always a great time to spend time with your loved one and can end up putting a smile on their face. Take a stroll down memory lane to make your grandparent laugh or smile.
If your grandparents live far away, Facetime or Skype with them so they can be a part of the day: If your grandparents live far away, don’t worry, with the age of technology there is always a way to include your grandparents on their special day.

Whether you’re spending time with your grandparents today or not, make sure to take the time to appreciate them. They’ve likely had a lot of life experiences that they can share with you if you’re willing to listen. And who knows? You may learn something new that changes the course of your life.

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Making the Most of Your Family Time Before the School Year Begins

By Roz Jones

Back-to-school season is swiftly approaching! It’s time to start thinking about how to make the most of your family time before the school year begins. There are plenty of activities to keep everyone occupied and happy, but it often takes a little bit of planning to make sure everything runs smoothly. Here are some tips for Caregivers to make the most of their family time before the school year begins:

If you have young children, take advantage of the warm weather and get outside for some active play. Visit a nearby park or playground, go for a bike ride, or just let them run around in the backyard. Playing together is always a blast when done as a family. Taking them to see their grandparents is also sure to make their day.

Older kids and teens may be more interested in indoor activities, such as playing video games or watching movies. Relax by playing a board game with your older children or watching a movie together. It’s still important to encourage them to get up and move around every once in a while. Suggest going for a walk around the neighborhood or playing a game of catch in the backyard.

For aging loved ones and clients, quality time together can be even more important. Try to schedule outings or activities that everyone in the family can enjoy, such as picnics, trips to the zoo, or visiting a local museum. Many museums offer discounted rates for families during certain hours of the day/weekend. [Check out my blog ‘How to Get Active With Your Aging Client Or Loved One‘ to learn about more activities you can do with your aging client(s) or loved one(s) this month!]

Don’t forget to take some time for yourself and plan ahead as much as possible. As Caregivers our schedules can be pretty hectic, so be sure to enlist the help of other family members or friends when needed, and take breaks when you can. Remember that taking care of yourself is essential to being able to provide care for others.

It’s hard to believe that summer is almost over and the school year is about to begin, but with a little bit of planning, you can make sure that everyone in the family enjoys some quality time together before the busyness of back-to-school season begins. Although we can’t slow down time, there are still plenty of things we can do to make the most of our family time, so enjoy it while you can.

Are you a Caregiver struggling to manage productivity? Check out my podcast to learn the different ways Caregivers can increase their productivity this summer!

Summer is known as the period for the majority of people to relax and take off the load from what they have been doing.

However, as a caregiver, it is important that you stay active as you may be the primary/secondary caregiver to your loved ones.

So how do you do that? Find out in this episode where I share tips and tricks for you to increase your productivity this summer.

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How to get active with your aging client or loved one this month

By Roz Jones

As caregivers, we are always looking for fun activities to do with our aging clients or loved ones. This month, we’ve put together a list of some fun activities that you can enjoy with your loved one! Whether you’re looking for something to keep them active and engaged, or just want to spend some quality time together, these activities are sure to please. So get out there and have some fun!

Visit the different farmer’s markets in your community: August is a great time for you and your aging client or loved one to visit your local farmer’s market and support local farmers! Take your client or loved one out to enjoy some quality time by picking fresh produce to make a healthy meal this month!

Make a list of good lunch ideas the children might like at school: With school swiftly approaching, many parents are preparing for their children to go back to school. If this is the case for you, be sure to have your aging client or loved one help write down different lunch ideas the children might enjoy!

Make homemade ice cream: Who doesn’t love ice cream on a hot summer day? Check out this link to learn how you can make homemade ice cream in 5 minutes!

Go to lunch for National Senior Citizens Day on August 21st! Show your aging client or loved one some love and appreciation by taking them to their favorite restaurant on August 21, 2022. Make sure your grandparents or parents are not left out.

Go for a bicycle ride around the neighborhood: The summer months are a perfect time to go bike riding in your neighborhood. Take your aging client or loved one out for some exercise and fun. I’m sure they will love it!

Aging doesn’t have to mean slowing down. In fact, with a little creativity and plenty of love, it can be a time for fun and exploration. So go ahead and try out one of these activities – we guarantee you won’t regret it! And if you do, well, there’s always homemade ice cream waiting for you. Family time is also a great time to be active.

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Are you a Caregiver wondering if telehealth is a good option for your aging client or loved one? Check out my podcast to learn about the pros and cons of telehealth!

Telehealth is the provision of healthcare remotely by means of telecommunications technology and with the pandemic, we have seen a rise in telehealth.

In this episode, I share:
The pros and cons of telehealth
How it is applicable in the realm of senior care.

Listen Now!

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Thank you for your patience with me as I attempted to gain access to my Instagram account @rozjonesenterprises! Unfortunately, I have been prompted to create a NEW Instagram account.

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Enjoy Family Fun for Free with a Summer Staycation

By Roz Jones

The annual summer vacation is a treasured family tradition that ensures family fun and relaxation. These days, the cost of a family get-away can seem astronomical due to the expense of vacation, entertainment and accommodations. Also some Caregivers may not be able to leave the home for vacation due to their loved ones diagnosis.

However, you can avoid the cost and fuss of travel and lodging by making the most of your home. By prepping your home, you can create a fun, vacation-like atmosphere that’s relaxing for you and your client or loved one.

Staycations also allow you to vacation with your pets and other family members in a place that’s familiar and comforting for them, reducing stress on your furry friends and the entire family.

Try these steps when planning for your next staycation:

Clean and organize your living space. A great deal of the enjoyment from staying in a hotel or resort is the clean, comfortable atmosphere surrounding you.

Clean the house for tidiness and sanitation. Knowing you’re in an extremely clean environment will free your mind of worries that plague you during normal days at home.

Completely catch up on laundry. After all, even on a vacation outside of the home you would need clean laundry for the week. The goal of having clean laundry is to match the atmosphere and comfort level that you and your client or loved one would experience at a place away from home.

If you would prefer not cleaning the home yourself, search the numerous websites that give the customer coupons or discounts on cleaning services. Websites such as Groupon and LivingSocial offer such coupons for most cities in the United States.

Plan activities to do in the home or surrounding area. A staycation should still be active. Staying at home the entire week of vacation is impractical and can cause friction after a few days. Survey and utilize your surroundings to plan fun activities for your clients or loved ones and the rest of the family.

Do some research in the weeks beforehand and have a game plan in place.

Look into low-cost or free local attractions to visit during the day. Depending on the interests of your family, these may include a museum, butterfly garden, aquarium, or a picnic at the local park. Many local education-related venues allow kids in for free.

Not every activity has to be outside of the home. Plan activities that your client or loved oned, and children would enjoy doing, such as arts and crafts. If your children are older, play sports or set up a slip and slide in the backyard.

Turn off the electronics. In order to create a relaxing atmosphere it’s important to disconnect from everyday life.

Turn off your cell phone and shut down your computer. Make arrangements with work beforehand and communicate that you’ll be out of touch for the entire duration of your vacation.

On your work email account, you can set an automatic response that will reply to senders to let them know that you’re out of the office. This way, you’ll have peace of mind in knowing that your responsibilities at work will be handled.

Having a staycation is a positive, cost-effective way to take a break from your everyday life. Taking a short break from life’s responsibilities will allow you to become inspired to do better in other aspects of your everyday life.

Your mind, body, and soul deserve a break, even if an extravagant vacation is not financially viable at the moment. With a little creativity and some extra effort in planning, you, your clients or loved ones, and the rest of your family can experience a relaxing and rejuvenating vacation – right in your own home.

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Are you a Caregiver taking care of two loved ones? Did you check out Part 1? Check out Part 2 to hear more from Caregiver, Christine Psalms and how she takes care of both of her parents!

Christine Psalms continues her story with us in this episode.

As a caregiver for both her parents, Christine shares:

1. How she worked on herself to prepare to be her father’s caregiver
2. How therapy, counseling, and journaling changed her life as a caregiver
3. Navigating relationships with loved ones without resentment.

Listen Now!

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Thank you for your patience with me as I attempted to gain access to my Instagram account @rozjonesenterprises! Unfortunately, I have been prompted to create a NEW Instagram account.

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Meditating Throughout the Summer

By Roz Jones

When Caregivers meditate, you can use your surroundings to help you. Many people try to block out the world and simply look within themselves when they meditate. This can be very useful, but there are also other ways in which you can practice meditation. While you may want to avoid noisy rooms and other distractions, Caregivers can certainly use warmth and nature to your benefit.

Meditating in a summer environment can help you focus on the continuation of life. There is great beauty to be found in existence, and there is a season for everything. As you work to internalize an innate understanding of nature, you’ll be more likely to feel peaceful, complete, and where you should be in your life.

Warmth and Meditation

In order to meditate more easily and focus on what matters most, you should be comfortable. That means sitting or lying somewhere that makes you happy and peaceful, but it also means enjoying the right temperature. If you’re too distracted by the fact that you’re too chilly, meditation will be more difficult for you. You can escape that challenge by staying warm and cozy during meditation.

The summer is ideal for meditating because the days are longer and the nights are warm. The soft noises of crickets and other small creatures can bring you peace and make you feel more connected with the world around you. As you start to relax and feel more comfortable, the warmth will help you focus on harmony and joy.

Avoid meditating in the extreme heat, as this can make you feel worse and can result in a heat stroke. Instead, find a place where it’s simply warm and comforting.

Evenings in the summertime are often good for meditation, and the pitter-patter of rain can be peaceful as well. If you live in a desert environment, rain can bring about relief, great joy, and a deep appreciation for nature that you can use to help focus your meditation.

Grow and Develop Throughout the Summer Months

The object of meditation is growth, and the summer months provide several factors that you can use to speed that growth along, such as:

Warmth
Longer days
Quiet, restful, peaceful nights
Occasional rainstorms to renew and refresh you
A break in between caregiving tasks
A stronger bond with nature and existence

There are many ways you can benefit from the warmth of summer when you want to meditate. The longer days are often helpful, and perhaps you’ll take that vacation you need, so you may have lower stress levels than you otherwise would. Even if you’re not able to take a break from Caregiving, you can still use meditation to help you feel better, calmer, and more relaxed.

Focus your mind on the beauty that summer has to offer. Blooming plants, quiet nights, small creatures and insects, rain, and the joy of being part of the cycle of life and existence can all be wonderful triggers for meditation and help bring peace and happiness.
Use what works for you. Everyone is different, and meditation is a very personal experience. The way one person uses the summer might not be the same way someone else uses it. Your meditation time is your own special getaway. Take the warmth, peace, and beauty of summer and use it in the way that feels most comfortable to you.

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