Sarah Polan - Lori Williams Senior Services

Sarah Polan - Lori Williams Senior Services As a Senior Care Specialist I offer FREE advisory services to seniors and their families.

The Alzheimer’s Association has a great education series this August, open to all caregivers!
07/28/2022

The Alzheimer’s Association has a great education series this August, open to all caregivers!

Senior care is not an easy discussion especially when it comes to our parents. Here are just a few ways you can start th...
07/11/2022

Senior care is not an easy discussion especially when it comes to our parents.

Here are just a few ways you can start the conversation with them.

Remember what’s most important is to express your concerns out of love and empathy. Make it clear that you are only looking out for their safety and having these conversations because you care about them. ❤️

A peak at the “Denton Quirky Crew”, we had a fun time yesterday spreading joy to local seniors!
07/07/2022

A peak at the “Denton Quirky Crew”, we had a fun time yesterday spreading joy to local seniors!

Falls are a huge risk for seniors but there are things you can do to help avoid them from happening. Here are a few ques...
07/01/2022

Falls are a huge risk for seniors but there are things you can do to help avoid them from happening.

Here are a few questions to ask yourself about your elderly loved one and their environment.

Swipe ➡️

I feel a little silly posting a photo like this to be honest, but I really do want to say thank you!When I started this ...
06/30/2022

I feel a little silly posting a photo like this to be honest, but I really do want to say thank you!

When I started this account a little over a year ago I knew I wanted to create a space away from my personal Instagram ( ) where I could just view content that related specifically to my career in senior living.
I started sharing the things I was learning in my own job and pretty quickly realized there is an entire community here that is passionate about senior care!

I never expected to make so many connections and have so many people reach out to me!

I love the senior care community on insta and am glad there are so many of you sharing amazing advice, telling real stories, and answering questions!

Thanks for letting me occupy a small bit of space on your feed!

Let me know if you have anything specific you would like me to post about in the future or if you ever have questions about senior care! ❤️

Older individuals are at the highest risk for developing Osteoporosis. It is a very serious condition and symptoms are o...
06/27/2022

Older individuals are at the highest risk for developing Osteoporosis. It is a very serious condition and symptoms are often hard to detect.

Osteoporosis causes bones to become weak and brittle, so brittle that a fall or even mild stresses such as bending over or coughing can cause a fracture. Osteoporosis-related fractures most commonly occur in the hip, wrist or spine.

A few common symptoms to watch for include:

1. Height loss
2. Back pain
3. Curved shape in spine
4. Receding gums
5. Fracturing bones on a regular basis and easily

Prevention:

- eating foods rich in calcium and vitamin D, along with a healthy diet overall
- exercise regularly, weight bearing activities specially
- limit caffeine, alcohol, and smoking

Today I wanted to feature an inspiring senior citizen!At the age of 75, Barbara Hillary was the first black woman on rec...
06/24/2022

Today I wanted to feature an inspiring senior citizen!
At the age of 75, Barbara Hillary was the first black woman on record to reach the North Pole. She was also the first to reach the South Pole at 79.

After she retired from a career as a nurse, she went on an adventure dog sledding in Quebec, this is where she leaned that no African American woman had ever made it to the North Pole. She challenged herself to become the first.

She had no funding or organization behind her and also had to learn to ski for the first time to complete the journey!

I have to say, I really like her quote, “Wouldn't it be better to die doing something interesting than to drop dead in an office and the last thing you see is someone you don't like?” That’s good perspective!

Caregiver guilt is undeserved but many feel it. It is when a caregiver believes they are not doing enough for their love...
06/23/2022

Caregiver guilt is undeserved but many feel it. It is when a caregiver believes they are not doing enough for their loved one and experiences guilt because of it.

A few examples of what might cause caregiver guilt:

- when a caregiver is comparing themself to another caregiver who appears to be doing a better job

- when a caregiver has to make a decision for a patient that goes against the patients wishes, even though it is in the interest of their safety and health

- when a caregiver is caring for someone who they have had past conflict with

Being a caregiver is hard, it is an emotional journey that is also physically exhausting.
Here is some advice to deal with the guilt that may come along while in this role:

1. acknowledge you feel guilty - talk about these feelings with others or with a counselor

2. Give yourself compassion- you are allowed to feel emotions

3. Take a break - get away for a bit each day and practice self care

4. Change behavior if needed - pinpoint the exact reason for the guilt, is there a behavior you personally need to change to feel less guilty? Or do you need to manage others expectations better and set boundaries? No one is perfect!

5. Be creative - being a caregiver is a fluid job that changes with the needs of your loved one. Re- imagine the way that this could look. Talk to other caregivers or join a support group. Remember it’s okay if caregiving looks different for you than it does for other people!

What are some other ways to cope with caregiver guilt?

Source: leisurecare.com

I never expected growing up that one day I would be working with senior citizens, in fact finding my passion for the ind...
06/22/2022

I never expected growing up that one day I would be working with senior citizens, in fact finding my passion for the industry was kind of a happy accident!

It started with my college internship, I wanted to work with children but ended up in hospice. Then a few years later I was desperate to leave a negative job situation and took the first position I could get, it happened to be at an Assisted Living.

I took these roles because they were necessary for me at those times in my life, I had no idea that they would lead to such a love and pave the way for my future!

I discovered through these opportunities that I feel very “at home” when interacting with and serving senior citizens. I adore their stories, cherish their wisdom, and to be honest I often find seniors easier to talk to than many of those in my own age group.

Witnessing pain and loss often in the senior care industry has made me more empathetic as a human. I believe it has also given me greater reverence for life, because I know it is short. It has made me hold tighter to my spouse, spend more time with my own grandparents, and pursue my goals with force.

Working with the elderly has truly humbled and challenged me through the years but in the most wonderful kind of way.

Mostly I am grateful for the inspiring seniors I have met and can now call friends. I am also so grateful for the unexpected opportunities that have come my way because of my passion.

I look forward to continuing my journey in the senior care industry and sharing my thoughts, advice, and resources in this space. Thanks for following along. ❤️

The more money you have, the larger the house you can buy. We all understand this concept and unfortunately it applies w...
06/21/2022

The more money you have, the larger the house you can buy. We all understand this concept and unfortunately it applies well to senior care.

Senior care is very expensive, the more money you have the more options you have available.
What do you do if you cannot afford the options?

I always tell my clients who get into this situation that they must be willing to think outside of the box!
If you were absolutely set on Assisted living but now realize you cannot afford it, you must be flexible.
Here are a few questions to ask yourself:

- can anyone else in the family help contribute money to meet this financial need?
- does our loved one have a home to sell/veterans benefits/ or other assets?
- are there more affordable senior living communities in surrounding areas? Can we be flexible with location?
- would home care be a more affordable option? Compare the costs.
- is there a family member or friend who could step in as caregiver within the home?
- if all other options run out, is Medicaid something to consider?

Talk through every option and look into available resources in your area. It may be more difficult to find an answer when the budget is tight but there is still a way for your loved one to receive care.

Life is already short, let’s not limit ourselves by believing we can no longer try new things after a certain age ❤️
06/20/2022

Life is already short, let’s not limit ourselves by believing we can no longer try new things after a certain age ❤️

AAA provide services to help people age 60 and older. Services are targeted to those with greatest economic and social n...
06/20/2022

AAA provide services to help people age 60 and older. Services are targeted to those with greatest economic and social need. Particular attention is paid to people with low-incomes, older people who belong to minority groups, and older people residing in rural areas.

Services include:

- Information, referral and assistance
- Benefits counseling and legal assistance
- Care coordination
- Caregiver support services
- In-home support services
- Legal awareness
- Nutrition services
- Ombudsman Program

Even if your dad does not remember much, a gift can be a great way to show him that you care this Father’s Day. Some ide...
06/19/2022

Even if your dad does not remember much, a gift can be a great way to show him that you care this Father’s Day.

Some ideas:
- a cozy blanket or sweater to keep him warm
- a digital photo frame to help bring back happy memories
- a dementia friendly game that you can play together
- his favorite snack or dessert
- an iPod full of songs from his childhood
- a fidget toy to keep him busy

What are some other dementia friendly gift ideas?

06/19/2022

What an amazing idea!

There are so many factors that can easily cause us to feel anxious or depressed. Experiencing loss, isolation, and healt...
06/18/2022

There are so many factors that can easily cause us to feel anxious or depressed. Experiencing loss, isolation, and health problems is common as we age and can lead to these feelings.
Check in on your elderly loved ones and ask about them about their mental and emotional health. People are prone to hiding there struggles, knowing you care may give them the space to be honest and the encouragement they need to seek help.

There are so many benefits to getting involved at your local senior center. I recommend encouraging your elderly loved o...
06/17/2022

There are so many benefits to getting involved at your local senior center.

I recommend encouraging your elderly loved ones to check out the center closest to them, especially if they are lacking socialization or in need of resources!

Listed are a few opportunities many senior centers offer:

- Meal and nutrition programs
- Information and assistance
- Health, fitness, and wellness programs
- Transportation services
- Public benefits counseling
- Employment assistance
- Volunteer and civic engagement opportunities
- Social and recreational activities
- Educational and arts programs
- Inter-generational programs

In most large cities, there are often more resources available than you may think!For seniors specifically this may incl...
06/15/2022

In most large cities, there are often more resources available than you may think!

For seniors specifically this may include…

- Senior Centers
- Adult Day Care
- Senior Transportation Services
- Caregiver Support Groups
- Meals on Wheels
- Americorps volunteer groups

An online search for options in your area never hurts! I would also recommend calling large local churches, senior living communities, hospitals, rehabs, and senior care doctors. You never know who may be able to connect you with resources and it helps to be as creative as possible when searching.
Tell your friends, neighbors and co- workers what resources your elderly loved one needs, you just never know who might have a connection!

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