When a family makes the decision to take care of an elderly loved one, they assume a huge responsibility. Lots of families prefer this option as opposed to moving the relative to an assisted living facility or nursing home. Reasons for the decision to provide home care could include lack of finances for other care or fear that the loved one will not be cared for properly.

Determining the Best Living Arrangements

There are a number of things to consider before moving elderly relatives into the family home. Their mental awareness, physical limitations and medicinal needs must be understood among other things. If the loved one has chronic health problems or is sick, special attention must be given to their needs. Attending doctor appointments with them is the best way to keep informed of the type of care they need.

Problems Can Occur

When taking care of an elderly loved one, obstacles can arise at any time. The goal of any caregiver should be to make the situation as comfortable and stress-free as possible for the relative, but that can be challenging at times. Issues may come up that take more consideration and patience from caregivers.

Hygiene is an area where conflict can occur with an aging senior. Elderly people can lose an interest in hygiene due to depression, memory problems, or fear of water among other reasons. Sometimes they may just feel that the clothes they are wearing are not dirty, so they won’t change them. Some have a difficult time getting dressed by themselves, so they don’t want to go through the hassle.

Alternative Clothing Options

Silvert’s is a company that has been providing adaptive clothing for elderly and disabled individuals for over 80 years. Adaptive clothing items available for purchase by phone and online at www.silverts.com include front open blouses, side opening pants, wrap round skirts with velcro fasteners, wheelchair pants than can be put on in while sitting, open back blouses, open back sweaters, open back Polo shirts for men, slip resistant wide slippers with velcro fasteners, and Easy Touch Closure shoes for men. Skid and slip resistant socks as well as diabetic socks are available as well. Silvert’s has underwear, sportswear, accessories and footwear for men and women. All of these products are available to all senior adults, not just residents of assisted living facilities or nursing homes.

Be Respectful of Older Family Members

Elderly seniors should be allowed to keep as much of their independence and dignity as possible during the remainder of their lives. They shouldn’t be made to feel incompetent or incapable of doing anything for themselves. Wearing adaptive clothing is one way to accomplish this. The ease of putting on and taking off adaptive clothes can make them feel like they can still accomplish at least some daily tasks fairly easily even if they need assistance from time to time.

Whether taking care of aging family members in your own home, in their home, or moving them to another facility, one of the most important things to do is consider their thoughts and feelings. Silvert’s has so many clothing and accessory options for senior adults that the process of getting dressed and undressed becomes one less problem they have to deal with on a daily basis. For those who are reluctant to bathe or change clothes because of dressing difficulties, adaptive clothing could be something that will make a big difference in the quality of their lives.

If you are currently caring for you aging parent or loved one or just planning ahead, the following list of elder care resources and elder care locator websites can be a great source of information for home care, assisted living, Alzheimer’s care, nursing homes, retirement communities, residential care homes, and even financial aid and assistance.  These elder care websites also provide many services for locating elder care of different types in your area that fit your needs presently and in the future as your needs and those of your aging parent change.  In most cases they even provide one on one consultation to help you make the best possible choices for you and your family. If you know of any elder care websites that provide superior services and resources that we forgot to add to our list, please let us know in the comments at the end of the page.

A Place For Mom

A Place For Mom is one of the nations largest eldercare referral services providing useful resources and services to help families and elders in need. A Place For Mom provides one on one guidance to help families navigate the difficult choices of finding the right care for their loved one.

Services and Resources:

• Needs Assessment
• Elder Care Locator
• Alzheimer’s Care
• Assisted Living
• Home Care
• Nursing Homes
• Residential Care Homes
• Retirement Communities
• more…

Website Link: APlaceForMom

Aging With Grace

The mission of Aging with Grace is ” to educate, coordinate, and facilitate individualized elder care options one family at a time.” Aging with Grace offers solutions to caregivers throughout the United States & Canada who experience the stress of elder care issues. They can assess your current caregiver situation, offer the healing touch of compassion, understanding and expertise needed to make informed decisions.

Services and Resources:

• Elder Care Locator
• Veterans Benefits Information
• In Home Support Technology
• Medicare Plan Assistance
• Caregiver resources
• Legal and Financial
• more…

Website Link: Aging With Grace

Blog: Care Connection by Aging With Grace

Elder Care Link

As a Free elder care provider referral service, Elder Care Link helps families to be accurately matched to care providers for a number of different services including; assisted living, nursing homes, adult day care, private duty nursing, care management and homecare.

Services and Resources:

• Elder Care Locator
• In Home Care
• Adult daycare
• Assisted Living
• Nursing Homes
• Alzheimer’s
• Elder Mobility
• Legal and Financial
• More..

Website Link: Elder Care Link

Remember to let us know in the comments if you have any valuable insight regarding these websites or other that would help people to find the elder care that is right for their needs.

As our loved ones grow older, we must sometimes face the difficult task of deciding when they cannot manage on their own. It is a heartbreaking decision that can cause conflicts with our elder family member who wishes to remain independent and is afraid of becoming a burden. There may be disagreements among children concerning when a parent needs help and what level of assistance that parent needs. But there comes a time when everyone must sit down and reach a consensus as to what steps should be taken.

Ask Important Questions to Decide The Right Actions

When a parent or other elderly or disabled family member suffers from a physical ailment, it may not be too difficult to determine the point at which they need assistance. Making those decisions about a loved one suffering from a mental disability may be more complicated. You will need to ask important questions to decide what actions to take. Is my loved one able to take proper care of himself? Does she remember to take her medications as prescribed? Should he fall or have some other accident, will he be able to call for assistance?

Defining Home Care Stages

Home care is the providing of assistance to people who need it while maintaining their ability to stay in their own home. There are many levels of home care ranging from occasional in-home visits by family members to 24-hour care by a nursing staff and even hospice service for the terminally ill. Home care can be temporary or permanent, possibly escalating from one stage to another over time. One of the primary goals of home care is to help the person receive the necessary assistance while giving up as little freedom and privacy as possible.

Early Stages

In the early stages of someone losing the ability to be fully independent, you will probably just want to check on the person more often. You may find it is important to stop by on the way to work to be sure they have gotten out of bed, showered, had breakfast and taken any morning medications. Perhaps you will decide to also check on the way home to make sure they have taken care of their chores, ate healthy meals and not missed any doses of medication. During this time you will be able to monitor their activity and determine if other steps need to be taken.

Difficulty With Daily Routines

Once your loved one begins having difficulty with daily routines, you will need to consider the options. If there are no medical issues, the solution may be as simple as bringing in a maid service or hiring someone just to spend time with your senior during the day or perhaps stay overnight. Unfortunately, this can become an expensive situation. Even if a family member chooses to be the caregiver, there can still be expenses in the form of lost wages. Medicare will only cover home care when it is deemed medically necessary by a doctor. Things such as assistance with bathing and cooking meals are not considered medical issues.

Care Around the Clock

The next stage in home care may be when the elderly or disabled person needs someone with them around the clock. If a family member will be the caregiver a decision will have to be made whether that person will go live with the person in need or will the person needing assistance be brought to the home of the caregiver. If the caregiver’s home will be used, an in-law suite may be the best option. An in-law suite is a small apartment set up at the residence of a family member where an elderly or disabled person can live while maintaining independence and some level of privacy. This can be a more affordable solution but may need a special design to set up the independent living space or may even require an addition built on the caregiver’s house.

Doctors Orders

If things have progressed to the point where medical assistance is ordered by a doctor, a nurse or nursing staff will be needed. Depending on the medical condition, the elderly person may need constant care. This can be expensive, but fortunately Medicare will likely cover a large part of the expense. Check with your state agency on aging to see what options may be available in your area. If the medical condition is not too severe, it may be possible to only have nursing staff on duty part-time, especially if the loved one is living in an in-law suite or has a family member who can be with them most of the time.

Special Needs for Dementia and Alzheimer’s

Some conditions, like dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, may cause a family member to have special needs that will need special arrangements. For instance, a person with dementia may be physically healthy. While it may be necessary to have a nurse on staff part-time, most care can be administered by a family member. Adjustments can be made such as securing exits and making sure power is off to appliances at night to avoid things like the loved one wandering off or turning on the stove and forgetting it is on. Each situation is different and a plan of action will depend on the specifics of the case.

Tips on Hiring  Care Givers

If the decision is made to hire a caregiver, you will need to consider carefully who you choose.

If you hire privately:

• Be sure to insist on at least three references and do not hesitate to verify them.
• Ask about the quality of care given but also inquire about the person’s demeanor and ability to handle stressful situations.
• It would also be a good idea to do a criminal background check. If the person you hire is through a home care agency, be sure they are bonded and that the agency performs thorough background checks.

Making One of The Toughest Decisions

One of the toughest decisions that may have to be made involves what to do as a terminally ill loved one’s health continues to decline. Knowing that death is approaching can in and of itself be a heavy burden to bear. At this point, it may be necessary to seek the assistance of a hospice service. A hospice service will focus on areas other than medical treatment, such as the comfort, dignity and peace of mind of the individual.

What Does a  Hospice Team Consist Of ?

The hospice care team may include nurses and health care aides, social workers and spiritual counselors. There will also be team members who specialize in helping the family cope with the difficult task of helping one they love pass. The team works with the patient’s physician to ensure everything that can done to make the patient more comfortable is done. Hospice has been around for centuries but has become more commonplace in recent years.

Making The Right Decisions For The Loved Ones Well Being

Determining the home care needs of your elderly or disabled family member can be a daunting task. However, it is also one of the most important decisions you ever will face. Maintaining a loved one’s quality of life while assisting them with the consequences of aging or living with a disability is a juggling act that can require constant adjustment. But so long as the patient’s well-being remains the focus of your decisions, the choices made will be the right ones.

With the cost of healthcare insurance and nursing homes skyrocketing for those with Alzheimer’s Disease and other disabilities, how can you provide the best quality of life for your loved one?

Aging-In-Place Home Solutions is a division of Myra L. Katz & Associates, Inc., a provider of quality interior design services for healthcare and senior living facilities.  After 25 years in business, Myra Katz launched Aging-In-Place Home Solutions in response to changes in the economy and the growing demand for healthcare applications in the home.

“It seems like I’ve come full circle. My parents felt strongly that elders should never feel displaced and we always had grandparents living with us as I was growing up.  My dad, Lester Katz, was a long time builder of multi-family developments in the county. So way before there were senior living communities, his properties were created for seniors living independently.  There were party rooms, pools and guest apartments for visiting family members.  One high rise property even had a popular restaurant onsite and has since been converted to an upscale senior living facility.   Designing healthcare and senior living facilities, along with starting Aging-In-Place Home Solutions, is my way of making a difference.  It’s like a calling.”

Here are some of the latest findings, simply put:

• By the year 2030 there will be 70 million baby boomers over the age of 65, more than all age groups put together.
• In preparation for the largest number of seniors ever, an Aging-In-Place Initiative is expanding in cities across the country with plans for communities to become more “senior friendly”.  This issue has reached a global level.
• Due to stressed economic conditions, there is a trend for extended families to once again live under one roof to save on expenses and to care for the elderly.
• The need for more senior living options, including Aging-In-Place, is increasing for those with dementia-related illnesses as well.
• Waiting lists continue to grow for Alzheimer’s facilities, with the illness now affecting and killing those in their 40’s.

Katz says, “Our service is not design as we think of it.  Instead, we are applying our healthcare and senior living design experience to the residences of seniors, those with disabilities and dementia-related illnesses, allowing them to be safer and more independent in the supportive environment of their own home ….for as long as possible.”  Falls are the #1 cause of death for seniors, but in addition to the many safety concerns, solutions will be recommend for the following issues:

• Memory Impairment
• Mental & Visual Perception
• ADL (Activities of Daily Living)
• Incontinence
• Loss of Motor Skills
• Wandering

A representative of Aging-In-Place Home Solutions will visit with the family and loved one(s) to provide a confidential in-home assessment. Solutions will be recommended to address current needs.  “What sets us apart from similar businesses is that, in healthcare design, we approach the challenges from a different perspective.  And rather than leave it up to your family to get the job done, we will work with you to implement the modifications desired.”   These recommendations can range from the simplest safety and security devices, lighting and finish changes to addressing accessibility issues or preparing drawings for a first floor addition.
“When dealing with Alzheimer’s, it’s important for the family and caregiver to always stay a step ahead of the disease”, Katz says.  “So as the condition progresses, we will be there for your family and loved one again….to address your new needs and suggest additional solutions to lengthen your loved one’s golden years at home.”

Currently Aging-In-Place Home Solutions is a resource to St. Louis Chapters of the Alzheimer’s Association, Jewish Family & Children Services, Lutheran Family & Children Services, and Lutheran Senior Services.  Licensed and Insured.

For a confidential in-home assessment:     
Phone: 314.395.9558
Email: Myra@AgingInPlaceHomeSolutions.com
Web:AgingInPlaceHomeSolutions.com

Solutions to lengthen your loved ones golden years at home.

Setting your Walker to the Correct height

If you use or are going to use a walker or rollator you need to make sure you start here. It is very important that you set your walker or rollator to the correct height. Failure to do so can cause all kinds of biomechanical issues like wrist pain, foot and knee issues, shoulder strain and even back pain.

Setting the walker to the right height is very easy.  I recommend that you have someone help you to avoid any unwanted accidents. Make sure that you are on a solid level surface. It’s also important that you have study shoes on (preferably the ones that you spend most of your time walking in). Lets get started!!

Two Methods to Achieve Proper Height

1. Stand with the walker directly in front of you like you are about to use it.
2. Place the back of both your heels even with the back legs or wheels of the walker.
3. Have your helper set the height of the walker handles to the height of your hip bones. (These are the bones you can feel on the outside, upper part of your leg)
4. While standing there straight your arms will have a bend in them of about 20-30 degrees. Which should feel very comfortable to you.

Another option is using the wrist crease method.  Your wrist crease is the area between your hand and forearm.

1. Stand flatfooted with your walking shoes on facing forward with your eyes level and arms hanging relaxed from your side.
2. Then have some measure from your wrist crease to the floor.
3. That measurement is the height you should set your walker too. (Walker handles to the floor)

These options are both very simple. I recommend that before buying a walker sure the walker you buy will fit you height requirements. The walkers are sized in small ranges. Always have the sales person measure your height to ensure your height will fall in the corrected range of the walker you buy

Safety in Your Home

Lastly, but importantly, remember safety in the home. Try to eliminate anything that may cause a fall.

1. Extension cords and throw rugs are accidens waiting to happen.

2. Make sure to keep water, soda or any liquid off of the floors to prevent slips.

3. Have your furniture arranged so it will give the right width and turning radius’s needed

4. Have any abrupt floor height changes. Have them fill to a gradual change in floor height.

Good common sense should prevail.

At Your service

Dr. Josh Kilpatrick

Read More about Dr.Kilpatrick Here: www. DrJoshKilpatric.com

Are you looking for a new cell phone for your elderly loved one. With so many cell phones to choose from, it can be hard to know that you’re making the best purchase. As technology continues to advance, cell phones with advanced features are more common. You want to choose a cell phone that your loved one is able to easily use. The good news is there are many phones available for seniors. Take a look at the following guide to learn more about some of the best senior cell phones.

Many caregivers choose from one of the many senior cell phone options from Tracfone. One of the benefits of purchasing a Tracfone phone is the fact that these phones are as low as $19.99. Most Tracfone phones also have vary simple features that allow for anyone to easily use. Their LG 410G has extremely basic features with large buttons for easy of use. Tracfone cell phone plans are also extremely affordable. You have the option to purchase a monthly plan, or to add minutes when needed. This is especially beneficial for seniors who don’t use the phone on a regular basis. There’s no sense in purchasing a cell phone plan with too many minutes. A Tracfone can serve as a great emergency phone option.

Greatcall also offers great plans and mobile phone options for the elderly. Their feature phone, the Jitterbug, is extremely easy to use. These phones have great features such as enhanced speaker phone capabilities and extra large buttons. This helps seniors by keeping away the many unnecessary and confusing phone features. Greatcall also offers many different monthly plans to fit each senior’s needs. If you loved one wants to text, talk during the evening or take part in unlimited calling, Greatcall offers these options. Many elderly individuals enjoy the phones and service available through this company.

Many people also consider purchasing the Just5 cell phone. With so many features, it’s a great mobile phone option for seniors. Not only are the buttons big and easy to push, but the phone also repeats back each number that is pressed to ensure accuracy. This cell phone also has an emergency SOS button on the back. In an emergency, seniors are able to use the SOS button to get help. The phone automatically sends a text message to 5 pre-set emergency phone numbers, alerting the need for help. The phone will then automatically begin dialing each number until someone connects. Util someone connects to a call, the phone will make an emergency siren noise to attract attention. Once connected, the phone automatically connects in speaker phone mode so that the senior is able to talk hands-free. This can be a great emergency tool. This phone also has extremely affordable monthly rates and works with AT&T and T-Mobile service.

You can find the perfect phone for your elderly loved one. As technology continues to improve, you can make sure that you don’t overwhelm your loved one. There are many great, easy-to-use phone options for seniors.

Steve Jobs gains the attention of the national press when he introduces a new Apple product. Many of us hear the word “technology” and visualize the newest flat screen television. Few of us hear that word and immediately think about emerging technology for seniors, however. Much is currently available; there is much more in on the horizon.

The baby boomers – those born from the end of World War II into the early 1960s – comprise the largest generation the US has known. The boomers have changed every social structure they have moved through, and now the first of the boomers have started to retire. In decades past, families often took care of their own aging parents. Nursing homes were dreaded destinations for those whose care needs were beyond the abilities of family members in an age in which home health care was virtually unknown. As families increasingly became defined as being two-earner entities and as divorce rates increased, adult children and their aging parents found themselves with fewer and fewer options. Seniors loathe leaving their homes, however, and technological advances are such that baby boomers can both care for their aging parents and continue to pursue careers and basic livelihood.

Technology’s Influence

Computers, email, cell phones and other common technological tools came to be commonplace with many individuals in the bottom age range of those who now are considered to be elderly. They used those technological tools in work and life, and so they are not entirely foreign. Others did not use such tools, and technology remains mysterious though they know those tools exist. The technological advances that currently exist are simply astounding even for the most technologically-connected, however. Tools that exist today can be of great assistance for still-working caregivers. Tools expected to be available in the next several years are nothing short of astounding.

Fall Alerts

Consider falls, as example. The “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up” line has been abused by comedians over the years and has come to be a point of derision, at least until such a fall becomes a possibility or even a reality. For the senior, often the tipping point between being able to remain at home and having to move to an assisted living or skilled nursing facility is such a fall. Stories of seniors who have fallen at home and been stranded in the floor for days are commonplace.
One of the technological innovations that will be available in the future is the fall alert system. The system as envisioned may take one of two forms, each of which begins with a house-wide network of sensors. The first approach requires placement of sensors in the floors of each room, and in several places. Where there is weight that has not been present in the past, the sensor can serve to alert a remote caregiver. The second approach causes sensors to initiate alerts when there is lack of movement in a room when movement should be expected.

Safety Issues

Managers of assisted living facilities specializing in Alzheimer’s patients often disconnect ranges so that there is no danger of fire originating from a forgotten stove eye. One of the solutions that technology offers is a “smart” stove eye that turns off when there is no weight on the eye for some period of time. The stove allows the senior to cook, but it also turns itself off if the senior forgets.
Some seniors have no difficulty with wearing an alert necklace that calls a monitoring company, but others consider such appliances to be only for “old” people even though the security the necklace offers is attractive. For years there have been telephones targeting those seniors. The senior wears a necklace and perhaps places another by the bed. If the senior has a problem and pulls the cord on the necklace, that action initiates a telephone call first to some preprogrammed number and then to 911.

Some of the Products

FrontPoint Security provides wireless home security that the homeowner installs. One thing that separates FrontPoint Security from other security systems is that it is wireless and operates over the cell phone system, preventing it from being circumvented by would-be intruders. This fact alone makes it attractive as a basic security system, but it offers specific features that makes it highly attractive for baby boomer caregivers. Of course there are sensors for windows and doors, but the company also offers cameras that can be placed in any number of rooms. What occurs in front of those cameras then can be accessed through a smart phone. For baby boomer caregivers with careers or who simply need an income, this feature allows them to view rooms where their parents might be. They can see either that all is well or that it is not; in any case, they can act on the information they gain through the combination of the camera and their smart phone.

HaloMonitoring.com provides fall detection automatically when a fall occurs. Seniors who do fall generally never are able to manually activate an alarm, according to HaloMonitoring. The individual may be stunned or even injured with a broken hip. The HaloMonitoring device can be worn on the wrist or around the chest under clothing. If the senior falls, the monitoring device sends a message for help, without the need for the senior to take any other action. The HaloMonitoring device also tracks vital signs, including heart rate and temperature. The device also “knows” when it is not being used and will dial the company’s call center to report that fact. Perhaps best of all, either the individual wearing the HaloMonitoring device or select family members can log onto the company’s website to check on the current status of a HaloMonitoring customer who also is a client.

The Oregon Center for Aging and Technology (ORCATech) is developing an array of future products and currently testing others at a Portland, Oregon retirement community. One volunteer has sensors on surfaces all over her apartment, including ceilings, doors, furniture and appliances. The sensors monitor how often she moves in her apartment and the speed at which she moves. Because the sensors are just that and contain no cameras, she has no worries about her privacy.
Another ORCATech item she is testing is a smart pillbox. It reminds her when to take vitamins and medications, and keeps a record of her compliance. ORCATech also has supplied her with a computer on which she plays specific games. The games are word and number games, and the computer tracks her scores. The goal of this activity is to track changes in cognitive ability. If it declines, caregivers can intervene much earlier.
The program volunteer’s favorite ORCATech test item is a wireless video communication robot that can follow her from room to room. The V-Go Active Presence Robot has been used for some time in business and so is already available. ORCATech’s test is for senior-specific use. The Oregon volunteer uses Skype but complains that is only stationary. Relatives and caregivers can activate the robot as well, allowing them to check on the user any time a concern arises.

Future View

Intel Corporation and GE are collaborating on product development focusing on allowing seniors to age in place. Many existing products are very new and can be expected to be enhanced in the future, and many other products are being developed. Still others, such as the V-Go robot, are being repurposed specifically for the growing “gray” market.

References:

Hernandez, Manuel E., Allon Goldberg and Neil B. Alexander (2010, January). Decreased Muscle Strength Relates to Self-Reported Stooping, Crouching, or Kneeling Difficulty in Older Adults. Physical Therapy, 90(1), p. 67.
Imagine the Future of Aging. (2007, August 13). YouTube.com. Retrieved April 15, 2011 from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBH9dkCZsXQ.
myHalo Advanced Medical Alarm with Automatic Fall Detection System Overview. (n.d.). YouTube.com. Retrieved April 15, 2011 from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3iDr5o_xmY&feature=player_embedded.
Oregon Center for Aging and Technology. (n.d.). Orcatech.com. Retrieved April 15, 2011 from http://www.orcatech.org.
Parisi, Jeanine M. (2010, March). Engagement in Adulthood: Perceptions and Participation in Daily Activities. Activities, Adaptation & Aging, 34(1), p. 1.
Singer, Natasha (2011, February 5). In a Graying Population, Business Opportunity. The New York Times. Retrieved April 15, 2011 from http://www.orcatech.org/NYT.Feb.5.2011.A.Graying.Population.Spells.Business.Opportunity.pdf.
Skiba, Katherine (2008, June 18). Healthcare Costs and Social Security Could Cause Economic Woes; At a Senate Finance Committee hearing, Gene Dodaro warns that the country is on unsustainable path. U.S. News & World Report, p. NA.
VGo Communications’s V-Go Active Presence Robot. (2010, June 11). YouTube.com. Retrieved April 15, 2011 from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSV_v9zeVkA.

St Louis Holiday Tornadoes

St Louis had had it’s share of holiday tornadoes and Good Friday was not so good for folks in St Louis City, St Louis Country and St Charles County all in Missouri. Lambert International Airport is completely shut down from the damage of last evening’s tornadoes. It was really bad.

St Louis International Airport

The airport is destroyed. The tornado raked the entire length of of the terminals. It looks as if it had been strafed by war plains. Planes were actually blown away from the concourse as the tornado’s wind hit the tails of the aircraft. One plane aborted the take off only to be tossed about and stranded on the runway for hours.

In-LawSuite.com

In-LawSuite.com’s home is in the greater St. Louis area. We are known for our changing weather. “If you don’t like the weather, wait a couple of hours and it will change”. On New Years Eve an EF3 tornado ripped it’s way down our street. One hour after the tornado the temperature dropped  30 degrees.

A Great Country

We live in a great country where the spirits of ordinary people are stirred to help their neighbors. This morning, as the daylight split the darkness, people were calling into the TV and radio news outlets asking where they could sign up to volunteer to help. School and churches opened there doors last night to offer relief for anyone seeking a place to dry out or get a hot meal or a place to rest their heads.

Thousands are with out electrical power and four more days of the same training rain and the possibility of severe storms and flash flooding are forecast. I have lived here in St Louis over 60 years. I can not remember anything as wild as it has been across America this year.

Easter Prayer

My Easter prayer is to thank God for keeping the angel of death away by passing over us. There were no deaths reported and we pray that it stays that way.

Emergencies are Hard on the Elderly

Times like this are especially hard on the elderly in care facilities, in home care, or those who live along. Any change in their routine can be enough for them to become confused and anxious. Thank God they have been rescued and found good places to stay and care for their needs

We will persevere. The clean up as begun. We hope and pray the the storms stop and the sun will shine on those who have come into harms way. Have a wonderful Easter and a happy Passover.

To celebrate the launch of our new Independent Living and Home Care Supply Store here at in-lawsuite.com we are giving away a free $30 Amazon Gift Card.

At In-LawSuite.com our goal is to provide our readers with the best and most useful information we can, in order to help them better care for their aging parents or loved ones in need.

We are happy to announce that in addition to our great resources and articles we have now teamed up with amazon.com and put together a collection of some of the best products available for aging in place, independent living, and home care.

Visit our store today and enjoy Secure Checkout, Great Service, and the Lowest Prices on the web!

Independent Living and Home Care Supply Store

How the giveaway works

There are four ways to enter in the drawing:

1. Leave a comment on this page
2. Link to our website and then leave a comment below to let us know about it, including the url of your post.
3. Mention this giveaway on Twitter (using @inlawsuite).  Feel free to use this sample tweet:

@inlawsuite Is Giving Away A $30 Amazon Gift Card RT to enter to win or click to find out other ways to enter… http://bit.ly/evDJFr

And make sure you follow @inlawsuite so we can contact you if you win!

4. Share this post on Facebook and then tell us about it in a comment below, along with your facebook username, and be sure to add me as a friend.

Other Rules

• Follow all of the rules pertaining to your method of entry
• Entries will be accepted until Sunday April 24th 2011 at midnight CST.
• Each person can only enter once.
• The winner will be drawn at random using random.org
• We reserve the right to disqualify anyone who we suspect is trying to cheat in the drawing.

We are no longer accepting entries for this giveaway, the winner will be announced soon. We will notify the winner and announce on Twitter and Facebook. We had a lot of entries, thank you for your patience, and for taking part in our giveaway!

We have put together a collection of quotations about grandchildren that are funny, heartwarming, and sometimes full of wisdom. We wanted to share them with you our readers in hopes that they would brighten your day, bring you warm memories, and even bring a tear to your eye. Enjoy!

Posterity is the patriotic name for grandchildren. – Art Linkletter

Grandparents, like heroes, are as necessary to a child’s growth as vitamins. – Joyce Allston

Grandchildren: the only people who can get more out of you than the IRS. – Gene Perret

Few things are more delightful than grandchildren fighting over your lap. – Doug Larson

Grandchildren are the dots that connect the lines from generation to generation. – Lois Wyse

Grandparents should play the same role in the family as an elder statesman can in the government of a country. They have the experience and knowledge that comes from surviving a great many years of life’s battles and the wisdom, hopefully, to recognise how their grandchildren can benefit from this. – Geoff Dench

Grandparents make the world…a little softer, a little kinder, a little warmer. – author unknown

The presence of a grandparent confirms that parents were, indeed, little once, too, and that people who are little can grow to be big, can become parents, and one day even have grandchildren of their own. So often we think of grandparents as belonging to the past; but in this important way, grandparents, for young children, belong to the future. – Fred Rogers

The very fact that you don’t look or act or feel like the grandparents of even a generation ago does not mean that you are less, but that you are more—in effect, an evolved form of grandparents, primed to do a bigger and more challenging job than any group before you. – Arthur Kornhaber

Something magical happens when parents turns into grandparents. Their attitude changes from “money-doesn’t-grow-on-trees” to spending it like it does.? – Paul Linden

They say genes skip generations. Maybe that’s why grandparents find their grandchildren so likeable. – Joan McIntosh

Unconditional positive regard is rarely given by anyone except a grandparent. – author unknown

The simplest toy, one which even the youngest child can operate, is called a grandparent. – Sam Levenson

Everyone needs to have access both to grandparents and grandchildren in order to be a full human being. - Margaret Mead

The feeling of grandparents for their grandchildren can be expressed this way: “Our children are dear to us; but when we have grandchildren, they seem to be more dear than our children were. - Henry Old Coyote

Grandparents who want to be truly helpful will do well to keep their mouths shut and their opinions to themselves until these are requested. – T Berry Brazelton

My grandkids believe I’m the oldest thing in the world. And after two or three hours with them, I believe it, too. – Gene Perret

Do you know why grandchildren are always so full of energy? They suck it out of their grandparents. – Gene Perret

Grandchildren are God’s way of compensating us for growing old. – Mary H. Waldrip

An hour with your grandchildren can make you feel young again. Anything longer than that, and you start to age quickly. – Gene Perret

Perfect love sometimes does not come until the first grandchild. – Welsh Proverb

Why do grandparents and grandchildren get along so well? The mother. – Claudette Colbert

A zest for life is one of the most important examples a grandparent can pass on to their grandchildren. – author unknown

I love this child. Red-haired—patient and gentle like her mother—fey and funny like her father. When she giggles I can hear him when he and I were young. I am part of this child. It may be only because we share genes and that therefore smell familiar to each other. . . . It may be that a part of me lives in her in some important way. . . . But for now, it’s jelly beans and “Old MacDonald” that unite us. – Robert Fulghum

Grandchildren give us a second chance to do things better because they bring out the best in us. – author unknown

Although you’ve raised children of your own, now you don’t have to worry about all the responsibilities that come with parenting. You’ve earned the right to enjoy being a grandparent. - author unknown

Didn’t we, like our grandchildren, begin with a childhood we thought would never end? Now, all of a sudden, I’m older than my parents were when I thought they were old. – Lois Wyse

I wish I had the energy that my grandchildren have – if only for self-defense. – Gene Perret

Blessed be the ties that bind generations. – author unknown