Easterseals: Our resources can help caregivers during holidays

Whether you check in by phone, by video chat or in person, Easterseals Delaware & Maryland’s Eastern Shore has some advice to keep your loved one safe during the holidays and throughout the year.”

If you have an aging loved one in your life, take time this holiday season to check in on him or her — whether you live nearby or miles apart. Distance may vary, but your responsibilities and dedication as a caregiver remain the same. Whether you check in by phone, by video chat or in person, Easterseals Delaware & Maryland’s Eastern Shore has some advice to keep your loved one safe during the holidays and throughout the year.

• Check to see if assistive technology can keep your loved one safer and more independent by calling Easterseals to schedule a virtual tour of the Caregiver Resource Center while you are visiting an elderly loved one or someone with a disability.
• Take time to get to know your loved one’s neighbors and friends, so you can turn to them in a time of need, or so they can alert you if they see a problem. This can be key if you are unable to visit often.
• Compile a list of medications and schedules in case of a medical emergency and update it frequently, while considering medication reminders and organizers. Easterseals case managers may have suggestions for you. Check out PrepareDE.org for information about emergency planning.
• If your loved one is at risk of falling, learn more about that and find out when to talk to your loved one’s health care provider.
• Look through the home for possible hazards, such as unsafe stairs or loose rugs. Use the home safety checklist from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to guide you, whether in person or virtually. Arrange for necessary home modifications, such as grab bars for stability in the shower or a seat lifter for the toilet. The staff at Easterseals’ Caregiver Resource Center can help.
• Turn to Easterseals’ Caregiver Resource Centers in New Castle and Milford for resources. The case managers are available to help people find answers. Contact them at resources@esdel.org or 302-221-2291.
• Attend the Caregiver Resource Center Open House on Dec. 3 to learn valuable information and see hundreds of pieces of assistive technology that can make life easier. You can even get gift ideas for your loved one with a disability or aging condition! For details and a virtual tour link, contact resources@esdel.org or call 302-221-2291.

Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at civiltalk@iniusa.org.