The Purple Jacket

November 12, 2012 · 12:05 pm

The Telikin PC for the ‘The Little One’

When we decided to start looking for a new computer for ‘The Little One’ it was my goal to find a product that was user-friendly and with little maintenance. I know you must think that I was dreaming! Yet I was delightfully surprised when I learned of a computer that was specifically designed for seniors; the Telikin computer.

Telikin is the easy to use, all in one, touchscreen computer designed with seniors in mind. Some seniors have never become familiar with computer technology and may be intimidated by computers and/or reluctant to use one. This results in a segment of the population being left out in an increasingly technological world.

We are not ‘high-tech‘ people, we are more ‘user friendly’ and that is exactly what Telikin offers to us. We have tried laptops, we have tried connecting the PC to the large screen TV; Tablet’s well, forget about that as ‘The Little One’ tells me “the screen is too small on those things”, he will have nothing of them! Because of its easy access to the programs that are important to ‘The Little One’, Telikin seems to be a perfect fit for his computer needs.

‘The Little One’ at the Telikin Computer

“The Little One’ at the Telikin Computer

‘The Little One’ at the Telikin Computer

Coming from the caregiver’s point of view, I am constantly searching for items that have a positive impact for ‘The Little One.’ I know that I have found it with the Telikin Computer when he said, “This is really easy to use, I can find my favorite programs just by touching the screen. I am a computer illiterate and this computer opens me up to the 21st century; I find it very easy to use.” For those who know ‘The Little One’, you know compliments from him are sometime hard to come by; I am astonished!

What has impressed me about the Telikin PC was the ease of the set up and how quickly I was able to connect the computer to my wireless network. The computer is user-friendly and easy to maneuver. When it comes to technology and computers, each one of us has different skill levels, what often frustrates people is when something that can appear to be easy, becomes hard. That is not the case with our Telikin Computer; as easy as it was to set up the computer, it was just as easy to get ‘The Little One’ up and running on the device. Of course, those wonderful video instructions were a big help too!

I will leave it to the ‘tech geeks’ to talk about the amount of memory and all ‘that behind the screen stuff ‘ that geeks like to talk about. (By the way, the amount of memory is more than sufficient!) As a caregiver, I want to surround myself with an excellent team to help in the Caregiving process. The computer provides a sense of independence for ‘The Little One’ and many other seniors like him. In essence, the computer is a part of our Caregiving team. As a Caregiver I feel like I am partnering with a company that is focused and understands the needs of seniors, not just another computer company. Telikin understands what we are going through as caregivers and has developed a product that far exceeded my expectation.

I invited you to visit the Telikin senior computer website for more information.

You see…We might have Cancer…but Cancer Does Not Have Us!

The Telikin Brings Computers to the Masses (geardiary.com)
Telikin Touch-PC targets the gray dollar (gizmag.com)
Telikin Partners with firstSTREET to Market the Industry’s Most User-Friendly Home Computer for Baby Boomers and Beyond (prweb.com)
CareConnect Brings Award-Winning Telikin Touch Screen Computers to Senior Living (prweb.com)
‘I Do Not Need Any Help…I Have A StepLadder!’ (thepurplejacket.com)

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Filed under Caregiving, The Purple Jacket

Tagged as advocacy, advocate, Bow Tie Guy, Caregiver, Caregiving, LGBT Seniors, Personal computer, Philadelphia

November 11, 2012 · 4:06 pm

From one of my favorite bloggers; well worth the read on this Veterans Day!

Linda Brendle's Life After Caregiving

David spent ten years in the Navy, two tours of active duty and the rest in the Reserves. His experiences give him an instant kinship with other service men and women. It’s amazing how many hours can be spent sharing stories and memories. They complain about the rigors of basic training while congratulating themselves on having survived it. They talk about who was where during which campaign and how close they were to each other, and they brag about who got in the most trouble while on leave. Sometimes they even talk about their combat experiences. But there are some parts of the stories they don’t share.

David’s first tour was spent as a corpsman on the USS Enterprise (CVN-65), and he loved it. He loved being at sea and seeing exotic ports. He loved presiding over sick bay, learning to discern between the slackers and those who were really…

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November 8, 2012 · 2:02 pm

Caregiver Burnout: 9 Ways to Avoid It

In celebration of National Caregiver’s Month, I would like to welcome Hannah Munson as our guest blogger to ‘The Purple Jacket” today. Hannah is a recent Social Worker graduate who interned for two years as a caregiver in the Metro Detroit area provides us with some gentle reminders on how to avoid Caregiver Burnout.

While reading Hannah’s terrific post, I am reminded that in order to ‘Be A Healthy Caregiver’, we have to take good care of ourselves, too! Thanks Hannah for your contribution today!

Caregiver Burnout: 9 Ways to Avoid It

Caregivers are the kind of people whose profession warrants them to take care of people who are no longer capable of doing it for their selves. However, we must not forget that caregivers are also human beings who also have their own bodies which also need to be taken care of. Every caregiver has to see to it that he or she is always in a good working condition. But, if there are times when he or she begins to experience burnout something must be done right away. The following are some of the ways to avoid burnout:

1. Do not keep everything to yourself.

If you feel like you need someone else who understands your predicament as a caregiver, might as well join a support group. These groups will enable you to express your anxiety, predicament and other problems without the fear of being unfairly judged.

2. Take some time off.

Caregivers must be proactive in telling their superiors that they badly need some time off for themselves. They should not wait for their supervisors to notice their being stressed out before they request for a time-off.

3. Eat nutritious foods.

This would mean that you should not just eat anything that you want. See to it that you are eating foods that will help you become healthy enough to take care of your patients or somebody else.

4. Have enough sleep.

Even if your occupation requires you to work on a graveyard shift, this should not be reason enough for you to deprive yourself of enough sleep. Always find time to have enough sleep to recharge your senses and your entire body.

5. Exercise regularly.

Exercise is one of the most effective ways to prevent burn out. When you take the time to exercise on a regular basis you will always have the chance to unwind. Get focused on your exercise and you will be relieved from stress and anxiety.

6. Find time for your favorite hobby.

Burn out is usually caused by too much exposure to highly stressful situations. One way to relax is to have time for your favorite hobby. Read if you must or indulge in your favorite sports.

7. Be informed.

Sometimes, caregivers experience stress, anxiety or that burn out feeling when they need to take care of a patient who has serious medical condition. Read and search the internet for more information regarding your patient’s condition. This way, you will become better equipped with knowledge on how to deal with your patient.

8. Express yourself.

Some caregivers would prefer to keep their sentiments to themselves because they are too shy to share it with others. Call a trusted friend with whom you can express your feelings. Letting out your emotions will prove to be one great way to relieve yourself.

9. Take time to meditate.

You do not have to go to the gym or to a Yoga class in order to have time to meditate. Just look for a quiet room in your house where you can sit comfortably and concentrate. Meditation allows you to relax and become more focused on your goals and not on the negative things that are happening in your life.

This was a post written by Hannah M. She runs the website ‘How Much Is It’. You can access her website by clicking here. “How Much Is It” a large resource that helps you find the cost on just about anything. Please, Check it out!

If you are interested in being a guest blogger on ‘The Purple Jacket” please send me an email by clicking here

‘We Might Have Cancer…

But Cancer Does Not Have Us!’

Respite care offers an antidote to caregiver burnout (bangordailynews.com)
Caregiver Burnout: Managing the Challenges of Caregiving (prweb.com)
Best Caregiver Blog Awards | Assisted Living Today (assistedlivingtoday.com)
Be A Healthy Caregiver On Blog Talk Radio Tuesday at 1:00 pm (thepurplejacket.com)
Caregiving in the Future: YOUR Future (prweb.com)
Watch Out For Caregiver Burnout (kcet.org)
Workplace forum focuses on caregiver burnout (charlotteobserver.com)

7 Comments

Filed under Caregiving, The Purple Jacket

Tagged as advocacy, advocate, Bow Tie Guy, Caregiver, Caregiver Support, Elderly care, Health, LGBT Seniors, Patient, Senior Health

November 5, 2012 · 8:13 pm

WordPress.com News

Move over, New York Times bestseller list.

Millions of people across the globe turn to WordPress to build their websites and blogs, and we’re proud to say WordPress is home to many bestselling writers and winners of prestigious literary awards and prizes, including the Pulitzer Prize. In other words, we have our own bestseller list!

Take a look at the bestsellers and award winners who use WordPress — and be sure to scroll down to read about the notable works and WordPress-powered websites of twelve authors we’ve handpicked from this impressive list:

Jami Attenberg
Released this month, Attenberg’s third novel, The Middlesteins, is a story of marriage, new and old love, family, and our culture’s obsession with food. In addition to her novels, Attenberg has contributed both fiction and nonfiction to many outlets, from the New York Times and Salon to The Awl and numerous anthologies and zines. We…

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Be A Healthy Caregiver On Blog Talk Radio Tuesday at 1:00 pm

Join us on Tuesday November 6th at 1:00 pm for ‘Be A Healthy Caregiver’ on ‘Blog Talk Radio‘ with our special guest Michael Norfeet, Program Director of the Noble A. McArtor Adult Day Care Center in Fort Lauderdale, FL.

Respite care is essential in the equation on how to Be a Healthy Caregiver. Participation in Adult Day Care often prevents re-hospitalization and and may delay admission to residential long term care. For participants who would otherwise stay at home alone, the social stimulation and recreational activities may improve or maintain physical or cognitive functions. For Caregivers, Adutl Day Care Center provides respite care, enabling caregivers to work or have a break from their Caregiving responsibilities.

Join us on Tuesday November 6th at 1:00 pm for ‘Be A Healthy Caregiver’ on Blog Talk Radio by clicking here

Be A Healthy Caregiver on Blog Talk Radio (thepurplejacket.com)
‘Be A Healthy Caregiver’ on Blog Talk Radio (thepurplejacket.com)
The CareGiver Partnership: 5 Essential Tips for Caregiver Health (prweb.com)
Respite care offers an antidote to caregiver burnout (bangordailynews.com)

3 Comments

Filed under Caregiving, The Purple Jacket

Tagged as advocacy, advocate, Be A Healthy Caregiver, Blog Talk Radio, Bow Tie Guy, Caregiver, Caregiver Support, esophagus cancer, Health, Respite care, Senior Health

October 29, 2012 · 7:10 pm

Be A Healthy Caregiver on Blog Talk Radio

Join Chris MacLellan ‘The Bow Tie Guy’ on Tuesday at 1:00pm (est) for ‘Be A Healthy Caregiver’ on Blog Talk Radio with special guest Patrick Cavanaugh from Broward County Elderly and Veterans Services in Broward County Florida

Substance abuse is an issue that is not often discussed as it relates to our senior community. Join us for a friendly conversation with Patrick Cavanaugh with Broward County Elderly and Veterans Services Prevention Program as we discuss substance abuse issues relating to seniors and caregivers.

The Prevention Program activities are directed at older adults 55 years and older. Some are provided to at-risk elders, primarily those experiencing mental health and/or emotional problems, caregivers and the general public. Mr. Cavanaugh interacts and/or provides direct services to older adults in an effort to comprehensively address older adult substance abuse in an integrated manner. Over one thousand consumers per year participate in these services.

You’ll enjoy Mr. Cavanagh’s upbeat and positive attitude, this is someone who really enjoys his work!

Click here to join the show scheduled for Tuesday October 30th at 1:00pm

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Filed under Caregiving, The Purple Jacket

Tagged as advocacy, advocate, Blog Talk Radio, Bow Tie Guy, Broward County Florida, Caregiver, Caregiving, Florida, mental-health, Patrick Cavanaugh, SunServe Social Service

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Catching the surf

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October 27, 2012 · 2:19 pm

October 25, 2012 · 4:24 pm

From one of my favorite bloggers, always well worth the read!

Conscious Departures

Several months ago I became acquainted with Richard Wagner Ph.D and had the pleasure to read his book The Amateur’s Guide to Death and Dying. His work with people facing end of life issues is inspired and I admire his fearless approach to go into territory most consider taboo and awkward. Richard Wagner has been working with terminally ill, chronically ill, elder and dying people in hospital, hospice, and home settings for over 30 years. He facilitates support groups for care-providers and clinical personnel, and provides grief counseling for survivors both individually and in group settings.

He founded Paradigm Programs Inc, an innovative nonprofit organization with a mission to be an outreach and resource for terminally ill, chronically ill, elder and dying people. He was honored with the prestigious University of California San Francisco Chancellor’s Award for Public Service in 1999 for his work with sick, elder and dying people.

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