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What We Can Learn from Girl Scouts and the Cookies We Sold

What We Can Learn from Girl Scouts and the Cookies We Sold

Have you ever heard the words, “don’t stop”, “stay in line” from teachers, coaches and even at the airport while you check in for your flights? During times of chaos or if there is a crowd of people, commanding words such as these do move people and help them follow instructions.

How about times of emergency and disaster…when we are alone, do we know when to evacuate and where to go…? Do we have a sense of urgency? Do we need clear, concise information and instructions to help us make a decision to evacuate or move?

When children take swimming lessons for the first time, the instructor has to encourage them to ‘jump now’…to take the first dive into the pool. We all are creatures of comfort and do need helping hands when it comes to getting out of our norm.

What do you do when there is an emergency? How about our aging parents or grandparents?

Are we prepared for emergencies and disasters?

Lately in America, we faced numerous emergencies and natural disasters…from earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes to fire. Yes, the fire that recently broke out in Texas. Thousands lost their homes and they were not prepared for emergencies and didn’t have an evacuation plan.

The disaster on September 11, 10 years ago was an unexpected event where we lost lives and billions of dollars. America is never the same after that event. What used to be news of terrorists attacks in Egypt or Israel happened in American ground.

The message on plan and prepare is becoming more important and urgent, and we must bring it to the caregivers and the elderly. We cannot have a vague plan and not talk about it. It is time to face the truth and draw out a concrete emergency plan for yourself and your aging loved ones.

Remembering 9/11

9/11 left a mark on Americans. The cool September morning air still brings eerie feelings to many who experienced it first hand in New York and those of us who watched the news played over and over again that day. Our young grandchildren and children may not remember the event and will only learn from stories told.

Yet catastrophe of such magnitude may happen again and natural disasters do strike once in awhile in this nation.

What are you and I to do about it?

What if mom and dad live in Texas and you in California and the fire happened just miles away from their home? Do we have an exit route? Do they know what to bring with them when they evacuate?

Are they prepared? What should they bring? Do you have a checklist?

Throughout this month, we at Keeping in Touch Solutions are sending out checklist to readers and clients about preparing ourselves and our elderly parents and grandparents for emergencies and disasters.

We want to present clear and easy checklists to help you with the process of preparation.

The next step, preparation for emergency, is important and we need to reach out to our parents and help them make the plan concrete. You and your parents must know exactly what to do and where to find each other in case of emergencies.

Let me ask you this: If you have 4 hours to evacuate, what would you bring? What would you do? Where will you go?

Please email us at keepingintouchservices@gmail.com or call us at 1800-666-1540. We would be happy to assist you. Please check out our services at KeepinginTouchSolutons.

Diana Beam is an entrepreneur with a vision and a heart for the elderly. She has more than 30 years of experience as a teacher, long term care administrator, home health care pioneer, senior real estate specialist and owner of Keeping in Touch Solutions. Her passion is to see working women and men with elderly parents set free from guilt of not having time or proximity to their aging parents and helping the elderly with their aging needs and transition challenges. Diana lives in Indiana with her husband Ron and they have 3 grown children, 2 grandsons and a golden retriever named Hope and a calico cat named Ms Dottie. Grab her free report, 7 ways to provide maximum support to your parents, today. If you’d like to learn more about Diana and how she helps elderly clients through Keeping in Touch Solutions, check out her website at www.keepingintouchsolutions.com.

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Diana, September 10th 2011 | Tags: aging parents emergency plans, caring for elderly, emergency and disaster paln, help for your aging parents, planning ahead for emergency and disaster
Posted in Conversations with your aging parents, Emergencies and Disasters Preparation, Sandwiched and Boomers Generation, Your aging parents legal documents

How to Plan Ahead for the Conversations With Your Aging Parents

None of us grew up thinking that one day we might have to care for our aging parents. Along with our own sets of commitments and responsibilities, many of us (especially between the ages of 35-55) are seeing the need to give a helping hand to our aging parents or grandparents.

How can we find the time and ways to help them while we may be struggling ourselves? It is not easy being a daughter or a son who is being called on to step up and be the parent in the situation – after all, they have parented us for all these years. Plus, we are torn by emotional and financial issues attached to the situation.

The fact of the matter is, not all parents are created equal! Just knowing this can make our planning a bit more effective and less confrontational.
I’m sure you’ve seen them:

Perfect victims- cannot make decisions and always rely on you to help out.
Controllers and manipulators- want to make all decisions and they are always right and you are to listen and do what they want.
The one in between- they are the sweet, caring and cooperating parents who will help themselves and are willing to receive help.

Do you know what type of aging parents you have? Thank heavens most of us are blessed with the “in betweens”. When you know this about your aging parent or relative, it is easier to start the plan and the conversation – always asking the questions “what comes next” or “what is the next step.” Keep thinking forward and moving forward!

One of the many books we reviewed here at Keeping in Touch Solutions was The Parent Care Conversation, by Don Taylor, dealing with conversations that most of us will be forced to face as our loved ones age or fall victim to Alzheimer’s. This is a good read for anyone who is a practicing caregiver.

It isn’t easy for our loved ones to think about losing their independence and freedom. But it isn’t easy being the son or daughter of a frail or ill parent living in another community – just waiting for the other foot to fall!

Starting the conversation ASAP is imperative. This is the first in weekly posts related to “money matters” – since most issues are involved with money!

Is it time for you and your aging parents to sit down and talk about any financial issues – in a non-judgmental way – they are facing at the current time? Are they in debt? Do they have cash all over the house? Do they have a right structure for all their financial portfolio and needs? Where and what are their bank accounts information and investments information? Do they have all legal papers regarding money in one location? Do they have all necessary paperwork signed and documented legally and correctly? Where is it? Can we get everything together and in one place – a box, desk drawer, etc. – and then review?

It is not easy to start such conversations since all along they are the ones who gave you the advice about money. But you can’t help unless you know what they want!

There may be a role switch going on here- which could be very emotional. While in these conversations, it is important to identify in a non-judgmental way which type of aging parents you are conversing with today. However, these are crucial times to ensure smooth moves or transitions for you and your aging parents. Don’t let it be too late.

Plan ahead with your siblings and aging parents to have the money talks. By initiating conversations that consult and partner instead of taking over…we like to call it, coming alongside your aging parents. That will reduce all defenses, intimidations and tensions.

Are you facing this situation right now?

Are you postponing the ‘talk’ with your aging parents?

Are you planning ahead with your aging parents for their needs in the near future?

We would love to hear your stories about how you started the money conversation with your loved one.

We, at “Keeping in Touch Solutions”, are here to serve. Our daily check-in call and medication reminder can brighten the day for your home bound loved one – you’ll feel better, too knowing they have connected with the outside world today.

Leave us your questions and comments. Let us know how we can serve you.

Diana Beam is an entrepreneur with a vision and a heart for the elderly. She has more than 30 years of experience as a teacher, long term care administrator, home health care pioneer, senior real estate specialist and owner of Keeping in Touch Solutions. Her passion is to see working women and men with elderly parents set free from guilt of not having time or proximity to their aging parents and helping the elderly with their aging needs and transition challenges. Diana lives in Indiana with her husband Ron and they have 3 grown children, 2 grandsons and a golden retriever named Hope and a calico cat named Ms Dottie. Grab her free report, 7 ways to provide maximum support to your parents, today. If you’d like to learn more about Diana and how she helps elderly clients through Keeping in Touch Solutions, check out her website at www.keepingintouchsolutions.com.