Author: A Place At Home

‘We’re not dead yet,’ Suzanne Herndon, 70, who moved to Sun City, Texas in 2021, told the UK paper DailyMail on why they chose to age in place there. Seniors can be full of life if given the right environment. The north Austin community of Georgetown, Texas, is officially the fastest-growing city in the country, partly due to its wealthy 55-and-older community called Sun City, Texas. The Wall Street Journal found Georgetown has been the top city for population growth for three years in a row. Several other high-growth areas are nearby, like Cedar Park, TX. 

Why are Sun City and Georgetown, TX, seeing that growth? Many seniors are moving to the enormous senior-planned community of Sun City because of its lively social scene, which includes community theater, game nights, fitness classes, sports teams, and so much more. They have built a community around aging in place, and even when the seniors reach a point where they can’t live on their own, countless nearby developments offer assisted living or memory care services so they can still live near the community and their friends. Sun City’s median age is 73, compared to the US average of 39.  Almost a fifth of Sun City’s residents are veterans, the WSJ found, and most served during the Korean or Vietnam wars. 

So why does this work so well for seniors? 

All homes in Sun City are designed for active adults aged 55 and over, focusing on low-maintenance living and accessibility features suitable for seniors. The homeowners’ association takes care of common area maintenance, allowing residents to enjoy their homes without the burden of a lot of property maintenance. Residents can access three world-class golf courses, state-of-the-art fitness centers, outdoor sports fields, and six resort-style swimming pools. Of course, it also offers the benefit of its proximity to Austin for activities. 

Most importantly, plenty of care resources are available for seniors in the area, including doctors who make house calls and ride services, like the newly offered nearby Round Rock Rides program. Even if you don’t live in Sun City, the north Austin area offers many advantages for seniors looking to age in place. If you are in the area and are helping a senior loved one who desires to age in place, I suggest you follow some of the tips our owner, Stacey Eisenberg, shared with the U.S. News and World Report in their recent article How to Set Up Your Home for Aging in Place. We are happy to do a free home assessment,  help you with your senior care coordination, and connect you with resources to keep your loved one aging in place.

Have you ever felt like a dried-out sponge in the summer heat? That’s exactly how many seniors feel if they don’t stay properly hydrated. Often, they don’t even know how to express it. This July, our owner, Stacey Eisenberg, is on a mission to prevent that with her “Preventing Dehydration in Seniors” classes!

Our first stop – Leander Station Senior Village in Leander and Merritt Heritage in Georgetown on July 8th. Stacey will share tips and tricks to keep our beloved seniors hydrated and healthy. She’ll cover everything from recognizing the signs of dehydration to easy ways to ensure seniors get enough fluids throughout the day.

On July 25th, Stacey will present at Bluffs Landing in Round Rock. These sessions promise to be informative and fun, with Stacey’s engaging teaching style and practical advice. She will find a way to put smiles on the seniors’ faces.

We all know hydration is crucial, especially for seniors who might not feel thirsty as often as they should. Dehydration can lead to serious health issues, but with the proper knowledge, it’s entirely preventable. Stacey’s classes will also feature electrolytes provided by Jigsaw Health to ensure everyone stays energized and balanced.

So mark your calendars and bring your questions! Whether you’re a senior, a caregiver, or just someone interested in health and wellness, these presentations are for you. Let’s work together to keep our seniors happy, healthy, and hydrated this summer! Please reach out if you would like Stacey to present to your community. 

We recently helped one of our A Place At Home – North Austin companion clients get out of a less-than-ideal senior living situation and move them to a much safer and more compassionate environment. There are many great senior living options in the Austin, Round Rock, Cedar Park, Georgetown, Leander, Hutto, and surrounding areas. Some, unfortunately, are less than great. 

Having grown up in nursing homes from the age of 3, and worked in all kinds of senior communities, from skilled nursing, rehabilitation centers, hospitals, assisted living, memory care, and even independent 55+ communities, one of the things I genuinely enjoy doing is helping families explore their senior living alternatives. It starts by knowing what questions to ask.

Recently, I was interviewed by Care.com about questions to ask staff when touring a facility. The reality is, as I mentioned in the article, the biggest issues come from families not asking enough questions. There are literally hundreds of questions that can be asked to help you find the right fit and keep your senior safe. The good news is that if you are in the North Austin area you can contact us to get a free in-home (wherever home may be) assessment and I would be happy to help you find the right place for your senior at no cost to you.

Do you have a senior who is struggling with their iPhone? 

As of their most recent update, iOS 17, Apple has introduced a simple mode to make using the iPhone more accessible for our seniors.

How to Enable iPhone’s Hidden Senior Mode:

Let’s go through a step-by-step guide to enable “Senior Mode” (Assistive Access) on an iPhone with iOS 17

Step 1: Update to iOS 17

• Make sure your iPhone is updated to iOS 17. Go to Settings > General > Software Update and update if necessary

Step 2: Open Settings

• Open the Settings app on your iPhone

Step 3: Go to Accessibility

• Scroll down and tap Accessibility

Step 4: Find Assistive Access

• Scroll down to find and tap Assistive Access
• Click Set Up Assistive Access
• Verify Your Apple ID
• Follow the Steps to Give Permission to Setup

 

Step 5: Choose View Mode

• Select either Rows or Grid icons for the home screen display
• Rows View: Displays apps in a list format
• Grid View: Displays apps in a grid format

Step 6: Manage Apps

• Under the Apps section, tap Manage Apps to choose which apps you want to be available for the senior user
• Tap on the apps you want to add (e.g., Books, News, etc.)
• You can add or remove apps as needed

Step 7: Adjust Additional Settings

• Go through other settings to customize the experience (e.g., enabling Siri)

Step 8: Start Assistive Access

• Once all settings are configured, go back to the top of the Assistive Access page
• Tap Start Assistive Access

Step 9: Set a Passcode

• Enter a passcode to lock the settings and prevent changes by mistake

Step 10: Activate Senior Mode

• After setting the passcode, Assistive Access will be activated, simplifying the iPhone’s interface for senior users

The iPhone will now be in a simplified mode tailored for seniors, making it less confusing for them to use.

 

Want More iPhone Tweaks to Make It Easier for Seniors To Use?

There are several additional step-by-step guides to make the iPhone more straightforward to use for seniors. Many people aren’t aware of all these accessibility features built into the iPhone for seniors. Most people will enable several of these before they enable the “simple mode” we showed above.

 

Enlarge Text and Display

Increase Text Size:

• Open the Settings app.
• Tap Display & Brightness.
• Tap Text Size.
• Drag the slider to make the text larger.

Enable Bold Text:

• Open the Settings app.
• Tap Display & Brightness.
• Toggle the Bold Text switch to On.

Zoom:

• Open the Settings app.
• Tap Accessibility.
• Tap Zoom.
• Toggle the Zoom switch to On.
• Double-tap with three fingers to zoom in and out.

 

Simplify Home Screen and Reduce Clutter

Create Folders or use Simple Mode as described above:

• Press and hold an app icon until it jiggles.
• Drag it over another app to create a folder.
• Name the folder something intuitive (e.g., “Games,” “News,” etc.).

Use Larger App Icons:

• Open the Settings app.
• Tap Home Screen.
• Under App Icons, choose Bigger.

 

Enable VoiceOver

Activate VoiceOver:

• Open the Settings app.
• Tap Accessibility.
• Tap VoiceOver.
• Toggle the VoiceOver switch to On.
• VoiceOver reads aloud text on the screen and provides auditory feedback for actions.

 

Customize Touch Settings

AssistiveTouch:

• Open the Settings app.
• Tap Accessibility.
• Tap Touch.
• Tap AssistiveTouch and toggle it On.
• A floating menu will appear, providing easy access to common functions.

3D & Haptic Touch:

• Open the Settings app.
• Tap Accessibility.
• Tap Touch.
• Tap 3D & Haptic Touch.
• Adjust the Touch Duration and Touch Sensitivity to suit the user’s needs.

 

Enable Hearing Enhancements

Hearing Devices:

• Open the Settings app.
• Tap Accessibility.
• Tap Hearing Devices.
• Pair and customize settings for hearing aids.

Audio Accessibility Settings:

• Open the Settings app.
• Tap Accessibility.
• Tap Audio/Visual.
• Adjust settings such as Headphone Accommodations, Mono Audio, and Phone Noise Cancellation.

 

Enable Emergency Features

Set Up Emergency SOS:

• Open the Settings app.
• Tap Emergency SOS.
• Enable Auto Call.
• Add emergency contacts under Emergency Contacts in Health.

Medical ID:

• Open the Health app.
• Tap the Medical ID tab.
• Tap Edit and enter medical details and emergency contacts.
• Ensure Show When Locked is enabled.

 

Simplify Navigation

Increase Button Shapes and Labels:

• Open the Settings app.
• Tap Accessibility.
• Tap Display & Text Size.
• Enable Button Shapes and On/Off Labels.

Reduce Motion:

• Open the Settings app.
• Tap Accessibility.
• Tap Motion.
• Enable Reduce Motion to minimize screen movement.

These guides should help make the iPhone more accessible and easier to use for seniors, enhancing their overall experience. If the iPhone is still too complicated for your senior, there are a range of other great communication options available for seniors.

Ask any of our caregivers, others who are in the senior care industry, or me, and we’ll all tell you the best part about caring for seniors is the stories. 

Sadly, many families don’t take the time to document the stories of their loved ones. We certainly have regrets about not capturing these stories from our own parents. Our kids gifted a subscription to one of these programs, which sends you questions weekly, to our co-owner Bryan for his birthday this year. 

If you want to preserve your family legacy and discover different methods of capturing your family legacy stories, you can read our article.

Our owner and senior care expert, Stacey Eisenberg, will attend this invaluable event, which is hosted by the Alzheimer’s Association: Capital of Texas Chapter and the Round Rock Public Library.

Understanding & Responding to Dementia-Related Behavior
Thursday, May 9 from 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Meeting Room C

Learn about some of the common triggers for behaviors associated with dementia, how to assess a person’s needs, and how to intervene effectively.

All are welcome! Please join us and share with the community!

Learn more:
https://ow.ly/k0MY50QSS9L

For seniors in Central Texas, staying hydrated is crucial, especially with a long, hot summer predicted this year. Here’s why dehydration is a significant concern for seniors in the North Austin area:

• High Temperatures: I like to say Austin has three seasons: Weird, Hot, and Hotter. The intensity of the heat causes more sweating and fluid loss. This natural cooling method isn’t as efficient in seniors, increasing dehydration risks if not carefully managed.
• Air Conditioning: While essential for staying cool, air conditioning also makes indoor air dry, potentially increasing water loss through the skin and breathing, which can lead to dehydration.
• Sun Exposure: Activities outside, like walking or gardening, expose seniors to direct sunlight, which raises body temperatures and enhances fluid loss through sweat. 
• Humidity: We often experience high humidity, which can prevent sweat from evaporating and impair cooling, further increasing the risk of dehydration.
• Outdoor Activities: Active seniors may forget to drink more fluids to compensate for increased sweating during outdoor activities in warm weather, leading to faster dehydration.

With the summer forecast to be hotter than usual here in Austin, it’s vital for seniors and their caregivers to prioritize regular fluid intake and stay aware of dehydration risks.

To learn more about hydration in seniors, understand the risks of dehydration, and implement strategies to reduce dehydration, read my blog post on SeniorKareExpert.com or contact me to present to your community. 

Join our owner, Stacey Eisenberg, as she presents on behalf of the Alzheimer’s Association Capital of Texas chapter at the Round Rock Public Library on Thursday, April 11, 2024 at 1 pm. 

All are welcome—no need to register. 

To learn more about the event visit: https://www.roundrocktexas.gov/event/dementia-conversations-driving-doctor-visits-legal-financial-planning/ 

Learn to have honest and caring conversations about common concerns when someone begins to show signs of dementia.

Are you or your senior loved one feeling isolated? Are they withdrawing socially? Are they struggling with their daily life?

Your loved one does not need to feel alone, even if you can’t be with them at all hours.

They don’t want “strangers” to care for them, and you feel guilty that you aren’t doing enough. 

What if one of your “friends” could just spend a couple of hours getting to know them? To become THEIR friend and companion?

A compassionate caregiver can be there to listen, to engage, and to do their activities with them, not for them. A professional “friend” from A Place At Home begins to feel like a family friend simply by showing up consistently for shifts as short as 2 hours. It’s perfectly fine to start off small with in-home care and companionship. 

We are A Place At Home and want to be there for you and your family. 

Before you choose any in-home care agency, make sure to understand what questions to ask, what really matters in evaluating them, and what red flags to look out for. Download our PDF guide to hiring a home care agency.