Compared to the 10 percent of aging boomers who lived alone in the 1950s, today a third of older Americans are living by themselves. The reasons maybe for demographic or personal as well, more people are financially able to live alone as the age now.

People are living healthier lifestyles now which as decreased the disability rates. Advancements in medical science has also had a large part in keeping people active longer. Both of these have help older boomers to keep working longer as well, which in turn has lowered the poverty rates experienced in years past, forcing many senior citizens to move in with their children in the years past.

Aging alone is more common for older Baby Boomers. The ability to live alone is a way for older boomers to maintain their independence and identity, according to the paper. It also doesn’t necessarily mean being lonesome. On average single Baby Boomers are spending their time with friends and neighbors, staying active. They are able to stay active and social today, unlike generations before, because they are healthier.

According to a recent study, one third of Baby Boomers that are single have never married. Ten percent of Baby Boomers are alone due to a spouses death and divorce rates have increased in the over 65 age group.

While all this sounds good, there is also a side to this situation that should cause us concern. If dramatic cutbacks are made to entitlement programs, such as Social Security, the number of Americans who can afford domestic independence will decrease too. Seeing this fortune in reverse could be sped up with an increase in bankruptcies with more credit card debt and student loan debts.

Experts are concerned about the logistics as well. They feel that this country isn’t set up for proper housing for the older single person. Most are going to want to have their own, private apartment with convenience to services and support. While the more well off older Americans will have this in assisted living facilities, for many other senior Americans, it won’t be affordable.

By 2030, the number of Americans over the age of 65 will have doubled while the number of Americans over the age of 85 will almost triple. Experts are concerned about the strain this will put on Medicare and Social Security if a fix isn’t put in place soon.

With these staggering numbers and facts, it is possible that we will see a repeat in history – more senior citizens moving in with their adult kids.

Are you concerned about your elderly loved one’s future living arrangements and not sure where to turn to for help? Give us a call at Oxford Healthcare. Oxford Healthcare. Caring for you at home.

Our senior citizens are vulnerable in so many ways and with these findings, we are definitely have failed at taking care of them. Our call to action is to make certain that no senior citizen should go hungry in this country. The elderly do not have the resources or ability to modify the circumstances they have been left with, there fore it should be our duty to give them the special attention needed to correct this situation.

The elderly who live in the South and Southwest, ages 60 to 69 and those over age 75, minorities, disabled, divorced or separated are shown to be at the highest risk. In 2007, forty-four of the states had seniors that were facing the threat of hunger. Women, African-Americans and Hispanics are more likely to face hunger.

Reports from a one year study have shown that elderly citizens living with a grandchild, over 30 percent faced a threat of hunger. This is larger population than household that had no grandchildren living with them.

Hunger among our citizens, especially senior citizen, is a strong indicator the America’s economic challenges. Along with food insecurity, other issues come too such as poor health due to reduced nutrition. When the elderly don’t eat, they don’t feel up to daily activities either. The fear of many experts is the increase in elderly citizens hunger will extend to more health and nutritional challenges for this country.

If you suspect an elderly loved one in your family, or neighborhood, are going hungry, offer your assistance. If you aren’t comfortable or unable to help, give us a call at Oxford Healthcare, we have resources to recommend. Oxford Healthcare. Caring for you at home.

Baby Boomers arrived post-World War II and the servicemen and women returned home and started families. This generation will have an impact on everything in a way that other generations won’t, especially travel and in particular, airports for years to come.

Census data reports that approximately 2 million Americans are living to the age of 90 or longer now and this will more than double by the year 2050. While retirement may be put on hold either due to personal decision or due to the current economy, the average age of retirement is still 62 for women and 64 for men.

So now we see older citizens not only living longer, but they have a lifestyle that is more independent. Baby Boomers are now the more commonly seen traveler. This is an age group that is used to convenience, customer service and getting the best value for their hard earned money. They have the desire to travel and savvy with today’s technology.

Baby Boomers were a major part of today’s world as we know it, they witnessed many things from the begining such as space flight, self-serve gas stations as well as personal computers and the Internet. For many Baby Boomers, air travel is taken for granted. In general, Baby Boomers are at ease with flying, either for business purpose or for leisure. They have seen the air travel industry grow and develop as well with manned airport ticket counters to the self-serve set ups of today.

The air travel industry will need to realize that as Baby Boomers age, they will require special accommodations that meet their varying physical or cognitive demands, limits and needs. Baby Boomers will require not only good service but to be treated with dignity and respect. They will demand and expect minimal roadblocks to their movement and for little to effect the quality of life they have become accustomed to living.

While Baby Boomers have watched these things develop and then change, they have been frequently amused at what is called customer service these days. Baby Boomers will speak up, and demand the best in the developing aviation marketplace. They vote with their wallets to get what they want. What do they want? Four things in general: choice, convenience, communication and accessibility.

While Baby Boomers are seen as spoiled by many and used to having life ‘their way’, they have a respect and understand the money’s value. They are willing to shop and compare to get the best deal on everything, including air fares, food, hotels and anything they purchase. Therefore, airports need to offer ample assortment of food and shopping at prices that are found on the everyday street that includes local and national brands. Airports need to recognize that Baby Boomers are more conscientious than generations before and after them about living a healthy lifestyle and making the choices that fit that lifestyle. They are more concerned than other generations about environmental and social position.

The US Travel Association released a report in 2008 that stated one of first reasons travelers offered for not flying more was because of the hassles, convenience was the next most stated reason. When consumers are inconvenienced, the repercussions are profound. From this report, it was discovered that air travelers were frustrated with air travel and therefore, avoided it as much as possible. It has been estimated that over a 12 month period, there were approximately 41 million air travel trips avoided. This cost the U.S. economy billions of dollars in lost revenue of air fares, dining, lodging not to mention tax revenues.

People all around the globe experienced 9/11, and Baby Boomers are one of the largest generation affected by the repercussions. While they realize the demand for security to make travel safe for all of us, with the toilsome baggage and passenger screening, they hope to see the procedures and technology improved so that it is more free-flowing and have shorter waiting and the inspections to be more dignified.

For Baby Boomers, comfort and convenience go together. Baby Boomers will demand for adequate seating that has more options with interior designs to be pleasing that includes artwork, good lighting, plants and flight monitors that will alleviate anxiety and make traveling comfortable. Baby Boomers want clean, maintained restrooms, shuttle buses that are dependable and running elevators, escalators, walks and water fountains

The Baby Boomer generation is going to desire and expect strong Wi-Fi signals that are free, ample outlets to plug in chargers be able to update their digital information. While self-serve is desired, Baby Boomers also want a live person to answer their questions and provide assistance. The Baby Boomer generation has both both tech savvy people and and people who manage to do just enough. The logical implication is for airports designs proceed with both full service and self-serve options and provide help desks as well as roving personnel that offer directions and other helpful information.

As Baby Boomer age and keep traveling, it will force the acceleration for accessibility to become easier for the design of airports to accommodate passenger processing with technology in airports to become geared toward them. Such as the self-service tickets with flat glass screens aren’t much use to the older passengers that can’t read the screen.

As airports are designed, they will need to meet the challenges to design airports that make traveling less physically taxing on the Baby Boomer generation as they age. Shorter walking distances, less elevation transitions, adding more handrail extensions on walkways, flat surface for passenger boarding bridges so that mobility is not such an issue.

The Baby Boomer generation is going to be around for many, many more years. As such, the travel industry is going to be impacted, especially air travel. In the not-so-distant future, the items we have discussed here will be more than just thoughtful amenities as the Baby Boomer generation grows larger will become more than just luxuries or travel, but they will be the normal expected things.

ROGER WATERS THE WALL LIVE
May 5
BOK Center, 200 S Denver Ave

Roger Waters, the co-founder and principal songwriter of the archetypal progressive band Pink Floyd, has announced the return of the historic production of ‘The Wall’ to North America in 2012. His aural and visual masterpiece of alienation and transformation will be performed in-its-entirety featuring a full band and state-of-the-art production.

TULSA SYMPHONY: MUSICAL FIREWORKS
May 5, 2012
Chapman Music Hall – Performing Arts Center

Come celebrate the last concert of the season, conducted by Grammy-nominated conductor Alastair Willis.

SENIOR STAR ROUND UP
May 6
The Cain’s Ballroom, Tulsa

A party for seniors featuring Cowboy Jones with special guests The Round Up Boys!

THE 17TH ANNUAL OKLAHOMA RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL
May 6
The Castle of Muskogee

The Castle of Muskogee is Proud and Excited to present the 17th Annual Oklahoma Renaissance Festival, a family oriented event.Step back in time and enjoy the wonderment of a day in Renaissance England. Journey to an age of sorcerers, knights in shining armor, kings, queens, and maidens fair. Become mesmerized as magicians, jugglers, musicians, dancers, acrobats and jousters thrill and delight you.

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF
May 8 – 13
Chapman Music Hall, Performing Arts Center

This Tony Award winning musical has captured the hearts of people all over the world with its universal appeal. Based on the stories of Sholom Aleichem, Fiddler on the Roof has been lauded by critics again and again.

DRIVING DYNAMICS – ADVANCED DRIVER SAFETY TRAINING
May 14 – 15
Tulsa Expo Square

FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH WITH LACUNA COIL
May 15
The Brady Theater

MUSIC SANDWICHED IN – GUITAR STYLINGS
May 16
Central Library – Aaronson Auditorium

Rediscover the delight of the classics as guitarist Michael Fresonke shares his interpretations of timeless guitar pieces as well as his own original compositions in his enchanting style.

RHINESTONE COWBOY
May 17
Central Park Hall, Expo Square

The fun begins at 6:30p.m. with a reception and silent auction, followed by music, dinner and dancing at 8:00p.m.

BREEDER INVITATIONAL
May 10 – 26
Expo Square

The Breeder’s Invitational Derby, one of the most prestigious competitions in the sport of cutting. Spectators are invited to witness hundreds of the top horse and rider teams in the country compete. Complete with a western trade show daily featuring top vendors of western goods, the BI is a great outing for the entire family and shoppers and spectators are most welcome.

TULSA INTERNATIONAL MAYFEST
May 17 – 20
Downtown Tulsa

The 40th Annual Tulsa International Mayfest, an outdoor tribute to the arts and music. Mayfest is a family-oriented event created to promote a broader knowledge of and appreciation for arts and humanities among serious, as well as casual, art lovers.

INCUBUS
May 23
The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino

TULSA ROUNDUP DOG SHOW
May 24 – 28
QuikTrip Center

This year’s four day Tulsa Roundup Dog Shows will benefit the Canine Health Foundation. The show will include several health clinics during the competition.

HERMAN’S HERMITS STARRING PETER NOONE
WITH SPECIAL GUEST GARY PUCKETT AND THE UNION GAP
May 25
River Spirit Casino

BACKWOODS BASH MUSIC & CAMPING FESTIVAL
May 25 – 28
Keystone Lake (Old Walnut Creek State Park)

Three days of music and camping on Keystone Lake featuring The Werks, Split Lip Rayfield, The Gourds, The 1 oz Jig, Wild Child, The Moai Broadcast, Paul Benjaman Band and over 20 other bands.

OFF THE FLOOR: CREATIONS IN STUDIO K
April 27 – May 6
Tulsa Ballet’s Studio K

Three fascinating works by three exciting choreographers: Tulsa Ballet’s Ma Cong was named one of the “25 to Watch” by Dance Magazine for both his dancing and choreography.

The study reported that on average, the men were five years older than their wives. As such, age-related physical problems often prevented the men from being able to care for the women at home. Up to the age of 85 years old and older, ill health increased with age for both men and women, but men were the sicker partner in most cases. As such, 40 percent and higher of the women in the study were more likely to be admitted to a nursing home.

So how do you know when it’s time to put a spouse in a home? Is there a minimum age requirement?
Is there a level of care requirement they must be at before they can be admitted in to a nursing home?
Nursing homes vary on their requirements and standards that patients are accepted. These are the first things you find out when you start looking at nursing homes, asking them individually their policies. For the most part though, age is not an issue when registering a patient in a nursing home. You will want to schedule a consultation with the loved one and the home. They are the best in determining whether the patient needs nursing home care or if an assisted-living facility would suffice. Each facility is different, but the general rule of thumb is assisted living centers are for those that have trouble living alone or their spouse is not able to care for them as they need to be.

Almost all assisted-living facilities necessitate that patients be able to care for themselves such as bathing, going to the bathroom, dressing and eating. Many may require the patient be able to move about independently, either on their own power or by using a wheelchair. There are assisted living facilities that have staff to render assistance with things like fastening buttons or snaps, while some will assist with showers if needed. There are some facilities that have to staff to assist with cooking, shopping, managing finances, and distributing medications. There are many levels of help and each assisted-living facility is differently equipped.

On the other hand, if your love done needs more extensive hep, a nursing home may be the better choice. Such as taking care of themselves with bathing, eating and taking medication or getting in and out of bed on their own. If you loved one needs assistance with these things and needs to be watched around the clock with every aspect of daily living, a nursing home would be better for them. Perhaps they have Alzheimer and have a tendency to wonder out of the house and get lost. Or they have had some close calls when cooking for themselves and left a pot on the burner or left the oven on.

If you have an elderly couple in your family that may be at the point one of them needs around-the-clock care but you aren’t sure, give us a call at Oxford Health Care. We offer free consultation and will be glad to offer guidance and suggestions to help you make that decision. Oxford Health Care. Caring for you at home.

Record numbers are at their highest of Americans that can’t even afford food. Reports show that over 9 million people age 65 and older don’t have enough money to cover their basic costs. Broken down by gender, the reports indicate that sixty percent of women versus 41 percent of men are unable to pay for necessities of living.

Supported by analysis from the U.S. Census data, all women age 65 and older in the United States, that live alone or with a spouse, are experiencing difficulty covering their expenses each month. Basic needs such as food, housing and health care are a struggle for over 60 percent of them. Everyday essentials such as deciding between having heat during the winter or having food on the table has become more the normal. Senior aged women often make the decision to split their pills in an effort to extend their medication.

Across the country, with the economy as it is currently, there is no State that is a harbor for the senior citizens. All Americans are facing challenges to exist but our elderly face a set of challenges of their own such as rising health care costs and the developing industry of scammers who target the elderly, with women experiencing a harder time of it.

Broke down by race, reports indicate that approximately 49 percent of older white women have trouble covering their basic costs while women of other races, the problem is more pronounced. The rate for older African-American women 74 percent with older Hispanic women 75 percent and older Asian women is at 61 percent. These numbers are more than staggering, it has become an epidemic.

Many experts feel that the earning imbalance today is results of a gender gap where women have traditionally earned less than men. While it varies by industry, the disparity averages out to about 77 cents on the dollar. Within the first year of joining the workforce, college graduates start to experience this pay gap and overtime, it only grows wider. In the end, the consequences are most women have smaller Social Security benefits upon reaching retirement compared to men.

It is difficult to know where to start repairing this situation because the base of where it starts is so varied. However, that does not mean that something can not be done about it, what it does mean though, we need to begin paying attention earlier on, such as in courses selected in high school and college. Once a woman reaches working-age, she should be more attentive to the statistics on divorce and widowhood and not only understand that they are the real possibilities of life, but accept them and be prepared. Women need to prepare for fife events that may lead to taking care of themselves alone in a financial sense.

The recent economy results such as the fall of home equity and the increase of unemployment, has seen more women who retire, more financially challenged than any other generation before. Most experts agree that with the current economic situation today, things are not any better than five years ago, and anticipate things to become worse. So we must ask ourselves, what can be done to fix this situation and turn things around for the future generations?

Although steps could be taken by the federal and state level policies would be a big step, such as pay equity and protect programs such as Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security, we need to begin changes with the younger generation. Such as the career choices that young men and women make and close the gaps at the high school and community colleges levels where students tend to break up into distinct vocational paths that create the pay gap in later years.

Start now for yourself and the generations to follow to make this world better for everyone, especially women. If you have an elderly loved one that is struggling with their basic necessities such as food, healthcare and medication, give us a call at Oxford Healthcare. Oxford Healthcare. Caring for you at home.

This is even more so with volunteers for the preservation of keeping our earthy healthy and green. Volunteers of the green movement are the ones that make our communities, our world as a whole, a better place to live now and into the future. For anyone that a green passion and a desire to develop a new skill, volunteering for activities that raise the awareness and aesthetic values for public spaces and the world at large, is the best a great way to contribute.

Elderly volunteers are the connection between the gray and green and provides a uncommon win-win situation. Studies have found that volunteering lowers the depression of our elderly, especially environmental volunteers. So what is good for the environment is good for us as individuals. especially the elderly. When it comes to our elderly, especially those who retire from busy careers and jobs, are shown to have better health when they keep busy. An increase in time with the outdoors and nature show even more striking health benefits according to results released from a study in 2010 that was conducted over twenty years.

Environmental threats are a major affect on the elderly health overall. Such as a changes in climate, the elderly are much more probable to be affected by temperatures and life-threatening weather events..The elderly are also more defenseless when it comes to environmental menaces such as air pollution and toxic chemicals.

The elderly can also acquire a sense of doing good when they are working to achieve something for the good of future generations such as protecting our environment. No matter their background, race or political views, the elder all care about maintaining the environment for the generations to come. More and more people from their 60s to their 80s and beyond are becoming more involved and working to make our society a sustainable one and to preserve our natural resources. The elderly want to not just leave a legacy to the future generations, but to leave this earth better than when they were here.

If the elderly one in your life has a desire to help and get involved but you don’t know where and how to get hem started, give us a call at Oxford Healthcare. We can help get you connected to organizations that are more than willing to take more volunteers and many have transportation too. Oxford Healthcare. Caring for you at home.

They keep everything, from something as small as paper bags and rubber bands to broken appliances and items that have absolute no value or reuse need such as empty cereal boxes. They even obtain more things at garage sales adding to their collection, even duplicating items they already have . Before long, they are no longer able to move freely amid their possessions, but can’t or won’t give any of it away or dispose of it, they aren’t able to give up any of it.

Hoarders aren’t collecting dolls and stamps. They collect, or hoard, all sorts of objects. An unmatched exception are those who hoard animals, with the most hoard animals being birds, cats and dogs. In their mind they begin to believe that they are the only one that cares for these creatures and nobody else can provide for them. The inclination to hoard these things can grow stronger and become worse, even spinning out of control after the death of their spouse.

As adult children we may not visit their home regularly, having all the holiday and family gatherings at our home. Then one day we have to enter the loved one’s home when they have been been hospitalized or passed away and they find that they have been living with stacks of old clothes, outdated newspapers junk mail and countless brochures, catalogs and sales circulars, all expired. Only then may we discover a side of them we didn’t know.

So what can an adult child do if they have discovered or believe their parent or grandparent is hoarding? The first thing to do is to get inside the home. If you only visit on occasion, or your loved one insists on meeting you somewhere each time, this step can be difficult. You should start making regular visits with an observant eye.

If you do visit regularly, your loved one may be able to kept their hoarding under control and not as easily visible. Whenever you suspect hoarding, address the subject with sensitivity. Don’t be judgmental and call what items you see as clutter or junk. Remember the hoarder considers all of their possessions to be valuable. It’s better to remain neutral while offering to help them organize and dispose of the unnecessary items.

Experts warn that adult children be aware that it is believed that hoarding may be genetic. Too often then, after cleaning out our parents’ home we bring a great deal of it home. We tell ourselves that we are taking it home with us so that we can sort through it all in time, This can be a sign that we are on the edge of hoarding ourselves. As adult children of parents that hoard we need to be aware of this transfer practice. Hoarding is not always with material things, it can include difficulty to process information or ability to focus. Being unable to make decisions when faced with a great deal of information. A hoarder often has trouble with categorizing and ascertain common objects. Everything looks to be unique.

There are various social service agencies to help the elderly that have a hoarding practice. As the adult child you should be aware that bringing that type of assistance into the picture though, there will be a great deal of stress on the hoarder. You as well need to be ready for the consequences as well as how mom, dad or grandma are going to be able to handle an outsider coming into their home and their lives.

You can find help at International OCD Foundation International OCD Foundation as well as a host of other organizations. For more information on getting help for your loved, give us a call at Oxford Healthcare. Oxford Healthcare. Caring for you at home.

Wanenmacher’s Tulsa Arms Show
QuikTrip Center
Mar 31 – Apr 01
www.exposquare.com

World’s largest Gun Show! Wanenmacher’s Tulsa Arms Show

LECTURE: “THE WORLD IN 2050: FOUR FORCES SHAPING OUR NORTHERN FUTURE”
April 1
University of Tulsa, Lorton Performance Center
The World in 2050: Four Forces Shaping Civilizations Northern Future, which presents a science based projection of what the world might look like in the future.
http://www.aaas-swarm.org/lectures.html

YONDER MOUNTAIN STRING BAND
April 1
Cains Ballroom, Tulsa, OK
www.cainsballroom.com

THE TEST: THE STORY OF THE TUSKEGEE AIRMEN
January 14 – April 14
Tulsa Air and Space Museum & Planetarium
www.tulsaairandspacemuseum.org

Tulsa Air and Space Museum & Planetarium will host the traveling exhibit, The Test. This exhibition tells the story of the first African-American aviators to serve in the military of the United States. It is a story about their struggles in World War II combat overseas and against prejudice and racism in America.

BLACK ON BLACK & WHITE: THE SOUTHWEST OF LAURA GILPIN AND MARIA MARTINEZ
February 5 – April 15
Philbrook Museum of Art
www.philbrook.org/blackandwhite

The first exhibition of Philbrook’s 2012 series celebrates the work of two renowned American artists, photographer Laura Gilpin (1891-1979) and potter Maria Martinez (1887-1980) who were both contemporaries and friends. This Philbrook-generated show pairs over 40 photographs taken over a fourdecade period with dozens of ceramics drawn from the museum’s extensive holdings and the Eugene B. Adkins Collection.

WOODY AT ONE HUNDRED-THE WOODY GUTHRIE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
February 5 – April 29
Gilcrease Museum
www.gilcrease.utulsa.edu

The Woody at One Hundred exhibition explores one ot the nation’s most influential cultural icons – Woody Guthrie, his life, his legacy.

TWO PAINTERS, TWO PLACES: LANDSCAPES BY LOUISE HIGGS AND CATHY DEUSCHLE
April 5 – 29
Tulsa Performing Arts Center
www.tulsapac.com

In late spring 2010, Cathy Deuschle and Louise Higgs met to spend the morning painting outside together. For both artists, what began as a casual agreement became, over time, a powerful shared experience. They began to work together regularly at two specific sites: Stuart Park in Osage County and Quartz Mountain in Western Oklahoma.

ALL AMERICAN MULE & DONKEY CONGRESS
April 6 – 8
Super Duty Arena, Tulsa Expo Square
www.muleanddonkeycongress.com

SHERLOCK HOLMES
April 12 – 15
Liddy Doenges Theatre, Tulsa Performing Art Center
www.tulsapac.com

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s famous short stories revolve around the world’s most popular and influential fictional detective, the eccentric, arrogant and ingenious Sherlock Holmes.

LOST PAGES OF SNOW WHITE: SEARCH FOR THE DARK SCROLLS
April 12 – 15
Liddy Doenges Theatre
www.tulsapac.com

The classic fairy tale with a twist! This story intertwines with Encore’s adaptation of “The Lost Pages of Cinderella and the Phantom Fairy,” but is still a delight as a stand alone theatre experience. Years after the events in “The Lost Pages of Cinderella,” the kingdom has been overrun by the Evil Queen, and the fairies’ Dark Scrolls have been stolen by Rumpelstiltskin.

THE DROWSY CHAPERONE
April 12 – 15
The University of Tulsa’s Lorton Performance Center, Tulsa
www.myticketoffice.com

University of Tulsa’s theater department presents the whimsical comedy of class and manners.

TITANIC: THE 100 ANNIVERSARY WITH SIGNATURE SYMPHONY

April 14, 2012
Tcc VanTrease Performing Arts Center
www.signaturesymphony.org

Remember the Titanic and that fateful maiden voyage in a performance of music from musicals and the film.

Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundations
Apr 14, 2012
Tulsa Ballroom
www.jdrf.org/tulsa-green

The Promise Ball is an exclusive and fun-filled event which features, fine food, cocktails and wine, along with a fabulous live and silent auction.

HOUSEHOLD POLLUTANT COLLECTION EVENT
April 14 – 15
Lot 7, Tulsa Expo Square
www.metrecycle.com

The Metropolitan Environmental Trust got its start in 1987 as a committee charged with looking into alternatives to landfilling Tulsa’s trash. After completing studies, the Trust decided it was necessary to begin recycling operations.

URINETOWN
April 19 – 22
Liddy Doenges Theatre, Tulsa Performing Art Center
www.tulsapac.com

In a Gotham-like city, a terrible water shortage, caused by a 20-year drought, has led to a government-enforced ban on private toilets.

MADAME BUTTERFLY
April 21 – 29
Performing Arts Center
www.tulsapac.com

In Puccini’s classic opera, Cio-Cio San, a geisha, gives her heart to Lieutenant B. F. Pinkerton. When his tour of duty ends, he abandons her for America, leaving her waiting faithfully.

11TH ANNUAL THOMAS MATTHEWS MEMORIAL CONCERT
April 22
Trinity Episcopal Church, Tulsa
www.trinitytulsa.org

Organist Christopher Houlihan is this year’s featured musician at this event.

FRANKENSTEIN BROTHERS FEATURING BUCKETHEAD & THAT 1 GUY
April 22
Cains Ballroom, Tulsa, OK
www.cainsballroom.com

Frankenstein Brothers featuring Buckethead & That 1 Guy

For those millions of caregivers, care-giving alone for a loved one can hinder your taking care of yourself and if you still have children at home, along with a spouse, taking care of them as well. In the best interest of those who count on you as well as yourself, obtain assistance from others. You may feel that you are capable of helping and caring for a loved on, yet, often times, we find ourselves ill-equipped and unprepared to handle what can be daunting tasks. The daily routine of a loved ones medical regimen or getting their home handicapped accessible such as a wheel-chair ramp. Small things such as lining up someone to stay with their loved ones so they can have some time away alone or with friends, such as going dinner and a movie, and not having to worry that their loved one will have an accident and fall or forget a dose of medication.

Caring for a loved one is an act of love, but has its costs for the caregiver. Should you have to quit your job to care for a loved one, you forfeit lost wages, your pension plan and social security. Those things do not include the personal cost to your own welfare, not to mention the demands of caring for a loved one gives you less time for your own family. Many caregivers find themselves giving up hobbies, social activities and vacations. Caring for someone else full time will take a toll on your health as well. Studies show that caregivers are more likely to experience anxiety, depression and maybe require hospitalization.

Instead of asking for help from other, many caregivers become detached from others, they don’t want to bother others. Many fear the possible outcome if they let their stress be known to coworkers or employers. In our world today, we are youth-centered society and we look the other way when it comes to the inevitable, unpleasant reality that everyone will grow old and every will die. This way of looking at things leaves everyone unprepared.

As your parents or other loved ones start to age, what can you do? As uncomfortable as it may be, you need to start the discussion of “what ifs” with them and assist them in making a plan. What will happen to them if they become disabled, ill or die unexpectedly? Do they have a will in place and where to they keep it? If they have a living will, who have they selected to make any medical decisions if they are not able to do so themselves?

Community support is out there for you, utilize it. Find community resources that offer and support care-giving, such as a day program that helps the one you are caring for have social activities with peers of their own age. Transportation to and from these programs is often provided as well. For you and the loved one you are caring for, getting out and socializing has the additional benefit that gets bodies moving. Exercise and socialize are the two best effective interventions that assist your loved ones and the caregiver both.

If family and friends ask if there is anything they can do, don’t be shy. Take them up on the offer and suggest ways the can help. Get someone to take Mom to her physical therapy this week or ask them they are going to the store, as them to pick up some bread, fruit, milk, or any thing you or your loved one may need or could use. If you are caring for an elderly loved one and have small children at home, ask a friend to watch the kids for awhile so that you can get to the gym or get a hair cut. Most people that offer to help don’t know they can, give them specific ideas how they can help, they’ll appreciate it, and so will you!

As a caregiver, you worry about your loved one getting the nutrition and rest they need. Make sure to take care of your own health too. Make sure you are getting the nutrition you need with plenty of sleep and exercise regularly. Keep your hands washed to prevent spreading germs and keep colds and flu at bay. Laughter, prayer or even a deep breath can help you manage your stress. Nurture yourself with activities that energize your batteries. If you begin to feel anxious or depressed, talk to your own doctor.

Taking care of yourself and asking for help are the two best things you can do for your loved one for effective care-giving once you begin that mission. Before that begins though, find the courage to start talking to those elderly ones and the other family members about care-giving. If you find that you don’t know where to turn, give us a call at Oxford Healthcare. We have experienced staff and a host of resources to recommend. Oxford Healthcare. Caring for you at home.