So many people are attempting to juggle multiple obligations, and for family caregivers, it can feel like juggling flaming swords and knives. It’s natural for family members to become overloaded and to experience feelings of caregiver guilt when wanting to provide the best care for a loved one.
Insights and Tips for Enhancing Care at Home
The Important Link Between Technology and Independent Senior Living
When our parents were young, telephones were attached to walls, mail was only the paper variety, and if adult children lived far from their parents, checking on them was as easy as asking a neighbor to stop by to visit. If someone was not able to leave home as a result of sickness or infirmity, isolation could quickly set in. Social circles were smaller, and long-distance family members frequently felt…
Balancing Act: Helping Older Loved Ones Stay Safe While Fostering Senior Independence
Throughout life’s assorted stages, our self-reliance takes on different meanings. There are major occasions, like leaving our parents’ home or getting married, and smaller events, such as completing a challenging task on our own. Later, as we get older, retaining independence becomes the focus – the potential to remain in our own home safely and comfortably. This wish to age in place at home is commonly the greatest desire for…
Planning Fun Holiday Activities for Seniors
The hustle and bustle of the holiday season can be tiring and overstimulating for many older adults. And with everyone shopping, running errands, and attending holiday celebrations, seniors can sometimes feel forgotten in the fun. With a little pre-planning, however, the right adjustments to beloved traditions can be made (or new traditions started) so that the whole family can celebrate the season together.
Creating a Family Memory Book with Aging Loved Ones
Reuniting with loved ones during the holidays can be a wonderful time of connecting and enjoying time together! It can also be quite eye-opening. Some families notice a growing gap between generations, with the kids huddled together around their phones and iPads while Grandpa sits quietly on the couch just watching. If you’re looking to get the whole family together and enjoy each other’s company, and make some memories, one…
Learn How to Create a Fall Plan of Care
Falls in older adults are all too common, and may have dire consequences. If you care for an aging adult, taking the time to put preventative measures in place to protect against falls is vitally important, such as reviewing the home environment for any hazards such as throw rugs, poor lighting, a lack of grab bars and railings, etc. But there’s one additional strategy we recommend as well: creating a…
What to Avoid Saying to Someone with a Chronic Health Condition
Has anyone ever said to you, “Wow, you look really tired! Are you having trouble sleeping?” While you may have been feeling pretty lively up until then, suddenly you actually DO feel a bit worn out. What we say when we speak to other people and the way it’s interpreted can be powerful. This is good to keep in mind if you’re caring for a senior loved one, or talking…
Know the Warning Signs of Senior Depression
Everyone goes through times when they just want to be by themselves for a bit with their thoughts, to work through issues in their lives without distractions, or simply to experience some downtime. For seniors, however, being isolated for an extended period of time may be indicative of a more serious condition: depression.
Know the Difference Between Dementia and Depression in Seniors
A visit with Mom recently revealed a number of unsettling signs. Even though she’s always been up at the crack of dawn, now it is hard to wake her before lunchtime. Rather than fixing an elaborate home-cooked meal, she prefers to simply warm up a can of soup; and can barely finish a small bowlful. Not only that, but she’s lost interest in spending time with her beloved friends from…
The Advantages of Exercise for Seniors with Alzheimer’s
The numerous advantages of exercise are obvious, but what isn’t as well recognized is that exercise for seniors with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia can be particularly helpful in many different ways. It can help decrease the risk for muscle weakness as well as other problems that stem from inactivity, can ease the effects of emotional and behavioral changes, and much more.