You cant always be there, but we can

Tag: senior healthcare

Tips to Prevent Diabetes Among Seniors

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recently released the 2022 National Diabetes Statistics Report. This report estimates that more than 130 million adults are living with diabetes or prediabetes in the United States. If you have been diagnosed with prediabetes — high blood sugar that doesn’t reach the threshold of a diabetes diagnosis — lifestyle changes can prevent or delay the onset of disease. Following are some the lifestyle changes that you can adhere by for diabetes prevention among seniors.

1. Minimize sugar and refined carbohydrates from your diet.

Sugar and refined carbohydrates are one of the biggest reason for high spikes in sugar level in blood that leads to type 2 diabetes. White bread, potatoes and sugary cereals should strictly be avoided and replaced with a diet rich in complex carbohydrates like vegetables and whole grains. They can help delay the onset of diabetes and management of insulin levels in one’s body.

Related: “Best Nutritional Foods to Improve a Senior’s Diet”

2. Exercise daily to lose extra weight.

Losing extra weight has shown to reduce the risk of diabetes. Try to incorporate exercise in your daily routine for at least 30 minutes. Even if it is light walking around the block, exercise can be beneficial as it will help you remain fit and lose weight eventually. So, plan an exercise regimen and consult your doctor for weight management goals based on your personal needs. Stay healthy and remain energetic as you age.

Related: “Things You Must Know If You’re A Diabetic Patient”

3. Quit smoking.

If you are an active smoker or tobacco user, now is the time to stop. Smoking makes you resistant to the insulin that further leads to type 2 diabetes. Quitting tobacco has shown to reduce the risk of diabetes among seniors. Apart from diabetes, it will also improve your respiratory health and save you from breathing problems and cancer.

Conclusion

Want to give the best care to your senior loved ones but can’t manage time for it? Have no worries! Our caregivers at Home Instead Senior Care are passionate about delivering important in-home diabetes care to the senior population of Wilmington, NC. Call us to find out how we can help your loved one manage life with diabetes at (910)-342-0455 or visiting us online here.

Ways to Improve the Life of Your Loved One When Dealing with Arthritis

There are numerous ways that you can opt to manage the arthritis of a loved one. To help you improve the life of your loved one dealing with arthritis, we’ve listed some simple strategies that will help you reduce symptoms so your loved one can pursue the activities that are important to them.

  • Teach Self-Management Skills

Ecourage your loved one join a self-management education workshop. This will help them learn new skills to manage their arthritis and make better decisions about their health. Here are some of the main factors involved in teaching self-management skills to your loved one:

  1. They will feel more in control of their health.
  2. They will have the courage to manage pain and other symptoms.
  3. They will have more energy to plan and carry out valued activities, like working and spending time with other people.
  4. It will help them reduce stress.
  5. It will improve their mood.
  6. They will feel more conformable and able to communicate better with their health care provider(s) about their care.
  • Visit the Doctor

Accompanying your loved one to their medical appointment can help them feel more confident about getting medical treatment. Especially with an early and accurate diagnosis, this can help with effective treatment for your loved one to minimize symptoms and prevent the disease from getting worse.

Your main focus for arthritic treatment for your loved one should be to:

  1. Reduce their pain
  2. Effective treatment plans to minimize their joint damage
  3. Improving or maintaining function and quality of life

Ensuring your loved one is going for regular appointments with their health care provider and following their recommended treatment plan will play an active role in controlling their arthritis.

  • Managing Weight

Helping your loved one lose excess weight and stay healthy can also help them overcome arthritis. This will not only reduce their pain but will also improve their general physical movement.

Conclusion

We hope this guide will help when it comes to supporting a loved one dealing with arthritis. If you have a senior loved one that needs home assistance in Wilmington, NC, rely on Home Instead Senior Care. We provide the best quality care, with services personalized to you and your family’s needs. Visit our website or call (910) 421-2574 for more information!

How to Take Care of Your Senior After a Hospital Stay

Returning home after a hospitalization is a delicate period for seniors. Indeed, it is often synonymous with a loss of bearings. Fatigue and lack of confidence, combined with reduced mobility and the fear of losing their autonomy, are generally what they fear most. However, taking care of them is a must in their recovery process. In this month’s blog, we will share with you some helpful tips that can give your loved one all the affection and attention they need.

Hire Qualified Professionals

Human support is essential. You will not be able to be present 24/7 for your loved one. You will have to delegate at one point or another. For this, you can call a local caregiver center for home assistance. A caregiver can accompany your elderly loved one with a variety of daily tasks including getting up, going to bed, bathing, or eating meals.

Related: Learn more on how to choose the right caregiver here.  

Bring Technology to Your Home

For an elderly person to be confident, they must feel secure. You can equip them with technological devices, such as path lighting or a medical emergency alert system such as Medical Guardian. This system allows you to be in touch with a person in the event of an emergency, day and night.

Equip the House with Mobility Equipment

It is also a good idea to offer your loved one technical aids to help them stay at home, such as a cane, a walker, or a wheelchair. You can buy or rent this medical equipment according to your loved one’s needs. Besides that, you must learn some safe methods when moving the patient.

Keep Them Healthy

The patient’s body after a hospital stay will be in need of more healthy food than usual including protein, fiber, and hydration. Adopt a healthy diet for them along with giving them some advice, such as avoiding fast eating, having enough daily meals, and so on. Healthy food and healthy eating habits will tide them over until they recover and help prevent complications like elderly dehydration.

Review Your Interior Layout

Finally, in anticipation of returning home after hospitalization, it is ideal to rearrange the living space of the vulnerable person. For example, you can declutter their rooms to facilitate movement and remove any objects on the ground to limit the risk of falling. It is also possible to have a stair lift installed or to transform the bathtub into an accessible shower. The options are endless. An occupational therapist can even support you in this process.

Related: Learn more about the best home modifications for seniors here.

Conclusion

Many seniors no longer have the same physical abilities after a hospital stay. That being said, their home must be adapted according to their abilities, so that they are secure and comfortable. If you have a senior loved one that needs home assistance in Wilmington, NC, rely on Home Instead Senior Care. We provide the best quality care, with services personalized to you and your family’s needs. Visit our website or call (910) 421-2574 for more information!

Why You Should Hire a Professional Caregiver for the Elderly

In this fast-paced world, many seniors may need the additional help and support. As they age, the deterioration of health and energy is inevitable. They require more attention, care, love, and support. It can be hard to always be present for them, which is why hiring a professional to assist them in their daily routine is often recommended. The following are some of the reasons why you should consider hiring a professional caregiver for the seniors in your life.

1. A caregiver can help maintain a senior’s independence.

Being sent to an old home can be the cause for a senior to lose their independence. A personal caregiver in the comfort of a senior’s home allows them to have a sense of individuality and independence even at such an age even with the extra help. As a much happier alternative to in-facility care, seniors can still receive personalized care without losing their confidence, comfort, and independence.

2. The care services are personalized depending on the individual.

A professional caregiver can solely focus on one person and give them their undivided attention and service whenever it’s required. By choosing a professional caregiver, you get a personalized plan for your beloved elderly that contributes to their health and wellbeing. Whether the services call for transportation and mobility or housekeeping duties, a professional caregiver will do it all.

3. Caregivers are excellent companions and listeners.

One of the biggest problems the elderly face as they age is the struggle with loneliness and depression. The family is not around as much as they used to be before. At such times, they need a companion to help them share their feelings. It curbs loneliness and keeps depression away. A caregiver will always be present to act as an emotional support for the elderly. They will assist your loved one to be in touch with life and their emotions.

Conclusion

We understand that life can get very hectic with things coming up out of nowhere. If you have trouble maintaining housekeeping and taking care of your loved one, we can help. Home Instead Senior Care provides compassionate in-home care services that includes personal care, light housekeeping, meal prepping, grocery shopping, transportation, and much more. Give us a call at (910) 421-2574 to avail of our services. Learn more about how we can help by visiting our website.

A Guide to Improving the Respiratory Health of Seniors

A person drinking from a glass

Description automatically generated with medium confidence

With growing age, maintaining your physical health is important. The respiratory system performs the most essential of the tasks for your body and breathing is vital for humans. Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, keeping the respiratory system healthier has become a priority, especially for seniors. The following is a helpful guide to improving and maintaining the respiratory health of seniors.

1. Quit smoking.

Smoking is one of the leading reasons for a weak respiratory system in seniors. Even passive smoking harms the lungs and damages the respiratory system. Regardless of how long you have been smoking, the best time to quit is right now. Get your breath back by giving up on tobacco and nicotine today.

2. Set the right posture.

Your lungs are made up of soft tissue. With a bent and poor posture, the lungs bend as well. They’ll occupy as much room as your posture allows. Stay mindful of your posture and try to sit as straight as possible. This ensures that the lungs are unobstructed, and you can breathe much easier with this simple step.

3. Add exercise to your daily routine.

Exercising is great for all ages. Seniors can still benefit from it to improve their cardiovascular and respiratory health. Exercise also prevents muscle atrophy around the chest, which helps the lungs to open up freely. You can also incorporate deep breathing exercises in your daily workout to ensure better lung health. If you’re not sure what exercises are safe for you, please consult with your doctor.

4. Get screened and checked routinely.

Going for routine checkups should be on the priority list. Don’t miss your doctor’s appointment under any circumstances. It is better to get screened and checked routinely so the doctor can catch any sort of medical anomaly early on. Early detection of medical conditions can save your life and finances from a huge loss.

A picture containing person, person, indoor

Description automatically generated

Conclusion

Depending on your physical capabilities, taking care of your respiratory health as a senior can be difficult alone. Let the trained and experienced professionals take care of you. That is what we are here for. Home Instead Senior Care provides compassionate in-home care services which includes personal care, light housekeeping, meal prepping, grocery shopping, transportation, and much more. Learn more about how we can help by visiting our website. Get in touch with us by calling (910) 421-2574 to avail our services.

The Perks of Reliable Senior Transportation

As we age, more and more actions we take for granted become noticeably more difficult to perform. Naturally, with the degradation of eyesight, hearing, and more, leaving a senior citizen to transport themselves for errands and appointments can be a risk to their safety.

In response to this growing concern comes senior transportation providers. The service, much as the title implies, involves having a trusted professional take your senior to their crucial appointments. Understandably, many are a little averse initially to leaving their family or loved one in the hands of a stranger. Fortunately, relying on the service comes with a number of benefits for both you and your loved one! Read on for a few of the most noticeable perks that come with seeking out trustworthy senior transportation.

Independence

As much as you’d like to open yourself up to your senior at all times, you have responsibilities and a life of your own to maintain. As a result, a senior who has lost their ability to transport themselves can quickly come to feel cooped up and trapped in their home or living quarters. With a transportation service however, a professional is made available at all hours to accommodate your loved one’s needs. By opening up this avenue, you allow you senior the ability to feel a renewed sense of freedom, one that will do wonders for their mental health.

Rest for Family Caregivers

In the case of a senior citizen who has lost the ability to transport themselves, responsibilities often fall on the family to pick up where their loved one cannot. Naturally, having to balance this with things like their own work and errands can make rest a fool’s dream. Being able to rely on a professional for transportation, even if only part time, can give family that much needed time R & R they’ve been missing.

Improved Emotional Health

You’d be surprised to hear just how much of your mental health is tied to your ability to perform hobbies outside and breathe in the fresh air. Naturally, the same goes for your senior citizen. A senior transportation service can afford your loved one the ability to indulge in their hobbies, visit friends, and do more that stands to perform miracles for their mental and even physical health!

Conclusion

Don’t trick yourself into thinking you’re the only one responsible for caring for your loved one. Work with a team and reap the benefits a proven service can bring you and those you care for!