Home Instead Senior Care

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Tag: elderly lifestyle

4 Tips to Avoid Caregiver Pitfalls

July 11, 2022 / / 0 Comments

Aging is a natural and inevitable development. As a person ages, their life experiences become a part of them, which makes communicating with the elderly and engaging in discussions with them an interesting matter. However, interacting with them must be done respectfully and strengthen the relationship between the two parties – seniors and caregivers. In this month’s blog, you’ll find some tips to avoid some caregiver mistakes and give your loved seniors the best care.

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Consider the Age Difference

The age difference is what dictates respect, attention to behavior and even tone of voice.

What to do: Talk to seniors in a calm, understanding, and honest manner about their needs and what you can offer them. Also, do not hesitate to seek help from a caregiver to provide further care. Especially if they suffer from a disease that prevents them from serving themselves, which is something you must fully understand and accept with open arms.

Related: learn more about how to choose the right caregiver here.

Keep Them Strong with a Healthy Diet

Keeping a healthy weight is worthwhile for seniors, so it’s important to follow the golden rule – provide them with healthy food rich in fiber and protein. In addition, if they are suffering from any disease that requires a special diet, it’s best to seek advice from a doctor or nutritionist.

Related: learn more about the healthiest diet for seniors here.

Talk With Them Regularly

Sometimes people forget that seniors get bored quickly. They might have less day-to-day interactions, so this could affect their mood or mental health.

What to do: Allocate time with seniors to have meaningful interactions. Including them in conversations and discussions can lead to better mood improvement and provide deeper connections.

Be Patient

Some elderly people may suffer from disorders that affect speech and comprehension. Memory can be affected by Alzheimer’s, so patience is one of the most important things to have. Moreover, please remember to be understanding of a senior’s medical status, as new symptoms may emerge or change.

 Related: Learn more how to cope with an Alzheimer’s patient here.

Conclusion

From having meaningful conversations to dietary changes, there are certain areas of a senior’s life that may need more attention. If you need professional and friendly caregivers in Wilmington, NC, look no further than Home Instead Senior Care. Visit our website or give us a call at (910) 421-2574 to learn more about our services.

Tips for Seniors with Respiratory Concerns

November 8, 2021 / / 0 Comments

Chronic conditions and the aging process itself leave many seniors at risk for encountering respiratory issues later in life. Infections and diseases can wreak havoc on even the healthiest immune systems, which is why seniors need to take extra care to protect themselves whenever possible. Follow along this month as we discuss some top tips for seniors and others suffering with respiratory issues or hope to prevent them.

Reduce Indoor Air Pollution

Reducing irritants in the air like pollen, fur, and dust can dramatically improve one’s ability to breathe when indoors. Whenever possible, reduce the amount of time the central heating or air conditioning is turned on and change out the filters whenever necessary. Regularly vacuum, dust, check for mold, and run an air purifier for an optimal indoor environment for your loved one.

Boost Endurance

Depending on how mobile a person is, light exercise can be a great way to boost the flow of oxygen throughout the body and tone chest muscles in and around the lungs. Sometimes boosting endurance will be in the form of resting and finding ways to conserve energy that will be needed later.

Change Your Wardrobe

Sometimes something as simple as trading in jeans for sweatpants can drastically improve how well someone can breathe comfortably. Removing tight and heavy layers from around the chest and abdomen can instantly provide a touch of lasting relief in a moment of discomfort.  

Final Thoughts

Sometimes certain respiratory concerns will require additional support and equipment that only the industry experts can adequately provide. Home care services let people flourish in the everyday life they already know and love while getting a little help to stay independent and mobile. Home Instead offers personalized care plans to lift the caregiving burden from family members and keep those strong family bonds intact. Visit our website to learn more about the areas we service and the types of care we can provide you and your family.

Is Gardening Beneficial for Seniors with Dementia?

August 2, 2021 / / 0 Comments

            As spring transitions to summer, countless people are taking advantage of gardening in their homes. Even though not everybody has a green thumb, gardening is beneficial, especially for older adults with Alzheimer’s disease. Follow below to learn why gardening is helpful for people with Alzheimer’s or related forms of Dementia.

Gardening Benefits

Gardening can improve Alzheimer’s or a similar type of Dementia without medications. Digging in the soil can reduce nervousness and fretfulness for seniors. Additionally, maintaining and planting new flowers can increase a sense of independence and boost confidence for older adults. Gardening can reduce pain and reliance on pain medications for many people. Seniors with Dementia will enhance their memory and ability to have happier days.

Gardening Essentials

As a caregiver for somebody with Alzheimer’s disease, you need to create an outdoor space that helps them enjoy time with you. Below are a few ideas to help get started and stay on track:

  1. Preparation: Preparing where to start gardening and what plants to use is vital. It will help creativity, exercise, and more. Caregivers and senior adults can choose what flowers, herbs, and vegetables to use to grow over time.
  • Garden containers and beds: Sometimes, there are moments when there is no place to plant a garden in the ground. Or, a senior who has mobility challenges may be restricted from growing flowers they want. Containers or raised beds take less space and provide a safer way to care for a garden, and it is a fun way to take care of plants.
  • Circular Gardens: A safety concern that comes up when considering people facing Alzheimer’s or a related type of Dementia is a patient wandering off, and creating a garden path that makes a circle can lower the wandering. Also, keep the senior gardens far away from exits or gates.
  • A Comfortable Seat: Gardening can be difficult, so it is crucial to have a place to rest. A comfortable bench or chair in the garden can be very beneficial.
  • Be Mindful: Sharing responsibility for a few garden tasks with a senior can help them. Being mindful that some functions may be too complex for seniors can help them not overexert themselves.

Following these helpful tips can help your loved one feel appreciated and have a healthier lifestyle. Gardening is a great way to bond with them as well.

In Summary

Finding an activity for an adult with Alzheimer’s can be difficult. Yet, one of the best things they can do to improve their health is gardening. Gardening is one of the activities done at Home Instead. At Home Instead Senior Care, we provide gardening activities for your loved one. For more information on our activities in Wilmington, NC, please call us at (910) 342-0455 or visit our website here.

Signs it’s Time to Hang up the Car Keys for Good

April 30, 2021 / / 0 Comments

Sooner or later retiring your keys and driver’s license will be the right thing to do to ensure the safety of everyone on the road. For some that time will come sooner rather than later, and determining exactly when that is can be difficult for families and aging individuals to navigate. Below we discuss three major signs that may indicate it’s time for a driver to retire their keys for good.

Declining Vision

Regular trips to the eye doctor for up to date vision tests is the best way to definitively determine if it’s safe to continue driving. Each state has their own laws regarding the age at which seniors must visit the DMV in order to keep their licenses. Most DMV locations also offer convenient vision tests and refresher courses for individuals over a certain age.

Confusion

Regularly getting lost or confused while behind the wheel is a major sign one should no longer be driving, especially if it happens in familiar locations. Regardless if the individual has experienced any other signs of memory loss or early dementia, becoming disoriented while driving should always be taken very seriously.

Property Damage

An increasing number of dents, dings, scratches and scrapes on one’s vehicle may hint at difficulties with night vision, depth perception, or delayed reflexes. Regularly assessing the vehicle for damages can help determine how often these mishaps occur and if they become more frequent.

Final Thoughts

Ensure your aging loved one can always get around comfortably and safely with professional transportation services. Home Instead Senior Care is a nationwide provider of home care and safe transportation services that help keep the rhythm of everyday life in place with rides to the hair salon, grocery store, worship services and other events. Contact us at (402) 205-8492 for more information.

Safe Indoor Exercises for Seniors

March 23, 2020 / / 0 Comments

Staying active can improve a senior’s health, even if an exercise routine is done indoors. Some elderly people may not have access to a gym or other equipment, but it’s still possible to get the necessary exercise they need to be healthy and fit. From indoor walking to stretch exercises, there are many ways for seniors to keep strong and flexible. To learn more about easy indoor exercises for the elderly, keep on reading!

Indoor Walking

Getting up to walk around the house is a still a great way to improve cardiovascular health. As long as an elderly person doesn’t have heart or lung problems, then moving about to clean and cook is definitely an option. Even a light jog from one end of the house to the other can increase joint mobility. Seniors should aim for around 20-30min of walking.

Yoga

Seniors can reduce muscle pain and increase flexibility by doing simple yoga exercises. One of the easiest ways to get a routine started is by following a video or going to a group class. It’s important to focus on main muscle groups, like the arms and legs, for at least 15-20min each day. Yoga is for everyone, so if an elderly person is at a beginner level or perhaps more advanced, they can choose which yoga poses work for them best.

Strength Training

Preventing muscle loss and promoting bone health are just some of the reasons why seniors should focus on strength training. Seniors can work on their muscles by using resistance bands and lifting weights at home. The equipment doesn’t necessarily need to be heavy, but it must provide enough force to tire out the muscles. Strength training should last between 15-30min.

Conclusion

If you need help caring for your senior’s health and wellness, then contact Home Instead Senior Care. We have our staff of friendly caretakers to assist elderly residents that want to live an independent lifestyle, while still getting the help they need. If you would like to inquire about our senior services, visit our website today!

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