Choosing Homecare
One of the most difficult decisions adult children make when caring for aging parents is where to turn for in-home care. The myriad of choices can be overwhelming. Essentially, there are three choices: private hire, Domestic Referral Agencies and full service companies. With a PRIVATE HIRE CAREGIVER, the family or older adult becomes responsible for all steps of the hiring process. They must advertise, interview, and conduct background checks. Once a caregiver is selected, the older adult or family member must negotiate schedule, salary and benefits. A written contract, signed by...
Read MoreImproving Senior Sleep Patterns.
High quality sleep of adequate quantity is a central lynchpin of senior health. Many seniors have one or more of these sleep problems: trouble falling and staying asleep, waking up extremely early, not feeling rested when waking up, falling asleep during the day, wanting to go to bed very early in the evening, craving multiple naps during the day. Lack of sleep can cause falls and other accidents due to drowsiness, poor concentration, and inability to focus. Worse still, undiagnosed sleep disorders such as breathing trouble and sleep apnea have been connected to hypertension, pulmonary...
Read MoreSeniors & Medicine Safety.
Two-thirds of all seniors take at least one medication each day, and 25 percent take three or more. Many seniors owe their lives—or at least their quality of life—to medications. Of course, medicine doesn’t work if patients don’t take it. Researchers have found that getting older adults to take their medicine is a difficult task—even in those with life-threatening conditions. A new study shows it is almost hopeless to get seniors to take the medicines their doctors prescribe, let alone to follow directions for long periods. “Simple things don’t work and nothing works very...
Read MoreAfter A Parkinson’s Diagnosis.
According to Parkinson Society Canada, there are nearly 100,000 Canadians living with Parkinson’s disease. If your elderly loved one has recently been diagnosed with the condition, he or she can continue to live a happy and healthy life with the right support. Here are a few tips to keep in mind. CONSIDER LONG-TERM CARE The rate at which Parkinson’s disease progresses can vary from person to person, and the uncertainty of what to expect can cause a great deal of worry for both seniors and their family caregivers. Sit down with your loved one as soon as possible after the diagnosis to...
Read MoreClose Friendships are Vital
Bonds of friendship are often formed when we are young, and many of these bonds continue to stay strong well into the golden years. It’s important for your senior loved one to stay socially active, whether it’s through maintaining longstanding friendships or building brand new relationships. That’s because the more social connections a senior has, the healthier and happier they generally are! WHY DO SENIORS BECOME SOCIALLY ISOLATED? Older adults who retire or move in with their families may have fewer opportunities to engage with other seniors. Limited mobility and various other health...
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