Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Helping Your Senior Enjoy a Safe and Spooky Halloween

Halloween is a festive time, but it can also be nerve-wracking for an elderly loved one who lives alone. Your senior may be nervous about having groups of strangers appear at their door and notice that they’re by themselves. There’s also a risk of falls as the elderly individual rushes to get a bowl of candy to hand out to eager trick-or-treaters. To help an elderly loved one stay safe as they enjoy the holiday, keep these tips in mind:

Ask a friend, relative, or neighbor for help

Seniors who want to participate in the trick-or-treating fun but need some assistance can ask a friend, relative, or neighbor for help. This person can assist with purchasing candy and answering the door. Your senior will still get to enjoy all of the costumes, but won’t have to worry about rushing back and forth when the doorbell rings.

Enjoy the day somewhere else

Home care professionals advise seniors who don’t feel up to greeting trick-or-treaters to spend the evening with someone else. This way an elderly individual can take in the creative costumes without having to deal with the responsibility.

Don’t invite unknown trick-or-treaters in

If someone asks to come in and use the bathroom or get a drink, a senior should politely decline. They can explain that they have company and that now is not a good time, then suggest that the trick-or-treater visit another home where there are multiple adults. Your elderly loved one shouldn’t worry about being rude to those who visit their house; safety is always the top priority.

Don’t just keep the house dark

If your senior doesn’t want to answer the door for trick-or-treaters, discourage them from just turning off all of the lights in their home. Senior care professionals explain that this can make the house a target for thieves or vandals. Instead they can switch off the porch light to indicate that candy is not available, or they can simply choose not to answer the door.

While Halloween is a festive time, it’s important that an elderly individual knows how to stay safe as they enjoy the candy, costumes, and fun. Before October 31st rolls around, make sure your elderly loved one has everything they need to safely enjoy the celebration.

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

How to Keep Your Senior Feeling Connected to Their Community

Seniors who no longer have to worry about raising a family and building a career are able to shift their focus to developing friendships and exploring their hobbies. When your elderly loved one gets invested in their community, they feel a sense of purpose and enjoy a rich life. There are a number of different ways to do this, depending on your senior’s needs and passions. Some popular options include:

Taking a class: Whether it’s painting, cooking, or tai chi, many community centers, adult education facilities, and local colleges offer inexpensive chances to learn a new skill. Seniors can try something entirely new or focus on developing a hobby further. These classes allow the elderly individual to keep their mind engaged while meeting other people.

Joining a religious group: Many seniors find comfort in participating in their local church or temple. Sharing faith with others can help your elderly loved one feel like part of a community. Senior care professionals in Asheville note that many religious organizations offer retreats and opportunities that are designed specifically for elderly individuals. If your elderly loved one enjoys music, they may also find that participating in the choir at their house of worship is the perfect way to spend their free time.

Volunteering: There are plenty of worthy charities that are looking for help from vibrant, compassionate seniors. They can tutor children, teach music in schools, volunteer at a hospital, or serve in food banks. Home care professionals explain that volunteer work will give your elderly loved one a sense of purpose, and can put them in contact with other like-minded volunteers.

Adopting a pet or plant: Depending on the elderly individual’s energy level, adopting a pet or a plant may be good for senior health. Caring for something or someone else gives your senior a sense of purpose, and adds a new level of excitement to their life. It’s also been well documented that humans form strong emotional connections with animals, which can help to ward off loneliness.

There are plenty of ways for seniors to get involved in their community and enjoy meaningful social interaction with others. Take some time to analyze your elderly loved one’s interest and activity levels, and then encourage them to participate in community groups where they can meet people like them.

Thursday, October 10, 2013

How to Help Your Senior Overcome Communication Issues as a Result of Illness

Families of seniors with certain illnesses may find that their elderly loved ones are not able to hear or speak as clearly as they once did as a result of the disease. Fortunately, with proper medical attention and assistance from family members and friends, it is possible for these elderly individuals to start to regain their ability to communicate with others. Some of the diseases that are most commonly linked with communication problems include:

Stroke related aphasia

Aphasia is a condition that inhibits a senior’s ability to use and understand language. It’s frequently caused by stroke, and many elderly individuals are able to partially recover from the condition. Speech therapy is a useful tool for helping a senior to get their communication skills back on track. Another unique therapy option is called melodic intonation therapy, which is when patients sing words and phrases that they aren’t able to speak.

Hearing loss

The National Institute of Health estimates that one in three people over 60 experience hearing issues, and that this number jumps to 50 percent of people over 80. If left untreated, hearing loss can cause an elderly individual to feel depressed and isolated. This is why it’s especially important for seniors and their loved ones to pay attention to early signs of hearing loss. Some of the indicators that a person is losing their hearing include:

  • Listening to the television or radio at particularly loud volumes
  • Asking people to repeat themselves
  • Avoiding social interactions

If it appears as if your elderly loved one may be experiencing hearing loss, senior care professionals advise scheduling a doctor’s visit as soon as possible.

Multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (known as MS) can impact an elderly individual’s ability to speak and understand others. Many people with MS struggle with issues involving their swallowing reflex, which is part of the reason behind the difficulty with speech. Home care professionals encourage loved ones of seniors with MS to keep an eye out for speech problems, as some elderly individuals with MS are unaware that they are not speaking as clearly as they once did.

While these communication difficulties are challenging for elderly individuals and their families, proper medical care and therapies can help to lessen the impact of the communication issues that often accompany these conditions.

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

What You Need to Know About Breast Cancer and Your Elderly Loved One

Knowing the facts about breast cancer is an essential part of understanding senior health. While women of all ages are vulnerable to breast cancer, elderly individuals are particularly at risk. In fact, an article asserts that 80 percent of all breast cancer occurs in women over 50, and 60 percent is found in women over 65. A woman’s odds of contracting breast cancer in her 30s is 1 in 233, but this jumps to one in eight when a woman reaches her 80s. For this reason, families and their elderly loved ones should have a good understanding about breast cancer, including effective treatments and the necessity behind regular screenings.

Once an elderly patient is diagnosed with cancer, doctors will work to come up with a comprehensive treatment plan to prevent the disease from spreading. The treatment regimen will vary depending on the stage of the cancer and the number of malignant cells. The four major treatment options that are most commonly used include:

  • Surgery
  • Radiation therapy
  • Chemotherapy
  • Hormone therapy

Fortunately, early detection and regular screenings can work to ensure that the patient learns about their cancer right away, thus allowing them to start on the right course of treatment as soon as possible. However, regular screenings can become a challenge for an elderly individual who may have limited mobility. In this case, families of elderly loved ones should consider hiring an eldercare professional who can help make sure that the senior gets to their appointments without a problem. They can also lend a hand when it comes to getting any necessary medications. Senior care professionals become an important partner for that elderly individual and their family, ensuring that medical needs are met and that the senior is able to be proactive about their health.

While senior care professionals can prove tremendously helpful for a family and their elderly loved one, family members have to continue to take an active role in protecting their senior’s health. In the event that the patient does receive a cancer diagnosis, the family should sit down for a meeting with the doctors who will be providing treatment. They should carefully go over the treatment plan, and be sure that the necessary steps are being taken to get that elderly individual well once again.