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Is Retirement Taking a Toll on Your Elderly Loved One?

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Home Care in Mooresville NC: Is Retirement Taking a Toll on Your Elderly Loved One?

Believe it or not, retirement can be something your loved one might dread or even find that she doesn’t enjoy. You might notice that your loved one is experiencing signs of depression or she’s having other difficulties.

Retirement Isn’t Always a Vacation

For some elderly loved ones, retiring is actually less of a vacation than it is a chore all on its own. Your loved one might have a difficult time with the change from being active and working to suddenly not being in that position any longer. Your loved one may simply need a little more time to adjust or she may need some other solutions.

Your Loved One Might Continue to Have Difficulty

After a reasonable amount of time, your loved one may still be having trouble. The first step in figuring out the difficulty is to determine what in particular is causing the problem for your loved one. Start out by talking to your loved one about what she might want or need to improve the situation for her. She may want to feel as if she’s performing a useful function, for instance, so volunteering might be helpful.

Her Social Life May Have Been at Work

It’s not unusual for a lot of people of various ages to find most of their social engagement revolves around work. When you’re around people for that many hours a day, you might tend to spend time outside work with them, too. If that’s the case for your loved one, she may have lost touch with a vast portion of her social network when she retired. One solution could be to hire home care providers, especially if you’re not able to be with your loved one during the day.

She May Have Trouble Finding Other Interests

When work is a big part of someone’s life, they can have a tough time finding hobbies or other interests when they suddenly have more time on their hands. Help your loved one find something she enjoys to take up her time and attention. She might enjoy taking a class or starting a garden. Encourage her to follow her interests.

Remember to continue to talk to your loved one about how she’s feeling and whether the solutions you put into place help her.

If you or an aging loved one are considering in home care in Mooresville, NC, please call the professional staff at Caring at Heart today at (704) 379-7510. Serving Charlotte, Statesville, Ballantyne, Mooresville, Huntersville, Matthews, Concord, Gastonia, Pineville and Indian Trail

 

Tips for Communicating with a Senior Suffering from Aphasia

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Elderly Care in Statesville NC: Tips for Communicating with a Senior Suffering from Aphasia

More than 2 million people throughout the United States are currently living with a language disorder known as aphasia, but surveys show that less than 9 percent of people have actually heard of this condition and know what it is. As a family caregiver this can mean that you are confused by the presence of this condition and do not know how to give your loved one the care that they need to manage it properly and preserve their quality of life. Aphasia is a condition that is characterized by difficulty with spoken, written, or heard language. Your loved one might have trouble with just one of these categories or a combination of the depending on the area of the brain that is impacted by the damage, and the severity of that damage. In your role as their caregiver it is important to recognize that this condition does not mean that your parent is suffering from cognitive decline, intellectual problems, or mental illness. Your primary focus should be learning ways to maintain your communication with them and empower them to keep expressing themselves in accessible ways.

 

Use these tips to help you communicate with an elderly adult who is suffering from aphasia:

  • Speak in a normal rhythm and pace. Speaking too fast or too slowly, or over-enunciating words can actually make them more difficult for your parent to understand effectively.
  • Speak in a simpler sentence structure so that your parent can more readily understand what you are saying to them one sentence at a time rather than trying to decipher a more complex set of messages or instructions.
  • Be patient and give your loved one plenty of time to express what they want to say. Rushing them or seeming impatient can frustrate and upset them, making it even more difficult for them to speak.
  • Encourage alternative forms of communication, such as through drawings, gestures, or written messages.
  • Forget about perfection and resist the urge to correct your parent. If you can understand what they are saying, even if it is not entirely correct, that is really all that matters.
  • Continue to engage with them in normal ways, including spending time with them, having conversations, and encouraging them to socialize.

 

Starting elderly care for your aging parent can be one of the best decisions that you can make for them throughout the course of your caregiver journey with them. An elderly home care services provider can be with your senior on a customized schedule that ensures that no matter the type of care that is right for them, they will get what they need when they need it. This ensures that they are able to receive all of the care, support, and assistance that is right for them while also keeping you at the forefront of their care routine. There is a misconception that elderly care is only appropriate for those seniors who are very “old” or who have extensive needs. This is not the case. Instead, even seniors who are dealing with mild to moderate needs can also gain tremendous benefits from this type of highly personalized care, helping the to manage their needs, take care of their activities of daily living, and maintain a more active, engaged, and fulfilling quality of life as they age in place.

If you or an aging loved one are considering elderly care in Statesville, NC, please call the professional staff at Caring at Heart today at (704) 379-7510. Serving Charlotte, Statesville, Ballantyne, Mooresville, Huntersville, Matthews, Concord, Gastonia, Pineville and Indian Trail

 

Sources:  http://www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/Aphasia/

Checking In on Your Senior to Ensure They are Safe from the Heat

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Elder Care in Indian Trail NC: Checking In on Your Senior to Ensure They are Safe from the Heat

As a family caregiver, making sure that your parent is safe and healthy is one of your most important priorities. It is vital that you recognize that this changes throughout the year, requiring that you take steps to protect them no matter what issues arise. When the summer months come along, this means protecting your senior from the heat. There are many ways that you can do this, but one of the most important is simply checking in on them regularly.

Simply because your elderly parent is getting older does not mean that they necessarily need care at all times. They may still be able to live largely independently with only occasional care and support. When the temperatures soar, however, additional care can help your loved one stay safer and healthier by helping to prevent heat-related illnesses and injuries such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

Before a heat wave heats, make sure that your parent’s home is properly equipped with cooling equipment and weatherproofing. This will help to keep their environment cooler and healthier. When checking in on them, ensure that their climate control system is working properly and is kept at an adequate temperature. You should also ensure that they have access to plenty of cold water and cool foods that will help them to stay hydrated and keep their body temperature down. If you notice that their home is too hot or that they are showing signs of diminished health, such as clammy skin, fatigue, or increased heartrate, get them out of the home and to somewhere cooler as quickly as possible.

Starting elder care for your aging parent can be one of the best decisions that you can make for them in the course of your caregiver journey with them. An elderly home care services provider can be with your senior on the schedule that is right for them to provide a highly personalized set of services tailored toward addressing their individual challenges and limitations, as well as helping them to live a lifestyle that is active, engaged, independent, and fulfilling as possible as they age in place. Knowing that your senior has this type of support can also be a tremendous source of peace of mind for you as their family caregiver. Even when you are not able to be with them, you can rest assured that they will have the care, support, and assistance that they need to stay safe and healthy. When it comes to protecting your elderly parent from the heat, an elder care provider can be a valuable source of support, monitoring, and personalized services to help them stay cool, stay hydrated, and stay safe. Even if your aging parent does not need care on a regular basis during other times of the year, or only needs moderate care, increasing the amount of time that an elderly home care services provider is with your parent can help to keep the safer and healthier during hot months. This can include checking in on your parent for a couple of hours each afternoon to make sure that they are doing well.

 

If you or an aging loved one are considering elder care in Indian Trail, NC, please call the professional staff at Caring at Heart today at (704) 379-7510. Serving Charlotte, Statesville, Ballantyne, Mooresville, Huntersville, Matthews, Concord, Gastonia, Pineville and Indian Trail

Summer Safety for your Aging Parent

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Caregiver in Waxhaw NC: Summer Safety for your Aging Parent

There is an excitement in the air. The days are growing longer and warmer, the once bare trees are filled with blossoms and leaves, and the brown fields and hills are nearing an emerald green. As a family caregiver, you may be taking note about all the outdoor activities you and your aging parent can do together. These types of activities can certainly add a tremendous boost to older parents that have an increasing tendency to stay indoors. There are just a few precautions to be aware of as the weather warms.

Water

As people age, their body loses its capacity to conserve water. The elderly can also become less sensitive to their own thirst. As a caregiver, be sure to keep a glass of water by your parent’s side and, if you go out to enjoy outdoor activities, always bring a bottle of water to help them, and yourself, stay hydrated.

Temperature

Adjusting to varying temperatures—for instance going from an air conditioned room to the sweltering summer sun—can prove more difficult for an aging body, resulting in dizziness and confusion. Certain medications and chronic diseases disable the body from adapting to changing temperatures. To help this process, remain stationary with your parent after switching temperature extremes.

If you know your parent goes on walks or gardens during certain days, be sure, as their caregiver, to check in with them at the end of the day and recommend late afternoons or early mornings for outdoor activities. Suggest cotton or natural clothing material as compared to synthetic and make sure they have loose fitting clothes to wear out in the noon-day sun, should they choose to go there.

Eyes and Skin

Sun damage can occur to all eyes, but particularly the elderly’s. Check their sunglasses to make sure they protect against UV rays. Get a wide-brimmed summer hat that will offer shade and a new bottle of sunscreen to ensure that it is at its peak performance.

Caregiver Awareness

Knowing the signs of hyperthermia will help you feel secure that you can get the appropriate help for your parent should playing in the sun result in over-heating. Symptoms include muscle cramps, fatigue, dizziness, headache, nausea, vomiting, weakness and dry flushed skin. If you notice these symptoms, get immediate medical care for your loved one. Heat stroke is the stage after hyperthermia and is life threatening.

Exercise

As the temperature spikes, your parent will not be able to exercise outdoors. Check out the local senior community center that offers a wealth of activities and classes as well as shared meals and social events. It’s a great place for seniors to exercise as well as engage. And make sure that you, as a family caregiver, are taking the time to take care of yourself. That includes taking time for the activities that you love, eating well and daily exercise. If you need help caring for your loved one, consider obtaining the services of a home care provider who can care for your loved one while you are caring for yourself.

If you or an aging loved one are considering caregiver services in Waxhaw, NC, please call the professional staff at Caring at Heart today at (704) 379-7510. Serving Charlotte, Statesville, Ballantyne, Mooresville, Huntersville, Matthews, Concord, Gastonia, Pineville and Indian Trail

Can Weather Really Cause Arthritis Pain?

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Senior Care in Concord NC: Can Weather Really Cause Arthritis Pain?

Senior Care in Concord NC: Can Weather Really Cause Arthritis Pain?

Does your aging loved one complain that their arthritis is worse when it is cold outside? Or do they tell you it is going to rain long before it does?

If so, you and your senior care aide might be wondering if the symptoms you observe are really related to the weather. It seems impossible that the temperature and air outside could affect something inside someone’s body, but studies have proven that there is truly a link between them. Here are a few interesting facts about this phenomenon, so that next time your mother tells you to pack an umbrella when it is sunny outside, you’ll do it!

Joints start hurting before it rains
Some people say that rain makes arthritis flare up, but this isn’t exactly the case. The rain and the dampness in the air are definitely a factor, but more likely than not, it is the changes in barometric pressure that cause joint pain. Barometric pressure is the weight and thickness of air, and as that drops, it allows the tissues inside our bodies to expand. This expansion causes aches and pain in the joints, causing arthritis pain.

Arthritis sufferers are like astronauts
The phenomenon described above can be likened to the physical changes the pilots and astronauts experience when they go up into the atmosphere on a regular basis. Just as your feet may swell when you are on an airplane, some people’s tissue expands even here on Earth when the pressure of the air around them changes. Whereas most of us wouldn’t notice anything different, an arthritis sufferer is very aware of these changes, due to their already sensitive joints and nerves.

Don’t sell your house and move to Arizona
If your loved one has constant arthritis pain due to the damp or cold region you live in, you might think that it would be best to just pack up all your things and head for a dry, arid, warm state like Arizona or Nevada. While this is not a terrible idea… there isn’t much proof that it will help either. If your arthritis is bad, it will follow you no matter where you go. So if you do move to some place with more stable and dry weather conditions, don’t expect the arthritis pain to go away, as the joints will always be very sensitive to changes in the air or atmosphere. Even a tiny drop in temperature of change in air pressure would be noticeable, so don’t change your whole life in an attempt to escape the arthritis.

There are ways to feel better, though
Increasing medications when bad weather is coming can help the senior to better ride out the storm of arthritis pain. Dressing warmly helps as well, because it better protects the bones and joints from getting a chill. Staying active and keeping a good attitude have also both been shown to lessen the pain associated with arthritis, even when the weather is working against you.
So, the next time your aging loved one tells you or their senior care aide that they can feel a big storm coming on, believe them. And use some of these tips to help them to feel better until the bad weather passes.

If you or an aging loved one are considering senior care in Concord, NC, please call the professional staff at Caring at Heart today at (704) 379-7510. Serving Charlotte, Statesville, Ballantyne, Mooresville, Huntersville, Matthews, Concord, Gastonia, Pineville and Indian Trail

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