This year, the autumn equinox lands on Thursday, September 22, which marks the first official day of fall. Depending on where you are in the country or world, fall can look and feel different. If you are in the United States, there are a few common themes you will find throughout the country to solidify the cozy feel of fall.
Whether it is picking or decorating pumpkins, celebrating Halloween, or making your family’s famous apple pie, there are several activities that you and your loved ones can enjoy together. As you age, the ability to participate in activities changes, but this does not mean that you are no longer able to enjoy them. Modifying activities to best fit the abilities of your senior loved one can be a great way to enhance everyone’s experience.
When one door closes another door opens. There are many new opportunities that arise once you enter retirement. Seniors have a newfound freedom that gives them the chance to pursue goals that were not feasible during their younger years. They no longer worry about deadlines, work schedules and using their small amount of free time to get other tasks done. Retirement is the best time to pick up a new hobby, experience new places, and best of all, continue to learn and pursue new opportunities!
While many fruits and vegetables are available year-round, it cannot be denied that they taste best when they are in season. Therefore, the end of summer is an excellent time for late summer fruits and vegetables such as ripe peaches, delicious summer squash, ripe tomatoes, eggplants, sweet corn, and so much more. With these end-of-summer fruits and vegetables, you can make healthy snacks and recipes for your older adults.
The importance of regular exercise and physical activity is no secret. In fact, it is one of the best things you can do for your body. According to the CDC, it promotes weight management, brain health, strengthens bones and muscles, can reduce the risk of disease and improve your ability to do everyday activities.
For seniors, it can be challenging to find an exercise routine that works best for their lifestyle or limitations they may face. It is still possible for seniors to find a routine at any age to begin enjoying the many benefits that come with regular physical activity. Not sure where to start?
Computer and video games are not only fun, but they can also provide a wealth of benefits for multiple generations. While it can vary between game types, some benefits for older adults include a positive effect on cognitive health, an improvement in emotional health, and an improvement in balance while also providing a social atmosphere.
As we age, the discussion of needing more assistance in daily life becomes more frequent. While it is common for older adults to seek the help of a caregiver, it can also lead them to feel like they are losing their independence. Constantly having someone around you to help with your day-to-day life can feel overwhelming at times and can even lead some people to feel unfulfilled.
As a caregiver, whether professionally or personally, it is your responsibility to make sure that your client is taken care of. Following a routine for care can be very helpful, but it is important to be mindful of how your client feels about being taken care of. For some, it can be challenging to accept help when they have been the provider for most of their lives. Showing the seniors in your life that they are appreciated and seen can make a positive impact on their perception of accepting help from others.
In 2016, Millennials became the largest generation currently in the United States labor force. Millennials, also known as Generation Y, represent anyone born between 1981 and 1996. Over the past ten years there have been countless discussions and studies made around the work ethic and over all workplace experience for millennials.
At Senior Helpers, it is important to us that our employees feel empowered to be a part of a team where their work is not “just a job.” We believe that our work at Senior Helpers has purpose, which is also what many millennials look for in their careers. As the top national homecare organization ranked on the Best Workplaces for Millennials™ 2022, below are few of the characteristics we believe millennials value in the workplace.
Brownouts and power outages are not uncommon in Burnsville, especially during the summer when extreme weather, strong winds, and lightning can make the power go out. Whereas most outages last for a few minutes or several hours, sometimes they can linger on for days.
Caregiving is not always an easy job. Whether you are providing care for a loved one in need or as it is your professional career, much of your time is spent thinking of others. As a caregiver, putting your own needs on the backburner may seem necessary in order to provide efficient, quality care. In the long run though, putting yourself last can cause burnout, fatigue and more.
It is well known that the basic physiological needs for a human to survive are food, water, air, and shelter. According to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, the next two levels a human will need to survive are safety/security and love/belonging. Both of which require interpersonal relationships with family, friends, co-workers, etc. The ability to form and maintain healthy relationships with others can have lasting effects on your overall health.
It can be hard to tell whether your elderly loved one is showing normal signs of old age or is displaying early symptoms of Alzheimer's. While the signs of the disease can vary, common indicators include significant behavior changes, memory loss, and an increased rate of confusion. Here are 5 signs that your loved one may be progressively developing Alzheimer's disease.
Sun protection is important at any age. According to the American Academy of Dermatology Association, one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime. As you grow and age, your skin changes with you. It can become thinner, lost e elasticity and become more sensitive to the sun and other irritants.
There are many ways to protect yourself from overexposure to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation and sunburns. Below are the top three ways you can keep yourself and your loved ones protected.
Participating in activities that are beneficial to one's health offers many advantages. To have the optimum quality of life, a senior should engage in activities stimulating all aspects of their being (mind, body, and spirit). As a family caregiver, one of your responsibilities is offering personal care and encouraging the senior to participate in various interests. These health-boosting hobbies increase the senior's chances of leading a happier life. Please keep reading to learn about some activities and their benefits to seniors' health.
When caring for older adults, it is easy to lose sight of the care one should also be providing for themselves. While it takes a special person to be a care provider, they must also take care of themselves. Some self-care tips include:
Having hobbies & doing activities can help decrease stress and engage in things that you genuinely enjoy. A diagnosis of dementia or other brain related illnesses can affect what your hobbies may be. Although there are many things that change, this should not mean the end to hobbies & activities all together.
Participating in activities that your loved one enjoys can help improve their quality of life and managemange behavior changes that may come as the disease progresses. Not only is it important to keep in mind what they like to do, but what they can do, what they want to do in the moment, and what they are able to do.
As caregivers of our elderly, we are always looking for ways to enrich the lives of seniors. Pursuing fitness is a great option, as it gets the body moving and contributes to overall well-being. Swimming is one of the best exercises for anyone, either young or old. For our elderly, however, swimming can be a particularly healthful pursuit. Interestingly, swimming is an excellent activity for those with Alzheimer's.
The phrase, “Communication is key,” is top of mind for many when they are asked to reflect on their successes. Effective communication is important for a multitude of reasons. In general, communication allows for conversations to flow accurately and quickly. Poor communication can have the opposite effect, by causing frequent misunderstanding and frustration.
Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive disease that affects memory, thinking and behavior. It is a form of dementia with symptoms that grow in severity over time. The risk of Alzheimer’s disease increases with age and is most common in people over the age of 65 years old.
The symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease are commonly referred to as the 5 A’s of Alzheimer’s which include Amnesia, Apraxia, Agnosia, and Aphasia, and Anomia.
The role of a caregiver is to improve the quality of life of those you care for while helping them stay as independent as possible. Caregivers play a key role in the communities that they serve. It is an extremely rewarding career that allows you to build long-lasting and meaningful relationships with people.
Sun safety is important at every age. As warmer days approach and time spent outside increases, it is key to recognize the importance of sun safety. Many older adults grew up in a time when the benefits of sun protection were not well known or readily available. Our skin changes as we age and requires consistent protection against the sun.
In honor of Older Americans Month (OAM), Senior Helpers is highlighting a few tips to Sun Safety for Older Americans.
The uncertainty that comes with a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease (PD) can leave loved ones feeling powerless, vulnerable, or even frightened. Although you may not be experiencing the toll of the disease yourself, you are experiencing the changes that will impact your loved one firsthand. It is important to recognize that your feelings are normal, as the challenges of PD can affect all aspects of a person's life.
Your loved one may experience changes in how they move, think, interact, sleep, and express emotion as the disease progresses. They will need extra care and support as they navigate through preserving their quality of life and staying active.
A Parkinson’s disease (PD) diagnosis can come with unanswered questions. It can be challenging to decide what may be next for you and/or your loved ones. While there is no standard treatment for PD patients, there are several different options to explore.
Although there is no cure to PD, there are many treatment options to ease the symptoms associated with Parkinson’s. The most common treatments for PD can include a variety of medications prescribed by your doctor, surgical procedures, and lifestyle modifications. It is important to speak with a doctor or medical professional to determine which treatment option(s) may be best for you.
Each year, approximately 60,000 Americans are diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurogenerative disorder that is most recognized by its movement-related (“motor”) symptoms. While the cause remains largely unknown, with no cure, there are many treatment options to assist in subsidingeasing the symptoms of the disease.
It is no secret that women have been known to be the caregivers for their families and communities, but it was not until the Revolutionary War when women could be considered healthcare professionals. Today, more than three-quarters of healthcare jobs in the United States are held by women.
Women have played a key role in healthcare for centuries. March is Women’s History Month and this year’s theme is “Women Providing Healing, Promoting Hope.” In celebration of Women’s History Month, Senior Helpers is acknowledging the dedication and hard work that women have contributed to the healthcare industry. This March, we are highlighting a few trailblazing women in the history of health care.