For many, especially older adults, this can be a lonesome time of year. A reliable caregiver can provide peace of mind with regular, daily visits to your loved one. The companionship alone can provide the spark needed to keep spirits up during the holidays.

You may not be aware that your loved one can remain in the comforts of their own home while receiving expert Alzheimer’s and elderly care. Caregivers can be counted on for their reliable, high-quality in-home care. Whether your family’s needs are short or long term, in home assisted living by Senior Helpers of Lansdale is the perfect option to allow your loved one to live independently with dignity in their own home.

It can be very tempting to sign up for every activity and sport available for your family.  It is important to not overbook yourself so that you can still take the time to spend downtime together.  It’s the lazy weekends spent lounging over brunch and conversation that build memories.  Crammed schedules and rushing from commitment to commitment can be very overwhelming.  Time spent together doing nothing can be more fulfilling than attending many hectic events. 

When the summer months get cooking, it’s very easy to fall behind in water consumption and staying hydrated while performing the most basic activities.  Beyond the normal needs for in home senior care such as assistance with personal care and companionship, prevention of dehydration is very important.  Dehydration is often due partly to inadequate water intake, but can happen for a variety of other reasons such as a side effect of prescribed medications like diuretics that combat high blood pressure or depression.  It is important to have a watchful eye on an elderly loved one if they are experiencing diarrhea, excessive sweating, loss of blood and diseases such as diabetes.  When family members and friends are unable to make frequent visits to an elderly loved one, it is beneficial to have a dependable caregiver from Senior Helpers of Lansdale stop by daily to make sure they are doing okay, especially in the sweltering hot summer months.  If dehydration is not identified and treated, the consequences to your loved one’s health can be significant, including reduced or even loss of consciousness, urinary tract infections, pneumonia, rapid but weak pulse, lowered blood pressure, and possibly even death.  If rehydration is not started, the situation can become life threatening.  Having an extra set of eyes to look after your loved one when family and friends are unable can be the key to successfully living independently. 

It’s back-to-school time and there’s not better time to learn something new; and our elderly loved ones are no different.  Learning new things brings a zest for life and keeps things interesting and fresh.  When teaching a senior about something completely new to them, first assess what skills or knowledge they might already possess about the subject.  Go slow with new information and allow time for an elderly loved one to process before moving on.   After basic knowledge is established, show them parts that might interest them such as being able to socialize and stay entertained on the internet.  This will help them to put their new knowledge to use and keep using it. 

If your senior loved one is still very active in their community, they will appreciate any ability to continue living at home.  In home senior care is an option to help them maintain this lifestyle.  Some simple changes around the house can make daily activities simpler such as storing items on lower shelves for easy reach; leave a step stool at ready access, and tacking or taping down fraying carpets.  Rearranging furniture to allow for easy moving throughout the house is also helpful.  In home help from a family member is very beneficial and professional care also includes light housekeeping, meal preparation, medication reminders, as well as companionship.

For most of us, summer conjures up images of swimming pools, beaches, barbecues and camping.  The air conditioner is running daily, but it’s worth it!  Soaring temperatures may make most hearts sing, but it can be dangerous for aging seniors to spend extended periods of time in the summer heat.  It is vitally important that an elderly loved one stay cool and hydrated in the hot summer sun.

When asked, most seniors would express a strong desire to stay independent in their home for as long as physically and emotionally possible.  Depending on the symptoms a loved one is experiencing with an onset of a dementia related disease, you may need additional assistance and support from an outside source.  Many families worry that leaving a loved one alone in their home for long periods of time will be dangerous.  You may worry for your loved one’s safety but do not want to move them to a nursing home or assisted living facility to receive the care they need.  Not only is in home care more affordable when compared to a life altering move to an assisted living facility, it is also most preferred.  Your loved one will thrive in their familiar home environment doing routine activities.  This consistent living situation will be a positive experience for your loved one.

When an elderly loved one lives a long distance from you and your family, you may worry about them living alone in their home.  You may have seen signs of forgetfulness in your last visit and wonder if they are getting the proper nutrition in their meals and if they are remembering to take their medications.  There is no need to believe that a life altering move to an assisted living facility or nursing home is the only option.  With affordable in-home senior care options, it is possible to have daily visits on weekdays, weekends and holidays as needed.  This way, your loved one will not feel lonely and are less likely to feel isolated, even with family living a long distance away.

As we age, it is highly desired to live comfortably in a familiar home environment for as long as possible.  Staying in the community and remaining active are essential for a positive outlook on life and a better overall sense of wellbeing.  As our senior loved ones get older, it is can be more complicated to remain at home, but it doesn’t have to be impossible. 

If you have a loved one in your family who was recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, you may feel a bit overwhelmed with all of the care that comes with it.   Daily living will require additional assistance that wasn’t always necessary in the past.  Coping with daily hygiene tasks can be made easier with the help of a compassionate and highly trained caregiver.  Senior Helpers of Lansdale can help with Parkinsons Disease care in many ways that can help to ease the responsibilities of family caregivers.  In home senior care makes it possible for an elderly loved one coping with Parkinson’s disease to stay independent and remain in the comforts of home for as long as physically and emotionally possible. 

You don’t stop laughing because you grow old.  You grow old because you stop laughing. –Michael Pritchard--These are great words to live by.

Help your senior loved one stay young at heart with daily laughter.  Laughing goes a long way in making a senior loved one feel vibrant and connected to life.  Laughter helps them to feel better about themselves, those around them, and to share their blessings with others.

As a senior, living with diabetes can create unique challenges.  Learning to living healthfully is very beneficial to seniors, whether they are coping with diabetes or not.  Choosing to eat well balanced meals created with fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean meats is a healthy way to dine.   Be sure to watch portion sizes as excess weight can cause other health related problems.

The secret to feeling better and living longer is staying active.  Finding a workout routine that works for your aging loved one and helping them stick with it can pay big dividends.  Regular exercise helps older people stay independent and may even prevent diabetes, heart trouble, arthritis pain, anxiety and depression.  You may not see your aging loved one at the gym every day, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be conscious about their physical health.  No matter our age, it’s important to keep exercise in mind. 

The secret to feeling better and living longer is staying active.  Finding a workout routine that works for your aging loved one and helping them stick with it can pay big dividends.  Regular exercise helps older people stay independent and may even prevent diabetes, heart trouble, arthritis pain, anxiety and depression.  When it comes to our aging loved ones, the right workout is crucial.  You don’t want to push too hard, but it’s important to get our loved ones moving. 

If an elderly loved one has recently been diagnosed with a dementia related disease like Alzheimer’s, it can be a bit intimidating.  Learning to cope with daily activities can be challenging; but there is evidence that keeping life as predictable as possible really helps.  Professional live in care for dementia by Senior Helpers of Lansdale can be a great option for family who do not live near their loved one.  The compassionate and trustworthy companion will keep meal times on schedule, bring your loved on appointments and keep life running smoothly.

The key to healthier and happier living starts with learning to eat more mindfully and healthfully.  Fruit is naturally delicious and sweet, so it can be easily incorporated into many meals without drawing too much attention to itself. 

There are many memory exercises that are helpful for delaying the progression of memory loss, Alzheimer’s, and other memory related diseases.  Memory games can be played on paper, through a board game, or even on a tablet or smartphone.  Many apps have memory boosting games available and most are free.

The New Year brings new resolutions like taking care of our bodies and eating better.  Learning to eat well and fuel our bodies with nutritious and healthy foods is a daily process for many who have never given eating much thought.  Many times, we feel hungry, so we reach for something that appeals to us; and if we wait until we are on the extreme of hunger, it can be especially difficult to eat something healthy.  This is where meal planning and keeping fresh food options readily available comes into play.

The month of January is usually recognized as the not only the beginning of a fresh New Year, but also the start of healthier lifestyle goals.  These new goals typically include adding more exercise to the daily routine.  It never has to be strenuous activity to be effective; even a simple walk around the neighborhood or shopping mall, gardening in the backyard, low-key bicycling, is all that is needed to get the blood flowing.  All activities for an elderly adult should be cleared by a physician for added safety.

Taking care of your senior family member at home is an important thing to do, but caregiving isn't that simple. Companionship services can surely help you take care of your loved one as part of their in-home care.

Peace of mind visits are in-home visits that are performed on a regular basis to assess your elderly loved one’s needs.  The daily or weekly visit will reassure you that your aging loved one is taking the proper medications and that they are eating nutritious meals like they should.   If needed, your elderly loved one can enjoy a freshly prepared meal and hygiene assistance, if applicable, as well as companionship and transportation help to appointments and local events.

Every year we make resolutions and why not choose to make this New Year the one focused on caring for yourself?  If we are better caring for ourselves, the better we can care for others, such as our elderly loved ones.  If you are the primary family caregiver, it’s important to realize there is no reason to feel that you can’t take time to yourself from the everyday challenges of caring for an elderly loved one.  You need to take care of yourself so that you can properly care for you elderly loved one.   This New Year, it is important to remember to balance yourself.  Take care of your soul and it will take care of you.  Then you can take proper care of others.  Taking time to refresh and recharge is vitally important when it comes to giving of your time to elderly loved ones. 

After reflection on the past twelve months, it is time to prepare for the next trip around the sun.  When the mind is ready, the body also needs to prepare.  A healthy diet filled with cleaner foods with minimal processing is sure to lead to a stronger and leaner body.  Incorporating some exercise, even moderate activity such as walking daily, will lead to a healthier life.   Feeling healthy, physically, leads to feeling better emotionally and mentally as well.

If you have discovered that your elderly loved one is a bit down during this holiday season, you might find that helping them to decorate their home with some lights and a small tree (even tabletop size can bring the festive feeling!) can be what they need to boost their mood.  This gift of help through decorating and helping your loved one can help them to get into the holiday spirit.