Having a social life as a senior can be a challenge. Many of your friends and family may no longer be with you and your social circle has become smaller. You may also have some physical limitations on the things that you were once able to do. But that does not mean that you cannot have an active social life. Get to know the people who live around you. Look around. Is there someone that looks friendly that you have never spoken to? Finding new friends is a great way […] Read Full Article »
Communicating with older adults can be a challenge. They may have multiple mental and physical conditions that make it difficult for them to communicate with their loved ones. They may be faced with something that is psychological, such as dementia that makes it hard for them to care for themselves. But in the end, learning to communicate effectively with your senior can have numerous rewards. Get face to face with them. Doing this can help facilitate communication. Many times older adults will have hearing or vision loss and they may […] Read Full Article »
Caregiving can be an extremely difficult job – both physically and mentally. Having someone else depend on you for some or all of their health needs is extremely taxing to say the least. Although caregivers have to have a certain degree of compassion and genuinely love and care about the person they’re assisting, many feel unprepared for the struggles that come from caring for their loved one day in and day out. Some may even feel an overwhelming sense of grief and depression or may jeopardize their own person lives […] Read Full Article »
Many people of senior age suffer from depression or emotional distress. According to the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, depression is a leading cause in a lower quality of life experienced by senior citizens. If you have questions or concerns and would like to improve home life for your loved one, contact The Nurses Guild. They may be able to help in the five areas affected seniors struggle the most. These areas include disability, demands on caregivers, a decline in general, diminished sense of quality of life, and dementia. […] Read Full Article »
There are so many assistance programs available that specialize in the needs of senior citizens. Many seniors have worked all of their lives and are now ready to sit back, relax, and worry less. There are many resources available through the federal, state and local agencies that will help meet the needs of a fixed budget. There are also programs that are offered by nonprofit organizations that can also provide much-needed assistance. Maybe you are in a financial pickle or just need affordable healthcare options. There are many benefits programs […] Read Full Article »
“About Touch: Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a little around” Leo Buscaglia As human beings our need for touch is with us from our infancy to our older years. Sadly, for many seniors, as they age and experience more health concerns, touch is often associated with pain or at the very least, discomfort. Undergoing blood draws or other medical procedures may […] Read Full Article »
To listen fully means to pay close attention to what is being said beneath the words. You listen not only to the “music,” but to the essence of the person speaking. – Peter Senge “Mother, you’ve told me that story hundreds of time.” When a senior hears those words said in a tone of exasperation it can feel like a slap in the face, or at the very least, rejection. The story teller may feel that their memories have no value, and they themselves are unimportant. The reality may be […] Read Full Article »
All it takes is one song to bring back 1,000 memories. We each have a soundtrack to our lives. A few familiar notes, the first line of a song, and we are back in time with precious memories and emotions washing over us. For older people, the power of music has the priceless potential to improve mental, physical and emotional health. There are touching videos online that show amazing examples of the way music can break through the walls of dementia. In one, an elderly man is seen hunched over […] Read Full Article »
Just turn on the TV or radio or read the news, and you’re likely to hear horrible stories about elder abuse permeating the airwaves. As early as 1996, it was reported that nearly 450,999 adults over the age of 60 experienced abuse or neglect in a domestic situation. Then, when you factor in self-neglect, this number jumps to over 550,000. To break it down even further, 10% of study participants experienced some form of elder abuse or neglect in the prior year. One study stipulates that one in 14 cases […] Read Full Article »
As difficult as it can be to see a loved one grow older and less able to do all the things they did in their younger years, it is equally difficult to acknowledge you are unable to take care of their needs yourself. Your loved one may want desperately to remain at home. If you can help make this possible, it will be a blessing. Depending on their level of physical and emotional health, it may not be safe to them to be alone all of the time. Having the […] Read Full Article »
