Many people will be traveling for the holidays. While this can be an exciting time of year, some seniors may become overwhelmed at the thought of having to travel. To make this easier, the following list contains some travel tips for seniors who will be traveling over the holidays. These tips will ensure safety and will help seniors have an enjoyable trip.
1. Always plan as far ahead as possible. This will help get better prices on airfare, hotels and other expenses. In addition, be sure to ask for senior discounts. If possible, travel during the week. The rates are much lower.
2. Some seniors will prefer to drive to their destination, even if it will be a long trip. Try adding to the overall experience by taking a plane, bus or train instead of driving Allow a little extra time so you can enjoy your own mini vacation. No matter how you will be traveling, make sure to stand often and stretch. This will help reduce swelling in the legs.
3. If going to another country, avoid looking like a tourist. Be sure to become familiar with the language. Study a map while in your hotel room so you will know where you are going ahead of time.
4. Be sure to get travel insurance. This will be beneficial to seniors.
5. Make sure to bring all medications. In addition, pack a first aid kit. Keeping medications with this kit is a good idea so everything is in one place.
Home Instead Senior Care in Rhode Island provides non medical home care services for seniorsand the elderly who choose to live at home instead. Please call us for more information on our in-home care services at 401-667-2923.
With the growing concern of Alzheimer’s disease in America, it is understandable that American citizens are concerned about their strength in memory. Factors such as age, multi-tasking, and distraction can affect one’s memory and how it works. Although people should not worry about minor relapses, it is important to pay attention to the significant signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s and your memory. Alzheimer’s is a degenerative disease that begins in the hippocampus, which is responsible for short term memory.
Below are different types of memory:
• Working Memory – this type of memory is often referred to things that you can hold in your short term memory for later retrieval. Working memory is located in the frontal lobe of the human brain. An example of working memory is memorizing a phone number.
• Short-Term Memory – Short term memory is thought to be located in the hippocampus, and is often associated with the first symptom of Alzheimer’s. These memories are things that people remember for a couple minutes up to a few weeks. For example, your hotel room number or a character’s name in a novel.
• Long Term Memory – Long term memory are things that you can recall and retrieve for the longest period of time. Things like your birth date or your favourite grade school teacher are examples of long term memory. The location of the brain that long term memory is stored in is unknown.
Home Instead Senior Care in Rhode Island provides non medical home care services for seniorsand the elderly who choose to live at home instead. Please call us for more information on our in-home care services at 401-667-2923.
Depression often affects older men, especially those over the age of 40. We will all experience depression at some point in our lives. It is important to treat the condition as soon as possible. In men, it can lead to other actions and even health conditions that can be negative. Below is some information about depression and how it affects men.
1. Many men will deny that they are depressed. This is often due to the fact that men feel they must be strong, and depression would be a sign of weakness.
2. Male depression is a serious disease. More than 80% of suicides are men. Many of these men were suffering from depression.
3. Between 60 and 80% of men who are depressed will never seek any form of treatment.
4. Those who do seek help find they have some relief from their symptoms.
5. Depressed males are more likely to act out their feelings. Women tend to keep these inside, but depressed men may become violent as a result of their condition.
6. Men feel there are others to blame for their depression. They will also begin to sleep less and become agitated.
Home Instead Senior Care in Rhode Island provides non medical home care services for seniorsand the elderly who choose to live at home instead. Please call us for more information on our in-home care services at 401-667-2923.
Seniors who wish to remain in their homes for as long as possible must make sure that they are safe. This may require the installation of a technological system that can help to ensure the safety of the senior. This will provide peace of mind for caregivers and family members. Below is a list that provides some useful information on a system that ensures the safety and well-being of the senior at home.
1. Caregiver Systems consist of touch screen monitors and wireless sensors that are placed in various locations in the home. The sensors will monitor health indicators, such as blood pressure, weight, motion and activity.
2. The system also acts as a communication system, allowing users, such as caregivers, to go online and send messages and reminders to the seniors at home. These messages will appear on the touch screens.
3. The system has one touch access that is easy for seniors to use. This will allow them to access games, family photos and appointment reminders.
4. The system also has a personal emergency response system, also called PERS. This system provides 24/7 monitoring of the senior and can call for medical response if necessary.
5. These technological advances allow seniors to stay at home longer. There is less worry from friends and family members regarding the safety and well-being of the senior while they remain in their home.
Home Instead Senior Care in Rhode Island provides non medical home care services for seniorsand the elderly who choose to live at home instead. Please call us for more information on our in-home care services at 401-667-2923
Helping Seniors De-clutter their Lives with a Caregiver
Caregivers play such an essential role for seniors, and they can make a big difference in a senior’s well-being. This critical role is why caregivers need to be careful when helping seniors make their homes safe and clutter free. For many seniors stuff represents memories and control; not just the objects the rest of the world might see them as. Caregivers can help seniors get their homes clutter-free for safety, and also help them separate memories from the objects.
1. Start small – instead of getting frustrated about a senior’s unwillingness to let go of certain items; praise and be happy for some small purges. Even if all you’ve managed to do is go through old mail cluttering the kitchen counter, it’s a victory that should be rewarded!
2. Take baby steps – like starting small, taking baby steps can allow seniors to see how they feel when a few things have been given away. If they have too large of a collection of old clothing, donate just a few pieces. After a few weeks have past, find out how the senior feels. They’re likely to discover that the parting wasn’t as bad as they thought
3. Let them take control – the accumulation of clutter can be about control; whether it’s controlling memories of the past they feel they’ve lost, or simply remaining in control of certain aspects of their life at a time when there’s so much change. Allow them to decide how to get rid of things and which items to start with first. If they refuse overtime, tell them that if they don’t take control then you or someone else will have to
Home Instead Senior Care in Rhode Island provides non medical home care services for seniorsand the elderly who choose to live at home instead. Please call us for more information on our in-home care services at 401-667-2923.
One of the hardest aspects to daily life can be maintaining a healthy diet. For seniors, that can be especially true when convenience and simplicity come before healthy food options. However, keeping hearts healthy does not have to be a chore. Here is a simple list of foods seniors can say no to for the benefit of their hearts.
• At The Restaurant—Sometimes when seniors go out to eat, those heart healthy diets fly out the window. Seniors should avoid restaurants with all you can eat buffets, as you are more likely to eat more food, which leads to more calories. Seniors should also resist ordering appetizers, cocktails, and sides with cheese, sour cream and mayonnaise. Asking for dressings and sauces on the side is a great way to control the quantity you consume.
• At The Drive In Window—Fast food can be easy and quick for seniors, but it is not always healthy. Avoid the unhealthy sides of fries and go with healthier options like fruit. Also seniors should pass on any value or super size.
• At The Supermarket—Seniors should stay away from fruit juices as they do not provide the fiber of whole fruit. In the dairy case, do not grab butter, ice cream and cream as they tend to have more saturated fats than whole milk. Seniors should also be weary of baked goods and desserts loaded with saturated and hydrogenated fats. The same goes for snacks. Fried chips should be replaced with vegetables or baked alternatives.
Home Instead Senior Care in Rhode Island provides non medical home care services for seniorsand the elderly who choose to live at home instead. Please call us for more information on our in-home care services at 401-667-2923.
Seniors Benefit from Accepting their Physical Appearance
Being physically attractive and appealing is a desire for millions of people. In fact, some seniors are still caught up in issues of vanity. These individuals should realize that looking good does not bring health and happiness. These two things should be the priority for most seniors. To learn to love and accept your body, some of the tips below can be helpful.
1. Everybody wants to be a supermodel, but for most seniors, this will never be a dream that comes true. To overcome this, seniors need to learn how to love their body. This is done by noting the positive and not dwelling on the negative.
2. Keep in mind that being different from another person is what makes us all unique. If everyone were a model and had perfect features, there would be no personal satisfaction or gain when a goal is reached.
3. Losing weight may help get your body trim again, but it is not the most important thing in life. Never compromise general health for vanity.
4. Looking good comes from feeling good. If you are comfortable with the person you are on the inside, chances are you will have a better chance of accepting the physical aspects as well.
Home Instead Senior Care in Rhode Island provides non medical home care services for seniorsand the elderly who choose to live at home instead. Please call us for more information on our in-home care services at 401-667-2923
Art has proven benefits to the overall health and well-being of Rhode Island seniors, and although some experts claim that the optimal benefits only come when art activities are directed by trained professionals; these tips can help you as a caregiver lead your loved one through creative activities that will benefit his/her life.
1. Choose activities suitable to the senior’s level of mobility – although skill really doesn’t play a role in the benefits of artistic expression and seniors, you don’t want to make the experience frustrating for them. Keep a senior’s physical abilities in mind when choosing an activity.
2. Make activities challenging – age doesn’t mean seniors are less capable of creation. Don’t choose activities that are too simple, like those you’d give to a child.
3. Create a quiet environment – to receive the best possible benefits from a creative activity, seniors need a quiet environment where they can simply focus on creating. An area free from distraction will help set the tone for the creative process
4. Think about long-term projects – a quick craft that can be finished in a couple of hours won’t have the same benefits as one that extends over a period of time. Choosing an activity that seniors can think about and go back to day after day will really get the creative juices flowing
5. Work together – remember, even if you’re working on an art project together, don’t take over and don’t try to lead; it’s not about the end result of the creation, it’s about the journey along the way
Home Instead Senior Care in Rhode Island provides non medical home care services for seniorsand the elderly who choose to live at home instead. Please call us for more information on our in-home care services at 401-667-2923.
Nearly half the population living in the suburban areas throughout the US are aged 75 and older, a number that’s only growing as the baby boomers make their way through their senior years. Hanging onto the homes where they raised their families is very important for older adults, but living independently in a home can come with its challenges. Making it possible are these tips for senior suburban living:
1. Address financial restraints – consider a reverse mortgage to fund any additional financial needs of the home like maintenance, renovations, or any remaining amount on a mortgage loan
2. Make the home safe – suburban homes aren’t necessarily designed for senior living. They are often 2 stories, and are not compatible with those who need to use wheel chairs or other assistive devices. To make the home accessible and safe, install safety bars and hand-rails, improve the lighting in the home, and have ramps or other assistive devices incorporated into the home as needed
3. Get help – for older adults, keeping up with the routine maintenance of a home can be challenging, but that doesn’t need to be a reason to give it up. Hire services to clean and keep up with the yard work, or get an in-home caregiver to cook and provide basic assistance with other tasks as needed
4. Look into transportation – walking to get to shops and other areas in the suburbs may not be convenient. Seniors who don’t drive can use transportation services available, or hire a caregiver that can help them get around
Home Instead Senior Care in Rhode Island provides non medical home care services for seniorsand the elderly who choose to live at home instead. Please call us for more information on our in-home care services at 401-667-2923.
