September 2021 - Golden Heart Summerlin

How Senior Women Can Keep Friendships Strong As They Get Older

Posted on September 24, 2021 by Craig Bass

Senior Home Care in Summerlin NV

September is Women’s Friendship Month, which makes it the perfect time for senior women to check in with their female friends. Taking the time to keep friendships strong will mean better mental and physical health for senior women. Over time women can drift away from their female friends because of the demands of taking care of their families and working. But as they get older when their children have grown they have more time to nurture those friendships. And those senior years are when women need their friends the most. If your mother, aunt, or older sister is lonely aging at home and not quite sure how to reach out and renew some of those old friendships these tips might help her:

Use Social Media

Social media is a fantastic way to track down old friends. Often people move, change jobs, or end up in totally new areas of the country which makes it difficult to track them down. Social media is a fast and easy way to reconnect. And it gives the other person the option to either accept the friend request or ignore it so there’s no awkwardness. If the person wants to be friends they will accept and if they don’t they’ll ignore it and your senior loved one can move on.

Send A Card

A handwritten card or note is a lovely way to rekindle a friendship. If your senior loved one knows the address of an old friend and knows they are still at their home, or knows their current address, sending a cute little postcard or a handwritten note indicates that they are opening the door to friendship again. And just like with social media a cute note or card gives the other person the option to ignore it if they’re not interested so it’s not uncomfortable or awkward. A senior home care provider can help your senior loved one purchase cards or stationary and can help them mail the cards they write.

Be Honest

There’s no easy way to start a friendship again after a long time apart. But if the friendship didn’t end because of a fight and instead it just fizzled the best way to start a conversation about being friends again is to be honest with the other person. Your senior loved one should let that person know they missed the friendship and still thought about them after these all these years and want to get to know them again.

Start Slow

After an absence of many years there will probably be some hesitancy on the part of both people. It’s unlikely that even former best friends will just fall back into daily conversations or spending lots of time together. That’s ok. Start with a few phone calls each week, or a weekly lunch, and let the friendship naturally develop again. If your senior loved one can’t drive any longer a senior home care provider can help arrange transportation for lunches out or shopping excursions.

If you are considering senior home care in Summerlin, NV for an aging loved one, please contact the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care of Summerlin. 702-800-4616.

Golden Brook Open House

Posted on September 21, 2021 by Craig Bass

Christy and Bob Swadkins, the owners of Golden Heart Senior Care, are proud to announce the opening of Golden Brook Residential Care Home. Golden Brook is a 10-bed memory care home located in Henderson (in the Horizon Ridge & Stephanie Street area).

To schedule your open house time, please click https://lnkd.in/gEmpvXg or call 702-931-0055 to schedule an appointment. COVID-19 protocols will be followed during the tour.

September 2021 Employee of the Month

Posted on September 21, 2021 by Craig Bass

For the month of September, Golden Heart would like to recognize Loretta Sanders as our outstanding Caregiver of the Month! Loretta, originally from Auguste, Arkansas, took up caregiving after tending to her family members in their time of need and being inspired by that experience. Aside from her own family, Loretta tells us her family has grown through taking care of other individuals in her life and building beautiful relationships with them. Her talent is the ability to communicate with people, even those that are considered to have difficult behaviors or personalities. Something Loretta is proud of in her life is her choice to become a caregiver, and she tells us that she truly loves what she does. We love what you do too, Loretta! Golden Heart sincerely appreciates your genuine passion and natural caregiving.

Handling Aggression and Agitation in Dementia

Posted on September 17, 2021 by Craig Bass

Companion Care at Home in Las Vegas NV

Aggression and agitation are quite common in people who have dementia. There are many reasons why people with this disease get so upset. Sometimes, the cycle seems endless. For example, your elderly loved one might be restless and that causes them to be agitated. The agitation can lead to aggression. Then, the cycle continues with more irritation and agitation.

As a family caregiver, it is important to learn how to properly handle aggression and agitation in your elderly loved one.

Comforting Them

The best thing you can do if your elderly loved one is being aggressive or if they are agitated is to comfort them. Your elderly loved one needs to know that you are there for them. If your elderly loved one feels more comfortable through touch, such as a hand on their shoulder, you could do that. Other people with dementia may feel more relaxed if someone talks to them in a calm tone. This may be something you need to do for your elderly loved one. You may also need to get them companion care at home services. The companionship your elderly loved one receives can help them to feel more relaxed, too.

Don’t Show Frustration

You might be getting tired of the agitation and aggression that your elderly loved one shows. It can be difficult to hide your frustrations. However, getting frustrated with your elderly loved one is likely going to make their feelings even worse. If you feel that you are getting overly frustrated and you can’t hold it in any longer, turn to elder care providers for help. They can watch your elderly loved one while you go home or take a break.

Do Positive Activities

If your elderly loved one is getting agitated or aggressive, they may just need something positive in their daily routine. There are many positive activities that might be able to calm your elderly loved one. Some ideas that might help include having them drink a cup of tea in the morning, getting a massage, or using an essential oil diffuser. Hopefully, the positive activities can help to keep your elderly loved one calmer.

Conclusion

There are many dementia patients that get agitated and aggressive every day. If you are a family caregiver for someone with this disease, learning how to handle their emotions can keep things under control. Don’t forget that you can always get companion care at home for your elderly loved one. Having a daily companion can help to prevent some agitation and aggression for your elderly loved one in the first place.

Sources
https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/coping-agitation-and-aggression-alzheimers-disease

If you are considering companion care at home in Las Vegas, NV for an aging loved one, please contact the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care of Summerlin. 702-800-4616.

September is Pain Awareness Month

Posted on September 10, 2021 by Craig Bass

24-Hour Home Care in Henderson NV

Many people are living with chronic pain, and doctors have no idea how to treat a lot of people. Right now is the time to recognize if the senior you love has been having chronic pain. By bringing awareness to this condition, doctors may be able to learn more. Chronic pain is something that is different for everyone, which is also why it can be so hard to treat.

It involves pain that lasts weeks and sometimes years, and there are various ways to try to treat the pain. If the senior you love has severe pain that’s lasted years and gets in the way of everyday life, it may be time for 24-hour home care. These are caregivers who work around the clock to help manage a senior.

A 24-hour home care specialist may help cook, clean, bathe, and dress a senior while also doing other basic household chores. The caregivers can help drive seniors to classes, appointments, and therapy sessions if necessary. September is pain awareness month, and it may be one of the best times to consider hiring 24-hour home care for your beloved senior.

How Chronic Pain Affects Seniors

Chronic pain is something that many health care professionals will encounter. They see it mainly in people above the age of 65. This condition can decrease someone’s mobility due to the pain, increase falls, and someone may even lose the amount of sleep they used to get. It is a condition that hurts but can try to be managed.

Chronic pain can be incredibly hard to treat because many people turn to opioids. These drugs may work for a minute, but they are highly addictive, and the human body can develop a tolerance quickly. Pain is complex, and there are different levels of pain; not all medication is good for every person.

How to Treat Chronic Pain

Every senior will be different, have various pain levels, and feel comfortable trying different methods of pain management. The important thing will be to find something they are comfortable doing. A 24-hour home care assistant can help your senior try the following ways to help beat chronic pain.

Exercise

Believe it or not, exercise can help fight inflammation. Low-impact workouts might help stretch out the body, tone it, and fight pain. Remaining strong and mobile as a senior is also mentally healthy.

Stress Management

Stress may make pain worse for a senior. Find ways to help the senior de-stress in their life. This may be through mediation, yoga, or even things like tai chi. Finding a way to relax and breathe through the uncomfortableness may help with pain management.

Therapy

Not all pain is easy to get rid of and sometimes it involves a few therapy sessions too. This may be sitting down to talk to someone or even a physical therapist. Explore different options and be sure to talk to the senior doctor about it too.

Medications

Not all medication is good for a senior to take but in severe situations a doctor may prescribe something to help manage the pain. A 24-hour home care provider can help your senior parent remember when to take their medications and help follow any instructions from a doctor.

Sources
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4707527/#:~:text=Chronic%20pain%20is%20one%20of,(%E2%89%A565%20years)%20patients.&text=Pain%20is%20associated%20with%20substantial,%2C%20sleep%20impairment%2C%20and%20isolation.

https://www.webmd.com/pain-management/guide/understanding-pain-management-chronic-pain

If you are considering 24-hour home care in Henderson, NV for an aging loved one, please contact the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care of Summerlin. 702-800-4616.

How to Improve Your Diabetic Senior’s Eating Habits

Posted on September 3, 2021 by Craig Bass

Home Care Assistance in Henderson NV

One in every four seniors above the age of 65 and older have diabetes, as well as one in every 10 people 65 and under. As you can see, the numbers are extremely alarming according to the American Diabetes Association. Also, half of all older adults have pre-diabetes conditions, where the glucose level is higher than the normal range. This pre-diabetes can lead to diabetes type 2, if lifestyle and diet changes are not implemented. Often, it is reported that people are unaware and reluctant unless more serious complications occur. Home care assistance can help your loved ones to maintain a good routine and healthy lifestyle!

Complications related to diabetes:

There are other serious complications related to diabetes if not unchecked-

Risk of kidney damage
Risk for Alzheimer’s disease
Risk for heart attack or stroke
Risk of vision loss
Risk of nerve damage
Risk of severe infections
Risk of limb amputation

Diet Management:

Controlling carbohydrates: It is the most important aspect of the diet in case of diabetes, as carbohydrates are turned into glucose by the body which increases the blood glucose level. Eating a diet lower in carbohydrates by having lean protein like beans, chicken, fish, and whole grain foods slows the release of glucose into the bloodstream.
Consuming fat: A total fat free diet can lead to a low blood sugar and also can keep one hungry always. There are some necessary fats that are to be consumed on a daily basis. But trans fat and saturated fat are to be avoided.
Necessary Consumption: Lean protein like fish and chicken, good carbohydrates like lentils, sweet potatoes, peas, beans, good fats like avocado, butter, canola oil and green vegetables, leafy vegetables, rainbow fruits and vegetables like tomato, orange, grapes, apples etc. are advised regular dietary items.
Restrictions: Any type of added sugary foods and drinks like juice, lemonade, carbonated drinks, any sort of processed food or excessive milk products are dangerous in the case of diabetes.

Conclusion: Can Diabetes Change your Seniors’ Eating Habits?

One must understand that food, first and foremost, is nothing but fuel for our body to function. Having said that, it is also true that for humans, food is also a source of pleasure. There must be a balance between pleasure and fuel intake. Within limits, one can have flexibility in a daily food habit and make various choices that allow indulgence from time to time.

Home care assistance does this for your loved one. They provide dietary options for seniors to choose and keep to a healthy diet. More generally, the main aim of home care assistance is to provide a customized plan for each patient according to their needs and to ensure that how smoothly the plans can be implemented without hampering their existing routine. If you are interested in how home care assistance can help your senior and your family, give us a call today and review your options!

Source:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5509969/
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/223797950_Nutritional_challenges_in_the_elderly_with_diabetes

If you are considering home care assistance in Henderson, NV for an aging loved one, please contact the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care of Summerlin. 702-800-4616.

Month: September 2021