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What Are the Best Ways to Take Your Mom Out When She Has Dementia?

Companion Care at Home in Henderson NV
Companion Care at Home in Henderson NV

As dementia progresses, it gets harder to take your mom out of the home. She becomes fearful because nothing is familiar. She doesn’t even recognize her house when you drive back in the driveway.

Before you take her out, ask yourself if she really needs to go. While she has to be there for appointments, a trip to the grocery store isn’t necessarily essential for her to attend. When you have to take her out, these tips can help make it less stressful for both of you.

Tell Her It’s Time to Go an Hour in Advance

If your mom tends to delay getting ready, tell her it’s time to go an hour or so in advance. If you have to leave at noon, tell her it’s time to go at 10:50. That way, her repeated trips to the bathroom to brush her teeth, take a shower, or go to the toilet again won’t make you late.

Have Something Tempting to Get Her to Follow You

You might have to tempt your mom to follow you. You know she loves chocolate. Have her favorite chocolate in hand and use that to get her out to the car. Keep repeating that she can have it as soon as she’s in the car.

You might not want her having food in the car. Use something equally tempting like her favorite cellphone game, a book, or a magazine.

Promise to Go to Her Favorite Place

Instead of telling her she has to see her doctor, tell her you’re going to lunch at her favorite restaurant. You can keep that promise, but do it after she’s gone through her appointment. Once she’s seen her doctor, go out to lunch or for an early dinner.

Have Someone Else With You

It can be easier to manage trips out if someone else is helping. You have to go shopping, but you also have to take your mom to her dentist. Bring someone else.

While you’re shopping, you may find your mom keeps adding things to the cart that she says she needs. The person with you can be running the extra items back when she gets distracted by something else.

Arrange Companion Care at Home for Her

Sometimes, it’s better to leave your mom at home. While you may be used to weekend shopping trips together, it may be overwhelming to her now. Hire a companion care at home aide to spend time with her when you’re running errands. A companion care at home specialist can help you understand the pricing and how to schedule services.

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

October 2021 Caregiver of the Month

Our valued Golden Heart Caregiver, Lorna, has been recognized as our October Caregiver of the Month! Lorna migrated to the United States from the Philippines in 1980 and received her citizenship in 1996. Lorna enjoys fitness in her free-time and deep-sea fishing, and a hidden talent of hers is playing guitar! Lorna says that her biggest inspiration for being a caregiver, among many other things, is the true value of life. Her favorite thing about in-home care is building bonds with her clients; including the unconditional trust that’s formed, the smile they give when they look forward to seeing her, or holding her hand to let her know they need her. Lorna’s best memory on the job is when she went on a walk with her client, and they both had so much fun talking and laughing that neither one realized it was past time for Lorna to go! The two shared a good laugh after that. Lorna’s five year goal is to become a trainer and teacher for other caregivers. She says she would love to be able to share her knowledge to help other caregivers be efficient and successful in this field. Lorna is proud of her self-love, and her ability to “embrace the good, resist the bad, and let go of the ugly” that she’s developed over years of learning. We are proud of her, too! We are lucky to have passionate caregivers like Lorna on our team. Congrats, Lorna!

 

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

Yoga Benefits for Senior Citizens

Home Care in Las Vegas NV
Home Care in Las Vegas NV

There are numerous activities that senior citizens can benefit from. If you are helping to care for your elderly loved one, you may want to have them try out yoga. Studies show that elderly people who practice yoga can feel better emotionally, improve their health, and receive other benefits.

Staying Independent

Does your elderly loved one feel as if they are losing their independence? Maybe, there are some tasks they have had to get help for from you or home care providers. This may be making your elderly loved one feel bad about themselves. If this has happened, you should try talking your elderly loved one into doing yoga. Being able to accomplish the different moves and strengthening their body through yoga practice can help your elderly loved one to be more independent. It can boost their confidence in the things they are still able to do, as well.

Improving Mental Health

Has your elderly loved one been struggling with mental health issues? Maybe, they struggle with anxiety now that they are retired. Your elderly loved one may feel on edge a lot of the time because they don’t know what to do with themselves. If you want to help your elderly loved one to improve their mental health, you or a home care provider should get them into yoga. Research shows that yoga can reduce anxiety, depression, symptoms of PTSD, stress, and so much more. The more your elderly loved one gets into yoga, the more it can help to improve their mental health.

Improving Physical Health

Did you know that yoga can have positive affects on a person’s physical health? It isn’t just for boosting confidence and improving mental health. Research shows that various yoga poses can help with different aspects of physical health. Some of the physical health ailments that can be improved by doing yoga include weight, arthritis, chronic pain, inflammation, balance issues, and much more. Is your elderly loved one struggling with any of these issues? If so, you and home care providers should remind them to practice yoga every day.

Conclusion

These are some of the many yoga benefits that senior citizens can gain. If your elderly loved one needs help improving their physical health, mental health, or feelings of independence or confidence, you should encourage them to practice yoga. There are various yoga programs and apps that can help people to learn yoga. Your elderly loved one can start with the most basic yoga positions and move up from there.

Sources
https://www.aarp.org/health/healthy-living/info-11-2013/health-benefits-of-yoga.html

 

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

Home-Monitoring Technology: Is it a Good Idea for the Elderly?

Elder Care in Henderson NV
Elder Care in Henderson NV

Are you taking care of your elderly loved one? If so, are there days when you can’t make it to their house? Maybe, you even live quite far away and can only visit with your elderly loved one about once a month. If this is the case, Elder Home-monitoring technology may be a good idea.

Fell in the Past

Has your elderly loved one ever fallen in their house? Sure, they may claim it was just a slight misstep. However, studies show that elderly people who fall once are more likely to fall again. They may be worried about falling which can make their balance even worse. If your elderly loved one has fell in the past, it may be time to get home-monitoring technology. There are necklaces, bands, and bracelets they can wear. If they do fall or if they feel as if something isn’t right, they can push the button on the device. It can alert you, an elder care provider, or the police.

Spending a Lot of Time Alone

How much time does your elderly loved one spend on their own? Many senior citizens go days or even weeks without seeing another person. This can lead to a lot of issues. If this is the case for your elderly loved one, it may be a good idea to have a home camera system installed. With some of these camera systems, you can talk to your elderly loved one through them and they can talk back. It can be a great way to communicate and to visually see what is going on at your elderly loved one’s house.

Watching for Cognitive Issues

Another reason why you may want to get home-monitoring technology for your elderly loved one is to watch for cognitive issues. If you aren’t there often, you may miss out on the signs of dementia or other cognitive conditions. While a home camera system can’t replace face-to-face check-ins, it can be a great help during the times you can’t be there to see your elderly loved one. If you do start noticing issues, you can hire elder care providers to care for your elderly loved one.

Conclusion

These are some of the reasons why you might want to get home-monitoring technology for your elderly loved one. Now that you know how beneficial this type of technology could be for them, you can start looking into which systems or products to get.

Sources
https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cms-takes-action-modernize-medicare-home-health-0
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK315926/

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

What Does Your Senior Loved One Need Help with the Most?

Personal Care at Home in Las Vegas NV
Personal Care at Home in Las Vegas NV

Taking care of a senior in your family is not usually an easy job. It can be emotionally taxing and can take quite a bit of time, as well. With this being said, if you will be or are taking care of one of your elderly loved ones, it may be a good idea to learn about some of the top senior citizen care needs. If you know what these are, you can prepare for some of the help that your elderly loved one might need later on.

Help with Personal Care

Many senior citizens need help with personal care tasks. Some of these tasks might include:

  • Medication reminders
  • Transfers from chair to bed or vice versa
  • Toileting help
  • Grooming, bathing, and dressing assistance

As your elderly loved one gets even older, they may need help with some or all of these tasks. If you aren’t already helping with these things, you can prepare for when they may need assistance in these areas. If it isn’t something you will be able to help with, you can get personal care at home for your elderly loved one. Home care providers can help with personal care tasks.

Help with House Chores

Senior citizens often struggle to keep their house clean. Some house chores they may need help with include:

  • Dishes
  • Laundry
  • Vacuuming
  • Dusting
  • Mopping
  • Organizing

It can be difficult for your elderly loved one to do these household chores. They may have pain, balance issues, or another problem that causes their inability to do certain household chores. No matter what the cause may be, it could be a good idea to hire senior care providers. These providers can help your elderly loved one to keep up with these or other household chores.

Help with Meals

Many senior citizens don’t eat very well. They may struggle to go shopping due to transportation or health issues. Some senior citizens don’t want to make meals because they live alone or because they don’t know what to make. If this is happening with your elderly loved one, it is vital that they have someone helping with their meals. You or home care providers can help with meal planning, grocery shopping, or meal preparation.

Conclusion

These are some of the top senior citizen needs. Your elderly loved one may need assistance with these tasks. If so, you can help or you can get personal care at home for your elderly loved one. The elderly care providers can help with any of these tasks and other tasks, too.

Sources
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3843313/

 

If you are considering personal 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.

Things to Know About Mental Illness in the Elderly

Home Care in Summerlin NV
Home Care in Summerlin NV

In 1990, the U.S. Congress named the first week of October as Mental Illness Awareness Week. Mental illness doesn’t target a specific age. Elderly adults are just as likely to experience mental illness as a teen or young adult.

For 2021, the goal is to advocate for a parent, child, or friend with mental illness. Take time to learn these facts about mental illness in the elderly so that you can advocate for your mom or dad.

Anxiety Disorders Are a Prevalent Form of Mental Illness

You might not think of anxiety as being a mental illness, but it is. About 19% of the U.S. population has an anxiety disorder, whether social anxiety or generalized anxiety. Your parent could very well have an anxiety disorder and feel ashamed and try to hide it.

How can you tell when your parent is experiencing an anxiety disorder? It can be challenging, but one of the more common signs is avoiding situations that cause anxiety, such as skipping a social event or refusing to go to a public location. Your mom or dad may also experience insomnia, have a hard time concentrating, and experience gastrointestinal issues.

Depression Isn’t a Normal Part of Aging

Depression is another form of mental illness that affects the elderly. While it’s not a normal part of aging, it is something older adults face. Some of the triggers can be the death of a spouse or being diagnosed with a chronic health condition.

Signs of depression include a lack of interest in favorite activities, irritability, appetite changes, and feelings of hopelessness. If your mom or dad is depressed and needs to go on medications, it’s not a sign of failure. Make sure they realize how many people take anti-depressants to ensure they’re not alone.

Around 10 Percent of Older Adults Do No Feel That They Get Enough Support

Do your parents feel like they have a strong support system? One out of ten older adults does not feel that they have the support they need. You can support your parents by listening to them vent, helping them with transportation and housekeeping, or helping them find information for questions or issues they have.

Keep your parents from feeling alone or lonely with regular visits from home care. Not only is their caregiver available to support them throughout the week, but they also have someone helping them remember to take breaks, get outside for fresh air, and take their medications on time.

Talk to an expert in home care to get prices and available services. It’s one way to start helping your mom or dad realize they’re not alone and that they have their family’s full support, even if their kids and grandkids live hours away.

Sources:

Mental Illness Awareness Week


https://www.cdc.gov/aging/pdf/mental_health.pdf

If you are considering 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.