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Month: July 2024

The Benefits Of Scrapbooking For Seniors

Posted on by ltcep2023

Scrapbooking is a great hobby for seniors to try. It gives them the chance to go through old photos and journals, stoke memories, and put together a family history that can be passed down through multiple generations. But scrapbooking can require a lot of precise movements that may be difficult for seniors who have trouble with their joints. Cutting, pasting, and writing can all be challenging for seniors who have poor dexterity or fine motor skills. Companion care at home can help seniors try a lot of different activities, including scrapbooking.

Companion care at home is specialized care for seniors who are unable to get out of the house frequently. Regular visits from a companion can prevent seniors from getting lonely and help them try new activities and games, like scrapbooking.

A companion can talk to your senior parent about family history and listen to their stories, providing the social engagement that your mom or dad needs. And they can help your mom or dad shop for scrapbooking supplies and pick up supplies from the store. Companion care at home helps your senior parent get the benefits of scrapbooking, including benefits like:

Memory Preservation

Scrapbooking helps seniors document and preserve precious memories and life stories. It evokes memories and can help seniors relive happy times of their lives. And it helps seniors create a family record that can be very important to future generations.

Cognitive Engagement

Scrapbooking is fantastic for seniors who need cognitive engagement, like seniors with Alzheimer’s. The activities involved in creating scrapbooks make seniors practice skills like problem solving, spatial orientation, and more. It’s a fun way for seniors to maintain their cognitive skills that doesn’t feel like a chore.

Stress Relief

Scrapbooking is a great way for seniors to reduce stress and manage anxiety. Studies show that making things or working with their hands can calm seniors. And immersing themselves in memories of people they loved and happy times can reduce loneliness and anxiety. Having a companion to help them scrapbook also provides important socialization.

Fine Motor Skill Practice

Scrapbooking enhances hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills through cutting, gluing, and arranging. It can be a form of occupational therapy for a lot of seniors. If your mom or dad has problems with their joints they may want to wear specialized fingerless gloves that help promote circulation and prevent joint pain when seniors are working with their hands.

Sense of Accomplishment

Scrapbooking gives seniors a sense of pride and achievement in creating something meaningful and beautiful. It also can give them purpose, help them express their creativity, and help them make friends.

Online groups for scrapbooking can help seniors by inspiring ideas, giving them a place to share their work, and giving seniors the chance to talk online with other seniors who love scrapbooking. Social media can also give seniors a wonderful way to share their creations. Your senior parent may even end up going viral for their artistic creations if they share them on social media.

Reference
https://www.webmd.com/alzheimers/therapeutic-activities-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.

Employee of the Month – July 2024

Posted on by ltcep2023

Please join Golden Heart Senior Care in welcoming Melanie Montano as its Employee of the Month for July 2024.

Melanie is a single mom with three daughters and also is a nursing student. She has been a caregiver for approximately 1 1/2 years. She likes caregiving because it contributes positively to society by helping those who cannot fully care for themselves..

Golden Heart is very fortunate to have such wonderful caregivers such as Melanie. Please join us in congratulating Melanie as “Simply the Best.”

Keeping Mom Safe on the Fourth of July

Posted on by ltcep2023

One of our nation’s biggest holidays is right around the corner, opening the door for lots of fun celebrations around the country. The Fourth of July is a great time to celebrate with friends and family by having a barbecue or going out and watching the fireworks. Depending on local laws, some families even decide to light off their own small fireworks or at least wave around sparklers in the air as everyone sings “The Star Spangled Banner.”

With any large celebratory event, there also comes risks, especially if your loved one has limited mobility or cognitive functions. Those age-related conditions can take a celebratory holiday and create a stressful day or evening for your loved one that may lead to fear, anxiety, and even injury.

Let’s take a look at some ways you can keep your loved one safe this coming Fourth of July. Many of these tips may also help you with the coming holidays as well.

  • Make sure your loved one has a companion nearby. If you don’t live near your loved one, or cannot be nearby during some holidays, having an in-home care provider is a great resource for your loved one and a wonderful peace of mind for you. An in-home care team will ensure someone is there with your loved one at all times so if your loved one starts to feel uneasy, they will have someone to calm their fears as fireworks explode in the night or the kids down the block let off their 20th package of firecrackers.
  • Celebrate but on a smaller scale. If your loved one still wants to watch the fireworks but can no longer walk to the viewing area or brave those crowds, an in-home care provider may be able to help by setting up an area outside to watch the fireworks off in the distance. Together they may even find a place to drive to and sit in the car and watch the fireworks from afar, making the time to exit afterward a lot less stressful.
  • Many families love a good cookout on the Fourth of July. If your elderly loved one always hosted the family for grilling hot dogs and eating potato salad, don’t have her do it alone this year. Ask someone else to be in charge of the grill and ask family members to help bring the food (and clean up afterward!) so your loved one can enjoy having family over without over-extending herself. An in-home care team can be another great resource for helping her set up for the party as well.
  • Forbid all home fireworks. While many may seem safe, even a simple sparkler can cause burns and possibly lead to a small fire starting. If your loved one is gathering with family, let them know they need to keep their fireworks at home and not bring them with them. The risks are not worth the reward.

Your loved one deserves the chance to celebrate our nation’s birthday while also remaining safe and having fun. You might find a few things will need to be done differently to allow her to participate this year, but she can still have fun while staying safe during the holiday celebrations. Don’t forget to take plenty of photos to keep those memories alive for generations to come.

If you are considering in-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.