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Tag: Companion Care at Home in Henderson NV

The Emotional Benefit of Hobbies

Posted on by ltcep2023

With age, preserving emotional health is equally as important as physical health. Hobbies have an important role in improving seniors’ emotional well-being by offering a sense of purpose, enjoyment, and connection. Seniors can overcome feelings of loneliness, tension, or anxiety by engaging in enjoyable activities that increase their self-esteem and cognitive performance. With the help of companion care at home, seniors can explore what hobbies might interest them as well as learn about the emotional benefits of each.

Creative Writing and Journaling

Writing provides a therapeutic outlet for feelings and memories. Whether seniors want to journal about their daily lives or express themselves creatively, the act of writing down their ideas can provide emotional relief and mental clarity. Writing about prior events, feelings, or goals can help seniors reflect on their lives, process unresolved emotions, and possibly discover new perspectives. For seniors who enjoy storytelling, writing fiction or poetry can be a fun and creative method to explore their inner world.

Emotional Benefits:

  • Promotes self-expression and creativity.
  • Offers emotional relief and relieves stress.
  • Improves memory and cognitive performance.

Gardening

Gardening is not only a terrific physical activity but also a relaxing and emotionally satisfying hobby. Plant care may be soothing, allowing seniors to connect with nature while also feeling accomplished as they see their garden grow. Additionally, the practice of caring for living things fosters patience and mindfulness, which can help to reduce anxiety and increase relaxation.

Emotional Benefits:

  • Reduces stress and promotes calmness.
  • Gives a sense of purpose and duty.
  • Promotes a connection with nature and the outdoors.

Arts and Crafts

Painting, knitting, and other forms of crafting allow seniors to express their creativity while focusing on something enjoyable rather than worrying about their health, money, or anything else. In essence, it gives them a chance to “get away” for a small amount of time. Art can also be a great way to communicate emotions that are difficult to put into words, providing an outlet for dealing with stress. Since this is a broad category, companion care at home might offer suggestions, or seniors can try a few things to narrow down what they might like best.

Emotional Benefits:

  • Promotes self-expression and creativity.
  • Reduces anxiety and promotes relaxation.
  • Gives a sense of accomplishment and promotes confidence.

Volunteering

Volunteering allows seniors to contribute back to their communities while developing a sense of purpose and belonging. Volunteering, whether it’s mentoring younger people, assisting a local charity, or attending community events, provides social connection and a sense of accomplishment. This isn’t what normally would be expected when thinking about hobbies, but it does provide seniors with a way to spend their time that is emotionally satisfying.

  • Emotional Benefits:
  • Enhances sense of connection and purpose.
  • Social contact reduces feelings of loneliness.
  • Increases self-esteem and happiness.

Enjoying a hobby can be an effective way for seniors to maintain their emotional health. Writing, gardening, art, and volunteering are all activities that not only help reduce loneliness and stress but also bring joy, purpose, and a sense of success. Companion care at home and loved ones can encourage seniors to try new interests or revisit old ones, resulting in a more fulfilling and balanced life.

Sources:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/andreaanderson/2023/09/14/hobbies-seem-to-have-universal-mental-health-benefits-for-the-elderly/
https://www.news-medical.net/news/20230911/Hobbies-protect-older-people-from-age-related-decline-in-mental-health-and-wellbeing.aspx

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

Understanding How Loss Affects Seniors

Posted on by ltcep2023

Helping seniors process their feelings after a loss is a vital aspect of providing emotional support for the elderly. Seniors, like people of all age groups, experience a wide range of emotions when they face various losses in their lives. Understanding how they grieve about different types of losses can be instrumental in offering them the support they need. Here are a few considerations and how companion care at home can help.

Loss of a Spouse or Partner

This is often one of the most significant losses a senior can experience. Many have spent a lifetime with their partner and formed a deep emotional bond. When they lose their spouse or partner, they may experience intense feelings of loneliness, sadness, and even guilt. Loved ones and companion care at home aides can encourage them to share their memories and feelings while offering support.

Loss of Independence

As seniors age, they may lose their ability to perform daily tasks and rely on others for assistance. This can be a profound loss of autonomy. When this happens, they may react with frustration, anger, or feelings of inadequacy. It’s important to be patient and respectful of their need for independence, where possible. Both the home care team and loved ones can encourage them to engage in activities that can help them regain a sense of purpose.

Loss of Friends and Peers

Seniors often experience the loss of friends and peers due to natural causes or health issues. Their grief may manifest as a sense of isolation and a deep longing for social connections. It’s important to encourage participation in social activities and organizations and slowly help them build new friendships and connections.

Loss of Health

The deterioration of their physical health can be a significant source of grief, especially if it limits their ability to enjoy life. Seniors may experience fear, anxiety, and depression as they grapple with their changing health status. The first thing to do is to encourage a healthy lifestyle and regular checkups to increase the chance that any issue that arises is caught early. Additionally, offer emotional support and provide resources for counseling if needed.

Loss of Mobility

Loss of mobility can lead to a loss of freedom and a sense of confinement. Seniors may feel frustration and sadness at not being able to engage in activities they once enjoyed. Loved ones will need to support them in finding adaptive ways to pursue their interests and engage in physical therapy or exercises suitable for their condition. In addition, this is a good time to start or increase their services with the companion care at home team.

Loss of Cognitive Abilities

Cognitive decline due to conditions like dementia or Alzheimer’s can be a challenging loss for both seniors and their loved ones. Grief may manifest as confusion, frustration, and sadness. It’s important to focus on providing a safe and supportive environment while navigating changes and creating a plan moving forward.

In all cases, it’s essential to listen, show empathy, and provide a safe space for seniors to express their feelings. Encourage them to seek professional help when necessary, and ensure they have access to support networks, such as family, friends, and support groups. Remember that grief is a highly individual experience, and the process may take time, so patience and understanding are key to helping seniors navigate these emotional challenges. Along the way, the companion care at home team can be a vital support.

Sources:
https://www.centerforgrieftherapy.com/older-people-grieve-differently/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1113122/
https://bluemoonseniorcounseling.com/stages-of-grief-in-seniors/

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.

Can Companion Care at Home Help Seniors Reduce Stress?

Posted on by Craig Bass
Companion Care at Home in Henderson NV
Companion Care at Home in Henderson NV

Stress management is an essential aspect of maintaining good health and well-being, especially for seniors. Chronic stress can exacerbate existing health conditions, contribute to cognitive decline, and negatively impact overall quality of life. Companion care at home can play a vital role in helping seniors manage stress through various approaches, such as sharing relaxation techniques with them, reminding them about mindfulness exercises, and helping with social engagement. These are activities that family caregivers might have a tough time helping their seniors to master, but home care providers focusing on socialization and stress reduction can cover a lot of ground.

Using Relaxation Techniques

One of the most effective ways to manage stress is through relaxation techniques that help calm the mind and body. Seniors may not feel as if some of these techniques will really work for them but giving them an honest try can help significantly. Some of these techniques can have physical, real effects like lowering blood pressure and reducing muscle tension. Techniques like deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, and even guided imagery are ones that home care providers can walk seniors through trying in just a few minutes.

Encouraging Mindfulness Exercises

Mindfulness exercises are slightly different from relaxation techniques, although they can have similar results on stress. These exercises focus on bringing awareness to the present moment without judgment. Mindfulness has been shown to reduce stress and promote overall well-being for people of all ages. Companion care at home can introduce seniors to mindfulness exercises, such as meditation, mindful breathing, or body scans, and support them in incorporating these practices into their daily routines. Over time, regular use of mindfulness becomes easier to use. Seniors can experience big results from sticking with mindfulness, including lowering stress levels significantly.

Offering Social Engagement

For some seniors, stress is a result of diminished opportunities to spend time with other people. Social engagement is crucial for seniors’ mental and emotional well-being, as isolation and loneliness can contribute to stress and depression. Companion care at home can facilitate social engagement by providing companionship, organizing social outings, and connecting seniors with community resources. Engaging in conversation is something that is easy and doesn’t have to be complicated at all. If seniors are up for outings, elder care providers can help them to plan and to attend social outings. Caregivers can also help to connect seniors and family caregivers with community resources that might help further with socialization and stress relief.

Companion care at home can do so much for aging adults, simply by being there on a regular basis. Companionship alone can help seniors to feel less alone and inspire them to try new things. If seniors are having an especially difficult time managing stress, even with social engagement, it might be time to talk to their doctors about what else might be contributing to that stress. Health issues, particularly ones that are not under good control, can be a significant factor when it comes to stress for aging adults. Getting those health conditions addressed can do a lot.

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.

5 Emotional Benefits of Companion Care at Home

Posted on by Craig Bass
Companion Care at Home in Henderson NV
Companion Care at Home in Henderson NV

If your elderly family member is generally okay with living on her own and keeping up with her needs, you may think that there’s no reason for her to have home care assistance. But if she’s spending a lot of that time alone, your senior may have emotional needs that aren’t being met by her current living situation. Bringing in companion care at home can make a difference in your elderly family member’s emotional health, so it’s an important option to consider.

Independence and Dignity

Your senior might be concerned that having help from companion care at home automatically means that she’s losing her independence. None of that has to be the case, however. Your elderly family member should quickly find that caregivers only offer the help that she actually needs and that they do so without making her feel bad about herself or her situation. Preserving both her dignity and her independence is crucial.

Friendly Companionship

There might be a big age difference between your senior and any caregivers who spend time with her, but that does not mean that they won’t develop a friendship that is just as real as any other friendship. Companion care at home can help your senior to discover new hobbies that she enjoys or spend time with her as she enjoys favorite activities. All while offering companionship.

A Comforting Presence

Comfort can be incredibly important for your aging adult, whether she realizes it or not. Having someone there with her can help your elderly family member to feel more at ease about a great many situations. This is particularly true if she’s not necessarily at risk of having a health issue flare up but feels nervous about what might happen.

Confidence that Keeps Growing

It can be difficult to maintain confidence as aging adults grow older. Your elderly family member may worry that small difficulties can be enough to mean that she needs to leave her home. The benefit of all types of home care is that having just the help that she needs reminds your senior that she can be confident in her own capabilities. That’s huge for her self-esteem in the long run.

Peace of Mind for You and Other Family Members

Wondering how your senior is really doing is never a good feeling. You don’t have to wonder when she has companion care at home there with her, however. They can help you to understand what your senior’s needs truly are and where her biggest challenges lie. That information can help you to make other decisions regarding her care plan.

Spending time with people who genuinely want to make sure that she is doing well is important for your elderly family member’s mental and emotional well-being. Conversation and engaging in friendly activities help to keep your elderly family member mentally stimulated and ensure that there is someone there for her if she does happen to need any assistance. You’ll all feel better knowing that your senior has some friends who stop in to check how she is doing.

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.

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

Posted on by Craig Bass
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.