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Companion Care At Home Reduces Stress For Seniors

Posted on March 17, 2023 by Craig Bass

Companion Care at Home in Las Vegas NV

April is Stress Awareness Month, and if your senior parent is aging in place, you should know how stress could be affecting them. Loneliness is reaching epidemic levels among seniors according to medical researchers, and as a result seniors are facing increased risks of heart attacks, strokes, depression, and anxiety. Seniors who are aging at home get a lot of benefits from being in their own home but loneliness is something that seniors who are aging in place and their families need to watch out for.

Companion care at home can help reduce the stress that seniors are by eliminating some of the loneliness that seniors struggle with. When seniors have companion care at home they have reduced stress because they have a friend they can talk to, a companion to hang out with and go places with, and someone who will be checking on them if their family lives too far away to visit regularly. Some of the ways that companion care at home reduces stress for seniors are:

Helping With Errands

Seniors can quickly get overwhelmed by the tasks that need to be done to manage a household like making a shopping list or a list of the errands that have to be done and arranging transportation. When seniors have companion care at home, they have someone who can help them make the lists and do the errands so that seniors don’t have the stress and anxiety of figuring everything out on their own and trying not to make a mistake.

Sharing Meals

Eating alone can be stressful and unpleasant. Many seniors opt to eat snacks or light meals rather than make a big meal just for one person. And as a result many seniors don’t get enough to eat. Being malnourished puts stress on the body and the mind. Sharing meals with a companion and having someone to talk with and chat with while preparing meals and washing up dishes can turn meals from a nightmare into a happy occasion for seniors.

Taking Seniors Out For Activities

Getting out into the world is important for seniors. Staying in the house can lead to anxiety and stress about going out to do things and see people. When seniors have companion care at home they have someone to encourage them to go out and do fun things. They also have someone who will take them to the movies, to a café, to go shopping, and to do other activities.

Going To Appointments

Going to appointments like medical appointments, hair appointments, or to get a medical pedicure can be very stressful for seniors. Having to get themselves to the appointment, find their way around, wait, and then reverse the process to get home can make some seniors so stressed they actually skip doing medical appointments. But with a companion who can give them encouragement and support as well as helping them physically get to the appointments and get around seniors are much more relaxed about getting to necessary appointments.

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.

Food to Avoid When Your Senior Has Arthritis

Posted on July 29, 2022 by Craig Bass

Companion Care at Home in Henderson NV

Arthritis symptoms may be improved by adopting dietary modifications. Inflammatory meals like saturated fat and sugar should be avoided. Purine-rich foods may also have to be avoided. However, your seniors may not be as focused as they should on their diet because it may hurt to move around and cook. This leads them to go for easier meals that involve less cooking on their end. If this sounds like your senior, is it time to consider someone who can watch out for them each day and may be able to help with light cleaning, dressing, bathing, and, most importantly, light cooking.

Finding the right companion care at home will be a huge help for seniors who are trying to age in place with painful arthritis. And having someone with them who can do certain tasks easier may allow them to live a higher quality life and focus on things like what foods will worsen their pain and inflammation.

Seniors Should Focus On Fats

Certain types of fats actually make arthritis worse by causing inflammation. A senior should avoid several types that may make things much worse for them. Unfortunately, many of these come in pre-packaged foods that are easy to make.

Omega 6 fatty acids- When consumed in reasonable amounts, omega 6 fatty acids aren’t dangerous. However, the average American consumes much too much of them.
Saturated Fats- This fat may be found in meat, cheese, and butter. People should consume fewer than 10% of their daily calories from saturated fat.
Trans Fats- This fat is detrimental to human health because it lowers “good” cholesterol, elevates “bad” cholesterol, and increases inflammatory levels. In recent years, manufacturers have removed trans fats from most prepared meals, but check the nutrition information panel to be certain.

They Should Avoid Eating Too Much Sugar

According to research, people who consume sugar-sweetened soda have an elevated risk of RA. Excess sugar intake also raises the chance of dying from cardiovascular disease. Obesity, inflammation, and other chronic disorders might also result. Unfortunately, tons of easy meals have added sugar to preserve it and make things taste better. This is not good for you and certainly not good for seniors struggling with inflammation.

Nightshades

You may be wondering precisely what nightshade is? It is any of the following:

tomatoes
bell peppers
chili peppers
eggplant
potatoes

If you think this is something your senior overeats, it’s time to encourage them to keep a food diary. This doesn’t necessarily mean that they should keep track of calories, but to keep track of what they eat and how they feel later on. If a senior cuts something out of their diet and has fewer flare-ups, they may need to stay away from nightshade to stay healthy.

Food High in Purines

Uric acid is formed when the body breaks down purines, found in many meals. Gout attacks may occur when uric acid builds up in the circulation. These types of food include:

red meat or cured meats
organ meat, such as liver
beer and other alcohol
some seafood, such as mussels and scallops

Steering clear of these foods may help lower the chance of getting gout but also minimize inflammation.

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.

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.

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