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The Value of Looking Back on Memories For Seniors

Personal Care at Home in Henderson NV
Personal Care at Home in Henderson NV

Reminiscing has been shown to have considerable positive effects on seniors’ mental and emotional well-being. As people age, they frequently confront difficulties such as reduced cognitive function, social isolation, and loneliness. Personal care at home professionals allows seniors to reminisce often by engaging in consistent conversation and encouraging them to share.

Loved ones can also help seniors share their memories while ensuring that younger generations can learn about their familial history. Activities that include remembering the past might help reduce these problems by providing mental stimulation, developing social relationships, and producing a feeling of purpose for seniors.

Why Is Remembering Important?

Maintaining a bright and active mind requires regular mental stimulation, which can help slow the progression of age-related cognitive decline. When seniors talk about their memories, they are not just exercising their cognitive powers but also remembering old experiences and reliving them. In addition, as seniors reflect on their previous experiences and feelings, remembering increases emotional regulation and self-awareness. This type of contemplation can lead to an improvement in mood, a decrease in anxiety, and an enhancement in one’s sense of self-worth.

Ways to Help Seniors Share Their Memories

Loved ones can provide the emotional support and social connection many seniors require when they actively engage and encourage them to share. It is essential for seniors to have the permission of their loved ones in order to engage in reminiscing and reap the benefits. The following are some of the ways that loved ones can make reminiscing easier:

Creating a comfortable environment: Ensuring that seniors are in a welcoming and familiar setting, with as few interruptions as possible, can help them feel more at ease and secure while talking about their past.

Asking open-ended questions: Loved ones and personal care at home can encourage seniors to talk about their memories by asking them open-ended questions that lead them to talk about their experiences in the past in greater depth. For instance, loved ones could question them about their favorite memories from their youth, significant events in their lives, or cherished family customs.

Using images, music, or trigger objects from the past: These items can awaken seniors’ memories and generate conversations with them. With the right objects, seniors can delve further into their memories and forge connections that are richer in significance.

Genuinely listening to what seniors say: Active listening and empathy are needed as seniors share their life experiences. When seniors feel valued in what they share, it contributes to creating a nurturing environment and encourages them to share more.

Helping seniors document their memories can be done using various techniques, from writing, generating audio recordings, or creating photo albums. This serves as a therapeutic exercise and a way to guarantee their tales will be told to future generations.

Reminiscing is important for seniors since it provides mental and emotional advantages while facilitating social bond development. Loved ones and home care professionals can play a vital part in assisting seniors in maintaining a sense of purpose and well-being by actively engaging with them and providing a supportive environment in which the seniors can feel comfortable sharing their experiences.

Source:
https://www.agingcare.com/articles/sharing-family-history-95687.htm
https://www.lcadvocates.com/how-storytelling-helps-older-people/
https://extension.sdstate.edu/importance-reminiscing

If you are considering personal 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.

Eight Things Your Mom Should and Shouldn’t Do After a Hip Fracture

Personal Care at Home in Henderson NV
Personal Care at Home in Henderson NV

Around 300,000 older adults fracture their hip each year, receiving injuries that require hospitalization. Women are more likely to fracture a hip. Your mom is now part of that statistic. What should she do and not do after fracturing her hip? Here are a few things to remember and how personal care at home can play an important role in her recovery.

She Shouldn’t Cross Her Legs

Sitting with crossed legs isn’t often advised for a couple of months. Your mom’s doctor will tell her the appropriate amount of time, but it’s usually between six and eight weeks. Remind your mom to ensure she doesn’t forget and go to sit with her legs crossed.

She Should Use Higher Seating

Sitting down on a low seat is challenging. Your mom may find it hard to get back up. Bar stools with a sturdy back and comfortable seat are helpful when it comes to sitting.

She may need a booster on her toilet. If that’s not possible, make sure she has a personal care at home aide to help her stand back up after going to the bathroom.

She Shouldn’t Bend Over

It may take several days or weeks before your mom can bed down from a sitting or standing position. She shouldn’t bend more than 90 degrees when standing up. If she drops something, someone needs to get it for her.

She Should Work With a Physical Therapist

Your mom should work with a physical therapist to regain a full range of motion. In between therapy sessions, she must continue doing the recommended exercises on her own to build muscle strength and aid in her recovery.

She Shouldn’t Stop All Activities

Your mom may need to limit the amount of time she spends exercising, but she shouldn’t stop completely. She should work out enough for the muscles to stop aching and take a break before straining anything.

She Should Use Heat to Help Loosen Her Muscles and Joints

Ice packs can help ease pain, but heat helps loosen your mom’s muscles and joints. Before doing her exercises, your mom should apply a heating pad for 15 minutes.

She Shouldn’t Sit With Her Knees Higher Than Her Hips

Your mom needs to watch how she sits. Her knees need to be an inch or two lower than her hips. It reduces the stress placed on the hip joint. It makes it easier to stand up, too.

She Should Let Personal Care at Home Help

Your mom needs to let others help out. She needs to listen to her doctors and do as they say. That might mean slowly building strength after a hip fracture.

Make sure your mom follows her medical team’s recommendations. Hire personal care at home aides to help her change sheets, do the laundry, clean the home, and get to and from stores and medical offices. Call an agency to learn more.

Sources:
https://www.cdc.gov/falls/hip-fractures.html

If you are considering personal 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.