Throughout this series, we’ve discussed oral health for seniors, from oral health related issues and their statistics, to proper care of your teeth.
As we mentioned, taking proper care of your teeth may help you prevent getting dentures as you age. However, in some instances, dentures are an unavoidable fact of some seniors lives. Read more
On Monday, we opened our series on oral health care for seniors by giving you a few statistics in regards to oral health care, as well as common oral health related issues.
As we mentioned, old age and dentures is a combination that’s often considered an inevitable fact of senior life. However, with proper care of your teeth, you or your aging loved one can keep that smile for many years to come.
To show you what we mean, here are a few tips to consider when caring for your teeth. Take a look below: Read more
Dentures and old age: the combination is a stereotype that we usually think of as an inevitable part of senior life.
But despite what you may think, not all seniors lose their pearly whites in old age. With proper care and an understanding of how oral health works, you or your aging loved one can keep your smile for many years to come. Read more
Throughout this series, we’ve outlined some of the great benefits of having pets in your home, as well as some considerations you should take when picking out a pet, such as a dog.
We’ve already mentioned a few things to consider when picking out a dog, but since dogs aren’t for everyone, we thought we would take a look at a few other pets that also make a great addition to any home. Take a look below: Read more
As we mentioned, pets can be a wonderful addition to any home, providing a sense of companionship, responsibility, and renewed sense of value in you or your aging loved ones life.
Now that you have a better understanding of what pets can do for you, we are going to help you maximize those benefits by showing you how to go about choosing the right pet for you and your lifestyle. Take a look below: Read more
Pets can be a wonderful addition to any home, providing a sense of companionship, responsibility, and more.
And the home of an aging loved one is no exception. In fact, studies have shown quite a number of benefits to introducing pets into the lives of our aging loved ones.
Throughout this series, we will discuss various aspects regarding seniors and their pets, from the benefits, to how to choose a pet that is right for them, to how to care for a pet in their old age. Read more
The much anticipated first day of spring is less than a week away, so it only makes sense that we get you prepared to make the best of the season.
Through this series, we’ve discussed a number of topics related to spring, from activities you should look forward to and health concerns to be aware of, to indoor spring cleaning tips.
To round off the series and get you geared up and ready to enjoy the festivities that come with the fresh and new season, we’re going to talk about a few outdoor spring cleaning tips that will get you excited to be outside. Take a look below:
Set up a lawn care service. If you parent already has a snow removal service, then you are already half of the way there “simply switch out snow removal for lawn service, such as cutting the grass and landscaping. Now is also the time to consider gardening plans, whether for a flowerbed or a vegetable garden.
Handle heavy outdoor furniture. With warmer weather approaching, the patio and deck will certainly see its fair share of use, meaning it is time to put out any lawn furniture your aging loved one has. To avoid any unnecessary strain or injury on your parent, it is best that you, or an able-bodied person, handles the heavy lifting. If possible, you should also consider securing any furniture to the ground with weight or ties in order to prevent them from being blown over by heavy winds.
Check for cracks in the sidewalk, steps, and driveway. Ice and salt can wreak havoc on our concrete, causing big cracks and uneven surfaces throughout the walkways and driveway. As such, it is important to make sure you get any damage taken care of right away in order to reduce the risk of falling. For situations like these, it is best to contact a professional who will be able to repair the damage immediately.
Put non-slip mats in and around the house. Unfortunately, winter isn’t the only season where the risk of falling can occur. Spring, especially the month of April, brings with it quite a few rainy days. If you aging loved one plans on being outside now that the weather is nice, be sure to put down non-slip mats on heavily trafficked areas in order to prevent any falls from occurring.
With these simple tips in mind, we hope to help you and your aging loved one get the most out of this wonderful spring season (and many to come). As always, if there are any questions or concerns about the information we’ve outlined throughout this series, please feel free to give us a call. We are always here to help!
Physicians’ Choice Private Duty Assisted Living “currently serving Omaha, Eastern Nebraska and Western Iowa “provides seniors and their families a complete understanding of geriatric care options and helps families maneuver through the challenges of the system. Get your free Cost Comparison guide by clicking here. Or contact us for a free consultation or just to say hello!
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photo credit: comedy_nose via photopin cc
“Physicians’ Choice Private Duty Assisted Living solves the challenges families face in caring for aging parents, with a focus on strategies that keep them in their homes. To learn more about our solutions, visit http://www.private-duty.pchhc.com.”
On Monday, we kicked of our series on helping your aging loved get ready for spring by outlining several springtime events to look forward to, as well as health concerns to be aware of.
Spring is a time that many people“including seniors“look forward to, as it signifies the coming of summer (and warm weather) as well as the many activities that go along with that weather, which we outlined in our previous post.
But as with winter, there are many things we need to do in order to get ready for the season. And one seasonal activity that occurs for most people around this time of the year is spring cleaning.
We thought we would give you and your aging loved ones a few tips to consider in order to help you get your spring off to a nice start. For today, we’ll focus on indoor spring-cleaning tips.
Take a look below:
Create a checklist. Before you begin, it’s a great idea to create a checklist of the tasks you’d like to get done. Ask your aging loved one what they’d like to see cleaned, and prioritize the list in terms of importance. It is also a good idea to divvy up the tasks and try your best to stick to the task list. This prevents the possibility that your parent may take on a task that is either too difficult or hazardous for them to do.
Remove the clutter before you clean. Once you’ve made a checklist, then it is time to remove any clutter that may prevent you or your loved one from cleaning. This may include extra blankets from the winter, emergency winter kits, shovels, throw rugs, cords, junk mail, or trash that they couldn’t throw away during the winter months. Doing this will prevent any unwanted risks of falling, due to tripping on objects that may get in the way of cleaning.
Take over on hard to reach projects. Dusting and window/curtain cleaning are just a few of the tasks that are commonly associated with spring cleaning. Because these tasks typically require step stools or ladders, it is best to take over these tasks yourself in order to avoid falls.
Handle the mopping and scrubbing. Not only can mopping and scrubbing increase the risk of falling due to slippery surfaces, it can also put a lot of strain on your aging loved ones body because it often requires a lot of side to side motion, as well as bending over. Therefore, it is suggested that you handle these tasks yourself or reserve them for an able-bodied-person, in order to eliminate the risk of injury.
On Friday, we will finish off our series with some outdoor spring cleaning tips. In the meantime, what are you and your aging loved one looking most forward to this spring season? Let us know by connecting with us on Twitter!
Physicians Choice Private Duty“currently serving Omaha, Eastern Nebraska and Western Iowa“provides seniors and their families a complete understanding of geriatric care options and helps families maneuver through the challenges of the system. Get your free Cost Comparison guide by clicking here. Or contact us for a free consultation or just to say hello!
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photo credit: BooleanRadley via photopin cc
“Physicians Choice Private Duty solves the challenges families face in caring for aging parents, with a focus on strategies that keep them in their homes. To learn more about our solutions, visit us today..”
Winter can be a dull seasons for most. More often than not, we find ourselves stuck at home with nothing to do because the weather is so drab.
But with spring just around the corner, there’s no doubt that many people (including seniors) are getting excited for the fresh new changes to the season. Just like winter, though, there is a myriad of things we have to do in order to get ready for the change.
We did a series on helping your aging loved one get ready for winter, so we thought we’d give you one for spring, as well. Throughout this series, we will talk about a number of things related to spring, from activities you should look forward to and things to be aware of, to safe spring cleaning tips, indoor and out.
For today, we will start with activities you can look forward to and health concerns you should be aware of.
Spring activities
Spring is the time that outdoor activities begin to be more accessible to most people. To help get your aging loved one excited about this season, here are a few things they can look forward to:
Flowers/gardening. If you parent is an avid gardener, then now is the time to start helping them plan their flowerbeds. Sit down with them and help them sketch out what plants they want to grow, and where they want to grow them. Now is also the perfect time to start seedlings indoors so that they’ll be ready when it comes time to plant them.
Walking. When possible, spring is also a great time to take your parents out for a walk, giving them the opportunity to look at all of the beautiful plants that are beginning to pop out of the ground.
Spring holidays with the grandchildren. The springtime also has holidays that many people look forward to“most notably, Easter, Lent, and St. Patrick’s Day. If your family celebrates any of these, try to involve your aging loved ones in the planning of these events. This is a great way to make them feel like a part of your life, as well as their grandchildren’s lives.
Health concerns
As with anything our aging loved ones do, making sure they are healthy is the most important factor to consider as we approach spring. Here are just a few things to look for as spring approaches:
Allergies. As the trees, grass, and plants begin to come back to life, so do the allergens that commonly come with them. Spring is the time that molds, dust and pollen become abundant. As such, it’s important to keep an eye on your aging loved ones who may develop nasal congestion or hay fever due to allergens. Fortunately, there are many ways to effectively treat these problems. To learn more, please consult a medical professional.
Cold (but not too cold). Unfortunately, spring still has its fair share of cold days with the strong winds of March and the torrential April showers. To avoid any complications, make sure your parent is properly dressed and prepared for any brisk or stormy days.
On Wednesday, we’ll talk about ways to get your aging loved ones spring cleaning in order, starting with the indoor tasks. In the meantime, if you have any questions or concerns about the information we’ve outlined above, please give us a call. We’d love to help!
Physicians’ Choice Private Duty Assisted Living “currently serving Omaha, Eastern Nebraska and Wester Iowa“provides seniors and their families a complete understanding of geriatric car options and helps families maneuver through the challenges of the system. Get your free Cost Comparison guide by clicking here. Or contact us for a free consultation or just to say hello!
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photo credit: HereIsTom via photopin
“Physicians’ Choice Private Duty Assisted Living solves the challenges families face in caring for aging parents, with a focus on strategies that keep them in their homes. To learn more about our solutions, visit http://www.private-duty.pchhc.com.”
Throughout this series, we’ve discussed various aspects of caregiver stress, from statistics regarding depression and anxiety, why it occurs and its effects, to the signs that may indicate you’re suffering from caregiver stress.
Now that you have a better understanding of its causes and effects, we’re going to discuss a few steps you can take in order to help relieve caregiver stress. Take a look below:
Ask for help. This is a point we really like to stress: there is absolutely nothing wrong with asking for help. For many, it can already be hard enough to take care of themselves. As a caregiver, though, you find that those responsibilities double as you begin to take care of your loved one, as well.
In turn, more often than not, you end up giving up many of your own personal responsibilities, leading to health complications, both mental and physical. Avoid this by asking for a helping hand as often as you can. Whether it is from a close friend or family member, or even a respite care program, there are plenty of options out there to help lessen any potential burdens.
Take a break, daily. Take a moment for yourself throughout the day. Even if it is just a brief half hour, taking the time to distress and gain your bearings will help you improve your attitude significantly, as well as help you feel in control of your own time.
Make time for yourself and for friends. Above all, it is important to take a moment and make time for your own life. Never sacrifice or put on hold your health, hobbies or friendships, because when the caregiving ends, you don’t want to force yourself to pick up things where they were left off.
Use these things as a form of support to help carry you through your aging loved one’s journey. In the end, it will help make things much easier for you.
Stress seems like an inevitable part of caregiving due to the passion we put into caring for our loved ones. But caregiver stress is not something any caregiver should have to accept.
Having an understanding of what caregiver stress entails and the steps you can take to help relieve or prevent caregiver stress will not only help you stay in good health, both mentally and physically, but also ensure that you are able to provide the best possible care for your loved ones for many years to come.
At Physicians’ Choice, we understand that the caregiver is the backbone of senior care. As always, if you ever have any questions or concerns about the information we’ve outlined above, please feel free to give us a call. We are always here to help.
Physicians’ Choice Private Duty Assisted Living currently serving Omaha, Eastern Nebraska and Western Iowa provides seniors and their families a complete understanding of geriatric care options and helps families maneuver through the challenges of the system. Get your free Cost Comparison guide by clicking here. Or contact us for a free consultation or just to say hello!
photo credit: thornypup via photopin cc
“Physicians’ Choice Private Duty Assisted Living solves the challenges families face in caring for aging parents, with a focus on strategies that keep them in their homes. To learn more about our solutions, visit http://www.private-duty.pchhc.com.”