Senior Care Services Articles, emerald Care Home

Effective Ways to Help Elders Cope with Loneliness

Tue, 07 Dec 2021 15:30:12 GMT

Effective Ways to Help Elders cope with loneliness

Loneliness is a hard feeling to deal with, especially with the pandemic and increased time spent by oneself. Being alone and feeling alone can be a significant detriment to your physical and mental health, with elderly people being more at risk. Loneliness can affect anyone however, and a 2020 study done by Cigna reports that 61% of adults in the United States feel alone either sometimes or always. Loneliness and the feelings that come with it can be difficult things to adjust to, especially as you get older.

Seeing a loved one trapped in this state is a hard thing for anyone, especially if you are doing your best and trying to help in the ways that you can. Luckily, there are plenty of ways that you can help out people stuck in a rut of feelings of loneliness and start to get their emotional health back on track.

Encourage Social Interaction

The Merriam-Webster dictionary describes the word lonely as, "being without company" and "producing a feeling of bleakness or desolation." It may come as no surprise then that one of the best ways to help someone out if they are feeling lonely is to support them and advise them to pursue any social interaction that they can, whether it be different social activities, or even simply getting together with friends.

A healthy social life is an important thing for improving anyone's quality of life, let alone someone experiencing loneliness. If your loved one is experiencing depression as a result of being lonely, encouraging them to get out and do whatever they can to stay involved with other people is a must. Though they may not like it depending on their state of mind, it is an important part of a healthy lifestyle, and goes a long way in helping out with any effects of loneliness.

Volunteer

One of the best ways to expand your social circle is to either get your loved one to volunteer, or be a part of it with them. Volunteering is an amazing way to grant them a sense of purpose, and volunteering is an amazing way to spend their days, filled with meaningful activities and people who mean well.

From volunteering in a soup kitchen to help the homeless and those down on their luck, to an animal shelter, to care for those animals that need aid, there is a wide range of places that you can volunteer. Even if it's just helping out at your church's bake sale, any little bit helps, and gives you a chance to meet plenty of people from every spectrum of life.

Even if volunteering isn't usually their style, this is a great way to not only help out your community in a relevant and substantial way, but a great way to meet new people and keep in contact on a regular basis.

Visit and Interact with Peers

One of the most obvious ways that one can help out with feelings of loneliness is to get them into contact with their friends and peers. When people get into a rut, one of the big signs of depression is losing contact with those close to you. If you notice this happening to whomever you are concerned for, making sure that they keep connected with those around them is important.

It can be as simple as a call or a text every once in a while, just to let them know that people love and care for them. You can get in contact with friends and other family, let them know to reach out and send some love their way, making sure they feel like a part of a community and family.

Setting up times to meet or talk with people they haven't seen in a while is big as well, especially if they live in a nursing home or assisted living, and aren't able to get out as much as anyone else.

Join a Group or Club

Finding like-minded people is important for anyone, not just those struggling with lonely or depressive symptoms. Discovering groups or clubs in your loved ones area is a great place for them to get out and socialize. Figuring out what they love to do and finding places in the area that run for that is a great way to get them out and meet new people.

Perhaps it's a chess club, with people of all ages. Maybe they love reading, and finding a book club with new books and people to discuss them with. Or perhaps they still love football, and finding a fantasy football club with people who adore the game as well.

There are plenty of groups and clubs in your area, unless you live in an extremely rural town or place of the country. Places like your local community center, library, or senior center are amazing places to find things going on in your area. Finding these places and people might take a little bit of work, but it can be an important way to get them out of their living space and interacting with new people who love what they love.

Encourage Mental and Physical Health

Making sure people are introduced to new and varying social situations can play a huge part in helping out lonely people. These aren't the only ways to do so though. Depression and loneliness affect your mental and physical health, and taking care of both your body and mind goes a long way in staving off the effects of loneliness.

Clinical depression is a serious mental disorder that poses health risks, and making sure to treat it the same as any other medical condition is key. Diagnosing the problem, and then treating the symptoms. These next couple of things are important ways you can help your loved ones dealing with these problems.

Eat Healthy

Eating healthy should be an important part of anyone's life, but this is doubly so for anyone dealing with loneliness or depression. Sutterhealth states that "a healthy, well-balanced diet can help us think clearly and feel more alert. it can also improve concentration and attention span." On the other hand, eating poorly can give you fatigue, make your decision-making worse, and can make reaction times far slower. Eating well is a simple way to help out anyone, especially those struggling with loneliness.

If they are unable to cook for themselves, getting together and cooking healthy meals for them is important. If they are in assisted living or a nursing home, advising them to eat well and decline any junk food is good. There is a critical link between mental health and physical health, and improving your body and what foods it's processing is a great way to clear your head and improve your overall health.

Do What Exercise You Can

Depending on the physical state your loved one is in, regular exercise can be key in fending off the symptoms of depression and loneliness. According to Harvard Health , exercise can be just as effective as antidepressants, releasing endorphins to help improve overall wellbeing and helps stimulate brain growth and brain function. Exercising regularly can help push off any cognitive decline your loved one may be having as well.

While having a regimented exercise program or a schedule isn't an option for everyone due to physical limitations, if the person you are looking after is in good enough shape to do any kind of exercise on a regular basis, it's a important to ask them to try. Even something as simple as a short walk everyday can do wonders for your mind and health, and also gives you a chance to get out and socialize with people as you exercise.

Possibly Seek Professional Help

Another thing to consider on the basis of mental health, is whether or not your loved one should seek out any kind of professional help, such as a psychiatrist. Anyone trained in dealing with mental health has a lot of information on how to deal with things like chronic loneliness and lonely individuals. These people are trained to help deal with any symptoms, and can help to diagnose whatever is wrong. Getting into see someone for your mental health, being diagnosed, and getting medications possibly can be a great thing.

While there may be a stigma against seeking help for your mental health, that shouldn't hold you back from seeking the assistance that your loved one may need.

Consider Home Care or Assisted Living

Another thing that you may want to consider, especially if you don't have much time to help your loved one, is moving them into assisted living or getting home care to visit them in their home. Depression and loneliness can often have other effects and symptoms, and getting help to assist with them is never a bad thing. Getting them assistance with living also gives them people to talk with on a regular basis, and especially if moving into an assisted living community, people they may be able to connect to and thrive with.

Moving anyone into assisted living or home care is a big choice, and definitely not one to be taken lightly. If you've tried many of the things above and your loved one is still dealing with extreme loneliness or depression, this is an option that you may want to heavily weigh.

Conclusion

No matter the time of life, depression and loneliness aren't easy things to deal with, especially if you are watching someone you care about have a hard time deal with them, and mental health issues are no joke.

Thankfully there are plenty of options to help them out, from social events and friends, to eating healthy, to even getting help with taking care of them. There are many things that work, varying from person to person in effectiveness, but know that, even if it may feel like it, you aren't alone in the things that you deal with.

Benefits of Assisted Living in a Home Environment

Mon, 18 Oct 2021 14:30:09 GMT

5 Benefits of Assisted Living

So you've seen the signs and are considering whether or not to move your loved one into an assisted living facility. Figuring out which places give what and what facilities they have can be a hassle. And what if you aren't totally convinced in the first place. The decision can be hard one, and despite wanting the best quality of life for the person you care about, it's easy to not be 100% sold.

Assisted living communities can be a great place for anyone struggling with aspects of their lives, whether they are related to health or age. There are plenty of benefits to moving a loved one into assisted care, and while it can be expensive, it is most definitely worthwhile!

1. 24/7 Professional and Personalized Health Care

If you are considering moving someone into an assisted living community, it is more than likely they need help with some aspects of their lives. Perhaps they need help with their daily living, with daily activities such as bathing, basic hygiene, and cleaning, are all too difficult to take care of their own. Maybe they are having medical issues that you are unsure of how to deal with, or they need constant personal care. There are many different problems people can have, and assisted living may be able to help with them.

The around the clock care that assisted living provides is incredible, and far more than you can give on a moment-to-moment basis. If your loved one is in need of constant medical care due to any health problems, there are teams of nurses and caregivers ready to administer any care plan that your loved one may need. From physical therapy to bloodwork and testing, the skilled nurses and family caregivers are ready to provide the assistance they can.

It isn't just medical needs that are addressed and accounted for though. If you're loved one needs personal care assistance and aid with their daily living activities, assisted living is the perfect place for them to be. Whether its help with taking a bath, organizing and taking their medications, or meal preparation, assisted living is able to provide help with all of it.

While it may seem like you are abandoning them in this home, the personalized and special care that an assisted living home can give is excellent!

2. Opportunities for Recreation and Independence

Even when one's health isn't in perfect condition, and help is required for various activities, that doesn't mean that you can't have fun or be independent in any way. Assisted living facilities are useful not only for the long-term care that they provide to their residents, but for the additional services and amenities that they provide. These can be anything from game-nights, movie nights, specialized events, and much much more. Just because they need some help with their lives doesn't mean that they can't have fun!

Not only are they good places for fun and recreation, but there is also a focus on giving people whatever semblance of an independent life as they can. Despite needing help with things like medication and hygiene, there's a chance to also do the things they can, and give a healthy sense of community life. Whether it's going to visit their friends in another building, checking out the cafeteria in some down time, or heading over to the game room for some bridge, there's an endless supply of things to do and plenty of social events to keep anyone occupied!

3. Nutritious and Tasty Meals

Finding healthy and delicious foods to cook every single day can be a hassle for everyone, and especially someone who needs help with their daily activities, and this is where assisted living is an absolute life-saver.

There are three square meals a day prepared by cooks, with healthy and tasty options available at all times of the day. While they may normally struggle to cook something that is good for them everyday, the amazing team at the homes provides for them. Not only is going and getting meals a great thing to not have to worry about, but they give an awesome chance for visiting and a healthy social life to continue as well.

Whether or not your loved one needs a snack later on in the evening, or some early-morning coffee, the staff and caregivers do everything they can to help with meal preparation and making your loved one's day as great as possible.

4. Peace of Mind

It can be a hard thing knowing that your parent, grandparent, or anyone else may need more assistance than you can give them. Even if you are doing your best and giving it your all, constant attention and caregiving requires team and can lead to quite a bit of stress. This is one of the greatest gifts that an assisted living home can give, and that is peace of mind.

Worrying about your cherished family member who may be experiencing intense feelings of loneliness or require constant medical assistance, isn't easy. In any assisted living, there's plenty of 24-hour medical or nursing care always at their disposal, community life that is thriving and always involved, and a sense of independence that isn't easy to find at that stage of life. Knowing that your loved ones are in safe hands gives an incredible peace of mind, and while is can be a difficult choice to move someone into a home, it can be a great decision for anyone involved.

5. Safe Transportation, Always Ready

Are your parents still wanting to drive even at old age and when their sight is leaving? Maybe they are constantly wanting to go places, but you are unsure whether or not transportation is able to get to them? Are they able to visit their friends whenever they want?

If these are questions you need to consider on even a regular basis, it might be time to consider some options of assisted living communities. These communities have not only skilled caregivers, but other staff ready to help whenever needed, including transportation. Not only is there constant methods for getting around the facilities and buildings, but if they need something out in town, or want to visit a friend, all of this is looked after and arranged.

These forms of transportation are great not only for the ease-of-access, but the social interaction, as everyone will be using them, and gives people a great chance to hang out with their friends. This safe and reliable transportation is a great chance to give people a bigger slice of independent living.

6. Vibrant Home Life

While it was mentioned before, one of the greatest parts of assisted living is the great chance that it gives for a wholesome and involved lifestyle. An assisted-living community gives resident's a chance to interact with and befriend other's on a day-to-day basis, with plenty of social activities happening all the time, from book clubs, to board games, to movie nights, there's plenty of things for people to do.

While an assisted living community does in fact give resident's a solid opportunity to flesh out their social life, this doesn't mean it isn't safe and monitored. While they are encouraged to make friends and go to outings and events, these things are monitored and staff is waiting on standby in case anything happenings. While fun is definitely the plan, safety is the priority, and the reason why people are there in the first place!

Conclusion

While assisted living may not be perfect in every sense, the chance to give people great and personalized care is incredible. From recreational activities, memory care, healthy meals, and wellness programs, there are countless reasons to have someone join a senior living community.

Moving someone is a hard choice to make, but it can be great, not only for them, but also for you.

How to Determine the Right Time for Assisted Care

Mon, 18 Oct 2021 13:14:46 GMT

Is it Time to Seek Assisted Living?

Taking care of your loved ones as they get older can be a great blessing, but at the same time a great responsibility. Caring for someone's daily living, whether a cherished family member or not, is a big commitment. As they get older and their health starts to decline, you can start to wonder whether or not the level of care they need is getting out of your ability to handle.

Maybe there's certain events that start to happen that make you question this. Is there a medical condition that keeps getting worse? Are they starting to require 24-hour care? Is the medication management too much for you to handle? All of these are valid concerns that can be out of your control. All you want is an incredible quality of life, and it may feel like you aren't the person for the job and whether you need to consider getting some help.

Here are a few reasons that you might be in over your head and may want to get assisted care.

1. Declining Health

Is their health continuing to get worse with more and more medication and medical attention being required? Are any chronic conditions they may have causing them stress and pain? Is your possibly little medical expertise a hindrance to them?

These are difficult questions, but ones that you need to think about if your loved one's health starts to decline. While the body starting to age and become weaker is normal as people age, too many health conditions that require medical care can be scary for someone looking to take care of someone. If skilled nursing care is something you think that your loved one could use, it's definitely time to consider moving them to a place that has the amenities that they need.

2. Daily Life Becomes a Chore

As people age, the requirements of daily living becomes higher and higher. Maybe your grandparent no longer cleans up after themselves and gives way to unsanitary living conditions. Perhaps they can no longer cook for themselves and aren't getting any nutritious foods.

All of these are important problems that can arise with age and health problems. Especially if you can't be there for them on a regular basis, these can make for a difficult decision. There are certain needs one has on a day-to-day basis, and if these things are too hard for your loved one, it's definitely time to consider getting someone or moving them somewhere to help with their daily tasks.

3. Caregiver Stress

While we need to consider the health and safety of those we love, we also can't forget to take care of ourselves either. Taking care of someone who is outside the scope of your abilities to help can cause undue stress for everyone, especially yourself. While you may want to help your loved one stay more independent, it helps everyone in the long run if your stress levels are low.

If you are spending a lot of time worrying and anxious about your loved one and their care, it is definitely time to think about assisted living and full-time care. Whether or not they are living in directly unsafe conditions, keeping an eye out for the common signs of aging is important. You shouldn't be hard on yourself if you need to get help for taking care of your loved ones, it doesn't have to be all on you.

4. Isolation and Depression

Human interaction and social activities are a vital part of mental health. Keeping engaged with one's community is a great way to stay active and keep your mind engaged. If you are noticing that your loved one is struggling to get out and meet other people, or they frequently have no visitors, this can be warning sign that can lead to depression and loneliness.

Assisted living facilities can provide daily activities and the social interaction that people need to thrive. While you might be hesitant to take that leap and consider this option, this is a great option for those to meet people and are suffering from any kind of loneliness, having plenty of opportunities for socialization. While this isn't the only option of course, it's a great way to help out with your loved one's mental and emotional health, while also caring for their physical health as well.

5. Memory Loss

Cognitive decline can be a major problem as people age. The loss of memory and low attention span that can follow can be a major issue in people's lives, especially if they want to remain independent. If they are forgetting whether or not they've taken medication that is a major concern, as medication mismanagement can be incredibly dangerous. Forgetting to clean your house is another big problem, leading to cluttered walkways and dirty surroundings. Hygiene can also fall to the wayside.

A loss of memory can be a major problem, and is a common warning sign that you need to get them more help. Memory loss is one of the most important signs to watch for, and something that you definitely need to address should it begin happening, as it can easily lead to bad situations and accidental injuries.

Conclusion

Aging isn't easy, and the increased care that becomes required can be hard not only on the person, but on the caregiver as well. Navigating those waters can be a difficult and stress-inducing thing, and without the proper knowledge of what to look for, you might get help later than you needed it. Watching for these different signs is an important part of caring for people as they age and go through various health problems.

While placing a dear parent in a nursing home or assisted living can be a difficult choice, it can be a necessary one because of the additional care and aid that they provide.