Confusion and disorientation can lead to different challenges for aging adults with dementia, including wandering. Wandering can put your elderly parent’s safety and health at risk. Therefore, it’s necessary to create a list of strategies to handle wandering and possibly prevent the issue altogether. 1. Hide Keys & Lock Doors Your loved one could go to the bathroom and walk…
Every year, many seniors encounter dangerous situations in the one place they should feel safe. Accidents often occur at home, where a senior might be alone for long periods. Home caregivers provide the following types of personalized care that can help your aging loved one thrive in safe, comfortable surroundings. 1. Provide Support for Mobility Challenges Slip-and-fall accidents are a…
Dementia is a condition that causes nerve cell damage or loss and disrupts their connections to the brain. As a result, older adults with dementia often face challenges with daily activities, putting their health and safety at risk. Although dementia affects each senior differently, some symptoms are common, as are the signs that at-home care is necessary. To slow down…
Nursing home stays can be expensive, considering the admitted senior receives 24-hour skilled nursing care from nursing home staff. Before admitting an aging loved one to a nursing home, consider less-costly options, such as assisted living facilities and in-home care. Oftentimes, seniors will be admitted to a nursing home for a short period, typically to recover or receive rehabilitation services…
Strong feelings may emerge during the course of serving as a caregiver to a loved one. Family members may either be new to the role or have significant experience providing care. No matter what the experience level, emotions arise, and caregivers should know they are valid and important. Starting out on the journey of caregiving can be an emotionally taxing…
Caregivers of individuals can improve the quality of the care they provide by speaking with the individual in a different way. Simple language changes can help individuals feel heard and understood. Here are a few important ways that modifying language can greatly benefit care recipients. Good communication is integral to helping individuals. People are more likely to adhere to a…
As people get older, many are choosing to age in their homes as opposed to transitioning to an assisted living or nursing home community. Most individuals feel more comfortable at home rather than being in a community where they have a schedule that must be followed. Usually, over time, individuals need more help with the activities of daily living (ADLs)…
A dementia diagnosis is distressing. The unknowns compound the fear associated with the anticipated cognitive decline. While receiving a dementia diagnosis can be upsetting, it is important to reclaim life and take steps to make the next chapter of life as healthy and positive as possible. Dementia is a general term describing the loss of memory, thinking skills, language, and…
Good caregivers demonstrate a combination of professional skills, personal character, and emotional awareness that directly impacts the safety and wellbeing of those in their care. Key qualities include patience, compassion, strong communication skills, reliability, attention to detail, and the ability to adapt to changing physical or emotional needs. An effective caregiver is also trained to recognize health changes, respect dignity…
If you are caring for a loved one, or you are an individual who is aging at home, it is important to know how to make sure your home is a safe place to live. By making your or your loved one’s living space safe, it allows individuals to move around freely without worrying about falling or injuring themselves. Proofing…
