Free and Unbiased Information Blog Focused on Helping The Aging

Are you worried that your older adult with Dementia is unable to recognise you? Do you feel sad that your loving granny doesn’t remember your name? Watching the cognitive decline of an older one with Dementia is heartbreaking. Once it starts affecting your relationship, it leaves you miserable and sad. In the middle and later stages of Alzheimer’s disease, people tend to lose the ability to recognise and remember others. Sometimes it gets limited to recalling the name of the family members, and at other times it can be challenging to recall the exact relationship. Along with forgetfulness, people tend to get anxious, agitated and have symptoms of delusions, combativeness and paranoia. Why Your Older Adult Can’t Recognise You? Do you question why your older adult is unable to recognise you? There are many reasons behind it like memory loss, paranoia and delusions, delirium and vision loss. Memory Loss: Alzheimer’s damages the brain and affects the memory. Depending on which area of...

Understanding the different types of senior care can be a little confusing for families. When a loved one needs help, it’s often hard to navigate your way through the maze of options available. Because an assisted living community and a skilled nursing center sound so similar on paper, deciding which one is the best fit requires research. Adult children who haven’t been through the search for a senior housing solution can easily assume an assisted living community is simply a more upscale version of a nursing home. The reality is, there are very significant differences between these two levels of care. What is Assisted Living? Assisted living communities are a senior housing option where professional caregivers offer the support that residents need to live their most independent lives. Each resident typically has a private apartment or suite, with caregivers nearby, around-the-clock, to provide assistance when necessary. Residents also receive support with personal care tasks (e.g...

Your elderly family member might not want to talk directly about the idea of her giving up driving. But she might share some details with you that allow you to infer what else might be going on. All of these concerns mean you should ask more questions. She’s in Pain When She Drives Your senior might mention that driving puts pressure on her hips or that she has difficulty moving in certain ways. This is important information because there’s a lot of physicality in driving. If she’s in pain, that might mean that she’s not as able to control the car as she needs to be. She Mentions She’s Emotionally Uncomfortable Driving Beyond physical comfort, there’s also emotional comfort. If your elderly family member mentions that she’s gotten nervous or that she feels uncomfortable when she’s driving, like during rush hour traffic, that can be a red flag. She might need to reconsider whether there are times and situations during which she should opt not to drive. She Doesn’t Notice Things ...

Caring for a family member who has Alzheimer’s disease or a related form of dementia can be a rewarding role. You have an opportunity to provide hands-on care and support for someone you love. Taking them to physician appointments allows you to share changes and concerns, and seek solutions for managing symptoms. Cooking meals for them helps you ensure they are eating a well-balanced diet. Spending this time together is a way for the two of you to stay connected. As the demands of caregiving increase, however, you may find your own health declining. Headaches, digestive issues, and insomnia are just a few medical issues caregivers report . Caregivers often begin to doubt whether they are doing a good job caring for their loved one or not. They second-guess themselves and worry about every small issue that comes up. It’s a situation that can increase stress levels and leave the caregiver feeling mentally and emotionally exhausted. If this situation sounds familiar, you may be on the...

Each year, 44 million Americans provide 37 billion hours of informal care for an aging parent. While this can be a rewarding experience for both a senior and an adult child, often times it is a situation that leads to stress and burnout for the caregiving family member. According to Today’s Caregiver, families in the US provide 80 to 90 percent of in-home long term care for seniors. Many of these families are headed by adults that are part of what has come to be known as the “sandwich generation” – middle-aged adults that care for an aging parent while still caring for their own children. The Sandwich Generation According to Family Caregiver Alliance, the typical “sandwiched” caregiver is a woman in her mid-40s who is married, employed and cares for her parent (usually mother). However, the number of men caring for aging parents continues to grow.  Nearly 60 percent of caregiving family members work full or part-time, and caring for a senior often affects their work performance. ...

Is your elderly living in an elder care facility? Do you feel you need to do more for them? Well, shifting your elderly in an elder home may not be an easy decision for you and your older adult. Nevertheless, you get an assurance that your elderly benefits with quality care. Along with care, you can work on improving their quality of life too. There are various things you can do to ensure that they feel loved, protected and respected. Some of the ways you can take the plunge include Get Counselling Sessions Organised: Many things start affecting your elderly with age. Being idle, any age-related disorder, the demise of a close one or even shifting to the eldercare facility can trigger depression tendency. So, you can seek the help of a professional counsellor who can talk to your older adult and help them overcome such a trend. If you are looking for such counselling sessions, which can get arranged even at the facility, then Samvedna Care counsellors can help. The team at Samved...

Globally, the number of senior citizens is expected to cross the 1 billion mark in 2030, which means that 1 in every 7 people will be a person aged 60 years and above. India is already the second-most populous nation in the world and we will soon have one of the largest populations of senior citizens as well. The chances of developing dementia increase with age, and there is no way to test for dementia, like a blood test for diabetes or cholesterol. However, memory screening through psychological tests and observations by specialists are important ways to identify early signs of dementia. Timely memory screening and early detection of dementia allows interventions to be provided earlier so that families can provide better care. Samvedna Senior Care is one of the leading organizations providing dementia services in Delhi, and we have been offering memory screenings at three senior care centers in Delhi and Gurugram. As part of our work to contribute to quality senior care in Delhi,...

Dehydration is a serious concern for older adults. With age, the body doesn’t contain as much fluid as it once did. In addition, older adults typically don’t feel thirst as keenly as younger people do, so they may not realize they need liquids. This makes it easier for seniors to suffer from dehydration. Dehydration can lead to serious complications, like kidney problems and seizures. Though the risk of dehydration is serious, many older adults still resist drinking enough liquids. Part of the reason is that they don’t feel thirsty. They may also avoid drinking so they don’t have to get up and go to the bathroom as often or fear losing bladder control. However, there are ways you can get your aging relative to drink more water and take in enough liquids. Below are some suggestions that may help. Make Water Easily Accessible Sometimes seniors don’t drink enough water because they forget or because it’s difficult for them to walk into the kitchen to get it. Keeping water where they ...

Many beloved seniors in our lives have lots of stuff. After all, they’ve had years and years to accumulate knickknacks, trinkets and decorations. Instead of another tchotchke, what our Golden Girls and Guys really need and would greatly appreciate are items that will make their lives easier, safer, healthier and more enjoyable. Here at Amada Senior Care, our Number One goal is to help enrich seniors’ lives, so creating this guide to gift-giving this holiday season was right in our wheelhouse. Just in time for the 12 Days of Christmas, here are a dozen gift ideas aimed at managing physical and mental health and promoting peace of mind. Keep these suggestions in mind for gifting your senior loved one for a birthday, anniversary … or just because. Amazon Echo Dot (3 rd Generation) The hands-free and voice-activated Amazon Echo Dot will entertain seniors and help them feel connected. Get the news or weather, listen to an audiobook or joke, ask the day and time, request to hear a favo...

Sunrise of Bagshot is celebrating after supporting the launch of local dementia-friendly pub lunches. Melanie Grigg, Director of Community Relations at Sunrise of Bagshot, is the Chairman of the Dementia Action Alliance in Bagshot, Windlesham and Lightwater, who have developed the new initiative. The Alliance uses the Sunrise dining principles at their lunches to offer a calm and welcoming environment to those living with memory loss and make menus clear and simple, with pictures if required. The lunches are open to everyone from the local area and provide an ideal opportunity for families impacted by dementia to meet. This month’s lunch was a Christmas special held at The Kings Arms in Bagshot, with guests tucking into festive treats whilst enjoying music and entertainment provided by local singer Jen Merchant. The afternoon proved to be a big success, with a discounted Christmas menu provided by the landlord Mark Gordon and Chair of the Bagshot Business Association. The Dement...

We have all heard an elderly friend or relative say, “don’t get old.” They may have forgotten a word, or felt an ache in the knees when they tried to stand. We usually respond with a smile and a laugh, or the words, “I don’t have much choice!” But as young healthy adults we probably don’t consider or appreciate all the challenges of growing older. We certainly consider the physical and medical challenges - like aching knees or cholesterol medication. But keeping in mind the mental challenges of aging can be tough for a young healthy adult, and the biggest challenge we must keep in mind when dealing with our elderly friends and family is independence. Independence in Old Age Surveys have shown over and over that the elderly population wants to live independently and stay in their own homes as long as possible as they age. This can become a challenge due to physical or mental constraints that come about due to aging. But as family, friends, and caregivers to these seniors, there are ...

After 16 long years without any truly viable treatment options for Alzheimer’s, there is some optimism on the horizon in a stunning reversal on the formerly-rejected antibody therapy, aducanumab. The newest research reveals that large quantities of the medication do, in fact, decrease cognitive decline at the beginning stages of Alzheimer’s. According to Rebecca Edelmayer, director of scientific engagement at the Alzheimer’s Association, “It could be a game-changer for the field. It could be one of the first disease-modifying therapies approved for Alzheimer’s disease.” Biogen, the maker of aducanumab, reports significant benefits for dementia patients in a number of areas: activities of daily living, memory, language, and orientation. Biogen introduced its intentions to pursue regulatory approval in the U.S., with a long range aim of launching the medication internationally. With an expected request for approval by the FDA as quickly as early 2020, the drug is slated to possibly b...

As your elderly grow old, living independently and managing all chores becomes difficult. The tasks that they could accomplish quickly become burdensome for them. In such situations, home care service providers can help the elderly or sick with the help they need in managing their daily routine and living healthy lives. Today’s home health care services can help the elderly in handling all the errands and chores like cooking, cleaning, and maintaining their home. These service providers can also give skilled medical care in the form of therapists and nurses. Read on to know more about the different senior care services that you can get for your elderly. Health Care: Are you looking for comprehensive healthcare packages for your senior citizen? Then, you can avail of health care services from elder home care. Your older adult can benefit from doctors, nurses and care managers who can track your senior’s health and well-being. The different health care services that you can get inclu...

The GreenFields Continuing Care Community last week welcomed a few people a bit younger than their typical demographic; actually, several generations younger. The senior living campus in Lancaster has opened a 6,000-square-foot daycare center for the children of its employees, with operations handled by Imagination Station Child Care & Preschool, which has sites in Batavia, Elma, Alden and Leroy. Already, eight employees are using the service, and three more are signed up to start when they return from maternity leave. Christopher Koenig, CEO at Niagara Lutheran Health System, which oversees GreenFields, said the program will also be available for drop-in care, when employees are called in for a shift last minute, or anytime child care plans are thrown into flux, such as when schools are closed. “They can bring their kids with them and they don’t lose out on pay, and the patients don’t lose out on care,” he said. First announced a year ago, the GreenFields program also has anot...

  Traveling may be one of the best gifts for mom or dad. The trip may be to visit family for the holidays, an adventure to a destination, or even a return home.  Since planning trips can be hard and time-consuming, we have drafted a list of travel tips for seniors to make sure you get to your destination safe and sound!   Visit Your Doctor   Before you plan anything trip-related, it’s important to plan a trip to the doctor first. Your doctor will be sure to clear your loved one safe for travel and can give you recommendations on vaccines and medications to make sure that your loved senior stays healthy. Note that it’s very important to follow your doctor’s advice. Make sure you bring all the recommended medications. A change in a routine or schedule can cause some people to lose track of time, so be sure to schedule that appointment before time slips away from you.   Request and Reserve Elderly Accommodations   These requests such as seat assignmen...

It’s not uncommon for older adults to need assistance washing their hair. And for those who have mobility limitations, it may be necessary to provide that assistance in a bed or wheelchair. But exactly how often should the elderly wash their hair, and what can be done to make sure everything goes as smoothly as possible? How Often Should the Elderly Wash Hair? While our hair does collect a bit of dirt each day, the biggest reason why hair needs to be washed regularly is oil. Glands on the scalp are constantly producing an oil called sebum to help moisturize your hair. As it’s produced, that oil slowly works its way from the scalp to the ends of your hair, where it continues to accumulate until washed. However, with the many other changes that come with age, the scalps of older adults don’t produce as much sebum. Curly and coarse hair are also known to slow down the rate at which it spreads through hair. In short, that means there’s no single washing frequency that works best for eve...

Communication is an integral part of being human. We communicate with our family, friends, co-workers, neighbors - basically every person we meet. It is an important part of self-expression. But as we age, communication becomes more difficult. Perhaps, as friends and relatives age and pass away, we feel there is no one to communicate with that understands our life experiences. Perhaps a cognitive or physical disability has made verbal communication difficult or impossible. In situations like these, creative arts for seniors can be a solution to enable communication for the elderly. The idea of art therapy and aging working together to make a senior’s life easier may sound ridiculous and impractical, but the fact is the benefits of arts and crafts for seniors are many and backed by scientific study. Everyone is creative, and harnessing that creativity can help with a number of struggles the elderly may face. Consider how popular “adult coloring” has become in recent years. And it works...

Hibernation is not an option for seniors during the winter! While the cold, the snow, and the lack of sun can be depressing, you cannot let that cause you to curl into the fetal position and count the days until spring arrives. It’s no joking matter either. Being inactive is unhealthy for you physically, mentally, and socially. Therefore, it’s recommended that you find plenty of ways of staying active and healthy during the winter months. It’s easier to do for some more than others. Too often, seniors don’t notice a change from summer to winter other than adjusting the thermostat and switching from shorts to stocking caps and gloves. It’s also common to not spend nearly as much time outdoors, even when they aren’t limited to indoor activities only. One thing that sets Hearthstone apart is its promotion involvement for residents, engaging everyone in social, cultural, educational, and fitness activities. It’s almost impossible to not be active when you have access to health and well...