Free and Unbiased Information Blog Focused on Helping The Aging

Work furloughs sparked by the coronavirus pandemic have made it possible for more family members to provide in-home care to their senior loved ones. While this  can be very rewarding, the responsibility —particularly during this crisis period—can  quickly cause damaging stress for the caregiver.   This is especially true for those in the  sand w ich generation  – middle-aged adults car ing  for an aging parent while raising their own children.  Essentially, these adult daughters and sons have been doing double-duty as caregivers since they  also have young children at home with schools being closed. Some in the sandwich generation are actively employed but working from home—adding another important responsibility to juggle.    Constant worry over a loved one’s needs —along with the added stress and pressures of managing daily life in this unprecedented time—can  cause you to forget about your own  needs .  They might be eclipsed by new concerns like keeping a loved one who is immuno

Older adults have a significantly higher risk of complications from infectious diseases, such as Covid-19, including death. As adult children or grandchildren, we want to do our best to protect and care for our elderly loved ones. When it comes to infectious diseases, however, their needs are likely to be beyond the scope of a family caregiver. They require the knowledge of a trained home health care provider. Providing your elderly loved one with the best in-home care Seniors require additional measures of care and protection when it comes to infectious diseases, such as Covid-19. This is the case even if their symptoms are mild and they have been advised by their doctor to treat at home rather than going to the hospital. Providing this care presents family caregivers with certain hazards, such as getting infected themselves or passing the infection to someone else in the family, such as a spouse or child. It’s near impossible to practice physical distancing or isolating when you

With the COVID-19 pandemic, there are a lot of questions about how to keep yourself safe and prevent the spread of the virus. The CDC has come out to say that people should wear face masks or cloth face coverings to help keep themselves and others safer when they go out. You can learn more about why this is important below, and you can learn how to make a homemade face mask for yourself or your loved ones. According to the Center for Disease Control or CDC , wearing a cloth face mask can help prevent the spread of COVID-19, particularly if you are in areas where it is difficult to maintain social distancing measures. The CDC says that cloth face masks should fit snugly and include multiple layers of fabric. They should also be washed regularly to maintain cleanliness. How do you make your own cloth face mask? There are many different tutorials out there for making face masks. Below, we are going to share two simple methods for making yourself a mask. One of these involves sewing and

COVID-19  is scary enough for  older adults, being in a demographic who is at higher risk of developing more serious complications from the disease. During the upheaval and anxiety of this global pandemic, they also need to be wary of  the new  wave of criminals who are targeting seniors with coronavirus-themed scams and fraud.    As in other crises, con artists try to capitalize on people’s fears and hopes. For example, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently  issued warnings to companies  touting products like essential oils, teas and colloidal silver as treatments or cures.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),  there is  yet   no known  drugs or  cure s   for coronavirus.    Seniors are easy victims for  scams  because they are often isolated, lonely and tend to be trusting. Many seniors also suffer from memory loss or dementia which leaves them even more vulnerable to scams. Seniors are often a big targe

Memorial Day is more than the unofficial kickoff to summer. It is a solemn holiday to remember and honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect the freedom of the United States. The History of Memorial Day While Armed Forces Day honors active duty service members and Veterans Day recognizes all who served, Memorial Day is dedicated to those who lost their lives serving our country. Originally designated as Decoration Day, the holiday is observed annually on the last Monday of May. Communities across the country are encouraged to pause in remembrance at 3:00 p.m. local time. While many communities claim to be the birthplace of Memorial Day , Waterloo, New York officially holds the honor. It is believed to be the first community to have recognized Decoration Day with a celebration held on May 5, 1866. In 1868, Decoration Day became a national holiday known as Memorial Day. In the early years, the holiday was dedicated exclusively to those who lost their lives fighting in t

The path to a safe, enjoyable living experience for seniors begins with an environment that is inviting and well sanitized. Healthcare workers play a key role in this process enact cleaning measures and keep a watchful eye open for missteps that can compromise the health of seniors, staff, and others. Below are 8 steps to keeping seniors’ environments — whether at home or a facility — clean and sanitized. from Caring Senior Service Blog https://ift.tt/2TnjMYL via IFTTT

With the pandemic going on, many people are feeling anxiety about the world around them. This can be tough to add to everything else that is going on in life. There are some ways to manage your Coronavirus anxiety. Check out some helpful tips below. How to Manage Anxiety: Don’t Ignore Your Anxiety, Acknowledge It – It can be tempting to ignore unpleasant feelings like anxiety. Instead, acknowledge that you are experiencing anxiety so that you can get to understanding how you are feeling and what you need. Pay Attention to Positive News and Information – With the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a lot of negative news, but there is positive news as well. Positive news surrounding Coronavirus could include the people that have recovered from their illness, the recovery rate, and all the things people are doing for each other during this time. Take a Break from the News – It is also a good idea to take a break from the news. It it not good to be constantly consuming information about C

If you’re one of the 26 percent of Canadians looking after an elderly parent, chances are your days were already complicated before the coronavirus pandemic changed the way we live. These days, managing work and caregiving – and all your other responsibilities – is likely even more complex. The added stressors to daily life The pandemic has changed the way we do just about everything, from the way we work to how we grocery shop and clean our homes. Juggling senior care duties with work can be challenging enough on “normal” days, but how do you manage now when you’re trying to work from home? Due to physical distancing, many family caregivers aren’t able to get the outside help from other family and friends that they may have relied on before. How do you work efficiently under the same roof with your elderly parent(s) or in-law(s) who require your care and attention? What if you’re also having to homeschool your children at the same time? Honestly, it’s not going to be easy, but wi

The COVID-19 pandemic is  moving  tele health  or telemedicine   (health care via phone, email, video or another technology)  into the mainstream , thus   ensur ing  access to   medical  care  yet still protect ing  patients as well as health care workers.   From routine checkups to visits with specialists,  telehealth  carries great potential for seniors who seek to age in place in their own home ,  maintain their independence  and feel peace of mind .   Seniors  who are  sheltering at home  during COVID  can enjoy many advantages from this mobile medical technology .  For one,  telehealth is considered a safe and easy way to see your doctor from the safety and comfort of your own home.  In fact,  more advanced telehealth technology offers options such as a face-to-face chat through a video web portal or the tracking of vital signs via remote monitoring devices.  The simple act of maintaining human connection by hearing and/or seeing a physician or a care team member will go  a long

Smartphone apps are playing a big role in the response to the Covid-19 pandemic. These apps are being used to do initial self-assessments, track infected people, issue self-quarantine guidelines, monitor quarantine conditions, provide latest communication to the citizens and ease the burden on healthcare staff. Here is a list of features of different applications available to help us fight against Corona : Aarogya Setu- A government of India initiative this app has gained more than 100 million downloads. This app warns a user if they come in proximity of someone who has tested positive for Covid-19, and also provides tips on prevention. The app primarily uses location data generated via GPS, Bluetooth and a user’s phone number to trace the places the user has been to. This information is then cross-referenced with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) database where positive cases have been reported. Whenever there’s a match in location data, the user gets a prompt. As we

You might be trying to figure out all sorts of solutions to help your loved one avoid falling at home. Falls are extremely dangerous and they can have lingering effects for your loved one. It turns out that exercise can actually be incredibly helpful for helping your loved one avoid falling. What Exercise Can Do Exercise can build your loved one’s muscles and her confidence, all at the same time. It can also help to build your loved one’s stamina, which can be especially important if she hasn’t been active for a while. It can help her sleep better and have more energy during the day. Exercise works gradually, so it’s not something that’s going to give your loved one all of the results that she wants immediately. Why Your Loved One Needs It As your loved one ages, she starts to lose muscle tone and she may find herself gaining weight much more easily than she used to. Your loved one’s weight might shift, too, moving from muscled areas to distributing fat around her stomach, hips, a

It  has become clear that  w e can not  thank nurses and caregivers enough in these days of pandemic.  We  salute   and appreciate  them as modern superheroes because of their willingness to care for seniors and others in need and  to  help minimize their risk of exposure.   In fact, the frequent handwashing and sanitizing  practiced routinely by in-home caregivers and nurses  can be credited to caregiving nurse  and medical trailblazer  Florence N ightingale.  May 6-12 is set aside each year as National Nurses Week to   recognize her many contributions to modern health care.   Early in her career,  Florence Nightingale  realized that the spread of disease often resulted from poor hygienic practices. She educated people on the importance of handwashing, personal hygiene and sanitation of medical supplies and patient rooms.  Reporting to service during the Crimean War, she  was horrified  to find  filthy water and supplies , along with  insect and rodent infestation. She  and a team of

The COVID-19 pandemic may prevent you from seeing your loved one as much as you’d like. This can be anxiety-inducing if you’re concerned about their health and safety, but luckily, a wellness check can ensure they are okay during dangerous circumstances. Let’s take a closer look at what wellness checks entail. What is a wellness check? When you’re concerned about your loved one’s well being, you can place a call with local police. Officers will then check in on the individual to ensure they are safe. What does a wellness check include? Officers will knock on your loved one’s door several times before awaiting a reply. During this time, the officers do not have to disclose they are law enforcement. If they do not receive a response, they will enter the premises. If the person is found to be in good health, they will notify you. However, if the person is sick, injured, or deceased, they will call for medical assistance immediately and request your presence. They will stay at the ho