Recognizing a Senior’s Needs Over the Holidays

When visiting an elderly family member over the holiday season, it’s the best time to begin evaluating how they are managing with their chosen lifestyle. While family members should be on the lookout for warning signs that their loved one might be struggling, the holiday season is not the right time to actually have a conversation about life changing events or cause stress. Families, can however, do an impromptu evaluation of their own and take note of things that should come up during future discussions.

Senior care experts recommend that families make note of the following things:

1. Any changes that they’ve noticed – this can include changes in the way a senior cares for their home, themselves, or their overall physical and mental health

2. Are there any things that can’t be fixed? – some changes are inevitable with age, but seniors might be able to continue managing with relative independence if these issues can be reversed Areas that can’t be fixed, for example, a senior who has developed limited mobility could indicate a need for a lifestyle change

3. Any areas that the family might be able to lend a hand – in some cases, families might be able to step in to keep seniors in their chosen lifestyle.  For example, seniors who are lacking in nutrition to an inability to get to the grocery store, might benefit from a family member coming over weekly to take them

4. Areas where family can encourage and support them – sometimes it’s just about recognizing changes taking place in a loved one and letting them know you care

Via: Talk Early, Talk Often

Nursing Home Care Greater Phoenix gives Phoenix elders and seniors an alternative to a nursing home. Call 602.588.7725 or 480.991.3959 for Home Care and Independence.

Older adults who feel most isolated report 65 percent more depressive symptoms than those who feel least isolated, regardless of their actual levels of connectedness. The consequences of poor mental health can be substantial, as deteriorating mental health also reduces people’s willingness to exercise and may increase health-risk behaviors such as cigarette smoking and alcohol use, explained Linda Waite, the Lucy Flower Professor in Sociology at the University of Chicago and a leading expert on aging.  Among the study’s findings:

The most socially connected older adults are three times as likely to report very good or excellent health compared to those who are least connected, regardless of whether they feel isolated.

Older adults who feel least isolated are five times as likely to report very good or excellent health as those who feel most isolated, regardless of their actual level of social connectedness.

If you find your aging relative is feeling depressed due to isolation in a Phoenix nursing home, please consider hiring a caregiving companion such as a CAREGiver from Home Instead Senior Care.  It’s a great way to help your aging mom or dad avoid loneliness.

Read how Loneliness Can Impact Seniors’ Health

Source: Science Daily

Nursing Home Care Greater Phoenix & Nursing Home Care Central Phoenix gives Phoenix elders and seniors quality care at home. Call today 623.583.5868, 602.265.8228 or 480.991.3959.

Image: www.gettyimages.com