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Tag: Senior Living

Why the Elderly Generation Is Choosing to Age in Place

Posted on by Craig Bass

As your parents and grandparents become older, you may notice that a huge trend in the senior community is to age in place. It is crucial to look into all care options when helping your senior parent plan for the future. There are 24-hour home care options that make aging in place much easier. Some caregivers will work full-time shifts providing 24-hour care, or you may split the duties with your senior caregiver. Either way, this can be a great alternative to leaving their home and often makes a senior feel more comfortable about aging in place. 24-hour home care offers a way for seniors to receive help with bathing, dressing, eating, getting regular exercise, and everything else needed to be happy as they age at home.

Here are a few reasons your loved one may be considering aging in place.

Moving Causes Stress

One of the biggest reasons a senior may not want to move from a nursing home is because they have created a home filled with memories they do not want to leave behind. If they can live at home and be healthy, they shouldn’t have to move. When a senior chooses to move, they are also choosing to get rid of personal possessions, their home, and things they have come to love. Moving is stressful for anyone, but it can be exceptionally hard for seniors. When they are healthy enough, it may be the best option to keep them home where they can thrive in a stress-free environment.

They May Feel Attached to the Community

As your senior lives in one place for a long time, they will come to know their neighbors and community. It can be a lot to ask them to give that up. They will be attached to their community and feel safe in their home, which greatly benefits aging in place. You can set their home up with security systems and other household products that make it easy for seniors to live and thrive in their community.

It May Help Them Heal

When you take a senior out of a space, they know it can hurt their health. If they’ve just had surgery and you place them in a home that is not their own, it can cause stress, and they will not heal as fast or at all. When you allow your loved one to age in place, it will help them heal from emotional trauma and physically too.

Being At Home Gives Them Freedom

One of the biggest reasons seniors choose to age in place is because they still feel free and independent. Even with the help of 24-hour home care, they are not living in a place with a structure set by someone else. They will be in charge of their routines and can do what they want when they want. They can also choose the family and caregivers who help them age in place, and that sense of control can make a senior feel better as they age.

If you or an aging loved one is considering 24-hour home care in Pleasant Hill, CA, please contact the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care of Walnut Creek. (925) 203-3039.

4 Ways Seniors Can Break Out Of Their Comfort Zone And Be More Social

Posted on by Craig Bass
Companion Care at Home in Concord CA
Companion Care at Home in Concord CA

July is Social Wellness Month and now is a great time for seniors to get out of their comfort zones and try to be more social. Making friends and maintaining social connections is very important for seniors, especially for seniors that are living independently. Even though there are a lot of benefits that seniors get from living independently it can make staying socially connected a little challenging. During Social Wellness Month, seniors should make an effort to make new friends and reconnect socially with the world. Some things that seniors can do to break out of their comfort zone and make new friends are:

Rely on Companion Care at Home

Companion care at home gives seniors the social connection they need without them having to leave the house. Companion care at home is a great way for seniors that have chronic medical conditions or mobility challenges to get the important social connection they need to avoid loneliness without having to struggle to get out of the house. Talk to a local care agency today about the benefits of companion care for seniors.

Join A Club

Clubs are fantastic ways for seniors to make friends with people who have the same interests that they have. There are lots of different clubs seniors can explore. Almost anything a senior is interested in there is a club of other seniors who are interested in the same thing. Crafting, painting, hiking, pets, exercising, golf, books, movies, and more all have clubs that seniors can join. Seniors can also look online for virtual clubs that they can join using video chat so that they can meet and talk with other seniors about hobbies, books, and other things that interest them.

Volunteer

Volunteering is a fantastic way for seniors to get out of the house, be more active, and make friends. When seniors are volunteering they can meet new people from all walks of life as well as have a reason to get up in the morning. Seniors can volunteer with any number of groups that do good in the community and provide social connections and friendships that can help seniors stay well as they age. Many seniors find that volunteering gives them a new sense of purpose and determination. There are many local organizations that rely on volunteers who would love to have more seniors volunteer their time.

Visit The Local Senior Center

Almost every city has a senior’s center, but many seniors don’t realize how valuable these centers are. At your local senior’s center your senior parent can find clubs like book clubs to join. They can take classes, workout in the gym, find other seniors to walk with, and enjoy the benefits of having a space just for seniors. Often senior centers have live music on regularly scheduled days and other activities that are open to seniors. Encourage your senior parent to check out the local senior center and take advantage of everything it has to offer.

Reference
https://nationaltoday.com/social-wellness-month/
https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/psychological-benefits-of-friendship

If you or an aging loved one is considering companion care at home in Concord, CA, please contact the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care of Walnut Creek. (925) 203-3039.

Understanding Hoarding Among the Senior Community

Posted on by Craig Bass
Senior Home Care in Danville CA
Senior Home Care in Danville CA

Hoarding is when a person collects objects and things and never gets rid of them. These objects will fill up a senior’s home, and it can be dangerous because it can create chaotic paths and even impact the cleanliness of a senior’s home, encouraging pest infestation. There are so many reasons why your seniors may hoard, and they may not even know they are doing this toxic behavior. So, how can you help them and help them get rid of things so they can live independently? Here are some tips to help you address your senior’s hoarding, and how senior home care can help them work through the process.

Learn What Signs Are of Hoarding

Most of the time, you may clearly see that a senior is hoarding, but if you don’t visit often, it can be less obvious. Sometimes senior home care may mention issues, or they may be denied access to certain rooms due to the acquisition of stuff. Here are some other signs to look for.

  1. A Growing Collection Of Things– The most obvious sign is the collection of things without getting rid of other things. Sometimes these things are of no value and can be junk to you but special to the seniors.
  2. Spaces Becoming Cluttered– There may be so much stuff that their normal living spaces become cluttered. When things become too cluttered, it can be dangerous for your loved one and even for senior home care who is helping them.
  3. They Can’t Throw Things Away– If your senior has collected things and they are trash, it can be hard for them to throw things away. Even if you ask them to throw something away, they may refuse, believing that they need it in the future.
  4. Losing Items– Among all the cluttered objects, your loved one may start losing important things necessary for everyday life. When it becomes too much senior home care may not even be able to help.
    There may be more signs of hoarding, but these are the main things to look for.

How to Treat Hoarding Behavior

It can be easy to judge your loved one when they are collecting too much stuff that you don’t think is worth keeping. However, the best thing you can do is encourage and support your loved one through this hard time in their life. There are multiple ways to help your senior treat their hoarding behavior, but it will take time and patience.

Set Small Goals Together

Instead of going through their house and throwing everything away, start with one drawer at a time and then work on one room at a time. Small goals will lead to a huge outcome in the long run. This may seem like a slow way to get rid of things, but it will help a senior get used to throwing things out.

Focus on Safety

One thing you should be doing is focusing on safety for your senior. If they want to live alone, they need to be able to move around their house. Doorways, hallways, and floors should be clear of clutter. If they can’t keep the floor cleaned off, you may need to help them. This can be one of the small goals to work on.

Always Be Understanding

Seniors hoard for many reasons, and you must try to understand their side without judgment. Some seniors hoard because they can’t move around enough to get rid of things, or maybe something has a good memory for them. Either way, you need to help them throw away trash or moldy things and allow them to hang on to things with good memories.

If you or an aging loved one is considering senior home care in Danville, CA, please contact the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care of Walnut Creek. (925) 203-3039.

Companion Care At Home Can Help Seniors Stay Socially Engaged

Posted on by Craig Bass
Companion Care at Home in Lafayette CA
Companion Care at Home in Lafayette CA

As people age, they may become more isolated and lonelier, especially if they are living alone or have limited social networks. Social engagement can have a positive impact on seniors’ mental, emotional, and physical health. Companion care at home provides seniors with social support and companionship, helping them to stay engaged with the world around them and allowing family members to have peace of mind knowing that their loved one is not alone.

Companion care is a type of in-home care that is designed to provide seniors with social support and companionship. Companion care providers work closely with seniors to develop a personalized plan of care that meets their unique needs and helps them maintain their independence.

How Does Companion Care Help Keep Loved Ones Social?

One of the key benefits of companion care at home for seniors is that it can help them stay socially engaged. There are many ways companion care can help keep seniors socially engaged which are discussed below:

Having companion care at home offers one-on-one interaction to seniors. This can be extremely beneficial for seniors who are living alone or have limited social groups. Providing regular companionship for seniors, this can help them feel less isolated and more engaged with the world around them.

Companion care providers can accompany seniors on social outings helping them to feel more comfortable in their surroundings as they engage with others. Companions can join the senior at the local senior center, the library, or other community events. This can provide seniors with opportunities to interact with others and participate in activities that they enjoy.

Continuing hobbies and interests for seniors is important for their quality of life. Companion care providers can encourage seniors to continue these hobbies and interests such as reading, gardening, or playing games. Additionally, this can help seniors stay mentally stimulated and engaged in activities that they enjoy.

In-home companions can help seniors learn how to use technology they might not be used to. Some of the technology advancements they can help teach them are social media, video chat, or email, to stay connected with friends and family members. This can be particularly helpful for seniors who live far away from their loved ones.

Companion care providers can offer emotional support to seniors, providing them with a shoulder to lean on and a caring presence. This can be particularly beneficial for seniors who do not have someone to listen to them when they need someone to talk to.

Pets are another great addition for seniors as they stay socially engaged. Companion care providers can help seniors care for their pets, providing them with companionship and opportunities for social interaction. Pets can be a great source of comfort and companionship for seniors.

Overall, companion care at home for seniors can help keep them socially engaged by providing one-on-one interaction, social outings, assistance with hobbies and interests, technology assistance, mealtime companionship, emotional support, and pet companionship. It can also help to promote mental, emotional, and physical health, reduce the risk of isolation and loneliness, increase independence, and provide a sense of purpose and fulfillment. By working closely with seniors to develop a personalized plan of care, companion care providers can help seniors stay connected to the world around them and maintain their independence.

If you or an aging loved one is considering companion care at home in Lafayette, CA, please contact the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care of Walnut Creek. (925) 203-3039.