How to Help Your Senior Beat the Post-Holiday Blues

The holidays are full of joy and time with family, but the days and weeks afterward can actually be a prime time for feelings of sadness or depression. The eldercare professionals of Chapel Hill explain that your elderly loved one has probably spent months looking forward to Christmas parties and family gatherings, and may feel disappointed and wistful once they’re over. To help your senior overcome the post-holiday blues, keep these tips in mind:

Plan another excursion to look forward to

So the parties and huge family get-togethers may be over, but this doesn’t mean that the next few weeks and months need to be boring. To help your loved one get over their sadness that the holiday season is over, plan a fun excursion or activity to look forward to. You can go to dinner, see a play, or simply bundle up and take a walk around the neighborhood.

Help them declutter

A peaceful and clean living situation contributes significantly to your senior’s happiness. When they are spending a significant amount of time in a space that is filled with dirty dishes, papers, and clothes, they may find that their post-holiday sadness worsens. To ensure that their home is a place where they enjoy spending time, senior care professionals encourage family members to help their seniors straighten their space up. 

Together, you can go through old clothes and papers and discard items that are no longer needed. Move through their refrigerator and ask them to point out items that they are no longer eating. You may also consider hiring a professional cleaning service to come and give the space a deep clean. It’s amazing how significantly a clean home can impact your elderly loved one’s mood.

Bring them books or music they’ll love

If your senior has a favorite book genre, consider purchasing them a few titles that they can enjoy reading now that their busy holiday schedule has quieted down. You may also purchase DVDs or CDs featuring their favorite music, movies, or TV shows. 

Spend time with them
Though the holiday season is coming to a close, there’s no reason why bonding with family has to stop. Make it a point to drop in on your elderly loved one regularly. Invite them over for dinner, or take them out for a cup of coffee. The activities don’t have to be expensive to be meaningful.

Falling: Techniques for Getting Back Up

Falling is one of the most dangerous accidents that a senior can have, as the injuries that they sustain from a fall can range from nonexistent to fatal. According to professionals who care for elderly in Chapel Hill, preventing falls is a wonderful way to cut down on the number of injuries that the senior population sustains, as a whole, each year. But home care professionals recognize that all falls aren't avoidable. As such, these senior care providers urge individuals to help elderly loved ones learn different techniques to get up after falling down.

According to elder care professionals at LearnNottoFall.com, an average of one out of every three seniors will fall on an annual basis. Additionally, 25 percent of hospital admissions and 40 percent of nursing home admissions are due to falls.1 This is why it's extremely important to make certain that seniors can, if they do fall, get up and call for the help they need. Below are a few techniques that LearnNottoFall.com has provided that you can teach your loved one.

• Lay still to calm down and make certain that there are no severe injuries. Identify any sore parts of the body and try not to exacerbate these injuries. 
• Find a sturdy piece of furniture or other item that can be used when standing up. Roll over from the back to the stomach and to all fours. 
• Take time to let the body settle and blood pressure to normalize. 
• Crawl to the furniture or other item that was identified earlier. 
• Slowly stand using the stable item and find a place to sit. 

Should a senior have injuries from the fall it is essential that they seek medical assistance immediately. If it is an emergency, they should dial 911 for an ambulance. If not, it is important to call a friend or family member to come over and help them to the doctor's office, urgent care office, or emergency room, depending upon their needs. Even if there are no injuries, though, your loved one should report the fall to their doctor so that they can better identify what caused the accident and how to prevent another from occurring in the future.
___

¹ http://www.learnnottofall.com/content/what-if-i-fall/learn-to-get-up.jsp

Assisting Seniors with Social Media

Within the field of eldercare, Chapel Hill professionals have seen a rise in the number of seniors who are using social networking websites. Social media is a tool that has helped bridge the geographic gaps that settle between friends and family members, as the Internet allows individuals to connect with one another from virtually anywhere in the world. But while social media is certainly accessible to any senior who has a connection to the World Wide Web, it is also difficult for seniors who are not tech savvy to navigate.

Eldercare professionals and family members who provide senior care can play an integral part in helping elderly individuals to stay connected with friends and family online. Below are a few of the ways in which you can assist your loved one with using social networks to stay actively engaged with the people about whom they care.

1. Start slowly by getting your senior involved with one social site at a time. Facebook is the most popular, as it appeals to the widest range of users and is the easiest to navigate. As your elderly loved one wants to become involved in new networks go ahead and help them do so, slowly building their ability to use these websites on their own. 
2. Take the time to set up your loved one’s profile. Once this is up and running it will be easier to explain to them how to use the website. Once the profile is set up, set aside an hour or so to walk your senior through the many features and functions that the site has to offer. For instance, you might coordinate with them to send friend requests to their loved ones on Facebook and then teach them how to send private messages, write on walls, and peruse the pictures that others post. 
3. If you think it will prove beneficial, schedule a time each week to get online with your loved one. For instance, you might log into your senior’s Facebook account and update them on the activity in which they are interested every Sunday after family dinner, or every Monday after you help them with grocery shopping. 

Home care professionals understand that social media can greatly impact a senior’s life in a positive way. With these tips you can help bring about these benefits.

Planning a Trip with Elderly Parents

Eldercare professionals know that traveling with seniors is not always easy, particularly if your loved one has limited mobility or a health condition. But this doesn't mean that your senior cannot enjoy a family vacation! With the right planning, homecare providers know that you can take your elderly loved one on a trip to remember.

Discuss the Needs of Your Senior
Consider the challenges that your elderly loved one will face during the travel experience. For instance, a senior who has limited mobility may need access to a wheelchair or walker. Additionally, an elderly individual who has a health condition that requires a high degree of attention may need all of the services that homecare professionals offer while on the road.

When thinking about the challenges that your family will face when traveling with your senior, write down any concerns that you have and make sure that you address all of them before leaving so that you can create the best experience possible for your loved one.

Staying Organized
Ultimately, taking an organized approach to packing and planning can make all the difference in terms of the positivity of your experience. First and foremost, make sure that your elderly loved one has all of the things they will need for the trip packed in a way that will allow them to access these items easily. This includes medications, entertainment (books, crosswords, etc.), clothing, personal hygiene items, and more.

Another aspect of staying organized that is important in this situation is having an itinerary that will allow your senior to enjoy their travels. For instance, you will certainly want to have all transportation booked ahead of time to minimize the need to wait for cabs or shuttles. Go ahead and book transportation to and from the airport, train station, or other transportation hub to make getting to and from the hotel as easy as possible. Additionally, you will want to make certain that all of the venues that you visit are accessible to your senior if they require a wheelchair.

Bring Assistance
Depending upon the needs of your senior and the nature of your trip, it might prove beneficial to bring a home care professional along. Speak with your eldercare provider to determine if this is the right decision for your loved one.

Cookout Ideas: Enjoying the Summer with Your Senior

When you think of summer, you may see images of a family enjoying time together outside. Grilling out while the younger generations play in the pool or run through the sprinklers is common across America, and there is nothing more relaxing and rewarding than an afternoon or evening spent grilling out with your family. The truth is, though, that the simple cookout can become quite complex when you are also in charge of the wellbeing of your elderly loved one. Eldercare professionals know that it can be difficult to ensure that your senior is safe and healthy in the heat while hosting a cookout for family and friends. As such, eldercare Chapel Hill professionals have provided the following cookout ideas to help you balance all of your responsibilities.

Celebrate Inside
One of the major concerns regarding seniors and cookouts is the heat, as it can become extremely hot due to both the weather and the grill itself. As such, why not move the party indoors? Indoor grills, such as a George Foreman grill, are wonderful alternatives if the heat is just too much for your senior. Additionally, other guests may appreciate the ability to enjoy one another's company in a more comfortable setting.

Create Airflow
If you are going to go forward with a traditional outdoor cookout, make sure that your senior has access to moving air. One of the things that makes the hot, sticky months of summer uncomfortable is the need for air circulation. Bring a fan outside on the patio so that your elderly loved one can stay cool while enjoying the festivities. If you have an air conditioned space that bridges the outdoors and the in (such as a Florida or sun room), have guests relax in this area instead.

Keep Hydrated
Oftentimes, guests at cookouts are served sodas and other beverages, but the heat requires seniors to stay hydrated. Make sure that your loved one drinks plenty of water at the party.
Providing care for elderly loved ones is a major responsibility—but it is one that is extremely rewarding. As such, it is important that you do everything in your power to ensure that your senior has a wonderful summer!

Recognizing the Warning Signs of Depression in the Elderly

Depression is an issue that eldercare professionals in Chapel Hill address regularly, as it is a condition that many seniors develop. Whether you are personally providing homecare to your loved one or you have called upon the services of an eldercare professional, it is crucial that you understand the warning signs associated with depression so that you can help your senior seek treatment if necessary. This is important, as it is essential that you take care of your elderly loved one's wellbeing—particularly if they have need for dementia care and other forms of specialized support. Below are some of the warning signs of depression, according to HelpGuide.org.1 

• Sadness
• Fatigue
• Lack of interest in previously loved hobbies and activities
• Social isolation
• Social withdrawal
• Weight loss
• Loss of appetite
• Sleep troubles, including insomnia, oversleeping, and difficulty staying awake during the day
• Feelings of worthlessness
• Surge in alcohol or drug use
• Suicidal thoughts

In addition to these symptoms, depression is also characterized by a few less common warning signs. These, HelpGuide.org explains, may include inexplicable aches, pain, hopelessness, helplessness, anxiety, memory loss, lack of motivation, slowed movement, slowed speech, irritability, and the tendency to skip meals, neglect personal hygiene, and overlook other self care activities.

The eldercare professionals in Chapel Hill know that it can be difficult to determine which changes in your senior are attributed to the natural aging process and which indicate a more serious concern, such as depression. To help you ensure that your loved one gets the care they need, the homecare professionals in the area encourage you to keep a close eye on their health and schedule an appointment with their doctor whenever you believe that they may need assistance.

If you are providing care for your senior, it is crucial that you are aware of the warning signs associated with depression so that you can best provide the support that your elderly loved one needs. If you believe that your senior may be suffering from depression, you are encouraged to schedule an appointment with their doctor as soon as possible.
____
1 http://www.helpguide.org/mental/depression_elderly.htm

National Aphasia Awareness Month: Treating Speech Problems after a Stroke

As National Aphasia Awareness Month, June is a wonderful time to learn a bit about this disorder and how it is treated. Eldercare professionals in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, understand that aphasia can be frustrating for both seniors and their loved ones. By learning more about this condition—and the treatment options that are available—you can better help your elderly loved one through it.

What Is Aphasia?
Care for elderly individuals entails helping seniors through numerous health conditions. Strokes are devastating but unfortunately relatively common occurrences among the elderly population. In some cases, damage to the brain can cause aphasia. This disorder makes it difficult for seniors to communicate and, depending upon the damage that the brain suffers, may impact verbal, written, or both forms of communication.

Treatment Options
The two forms of treatment that are available to seniors who have aphasia include rehabilitation and medications. Rehabilitation via speech and language therapy can assist individuals in regaining their communication capabilities. However, it is important to keep in mind the fact that, though progress is often achieved with this treatment approach, it can prove exceptionally difficult to get seniors back to the communication levels they had prior to their stroke. This is due to the damage that the event caused in the brain.

The other form of treatment, medication, is a bit less prevalent in the medical world since more research needs to take place in order to better understand how medication can help seniors who have aphasia. Eldercare professionals note, though, that the studies conducted to date indicate that pharmaceuticals that increase blood flow to the brain may help the organ in healing and in creating neurotransmitters, which play a key role in cognitive function.

Supporting Your Senior
No matter what your loved one's treatment course, it is important that they have your love and support during the recovery process. Healing after a stroke is something that takes time and can, in many cases, become very frustrating for both elderly individuals and their loved ones; however, it is essential that you remain patient and show your support throughout the process to best help your senior heal. With this information in mind you may find it easier to help your loved one cope throughout their recovery.