Month: June 2020

Seniors and Gardening, VA Hurst

Elderly person picking leaves off of a plant.
Image by Carola68 from Pixabay 

Seniors cannot move around the same way they used to. Some might need a walker or cane to move around; however, sitting in front of a television all day is not the only thing seniors can do. Visiting Angels Hurst explains how seniors can benefit from gardening. 

When seniors sit in front of their television all day, every day, it can be very repetitive and lonely. They might not interact with their friends or loved ones because they lose track of time staring at the tv for too long. To combat loneliness, seniors can ask their caregiver or a loved one to help them take care of a garden. A community garden is also a great way for seniors to interact with others. 

The Vitamin D exposure as a result of gardening is also very nice for seniors. Naturally, seniors are unsteady on their feet because of calcium deficiencies. Vitamin D can help seniors with their calcium levels and immune system. 

For more information on how gardening benefits seniors, visit Senior Care Ideas: How Gardening Can Help Seniors Stay Active. 

Visiting Angels Caregivers, VA Hurst

Elderly woman looking into the camera.
Image by Benjamin Balazs from Pixabay 

Caring for the elderly requires a lot from caretakers; however, being a caretaker is also very fulfilling. More and more seniors are deciding to age at home. Agencies like Visiting Angels Hurst are hiring caretakers to help seniors age at home peacefully. 

Caretakers help their elderly clients in many ways. For example, caretakers provide medication reminders, take care of light cleaning, and help with hygiene needs. All caretakers take care of their clients to the best of their ability, but not all caretakers are the same. Visiting Angels Hurst discusses how students, parents, and retirees can become caregivers.  

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that employment of home health aides and personal care aides is projected to grow. Currently, more seniors want to age at home. To accommodate to the needs of the seniors aging at home, more caretakers will be needed. When caretakers are asked about the benefits of their jobs, they bring up flexible hours and the 1 on 1 interactions with their clients. 

To read more about why caretakers enjoy their job, you may visit Students, Parents, and Retirees: “Caregiver” Might Be the Perfect Role for You. 

Seniors Neglecting Forms of Wellness, VA Southlake

Elderly person holding onto a stress ball.
Photo by Matthias Zomer from Pexels

Keeping track of things has not been easy because COVID-19 has changed the day to day lives of people all over the world. Though it can be a challenge to keep up with the days, it is important to pay attention to what your body is telling you. Visiting Angels Southlake breaks down how seniors can care for four areas of wellness they might be neglecting. 

The first area of wellness that seniors tend to neglect is their thirst. As people age, their thirst sensations dull. It becomes difficult to know when your body needs water because your body is not telling you. To deal with their dulled thirst sensation, seniors should try drinking water as often as they can. Some great times to drink water are in the morning, after waking up, and before every meal. If 8oz of water seems like it is too much, seniors can start off by drinking 4oz of water and slowly build their way up to 8oz.  

To read about the three other areas of wellness, visit Four Areas of Wellness Seniors Neglect and How to Change. 

Meditation is Great for Seniors, VA Sarasota

A piece of paper that says "mindfulness" and it is placed in front of a window.
Photo by Lesly Juarez on Unsplash

Seniors are being told to stay at home because they are vulnerable to COVID-19. Many seniors might be looking for some ideas on what they should do while they are safe at home. Visiting Angels Sarasota brings up how meditation is a great habit to form during these challenging times. 

Meditation does not require physical or mental strain. In fact, meditation is about reflecting and taking everything into consideration so people feel less overwhelmed. One of the reasons why Visiting Angels Sarasota recommends meditation for seniors is because meditation helps boost the immune system. Naturally, as people age, the immune system weakens. Furthermore, stress can also weaken the immune system. With the combination of age and stress during these difficult times seniors might need a way to destress. A couple of minutes of meditation seems like a great way for seniors to take a break and boost their immune system at the same time. 

For more information, visit Four Benefits to Meditation: Why Seniors Need to Find Zen. 

Visiting Others While Following Social Distancing Guidelines, VA Fort Worth

letters that spell out "stay apart".
Photo by Michael Dziedzic on Unsplash

Although states are reopening slowly, social distancing is still important. Before you visit any elderly loved ones, you should keep in mind that they are still vulnerable to COVID-19. Visiting Angels Fort Worth brings up some ways in which you can practice social distancing while visiting your loved ones. 

Instead of scheduling a meeting with your loved one inside, try having a meeting outside. Check to see who has the largest backyard. The larger the backyard, the more space you can put in between each other during the visit. Once the location is decided, you can also plan in advance by adjusting the placement of furniture. For instance, you can have the chairs ready by disinfecting them and placing them 6 ft apart. Furthermore, you can use lawn paint to mark out more areas that are 6 ft apart just in case you or your loved one would like to move around during the visit. Visiting Angels Fort Worth has more great ideas as well. 

To read their blog, you may visit Making the Most of a Social Distancing Visit. 

Talking with Your Loved One When They Have Dementia, VA Punta Gorda

Elderly woman smiling into the camera.
Photo by Anthony Metcalfe on Unsplash

Dementia can make it difficult for seniors to have conversations. If you are looking for ways in which you can have engaging conversations with your elderly loved one, take a look at the advice that Visiting Angels Punta Gorda has to offer. 

One of the best ways to have a great conversation with your loved one is by getting them to reminisce. They can reminisce about their childhood, teenage years, or whatever they can remember. The main point of having a conversation centered around their memories is so you can actively engage them. You can ask them what their favorite childhood memory is or you can ask if they did anything unbelievable during their teenage years. As long as the questions do not end in a simple yes or no response, you and your loved one can have a nice long chat. 

As you talk with your loved one, be sure to check on them. Are they yawning? Do their eyes look glazed over? If your loved one looks tired, ask them if they would like to take a nap. You can continue to have a great talk after they rest up. 

For more information, you may visit Engaging in Conversation When Dementia is in the Picture.