Seniors Who Feel Alone, VA Sarasota

An elderly man laughing while pointing at a laptop screen.
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COVID-19 has affected the way that everyone socializes. Seniors, in particular, have been having a difficult time when it comes to socializing. If you have an aging loved one who has been feeling lonely, take a look at the advice that Visiting Angels Sarasota has to offer. 

Take a second to observe your loved one when they are having a conversation. Does it look like they are having trouble hearing or seeing? Visiting Angels Sarasota brings up how some seniors could be enjoying their conversations less and less because of some undiagnosed hearing or vision problems. So, if you notice your loved one is having trouble following a conversation, try taking them to a professional for some tests. 

Other than vision or hearing problems, your loved one can feel lonely because they are stuck at home. If you secure a form of transportation for aging loved one, they can go out to have a socially distinct visit with their loved ones. 

To read the whole article, you may visit How to Avoid Senior Isolation and Loneliness

Seniors Dealing with the Pandemic, VA Sarasota

an elderly woman smiling at the camera.
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2020 has not been an easy year for the majority of people. This year has brought dangerous weather, supply shortages, and a pandemic. While everyone has been struggling, Visiting Angels Sarasota offers seniors advice during these challenging times. 

The pandemic has made it difficult for seniors to go outside because they are at risk when it comes to COVID-19. Thus, many seniors have been staying at home these past 6 months. It can be tempting to sit Infront of the television all day to make time pass by faster, but that is not the best option for seniors. Instead of sitting down all day, Visiting Angels Sarasota brings up how seniors should engage their bodies. Seniors should aim to be on their feet for at least 30 minutes every day. They can walk around their neighborhood, cook, or do whatever they want for those 30 minutes. 

Visiting Angels Sarasota also brings up how seniors should engage their minds. There are various ways seniors can engage their brain. Some examples of activities include crosswords, brain fitness games, and reading. Seniors who do not exercise their brains often have decreased cognitive functioning. 

For more suggestions, you may visit Hope for Seniors: Enduring the Coronavirus Pandemic

Visiting Angels West Cincinnati’s Respite Care

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Seniors are people with their own needs and wants. It can be difficult to care for another adult when you already have so much on your plate. Visiting Angels Cincinnati West breaks down how elderly care affects family caregivers. 

When it comes to caring for a senior, caregivers must be mentally, physically, and emotionally prepared. For instance, when seniors can no longer bathe by themselves, or when seniors need help getting out of bed, their caregiver needs to be there to offer the needed physical support. Furthermore, when seniors cannot remember their medication, family caregivers need to be there mentally in order to keep track. 

Overall, being a family caregiver can be a lot of work. To help family caregivers, Visiting Angels West Cincinnati offers respite care. When family caregivers need a break, or when they need help assisting their aging loved one, a professional caregiver can provide the needed support. 

To read the whole article, you may visit The True Impact of Elder Care on Family Caregivers

Healthy Aging Month, VA West Cincinnati

An elderly man and a child's photo showing how they aged.
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September is almost over, but that does not mean that you cannot participate in Healthy Aging Month. Before this month ends, take some time to reflect on your health. If you are having a difficult time finding a place to start, Visiting Angels West Cincinnati brings up some specific things that you can reflect on. 

Do you keep track of the kind of food that you eat in your daily life? Visiting Angels West Cincinnati mentions how seniors can integrate some unhealthy habits into their daily meals. For instance, some seniors have a bag of chips every day, and others have some ice cream for dessert every single day. In other words, try taking some time to think about the food that you normally eat. If you notice that you are eating unhealthy food, you can choose to limit the amount you consume or you can cut it out from your diet completely. 

Other than your physical health, you can also consider your mental health. These colder months are going to be rough because of COVID-19 and the flu season. To avoid social isolation, in case of another lock down, you should think of a plan on how you will communicate with your loved ones. 

For more information, you may visit Embrace Healthy Aging Month

Tips for Maintaining Social Distancing with Seniors, VA Gadsden

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Social distance guidelines and masks are in place to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Seniors are especially at risk when it comes to COVID-19, so it is important to keep up with safety measures when communicating with seniors. Visiting Angels Gadsden brings up some creative ways that you can communicate with your loved one throughout the pandemic. 

How often do you call your loved one at the moment? Visiting Angels Gadsden recommends regularly calling your loved one to check in on them. When you call your loved one, you can chit chat about any new events happening in your life, or you can ask them what they have been up to. You can also read some stories to your loved one, tell funny jokes, or challenge them with a riddle. 

Another suggestion that Visiting Angels Gadsden brings up is writing letters. Try sending your loved one a letter. The letter can be nice and simple or as creative as you want. 

To read the whole article, you may visit 6 Creative Ways to Communicate While Maintaining Social Distancing with Seniors

Saving Your Spine, VA Gadsden

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Have you been having back problems lately? It can feel very uncomfortable and painful when you hurt your spine. If you would like to help your spine, take a look at the great suggestions that Visiting Angels Gadsden has to offer. 

Before getting into the tips, Visiting Angels Gadsden starts off by giving a pop quiz. Here are the questions below. You just have to try your best; it is fine if you do not know an answer. 

  1. How should you lift a heavy object? 
  2. How should you move an object from point A to point B? 
  3. How should you hold a heavy object? At what distance should you hold the object from your body? 
  4. How should you strengthen your back? 

If you would like to read the full answers that Visiting Angels Gadsden breaks down, you can take a look at their most recent blog. Otherwise, here is a short summary of the answers. For question number one you should bend your legs and lift with your legs. For the second question, avoid twisting your back when moving an object. Instead, shuffle your feet to turn your whole body. 

For more information, you may visit Save Your Spine: How to Use Proper Body Mechanics When Caregiving

Caregiver Burnout, VA Mobile

An elderly woman hugging a child.
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Nursing homes might be the first solution that comes to mind when it comes to helping an aging loved one, but it is not the only way to provide the needed support. Many times, a family caregiver steps up to help their loved one. Visiting Angels Mobile breaks down how family caregivers can lean on home care providers. 

Family caregivers are people too. Many caregivers must work, care for their own kids, and take care of their other responsibilities. It can be easy for caregivers to experience burnout as a result of the added-on stress from caring for an aging loved one. To help family caregivers, Visiting Angels Mobile is there to provide professional assistance when needed. 

A professional caregiver can watch over the senior while the family caregiver takes a day off for themselves. Furthermore, a family caregiver can divide the care of their loved one evenly between themself and a professional. 

To read the whole article, you may visit Moms Caring for Moms: Home Care Helps Caregiver Burnout

Getting Energized, VA Mobile

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Ever since the pandemic began, it can be difficult to energize yourself. The days in which you do nothing can become your new normal. However, there are ways that you can energize yourself, even as the pandemic continues. Visiting Angels Mobile shares some helpful advice. 

The first suggestion that Visiting Angels Mobile brings up can sound ironic. There are a total of four tips, and the first tip recommends exercising. While using up your energy to improve your energy levels can sound weird, there is reasoning behind the suggestion. Humans need to move around. Visiting Angels Mobile explains how the more you move your body, the happier it will be. You do not have to do any hard core or extreme types of workouts. You can do yoga, you can run, and you can do any exercise that you feel comfortable doing. 

The second suggestion is to sleep. The pandemic has made people feel stressed and overwhelmed for a variety of reasons. Thus, some people could be having a difficult time getting to sleep at night. Visiting Angels Mobile breaks down how a good night’s sleep can help you feel refreshed and energized when you wake up. 

For more advice, you may visit Tips to Improve Your Energy Level

Visiting Angels Gulf Shores Discusses Home Care

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Has your senior loved one decided that they want to age in their own home? You do not have to become their caregiver in order to support their decision. A home care provider can provide your loved one with the care they need. Visiting Angels Gulf Shores discusses some qualities that home care providers should have. 

  1. Approach to care – When looking into home care providers, make sure to check on their approach to care? How do they determine the care that a client needs? How do they deliver the care? 
  2. Hiring Practices – How does the home care provider hire its employees? What kind of training do the employees go through? 
  3. Services offered – Before deciding on a home care provider, you should check to see if the home care provider offers the care that your aging loved one needs. 

To read the whole article, you may visit Selecting a Home Care Provider

Strategies for Rheumatoid Arthritis, VA Gulf Shores

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Have you heard of Rheumatoid Arthritis? According to Mayo Clinic, Rheumatoid Arthritis is a chronic inflammatory condition that causes joint lining and surface deterioration. Visiting Angels Gulf Shores brings up some helpful strategies for dealing with Rheumatoid Arthritis. 

Do you struggle with a lot of things in your day to day life? Visiting Angels Gulf Shores explains how investing in adaptive equipment can help you. For instance, let us say that you cannot reach something. You have to bend down to pick it up but you cannot bend down because it hurts. Instead of trying to hurt yourself by bending down, simply buy a reacher. As the name implies, a reacher will help you reach for things that are out of your comfortable reach. 

If you want to try to improve your movements, in the long run, Visiting Angels Gulf Shores recommends exercising. Yes, exercising can be a bit uncomfortable, but you do not have to do any extreme forms of exercises. A simple exercise plan can help you improve your movement and slow the effects of Rheumatoid Arthritis. 

For more information, you may visit Adaptive Strategies for Seniors with Rheumatoid Arthritis