Senior Safety
Supporting Mental Health in Aging Parents and Breaking the Stigma
Supporting mental health in aging parents starts with recognizing the signs and addressing the stigma around mental health care.
Mental health is a critical aspect of well-being throughout life, and it becomes even more significant as our parents grow older. For many older adults, however, talking about mental health can be especially difficult due to ingrained stigmas and the values they were raised with. It’s important to understand why older loved ones might be hesitant to discuss mental health and to recognize the signs that they might be struggling. This knowledge can guide you in supporting mental health in aging parents to ensure they receive the support and care they need.
Feeling Bored as a Caregiver? Try These Ideas!
Identifying the signs of substance misuse in older adults is the first step towards getting them help.
It’s not unusual for Dad to enjoy a glass or two of wine with dinner, but lately, you’ve noticed that he’s gravitating towards stronger drinks more frequently, and earlier in the day. He might say it helps with sleep or eases the aches of arthritis, but is there more to be concerned about?
Getting to the Root of Restlessness in Dementia
Uncover the reason behind restlessness in dementia in someone you love by answering these key questions.
Pacing. Fidgeting. Wandering. When you begin to notice these signs in someone you love with dementia, it’s time to take action before they escalate to agitation, aggression, or leaving the home. But figuring out why the person is feeling restless in dementia is sometimes half the battle.
Noticing Changes in a Senior’s Eating Behaviors? Here’s Why.
There are a number of reasons that could be causing changes in a senior’s eating behaviors.
Following the indulgence of the holiday season, many of us decide to cut back on consumption of calories. But when an older adult does not want to eat altogether, or is making unbalanced or unhealthy dietary choices, it’s important to look for the reason behind changes in a senior’s eating behaviors. This is a first and crucial step in promoting healthier eating habits.
Dysphagia Tips: Using Beverage Thickeners for Swallowing Disorders
These dysphagia tips will help someone you love adapt to beverage thickeners.
Unless you have dysphagia, a swallowing disorder, it is likely you have not given much serious thought to the various textures and consistencies of the liquids in your daily diet. When you are feeling thirsty, nothing hits the spot like an ice-cold glass of water. On a hot summer day, you may crave a cool milkshake. And when you are recuperating from the flu, a warm bowl of soup really hits the spot.
Do You Know When and How to Downsize for Seniors with Dementia?
Seniors with dementia can benefit from downsizing.
It’s clear that the family home is just too overwhelming for Mom and Dad to care for. A small home is for sale just around the corner from you that’s ideal: a beautiful flower garden in the front yard, a sunny, cheerful kitchen, and no stairs to navigate. Now it is time to begin the downsizing process. The only problem? Mom has dementia.
Any level of change can be very challenging for a senior with dementia. Leaving the familiarity of home and moving into a brand new one can enhance feelings of anxiety and agitation, but there are strategies to ease the transition.
Take your time. It can be your natural thought to make this process as quick as possible – like ripping off a band-aid. However, a much better approach in … Read More »
Broken Heart Syndrome: How to Help a Loved One Who Is Grieving
It’s not easy to know how to help a loved one who is grieving, but these tips are a great place to start.
In his documentary about grief, George Shelley uses an analogy of glitter. Toss a handful of glitter into the air, and it’s going to settle into all the cracks and crevices of the room, impossible to fully sweep up and remove. Those who have lost a loved one can relate. Yet in certain instances, grief could be so overwhelming that it could result in a serious and aptly named condition: broken heart syndrome.
Broken heart syndrome is a very real physical condition from the intense stress experienced in certain types of grief (such as one spouse losing the other after decades of marriage). The medical term is takotsubo cardiomyopathy, a temporary enlargement of the heart … Read More »
Navigating the Unique Challenges of Older Adults in the LGBTQ+ Community
Older adults in the LGBTQ+ community face a number of hurdles that we all need to understand.
When it comes to growing older, the experiences of seniors are as diverse as the colors of the rainbow. Within this spectrum, older adults in the LGBTQ+ community often face unique challenges that warrant our attention and understanding. As a leading home care provider in Novato and the surrounding areas, we know that fostering inclusivity is crucial for providing support to all members of our community. It begins by understanding some of the hurdles specific to the LGBTQ+ population that need to be overcome.
Isolation and Social Stigma:
One of the key challenges confronting LGBTQ+ seniors is the potential for isolation and the enduring social stigma that has persisted throughout their lives. Many individuals from this community grew up in an … Read More »
Take These Steps to Avoid Overmedication and Adverse Medication Reactions in Seniors
Taking too much or too little of a medication or taking it the wrong way can lead to adverse medication reactions in seniors.
The days of “take two aspirin and call me in the morning” have morphed into “take two of these…and two of these…and maybe one of those, too!” Nearly forty percent of seniors are taking at least five different prescription medications each day – not to mention vitamins, supplements, and OTC meds. It is easy to understand why overmedication and adverse medication reactions in seniors are extremely common.
Take these actions to avoid medication problems for someone you love:
Make a list, and check it twice. Create a list of every one of the medications – both over-the-counter and prescription – that the person is currently taking. Share the list with all of their healthcare providers, and … Read More »
Watch for These Early Signs of Mobility Problems in Older Adults
All family caregivers need to know the early signs of mobility problems in older adults in order to prevent falls or other serious injuries.
Benjamin Franklin certainly had it right: An ounce of prevention is really worth a pound of cure. When it comes to noticing and addressing the early signs of mobility problems in older adults, prevention is a must. Falls in seniors lead to 3 million emergency room visits, 300,000 hip fractures, and 32,000 deaths every year, according to research by the CDC.
Preempt a tragedy by keeping an eye out for these warning signs of increasing mobility issues in older loved ones:
Experiencing dizziness. Dizziness and issues with balance can develop from a variety of contributing factors that ultimately cause problems with mobility. It’s important to discover why these issues are taking place and address them … Read More »
