Whether challenging, difficult, overwhelming and rewarding, being a caregiver for your loved one can be many things all at once. Through all the emotions, it’s important to lean on and find support whenever needed and remember the below tips to better ensure your prepared on a day-by-day-basis.
The decision around home care for an aging loved one is important and can be challenging for those involved. The process of beginning it can feel intimidating and unfamiliar, however, it’s important to make sure the transition is as seamless as possible. Consider the tips below to help ease your aging loved one into home care.
As temperatures continue to fall, it’s important we ensure our elderly loved ones are safe and comfortable during the winter months. Use the tips below to help get through the cold times ahead:
While choosing any time of year to start positive changes are great, the start of a new year always seems to give a fresh start to things we'd like to accomplish or have a loved one focus on.
Use the list below for ideas on some New Year resolutions for yourself, elderly loved ones and friends alike.
Spreading joy, celebrating traditions, and spending quality time with loved ones are some of the best parts of the holiday season. Decorations are often a large part of the celebration, but they may become hazardous to your aging loved ones. As they age, your loved ones may not be as mobile or strong as they once were. While it may be one of their favourite activities, decorating their home alone can be a major safety hazard. This holiday season, be mindful to minimize falls and other injury while decorating.
The decision to invest in senior care services is incredibly important, and it’s crucial that you don’t wait any longer than necessary.
Too many family members believe they can manage their loved one’s condition on their own or simply don’t recognize the severity of the issue. By waiting, you risk you loved one's health deteriorating unnecessarily and increasing your own stress levels to an unmanageable degree.
Luckily, there are certain signs you can look for that will indicate when it’s time to seek specialized senior care services.
As people age it becomes harder for them to get around and maintain the independent lifestyle they’re accustomed too. An element of elderly home care is doing what we can to encourage your loved one to be as independent as possible.
Technology plays an important role – now more than ever – in aiding the growing population of seniors that wish to age in place.
Technology is rapidly changing. Learning and introducing new technology to the seniors in your life may seem complicated, but it doesn’t have to be. There are countless tech devices with intuitive, user-friendly features on the market.
The fall season comes with many different activities and holidays to look forward to. Halloween is a popular holiday with different activities to celebrate alone or with the whole family.
This fall, try incorporating some of these spooky-season activities with children, seniors, and everyone in between.
As the seasons change, many people who live with arthritis may be feeling an increase in pain and stiffness. Arthritis effects 6 million Canadians and expected to reach 9 million by 2040.
In addition to consulting your doctor, there are a few general remedies that may help to alleviate the symptoms of arthritis and improve overall well-being.
Whether it's picking or decorating pumpkins, celebrating Halloween, or making your family’s famous apple pie, there are several activities that you and your loved ones can enjoy together in the fall.
The importance of regular exercise and physical activity is no secret. In fact, it is one of the best things you can do for your body.
As we age, the discussion of needing more assistance in daily life becomes more frequent. While it's common for older adults to seek the help of a caregiver, it can also lead them to feel like they are losing their independence. Constantly having someone around to help with day-to-day life can feel overwhelming at times and can even lead some to feel unfulfilled.
It's well known that the basic physiological needs for a human to survive are food, water, air, and shelter. According to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, the next two levels a human will need to survive are safety/security and love/belonging. Both of which require interpersonal relationships with family, friends, co-workers, etc. The ability to form and maintain healthy relationships with others can have lasting effects on your overall health.
Whether you're providing care for a loved one in need or as it is your professional career, much of your time is spent thinking of others. As a caregiver, putting your own needs on the back-burner may seem necessary and helpful when providing efficient and quality care. While it may be easy to think of yourself last, in the long run though, doing so can be the cause of burnout, fatigue and more.
As you grow and age, your skin changes with you. It can become thinner, lost elasticity and become more sensitive to the sun and other irritants.
A diagnosis of dementia or other brain related illnesses can affect what your hobbies may be. Although there are many things that change, this should not mean the end to hobbies and activities all together.
The phrase, “Communication is key,” is top of mind for many when asked to reflect on their successes. Effective communication is important for a multitude of reasons. In general, communication allows for conversations to flow accurately and quickly. Poor communication can have the opposite effect, by causing frequent misunderstanding and frustration.
Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive disease that affects memory, thinking and behaviour. It's a form of dementia with symptoms that grow in severity over time. The risk of Alzheimer’s increases with age and is most common in people over 65.
The role of a caregiver is to improve the quality of life of those you care for while helping them stay as independent as possible. Caregivers play a key role in the communities that they serve. It is an extremely rewarding career that allows you to build long-lasting and meaningful relationships with people.
Sun safety is important at every age. As warmer days approach and time spent outside increases, it is key to recognize the importance of sun safety. Many older adults grew up in a time when the benefits of sun protection were not well known or readily available. Our skin changes as we age and requires consistent protection against the sun.
The uncertainty that comes with a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease (PD) can leave loved ones feeling powerless, vulnerable, or even frightened. Although you may not be experiencing the toll of the disease yourself, you are experiencing the changes that will impact your loved one firsthand. It's important to recognize your feelings are normal, as the challenges of PD can affect all aspects of a person's life.
More than 100,000 Canadians live with Parkinson's disease and 25 are diagnosed daily. Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurogenerative disorder that is most recognized by its movement-related (“motor”) symptoms. While the cause remains largely unknown, with no cure, there are many treatment options to assist in easing the symptoms of the disease.
We get it, meal planning can be challenging, especially when it's not for yourself. While it may seem overwhelming, meal planning is extremely beneficial in reducing stress and making the weekdays easier at any age. Whether you're making plans for yourself or for a loved one, below are a few tips to make meal planning simple.
The right amount of healthy food is key for your body to produce energy and the ability to perform daily activities. It can also make a significant impact on body weight and reduce your risk for certain diseases such as diabetes or heart disease.