We all have good days and bad days, and we’re all entitled to a little negative thinking or crankiness every now and then. If you are caring for a loved one who appears to have fallen into a routine of continuous negativity and complaining, however, it’s worth exploring whether a health issue might be the reason for these senior mood changes.
Here are several reasons for persistent negativity, and how you can help.
Negativity can arise from loneliness or boredom, too. Whatever the cause, chronic negativity can wear on a caregiver’s own sense of comfort and wellbeing. It is important to be able to step away from your care role on a regular basis, and to make this time away a top priority. The senior will also benefit from the chance to spend time with different friends, family members, or a professional caregiver. These breaks are a healthy part of your caregiver/care receiver relationship – for both of you.
As the leading provider of respite care in Reno, NV and nearby areas, our caregivers are great companions to help brighten the mood of the older adults we serve. All of our care staff are fully trained, background checked, and accomplished in a wide range of home care services for seniors. Contact us at (775) 507-3111 to learn exactly how we can help someone you love, while allowing you the time needed to rest and rejuvenate.
You’ve finally accepted that the family home is too much for you parents to handle. A small house became available just around the corner from you that’s perfect: a lovely flower garden in the front yard, a sunny, cheerful kitchen, and no stairs to navigate. Now it’s time to tackle the downsizing process. The only problem? Dad has dementia.
It can be challenging for seniors with dementia to accept change. Leaving the familiarity of home and moving into a new one can enhance feelings of agitation and anxiety, but there are strategies to help ease the transition.
Our professional dementia care team is fully trained, experienced, and highly skilled, and we’re available to help through the downsizing process and beyond. Contact us online or at (775) 507-3111 for more information about how our home care in Reno and the nearby areas can help.
“You are always free to choose what you do with your life. To make changes in your future, make new choices today.” – Brian Tracy
Making a decision about where to live as you age is not easy. The vast majority of seniors would like to remain at home for a lifetime, but it is not without concerns. Can it be safe? How about mobility issues or other physical limitations? What if a senior falls and is unable get up?
Fortunately, there are plenty of solutions to help seniors age in place with peace of mind. Technology, for instance, is regularly developing and evolving, providing answers to the challenges that could surface as we grow older. Just look at some of these tech devices and how they’re improving life at home for seniors!
Home Safety
Smart devices help seniors living alone, as well as their families, feel safer and more comfortable while they age in place in the comforts of home. Seniors can select from specific devices that meet a specific need, such as a smart door lock, doorbell, or fire alarm, or entire smart security packages with all of these features and more.
In addition, a smart speaker system such as Amazon Echo or Google Nest Audio operates by voice command, a vital feature to a home technology system. The older adult can simply say what they need, such as calling for assistance, and technology takes care of it.
Remote Patient Monitoring
Remote patient monitoring connects individuals to their physicians in ground breaking ways: wearable devices to trace vital signs, smart pill bottles with sensors, bio-ingestible capsules older adults can swallow, even electronic tattoos that can assess the progression of pneumonia. Remote patient monitoring takes telehealth to the next level, offering more detailed information on an individual's health condition than can be detected via a video chat.
Whole Home Automation
For people who want to jump into technology with both feet, a central control system will allow for a number of functions to be performed at the touch of a tablet or smartphone, such as lights, security camera systems, sensors, window shades, thermostat, music, Wi-Fi, and more.
Michael Miller, author of My Smart Home for Seniors, sums up the benefits of technology for older adults: “Technology helps all homeowners, but especially seniors, by automating things that are a pain or difficult to do.”
It goes without saying that a compassionate human touch is definitely necessary for safe and independent living at home, regardless of how many tech tools we utilize! Connect with Help at Home online or at (775) 507-3111 for customized home care in Reno and the nearby areas that helps older adults live life to the fullest.