Watching your senior loved-ones age is never easy. They may struggle to get around, forget names, skip meals, and even forego personal hygiene. What do you do? What is the best choice for mom or dad? There are nursing homes, assisted living, independent living, long term elderly care, and home health care options. These choices may seem overwhelming and endless. In fact, there are hundreds of Colorado nursing homes and assisted living facilities in your own backyard.
If so, you’ve no doubt enjoyed having the bragging rights about your mother’s, father’s or friend’s health and mental clarity. They’ve always been independent and always cared for themselves. Now, you may find that things are slowly beginning to change as the wheels of time move ever more further forward.
Are you noticing the factors that are affecting your communications, not the least of which could be your elderly loved one(s) memory lapse along with their hearing loss? Like, maybe your mom is forgetting that on Mother’s Day you always exchanged gifts and cards. Or, maybe your father just called you to ask when your birthday was. Or, your elderly friend is forgetting when s/he had their last meal. Read the rest of this entry »
Believe it or not… Dehydration is one of the most frequent causes for hospitalization in our older population. Not only do warm temperatures contribute… but, dry indoor living conditions also increase body heat that forces them to excrete fluids in order to stay cool, thus creating a need for more hydration.
In fact, the elderly need up to 10 percent more fluids. On average, the adult elderly person should intake at least six, eight-ounce glasses of water per day. Read the rest of this entry »
I work with elderly people in an assisted living facility. Each time I see a particular resident, the experience is new. I try to comprehend how it must feel to age, to change and become more and more dependent. The result is, I’m dumbfounded… I just don’t understand.
I talk with residents who tell me about their former careers, amazing vacations they’ve been on, achievements throughout life, etc. They even relate to where I am at in my life right now. “When my first son was born, I was so terrified, yet excited,” one resident recalled. “He wouldn’t sleep until I bounced him so long I developed a constant twitch.” That’s right, I would think… That’s what I have to do. Then ten minutes later, the resident would ask me how my baby was and recap her experience, “When my first son was born, I was so terrified, yet excited.” My heart sinks each time. Will that be me when I get “OLD?”… Read the rest of this entry »
Depression in the elderly is becoming an increasing problem in the United States. According to the National Institute of Health, of the 35 million Americans age 65 or older, 5 million suffer from varied forms of depression, while at least 2 million have severe depression.
Many people are not aware the condition exists and others believe that seniors have a reason to be down. It is important that our local communities are educated about this issue and take steps to help decrease the number of those that deserve assisted living who suffer with the illness.
One must recognize the signs and symptoms of depression. They include: fatigue, loss of appetite or weight gain, changes in personality or attitude, loss of self-worth, fixation on death, and social withdrawal or isolation, to name a few. Watch closely for these signs as often times they can be hard to detect if one is not aware of possibility that their loved one has depression.
Several factors can cause depression in the elderly. Loneliness, the recent loss of a loved-one, increased health problems, medications, and the fear of death can all lead to depression. Other depressed seniors may not show signs of sadness, but may become more irritable or anxious. Still, some seniors may just show physical signs of depression including increased physical pain or headaches. Read the rest of this entry »
According to the Centers for Disease Control, 1 in 3 seniors fall every year resulting in 90% of senior citizen hip fractures. Of these seniors who fall, and this is the scary part… 60% of them die from complications. (Murphy 2000).
The risk of falling increases with age and falling is the number one cause of injury in adults over 65. These numbers are cause for great concern, but awareness and prevention can help decrease the likelihood of falls in the senior citizen years.
With the elderly, it is important to recognize factors that contribute to falls. They include: change in eye site, lack of strength or physical ailments, changes in medication or dosages, poor lighting, stairs, throw rugs, small objects lying around the house, and other risk factors that add to the list. Read the rest of this entry »
You have grown up with active, energetic parents. They have taken care of you and your family their entire lives. Now that your parents are aging, you begin to notice that every day tasks that were once undemanding are now becoming more difficult. You realize it is time to initiate the conversation about residential assisted living and a plan of action for the future.
How will you go about this and what is the proper way to bring up the topic?
It is important that you talk to your parents about long term elderly care before a major illness or crisis occurs. It is a lot easier to discuss scenarios and act on logic when your parents are still in good health. If you choose to wait, you may miss your opportunity. Read the rest of this entry »
How will I know when it is time for my loved one to enter an assisted living facility? What signs should I look for? These questions are common when family members notice a change in the health and/or environment of their elderly loved ones. Is it just part of the aging process or is it time to find an alternative living solution? To help you determine the needs of your loved one, there are several SIGNS you should look for.
* Tasks that were once simple are now labor-some.
* Weight loss/Lack of appetite.
* Less mobility/Trouble getting around
* The house is un-kept and laundry is piling
* They are having difficulty managing their medications
* Personal appearance and hygiene are lacking…
Growing up, I never thought of my grandparents as old, but as wonderful, kind people who spoiled my siblings and I with candy and attention. They hosted wonderful family get-togethers, attended graduations, and were always there to offer love and support. I didn’t really take the time to notice that as I grew older, they too, would continue to age.
I first noticed my grandparents aging in high school when my maternal-grandfather was diagnosed with cancer. His illness forced me to realize that my grandparents would not live forever. As senior citizens, they became frail. Shortly thereafter, my grandfather lost his life to this disease, and my grandmother was widowed.
Nine years later, my grandmother was still trying to pick up the pieces. She was the homemaker her entire life and was still trying to mend economically and emotionally. In her mid-70’s she continued to live at home, but realized that one day it wasn’t going to be an option anymore. She will need additional care that family and friends can not provide. We’ve asked ourselves… what are her adult living facility options? What types of retirement living home care communities are in the area? Does she want to be closer to her other children? These questions remained as she and her family prepares for the future. Read the rest of this entry »
In this 'free report' you'll discover some important assisted living insights, guidelines, alternatives and cost comparisons -to assist with the concerns you and your loved ones require in making these very important decisions.
