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Things Seniors Need to Know When Choosing a New Doctor in Miami-Dade
Posted by Scott Cantin in Senior Health | 0 comments
Whether you moved to another city or perhaps your doctor is retiring, finding a new doctor is a challenging task. You want to choose a doctor who understands you, listens to you, and offers compassionate care. How well you connect with your doctor is one of the most important steps to getting good health care. The doctor can tell when you’re okay and help you make medical decisions that suit your daily habits and needs.
Taking that active role means you can ask questions and seek clarification on instructions without fear. It also means you can share your problems and speak up when uncomfortable with a specific treatment or procedure. At Advancare, we encourage our seniors to have a primary doctor who can care for all their medical needs. If the doctor recommends having a caregiver to take care of you at home due to an illness like Alzheimer’s Disease or short-term disability, our skilled, compassionate, and professional caregivers are happy to help. You can call us anytime to discuss your condition.
Are you going to need a Geriatrician?
The same way young children need pediatricians is the same way senior adults need geriatricians. A geriatrician is a primary care doctor who specializes in treating older patients. As you grow older, your body changes and geriatricians are trained to handle some of the most common and complex health conditions and coordinate the overall care of seniors. Geriatricians work with primary caregivers to ensure all your health challenges are looked into and treated. So, yes. You need a geriatrician. There’s no specific age to start using one, but it may be more helpful if you:
- Are experiencing functional decline or mobility challenges
- Suffer from multiple health conditions
- Suffer age-related illnesses such as dementia, incontinence, or osteoporosis
- Find some treatment procedures or medications that have negative effects on your body
- Are managing multiple medications
Why Geriatricians are Important
As we’ve mentioned, geriatricians are trained to treat common health problems in seniors. They are experts in helping seniors with serious health conditions and are well-versed with drug side effects and the negative effects associated with multiple medications. They can help plan how each will be taken and what drug can be skipped. Geriatricians don’t treat every active medical condition with drugs. They prioritize conditions and medications to maximize your overall health and well-being.
Tips for choosing a doctor
Follow these tips when choosing a primary doctor.
- Decide what you are looking for in a doctor: Your first step is knowing the qualities you’re looking for in a doctor. Patient, calm, responsive, and compassionate.
- Make a list of several possible doctors: Once you know what you’re looking for in a doctor, ask friends and family for recommendations. Create a list of some of the most common names.
- Collect information about the doctors you’re considering: Conduct small research online to gather information about the doctors you’re considering and narrow down the list to three.
- Choose your doctor: You can meet all three in different appointments or go with your first choice. If you don’t connect well with them, try the second option until you find the right doctor.
Need senior home care services in Miami-Dade? We’re here for you. If your geriatrician or family wants you to have a caregiver to look after you, we have the right people to help you through your recovery journey and overall well-being. Feel free to contact us anytime to discuss the services you want us to help you with.
Why is Healthy Eating Important for the Elderly in Miami-Dade?
Posted by Scott Cantin in Nutrition Tips, Senior Care | 0 comments
A healthy lifestyle and a nutritious diet are particularly crucial for seniors due to their benefits. A healthy diet helps strengthen muscles, improve brain function, and boost immunity. That’s why our team at Advancare encourages our elderly community to maintain an active lifestyle and eat healthfully. We hire professional caregivers to plan meals and prepare them for seniors in Miami-Dade who need help with their nutrition. A healthy diet contributes to healthy aging. You can contact us anytime to learn more about our services and why you should trust us with any situation your senior loved one may have.
Healthy Eating Tips for Seniors
Despite being a crucial subject for the elderly, many don’t follow a healthy diet. According to the National Resources Center on Nutrition, Physical Activity and Aging, one in four older Americans have poor nutrition. We recommend eating foods rich in fiber, minerals, vitamins, and other nutrients to meet your nutritional needs. Limit foods high in processed sugars, trans fats, and salt. Here are a few tips to promote healthy eating in seniors.
Research Nutrients Your Body Needs
While you will be required to eat more vitamins, fiber, minerals, and other nutrients, your body has specific nutritional needs. The portions and daily intake vary from one person to another. Researching your specific nutrients or consulting your doctor about your nutritional needs can help you stay on the right path.
Focus on Nutrient-Rich Foods
As you age, your daily calorie needs reduce drastically while your nutrient needs increase. Eating nutrient-rich foods helps give your body the vitamins, minerals, and fats you need to boost immunity, strengthen bones, and increase brain function. Our meal planning can help ensure you eat the right foods daily to improve your overall well-being.
Eat Enough Fiber
Fiber is critical in your digestive system as it helps prevent constipation and other problems. Include fiber-rich foods in every meal, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, lentils, oats, nuts, and seeds.
Choose Healthier Convenience Foods
If you live independently and depend on convenient foods, choose the healthiest options available. They should be easy to prepare and full of nutrients. Check the labels to ensure they have less sugar and saturated fats but contain more fiber, minerals, and vitamins.
Consider Supplements
Sometimes, it isn’t easy to keep up with all the foods you need to eat to get all the nutrients. Either because you may not afford all of them regularly or may not be able to prepare them, and that’s where supplements come in. While we recommend getting nutrients from the diet, what’s most important is that you get the quality and quantity your body needs every day. Your doctor may prescribe these for you based on your needs.
Stay Hydrated
Drink plenty of liquids, including fresh water, every day. Don’t wait until you’re thirsty. Carry your bottle everywhere you go. You can supplement your fluid intake with fresh juice, tea, soup, and water-full fruits such as pineapples and watermelons.
Stay Social
Your overall health depends on your daily activities. Instead of sleeping the whole day or sitting in a small room, go out and get some sunshine, talk to people, and stay social. You can visit your family or have them come over and eat together. Social interactions make mealtimes fun and enjoyable.
Need Our Help? We’re Here for You
Whether you need someone to prepare meals for you, perform light housekeeping duties, manage your medication, assist you in bathing and grooming, run errands, and provide transportation, we can help. Our caregivers are highly trained to handle seniors ensuring they live happily, healthily, comfortably, and safely in their homes. Contact us today to know how we can help you.
Ways to Help Seniors Cope with the Loss of a Spouse in Miami-Dade
Posted by Scott Cantin in Senior Care | 0 comments
Losing a spouse can be particularly hard for seniors. The loss can have devastating effects on your immunity. You may feel fearful and shocked. Some people also feel guilty for being the one still alive, which can lead to depression and anxiety. Adjusting to living without your partner may feel impossible, but with the right help, you can return to your normal life in no time. At Advancare, we care about your well-being. That’s why we go far and beyond to find you the perfect caregivers for your specific needs. Our senior home care services in Miami-Dade include everything you need to lead a productive, happy, healthy, and comfortable life.
Mourning the Death of a Spouse
At Advancare, we believe there’s no right or wrong way to mourn. It’s normal to feel sad, have fluctuating moods, get angry, and break down. Most seniors mourning the death of a spouse may experience the following:
- Trouble sleeping
- A hard time making decisions
- Problems concentrating,
- Reduced appetite
Some people may feel better with time and may start putting their life back together. Others may take longer. Once in a while, you may think about your spouse and break down sometimes, but the pain will lessen with time. There will be good and bad days; you will know you’re doing well when the good days are more than the bad. You may need help if your mourning is interfering with your normal life.
Advice for Seniors in Mourning
Grief can be hard on anyone. So, don’t be too hard on yourself. Be patient with yourself and give yourself time to heal. Here are a few tips to help during mourning.
- Look after yourself: It’s easy to feel helpless, fearful, and lost. However, try as much as possible to return to your daily routines by eating well, exercising, talking to your loved ones, and taking your medication.
- Join community groups: Your neighbors and friends will provide the perfect support you need to start all over again. Joining community groups allows you to get busy, talk to different people, and even share your struggles with others who can help.
- Don’t make any major life changes immediately: Wait for a while before moving or changing jobs. This gives you enough time to heal undisrupted.
- Seek help whenever you need it: Don’t think you can handle grief alone. A visit to your mental health professional can help.
Finding a support system
Learning to accept the loss of a loved one is difficult for everyone. Instead of brushing off your grief, seek help, especially if you feel overwhelmed or depressed. Your family and friends are the best people to contact for support. Remember, they’re grieving too, so it’s much easier to speak about the person, share memories and look out for each other.
How grief counseling can help
Sometimes, finding grief counseling may be the best way to walk through your grieving journey. Regular therapy helps you accept the death of a loved one and start a new life. If you’re in Miami-Dade, contact our team; we will be happy to help you connect with the right people. You can also try support groups where grieving people help each other.
We Can Help
Grieving is different for everyone, but remember, you’re not alone. You have all these beautiful people looking out for you. It is challenging at first, but it gets better with time. If you need a companion to share your grief with and support you through this period, our compassionate caregivers can help. Contact us today for more information.
Best Physical Therapies for Seniors in Miami-Dade
Posted by Scott Cantin in Senior Care | 0 comments
We all need to be active to maintain physical function. This is more important as you age, regardless of whether you’re recovering from an illness or injury or participating in a senior rehabilitation program. Physical therapy in seniors helps restore functionality, induce mobility, reduce pain and improve the overall quality of life.
If you’re looking for a professional caregiver in physical therapy in Miami-Dade, Advancare can assist you. Our caregivers are specially trained to care for your emotional, physical, and psychological needs. We will find you a caregiver with your specific needs. You can contact us to learn about our caregivers and how our services can best assist you.
What Does a Physical Therapist Do for Seniors?
Physical therapists are experts in how your body moves. They can help identify and treat movement problems that a senior may have. To do this, PTs offer education, hands-on care, and prescriptions for exercises or activities that you can do at home or with the help of your caregiver or relative.
Your PT will sign a specific treatment plan based on your needs, goals, and challenges. If you have had an injury, your PT may work with you to speed up recovery through movement. This may include assessing your ability to do important activities important to you such as:
- Flexibility,
- Balance
- Posture
- Coordination
- Mobility
- Strength
Common Types of Physical Therapy for Seniors
Physical therapists are trained to provide different types of therapy to help you return to your normal lifestyle. The most common types of physical therapy include:
- Geriatric physical therapy: This therapy has some special emphasis on the needs of the elderly. It helps treat conditions like cancer, osteoporosis, arthritis, balance disorders, and joint replacement. Specialized programs are designed to help reduce pain, increase fitness, and restore mobility.
- Orthopedic physical therapy: This therapy helps treat injuries of the musculoskeletal system. It also allows seniors to recover from orthopedic surgeries.
- Cardiopulmonary physical therapy: If you’ve had a heart attack or have other pulmonary or cardiovascular conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, this therapy can help increase functional independence.
- Neurological physical therapy: This therapy focuses on the body and brain. If you have a neurological condition like Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, or ALS, a neurological physical therapist can help you to adapt to mobility, visual, muscle loss, and balance.
Potential Consequences of Seniors Skipping Physical Therapy
- Falls: As you age, your muscles lose strength, which impacts balance and posture, leading to falls. Falls can lead to re-hospitalization if you sustain injuries. Physical therapists are trained to identify the reasons causing you to fall or risk factors. They conduct checkups and run a series of tests to assess your balance and strength. They also check your feet and the shoes you prefer to wear regularly and advise accordingly.
- Reduced Long-Term Strength and Endurance: Physical therapy can influence endurance and strength levels during recovery. Lack of physical therapy can cause increased blood pressure, decreased oxygen saturation, and heart rate leading to blood clots, stroke, or heart attacks.
- Increased Pain: When you don’t get proper physical exercise or fail to move due to pain, your joints will stiffen, causing more pain. There are even higher chances that you’ll take longer to heal when you skip physical therapy.
At Advancare, we care about your physical health. Our caregivers will help you through your journey to restoring mobility, flexibility, and independence. Contact us today to learn more about our services in Miami-Dade and how we can improve your overall quality of life.
Tips for Staying Strong in Your Daily Routines in Miami-Dade
Posted by Scott Cantin in Senior Care | 0 comments
Your body undergoes a series of changes as you grow older. Generally, you may not feel as strong as you used to when you were 40. People over the age of 40 may lose about 8% of their muscle mass per decade. This rate can double after the age of 70. Muscle mass is important for everyday activities such as standing and walking, picking things up, and even performing tasks like washing dishes.
However, you don’t have to lose strength when you grow older. While it may seem like a lot of effort to develop new habits such as muscle strengthening, it’s all worth it. Staying strong means you can live longer independently and enjoy your favorite activities. At Advancare, we encourage seniors to participate in regular exercise and sporting activities to keep their muscles strong and healthy. We provide senior home care services in Miami-Dade and the surrounding communities through our compassionate, professional, and skilled caregivers. Here are a few tips for staying strong in your daily routines.
Keep It Fun
Staying strong can be fun if you engage in the activities you love. If your hobbies involve getting physically active, like cycling, walking, swimming, or yoga, try doing them daily. It’s also worth exploring other activities to determine what works for you. Gardening, cleaning your home, and even walking your dog are simple activities that help keep your muscles and improve your overall health. You can exercise alone, with a partner, or with a caregiver. Make sure to make whatever you choose fun, not tiring or boring.
Create Healthy Habits as You Age for Staying Strong
As you age, it’s important to eliminate unhealthy habits that could compromise your health or worsen an illness. For instance, you may need to avoid smoking or taking alcohol, as they could severely affect your body. You also want to sleep less during the day and more at night. This is to allow yourself to have a long, productive, and active day. Avoid spending too much time in front of a computer, TV, or phone. Instead, take a book and read. Some of the daily routines for an organized and productive life include the following:
- Making your bed
- Reading and responding to your emails
- Putting things back where they’re supposed to be
- Prioritizing your muscle-strengthening exercises
Set Realistic Goals
Your doctor will likely recommend some things you can do to keep your body strong and healthy. However, it’s also critical to create your own schedule and goals to help keep your body stronger. Depending on your plan, you can determine which activities you want to participate in every day. Regular body exercises generally help stretch your muscles. Make sure to choose what works for you and set achievable goals. Part of your goals may include eating a healthy diet, exercising once or twice a week, drinking plenty of water, and having a regular sleeping pattern.
Move Mindfully
When you wake up every day, it’s prudent to have activities scheduled for the day that will help you keep your physical and mental health in good shape. Some afternoon stretches and naps are all ways to keep your body stronger. Remember to give your body time to relax, too, and ask for help whenever you feel you need it.
Contact Advancare today if you need help managing your daily routine or strengthening your muscles; we will be happy to help.
Tips for Everyday Care for People With Dementia in Miami-Dade
Posted by Scott Cantin in caregiving tips, Dementia | 0 comments
If you’re looking after someone with dementia, your daily tasks will likely increase as the disease progresses. At some point, a person with dementia will need help bathing, brushing their teeth, combing their hair, and getting dressed. Since these are private activities, it’s critical to have a reliable caregiver to help. At Advancare, our professional, compassionate, and efficient caregivers can provide the care your loved one with dementia needs.
We offer senior home care services such as light housekeeping, dementia care, bathing and grooming, assistance with bill paying, palliative care, caring companionship, meal planning and preparation, running errands, incidental transportation, and many more. If you’re currently taking care of a senior with dementia, here are a few tips to help you provide better care.
Reduce Frustrations
People with dementia may change as the disease progresses. Part of this change is getting aggressive or agitated over people and things. Sometimes the senior may find some tasks challenging, such as bathing or dressing up, and therefore, they may resist doing these activities which can be frustrating. To reduce frustrations, establish a routine that prepares them for such tasks.
Determine what activities are perfect when they are fresh and alert. Be flexible, particularly on difficult days. It’s also prudent to take your time and anticipate that some tasks will take longer to accomplish, such as eating. Provide choices but not too many, and use simple instructions. You also need to limit daytime napping to promote quality sleep at night.
Be Flexible
As the disease progresses, a person with dementia will become more dependent. To reduce frustration, be flexible and adapt to a routine that works for you. For instance, if the person wants to wear the same shoes every day, get several pairs of identical shoes. If bathing is met with resistance, do it less often. Ask about the activities they would like to participate in and plan them. If they enjoy doing them, plan to do them every day, especially if they are healthy, such as taking a walk.
Create a Safe Environment
Dementia impairs memory and judgment problem-solving skills, increasing a person’s risk of injury. Ensure the house has adequate lighting, including the corridors, to promote safety. Avoid placing rugs, boxes, extension cords, and other items that could contribute to falls. Instead, install grab bars or handrails to increase support in critical areas. Always check the temperature of the food and drinks before serving, as the senior may not detect hot or cold items, which could lead to burns.
Focus on Individualized Care
When caring for a person with dementia, it’s always prudent to watch them and know their personality. Dementia manifests differently in different people. That means patients will likely have different symptoms. Knowing what the person likes and what they don’t like helps improve your relationship with them. It also reduces agitation, which makes your work easier. Learn to apply flexibility whenever needed and know how to read mood changes and respond appropriately. With some little help and support from family and friends, you can overcome the challenges and frustrations as they come.
Don’t forget to look after yourself. Remember, you need to be healthy to be able to care for your loved one. If you feel you need help caring for your senior loved one with dementia, our caregivers are here to help. Contact us today for a consultation.
The Importance of Regular Eye Exams for Seniors in Miami-Dade
Posted by Scott Cantin in caregiving, Senior Care | 0 comments
As you age, it’s normal to experience changes in your vision. It’s not always obvious what kinds of problems need attention. That’s why you need a regular eye exam that allows your eye doctor to check and ensure you don’t have vision problems that can affect your ability to see or remain active. At Advancare, we recommend getting regular eye exams for seniors in Miami-Dade to ensure any visual changes are detected and treated on time.
Most seniors may complain about losing the ability to see up close, having trouble distinguishing colors, and needing more time to adjust to different light levels. Such problems can easily be corrected using glasses, improved lighting, and contact lenses. This article discusses the importance of eye exams for seniors in Miami-Dade.
Why Older Adults Need Eye Exams
Older adults need eye exams more than any other group of people. The exams aim to detect certain eye conditions and illnesses, such as:
- Cataracts
- Dry eye syndrome
- Age-related macular degeneration
- Glaucoma
- Retinal detachment
- Diabetic retinopathy
How Often Should Seniors Get Eye Exams?
According to a recent CDC report, 93 million U.S. adults are at high risk of vision loss. Yet, only half have visited the eye doctor in the past year. With such data, it’s easy to understand the value of eye care and its life-changing impact in preserving the vision of many people.
Experts recommend seniors above 65 visit an optometrist at least once every two years. The eye exam should include refraction, eye pressure, dilated retinal examination, slit lamp, and visual field. The eye doctor will also test your vision acuity, eye alignment, eye movement, and depth perception.
Ways to Protect Your Vision
There are many things you can do to keep your eyes in good condition. One of these is regular eye exams. Your optometrist can detect and treat problems before they cause permanent vision loss. You can create a list of questions you can ask your doctor, including your medication. It’s important to look after your eyes and immediately report any changes you notice to your eye doctor.
Another great tip for keeping your eyes healthy is eating nutritious foods. Eat green leafy vegetables such as kale and spinach to maintain a healthy weight. Avoid exposing your eyes to direct sunlight or looking directly at the sun. Wear sunglasses with UV-A and UV-B radiation protection. Quit smoking as it increases the risk of developing glaucoma, cataracts, dry eye, and macular degeneration.
Driving at 60
Once you’re past 60, driving a car can become quite difficult. Eye disease and age-related vision changes can affect your driving ability negatively, and you might not know the symptoms. Some of the vision changes include the following:
- Not being able to see road signs clearly
- Difficulty judging distances and speed
- Difficulty seeing objects up close such as road pumps, maps, or the vehicle’s instrument panel
- Changes in color perception
- Loss of side vision
- Problems seeing in low light at night
- Difficulty adjusting to bright sunlight or glare from headlights.
At Advancare, our community services are focused on your overall wellness. Our caregivers work with you to ensure you live a productive and fulfilled life. To learn more about our senior home care services, feel free to contact us today!
Why Do Financial Scammers Target Seniors in Miami-Dade?
Posted by Scott Cantin in Senior Care | 0 comments
Financial scammers targeting seniors are on the rise. According to the FBI’s latest Internet Crime Report, American seniors above 60 lost about 41.7 billion to fraud last year. This is the highest amount of loss recorded of any age group. Most seniors who live alone can easily become targets as they are less tech-savvy and more trusting. Scammers use various ways to manipulate seniors to gain access to their bank accounts. That’s why Advancare recommends hiring a caregiver to help with bill-paying and other financial needs. Our professional caregivers can detect scammers and report them, shielding you from financial losses. In this article, we will discuss various scams targeting seniors and what to do if you’ve been a victim.
Financial Scams Targeting Older Adults
Common financial scams targeting older adults include:
The grandparent scam
This scam involves tricking a senior into thinking that it’s their grandchild calling and requesting money to fix an issue they have, such as overdue rent.
Tech support scams
This scam involves hackers preying on your devices, sending a blank screen on the computer or phone, and telling you that your device is damaged and needs fixing. When they call support, the scammer either requests access to the computer or demands to be paid a fee to get it repaired.
Sweepstakes
This is the most common scam that happens to almost everyone. The scam involves the scammer calling you to inform you that you’ve won a lottery, and to claim your winnings; you must send money upfront to cover taxes and processing fees.
Government impersonation scams
In this scam, someone will call you impersonating an employee from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Medicare, or social security. They tell you that you have unpaid taxes and threaten to deport or arrest you if you don’t pay up immediately.
Why Do Financial Scammers Target Seniors?
Scammers target seniors for several reasons. They include the following:
- Seniors are known to be friendly and trusting of others, especially when someone appears to be looking out for them.
- The majority of them have cognitive or physical impairments and conditions that may hinder proper judgment.
- Seniors have significant savings and valuable possessions, which makes them a lucrative target.
- Some seniors don’t report such scams out of fear of losing their independence or being seen as incompetent.
- Seniors are not tech-savvy and may not detect unusual activity on their accounts online.
What To Do To Avoid Being a Victim of a Scam
The first step to protect yourself from scammers is to know their approach. That means researching the common financial scams targeting older adults and anticipating what a scammer would say when they want to steal from you. It’s also important to remember never to share personal information with strangers. You can talk to your children or close relatives about common scams. Avoid trusting strangers, especially when conversations shift to money. Lastly, report any fraudulent or unusual activity around your finances to your bank and file a report with the police if you become a victim of a scam.
Now that you know some of the most common scams, why not take steps to stay safe? Our caregivers at Advancare can help you manage your finances and educate you on avoiding scams. Our comprehensive senior home care services allow you to live a stress-free, comfortable, healthy, and happy life. Contact us today for a consultation.
How Does Lack of Sleep Affect the Elderly in Miami-Dade
Posted by Scott Cantin in Alzheimer's Disease, home care, Senior Care | 0 comments
Sleep is an important mechanism that helps you restore energy and heal cognitive and physical damage. It’s more critical in seniors as the quality of sleep gradually deteriorates. Some conditions, such as diabetes, osteoporosis, asthma, and Alzheimer’s disease, can have a negative impact on sleep.
As a caregiver in Miami-Dade, it’s your responsibility to help your seniors improve their quality of sleep in their later years. At Advancare, we recommend a regular sleeping pattern for seniors that lasts between seven and nine hours every night. Our experienced caregivers help provide senior home care services that help boost your senior’s overall health and comfort.
Why is Sleep So Important?
Sleep is an integral part of life that allows your body to rest, recharge, and restore energy. Sleep keeps you healthier, alert, focused, stronger, and happier while helping your body repair damaged organs and cells. Lack of sleep, on the other hand, can lead to depression, memory problems, and increased pain sensitivity.
That’s why seniors need to have a regular sleeping pattern that helps ensure they’re well-rested. By encouraging your loved one to have a regular sleeping schedule, you will be helping them achieve the following:
- Reduced medication usage
- Increase alertness during waking hours
- Improved cardiovascular health
- Regulated appetite
- Enhanced memory and attention
- Reduced risk of falling
- Happier and more engaged lifestyle
- Reduced depression symptoms
- Reduced stress and anxiety
Common Reasons for Poor Sleep in Older People
There are many reasons why your senior loved one may struggle to fall asleep or sleep longer hours. Apart from medical conditions, seniors may struggle to sleep due to the following:
- Effects of medication
- Sleeping too much during the day
- Cognitive impairment
- Too much light and other distractions
- Drinking or eating certain foods before bedtime
- Not being physically active throughout the day
How To Promote Good Sleep for Older People
Disrupted sleep in older adults causes them to spend longer in bed, sleeping at intervals throughout the day to catch up. These short intervals may not provide the full benefits that sleep offers, such as boosting the immune system and aiding memory. That’s why you may want to help your senior loved one sleep better.
You can start by visiting a health professional to review the causes of disrupted sleep. You can enquire about tangible steps to improve your loved one’s sleeping habits and improve the quality of their sleep. Here are tips you can utilize to help promote good sleep in an older person.
- Use the bedroom for sleeping only: Create a conducive atmosphere that promotes sleep. Choose paint colors and lights that help you fall asleep faster. Avoid doing other activities other than sleeping in your bedroom.
- Have a ritual for relaxing before bed: Decide what you should do before bed, such as reading a book, taking a warm shower, or engaging in a few exercises. This helps prepare your brain to know that it’s time for bed.
- Find ways of falling asleep: Reading a book and listening to music are all great ways of falling asleep. Find what works for you and implement it.
- Engage in daily activities that keep you active and nourished: These could be simple activities like reading books, painting, baking, cooking, or even playing games with other seniors or friends.
We Can Help
Not sure how to go about helping your senior loved one sleep better? Our team at Advancare is here to help. We offer high-quality services through our caregivers, from light housekeeping, errand running, medication management, and much more. Contact us today to learn more.
Make Mealtimes Easier for People with Alzheimer’s in Miami-Dade
Posted by Scott Cantin in Alzheimer's Disease, home care, Senior Health | 0 comments
Mealtimes can be particularly difficult for people with Alzheimer’s disease. As a result, caregivers may spend more time helping seniors eat, which can affect their housekeeping duties and other tasks. The condition causes cognitive impairment and a decline in sensory perception and coordination, all of which can lead to lost appetite and poor feeding. While there’s no cure for these symptoms, there are steps you can take to make mealtimes easier. At Advancare, we prepare our caregivers to provide full care. Here are the steps we recommend making mealtimes easier for your senior loved one with Alzheimer’s.
Create a Conducive Dining Setting
People with Alzheimer’s disease may have trouble concentrating or focusing. The best way to make them feel more comfortable is by creating a distraction-free environment. Make the eating area quiet and simple by turning off the TV and radio. Avoid placing too many items on the dining table, such as floral arrangements. Keep the lights fairly bright, not too dim or too bright. You can make good use of natural light. Avoid filling their plates with different types of food. Instead, serve one at a time. You can also ask or let them choose.
Make Different Foods Stand Out From the Plate
A person with Alzheimer’s may have difficulty identifying foods or differentiating types of foods. To help them identify foods better, serve them on plates with solid contrasting colors, which makes it easy to identify the food from the background. Plain white plates are great for serving simple, colorful meals like rice, minced meat stew, and a few greens. A Boston University research has found that seniors with Alzheimer’s disease ate more when served meals on red plates.
Test the Food Temperature Before Serving
A person with Alzheimer’s may be unable to detect when their food or drink is too hot or cold. Always check food and beverage temperatures before serving to prevent burns.
Make Mealtime a Social Occasion
Mealtime should be inherently social. Despite your busy schedule, sit and eat with your senior loved one and enjoy each other’s company. It’s an excellent opportunity to sit down and have a little chat. You can set the mood with a happy and warm tone of voice.
This helps the senior to look forward to mealtimes. Providing company for Alzheimer’s disease patients as they eat offers other additional benefits, including reduced stress and improved overall moods.
Allow Plenty of Time for Eating
People with Alzheimer’s need additional time to eat and finish their meals. They may take as much as an hour or more to finish their plate of food. Avoid rushing them and give the person ample time, support, and space to finish the meal. Encourage them to chew slowly and take their time. You can simplify this by cutting the food into smaller pieces and making it as soft as possible. This helps with chewing and swallowing. Avoid packing their plates with plenty of food, as it may feel overwhelming for a senior.
Need caregiving services in Miami-Dade? Our caregivers at Advancare have the skills and qualifications to care for your senior loved one with Alzheimer’s disease. Fill our online contact us form or give us a call on (305) 441-9794 and we will be happy to discuss how to improve your senior loved one’s life.
