For many, the holidays are the best time of year filled with family get-togethers, feasts and fun traditions; but for seniors, this can be the most depressing of all seasons as they pine for lost loved ones. And in a lot of cases, with family miles away, seniors struggle to decorate, shop, and prepare a meal. They struggle with feeling sad that they can’t move around as easily as they did when they were younger. Visiting Angels, one of the largest in-home senior care companies in the nation, offers local families the vital service of hiring senior loved ones a holiday companion. Don’t know what to get Grandma or Grandpa for Christmas? How about a friend, or better yet, an angel - a Visiting Angel that is! A holiday companion is also a priceless gift that adult children can give themselves this year – Visiting Angels can provide them with a professional caregiver to tend to their senior loved ones’ every need as they prepare for a house full of guests or holiday event. Roughly one in four seniors (age 65 or older) suffers from depression. More than 70 percent of older Americans feel isolated and lonely*. And, nearly one-third of all non-institutionalized older Americans live alone** (more depression information included below). “The holidays can be tough on seniors because many have lost people they loved. Plus, they aren’t as mobile to visit friends and family or even decorate or shop,” says Larry Meigs, CEO of Visiting Angels. “Our caregivers socialize with seniors, take them visiting and keep them engaged instead of sitting at home feeling isolated and depressed. Plus, our caregivers give families the heads up about their senior’s state-of-mind, to differentiate between the holiday blues and full-blown depression.” The Holiday Blues vs. Senior DepressionThe holiday blues are often temporary and dissipate when the season ends. The holiday blues are also associated with the time change – as daylight hours become shorter. If the blues continue after the season, it could be a warning sign of depression. Senior depression is often mistaken for other age-related issues. In fact, stress-related events such as the holidays may trigger half of all depressive episodes, according to the U.C. Davis Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. Common signs of senior depression include***
How Angels Help Seniors Beat the Holiday BluesEncourage seniors to exercise – Various studies reveal that staying physically active not only makes people feel good, but it has the same effect on mood and brain chemistry as antidepressants. Keep alcohol use to a minimum – Alcohol is a known depressant. Visiting Angels caregivers can create some other festive drinks such as eggnog or a flavored hot chocolate to help seniors cheerfully toast to the season. Don’t feel obligated to buy lots of gifts – Giving certainly can make you feel good but in times of financial despair, giving gifts can create a lot of stress. Instead, Visiting Angels caregivers can help seniors write and send personalized cards to family and friends. Stay connected socially – Volunteer at a soup kitchen (or other organization) with a caregiver – giving back greatly improves people’s moods and increases their sense of self-worth. Caregivers can also teach seniors how to use computers or cell phones to stay socially connected with family and friends. They can take seniors to a local coffee shop or to look at Christmas lights for some holiday cheer outside the home. Be a good listener – Sometimes all it takes to help a senior with the holiday blues is to simply listen. Through conversation, caregivers can help seniors live in the present (instead of dwelling on “the good old days”) and keep their holiday expectations realistic. Caregivers also cook, clean, drive seniors to doctors and stores, and even help decorate! Get a professional caregiver for your senior loved one today! *University of Michigan study, 2005 **Administration on Aging (2010 data). ***Gottlieb Memorial Hospital and Center for the Study and Prevention of Suicide About Visiting Angels Newton/Canton Visiting Angels Newton/Canton senior home care agency provides high quality in-home care services to seniors and people with disabilities. Countless families have benefited from our dementia home care, Alzheimer’s care, companion care, respite support, transitional aid, and elder home care services in Brookline, Watertown, Westwood, Wellesley, Natick, Newton, Needham, Chestnut Hill, Canton, Dedham, Stoughton, Roslindale, Norwood and nearby towns . The services provided by Visiting Angels Newton/Canton will be sure to make a big impact on your loved one’s happiness and quality of life. Call us today at 617-795-2727 for more information.
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Clutter can be one of the first signs that your loved one needs help. If you visit your loved one, who normally has the house in near-mint condition, and the house looks unkempt, it is a sign that something may not be right. You may have to play detective and interpret the clues. Seniors don’t always ask for the help they need, so you can’t wait for him or her to make the first move. If you think your loved one is struggling, it might be time to consider getting them support. Clutter poses a significant risk to aging seniors living alone at home because they often have underlying health issues that can make them more prone to falling. When you consider poor eyesight, a misplaced item on the floor in a walkway can become a fall risk. Falls are the leading cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries in seniors; they lead to severe injuries, like hip fractures, broken bones and brain injuries. If your loved one falls once, the risk of future falls double, and the possible health complications increase with each fall. Clutter could be a sign of underlying health problems as well. Clutter can be a sign that your loved one isn’t able to handle day-to-day housework anymore. Your parents may be reaching an age where their muscles and skeleton weaken; or they may have arthritis, which can affect dexterity. Often, seniors can be too proud to ask for help, or in denial that they need assistance. This may be because they don’t want to be a burden on family or friends, or because they fear that a change in routine might lead to a loss of privacy and independence. Clutter may also be an early sign of dementia, e.g. when your loved one is missing steps in their usual daily routine, like forgetting to vacuum or clear up after dinner. Other similar signs include not carrying out basic personal hygiene or forgetting to pay bills. We all forget things, misplace car keys or mix up names, but regular occurrences, particularly in an older person, could be a warning. If you suspect your loved one is exhibiting signs of dementia, contact their physician. A decline in the cleanliness of your loved one’s home could also be due to depression or mental fatigue. As they age, they don’t produce the same levels of chemicals like serotonin that help balance moods. Physical problems, like loss of mobility, can cause them to become isolated and loneliness can be a prime cause of depression. Boredom can be a factor and seniors also face many issues that can be upsetting, like the loss of friends and loved ones, and facing their own mortality. As with dementia, if a general malaise and lack of effort around the home is accompanied by other signs of depression, like weight loss, sudden mood changes and trouble sleeping, it may be wise to contact a medical professional. Maybe friends and family could help your loved one with housework if needed, but remember, this may be a long-term commitment. Of course, you can pick up after your loved one, but that may not address the underlying causes of the clutter in their home. A professional home caregiver from Visiting Angels Newton/Canton can help your family member with housework, either by carrying out tasks that they physically can’t manage or by offering gentle reminders of the tasks still to be done. If your loved one is determined to live at home as mental faculties wane, professional home care can help tremendously. If the clutter in your loved one’s home does become evidence of a deeper problem, a professional caregiver from Visiting Angels Newton/Canton can help with those conditions, too. If your loved one is in the early stages of dementia, a caregiver can help them keep up with daily routines and offer stimulation to help to slow the advance of the disease, while watching for signs of the condition deteriorating. If your loved one is depressed, a professional caregiver can help with activities and socializing, either by offering companionship or by enabling interaction with other seniors. Whatever the reason for the clutter in your loved one’s home, the time to act on it is now. It may be indicative of underlying problems that must be addressed. Visiting Angels Newton/Canton understands that each client has unique needs. Therefore, we design a personalized home care plan for each client, based on the results of an initial in-home consultation by one of our case managers. Then we carefully choose the right caregiver for the client, considering factors such as technical skills, personality traits, and experience. Our home care aides are professional, experienced and always treat clients with respect and dignity. They are trained with the use of Hoyer lifts, gait belt or other transfer equipment. We are on call 24/7 at 617-795-2727, always ready to provide help to your loved one. And, we have a large pool of back-up caregivers. Your loved one will not be alone if your regular caregiver cannot provide service due to unexpected circumstances. Visiting Angels Newton/Canton has won the Best of Home Care Provider of Choice, Leader in Excellence and Employer of Choice from Home Care Pulse for years. Our quality is recognized! If you loved one needs senior home care assistance in Needham, Dedham, Canton, Watertown, Brookline, Wellesley, and nearby areas, please call us at 617-795-2727 for a free consultation. You took that fantastic job offer in another state. Mom and dad were healthy and fine. As time passed, you were promoted and became successful. Dad passed away and mom is not doing well on her own. She’s reached an age where daily assistance may be necessary and you’re a 1,000 miles away. How do you manage this situation without picking up and moving your family or your mother? If this scenario sounds familiar, remote care giving might be the answer. Visiting Angels supports remote care giving, taking the burden off families and loved ones of those that need care. “Nursing homes and assisted living facilities are not the only options available,” says Richard Bitner, President of the national franchise, Visiting Angels. Non-medical home care services allows your loved ones to live where they want to be … their own home. Visiting Angels has over 300 senior home care agencies around the country to help educate families and provide care to seniors and people with disabilities. Here are some questions to consider when determining if your loved one needs professional care:
If your answers to these questions highlight a loss of ability for your loved one to care for themselves independently, professional elderly home care might be an option for you. When considering agencies, choose one that can offer more than basic homemaker services, including dressing, bathing and other hygienic activities. If the home care agency is based in Massachusetts, be sure to check that it is bonded, insured and accredited by Home Care Alliance of Massachusetts. For piece of mind for you and your loved one, understand the caregiver’s background and experience. Home care agencies should be able to provide you this along with conducting a criminal background check on its employees. You also should be able to meet with the caregiver before you agree to services to make sure that personalities match and you are comfortable with the service they provide. “And you should be entirely comfortable with the person helping your loved one,” adds Bitner. “For example, at Visiting Angels, we try to match the personalities of our clients with the personalities of our home caregivers. If something doesn’t fit, we find someone who does. This makes everyone happy and allows us to give the best care possible.” Since home care services are non-medical, they currently are not covered by Medicare. But you do have options. Elderly home care services can be paid individually or by long term care insurance. Often, funds from associations are available as well. For example, contact the organization that is involved with the illness that your loved one is afflicted with. Funds are sometimes available for their members. Veterans and their spouses might qualify for the Disability Pension for Aid and Attendance. Others decide to take out a reverse mortgage. Whatever your situation, the proper research can determine the best route for financing care. Most importantly, stay in contact with your loved one and the people involved in their care. Establish periodic phone calls and visit when you are able. Conversation shows you care whether you are in the same room or across the country. Visiting Angels Newton/Canton senior homecare agency provides high quality in-home care services to seniors and people with disabilities. Countless families have benefited from our dementia home care service, Alzheimer's care, companion care, elderly care, respite support, transitional aid, and elder home care services in Wellesley, Newton, Needham, Brookline, Chestnut Hill, Canton, Westwood, Dedham, Watertown, Natick, Stoughton, Roslindale, Norwood and nearby towns. While non-medical in nature, the care provided by Visiting Angels Newton/Canton can make a big impact on your loved one's happiness and quality of life. Call us today at 617-795-2727 for more information! Summary: Routine tasks and responsibilities, such as housekeeping, personal grooming, and health maintenance may become overwhelming for a senior. In-home eldercare can help with these chores and be the support one needs to remain in their homes.
________________________________________________________________________ Many seniors are able to live independently, but there are some daily tasks that may become too much for them. In their younger days, one would take for granted the ability to do the laundry or clean the kitchen. To an elderly person, with perhaps some physical limitations, these tasks are daunting and overwhelming. In-home caregivers are great supports for families who need help with a loved-one with these tasks. Statistics are showing more and more seniors choosing to age at home (1). The goal is to be able to live on their own with support, as needed. The continuation of their routines in their homes and communities is good for their physical and mental health. A family may consider a nursing home or assisted living facility when a parent starts having trouble with basic responsibilities. In some cases, this may be necessary, but with some daily assistance with their routines, aging at home is becoming achievable to more and more seniors and people with disabilities. Some everyday routines that loved-ones may need assistance with are meal preparation, housekeeping and errands. The choice to have specialized meals prepared, daily exercise routines, cognitive health exercises and monitoring and reminders on which medications to take, can, in some cases, enhance someone’s life and well-being. Perhaps tasks like getting dressed and basic grooming and hygiene are a challenge for an individual, but with assistance, these tasks can be accomplished with little stress. Having a daily grooming routine has been shown to improve mental health and elevate a person’s mood (2). A companion can assist with these chores and more while allowing a person to remain in their homes. An in-home elder care service provides loving and secure caregivers to help with shopping, light cleaning and food preparation. They assist with tasks of which an individual may no longer be capable, day or night; therefore allowing them to stay in their homes safely and happily. An in-home elder care service can be an alternative to an assisted living facility or nursing home, and their caregivers are available part or full time. 1. https://www.inclinator.com/5-benefits-aging-in-place/ 2. http://miamihomecareservices.com/blog/personal-hygiene-and-its-importance-for-seniors/ About Visiting Angels Newton/Canton: Visiting Angels Newton/Canton MA is an award-winning local home care agency providing high caliber in-home care services to elderly and people with disabilities. Countless families have benefited from our dementia care, Alzheimer's care, companion care, elderly care, respite support, transitional aid, and senior home care services in Wellesley, Newton, Needham, Brookline, Chestnut Hill, Canton, Westwood, Dedham, Watertown, Natick, Stoughton, Roslindale, Norwood and nearby towns . While non-medical in nature, the care provided by Visiting Angels Newton/Canton can make a big impact on your loved one's happiness and quality of life. Call us at 617-795-2727 for information or fill out the form below! As the number of seniors in the U.S. continues to grow—indeed, the first “Baby Boomers” will turn 65 in 2011—so does the market for non-medical senior homecare services. Chances are, you will at some point be looking for a caregiver for an elderly family member. Visiting Angels is one of the nations leading providers of non-medical senior homecare, with over 170 locations nationwide.
According to Barney Freiberg-Dale, co-owner of Visiting Angels Newton/Canton, Massachusetts, “At Visiting Angels, we are dedicated to working with clients and their families to ensure the best possible non-medical home care services. Nothing is better than providing the quality care that allows an elderly client to stay in the comfort of their own home.” “Today’s seniors wish to maintain their independence and quality of life as long as possible,” states Barney Freiberg-Dale. “At the same time, their adult children are often sandwiched between taking care of their own offspring and helping their elderly parent, who may live hours away. That’s why our non-medical home care agency has become popular in the Newton, Canton and nearby areas.” “Many seniors do not require a nurse, but simply need the assistance Visiting Angels provides helping with the tasks of daily living,” continues Barney Freiberg-Dale. Visiting Angels’ services include, meal preparation, basic household chores, personal hygiene, shopping, companionship and, in some case, providing a respite for family caregivers. In addition, for clients who suffer from Alzheimer’s or dementia, Visiting Angels provide caregivers who are trained in dementia care techniques, and we provide guidance to family members, so they have tools and skills to assist with their loved-ones as well. Our Alzheimer’s home caregivers and dementia home caregivers always treat clients with dignity and respect. Due to the increased need for such assistance, many non-medical homecare agencies are sprouting up across the landscape. However, not all agencies are alike, and it’s important to understand the differences. Visiting Angels Newton/Canton understands that each client has unique needs. Therefore, we design a personalized care plan for each client, based on the results of an initial in-home consultation by one of our case managers. Then we carefully choose the right caregiver for the client, considering factors such as technical skills, personality traits, and experience. Our home caregivers are professional, experienced and always treat clients with respect and dignity. They are trained with the use of Hoyer lifts, gait belt or other transfer equipment. We are on call 24/7 at 617-795-2727, always ready to provide help to your loved one. And, we have a large pool of back-up caregivers. Your loved one will not be alone if your regular caregiver cannot provide service due to unexpected circumstances. Visiting Angels Newton/Canton has won the Best of Home Care Provider of Choice, Leader in Excellence and Employer of Choice from Home Care Pulse for years. Our quality is recognized! If you loved one needs senior home care assistance in Wellesley, Newton, Needham, Canton, Watertown, Brookline and nearby areas, please call us at 617-795-2727 for a free consultation. |
AuthorVisiting Angels Newton/Canton is an award-winning in-home care agency that provides high quality home care to seniors and disabled adults in Greater Boston, MA. Archives
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